Pushcart Players at Lancaster Performing Arts Center

Pushcart Players, New Jersey’s
acclaimed touring theatre for young and family audiences presents “Let
Freedom Ring” at Lancaster Performing Arts Center on Thursday February 20
at 9:15 and 11:15 am.  This robust musical
celebrates the nation's birth and development with authentic folk songs and an
animated story of significant moments in history.

“We focus on people in
early America -- what they thought and how they felt,” said Ruth Fost,
co-founder of Pushcart Players and playwright. “What was it like to have the
courage to leave the familiar and explore the unknown? These are ordinary
people accomplishing extraordinary goals.”

"Let Freedom Ring" opens with the beginning of time, moving
quickly to the arrival of the first Americans from Asia. With the passage of
approximately 30,000 years (in under five minutes!), “Freedom…”
introduces second Americans in 1620. Among the new settlers are four main
characters: Sam, Sarah, Jennie and Ginny. They transcend time, distance and
circumstance to lead the audience -- chronologically and geographically --
through two centuries of America’s past.

Scenarios focusing on the Boston
Tea Party, the American Revolution, westward expansion, the Underground
Railroad, the Civil War, the California Gold Rush and Industrialization inspire
and inform American audiences of all ages.

“The finale is a spirited
musical salute to the unique texture and rich character of our great nation,”
added Fost. “It’s a tribute to democratic ideals.” The music combines
traditional folk songs with original works. Incidental music and orchestrations
are by Larry Hochman, who has collaborated with Pushcart co-founder Carole
Wechter, since the company’s inception. Hochman won the Tony and Drama Desk
Awards for his co-orchestration of “The Book of Mormon.” He orchestrated 
“Monty Python’s Spamalot,” “The Addams Family” and “Jane Eyre” among others.

Pushcart Players is in its 40th
anniversary season of presenting productions filled with fun, facts, magic and
wonder. The company has traveled over 2 million miles to serve more than 8
million children and their families nationally and abroad. All performances
come with innovative scenery, complete lighting and state of the art sound
systems. They are adaptable to any location.

Lancaster Performing Arts Center
is located at 750 West Lancaster Boulevard, Lancaster 93534. For tickets call
the PAC at 661.723.5950. For further information on this or any of Pushcart’s
programs and services, contact Pushcart Players at 973.857.1115 or visit the
website at www.pushcartplayers.org.
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