Pedro Pan, winner of the2017 NYMF Developmental Reading Series Award with book by Rebecca Aparicio and music and lyrics by Stephen Elkins, will be presented as an official selection of the 2018 New York Musical Festival’s Next Link Project beginning July 10 at the Acorn Theatre on Theatre Row. Melissa Crespo directs an exciting Broadway credited cast featuring Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Tony Award Winner RENT), Genny Lis Padilla (On Your Feet!), Natalie Toro (Les Misérables), Gregory Diaz IV (Matilda), Taylor Caldwell (School of Rock), Julian Silva (Lion King), Cherry Torres (In The Heights John W. Engeman Theater), Diego Lucano (School of Rock) , Rodrigo Ignacio Cruz (Cats National Tour) and Sisley Carretas. The casting director is Jason Styres (Broadway’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder).

Based on the real-life events of Operación Pedro Pan (1960-62), a young boy is sent to the United States to escape the growing dangers of post-revolutionary Cuba. To survive, Pedro must learn a new language and a new culture – while hoping someday to be reunited with his parents. With a score featuring the percussive rhythms of Havana to 60’s soul, Pedro Pan examines what it means to be a displaced immigrant tin America.

Pedro Pan begins at the Acorn Theatre (410 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Aves.) on Tuesday July 10th at 8PM. The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday July 10 at 8PM, Thursday July 12 at 1PM, Friday July 13 at 9PM, Saturday July 14 at 1PM and Saturday July 14 at 5PM. Tickets: http://www.nymf.org/festival/2018-events/pedro-pan18/.

The New York Musical Festival nurtures the creation, production, and public presentation of stylistically, thematically, and culturally diverse new musicals to ensure the future vitality of musical theater.