The Award-Winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) is pleased to announce the world premiere production of ASTORIA STORIES, directed by Artistic Director Dev Bondarin. A collaborative production of plays and musicals written by Kari Bentley-Quinn, Nathan Brisby & Lizzie Hagstedt, Ty Defoe & Tidtaya Sinutoke, Dyan Flores, Ben Gassman, Holly Hepp-Galván, Alexander Sage Oyen, Christopher Torres, and Kathleen Warnock celebrating the area of Queens that APAC calls home. The limited engagement will be at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St (@30th Rd), in Astoria, Queens. (*Sunday February 22nd @ 7:30pm performance will be at Museum of the Moving Image.) Performances begin Friday, February 19 and continue through Saturday, February 27.
Astoria Park, the Bohemian Beer Garden, Socrates Sculpture Park. Each iconic Astoria location tells a story….
ASTORIA STORIES celebrates the places we know and love and explores how they transform, affect, and engage residents and visitors. In a neighborhood rife with history, nine short plays and musicals bridge the past with the ever-changing present. Featuring the work of Queens-based writers and performed by an ensemble of actors, this production will pay homage to the area of NYC that APAC calls home.
According to Bondarin, “Writers were asked to take a familiar Astoria location and to write a 10 minute piece centered around that place. This workshop production will run the gamut from public spaces, stores, to cultural sites unlocking the unique landscape of the neighborhood.”
In addition to their performances at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, ASTORIA STORIES marks the first time that APAC will be performing in the Kaufman Arts District. On Sunday, February 22nd at 7:30pm, APAC will be presenting ASTORIA STORIES at Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35 Avenue, Astoria, Queens. “This is what being part of a creative community is all about,” said Tracy Capune, Vice President of Kaufman Astoria Studios. “We founded the Kaufman Arts District to celebrate all the different arts organizations that have come together in this neighborhood. To have the Astoria Performing Arts Center, one of those organizations that makes its home here, present a work that in turn celebrates Astoria is a great treat. We’re really looking forward to ASTORIA STORIES.”
Casting to be announced at a later date.
The production features music direction by James Higgins, props design by Katie White, and lighting design by Dan Jobbins.
ASTORIA STORIES plays the following schedule:
Friday February 19th @ 8pm
Saturday February 20th @ 2pm
Saturday February 20th @ 8pm
Sunday February 22nd @ 7:30pm ** at Museum of the Moving Image
Friday February 26th @ 8pm
Saturday February 27th @ 2pm
Saturday February 27th @ 8pm
Tickets are $10 and are now available online at www.apacny.org. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office ½ hour prior to performance.
Running Time: 100 minutes
Website: http://www.apacny.org/shows-and-events/current-season-2015-2016/astoria-stories/.