The Award-Winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) has announced the world premiere production of Cody Daigle's (resident playwright for The Playhouse Tulsa's 2013-14 season) In The Bones, directed by Dev Bondarin. In other exciting news, Bondarin has just been named APAC's new Artistic Director, assuming the role that Tom Wojtunik stepped down from in June. In The Bones will play a limited engagement at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St (@30th Rd), in Astoria, Queens. Performances begin Thursday, November 6 and continue through Saturday, November 22. Opening Night is Saturday, November 8 (8 p.m.).
"I am excited and proud to be joining Astoria Performing Arts Center as Artistic Director," exclaims Bondarin. "I am honored to be given the opportunity to be part of the leadership team of an organization with such a strong artistic spirit and presence in Queens and New York City. The hallmarks of APAC are the integral role it plays in the Astoria community and the high level of productions the company stages. I not only look forward to carrying on these traditions, but also to steering the company during its new phase of growth: creating more opportunities for artists and community members and bringing new stories and voices to the theater. I look forward to continuing to get to know APAC's audiences and artists in the future, as we prepare for our fall production of Cody Daigle's In the Bones."
When a soldier home from serving in Afghanistan ends his life, grief settles over his family and the partner he leaves behind. In a series of scenes moving ahead a year at a time, loss transforms a family and sorrow finds a home in the bones of those left behind.
The production stars
Victoria Bundonis* (Nat'l tour: Grease, The Music Man; TV: Nurse Jackie) as Dee, Tyler Gattoni (Japanese Foreign Trade Minister, reading at Actors Studio) as Luke, Sean Hankinson* (TV: Days of Our Lives, 90210) as Ben, Zac Hoogendyk* (In The Next Room (or the vibrator play),
Cleveland Playhouse) as Kenny,
Mel House* (All My Sons, Atlantic Theatre Lab; TV: Rescue Me) as Kate, and
Emily Koch* (Little Women, Theatreworks Palo Alto) as Chloe.
The production features scenic design by Michael Minahan, costume design by
Caitlin Cisek (APAC?s Blood Brothers), and lighting design by Dan Jobbins. Jacob Subotnick is the sound designer, Kelly Davis is the props designer, Jaime Vallés is the video designer, Frederick Alden Terry is the composer, and the production stage manager is Katy Moore*.
In The Bones plays the following regular schedule through Saturday, November 22: Thursdays & Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Tickets are $18, ($12 student/senior) available at
www.apacny.org or 888-596-1027. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Theatre Box Office, 30 minutes prior to the performance. Good Shepherd United Methodist Church is located at 30-44 Crescent St (@30th Rd), Astoria, NY 11102. Running Time: 100 minutes.
Directions: Take the N or Q Subway to 30th Avenue. Walk down 30th Ave. to Crescent St. (Mount Sinai Hospital is on the corner.) Turn left on Crescent Street. Walk one block south, then turn right onto 30th Rd. Entrance is second set of red doors on left.
*Appearing Courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.BIOGRAPHIES:
CODY DAIGLE (Playwright) is a Louisiana-born playwright and teaching artist now living in Hartford, CT. He was the resident playwright for
The Playhouse Tulsa's 2013-2014 season, the company playwright for Acadiana Repertory Theatre and a company playwright for Manhattan Theatre Works. Plays for
The Playhouse Tulsa: William and Judith, Tulsa! A Radio Christmas Spectacular, Little Women and the recently commissioned The Bottom of the Sea. Plays for Acadiana Repertory Theatre:In the Bones, The Survivalists. Plays for Manhattan Theatre Works: Providence, A Home Across the Ocean. His work has been read and developed at New Jersey Repertory Theatre, The Actors Company Theatre and The Great Plains Theatre Conference.
DEV BONDARIN (Director) is a New York based director of plays and musicals, both new and established. Directing credits include: Two Bugs are Better than One (Making Books Sing), King Lear (American Bard Theater, two NYIT Award nominations), Reefer Madness (Gallery Players, NYIT Award nomination for Outstanding Musical), Raised by Lesbians (FringeNYC, 4 Stars Time Out), and numerous readings, concerts, and workshops. As Associate Artistic Director of Prospect Theater Company, she has curated and directed an annual musical theater lab for the past six seasons, which has produced over 45 new, short musicals by established and emerging writers. Dev is also a member of MTWorks where she directed Cody Daigle?s A Home Across the Ocean, as well as readings and short plays. Dev is an SDC Observership recipient, a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab as well an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and the League of Professional Theatre Women. She holds an MFA in Directing from Brooklyn College (CUNY) and a BA from
Brandeis University.
www.devbondarin.net
ASTORIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (APAC), a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 2001 by Sue Scannell (Founding Executive Director, 2001-2005) and Brian J. Swasey (Founding Artistic Director, 2001-2008). APAC;s mission is to bring high quality theater to Astoria, Queens, and to support local youth and senior citizens.
On its mainstage, APAC produces revivals and premieres of plays and musicals, and also develops new works through readings and workshops. Its flexible theater space changes with each production. To date, APAC has received 22 New York Innovative Theatre Award nominations and 5 wins (Children of Eden & Ragtime), as well as an Off-Off Broadway Theatre Review Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical (Is There Life After High School?). APAC was the recipient of the 2012 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award, under the leadership of
Taryn Sacramone (APAC Executive Director, 2005-2013).
APAC offers free annual community programs, including a summer performance camp for children ages 8-13, an after school playwriting program for middle school students, and a performance program for Queens residents over the age of 60. These programs deepen ties with the community, and develop new audiences for theater. Diverse programming and consistent quality attracts a loyal and growing audience that reflects the diversity of Western Queens and also draws from the other boroughs and beyond.
In addition to its theater space within the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, APAC's offices are located within the historic Kaufman Astoria Studios.
