Astoria PAC Presents Talk-Backs with Galt MacDermot, Tom Wojtunik

The Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) is pleased to present two talk-backs in conjunction with their production of Galt MacDermot's (HAIR) musical, The Human Comedy. The first, "Making The Human Comedy Sing" will feature Mr. MacDermot, the later "Life on the Homefront: The World of The Human Comedy" will include Salvatore Gagliardo, a 96 years-young WWII veteran and Astoria Resident.

Making The Human Comedy Sing
Saturday, May 14, 2011 - Immediately following the 2pm performance - FREE to audience members

Patricia Simon (APAC Advisory Board Member and Associate Professor of Theatre Arts, Marymount Manhattan College) will moderate a panel featuring award-winning composer Galt MacDermot (HAIR, The Human Comedy), as well as the creative team behind APAC's production team of the The Human Comedy: Tom Wojtunik (Director), Christine O'Grady (Choreographer/ Associate Director) and Jeffrey Campos (Music Director).

Life on the Homefront: The World of The Human Comedy
Saturday, May 21, 2011 - Immediately following the 2pm performance- FREE to audience members

Tom Wojtunik (APAC Artistic Director) will moderate a panel featuring Sarah Anne Simmons (Dramaturg), Chuck Eberle (WWII aficionado) and Salvatore Gagliardo (96-year-old WWII veteran and Astoria resident), as we explore the historical context for The Human Comedy and how it influenced APAC's production. In honor of Armed Forces day, all US veterans are invited to attend the performance free of charge for this performance. US veterans should email boxoffice@apacny.org or call (718) 383-7505.

Galt MacDermot's musical, THE HUMAN COMEDY, with libretto by William Dumaresq based on the coming-of-age story by William Saroyan. Young Homer Macauley, a telegram messenger, is exposed to the sorrows and joys experienced by his family and the residents of his small California town during World War II.

Astoria Performing Arts Center presents THE HUMAN COMEDY, directed by APAC Artistic Director Tom Wojtunik, choreographed by Christine O'Grady, music directed by Jeffrey Campos at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St, Astoria, NY 11102. Entrance on 30th Road, May 5-21, 2011: Opening Night is Saturday, May 7 (8 p.m.).
Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm
Tickets $18

www.apacny.org or 1-866-811-4111

THE ASTORIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, INC. (APAC), a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 2001 by actress Susan Scannell ("Dynasty"). Our mission is to bring high quality theatre and entertainment to Astoria/Long Island City and to support local youth and senior citizens. We are a professional theatre company that complements a full season of award-winning mainstage programming with dedicated community programming.

Each year, APAC brings extended networks of artists, technicians, and volunteers together to produce musical revivals and modern plays. Our mainstage productions have been recognized for their quality and exceptional production values. We have received fourteen New York Innovative Theatre Award nominations and four wins (Children Of Eden, 2010, Ragtime, 2009), and an Off-Off Broadway Theatre Review Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical (Is There Life After High School?, 2004). We are invested in bringing visibility to new voices in American theatre, and through our series The 15/20s: Staged Readings of New Works, we present new plays by emerging playwrights.

Our commitment to local youth and senior citizens is reflected in our annual community programming. Examples include a free annual musical theatre performance program for children ages 8-13 (Summer Stars - 8 years running) and an after school playwriting program for middle school students (Astoria Playmaking Program - 6 years running). In 2005, we launched Senior Stars, a performance program for Queens residents over the age of sixty.

We are committed to keeping our work accessible: the programming is varied in order to reach a broad audience, produced regularly each season and affordable, so that theater-going can be habit - not a rare treat for the people who see APAC's shows

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski