Cast Set for for APAC's ASTORIA STORIES

The Award-Winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) is pleased to announce the talented group of actors who will bring to life ASTORIA STORIES, directed by Artistic Director Dev Bondarin. ASTORIA STORIES is a collaborative production of plays and musicals 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 21st @ 7:30pm performance will be at Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35 Avenue.) Performances begin Friday, February19 and continue through Saturday, February27.

The actors include past performers from APAC productions (demarked with an A), Alex AkinA(APAC's Merrily We Roll Along), Marcie Henderson*A (APAC's Ragtime, The Human Comedy, Allegro), Greg Horton*A (APAC's Lucky Stiff, Merrily We Roll Along, With Glee (Prospect Theater Company)), Sheila Joon*A (APAC's Carefully Taught), Nicholas Park*A (APAC's Merrily We Roll Along, Bed Bugs!!! (Off-B'way)), Mauricio Pita (Theatre 167), Sai Somboon* (Sleep No More), Vanessa Spica (New York City Children's Theater), and Laura StrackoA (APAC's Allegro).

Bondarin states, "The writers, 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, were asked to take a familiar Astoria location and to write a 10 minute piece centered around it. This workshop production will run the gamut from public spaces, stores, to cultural sites unlocking the unique landscape of the neighborhood."

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.

The production features music direction by James Higgins, production 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 21st @ 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/