Astoria Performing Arts Center Honors Astoria Native Dito Montiel 3/15

On Thursday, March 15, 2012, Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) will be hosting its annual Gala at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. They will be honoring Dito Montiel, an author, screenwriter, director and musician. In addition to a program of honors, the evening will include cocktails, catering by The Astor Room, and a special performance, as well as an opportunity to explore the museum. Past events have attracted a wonderful cross-section of people from the Astoria community and surrounding areas – corporate and community leaders, as well as artists. Tickets are currently on sale at apacny.org.

"Honoring an Astoria legend...Dito Montiel, an award-winning writer and filmmaker who has worked with some very impressive actors, from Al Pacino to Robert Downey Jr. He was the front man of the first punk band to sign a million dollar contract with Geffen Records. A Calvin
Klein and Versace model whom posed for legendary photographer, Bruce Weber. He can even take credit for being on the wrong end of a KO in a Golden Gloves boxing tournament. He is a proud born-and-raised Astorian, who has given his hometown visibility around the world."

“I’m thrilled that we have the opportunity to honor such an amazing multitalented artist. Dito has had an incredibly rich life and career. There is a lot to celebrate, and in the Museum of the Moving
Image, we’ll have the perfect venue. This is going to be a particularly special event – and a very good party.” – Taryn Sacramone, Executive Director APAC

“Congratulations to Dito Montiel. APAC, a local group with some of the best performers in the country, certainly knows talent when they see it. Dito is truly a Renaissance Man, but we’ll always recognize him as a beloved son of Queens.” - Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr.

APAC’s GALA 2012
Thursday, March 15th, 2012

Please RSVP by March 5th at apacny.org
• $250 – 2 tickets, credit as a Friend of APAC in the gala journal
• $100 – individual ticket
Thursday, March 15, 2011
• 6:30-8:00p Cocktails and Light Supper
• 8:00-9:00p Honors and a Special Performance
• 9:00-10:00p Explore MOMI, Dessert, Raffle Drawing,
Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
Valet parking available.
Festive attire.

If you would like further information, or would like to learn more about becoming a sponsor, please email events@apacny.org or call (718) 706-5750.

More surprises and developments about the Gala will be posted at www.apacny.org between now and the event!

Lead Sponsor: KAUFMAN ASTORIA STUDIOS
Associate Sponsors: BROADWAY STAGES, TD BANK, QUONTIC BANK

BIOGRAPHIES

DITO MONTIEL is an American author, screenwriter, director and musician. The son of a Nicaraguan father and Irish mother, Dito grew up in Astoria, Queens New York, toured the country in a punk band as a teenager in a leaky van, modeled for Calvin Klein and Gianni Versace with Bruce Weber and got ko'd in the golden gloves boxing tournament. In 2003, Montiel had his first book published, “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints”.

After adapting his best-selling book into a screenplay, Montiel made his directorial debut with the film version of A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chazz Palminteri, Rosario Dawson, Shia Labeouf, Channing Tatum and Dianne Wiest, the movie premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Special Jury Prize and the Director’s Award. It also screened at the Venice Film Festival where it won the Critics’ Award and the Isvema Award.
His second book, “Eddie Krumble is the Clapper” was released in 2007. Dito’s second film Fighting starred Academy Award nominee Terence Howard. His third film, The Son of No One, starring Al Pacino, Katie Holmes, Juliette Binoche, Ray Liotta, Tracy Morgan and Channing Tatum, followed.

Dito grew up at 24-07 31st Street, under the elevated train. He went to PS85, then Immaculate Conception, then LIC High School. His first band, Major Conflict, rehearsed in the Ravenwood projects. His second band, Gutterboy was signed to Geffen Records. Their biggest song was “Growing up under the RR” about life in Astoria.

All of Dito’s movies have been filmed entirely in New York, and of those, two were filmed exclusively in Astoria.

ASTORIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (APAC), The Astoria Performing Arts Center, Inc. (APAC), a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 2001with a mission to bring high quality theater and entertainment to Astoria/Long Island City and to support local youth and senior
citizens. APAC is a professional theater company that complements a full season of award-winning mainstage productions with unique community programming.

Each year, APAC produces musicals and plays. We are also invested in developing new works of American theater, through readings and workshops. Our mainstage productions have been recognized for their quality and exceptional production values. To date, APAC has received
fifteen New York Innovative Theatre Award nominations and four 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 also offers annual community programs for children and senior citizens Examples includes a free musical theater performance program for children ages 8-13 (Summer Stars – 9 years running),an after school playwriting program for middle school students (Astoria Playmaking – 7 years running, and Senior Stars, a performance program for Queens residents over the age of 60.

Listings Information:
Who: Astoria Performing Arts Center
What: APAC’s 2012 GALA
Where: Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
When: Thursday, March 15, 2012 6:30pm-10:00pm
How: $100-$250 at www.apacny.org

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