Astoria Performing Arts Center to Present World Premiere of CAREFULLY TAUGHT

The Award-Winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) is pleased to announce the world premiere production of Cheryl L. Davis's (2014 AUDELCO Playwriting Award winner for Maid's Door), CAREFULLY TAUGHT, directed by Pat Golden (Assistant Director on Emily Mann's Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams). CAREFULLY TAUGHT will play a limited engagement at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St (@30th Rd), in Astoria, Queens. Performances begin Thursday, November 5 and continue through Saturday, November21. Opening Night is Saturday, November7 (8 p.m.).

CAREFULLY TAUGHT is a modern day drama that centers on the friendship of two schoolteachers--one black and one white. Their bond is shaken when one loses her job, and questions of loyalty and unspoken prejudice rise to the surface. This provocative tale challenges us to examine our perceptions of race in contemporary culture.

Cheryl L. Davis's CAREFULLY TAUGHT has been workshopped and had readings at Stamford Center for the Arts, Premiere Stages, New Professional Theatre, the Six Figures "Artists of Tomorrow" festival, and The Lark. In light of recent current events, Davis was prompted to look at the play with fresh eyes. Astoria Performing Arts Center presented a reading of the play at the Queens Council on the Arts as part of the Midwinter Reading Series during the 2014-15 season. It will now receive its world premiere at APAC in the fall of 2015.

The production stars Esther Chen (US premiere of Behind The Mask) as Cie/Cindy, Latoya Edwards (Ryan Scott Oliver's We Foxes) as Alice/Charlotte, Sheila Joon* (Short Life of Trouble (2015 NY Innovative Theatre Nominee for Best Ensemble), Hudson Shakespeare Company) as Claire/Valerie, and Bristol Dan Pomeroy ("The Americans," The Sun Shines East) as Michael/ Representative/Reverend.

The production features scenic design by Christopher and Justin Swader (The Tempest (Classical Theater of Harlem), 210 Amlent Avenue (NYMF), costume design by Jessa-Raye Court (A Midsummer Night's Dream (Boomerang), Boys Will Be Boys (NYMF)) and lighting design by Joyce Liao (B'way: The Soul of Shaolin Off-B'way: Breakfast with Mugabe, The Brightness of Heaven). Jason Subotnick (APAC's In The Bones, 2015 NY IT Award Nominee for Best Original Music for Doubles Crossed: The Ballad of Rodrigo) is the sound designer and Kristine Schlachter* (APAC's Allegro and A Hard Wall at High Speed) is the stage manager.

CAREFULLY TAUGHT plays the following regular schedule through Saturday, November 21:

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
30-44 Crescent St (@30th Rd)
Astoria, NY 11102

Running Time: 100 minutes (no intermission)

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 beige doors on left.

Website: www.APACNY.org

*Appearing Courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

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