APAC Announces the World Premiere of A HARD WALL AT HIGH SPEED

THE ASTORIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (APAC) today announced the world premiere production of Ashlin Halfnight's (Balaton, Artifcats of Consequence) A HARD WALL AT HIGH SPEED, directed by May Adrales (Edith Can Shoot Things And Hit Them, Humana Festival).

A HARD WALL AT HIGH SPEED will play a limited engagement at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (30-44 Crescent St, Astoria, NY 11102. Entrance on 30th Road.) Performances begin Thursday, November 3 and continue through Saturday, November 19. Opening Night is Saturday, November 5 (8 p.m.)

Donnie Cole is a Floridian with the ideal existence: he's a charter pilot who loves to fly planes - he has the perfect family, owns his home, and basks in the respect of his community. But when he misjudges a situation at work, an unexpected burst of media attention turns an uneasy community against him. A play about one man's mistake, and how it changed the nation, A HARD WALL AT HIGH SPEED asks how we heal, how we forgive, and how far we've come.

A HARD WALL AT HIGH SPEED began as a project generated during director Kareem Fahmy's Van Lier Fellowship at Second Stage. Subsequent staged readings were held at MCC PlayLabs and NYTE's One NYTE Stands, both directed by Josh Hecht.

Tom Wojtunik, APAC Artistic Director, explains why he chose A HARD WALL AT HIGH SPEED as the opening show of the season: "A Hard Wall at High Speed is an electrifying and cathartic piece about what happens when we lose momentum in our lives, and how past mistakes can continue to haunt us. As an admirer of Halfnight's work, I'm ecstatic to be introducing his work to Astoria audiences."

A HARD WALL AT HIGH SPEED features Tom O'Keefe* ("CSI", Riverside Theatre) as Donnie, Sarah Kate Jackson* (Bride Wars, Ashlin Halfnight's God's Waiting Room) as June, Johnny Pruitt* ("30 Rock", Dead Man Walking premiere at NYC Opera) as Trout and Ryan Templeton (NYC debut, web series "Dank and Nank") as Marcy. *appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

The production features set design by Stephen K. Dobay (APAC's The Pillowman), costume by Becky Bodurtha, and lighting design by Cat Tate Starmer. Nathan Roberts is the sound designer and composing original music. Lizzy Lee is the stage manager.

A HARD WALL AT HIGH SPEED plays the following schedule through Sunday, November 19:

Thursdays at 8 p.m.
Fridays at 8 p.m.
Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Tickets are $18, available online at www.apacny.org or by calling 866-811-4111. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Theatre Box Office, 30 minutes prior to the performance.