Astoria PAC Extends THE HUMAN COMEDY Thru May 28

The Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) is pleased to announce the extension of Galt MacDermot?s (HAIR) musical, The Human Comedy. With libretto by William Dumaresq based on the story by William Saroyan, the highly acclaimed production is directed by APAC Artistic Director Tom Wojtunik and music directed by Jeffrey Campos, reuniting IT Award Nominee Christine O?Grady as choreographer, IT Award Recipient Michael P. Kramer as set designer, Hunter Kaczorowski as costume designer, David A. Thomas as sound designer, and casting by wojcik|seay casting.

The production, originally due to close May 21st, has extended performances one week, until May 28th at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (30-44 Crescent St, Astoria, NY 11102. Entrance on 30th Road.) Performances began Thursday, May 5 and will now continue through Saturday, May 28.

The critics have been raving:

?Top-drawer revival ... splendid production ... impressive scale and dynamic staging ... 4 Stars!? - Adam Feldman, Time Out NY

?From beginning to end, the show has the look and feel of a Norman Rockwell painting as it celebrates everyday life with nostalgia and optimism ... Saroyan?s novel was intended to lift Americans? spirits and this revival succeeds in doing precisely that!? -- Iris Greenberger, Show Business Weekly

?For musical revivals about families?whether creating them or merely surviving them?there's getting to be no better place than the Astoria Performing Arts Center each spring... this year's show is the warmest and most fascinating, a heartfelt and fascinating deconstruction of the American family facing its own destruction: The Human Comedy...directed with brash brightness and stinging sensitivity by Tom Wojtunik ... The overall emotional texture...powerfully evoke the American spirit at both its highest and its lowest.? ? Matthew Murray, Broadway Stars
?From the gorgeous, period-perfect costumes designed by Hunter Kaczorowski to the subtle and effective lighting by Dan Jobbins, the show is delightful on so many levels ... The cast of singers and actors are top notch!? ? Georgina Young-Ellis, Queens Gazette
?Revived by the smart and resourceful Astoria Performing Arts Center...[this] charming production shows a work that does not deserve the obscurity to which it?s been relegated...Tom Wojtunik?s direction is lively, clean, and heartfelt...Jeffrey Campos?s excellent musical direction deserves mention, especially for the fine choral work...The ensemble is rock solid and in some cases (Jonathan Gregg?s telegraph manager, Rayna Hickman?s lovelorn rich girl, D. William Hughes?s Tobey) exceptional. And Michael P. Kramer?s set design is just terrific.? -- David Johnston, nytheatre.com

?Director Tom Wojtunik has done a great job staging the show with nods to the simplicity and presentational style of Our Town...Costumes by Hunter Kaczorowski are wonderful, and the 6-piece band led by Musical Director Jeffrey Campos rocks out. This is a well-done production.? ? Duncan Pflaster, Broadway World

?With a cast of twenty five excellent actors and a terrific creative team director Tom Wojtunik has accomplished the impossible... The production couldn?t be better...It is amazing what the APAC has accomplished...an exceptional production where many actors are beautifully showcased....One such highlight is the touching and beautiful duet between Homer and Marcus ? ?Dear Brother Homer? which alone makes The Human Comedy worth seeing.? ? Oscar Moore, Talk Entertainment

The extended performances feature a new Trainman, Matt Morgan (Broadway: Hairspray), and a new Bess, Alyssa Malgeri (National Tour: Hairspray) in addition to Aaron J. Libby* (Nat?l Tour: (Henry and Mudge) as Homer, Victoria Bundonis* (Nat?l Tour: Grease, The Music Man) as Kate, Jonathan Gregg* (APAC: Children of Eden, Ragtime) as Spangler, Stephen Trafton* (B'WAY: Les Miserables, original revival cast) as Marcus, D. William Hughes* (APAC: Ragtime) as Tobey, Rachel Rhodes-Devey (APAC: Children of Eden) as Mary, Richard Vernon* (APAC: Ragtime, Proof) as Grogan, Rayna Hickman* (Open Stage Rep, AMT San Jose) as Diana, Anthony Pierini (APAC: The Pillowman, TV: Bluebloods) as Ulysses, Marcie Henderson* (APAC: Ragtime; Luna Stage, York Theatre Company) as Beautiful Music, Michael Lee Jones as Felix, Philip Deyesso* (APAC: Children of Eden, Triumph of Love) as Thief, Tauren Hagans (The Gallery Players) as Mexican Woman, Jan-Peter Pedross* (The Gallery Players) as Matthew, Nicole Mangi* (B'WAY: Gypsy w/ Patti LuPone) as Helen, and Jean Liuzzi* (Nat?l Tour: The Music Man) as Mrs. Hicks. The soldiers include Chris Causer, Andrew Leggieri (John W. Engeman Theatre) and Tim Shelton* and the ensemble is Nathan Brisby (APAC: The Pillowman, Ragtime), Jennifer Margulis, Amie Bermowitz*, and Allyson Pace (APAC: Children of Eden).

Astoria Performing Arts Center
presents
THE HUMAN COMEDY
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church
30-44 Crescent St, Astoria, NY 11102. Entrance on 30th Road.
EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 28th
Thursday ? Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm
Tickets: $18 Adults, $12 Students/Seniors
www.apacny.org or 1-866-811-4111

The coming-of-age tale focuses on young Homer Macauley, a telegram messenger who is exposed to the sorrows and joys experienced by his family and the residents of his small California town during World War II. Homer's mother Kate is struggling to support her children following the death of her husband, his older brother Marcus is in the Army, his teenaged sister Bess daydreams about romance, and his younger brother Ulysses divides his attention between the passing trains and an unrequited desire to know why his father had to die. An ode to ?home,? The Human Comedy is one of the most enjoyable and moving musicals of which you?ve never heard.

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