Photo Flash: First Look at Colleen Hawks, John Ashley Brown and More in APAC's BLOOD BROTHERS

The Astoria Performing Arts Center has announced Willy Russell's (Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine) BLOOD BROTHERS, musical staging by Christine O'Grady, musical direction by Julianne B. Merrill, and directed by Tom Wojtunik. BLOOD BROTHERS 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 tonight, May 2 and continue through Saturday, May 18. Opening Night is Saturday, May 4 (8 p.m.). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Tony Nominated and Oliver Award Winning Best Musical BLOOD BROTHERS tells the tragic story of a mother who, unable to support her children, surrenders one of her newborn twins to a childless woman. Unaware that they are brothers, the boys grow up just streets apart in vastly different homes - one wealthy, the other poor. Despite their different upbringings, they become close friends. But when they fall in love with the same girl, their friendship is tested, and their fate sealed.

The musical debuted in 1983, winning the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. The recent West End revival was one of the longest-running musical productions in history; it opened in 1988, and ended its run on October 27, 2012, having played over 10,000 performances. The Broadway production opened in 1993 at the Music Box Theatre and closed in 1995 after 840 performances. The central role of Mrs. Johnstone has been played by, among others, Barbara Dickinson, Stephanie Lawrence, Kiki Dee, Petula Clark, Carole King, and Helen Reddy. The role of Mickey has been played by both Russell Crowe (in Australia) and David Cassidy (opposite his brother Shaun).

The production stars Colleen Hawks* (Shrek the Musical & The Boy from Oz, B'way) as Mrs. Johnstone, John Ashley Brown* (Grease, Nat'l Tour) as the Narrator, Rowan Michael Meyer* (Amadeus, Maltz Jupiter Theatre) as Mickey, Simon Pearl* (Les Miserables, B'way) as Edward, Kayla Wickes (Hamlet, Boomerang Theatre Co.) as Linda, Marisa Devetta* (APAC's The Secret Garden) as Mrs. Lyons, Matthew Labanca* (Young Frankenstein & White Christmas, B'way) as Mr. Lyons and Jonathan Gregg* (APAC's The Human Comedy & Ragtime) as Sammy. The ensemble includes Joey Donnelly (Non-Equity the Musical), Britain Gebhardt (APAC's Billy Witch & The Secret Garden), Mary-ElizaBeth Milton (Footloose, Nat'l Tour), Jan-Peter Pedross* (APAC's The Human Comedy & The Secret Garden), Jason Pintar (Titanic, Nat'l Tour) and Kristin Stewart (The Wizard of Oz, Nat'l Tour).

The production features scenic design by Stephen K. Dobay, costume design by Caitlin Cisek, and lighting design by Dan Jobbins. David M. Corsello is the sound designer, Aaron Sheckler is the props designer, Kenneth Garner is the dialect/accent coach, Ryan Kasprzak is the fight director, Jennifer Lane is the dramaturg and Michael Friedlander* is the stage manager. Casting by Scott Wojcik and Gayle Seay of Wojcik|Seay Casting.

BLOOD BROTHERS plays the following regular schedule through Saturday, May 18: Thursdays at 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $18, available online at www.apacny.org or by calling 888-596-1027. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Theatre Box Office, 30 minutes prior to the performance.

Photo Credit: Jen Maufrais Kelly

Colleen Hawks as "Mrs. Johnstone"

Marisa Devetta as "Mrs. Lyons" and Colleen Hawks as "Mrs. Johnstone"

Rowan Michael Meyer as "Mickey"

Rowan Michael Meyer as "Mickey" and Simon Pearl as "Edward"

Simon Pearl as "Edward" and Rowan Michael Meyer as "Mickey"

Cast of BLOOD BROTHERS

Kayla Wickes as Linda, Rowan Michael Meyer as Mickey and Simon Pearl as Edward

Kayla Wickes as Linda, Rowan Michael Meyer as Mickey and Simon Pearl as Edward

Cast of BLOOD BROTHERS

Cast of BLOOD BROTHERS

Rowan Michael Meyer as "Mickey", Kayla Wickes as "Linda" and Simon Pearl as "Edward"

Matthew Labanca as "Mr. Lyons" and Marisa Devetta as "Mrs. Lyons"

Colleen Hawks as "Mrs. Johnstone"

Colleen Hawks as "Mrs. Johnstone" and ensemble

Colleen Hawks as "Mrs. Johnstone" and Jan-Peter Pedross as "Judge"

Simon Pearl as "Edward"

John Ashley Brown as "narrator" and Marisa Devetta as "Mrs. Lyons"

Jason Pintar as Police Officer, Rowan Michael Meyer as Mickey, Kayla Wickes as Linda, and Simon Pearl as Edward

Rowan Michael Meyer as "Mickey"

Kayla Wickes as "Linda" and Rowan Michael Meyer as "Mickey"

Rowan Michael Meyer as "Mickey" and Kayla Wickes as "Linda"

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