Did you know that Tony Bennett, Ethel Merman, David Schwimmer and Christopher Walken are all Astoria natives? . . . A little-known fact in Hollywood but well-known to fans of the Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC), now entering its fourth successful season.

During its last season, APAC performances attracted nearly 1800 audience members. 20% of them came to Astoria/LIC from the outer boroughs and NJ, LI and Manhattan. Many were first time Astoria visitors who took advantage of local merchants and restaurants in the community, according to Sue Scannell, APAC’s founder.

APAC had also received unprecedented attention from the press and local legislators as it continued to establish itself as a premier cultural center, providing entertainment rivaling that of Manhattan. In their award-winning third season, APAC had received the noted OOBR Award for its production of “Is There Life After High School?”

Borough President Helen Marshall praised APAC’s success, exclaiming “Our Borough needs excellent cultural spaces like yours now more than ever . . . keep up the vital and wonderful work!” When placing a recent call for performers, APAC received over 600 headshots and resumes from hopeful actors and technicians.

A self-described “Civic Theater”, APAC serves the Astoria community in several ways: providing bi-lingual children’s’ theater, providing “Summer Stars” - an intensive summer Musical Theater Training Program FREE for youth (thanks to funding from The Port Authority of NY & NJ), providing free entertainment for Seniors at Queens NORC programs, incorporating interns from local high schools and colleges, giving free tickets to various organizations and charities and raising money for AIDS Broadway Cares and the Children’s Aid Society and the Kiwanis Club of Astoria/LIC.

APAC has received support from, Council Member Peter Vallone Jr, The Presbyterian Church of Astoria, Assemblyman Michael Gianaris, Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, The Department of Cultural Affairs, The New York Foundation for the Arts, Queens Council on the Arts, the Astoria/LIC Kiwanis Club, the Ravenswood Lion’s Club and innumerable individuals in our wonderful community.

The Fourth Season

On November 5, APAC will launch its new season with a 9-performance run of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, starring Anna Chlumsky (My Girl, and My Girl 2). One of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays poses the questions: Should our leaders legislate and prosecute the most private issues of our lives? Should they force mandatory sentencing requirements on our courts? Regardless of circumstance? Can Justice truly be served through the use of muscle and vengeance? Directed by John Hurley, the extremely relevant Measure for Measure will be performed on November 5,6,12,13,19,20 at 8:00 PM and on November 7, 14, 21 at 6:00 PM.

Opening February 11 is Lucky $tiff, a zany, offbeat, and very funny murder mystery farce about an unassuming English shoe salesman forced to take the corpse of his recently-murdered uncle on a week-long vacation to Monte Carlo. Should he succeed, Harry Witherspoon stands to inherit $6,000,000. If not, the money goes to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. APAC's Brian Swasey will direct.

Also on the line-up for new season is a musical revue extravaganza celebrating everyone’s favorite tunes from the “Rat Pack Era", opening April 1. In May, APAC will hold its 4th Annual Playwright Contest, an evening of new works selected from a competition of new and experienced playwrights, directed by David Renwanz.

All shows will feature 9 performances. Tickets are $15, $12 Seniors/Students, $5 kids under 16 years. For additional information, please contact Elizabeth Brown at the Astoria Performing Arts Center (718) 393-7505, or visit www.apacny.org