For the past 4 years, APAC has brought after school playwriting classes to middle schools in Astoria. The program is supported by Council Member Peter Vallone Jr. and the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development's CASA program. The Astoria Playmaking Program is built around a specific method of teaching playwriting to children developed by Daniel Judah Sklar. The classes are a mix of theater games, improvisations and writing. The students, guided by teaching artist Susan Willerman, spend six weeks devising and crafting original one act plays. The program culminates in public performances of the students' works in staged readings by professional directors and actors. "I'm so proud of these kids and all the work that APAC does," stated Vallone Jr. "It's also good to know that our youngest citizens of Queens are focusing their energies on writing and education."

Bound volumes of the students' plays have been included in the collection at the Astoria Blvd. Branch of the Queens Library.

Astoria Playmaking received new recognition in 2008 when APAC was awarded a grant through Queens Public Television. A Playmaking reading ("Imaginations Can Come True") was filmed by QPTV at Horace Greeley Intermediate School  (IS10). The resulting film took home first price at the 11th Annual Alliance For Community Media Northeast Fall Festival Awards November 15, 2008 in Methuen, Massachusetts. "Imaginations Can Come True" featured professional adult actors and directors performing short plays written by middle school students from the Horace Greeley Intermediate School. "I loved being a part of APAC's Playmaking Program," said Carla Marfe, an 8th grade participant in the program. "It really gave me a chance to use my imagination, make new friends and learn how to write a play. I never knew how much work it was to write a play, but I'm glad that I finished mine." Carla loved the fact that it was later broadcast on television. "I couldn't believe my play was actually on TV," Carla said. "That was really cool. I felt like a professional playwright." Christina Sussman, Horace Greeley's drama teacher, was also pleased, "I am so happy that QPTV came to film my students," Sussman said. "It was a great reward for my students and honored their hard work and dedication to the APAC Playmaking Program. The program really gave my students a chance to shine in the spotlight, and I am grateful to both APAC and QPTV for the attention and support they paid to my students."

We are pleased to bring Playmaking to IS10 again in 2009. Classes begin in January, and staged readings of the students' plays will be produced in March. Check our website in February for show information.

THE PLAYMAKING TEAM:
APAC Director of Community Programs: Christina Sussman
Teaching Artist: Susan Willerman
Assistant Teacher: Alex Pappas