SUMMER STARS 2008
A pirate adventure and a mysterious case of a missing mascot…it was just another day in the life of a kid! APAC’s Summer Stars 2008 spent the summer rehearsing for their two original one act plays, A Summer Pirate Adventure and High School Mystery: The Case of the Missing Mascot, both presented on August 23, 2008. After weeks of intensive rehearsals and workshops in the Broccoli Theater, our Summer Stars took the stage!
This year APAC was proud to partner with TADA! Theatre Company, New York’s leading producer of professional-quality youth theatre. “The partnership was wonderful because it allowed the students the opportunity to work with exceptional teaching artists,” said Christina Sussman, APAC’s Director of Community Programs. During the seven weeks of the program, the 8-13 year olds from across the Queens community were taught several songs from popular musical theatre pieces, countless intricate dance steps and how to devise their own script. This year, the Summer Stars decided to create their own original show. Program Director Ben Tostado explained the process. "We started by engaging the kids in our theme. Then together, we brainstormed the various ideas that would make our story exciting for an audience to watch. (It was so amazing to see what the kids come up with out of their own imaginations!) From there, we introduced songs that further the plot or reveal the feelings of the characters, much like a book musical. Several weeks later, we had a full--albeit, short--musical presentation complete with singing, dancing and acting that the kids can walk away saying they helped create." The results were fantastic, with our younger kids creating a musical revue about pirates, and our older students penning a mysterious musical about a missing mascot. Being able to write part of the play was one of the best parts for Shana Buckstad, a Summer Star actress. Shana, a 5th grader from Our World Neighborhood Charter School, said, “Being a part of the program was so great! The teachers and counselors were really accessible. It was really fun coming up with our own ideas!”
Summer Stars was a free professional music theatre training program, offered to Queens’ youth by the Astoria Performing Arts Center and sponsored by the Port Authority of NJ and NY, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Con Edison, Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr., Assembly Member Margaret Markey, Senator George Onorato, Assembly Member Michael Gianaris and The Boys and Girls Club of Astoria. Summer Stars Staff: Artistic Director – Tom Wojtunik; Director and Choreographer –Ben Tostado; Musical Director and Accompanist – Jeff Quinto; Costume Designer – Severe Erase; Lighting Designer – Joe Cantalupo; Stage Manager – Julie Whitehouse; Director of Community Programs – Christina Sussman.
Check back in the spring for information about Summer Stars 2009 or join our mailing list by emailing [email protected]
