EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR Taryn Drongowski became the Executive Director of the
Astoria Performing Arts Center in August 2005. To APAC, she
brings both theater and non-profit experience. Taryn graduated
from Kenyon College (Gambier, OH) and, in 2003, she completed a
training program at the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School.
Currently, Taryn also serves as Special Projects Manager for the
Program on Culture, Creativity & Information Technology at the
Social Science Research Council. She moved to Astoria three
years ago, after tasting the pizza at Sac's Place on Broadway.
As a proud resident, Taryn is especially excited to have the
opportunity to contribute to the arts in one of New York's most
vibrant neighborhoods--this is a place for story-telling.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Tom Wojtunik
has been in New York City since 1997, and in Astoria for the
last five years. He had the pleasure of directing Proof for APAC
in 2007 prior to being named Artistic Director. New York
directing credits include: Man of La Mancha, Six Degrees of
Separation, Urinetown (NY IT Award Best Musical), Take Me Out
(The Gallery Players); The Play About the Naked Guy and
Edenville (NY IT Nominee – Best Director, Emerging Artists
Theatre); The Miss Education of Jenna Bush (FringeNYC, Best Solo
Show & Audience Favorite); Rum and Vodka and The Good Thief
(Prospect St. Productions); I'm in Love with Your Wife (Midtown
International Theatre Festival). Tom served as a 2007/2008
Resident Director at Ensemble Studio Theatre, where he was an
Associate Producer on the 2008 Marathon of One-Act Plays. He was
an Associate Casting Director at Charles Rosen Casting, produced
the 2002 Festival of New Musicals for the National Alliance for
Musical Theatre, and served as Artistic Director of NeoPack, a
theatre company focused on new work, from 2001-2004. BFA:
Marymount Manhattan College. SSDC Member.
DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR Chris Perry
is a native of Athens, Georgia, Chris has been an Astoria resident
since 2006. His previous development background includes
fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society and the
Georgia Nurses Association, for which he also served as District
President. Chris holds degrees from University of Georgia,
Athens Tech, and Redding University in Nursing and Health Care
Administration. He currently serves as the Director of Wellness
for the 80th Street Residence. Chris is a proud patron of the
arts, and he is excited to contribute to the enthusiastic APAC
team.
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Christina Sussman is originally from Virginia Beach, VA, though
she has been an Astoria resident for several years. She holds a
BA in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech, a MA in Educational
Theatre from New York University, and an MS in Special Education
from Pace University. She has worked for several professional
theatre companies before becoming the resident drama teacher at
I.S. 10, where she has taught and directed for the last four
years. She is delighted to join the Astoria Performing Arts
Center!
RESIDENT PRODUCTION STAFF
The following production staff
have become part of APAC's resident team of designers and are
one of the primary reasons why our mainstage productions have
been recognized and awarded by the Off-Off Broadway community.
APAC produces a full season of shows so we are always looking to
bring more people on board in every capacity. For more
information on how to get involved email
taryn@apacny.org
RESIDENT SCENIC DESIGNER
Michael Kramer is happy to be back for his 3rd production at
the Astoria Performing Arts Center. Past designs for APAC have
been Nunsense and Picasso at Lapin Agile, and A
New Brain (NYIT Award Nomination, Best Set Design). Other
Selected New York productions include: The Wake of Jamey
Foster at the Cherry Lane Theatre, The Mystery of Edwin
Drood at The Gallery Players, Flyer for 3 Graces
Theatre company at the Bank Street Theatre, and Spike
Heels at the Sanford Meisner Theater. Regional credits
include Gianni Schicchi and Cavalleria Rusticana
at Pine Mountain Music Festival, The Miracle Worker at
Foothills Theatre Company and Tapestry at the Hillbarn
Theatre. Michael is a native to New Orleans and currently lives
in New York City, where he is a scenic designer at Hotopp
Associates. Hotopp projects include the Comedy Central series -
“Stand up Nation with Greg Giraldo”, NASCAR’s “Mobile Pit
Studio”, Bassmaster Classic 2007 and ESPN’s Heisman Trophy Award
ceremony.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
APAC Board Treasurer Adam Sherwin
is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Happy Media
Incorporated. His has written about technology, the arts, and
sports for the NY Daily News, The Berkshire Record, and other
publications. Happy Media's
Juggernaut works
with a wide variety of Community Positive organizations,
including The Greater Astoria Historical Society, The New York
League of Conservation Voters, the NYPIRG Fuel Buyers Group,
City-As-School, the Queens Council on the Arts and African
Solutions to African Problems.
Executive Director Taryn Drongowski
(See bio above.)
Astoria resident and APAC Board
President, Regina Cialone's career in arts administration
includes working at Carnegie Hall in Corporate Sponsorships,
Patron Giving, and Membership; and facilitating national
auditions for professional theatres and college programs a t the
Southeastern Theatre Conference. Regina holds a B.S. in Arts
Management and a Masters in Nonprofit Management and is
currently the Director of Patron Programs at Thirteen/WNET. With
her passion for business and the arts, Regina looks forward to
working with APAC during this exciting time
Jill Parshley
is grateful to be one of the newest members of the Board of
Directors for APAC. She was born and raised in Astoria,
Queens and was always hoping for the day where a prominant
theatre community such as APAC would arise in Astoria! She was
introduced to APAC several years ago by one of its greatest
supporters, Peter Vallone Jr. She started volunteering for APAC
by stuffing envelopes for Sue Scannell, the founder of APAC,
and decorating the bathrooms on opening nights. Soon she moved
up to assisting with PR for the Children’s Summer
Stars, building relations with the neighborhood's supporters for
donations, and acting in two of the 7th graders Playmaking
Programs! Jill graduated with a BA in Drama, Theatre, and
Dance from the City University of New York’s Queens College,
earning two scholarships for acting and theatrical spirit. There
she starred in many productions including Six Characters In
Search of an Author, Everyman, Steel Magnolias, Lend Me a Tenor,
Going Up, Club Soda, and her directorial debut was Still Life by
Emily Mann. Soon after, she continued her acting, voice and
movement studies with Michael Howard and his faculty at his
acclaimed studio in Manhattan. Jill also worked managing Shetler
Studios, and volunteering for the Lark Theatre Company in
NYC. She started acting in voice-over with the Hospital
Educational and Entertainment readings on the old Adelphi
University's WBAU 90.3 FM station. Now she is the voice of two
channels on Sirius Satellite Radio. She starred as the honorable
Miep Gies in the National Theatre of the Performing Arts'
nationwide tour of Anne Frank Remembered" soon after college.
She was later featured in "All Our Yesterdays" a film short for
the School of Visual Arts, and a Brooklyn College’s Thesis
Feature Film titled “Set List” shown on Queens Cable and CUNY
television stations. Her latest acting role was in the feature
film written/directed by Lucas Stone titled “Miles Fuller” which
was screened at Tribeca Film Center. Jill's website is
www.jillparshley.com.
She hopes to continue to assist the Astoria Performing Arts
Center with it's outreach and efforts to provide high quality,
affordable entertainment to the adults and children of Queens
and all of New York City.
APAC FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
APAC Founder and past Executive
Director, Susan Scannell is an accomplished
actress/singer/lyricist with television, theater and cabaret
appearances to her credit. Television credits include starring
roles on: Dynasty, Ryan’s Hope, Search For Tomorrow,
Remington Steele, The A-Team and others. As a
singer/songwriter she has performed on The Merv Griffin Show
and in various cabaret rooms in New York and Los Angeles. She
also sang the national anthem at Shea Stadium. Her original one
woman show Love Jokes can be seen on Queens Public
Television. As an entrepreneur, APAC is one of Ms. Scannell’s
many successful endeavors. She has also been successful in the
business world having opened and run two franchises of the
national video dating service “Great Expectations” and currently
writes original songs and poems for people in a bi-coastal
company she started named The Rhyme of Your Life. She is
grateful as a resident of Astoria/LIC to be given this
opportunity to bring high quality entertainment to the Astoria/LIC
community through The Astoria Performing Arts Center, and
to Taryn, Brian, and all of the “APAC Family” for carrying the
torch so valiantly.
APAC FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
(2001-2008)
Brian Swasey
is a graduate of University of New Hampshire with a degree
in Musical Theatre and Dance. Theatrical Performing credits
include Harry Houdini in Ragtime at Maine State Music
Theatre, the Off-Broadway production of Naked Boys Singing
(yes, I was really naked), Into the Woods, Gentlemen Prefer
Blondes, Crazy for You, Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, A
Chorus Line, She Loves Me, 42nd Street, Tommy, The Wizard of Oz,
and an international tour of West Side Story.
Directing and Choreography credits include Forever Plaid,
Lucky Stiff, The Man in The Iron Mask, Godspell, Seussical,
Starmites, Nunsense, Is There Life After High School?, How to
Succeed..., Once on this Island, A New Brain, Miracle on 34th
Street, A Chorus Line, Once Upon a Mattress, Kiss Me, Kate and
Peter Pan.
For more info visit
www.brianswasey.com
