Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) Honors Hal Rosenbluth, Kaufman Astoria Studios; and City Council Member Peter Vallone Jr.

Rosenbluth says that the arts are necessary and basic to a thriving community and economic stability. He fears the impact of budget cuts that could affect the arts and culture throughout Astoria and greater Long Island City.

10th Anniversary of Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) Honoring Hal Rosenbluth, Kaufman Astoria Studios, and Peter Vallone Jr. City Council Member District 22   Hal Rosenbluth, President of Kaufman Astoria Studios, Honored by APAC for his contributions to APAC and the Community.   Peter Vallone Jr. NYC City Council Member Queens District 22, Honored by APAC for his contributions to APAC and the Community.     Full video coverage and follow up Q&A are available in the left column in 7 segments of approximately three to five minutes each. OurLIC NEWS: Part 1 Astoria Performing Arts Center 10th Anniversary GALA. 3/24/2011 OurLIC NEWS: Aravella Simotas, Astoria's NYS Assemblymember at APAC Gala. 3/24/2011 OurLIC NEWS: Part 2 Astoria Performing Arts Center 10th Anniversary GALA. 3/24/2011 OurLIC NEWS: Hal Rosenbluth, President of Kaufman Astoria Studios, honoree at APAC 10th Anniversary Gala. 3/24/2011 OurLIC NEWS: Peter Vallone Jr., City Council Member District 22, honoree at APAC 10th Anniversary Gala. 3/24/2011 OurLIC NEWS: Performance at APAC 10th Anniversary Gala. 3/24/2011 OurLIC NEWS: Interview with City Council Members Peter Vallone, Jr, and Jimmy Van Bramer along with APAC Executive Director, Taryn Sacrmone at their 10th Anniversary Gala 3/24/2011

Astoria / Long Island City, Queens, New York March 24, 2011 - Leading members of the Astoria / Long Island City community gathered at Cienna to Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Astoria Performing Arts Center [ APAC ].   With the backdrop of a Special performance "Beautiful Music 10 Years of APAC" Directed by Tom Woujtunik,  the GALA event honored two men for their contribution to the arts and the Astoria community: Hal Rosenbluth, President, Kaufman Astoria Studios City Council Member Peter Vallone Jr. After heartfelt introductions by APAC Executive Director, Taryn Sacramone, there was no doubt of the commitment of these two people to Astoria and APAC. As President of Kaufman Astoria Studios, Hal Rosenbluth has spent 30 years helping to make Astoria become a "thriving community" with performing arts at its core. Rosenbluth was honored for his friendship and his good counsel, and for his role in making Astoria the culturally rich destination spot that it is, and for his support of APAC. After receiving the award, Rosenbluth focused his comments on the "frighteningly real possibility that the arts will become conspicuous by its absence".   He explains that the arts, in all of their forms, "makes up so much of who we are", and how we as human beings "want the world to be". Rosenbluth is nervous about our ability to hold onto the necessary support for the arts because of deep cuts in city, state, and federal government budgets. He explains that we need to come together so that arts do not get lost in the shuffle. He says that one of the ways to continue having the arts in our neighborhoods is to help our Representatives help the arts flourish in Astoria.  Rosenbluth also referred to The Chocolate Factory and other organizations that depend on all of our support. Rosenbluth is understandably proud of the Kaufman Astoria Studios "Campus" that has been built over the past 30 years. He told the group that it is more than just production. It encompasses culture, entertainment, education, and fun.  He says "Through that comes economic stability that allows for a lasting impact of the arts on Astoria". "Make no mistake, Astoria is a shining light for this city", Rosenbluth says, continuing that "it is a beacon for creative people. [pause]  We need to keep it that way."   City Council Member Peter Vallone Jr. was honored for his leadership in the community he serves, for valuing the contributions to the arts made in the community, and for being APAC's biggest champion for 10 years. Vallone Jr. and his prominent family have been champions of Astoria, the Astoria Performing Arts Center, and many other Queens art centers and institutions. Vallone Jr. is very close with APAC and a regular at both performances and rehersals. In his best humor, he told the audience that Astoria didn't have very much for the arts before APAC.  The organization started as a dream of Susan Scannell. She met Peter on the street and invited him to "an event".  He went to the performance.  APAC became the first group that Vallone Jr. supported when he was elected to the City Council. Vallone Jr. said that there are funds set aside for a permanent home for APAC, and they are looking for space. Also on stage was  Aravella Simotas, Astoria's NYS Assemblymember, recently inaugurated after winning the seat vacated by Michael Gianaris who became NY State Senator in January 2011. The APAC website discusses its mission and history; and starts by saying: The Astoria Performing Arts Center, Inc. (APAC), a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 2001 by actress Susan Scannell (“Dynasty”). Our mission is to bring high quality theatre and entertainment to Astoria/Long Island City and to support local youth and senior citizens. We are a professional theatre company that complements a full season of award-winning mainstage programming with dedicated community programming. Each year, APAC brings extended networks of artists, technicians, and volunteers together to produce musical revivals and modern plays. Our mainstage productions have been recognized for their quality and exceptional production values. We have received fourteen New York Innovative Theatre Award nominations and four wins (Children Of Eden, 2010, Ragtime, 2009), and an Off-Off Broadway Theatre Review Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical (Is There Life After High School?, 2004). We are invested in bringing visibility to new voices in American theatre, and through our series The 15/20s: Staged Readings of New Works, we present new plays by emerging playwrights. The evening included a performance by eleven APAC stars.   It featured songs an material from each of the mainstage musical productins between 2001 and 2011. APAC upcoming calendar of events  includes: Show Date(s) Location Admission 15/20s: Staged Readings of New Works: Afterglow (A Comedie of Bad Manners) by Sarah Overman Monday, March 28th at 7pm Good Shepherd United Methodist Church [Map] FREE - Email:  boxoffice@apacny.org to reserve Mainstage: The Human Comedy Music by Galt MacDermot, Libretto by William Dumaresq, from the Story by William Saroyan May 5th through May 21st Good Shepherd United Methodist Church [Map] TIckets: $18. Buy tickets online here OurLIC attended the APAC Gala and presents the speeches made by Taryn Sacramone, Hal Rosenbluth, Peter Vallone Jr., Aravella Simotas, and others as part of this article and special report. In addition, there is a special interview with City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Taryn Sacramone, and Peter Vallone Jr.  The quality of the video is not very good because of the low light and the noise at Cienna, but we think still worth viewing the comments of the three people who have collaborated for several years to make performing arts thrive in Long Island City. Watch here for more.     10th Anniversary of Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) Honoring Hal Rosenbluth, Kaufman Astoria Studios, and Peter Vallone Jr. City Council Member District 22 Hal Rosenbluth, President of Kaufman Astoria Studios, Honored by APAC for his contributions to APAC and the Community. Peter Vallone Jr. NYC City Council Member Queens District 22, Honored by APAC for his contributions to APAC and the Community. (C) Assemblymember Aravella Simotas (R) Michael Murphy, Deputy Chief of Staff, Communications for NYS Senator Michael Gianaris Hal Rosenbluth, Aravella Simotas, and Peter Vallone Jr. watch the APAC performance. (L) Jimmy Van Bramer, NYC Council Member Queens District 26. (C) Taryn Sacramone, President, APAC. (R) Peter Vallone Jr, NYC Council Member Queens District 22 (L) George Wachtel, President Audience Research Analysis; (C) Shelly Felder, Senior Director Marketing, Mount Sinai Queens, (R) Taryn Sacramone, Executve Director, APAC (L - R) Peter Vallone, Jr.; Aravella Simotas; Taryn Sacramone; Hal Rosenbluth Taryn Sacramone, Executive Director's Letter to Friends and Supporters (L) Caryn Schwab, Executive Director, Mount Sinai Queens; (C) Shelly Felder, Senior Director Marketing, Mount Sinai Queens, (R) George Wachtel, President Audience Research Analysis Hon. Peter F. Vallone, Sr. and wife Tena, active supporter of APAC and culture in Queens (L) Gary Kesner, Chairman LICBDC and Executive Vice President Silvercup Studios (C) Hal Rosenbluth, President of Kaufman Astoria Studios and Board Member of LICBDC (L) Richard Dzwlewicz, Regional Director TD Bank; (C) Taryn Sacramone, Executive Director APAC; (R) Peter Vallone, Jr. Honoree and NYC City Council Member District 22 The Beautiful Music 10 Years of APAC show was Hosted by Broadway's Tituss Burgess, who also performed in the final segment. Gary Kesner, Chairman LICBDC and Executive Vice President Silvercup Studios; Marcie Kesner, Planning & Development Specialist, Kramer Levin. The "Beautiful Music 10 Years of APAC" show was Hosted by Broadway's Tituss Burgess, who also performed in the final segment. 10 Anniversary of Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) The Beautiful Music 10 Years of APAC show was Hosted by Broadway's Tituss Burgess, who also performed in the final segment.

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