Based on William Saroyan's coming-of-age story set during WWII, The Human Comedy began performances May 5 and was originally scheduled to run through May 21at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Astoria.
New York critics responded strongly to APAC's intimate production, which is staged by artistic director Tom Wojtunik. When it concludes its extended run on May 28, the Astoria production will have run longer than the musical's short-lived 1984 Broadway engagement, which lasted only 13 performances.
The Human Comedy has a score by Grammy and Tony Award-winning Hair composer MacDermot and a libretto by William Dumaresq.
The ensemble cast includes Aaron J. Libby as Homer, Victoria Bundonis as Kate, Jonathan Gregg as Spangler, Deidre Haren as Bess, Stephen Trafton as Marcus, D. William Hughes as Tobey, Rachel Rhodes-Devey as Mary, Richard Vernon as Grogan, Rayna Hickman as Diana, Anthony Pierini as Ulysses, Marcie Henderson as Beautiful Music, Douglas Lyons as Trainman, Michael Jones as Felix, Philip Deyesso as Thief, Tauren Hagans as Mexican Woman, Jan-Peter Pedross as Matthew, Nicole Mangi as Helen, Jean Liuzzi as Mrs. Hicks, and Chris Causer, Andrew Leggieri and Tim Shelton as the soldiers. The ensemble includes Nathan Brisby, Jennifer Margulis, Amie Bermowitz and Allyson Pace.
Jeffrey Campos music directs the through-composed score. The production has set design by Michael P. Kramer, costume design by Hunter Kaczorowski, lighting design by Dan Jobbins, sound design by David A. Thomas and prop design by Ashlee Springer. Christine O'Grady is choreographer. According to APAC, "The coming-of-age tale focuses on young Homer Macauley, a telegram messenger who is exposed to the sorrows and joys experienced by his family and the residents of his small California town during World War II. Homer's mother Kate is struggling to support her children following the death of her husband, his older brother Marcus is in the Army, his teenaged sister Bess daydreams about romance, and his younger brother Ulysses divides his attention between the passing trains and an unrequited desire to know why his father had to die."
The Human Comedy premiered at the Public Theater in 1983 prior to a short-lived Broadway run in 1984.
For tickets and further information phone (212) 352-3101 or visit APACNY.org.
