BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT
"Los Embrujados" and "Midnight Mass"
Two one-acts by Mel Nieves

The Studio Theatre at Theatre Row
August 11- 28, 2011

Directed by Walter J. Hoffman
Starring Camilo Almonacid, Arturo Castro, Alicia Fitzgerald, Wynn Hall*, Mike Havok, Gustavo Heredia, Jorge Humberto Hoyos, Flor De Liz Perez*, Kevin Prowse*, Gordon Silva*, Karen Sours and Damian Thompson*.
Associate Producer: Barbara Harrison
Stage Manager: Farin Rebecca Loeb
Set Design: Adam Kaynan
Sound Design: Joemca
Costume Design: David L. Zwiers
Lighting Design: Jordan Acosta

 In "Los Embrujados", a nervous waiter at the Windows on the World restaurant studies with his gregarious brother for his impending U.S. Citizenship test. It's a time of possibilities on this bright, clear September morning, and as he prepares for this new life, "Los Embrujados" illuminates what it means to be an American.

"Midnight Mass" follows a group of New Yorkers connected by 9/11: a war veteran whose trauma may cost him his family; his brother, who must leave his pregnant fiancée to go on his first tour of duty; a nurse who would have perished with her husband in the Towers, had her alarm clock gone off; and a fireman desperate to reclaim the courage he knew as a First Responder. In the wake of tragedy, "Midnight Mass" reveals the profound struggle to regain hope and faith.

Set Design: Nikki Egana Stadler
Costume Design: David L. Zwiers
Sound Design: Joemca

"As Is, director Walter J. Hoffman's powerful revival of William M. Hoffman's revolutionary play, captures a gay couple breaking up in the context of a larger social blow: AIDS." -- Village Voice

Written in 1985, As Is was one of the first plays about the AIDS crisis as it hit the gay community of New York City. Centering on the relationship between an HIV-positive man and his ex-lover, who returns to his side in a time of need, As Is portrays the confusion and fear as the disease first spread, and the humanity, humor, and resilience of the people it affected. Apple Core Theater Company was proud to celebrate this moving play's 25th anniversary.

In our continuous effort to welcome new theatergoers, we participated in TCG's Free Night of Theater and donated free tickets to Gay Men's Health Crisis, one of the country's first and most important AIDS-service organizations. We also partnered with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and, after asking audience members to contribute to a great cause, raised over $1,500 for BC/EFA.

WON AND LOST
"The Return of Odysseus" by Steven Gridley, and
"Pvt. Wars" by James McLure

TBG Arts Center
April 3 - 19, 2009

Directed by Walter J. Hoffman
Starring Jeff Auer, Jason Griffith, Zach Lombardo, Ryan Stadler, and Chandler Wild 

"The high level of work on display here portends great things for Apple Core Theater Company." -- NYTheatre.com

ACTC made its debut with WON AND LOST, an evening of one-acts about the American veteran experience. The production included a revival of Pvt. Wars by James McLure and the new one-act, The Return of Odysseus by Steven Gridley.

Directed by Walter J. Hoffman and appearing at the TBG Arts Center in April 2009, the productionwas received enthusiastically by audiences and critics alike.

As part of our commitment to provide affordable theater to New York City, we coordinated with the New York City Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs to welcome numerous veterans -- many who had just completed tours-of-duty in the Middle East -- to the production for free.