We Come Here

Written by Christopher Torres
Directed by Dev Bondarin
Produced by Astoria Performing Arts Center
Part of a festival of short play call Astoria Stories

Nominated for: Outstanding Original Short Script, Christopher Torres

Photo by Dev Bondarin

About the Production
Astoria Performing Arts Center mission is to bring high quality professional theater to Astoria, Queens, and to support local youth and senior citizens. This festival was drew inspiration from various locations in Astoria. Christopher Torres' We Come Here was a beautiful exploration of a life and how the view at the Astoria Blvd. subway station served as a special place for a family.

Artistic Director Dev Bondarin talks about producing a festival of short plays that illuminates their neighborhood.

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What excited you about producing a festival of plays based on Astoria?

Dev: It was a chance to tell stories of our home neighborhood and to work with a greater number of writers than we would normally in a season.

What did you want the audience to come away with after watching Astoria Stories?

Dev: To feel enriched about the wonderful and vibrant neighborhood APAC calls home and to think about the specific and touching stories in any neighborhood.

Photo by Dev Bondarin

What was your favorite part of this process?

Dev: To learn more about Astoria, its history and its residents. For Christopher Torres's We Come Here was especially poignant because it was rooted in his family history which added an extra level of excitement and importance.

What was the most challenging part of working on this production?

Dev: New work always has its challenges especially with a short rehearsal period as you always wish you had more time.

What was the most unique aspect of Astoria Stories?

Dev: Besides English, there were five other languages spoke during the course of the evening of short plays.

Photo by Dev Bondarin

What was it like working with Christopher Torres?

Dev: Chirstopher Torres is a wonderful person. We Come Here is one of the first plays he has ever written and he was so clear on his story and how to refine it to make it effective and resonant in 10 minutes. The short form is challenging and he rose to it!

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