FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM OCTOBER 1, 2020 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 35
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Photo courtesy of Radial Park
Astoria’s new drive-in theater opens off ering live
performances and Broadway-centric screenings
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
A new drive-in experience will keep the
show going in Queens with fi lm screenings
of favorite musicals.
Friends of Halletts PointandStark
Production Groupare introducingRadial
Park, a Broadway-centric drive-in movie
experience featuring live performances
at Halletts Point Play, located in Astoria.
Th e venue will host a variety of experiences
including live performances from
Broadway stars, movies on the big screen,
karaoke with Bluetooth speakers, moviestyle
concessions and more.
“As the saying goes, ‘Th e show must
go on,’” said Jeremy Shepard, Stark
Production Group founder and president.
“We are thrilled to be able to be presenting
Broadway at the drive-in and are grateful
to our partners, Friends of Halletts Point
and the Durst Organization, for making
it all possible. I chose Broadway because
it has been a part of my life for the last
10 years. It seems a shame it is shut down
when we all need it the most. Can’t wait to
see you at Broadway at the drive-in!”
Guests can enjoy the screenings from
their vehicles or from reserved picnic
tables that are socially distanced and come
with a retro boombox for audio. Movie
theater snacks and beverages will be available
for purchase.
Radial Park is implementing a set of
strict health and safety protocols including
temperature checks upon arrival via
an infrared, touchless thermometer, color
coded wristbands for social distancing
and “lifeguards” on duty who will be
ready to blow the whistle to enforce strict
social distancing.
Radial Park will off er previews on
Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m. with Andrew
Lloyd Webber’s “Th e Phantom of the Opera.”
Th e show will be kicked-off by a special
pre-show concert from stars Derrick Davis
(“Th e Phantom of the Opera” National
Tour, “Th e Lion King” National Tour) and
Ali Ewoldt (“Les Miserables” National Tour
and Broadway, “Th e Phantom of the Opera”
Broadway and “Th e King and I” Regional
Tour and Broadway), who will bring this
all-time fan favorite to life alongside a live
11-piece orchestra.
Th e offi cial opening night celebration
will take place on Oct. 1 with a doublefeature
of “Th e Phantom of the Opera”
at 8 p.m. and “Purple Rain” at 11:30 p.m.
Tickets start at $75 to $150 per group
and can be purchased online atRadial-
Park.com/tickets, where a complete
schedule of events can also be found.
Th e Durst Organization will underwrite
20 tickets (per showing) for the Astoria
Houses residents. A portion of the proceeds
from ticket sales will benefi t Friends
of Halletts Point, a community nonprofi t
organization that enhances the infrastructure,
transportation connections, community
programming and beautifi cation
of the Halletts Point peninsula.
“Th e residents of the Astoria Houses are
delighted to welcome this exciting drive-in
experience to Halletts Point,” said Claudia
Coger, president of the Astoria Houses
Residents’ Association. “We thank Th e Durst
Organization for their ongoing partnership
and contribution of tickets to our residents.”
“Th e Durst Organization is thrilled to
host such a creative concept from Stark
Productions,” said Helena Rose Durst,
principal at Th e Durst Organization.
“Radial Park will provide a unique live
entertainment experience that we are all
craving during these diffi cult times, but in
a safe and responsible way.”
/tickets
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