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Nearly every resident of Queens is familiar with the Unisphere, the globe in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park so often pictured in movies, TV and newspapers.
And anyone who has driven on the Grand Central Parkway is familiar with the park's New York City Building, home to the Queens Museum of Art and an indoor skating rink.
Tucked farther into the park, and perhaps not as well known, is the Queens Theatre in the Park, a performing arts center housed in what was originally the New York State Pavilion during the 1964-65 World's Fair.
But the theater is gaining attention among residents of Queens, as well as Nassau and Suffolk counties, a development that pleases Jeffrey Rosenstock, its executive director.
When the theater began staging performances on its current scale - more than 400 a year - "we wanted to be on everyone's refrigerator," he said.
Rosenstock spoke recently about the theater's history and future as the center prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary at a gala on Monday, May 3. The gala, open to the public, will feature a cabaret performance with actors and actresses from several Broadway shows.
The building that houses the theater, designed by architect Philip Johnson, served during...