Curtains Up

By Dotty Battel, JBFC Marketing Volunteer

“The play’s the thing…” William Shakespeare is not the only one to feel that way…we do too (about film as well!). That said, we are giving a standing ovation to Life on the Stage: Conversation and Film, a new dynamic film series created in collaboration with The Actors Fund. As the name suggests, the series will focus on the stories, work, and lives of people in the performing arts. “This partnership will take us into the creative world of live performers and the JBFC will put those worlds up on the big screen,” said Brian Ackerman, our Director of Programming.

We are kicking it all off with the screening of a mesmerizing new doc, Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened. An emotional roller coaster, the film traces the unexpected failure of theater legends Stephen Sondheim’s and Hal Prince’s production Merrily We Roll Along, which opened to great fanfare in 1981 and closed after 16 performances.

“Best Worst Thing brims over with moments of humor and heartbreak…This movie is more than good, pal. It’s indispensable.” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone)

After the screening, filmmaker Lonny Price, who also starred in Merrily, and acclaimed Tony-nominated and Emmy-winning actress Liz Callaway, who made her Broadway debut in the ill-fated production, will join in a discussion moderated by Tony-winning Broadway producer and Emmy-winning director Dori Berinstein.

A reception will follow upstairs in the Jane Peck Gallery.

Tickets are on sale now!