Colonial Theatre's Winter Schedule Of Unique Films And Events

Phoenixville’s Colonial Theatre has released a detailed special events schedule for 2016.

Numerous events and film showings are planned for January through March.

Film tickets are $9.

See below for a complete schedule courtesy of the theatre:

POINT ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS HOLY HOLY
Tickets: $25 - $42.50
Fri, Jan 15 @ 8PM
Tony Visconti, Woody Woodmansey’s Holy Holy and Glenn Gregory perform David Bowie’s seminal “The Man Who Sold the World” album plus a new set of other classic Bowie songs from 1969-73, with very special guests. Legendary Bowie bandmates, producer/bass player Tony Visconti and drummer Woody Woodmansey will be playing music together again, just as they originally did with David Bowie and Mick Ronson. Following Holy Holy’s performance of “The Man Who Sold the World” in full, the second half of the show will feature a selection of favorite early Bowie songs, including several that the band have never played live before. Tony Visconti will play bass for the entire set. Fronting the band on this jaunt will be Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17. Reserved seating. Tickets are non-refundable. Ticket prices do not include the $2 per ticket Restoration Fee or the $1.50 per ticket Service Fee.


POINT ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS GAELIC STORM
Tickets: $20 - $32.50
Fri, Mar 4 @ 8PM
After nearly two decades and more than 3,000 live shows, Gaelic Storm — the chart-topping, multi-national Celtic band — is looking sharper than ever with their latest release, “Matching Sweaters.” The new album mixes traditional Irish music with modern influences, creating a sound that’s as wide-ranging as the band’s own audience. From bluegrass fans and country cowboys to Deadheads, rock & rollers and Celtic fanatics, Gaelic Storm has built one of the most diverse fan bases in modern music. “Matching Sweaters” follows in that hard-working tradition, dishing up all the ingredients fans have come to expect from Gaelic Storm — the drinking songs, sea shanties, furiously-strummed instrumentals and sing-along melodies — while spiking the mix with newer flavors. Eat it up, but make sure to save some room! There’s plenty more where this came from. Reserved seating. Tickets are non-refundable. Ticket prices do not include the $2 per ticket Restoration Fee or the $1.50 per ticket Service Fee.


THEATRE ORGAN CONCERT
Tickets: $6.50 - $11.50
Sun, Mar 6 @ 2PM
The Theatre Organ Society of the Delaware Valley cordially invites you to shake the Winter “blues” away and welcome the coming Spring season with a wonderful and varied program featuring TOSDV’s fabulous 3/24 Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ. Wayne Zimmerman will be on the bench providing all the music for this presentation. There are several possible choices for a silent movie, details to be worked out. If you haven’t heard our “Wurli” in a while, you’ve missed the addition of an upright piano and a real accordion, both of which are playable from the organ console. It is believed to be the only theatre pipe organ on the east coast that has a real accordion as part of its arsenal of great sounds. So come on in out of the snow (maybe none?) and cold (hope for an early Spring?), grab a bag of freshly popped popcorn, settle down in a comfortable seat and let the tones of TOSDV’s Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ take you on a wonderful journey of entertainment.

This program benefits the Theatre Organ Society of the Delaware Valley (TOSDV) Theatre Pipe Organ Restoration Fund. Program subject to change; please check TOSDV.org for updated information.


POINT ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS TWO FUNNY PHILLY GUYS
Tickets: $30 - $35
Sat, Mar 19 @ 8PM
Comedian Joe Conklin has been a constant in Philadelphia radio for more than 20 years, with his spot-on impressions of Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Cole Hamels, Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, Harry Kalas, Bobby Clarke and so many others. Fearless and hilarious, he skewers some of the country’s top politicians, pro athletes, sports executives and film stars - sometimes to their faces! Big Daddy has performed more than 4,000 comedy shows over the past 20 years, along with hosting his popular overnight radio show on WIP. Originally starting out as a musical comedian, opening for rock shows like the Hooters in the 80s, Big Daddy now focuses “observational comedy” with stories about his life and living in Philadelphia. We’re thrilled to welcome this pair of Philadelphia comedy icons back to the Colonial. Reserved seating. Tickets are non-refundable. Ticket prices do not include the $2 per ticket Restoration Fee or the $1.50 per ticket Service Fee.


POINT ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS NILS LOFGREN
Tickets: $27.50 - $42.50
Thu, Mar 31 @ 8PM
WXPN welcomes Nils Lofgren to the Colonial! Probably best known for his 30 years as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Nils Lofgren actually played guitar and piano Neil Young’s “After The Gold Rush” album at the age of 18. He joined Neil’s band Crazy Horse several years later and he’s played with the likes of Willie Nelson, Ringo Starr, Branford Marsalis and Cab Calloway. And through it all Nils has maintained a vibrant solo career that includes over 40 albums, a passionate fan base and consistent critical acclaim. Reserved seating. Tickets are non-refundable. Ticket prices do not include the $2 per ticket Restoration Fee or the $1.50 per ticket Service Fee.


POINT ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS THE CAPITOL STEPS
Tickets: $27.50 - $42.50
Fri, Apr 8 @ 8PM
Since they began, the Capitol Steps have recorded over 35 albums, including their latest, Mock the Vote. They’ve been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS, and can be heard twice a year on National Public Radio stations nationwide during their “Politics Takes” a Holiday radio specials.

The Capitol Steps were born in December, 1981 when some staffers for Senator Charles Percy were planning entertainment for a Christmas party. Ronald Reagan was President when the Steps began, so co-founders Elaina Newport, Bill Strauss and Jim Aidala figured that if entertainers could become politicians, then politicians could become entertainers! Their first idea was to stage a nativity play, but in the whole Congress they couldn’t find three wise men or a virgin! So, they decided to dig into the headlines of the day, and created song parodies & skits which conveyed a special brand of satirical humor that was as popular in Peoria as it was on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Most cast members have worked on Capitol Hill; some for Democrats, some for Republicans, and others for politicians who firmly straddle the fence. No matter who holds office, there’s never a shortage of material. Says Elaina Newport, “Typically the Republicans goof up, and the Democrats party. Then the Democrats goof up and the Republicans party. That’s what we call the two-party system.”

No matter who or what is in the headlines, you can bet the Capitol Steps will tackle both sides of the political spectrum and all things equally foolish. What more would you expect from the group that puts the “MOCK” in Democracy?!

Reserved seating. Tickets are non-refundable. Ticket prices do not include the $2 per ticket Restoration Fee or the $1.50 per ticket Service Fee.


INDIE LENS POP-UP! PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WHYY

IN FOOTBALL WE TRUST
Tony Vainuku and Erika Cohn. US. 2015. NR. 87m. ITVS. blu ray
Sat, Jan 9 @ 11AM. FREE!
“In Football We Trust” intimately follows four Polynesian high school football players in Utah struggling to overcome gang violence, family pressures, and poverty as they enter the high stakes world of college recruiting and the promise of pro sports. The odds may be stacked against them, but they’ll never stop fighting for a better future.


THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION
Stanley Nelson. US. 2015. NR. 75m. ITVS. blu ray.
Sat, Feb 13 @ 11AM. FREE!
A new revolutionary culture emerged in the turbulent 1960s, and the Black Panther Party was at the vanguard. Weaving together a treasure trove of rare footage with the voices of a diverse group of people who were there, Stanley Nelson tells the vibrant story of a pivotal movement that feels timely all over again.


About Indie Lens Pop-Up
Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on the PBS series Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics to family and relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation. Can’t attend in person? Find Independent Lens on Facebook for information on our online Pop-Up events.



ROYAL OPERA HOUSE ON SCREEN

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA AND PAGLIACCI
180m. Digital.
Sun, Jan 17 @ 4:30PM
These two short Italian operas are each regarded as the composers’ masterpiece, and are brought together in a new staging by award-winning director Damiano Michieletto, who sets both operas in a poverty stricken village in 1980s southern Italy, where the Mafia has a hold. The Royal Opera’s Music Director Antonio Pappano conducts a cast that includes charismatic Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek, exciting Italian soprano Carmen Giannattasio and the thrilling Latvian tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko. (3 hours including one intermission.)


LA TRAVIATA
190m. Digital.
Sun, Mar 20 @ 4:30PM
“La Traviata” is regarded as one of Verdi’s finest operas, and Richard Eyre’s traditional staging, is one of The Royal Opera’s most popular productions. The opera tells the story of the Parisian courtesan Violetta Valéry, one of opera’s greatest heroines, based on the real life courtesan Marie Duplessis, who died in 1847 aged just 23. In this revival, Violetta is sung by Russian soprano Enera Gimadieva in her debut with The Royal Opera, following her successful appearance as Violetta at the Glyndebourne Festival. (Act One will last for about 35 minutes followed by a 30 minute intermission. Act Two will last for 1 hour 10 minutes, followed by a 25 minute intermission. Act Three will last for about 35 minutes.)


About The Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is home to two of the world’s great artistic companies – The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet – and since 2006 they have been broadcasting some of the world’s most spectacular and moving opera and ballet performances from Covent Garden London to cinemas around the globe. The 2015/16 Cinema Season is the most ambitious to date with 6 operas and 6 ballets that include new productions, classic revivals, brand new ballets and highly anticipated operatic role debuts.



CLASSICS ON SUNDAYS

ROPE
Alfred Hitchcock. US. 1948. PG. 80m. Universal. Digital.
Sun, Jan 3 @ 2PM
Alfred Hitchcock, master of suspense, scores again with this highly unusual tale of two college students (Farley Granger and John Dall) who murder a classmate “just for the thrill of it,” hide his body in an antique trunk in the middle of their apartment, and then proceed to throw a cocktail party there. Based loosely on the true case of Leopold and Loeb (as was the film “Compulsion”), this was Hitchcock’s first film to be photographed in color as well as his first to star James Stewart, playing the murderers’ astute and wily professor, a guest at the party. Though quite famous for Hitchcock’s “stunt” of filming the story in a series of ten-minute takes and then editing it to appear to be one long continuous shot, with the skyline of New York gradually turning to dusk as the tension mounts, it is also a tour de force of psychological tension. Come see it and watch Hitch work his magic. (Bill Roth)


ACE IN THE HOLE
Billy Wilder. US. 1951. NR. 111m. Paramount. Digital.
Sun, Jan 10 @ 2PM
When one speaks of tough and cynical film classics, this one, directed and co-written by Billy Wilder, is almost always rated as one of the most hard-hitting. The story concerns a desperate, down-on-his-luck journalist (Kirk Douglas, at his most intense) who learns of a man who is trapped in a mining accident and cynically exploits the “human interest story” by turning it into a media circus for his own gain. Though by no means a comedy, “Ace in the Hole” is filled with Wilder’s customary caustic wit and timing. Watch, especially, for the scenes featuring the trapped miner’s wife, played in a breakout role by Jan Sterling, who co-operates with Douglas and has some of the most biting dialogue (“I don’t pray. Kneeling bags my nylons.”) A story that has still much contemporary resonance, this is one of the toughest films of its time. (Bill Roth)


THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL
Robert Wise. US. 1951. NR. 93m. Fox. 35mm.
Sun, Jan 17 @ 2PM
Robert Wise, the talented and versatile film director (“The Sound of Music,” “The Curse of The Cat People,” “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” etc.) is at the top of his form with this taut thriller. Filled with clever plot twists and turns, this is the story of a WWII refugee (Valentina Cortese) who, having taken on the identity of a dead American woman, has to contend with Richard Basehart, as the scheming trustee of the dead woman’s estate, as well as several other very creepy characters in the deceased’s household. If you like your film noir tinged with a touch of the gothic (like “Gaslight” and “The Spiral Staircase”), then this House will be right up your alley. (Bill Roth)


ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW
Robert Wise. US. 1959. NR. 96m. MGM. 35mm.
Sun, Jan 24 @ 2PM
Another excellent film noir from Robert Wise (see last week’s “House on Telegraph Hill”), this is a crime caper that is, as the London Radio Times has so aptly put it, “a terrific heist movie, grimly told and well performed, with a prescient and tough racist subtext that makes for compulsive viewing.” Robert Ryan does a masterful job (reminiscent of his anti-semitic soldier in “Crossfire”) as a bigoted ex-con, and Harry Belafonte (who executive produced the film) stars as a decent but desperate fellow-member of the robbery team. With a cast consisting of such stalwart film noir actors as Gloria Graham, Ed Begley and Shelley Winters and an edgy jazz score by John Lewis (pianist of the Modern Jazz Quartet) this is a film that grabs you from the start and won’t let go until the final shattering moments. (Bill Roth)


THE WIND AND THE LION
John Milius. US. 1975. PG. 119m. Warner. Digital.
Sun, Jan 31 @ 2PM
Sean Connery stars as a very un-Bond-like Moroccan sheik who kidnaps an American woman (Candice Bergen) and her children, setting off an international incident in the early years of the twentieth century. With Brian Keith playing a gung-ho President Theodore Roosevelt, this action-packed adventure tale can also be seen as a satirical comment on America’s role as the world’s policeman, way back more than a hundred years ago. Based (very loosely) on an actual incident, “The Wind and The Lion” is filled with action sequences that have been justifiably compared to those in “Lawrence of Arabia” and “The Wild Bunch.” Both Connery and Keith are in top form, and the stirring musical score (by veteran Jerry Goldsmith) was rightfully nominated for an Academy Award. This is the kind of action-adventure film that demands to be seen and enjoyed on the Colonial’s really big screen. (Bill Roth)


NO WAY OUT
Joseph L. Mankiewicz. US. 1950. NR. 106m. Fox. 35mm.
Sun, Feb 7 @ 2PM
Sidney Poitier made his feature film debut in this powerful social drama, portraying a young doctor in a small hospital who runs up against a bigoted and extremely dangerous patient, played by Richard Widmark at his most psychopathic. This was an exceptionally forceful film for its time, including race-riots and other evidence of extreme prejudice which, until this time, had seldom been shown in American cinema. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who was just coming off of such film successes as “All About Eve” and “A Letter to Three Wives,” and personally produced by Darryl F. Zanuck (head of Twentieth Century Fox at the time), this is a rare and very powerful look at racial prejudice in the mid-twentieth century, with exceptional performances all around. (Bill Roth)


GONE WITH THE WIND
Victor Fleming. US. 1939. NR. 238m. Warner. Digital.
Sponsored by Uncle B’s BBQ Shack
Sun, Feb 14 @ 2PM
A true movie milestone – “Gone with the Wind” was the biggest, most publicized, and best-remembered film of Hollywood’s Golden Age. This is the film that swept the Academy Awards during what has become known as the movies’ greatest year. The rocky romance of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara has, for over 75 years, held audiences in thrall. As critic Leonard Maltin has said, “If not the greatest movie ever made, “Gone with the Wind” is certainly one of the greatest examples of story-telling on film.” Starring Clark Gable, at his most handsome and devil-may-care, as Rhett and Vivien Leigh as the indomitable Scarlett, it also boasts one of the greatest assemblages of supporting players and character actors ever brought to the screen, as well as some of the most magnificent and epic scenes ever filmed. Shown as it was meant to be, on the BIG Colonial screen. Don’t miss it! (Bill Roth)


IMITATION OF LIFE
Douglas Sirk. US. 1959. NR. 125m. Universal. Digital.
Sun, Feb 21 @ 2PM
This classic “weepie,” based on a novel by Fannie Hurst and previously filmed in 1934 with Claudette Colbert in the Lana Turner role, is actually a sensitive exploration of two mothers struggling to raise their children. Turner plays a successful actress and Juanita Moore (Academy Award nominated for this role) is her maid, with Moore’s daughter (a chilling Susan Kohler, also Oscar nominated) seeking to pass for white. Within this melodramatic setting, Sirk and producer Ross Hunter provide a cogent commentary on 1950s materialism, racism and the disintegration of the nuclear family, while pouring on the schmaltz, all in glorious Technicolor. Many feel that this was Sirk’s masterpiece. Come see it and find out why. (Bill Roth)


GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER?
Stanley Kramer. US. 1967. NR. 108m. Sony. Digital.
Sun, Feb 28 @ 2PM
Although time may have rendered its theme of liberal, upper-middle-class white parents coming to terms with their daughter’s intent to marry an African-American man somewhat passé, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” is wonderful opportunity to watch stars Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier strut their stuff. With a fine supporting cast including Cecil Kellaway, Beah Richards, and Isobel Sanford, this is an often witty and (for its time) quite thought-provoking film. (Tracy, Kellaway and Richards were nominated for Oscars for their performances, and Hepburn won for hers, as did William Rose for his screenplay.) The acting is wonderful, especially from Tracy, in his final screen performance and, despite the seriousness of its subject matter, all concerned seem to be having a grand time. You will too. (Bill Roth)


BICYCLE THIEVES
Vittorio DeSica. Italy. 1947. NR. 93m. Janus. Digital.
Sun, Mar 13 @ 2PM
A landmark film which demonstrates the best of Italy’s post-WWII neorealism, this is a quite simple and moving story of a man who needs his bicycle to get to and from his humble job, only to have this essential item stolen. As the CineBooks Movie Guide so aptly phrases it, “this bike is no mere two-wheeler; it symbolizes his ability to earn a living, feed his family, make a life for himself. So finding it takes on a Grail-like quest,” as he and his son search Rome for the elusive vehicle. In the course of this memorable quest, we share the man’s frustration with the uncaring authorities, the indifference of church clerics, and his own growing desperation. This is a truly moving and beautiful film, almost a documentary, filmed on the streets of Rome with non-actors displaying genuine emotions. It quite deservedly won a special Oscar, prior to the Academy’s creating an award for foreign language films. Come see this amazing classic and find out why. (Bill Roth)


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Jean Cocteau. France. 1946. NR. 93m. Janus. Digital.
Sun, Mar 20 @ 2PM
This is not the cute 1991 Disney animated version of this classic fairy tale. Rather, it is the original “hauntingly beautiful, visually dazzling masterpiece” (Leonard Maltin) by French poet/filmmaker Jean Cocteau. It is a unique, often surreal, experience, retelling the familiar story in ways that leave you spellbound by the manner in which a sense of mystery, dread, and beauty combine in telling a lovely tale of the transformational qualities of love and trust. If you have never seen this genuine masterpiece of filmmaking, or have never seen it on the big screen, be prepared for an exhilarating, moving experience that will leave you with images that will haunt you long after seeing it. (Bill Roth)


FIRST FRIDAY FRIGHT NIGHT

THE HIDDEN
Jack Sholder. US. 1987. R. 96m. Warner. 35mm.
Friday, Jan 8 @ 9:45PM
“Made by New Line at a time when the studio was known primarily for its early John Waters comedies and the “Nightmare On Elm Street” series, 1987’s “The Hidden” is a crackerjack low-budget science-fiction thriller that has attracted a richly deserved cult following. The story of a benevolent body-shifting alien (Kyle MacLachlan, whose otherworldly blankness is employed effectively) who travels to Earth to hunt down an evil body-hopping alien with the help of a tough human detective (Michael Nouri), “The Hidden” is a textbook example of how a B-movie can transcend its origins and budgetary constraints through craft, imagination, and all-around resourcefulness.” (Nathan Rabin, The A.V. Club)


TREMORS
Ron Underwood. US. 1990. PG-13. 96m. Universal. 35mm.
Friday, Feb 5 @ 9:45PM
“Taking off where the 1950s monster-on-the-rampage films and the Roger Corman exploitation flicks left of, this fun and funny horror film has its tongue firmly planted in its cheek. Set in a lonely, dust-covered Western town, a small group of people are invaded by mysterious underground creatures who have more than a passing resemblance to the man-eating worms from “Dune.” Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward are hilarious as two out-of-their-element handymen who must confront the shy platyhelminths as they murderously slither through the town.” (The TLA FIlm and Video Guide)


WITCHFINDER GENERAL
Michael Reeves. UK. 1968. NR. 86m. MGM. 35mm.
Friday, Mar 11 @ 9:45PM
“Vincent Price stars as Matthew Hopkins in this fascinating historical drama. In 17th century England, during the struggle between Cromwell and the Crown, Hopkins and his associates seek out and persecute witches, as well as anyone else who incurs their wrath. When Hopkins executes the priest of a small town for being a warlock he and his partner find themselves the target of a young soldier who leaves his post in Cromwell’s army to huny down and kill the pair. The movie is immensely engrossing and captures the English period detail remarkably well for a low-budget production. Price is at his menacing, sadistic best.” (The TLA Film and Video Guide)


CULT CINEMA

DRAGONSLAYER
Matthew Robbins. US. 1981. PG. 108m. Paramount. 35mm.
Friday, Jan 22 @ 9:45PM
“The story, for anyone who has never been a small child or seen ‘’Star Wars,’’ is about a bold young man who sets out to save a kingdom, aided by the invincible powers of his wise and somehow immortal mentor. Steadfast young Galen (Peter MacNicol) is a sorcerer’s apprentice to the wry old Ulrich (Ralph Richardson), who functions here much as Alec Guinness did in ‘’Star Wars.’’ When Ulrich appears to die at the film’s beginning, he sends Galen on a mission to Urland, a place that is being terrorized by a dragon. The dragon’s name - I get this from the credits, not from having heard it roll off anyone’s tongue during the movie - is Vermithrax Pejorative. …So Galen does things the hard way and proceeds to battle Vermithrax to the bitter end. Anyone who isn’t sure who the victor will be must have momentarily forgotten the movie’s title.” (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)


LEGEND
Ridley Scott. US. 1985. PG. 94m. Universal. 35mm.
Friday, Feb 19 @ 9:45PM
“Against a Tolkienesque backdrop, Tim Curry camps it up as the Lord of Darkness - a horned, goat-footed bad guy who once ruled the earth, but was banished to the lower depths by Sunlight. The power of Sunlight, it seems, resides in the innocent unicorn, so Darkness orders a crew of trolls, goblins, and assorted uglies to pull a Lorena Bobbit on the horse’s magical horn. Topside, nature-boy Jack (Tom Cruise) and his beloved Princess Lili (Mia Sara) take time out from a heavy schedule of wholesome frolicking to spy on a pair of unicorns drinking from a stream; just then, the goblins arrive to carry out their dastardly mission. Black clouds gather, the earth is wrapped in night, and the Lord of Darkness returns to rule the earth. If young Jack is to restore daylight, he’ll need to conquer a forbidding array of demons, expensive special effects, and scenery-chewing British actors. Ultimately, “Legend” - a pet project of Ridley Scott’s that took years to research, shoot, and edit - is done in by the director’s ambition. What might have been a pleasantly innocuous children’s story becomes an enormous, lumbering FX machine into which the actors, particularly a nervous Tom Cruise, seem to disappear. The visuals are pleasantly lavish, however, and occasional hints that Scott thinks he’s up to something important can safely be ignored.” (TV Guide)


DRUNKEN MASTER 2
Chia-Liang Liu. Hong Kong. 1994. R. 102m. Miramax. 35mm. Hong Kong Release
Friday, Mar 18 @ 9:45PM
“Filmed at the peak of Chan’s prime, 16 years after his breakout turn in “Drunken Master,” this transcendent pairing of classic Shaw Brothers director Lau Kar-leung and Jackie Chan resulted in what many claim to be the greatest martial arts film ever made. In this take on the legend of Wong Fei-hung, Chan shares the screen with the great Ti Lung and also Anita Mui, who almost steals the show as his motor-mouthed stepmother. The plot revolves around Fei-hung’s attempts to foil a foreign syndicate trafficking in ancient Chinese artifacts, but the film’s jaw-dropping kung-fu sequences need little explanation. Lush, opulent, and made with no consideration for budget or schedule, it took three months just to shoot the final action scene.” (New York Asia Society)



YOUNG AUDIENCES

SPIRITED AWAY
Hayao Miyazaki. Japan. 2001. 8+. 125m. GKids. Digital.
Sat, Jan 9 @ 2PM
“After writing and directing the 1997 animated epic “Princess Mononoke,” Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki announced that he was planning to retire. Thank goodness he changed his mind. “Spirited Away” is a wonderful encore, marked by the painstaking attention to detail and artful balance between terror and joy that make his work unique. “Spirited Away” centers on Chihiro, a sullen, fearful Japanese girl whose parents are moving so far out into the country that they predict they’ll have to drive to the next town just to shop. While traveling to their new home, they discover an abandoned, disintegrating theme park, which they cheerfully explore in spite of Chihiro’s shrill protests. Suddenly, a boy approaches her and commands her to leave before nightfall. But before she can gather her wayward parents and escape, night does fall, in a breathtakingly eerie sequence that almost subsumes Chihiro’s danger with its technical achievement. Chihiro is trapped in the spirit world, and in order to save herself, her parents, and eventually her new friend, she has to come to terms with herself and her unwitting captors. Gradually, in a series of almost episodic adventures, she learns to be brave and face up to her responsibilities to herself and the people she loves. The baseline material is fairly standard stuff for a child’s adventure story, but the complex trappings and the shape of that story are uniquely Miyazaki. Chihiro comes across as plucky but authentically childlike as she faces down a crowded, jangling, wildly variegated horde of frog-men, river-dragons, nameless ooze-beasts, radish-giants, and, above all, the witch Yubaba (Suzanne Pleshette), a huge-headed, bejeweled monstrosity who steals names and memories. Miyazaki’s luminescent, gorgeously realized world is relatively safe for children (good beats out evil and love conquers all, though it’s more important that honesty, courage, and personal integrity are always eventually rewarded), but it also acknowledges blood, pain, dread, and death in ways that other animated films wouldn’t dare. “Spirited Away” is nowhere near as grim and despairing as “Princess Mononoke,” but neither does it take place in the effervescent, sunny worlds of Miyazaki classics like “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” where there are no bad guys, only bad moments. It occupies a more adult place, where life lessons are frightening and hard-won. But it implies—with passion, humor, heartbreakingly lovely animation, and no preaching—that the hurdles make those lessons all the more worth learning.” (Tasha Robinson, The A.V. Club)


SONG OF THE SEA
Tomm Moore. Ireland. 2014. G. 93m. GKids. Digital.
Sponsored by Mosaic Music Lessons
Sat, Jan 16 @ 2PM
From the creators of the Academy Award-nominated “The Secret of Kells” comes a breathtakingly gorgeous, hand-drawn masterpiece. Based on the Irish legend of the Selkies, “Song of the Sea” tells the story of the last seal-child, Saoirse, and her brother Ben, who go on an epic journey to save the world of magic and discover the secrets of their past. Pursued by the owl witch Macha and a host of ancient and mythical creatures, Saoirse and Ben race against time to awaken Saoirse’s powers and keep the spirit world from disappearing forever. As enthralling for adults as it is for children young and old, “Song of the Sea” is a wonder of magical storytelling and visual splendor that is destined to become a classic.


THE IRON GIANT
Brad Bird. US. 1999. 7+. 86m. Warner Bros. Digital. Signature Edition.
Sat, Jan 23 @ 2PM
“...at its core, The Iron Giant is basically E.T. in reverse: same starry-eyed story of a boy befriending an alien, only here, it’s the boys simple wisdom that makes an impression on the alien, not the other way around. And while there’s no single image in The Iron Giant to match the iconic shot of children cycling in silhouette under the moonlight, there isn’t much difference between that flight and a young boy cradled into the palm of a 100-foot-tall robot, catching a bird’s-eye view of a seaside town in New England. The bond between boy and alien may just transcend the bond between boy and dog.

...Messages of non-violence are easy enough to come by in animated movies, but other lessons in The Iron Giant are considerably more radical. ...this film has a healthy anti-authoritarian streak that’s rare in children’s entertainment. Here, the beatnik is a hero and the square-jawed, Eliot Ness-like government agent is a villainous buffoon. (And hooray for single mothers, too: Hogarth’s mom works night and day, and still teaches him enough about right and wrong to save the world.) In an environment where most movies of its kind have a different message, i.e. buy me in plush or action-figure form, The Iron Giant chalks one up for progressive parenting.” (Scott Tobias, read the complete review at The Onion A.V. Club)


ZARAFA
Rémi Bezançon. France. 2012. G. 78m. GKids. Digital.
Sat, Jan 30 @ 2PM
Inspired by the true story of the first giraffe to visit France, “Zarafa” is a sumptuously animated and stirring adventure, and a throwback to a bygone era of hand-drawn animation and epic storytelling set among sweeping CinemaScope vistas of parched desert, wind-swept mountains and open skies. Under the cover of darkness a small boy, Maki, loosens the shackles that bind him and escapes into the desert night. Pursued by slavers across the moon-lit savannah, Maki meets Zarafa, a baby giraffe – and an orphan, just like him – as well as the nomad Hassan, Prince of the Desert. Hassan takes them to Alexandria for an audience with the Pasha of Egypt, who orders him to deliver the exotic animal as a gift to King Charles of France. And so Maki, Zarafa and Hassan take off in a hot-air balloon to cross the Mediterranean, setting off an adventure across Northern Africa, the bustling port of Marseilles, and over the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, arriving at last in Paris. But all the while, Maki is determined to find a way to return Zarafa to her rightful home.

BALLOON FREAK JOHN CASSIDY
75m. Live.
Sat, Feb 6 @ 2PM
John Cassidy, our most popular young audiences performer at the Colonial, is an eccentric comedian whose bizarre antics have earned him widespread acclaim as one of the most original and unique performers today. John also holds several Guinness World Records® for balloon sculpting speed. His records include Most Balloon Sculptures Completed in One Hour and Most Balloon Sculptures completed in One Minute. He is a frequent performer aboard Disney Cruise Lines and has been honored to perform at the White House five times.


THE PRINCESS BRIDE
Rob Reiner. US. 1987. 8+. 98m. Fox. Digital.
Sponsored by The Great American Pub
Sat, Feb 13 @ 2PM
“Both a send-up and a salute to the storybook adventure, “The Princess Bride” mixes in all the essential ingredients—a beautiful heroine (Robin Wright), a simple farmhand who is much more than he seems (Cary Elwes), a friendly giant (Andre the Giant, who else?), a Spaniard out for revenge (Mandy Patinkin), an evil prince (Chris Sarandon), rodents of unusual size, a decrepit miracle worker (Billy Crystal) and much else besides—and gives them a deliciously witty twist. Immensely quotable, deeply silly yet also sincere, this is charming, hysterical, action-packed stuff for audiences of any age.” (TIFF)


AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS
Louis Malle. France. 1987. 14+. 104m. Janus. blu ray.
Sat, Feb 20 @ 2PM
“Director Louis Malle’s acclaimed autobiographical tale of his early school days is a poignant reminiscence of childhood camaraderie, social responsibility and the human tragedy of war. Set in occupied France during WWII, the story centers on the friendship that blossoms between two young, gifted schoolboys - one Catholic and one Jewish - when the latter hides out in a private boarding school to escape the Nazis. The beauty and mastery of Malle’s film lies in his precise eye for period detail, well-structured character development, and an insightful and accurate portrayal of adolescent behavior.” (The TLA Film and Video Guide). Nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Foreign Language Film Oscars. In French with English subtitles.


MST3K: THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN’T DIE
Joseph Green. US. 1962. NR. 82m. MGM. DVD.
Sat, Feb 27 @ 2PM
When Dr. Bill Cortner loses his sweetheart, Jan, in a car accident, he refuses to give up hope for her life. Scooping up her decapitated head, he brings it back to the lab for resuscitation. But keeping her head alive is one thing – finding her a new body is quite another. So while the mad doctor is out looking for spare parts, she’s stuck at home going out of her mind – literally! And nothing will stop her from getting revenge on the man who is keeping her as a trophy girlfriend! (Shout Factory)


THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN
Terry Gilliam. UK. 1988. PG. 126m. Sony. 35mm.
Sat, Mar 5 @ 2PM
“A massive flop turned cult favorite, “Munchausen” casts British stage actor John Neville as a legendary tale-spinner who joins forces with a precocious moppet (Sarah Polley) and reunites with his trusted band of adventurers to save a city from Turkish invaders. Neville’s preposterous quest sends him spinning through fantastic worlds, from a lunar wonderland ruled by the disembodied head of Robin Williams to the insides of a sea creature to the subterranean lair of the Roman God Vulcan (Oliver Reed). “Munchausen” presents its fantasist hero as a glorious anachronism, a proponent of wonder in an age of reason and rationality. In that respect, he mirrors Gilliam’s gloriously old-fashioned cinematic fantasia, which boasts a retro charm and craftsmanship unthinkable in our CGI-addled era. A feast for the eyes, “Munchausen” solidifies Gilliam’s status as a crucial link between the cine-magic of Georges Méliès and the homemade dream-worlds of Michel Gondry. The script is fortified with Python-esque verbal humor, but it wouldn’t take much tweaking to transform “Munchausen” into a silent film. Throw in a naked Uma Thurman at the height of her nubile beauty, and you have a rambling but irresistibly powerful illustration of what the film’s terminally practical villain (Jonathan Pryce) sneeringly refers to as “hot air and fantasy.” (Nathan Rabin, The A.V. Club)


TWO OF A KIND
60m. Live.
Sat, Mar 12 @ 2PM
Two of a Kind delights audiences of all ages with their music, good humor and audience participation. David and Jenny Heitler-Klevans love bringing people together and building community through music. Their beautiful harmonies accompanied by David’s powerful, rhythmic guitar playing and Jenny’s multi-ethnic percussion instruments create magic on stage.An award-winning husband-wife duo, Two of a Kind presents concerts for families and children of all ages, including songs, puppets, movement, and stories – all with an emphasis on interaction and participation. Themes of songs and stories range from reading & books, friendship and animals to social issues such as the environment, conflict resolution and diversity. Two of a Kind helps audiences of all ages feel that they can create music and that they can make a difference in the world. “Our songs are written out of great respect for children – their experiences, their sophistication and their desire to explore big issues. Our goal is to provide quality music that speaks to children and adults, and helps them to become people who make a positive contribution to the world – and to have fun at the same time!”


RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
Steven Spielberg. US. 1981. 8+. 115m. Paramount. Digital.
Sponsored by The Great American Pub
Sat, Mar 19 @ 2PM
“From the first moments, when the star-circled mountain in the Paramount Pictures logo fades into a similarly shaped, fog-shrouded Andean peak, where who knows what awful things are about to happen, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is off and running at a breakneck pace that simply won’t stop until the final shot, an ironic epilogue that recalls nothing less than “Citizen Kane.” That, however, is the only high-toned reference in a movie that otherwise devotes itself exclusively to the glorious days of the B-picture. To get to the point immediately, “Raiders” is one of the most deliriously funny, ingenious and stylish American adventure movies ever made. It is an homage to old-time movie serials and back-lot cheapies that transcends its inspirations to become, in effect, the movie we saw in our imaginations as we watched, say, Buster Crabbe in “Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars” or in Sam Katzman’s Jungle Jim movies.” (Vincent Canby, The New York Times)


JACK & KITTY
60m. Live.
Sat, Mar 26 @ 2PM
Jack and Kitty perform acoustic family folk and have been called “one of the most entertaining acoustic groups in the Midwest” by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Kitty’s uncle is Bunny Wailer – you know, of Bob Marley and the Wailers fame? So music is literally in her blood. She grew up listening to a healthy blend of reggae, rap and R&B. At a young age Jack discovered his vaudevillian great grandfather’s phonograph record collection and spent his childhood listening to cats like Bing Crosby, Al Jolson and Rudy Vallee. As fate would have it, oddball ukulele legend Tiny Tim moved in next door to the Norton household and somehow became Jack’s babysitter. Seriously.

That rich musical stew forms the blend of Jack and Kitty’s Emmy Award winning artistic approach. It’s organic and acoustic. It’s laid-back with positive vibes that appeal to all ages.

The “all ages appeal” comes from the years Jack and Kitty spent as co-creators and co-stars of the hit preschool kids television series “The Zinghoppers Show,” which currently airs on over 150 PBS member stations nationwide and in 175 countries worldwide via the AFN Family Network. Nominated for six Emmy Awards, an average of 5 million families see Jack and Kitty every day.

Jack and Kitty have performed in 19 countries, toured for the US Pentagon, sang at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and have been performing professionally together for nearly ten years and are excited to be back in Minneapolis after an extended stint in Nashville.