The Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center (the JPT) is kicking off the summer season with Sundance Film Festival favorite, Thelma, and a “Blockbuster Blast” series featuring some of the greatest movie hits from the 1980’s.
Thelma (Friday, June 28 – Thursday, July 11): Inspired by a real-life experience of first-time director Josh Margolin’s own grandmother, Thelma puts a clever spin on movies like Mission: Impossible, shining the spotlight on an elderly grandmother as an unlikely action hero. With infectious humor, Margolin employs the familiar tropes of the action genre in hilarious, age-appropriate ways to tackle aging with agency. In the first leading film role of her 70-year career, June Squibb portrays the strong-willed Thelma with grit and determination, demonstrating that she is more than capable of taking care of business — despite what her daughter Gail (Parker Posey), son-in-law Alan (Clark Gregg), or grandson Danny might believe. For tickets and more information, click here.
“Now that Summer is in full swing, we wanted a feel-good movie for Fourth of July week to match the great vibes in Newport this season. Sundance Film Festival favorite Thelma is an unlikely comedy/action powerhouse that has something for everyone at any age to laugh, cry, and cheer for. Thelma’s the best July ticket indoors Newport, said Alex Whitney, General Manager at the JPT. “
Beginning on Thursday, July 5 The JPT is kicking off its “Blockbuster Blast” series featuring some of the most popular movies from the 1980’s.
“While these are admittedly some of my personal favorite films ever made, I think that’s also true for most cinema-lovers out there. We may have seen these classics countless times but nothing compares to seeing them on the big-screen with fresh eyes and fellow fans. These are iconic American films and seeing them Fourth of July week isn’t just fun- it’s downright Patriotic, said Alex Whitney, General Manager at the JPT. “ I hope that you will join us at The JPT this Fourth of July week to enjoy flashback screenings of big beloved films from the 1980s.”
Blockbuster Blast from the 1980s Movie Series at The JPT:
Top Gun (Friday, July 5, 7:30 PM): The Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School is where the best of the best train to refine their elite flying skills. When hotshot fighter pilot Maverick (Tom Cruise) is sent to the school, his reckless attitude and cocky demeanor put him at odds with the other pilots, especially the cool and collected Iceman (Val Kilmer). But Maverick isn’t only competing to be the top fighter pilot, he’s also fighting for the attention of his beautiful flight instructor, Charlotte Blackwood (Kelly McGillis). For tickets and more information, click here.
Back to the Future (Saturday, July 7, 7:30 PM): In this 1980s sci-fi classic, small-town California teen Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is thrown back into the ’50s when an experiment by his eccentric scientist friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) goes awry. Traveling through time in a modified DeLorean car, Marty encounters young versions of his parents (Crispin Glover, Lea Thompson), and must make sure that they fall in love or he’ll cease to exist. Even more dauntingly, Marty has to return to his own time and save the life of Doc Brown. For tickets and more information, click here.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure ( Tuesday, July 9, LIVE MUSIC at 6:30 PM and film screening at 7:30 PM): Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are high school buddies starting a band. However, they are about to fail their history class, which means Ted would be sent to military school. They receive help from Rufus (George Carlin), a traveler from a future where their band is the foundation for a perfect society. With the use of Rufus’ time machine, Bill and Ted travel to various points in history, returning with important figures to help them complete their final history presentation. For tickets and more information, click here.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (Wednesday, July 10, 7:30 PM): Dr. Indiana Jones, a renowned archeologist and expert in the occult, is hired by the U.S. Government to find the ark of the covenant, which is believed to still hold the Ten Commandments. Unfortunately, Hitler’s agents are also after the ark. Indy and his ex-flame Marion escape from various close scrapes in a quest that takes them from Nepal to Cairo. For tickets and more information, click here.
Did Tom Cruise attend the Sundance Festival during last week?