The Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center (The JPT) will host the premiere of The Boatbuilders, a docuseries, on Thursday, September 12.
The Boatbuilders is a docuseries that explores the rich legacy and present-day impact of the boatbuilding community in the northeastern United States. The premiere episode highlights Rhode Island’s maritime heritage and features local organizations dedicated to the preservation and restoration of historic sailing vessels.
The evening will include a screening of the first episode of The Boatbuilders, a panel discussion with experts in the boatbuilding industry, live music by John Baptista pre and post film and a dessert reception.
The post-screening panel discussion will be moderated by producers Gregg Seibert and R.A. Lawson. Panelists include Jens Lange, Owner of Baltic Boat Works, LLC, Dan Kleitz, General Manager of Outerlimits and a representative from IYRS School of Technology & Trades.The discussion will provide insights into the current boatbuilding industry and explore Rhode Island’s role in the Blue Economy.
“We are extremely excited to have an opportunity to screen episode 1 of The Boatbuilders docuseries at The JPT. The event will allow the boatbuilding community and people interested in boating to come together to share some of the past, present, and future with respect to maritime activities in Bristol and Newport. It will be a night of music, film, discussion, networking and dessert. We hope people will come, relax, enjoy and learn a little bit more about the vibrant story of boatbuilding in Rhode Island,” said Gregg Seibert, Director & Co-Producer of The Boatbuilders Docuseries.
Doors will open at 6:30 PM with live music beginning at 6:45 PM, and The Boatbuilders screening at 7:15 PM. The panel discussion directly follows the screening and guests will have the opportunity to enjoy more live music and a dessert reception after the panel. For tickets and more information on The Boatbuilders, click here.
In addition to the premiere of The Boatbuilders The JPT is screening a trio of boat-themed movie classics; Mutiny on the Bounty, WIND, and Great White Summer.
“At The Jane Pickens Theater, we’re pleased to present the premiere of The Boatbuilders, followed by a series of boat-themed films including Mutiny on the Bounty, WIND, and Great White Summer. These screenings offer a unique look at maritime adventures and local stories, celebrating both classic cinema and Newport’s rich maritime heritage. We invite you to join us for these engaging films and enjoy a deep dive into the world of boating, said Alex Whitney, General Manager at The JPT. “
Mutiny on the Bounty (Wednesday, September 11, 7:30 PM)
Mutiny on the Bounty follows William Bligh (Charles Laughton) the cruel captain of the HMS Bounty), a ship bound for Tahiti. When the crew members finally tire of his abuse, Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable) leads a mutiny, resulting in Bligh’s unceremonious removal from the ship. While Christian and the remaining crew sail on to Tahiti, Bligh becomes intent on exacting revenge, and he targets Roger Byam (Franchot Tone), a sailor who had actually tried to stop the mutiny. For tickets and more information on Mutiny on the Bounty click here
WIND (Friday, September 13, 7:30 PM)
WIND is the dramatic, fictional story of an upstart group of American challengers whose drive to win back sailing’s top prize plunges them into a world where money, power, love and ambition are inextricably intertwined. In 1983, yacht sailor Will Parker (Matthew Modine) leads an American crew financed by millionaire Morgan Weld (Cliff Robertson) to defeat during the America’s Cup race against an Australian crew. Determined to get the prize back, Will convinces Morgan to finance an experimental boat designed by his ex-girlfriend Kate’s (Jennifer Grey) new beau, Joe Heisler (Stellan Skarsgard). When the boat is completed, the Americans head to Australia to reclaim the cup. For tickets and more information on WIND click here.
Great White Summer (Tuesday, September 17, 7:30 PM)
Great White Summer is a locally produced Cape Cod documentary that looks at how communities react to shark attacks. From the peaks of Cape Cod’s surfing waves to the murky depths below, trouble runs deep on this beloved New England seashore after the first fatal shark attack in eighty years upends the community. With the predator population on the rise, and increasing encounters placing lives and livelihoods in peril, Great White Summer chronicles a season of struggle as people demand action, priorities are questioned, personal allegiances shift, and growing suspicion clouds the waters. Nature, culture, commerce and human life collide, with sheer survival at stake as sharks, surfers, scientists and society fight for everything they value. The screening will include an audience Q&A with the film’s producer and cast members from Great White Summer. For Tickets and more information on Great White Summer click here.
