A Community Treasure Winter 2016

So many people feel that the Colonial Theatre is a special place. For some, our building is symbol of real triumph over the chal-lenging times faced by everyone in our Borough after Phoenix Steel closed. Others created beloved memories here - like first dates or great moments witnessed in film history. People trea-sure warm recollections of visiting the Colonial as children. And even one-time visitors remark how wonderful it is that a town like Phoenixville still has an historic movie house like ours.

The Colonial Theatre is still a vital part of our community because of dedicated volunteers and the support of patrons and donors. While important, tickets and concessions only provide some of our annual operating costs. We rely on the generosity of our members, grantors, and donors for the rest.

Contributions helped us accomplish so much in the last year. We:• celebrated the largest Blobfest in our history (over 4,000 visi-

tors and $13,000 raised)• presented over 691 film events (seven days a week) and live

performances• donated over 1,200 free film tickets to area nonprofits, pro-

viding access and advancing our mission as a community-centered organization

• grew our membership community to over 1,000 members• maintained our partnerships with organizations like Firebird

Theatre and French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust

Each year, the funds we raise through our annual appeal help to keep our marquee lit and our projectors humming. Appeal contributions enable us to continue to protect and enhance this 113-year old “community treasure.”

With this in mind, I hope you’ll give to our annual appeal this holiday season - or consider becoming a member or renewing your membership at this time. No gift is too small and your sup-port this winter will help us meet our financial goals this year. You can use the envelope we’ve enclosed in this newsletter. Or, contact our office and we’ll be glad to assist you over the phone.

Happy holidays to you and yours. See you at the theatre!

Warmly,

Mary Foote, Executive Director

Dear Friends,

The Bacon Brothers on stage at the Colonial. Photo by Chris Mazzoli.

Firebird Theatre performer.

Above Mr. Lobo, Dr. Ima Hack and Chuck Francisco celebrate

Blobfest.At left Rudy Lucente

opens the festival on the theatre organ courtesy of TOSDV.

Below the Runout Re-enactment begins.All Blobfest photos by

Sandy Lusch.

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ROPEAlfred Hitchcock. US. 1948. PG. 80m. Universal. Digital.Sun, Jan 3 @ 2PMAlfred 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 an-tique 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 “Com-

pulsion”), 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.

ACE IN THE HOLEBilly Wilder. US. 1951. NR. 111m. Paramount. Digital.Sun, Jan 10 @ 2PMWhen 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 cir-

cus 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.

THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILLRobert Wise. US. 1951. NR. 93m. Fox. 35mm.Sun, Jan 17 @ 2PMRobert Wise, the talented and versatile film director of The Sound of Mu-sic, 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.

ODDS AGAINSTTOMORROWRobert Wise. US. 1959. NR. 96m. MGM. 35mm.Sun, Jan 24 @ 2PMAnother 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 com-pulsive 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 shatter-ing moments.

THE WIND AND THE LIONJohn Milius. US. 1975. PG. 119m. Warner. Digital.Sun, Jan 31 @ 2PMSean 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.

NO WAY OUTJoseph L. Mankiewicz. US. 1950. NR. 106m. Fox. 35mm.Sun, Feb 7 @ 2PMSidney 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 danger-ous patient, played by Richard Widmark at his most psychopathic. This was an excep-tionally 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

CLASSICS ON SUNDAYS

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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.

GONE WITH THE WINDVictor Fleming. US. 1939. NR. 238m. Warner. Digital.Sponsored by Uncle B’s BBQ ShackSun, Feb 14 @ 2PMA 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 wrote, “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!

IMITATION OF LIFEDouglas Sirk. US. 1959. NR. 125m. Universal. Digital.Sun, Feb 21 @ 2PMThis 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 chil-dren. 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.

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER?Stanley Kramer. US. 1967. NR. 108m. Sony. Digital.Sun, Feb 28 @ 2PMAlthough time may have rendered its theme of liberal, upper-middle-class white parents coming to terms with their daughter’s intent to marry an Af-rican-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 won-derful, 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.

BICYCLE THIEVESVittorio DeSica. Italy. 1947. NR. 93m. Janus. Digital.Sun, Mar 13 @ 2PMA 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 indiffer-ence 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.

BEAUTY AND THE BEASTJean Cocteau. France. 1946. NR. 93m. Janus. Digital.Sun, Mar 20 @ 2PMThis 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, retell-ing 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.

CLASSICS ON SUNDAYS

Classic films are on Sundays at 2PM. Tickets are $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, and $5 for members and children.

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SPIRITED AWAYHayao Miyazaki. Japan. 2001. 8+. 125m. GKids. Digital.Sat, Jan 9 @ 2PMWriter/director Hayao Miyazaki’s tale of sullen ten-year-old girl Chihiro who, after a wrong turn, finds herself in the spirit world. When a witch turns her parents into pigs she must find a way to rescue them and re-turn to the human world. Visually stunning, the film may not be as sunny as Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro, but it is emotionally

and intellectually rewarding (i.e., good lessons, happy ending). Winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. In English.

SONG OF THE SEATomm Moore. Ireland. 2014. 7+. 93m. GKids. Digital.Sponsored by Mosaic Music LessonsSat, Jan 16 @ 2PMFrom the creators of the Oscar-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 destined to become a classic.

THE IRON GIANTBrad Bird. US. 1999. 7+. 86m. WB. Digital. Signature Edition.Sat, Jan 23 @ 2PM.Director Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Jurassic World) beautifully blends traditional and computer-generated animation in this 1999 classic—a tale of Cold War paranoia, a young boy, and the metal man (weapon?) from space whom he befriends.

ZARAFARémi Bezançon. France. 2012. 8+. 78m. GKids. Digital.Sat, Jan 30 @ 2PMA sumptuously animated and stirring adventure, and a throwback to the era of hand-drawn animation. Young Maki loosens the shackles that bind him and escapes into the desert night. He meets Zarafa, a baby giraffe—and and an orphan, just like him. Hassan, Prince of the Desert, takes them to

Alexandria, where the Pasha of Egypt orders them to deliver the exotic animal to King Charles of France. A hot-air balloon adventure begins, but all the while Maki is determined to return Zarafa to her home.

BALLOON FREAK JOHN CASSIDYSat, Feb 6 @ 2PM. $6.50. 6+.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 BRIDERob Reiner. US. 1987. 8+. 98m. Fox. Digital.Sponsored by The Great American PubSat, Feb 13 @ 2PM“Both a send-up and a salute to the story-book 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, hys-terical, action-packed stuff for audiences of any age.” (TIFF)

AU REVOIR LES ENFANTSLouis 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 dur-ing 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 DIEJoseph Green. US. 1962. 10+. 82m. MGM. DVD.Sat, Feb 27 @ 2PMWhen 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!

YOUNG AUDIENCES

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THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSENTerry Gilliam. UK. 1988. 12+. 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 unthink-able 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 practi-cal villain (Jonathan Pryce) sneeringly refers to as “hot air and fantasy.” (Nathan Rabin, The A.V. Club)

TWO OF A KINDSat, Mar 12 @ 2PM. $6.50. 4+.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 com-munity 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, move-ment, 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 ARKSteven Spielberg. US. 1981. 8+. 115m. Paramount. Digital.Sponsored by The Great American PubSat, 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 oth-erwise 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 AND KITTYSat, Mar 26 @ 2PM. $6.50. 4+.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 babysit-ter. 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. Jack and Kitty have performed in 19 countries, toured for the US Pentagon, sung at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and have been performing professionally together for nearly ten years.

YOUNG AUDIENCES

Young audiences programs are on Saturdays at 2PM, unless otherwise noted. Tickets to films are $5. Live performances priced as noted. Chil-dren 2 and under are free.

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HOLY HOLYFri, Jan 15 @ 8PM. $25 - $42.50.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 Vis-conti and drummer Woody Woodmansey

will be playing music together again, just as they originally did with Da-vid 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.

GAELIC STORMFri, Mar 4 @ 8PM. $20 - $32.50.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.

TWO FUNNY PHILLY GUYSSat, Mar 19 @ 8PM. $25 - $35.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 “obser-vational 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.

NILS LOFGRENThu, Mar 31 @ 8PM. $27.50 - $42.50.WXPN welcomes Nils Lofgren to the Colonial! Probably best known for his 30 years as a member of Bruce Springs-teen’s E Street Band, Nils Lofgren actu-ally 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 main-tained a vibrant solo career that includes over 40 albums, a passionate fan base and consistent critical acclaim.

THE CAPITOL STEPSFri, Apr 8 @ 8PM. $27.50 - $42.50.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 Presi-dent 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! 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 fool-ish. What more would you expect from the group that puts the “mock” in Democracy?!

DAR WILLIAMSWITH VERY SPECIAL GUEST JEFFREY GAINESSat, Apr 9 @ 8PM. $22.50 - $37.50.A leader in the folk-pop movement for almost two decades, it’s Dar’s intimate and profound writing style and her warm and witty stage presence that has made her one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of her generation. “Jeffrey Gaines’ deceptively simple, disarmingly direct ruminations on life finds an audience of those desiring more from music than a fleeting flavor-of-the-month buzz. Gaines is extraordinary and timeless.” - Chicago Tribune

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

POINT ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS

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INDIE LENS POP-UP

IN FOOTBALL WE TRUSTTony 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 REVOLUTIONStanley 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-UpIndie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring docu-mentaries 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 Inde-pendent Lens on Facebook for information on our online Pop-Up events.

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE ON SCREEN

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA AND PAGLIACCISun, Jan 17 @ 4:30PM. $5 - $9.These two short Italian operas are each regarded as the composers’ masterpiece, and are brought together in a new stag-ing by award-winning director Damiano Michieletto, who sets both operas in a poverty stricken village in 1980s south-

ern 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. (Approx. 3 hours including intermission. Digital presentation.)

LA TRAVIATASun, Mar 20 @ 4:30PM. $5 - $9.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 great-est 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. (Approx. 3 hours including intermission. Digital presentation.)

About The Royal Opera HouseThe Royal Opera House is home to two of the world’s great artistic com-panies – 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.

THEATRE ORGAN CONCERT

THEATRE ORGAN CONCERTSun, Mar 6 @ 2PM. $6.50 - $11.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 featur-ing 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 comfort-able 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 Or-gan Restoration Fund. Program subject to change; please check TOSDV.org for updated information.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS & EVENTS

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FIRST FRIDAY FRIGHT NIGHT

THE HIDDENJack Sholder. 1987. R. 96m. WB. 35mm.Fri, Jan 8 @ 9:45PM“Made by New Line at a time when the stu-dio was known primarily for its early John Waters comedies and the Nightmare On Elm Street series, 1987’s The Hidden is a crack-erjack low-budget science-fiction thriller that has attracted a richly deserved cult follow-ing. The story of a benevolent body-shifting alien (Kyle MacLachlan, whose other-worldly 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 tran-scend its origins and budgetary constraints through craft, imagination, and all-around resourcefulness.” (Nathan Rabin, The A.V. Club)

TREMORSRon Underwood. US. 1990. PG-13. 96m. Universal. 35mm.Fri, 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 West-ern town, a small group of people are in-vaded 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)

WITCHFINDERGENERALMichael Reeves. UK. 1968. NR. 86m. MGM. 35mm.Fri, Mar 11 @ 9:45PM“Vincent Price stars as Mat-thew Hopkins in this fasci-nating historical drama. In 17th century England, during the struggle between Crom-

well 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

DRAGONSLAYERMatthew Robbins. US. 1981. PG. 108m. Paramount. 35mm.Fri, 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 drag-on’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)

LEGENDRidley Scott. US. 1985. PG. 94m. Universal. 35mm.Fri, 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 whole-some 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. ...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 2Chia-Liang Liu. Hong Kong. 1994. R. 102m. Miramax. 35mm. HK Release.Fri, 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 al-

most steals the show as his motor-mouthed stepmother. The plot revolves

FIRST FRIDAY FRIGHT NIGHT AND CULT CINEMA

www.thecolonialtheatre.com | 610-917-12289

MEMBERS’ PARTY

The Colonial lost two amazing volunteers and friends in 2015.

The death of Joel Rickenbach on November 4 was a devas-tating shock to all of us. Joel was 38 years old, a young husband and father, and an extraordinarily kind, generous and creative man. Joel was instrumental in growing our First Friday Fright Night, Cult Cinema and Classics on Sun-days film programs into the robust series they are today. As

a member of our film programming committees he helped select the films and introduced screenings with intelligence and wit. He also co-hosted our Members’ Party, created custom trailers, and designed posters and t-shirts for us. Joel was at the theatre nearly every week for the past several years. To say he was an enthusias-tically dedicated volunteer doesn’t begin to quantify his commit-ment or contributions to the Colonial. Joel will be dearly missed by our staff, fellow volunteers and patrons alike. Earl Sitlinger wandered into the Colonial the Spring of 1999, recently retired from the movie exhibition business. We were on schedule to re-open in October of that year and were looking for a house manager. Earl introduced us to Scott Bauman and the rest, as they say, is history. Scott has been with us ever since. Earl volunteered as a projectionist, helped us collect projection supplies from the movie houses that were closing in the area, and supported ACT as a longtime member. Earl was also a talented art-ist. You can see one of his paintings hanging in the theatre. We are grateful to have this reminder of Earl’s gifts in our care. Earl gave us another gift when he and his son came to see Citizen Kane just a week before his passing. We were all so happy to see him and he enjoyed giv-ing his son a tour of his old stomping grounds. Earl suffered from Parkinson’s disease and passed away on November 7. Joel was working in the old Exton movie theater in 1999, the year we met Earl, so it’s not unlikely that they knew each other before finding their way to the Colonial.

With grief and gratitude, we say cheers to Joel and Earl - two extraordinary gentlemen!

FFFN and Cult films generally start at 9:45PM but please check our website or call 610-917-1228 to confirm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, and $6 for members and children; plus a $1 per ticket service fee.

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)

CULT CINEMA cont’d IN MEMORIAM

12TH ANNUAL MEMBERS’ PARTYSun, Feb 28 @ 7PM or 8:30PM Sponsored by Calhoun JewelersRSVP by 5PM on Mon, Feb 22 to emily@thecolonialtheatre.comJoin us for our Members’ Party on Oscar® Night! We’ll watch the 2016 Academy Awards while enjoying delicious food and drink, scintillating conversation, and entertainment from Oscar and the Colonials and our quizzin’ hosts. The bar will be open all night during the Oscar® broad-cast. Member guests who intend to drink are asked to bring wine or beer to donate to our bar: one bottle or a chilled six-pack per guest, please. This event has two arrival times to facilitate an enjoyable experience in our cozy lobby. The following number of member guests are invited to join us at these specified times:

- The first 150 members to RSVP are invited to join us at 7:00PM. - All subsequent members who RSVP are invited to join us at 8:30PM.

This event is a free benefit for members at the Producer level and above so now is the time to upgrade your membership if you’ve thought about doing so! There is a nominal surcharge of $20 for Individual, Senior and Student level members to attend the party at 7PM. However, there is no charge to Individual, Senior, and Student level members to attend at 8:30PM. We require that all members, regardless of membership level, RSVP for this event by emailing emily@thecolonialtheatre.com.

See you on Oscar® Night!

This event is not sponsored by or affiliated with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Photo by Chris Mazzoli.

Association for the Colonial Theatre Board of DirectorsKenneth B. Mumma, PresidentTrish Hartline, First Vice PresidentWilliam M. Andersen, Second Vice PresidentStephen H. Kalis, SecretarySean Maher, TreasurerSusan Berry-GorelliRebecca H. BradbeerJocelyn S. HarrisRichard A. Kunsch, Sr.Pauline MonsonMarian D. MoskowitzSuzanne V. NorrisMaryLouise Sterge

StaffMary Foote, Executive DirectorKirsten Van Vlandren, Assistant DirectorScott Bauman, House ManagerRyan Wilson, Assistant House ManagerLuAnn Roth, Patron Services ManagerEmily Simmons, Development Associate Newsletter Film Synopsis Volunteers Bill Roth, Chuck Francisco, Bob Trate and Brendan Carr

Classic Film Committee Ted Wilby, Bill Roth, Lee Berger, Stephen Dabrowski, John Piljer, Joel Rickenbach, Brendan Carr, Chuck Francisco, Bob Trate, Jim Sakal, Kim McCall and Mike Lemon

Fright Night and Cult Film Committee Chuck Francisco, Joel Rickenbach, Nick Lombardo, Brendan Carr and Bob Trate

And many volunteers who sell tickets and popcorn, plan our special events and fundraise for the theatre!

The Colonial Theatre227 Bridge Street

P.O. Box 712Phoenixville, PA 19460

Association for the Colonial Theatre227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460610/917-0223 Movie Info Line610/917-1228 Theatre Officeswww.TheColonialTheatre.cominfo@thecolonialtheatre.com

Programming Art and independent films seven nights a weekClassic Films on Sundays at 2:00pmDocumentaries on Sundays at 4:30pmBaby Night on Mondays at 6:30pmMatinees on Wednesdays at 2:00pmFirst Friday Fright Night at 9:45pmCult Cinema on Third Fridays at 9:45pmYoung Audiences Series on Saturdays (Oct - April) at 2:00pmLive concerts presented by Point Entertainment

MissionThe mission of the Association for the Colonial Theatre is to enhance the collective wellbeing of our region by restoring the landmark Colonial Theatre and promoting cul-tural, economic and civic life. To that end, ACT presents film, live theatre, music, dance and other community events in the heart of Phoenixville’s historic business district.

Support the ColonialBecome a memberFrequent the theatreBuy a seatAdvertise on-screenSponsor a programsVolunteer your time and talentsMake an unrestricted tax-deductible gift Remember the Colonial Theatre in your will