A Month of “Musicals”

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

John Cameron Mitchell · 2001
95min · DCP
Playing Jul 14

Thursday, Jul 14: 7:30 pm

Hedwig, born male as Hansel in East Berlin, fell in love with an American G.I. and underwent a gender reassignment surgery in order to marry him and flee to the West. Unfortunately, nothing worked out quite as it was supposed to - years later, Hedwig is leading her rock band on a tour of the U.S., telling her life story through a series of concerts at Bilgewater Inn seafood restaurants. Her tour dates coincide with those of arena-rock star Tommy Gnosis, a wide-eyed boy who once loved Hedwig - but then left with all her songs.

“It’s Rocky Horror for a new millennium; a post-punk odyssey of love and longing filled with wit and surprisingly poignant observations on the human condition.” Sara Michelle Fetters, MovieFreak.com

“CRITIC’S PICK! Clever, funny, wildly innovative.” Stephen Holden, New York Times

“Builds into a moment of such gorgeous rocking that you truly lose yourself in some musical otherworld you never dreamed you’d reach in current films.” Kim Morgan, The Oregonian

“I see this movie as a guide for being a queer person and a queer artist amidst ever-shifting language and community divides.” Drew Gregory, Autostraddle

Xanadu

Robert Greenwald · 1980
96min · DCP
Playing Jul 13

Wednesday, Jul 13: 7:30 pm

Struggling artist Sonny Malone (Michael Beck, The Warriors) is trapped in a dull job painting album covers. He is instantly attracted to Kira (Olivia Newton-John), an anonymous woman randomly photographed in the background of one of his assignments, but no one is able to identify her. Visiting the auditorium where the cover was shot, Sonny finds the mysterious beauty, an ageless Greek muse, who encourages him to team up with old-fashioned Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly) to build a roller-skating disco.

“…compulsively watchable… it’s the perfect crystallization of a 13-year-old girl’s taste, circa 1980, complete with roller discos, dreamy boys, fashion shows, and fantasy father figures.” Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

“Sit through the credits for a fun surprise! (every crew member is credited as “cocaine”)” demi adejuyigbe, Letterboxd

Streets of Fire

Walter Hill · 1984
93min · DCP
Playing Jul 21

Thursday, Jul 21: 8:00 pm

Amid a brooding rock n' roll landscape, the Bombers motorcycle gang, led by the vicious Raven Shaddock (a breakout performance by Willem Dafoe's villainous face), kidnap songstress diva Ellen Aim (Diane Lane). Her hope for rescue lies with unlikely heroes: soldier of fortune, Tom Cody (Michael Paré) and his sidekick, the two-fisted, beer-guzzling, McCoy (Amy Madigan). Joined by Ellen's manager, Billy Fish (Rick Moranis), the trio plunge headfirst into a world of rain-splattered streets, hot cars and deadly assassins.

“…impossible not to enjoy the movie. No director holds a candle to Hill for sheer visceral expertise.” David Chute, Film Comment

“It may be the closest American equivalent to the “Cinéma du look” that was coming out of France around the same time (Jean-Jacques Beineix’s Diva and The Moon in the Gutter, Luc Besson’s Subway), not only in its overall approach to cinematic spectacle, but in its fetishistic use of music and neon.” Ben Sachs, Cine-file

Rock ‘n’ Roll High School

Allan Arkush · 1979
93min · DCP
Playing Jul 20

Wednesday, Jul 20: 8:00 pm

Vince Lombardi High School has quite a reputation: it's the wildest, most rockin' high school around! That is, until a thug of a principal, Miss Togar, comes along and tries to make the school a totalitarian state. With the help of the Ramones, the students of Vince Lombardi battle Miss Togar's iron-fisted rule and take their battle to a truly explosive conclusion! Starring P.J. Soles (Halloween), Vince Van Patten (Hell Night), Clint Howard (Grand Theft Auto), Dey Young (Spaceballs), Mary Woronov (Death Race 2000), Dick Miller (Piranha) and Paul Bartel (Hollywood Boulevard).

“Director Allan Arkush channels Frank Tashlin and the smartass spirit of Mad Magazine throughout the film, transforming his love letter to rock ’n’ roll and the eternal allure of being a teenager at war with parents into a live-action cartoon filled with giddily surreal touches. In reality, Ramones fandom was a small, specific, eccentric niche. But in Rock ’N’ Roll High School, the Ramones are as big as The Beatles.” Nathan Rabin, The Dissolve

Cannibal! The Musical

Trey Parker · 1996
97min · DCP
Playing Jul 26

Tuesday, Jul 26: 8:00 pm

CANNIBAL! THE MUSICAL tells the true story of the only person convicted of cannibalism in America - Alfred Packer. The sole survivor of an ill-fated trip to the Colorado Territory, he recounts his side of the harrowing tale to news reporter Polly Prye as he awaits his execution. The story goes like this: While searching for gold and love in the Rocky Mountains, he and his companions lost their way and resorted to unspeakable horrors, including rousing musical numbers! Packer and his five wacky buddies sing and dance their way into your heart… and then take a bite out of it! CANNIBAL! THE MUSICAL is like OKLAHOMA meets BLOODSUCKING FREAKS. Largely absent from theaters for years, this infamous and hilarious musical from the creators of SOUTH PARK is back to gross you out and get your toes tapping! (Note: there are no high-def elements available for this film. The DCP being screened is an "up-res" from an SD scan.)

“…refeshingly ludicrous.” Anita Gates, New York Times

“What’s also undeniable about the film is its charm. Everyone involved is so game to try things and so earnest with their performances. There’s a sincerity to it. A warmness.” Germain Lussier, io9.com

“It’s finger-licking good, a tasty 90 minutes of yummy production numbers and intense spiritual crises.” SF Gate

A Night at the Opera

Sam Wood · 1935
96min · DCP
Playing Jul 27

Wednesday, Jul 27: 8:00 pm

Possibly the funniest movie ever made! The legendary Marx Brothers take a hilarious, musical swipe at self-importance, pomposity and insensitivity, that crescendos with a manic on-stage performance, A Night at the Opera. Seedy promoter Otis B. Driftwood (Groucho Marx) guarantees patroness (Margaret Dumont) a position in high society if she bankrolls an opera. The plan hinges on signing egotistical tenor Rodolfo Lassparri (Walter Woolf King), but Driftwood meets his match in talent manager Fiorello (Chico Marx), who represents "the world's greatest tenor" -- actually the more-deserving, but unknown Ricardo Baroni (Allan Jones), who's also in love with the opera's soprano, Rosa (Kitty Carlisle). When Driftwood's deal falls through, the promoter, his patroness, tenors, soprano and many more must make a madcap Atlantic steamship crossing. Now, New York's Metropolitan Opera will never be the same when the Marx Brothers stage Il Travatore in the Big Apple.

“One of the most riotous films ever made!” Time Out

“One priceless comedy bit after another… this is as good as it gets.” Leonard Maltin

Summertime

Carlos López Estrada · 2021
95min · DCP
Playing Aug 4

Thursday, Aug 4: 8:00 pm

From the director of BLINDSPOTTING, this wonderful spoken-word musical was barely shown in theaters last summer. This is its Seattle theatrical premiere as far as we know! Over the course of a hot summer day in Los Angeles, the lives of 25 young Angelinos intersect. A skating guitarist, a tagger, two wannabe rappers, an exasperated fast-food worker, a limo driver—they all weave in and out of each other's stories. Through poetry they express life, love, heartache, family, home, and fear. One of them just wants to find someplace that still serves good cheeseburgers. 

“It feels like Slacker for a new generation…”Amy Nicholson, FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)

“On paper, it sounds iffy; in execution, however, it’s absolutely glorious, a gleeful glide through adolescence.” Odie Henderson, RogerEbert.com

The Wiz

Sidney Lumet · 1978
134min · DCP
Playing Aug 3

Wednesday, Aug 3: 8:00 pm

Dorothy Gale (Diana Ross), a shy kindergarten teacher, is swept away to the magic land of Oz where she embarks on a quest to return home. The Wiz features spectacular musical numbers from legendary producer Quincy Jones and an all-star cast including Lena Horne, Richard Pryor, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell and Ted Ross. Ease on down the road!

“…it’s slick and energetic and fun…” Roger Ebert

“I dig the film’s druggy ’70s vibe. I dig its infectious soundtrack. I dig pretty much the entire cast, especially Jackson in his only major film role and Pryor’s heartbreakingly powerless Wizard.” Nathan Rabin, The AV Club