We won’t be offering live performances indoors until July, the Bankhead Theater will finally reopen in May screening films for a limited audience size. Following state guidelines, only 140 tickets distributed across the 507-seat theater will be sold for each event. Originally scheduled for the week the theater closed a year ago, the classic film musical “Fiddler on the Roof” (1971) will be the first to return on Wednesday, May 19. Seats will be held for original ticket holders, others will be sold when available. Nine additional films are added including theatre productions filmed for broadcast from London’s West End and a “Travel Without Leaving Town” Series featuring famous art and artists. The Family Films series also returns this summer and the three titles have just been announced (see below)!
“After what has been a very long year, we are really looking forward to welcoming our patrons back into the theater,” says Chris Carter, our Executive Director. “Until we are able to host live performances again, showing high-quality films on our full-stage big screen can bring at least some of the joy of the arts back inside the theater,” he said. “We hope to host outdoor concerts soon but as our first priority remains keeping patrons safe, we continue to wait for county or state guidelines on how to do so.”
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE
National Theatre Live offers the best of British theater with state-of-the-art filming techniques specifically tailored for each play, providing an experience described as “the next best thing to actually being there.” On June 10, the Bankhead will screen an inventive new adaptation of the powerful love story “Cyrano de Bergerac” starring James McAvoy (X-Men, Atonement) in the title role. The legendary Ian McKellen delivers an “extraordinarily moving portrayal” of Shakespeare’s tragic and tormented “King Lear” in a Chichester Festival Theatre production to be shown on July 8.
TRAVEL WITHOUT LEAVING TOWN
The “Travel Without Leaving Town” series is made up of five Great Art on Screen films which offer an in-depth look at some of the most extraordinary and groundbreaking artists of their time. From Venice and Florence in Italy, to Spain, Russia and Mexico, the films feature the works of great Renaissance masters, Tintoretto and Botticelli the fascinating Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, as well as in-depth tours of the treasures within famous museums, The Prado and The Hermitage. Narrated by well-known actors, interspersed with insights from expert art historians, the culture and stories of these artists and art collections come to life. The films will be screened on Sundays from May 30 through July 25 and align with a new Bankhead Gallery art exhibit, “Take Me There: Travel the World Through Art and Photography,” which opens June 29. Download the exhibit’s Call for Art HERE.
LIVE FROM LONDON’S WEST END
“Live from London’s West End” will showcase two acclaimed musical theatre productions on July 16 and 30. Directed by the show’s original author Mark Bramble, “42nd Street” is filled with such familiar hits as the show-stopping title number, “Lullaby of Broadway,” and “We’re in the Money.” “Kinky Boots” won six Tony Awards in 2013, including Best Musical and the Best Score award for Cyndi Lauper, the first woman to win alone in that category. The two film musicals from the West End will be co-presented by Bankhead resident company, Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre, which was originally to have mounted their own production during the month of July. TVRT is making plans for their return to the Bankhead stage this November.
FAMILY FILMS – JUST ANNOUNCED
Our annual summer family film series this year will feature three favorites, including October Sky, where the big screen in the Bankhead will help show the magnitude of the “Rocket Boys'” reach for space. It will be followed by The Goonies, a treasure-seekers adventure story that sparked a loyal following when it first came out and has maintained that popularity in the decades since. In August, the original feature film The Muppet Movie, starring the beloved Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, will thrill fans old and new.
YOUR SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY
In addition to socially distanced lines and seating, masks will be required and temperatures will be taken upon entry. We’ve upgraded to new MERV-13 air filters, have a new electrostatic cleaning sprayer, and added contactless hand sanitizer stations. Only 140 seats, with careful social distancing will be sold per show. Ticket availability may increase if county or state guidelines change, but audience size will not exceed 200 for film screenings at the Bankhead through August 2021. See our new Safety FAQs here.
FILMS AT THE BANKHEAD THEATER (in date order)
It should be noted that most art and theatre films are unrated. Parents know their children best and should make their own decision regarding appropriate content.
WED MAY 19 at 7:00pm
$5 all seats
SUN MAY 30 at 3:00pm (matinee)
Travel Without Leaving Town Series – Great Art on Screen
$15 regular/$10 students to age 21
THU JUN 10 at 7:00pm
National Theatre Live Encore Screening
Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand
$15 regular/$10 students to age 21
SUN JUN 13 at 3:00pm (matinee)
Travel Without Leaving Town Series – Great Art on Screen
$15 regular/$10 students to age 21
WED JUN 23 at 7pm
Summer Family Films
$5 all seats
SUN JUN 27 at 3:00pm (matinee)
Travel Without Leaving Town Series – Great Art on Screen
Botticelli: Florence and the Medici
$15 regular/$10 students to age 21
THU JUL 8 at 2:00pm (matinee)
National Theatre Live Encore Screening
King Lear by William Shakespeare
$15 regular/$10 students to age 21
SUN JUL 11 at 3:00pm (matinee)
Travel Without Leaving Town Series – Great Art on Screen
The Prado: A Collection of Wonders
$15 regular/$10 students to age 21
FRI JUL 16 at 8:00pm
Live from London’s West End – Encore Screenings
$15 regular/$10 students to age 21
WED JUL 21 at 7pm
Summer Family Films
$5 all seats
SUN JUL 25 at 3:00pm (matinee)
Travel Without Leaving Town Series – Great Art on Screen
$15 regular/$10 students to age 21
FRI JUL 25 at 8:00pm
Live from London’s West End – Encore Screenings
$15 regular/$10 students to age 21
WED AUG 11 at 7pm
Summer Family Films
$5 all seats
