Film and Theater by Don Gibble - July 2017
Photo above: Transcendence Theater's Broadway Under the Stars
Jamie Foxx is everywhere this summer. He’s starring in “Baby Driver” with Kevin Spacey which opens this weekend and he is the host of the new game show “Beat Shazam” where contestants can win $1,000,000 guessing the name of songs before the Shazam app can. It’s nice to see this Oscar winner busy. Opening July 7th is the return of Spider-Man in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” starringTom Holland and Robert Downey Jr. Also opening July 7this “A Ghost Story” with this year’s Oscar winner Casey Affleck, It follows a recently deceased young man (Affleck) who returns to his former home trying to connect with his wife. On July 14th “War For the Planet of the Apes” opens. Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless colonel played by Woody Harrelson. Opening July 21st is “ Dunkirk” starring Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hardy. Directed by the very talented Christopher Nolan. On July 28th“Atomic Blonde” opens starring Charlize Theron and John Goodman. It’s like the female James Bond.
The L.A. Film Festival wrapped up last weekend and the highlights were the directorial debut of Jennifer Morrison. It’s called “Sun Dogs” starring Michael Angarano, Allison Janney and Ed O’Neill. Angarano is brilliant and I guarantee you will love this film. Also making her directorial debut is comedienne Whitney Cummings. Her film “The Female Brain” is hilarious and also star James Marsden and Sofia Vergara, NBA star Blake Griffin basically plays himself and is very funny. He will have a career as an actor after he retires from basketball. The best film at this year’s film festival was “Don’t Come Back Form the Moon” directed by Bruce Thierry Cheung and starring Jeffrey Wahlberg. Yes, he is Mark Wahlberg’s nephew and will be as big of a star as his uncle. The movie is based on a book by Dean Bakopoulos. The movie is so good it will make you want to read the book.
This is a busy month for my theater fans. Broadway Under the Stars is back with “Another Openin’ Another Show” produced and starring the extremely talented Amy Miller. Her rendition of “Tradition” is worth the price of admission alone. I had the opportunity to interview the voice of Transcendence Theater, Brent Farris last week and he agreed with me that Broadway Under the Stars is the best musical theater in Sonoma County. For those of you who haven’t seen “Hamilton” yet, you will have chance to see one of the amazing numbers of the show here. The number from “Chicago” is amazing and will make you want to see “Chicago” at SRT the following weekend! They are also producing “Fantastic Family Night” which is geared for the whole family. Go to bestnightever.org for tickets and more information.
The Marin County Fair is back and you get to go back in time if you see The 5th Dimension July 1st or the Commodores July 2nd. Both show are at 7:30pm and free with your ticket to the fair! One of my favourite local directors is David Yen and his new show “Munch and His Mentor” opens July 8th at Spreckels Performing Arts Center, (5409 Snyder Ln, Rohnert Park). My friend Nate Mercier stars so you know you will have a good time. Call 707 326-3600 for more information. The Kut-Ups are back at Spreckels July 9th and they close July 15th. This is their 45th and final year. Call 707 588-3400 for tickets. Fans of the movie “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”will be happy to know the stage version is at theEureka Theater - San Francisco Theater (215 Jackson St) in San Francisco. It closes July 1st, so call 800 838-3006 for tickets.
Last month, I mentioned that local author Kay Mehl Miller was going to have a book reading for her new book, “Ring Around Reality”. It had a good turnout. For those of you that didn’t have a chance you have two chances this month. On July 9th you can meet her at the Flamingo Hotel, and on July 18th atCopperfield’s in Montgomery Village. Come meet a legend.
Email me with questions regarding Pop Culture. Have a FUN 4th of July!
