After a great weekend celebrating the beloved & ground-breaking Dayton band Brainiac, we’re about to move on to a music icon known as “The Queen of Soul.” On Friday, we’re excited to open the incredible and soul-stirring documentary with Aretha Franklin – AMAZING GRACE. We will also hold both THE AFTERMATHand THE PUBLIC for one more week.

Synopsis for AMAZING GRACE: Rated “98% Fresh” on rottentomatoes.com! “A documentary presenting the live recording of Aretha Franklin’s Grammy-winning album AMAZING GRACE at The New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972.” This film has never been released…Until Now! Audiences and critics are raving. THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE wrote, “In AMAZING GRACE, Franklin’s vocals are pristine and elastic, her control of her instrument absolute.” ROLLING STONE wrote, “The voice of Aretha Franklin is touched by God…They say good things are worth waiting for. This shining light of a film proves it.” And NEW YORK MAGAZINE wrote, “It is a transcendent film.” Click the image below to visit the film’s official site.

On Friday, April 26 at 7:15, McKinley United Methodist Church & Mound Street Academy has rented out our space for a special benefit screening of AMAZING GRACE. A handful of tickets remain for this screening and can be purchased for $25 each by calling the church at (937)228-1263. Funds raised will go toward special youth work at the John Moore Center.

“After growing up in the city, Daytonian Joseph Hadlock spent his last high school year learning about organic/sustainable farming at Carriage Hill Farm – where David Vetter ran the farm; his knowledge and passion for organic farming taught and inspired many (including Hadlock). Thus, it’s with great enthusiasm that Hadlock is bringing the new film DREAMING OF A VETTER WORLD to town on Sunday, April 28 at 3:00. Journey to the American heartland in Bonnie Hawthorne’s documentary, which features one visionary Nebraska farm family who understood that modern agriculture was ailing, and found a cure. David Vetter will be at the screening and will have a Q&A after the movie. Tickets are $10 and all the proceeds will go towards increasing the exposure of the movie and there will be free popcorn from the Vetter Farm/The Grain Place.” (taken from press notes) Tickets are on sale now at THE NEON’s box office and via our official ticketing site.

On Wednesday, May 1 at 7:30, Calico TNR is partnering with tugg to bring the film THE CAT RESCUERS to town. “An estimated half a million feral and abandoned cats prowl the streets, backyards and alleys of New York City, desperate for food and shelter. Meet Sassee, Claire, Tara and Stu, four passionate volunteers in Brooklyn who have come to their rescue because the city can’t. THE CAT RESCUERS shows the skill, resilience and humor they bring to this challenging work, and how their mission to reduce animal suffering, often at great sacrifice to themselves, has made a difference and changed their lives.” This film is now 100% confirmed to screen. To reserve your ticket, visit this LINK.

BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY, a special little gem of a documentary, is coming to town for two screenings – Saturday, May 18 at Noon and Sunday, May 19 at 3:00. This doc has been screening at festivals and winning awards, and it is currently rated “100% Fresh” on Rottentomatoes! “When he started as a comedy writer for the LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, Steve Young had few interests outside of his day job. But while gathering material for a segment on the show, Steve stumbled onto a few vintage record albums that would change his life forever. Bizarre cast recordings – marked ‘internal use only’ – revealed full-throated Broadway-style musical shows about some of the most recognizable corporations in America: General Electric, McDonald’s, Ford, DuPont, Xerox. Steve didn’t know much about musical theater, but these recordings delighted him in a way that nothing ever had. BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY follows Steve Young on his quest to find all he can about this hidden world…With David Letterman, Chita Rivera, Martin Short, Jello Biafra, Don Bolles, Florence Henderson, Susan Stroman, and more.” After the Sunday screening on May 19, we will have three special guests holding a talk-back – Joe Deer (head of BFA Musical Theatre Dept. at Wright State), Jack Fiala (a consultant on the film) and Todd Ruel (a contributor to the film). Take a look at the film’s trailer HERE. Tickets are now on sale!

“The senior filmmakers of Wright State University’s award-winning Motion Pictures Program premiere their original short films at the 27th Annual BIG LENS FILM FESTIVAL on Sunday, May 5 at 5:30 and 8:00. This year’s films explore themes of mortality, religion, domestic abuse, gender, familial relationships, and workspace constructs. The festival features a range of comedy, drama, and animated films, and concludes with a Q&A with the directors.” Tickets, just $9 each, are on sale now.

“On Thursday, May 16 at 8pm, join the Reel Laughs comedians as they face their fiercest foe yet…the original Captain of the Marvel Universe: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER. Laugh along as we learn valuable life lessons such as taking performance enhancing drugs is alright just as long you have moxie and you’re doing it with the approval of the federal government and an alcoholic mad scientist. It’s not shallow to fall in love with somebody until after they develop pecs and abs. Also unlike ugly people ,strong and sexy people don’t need training to skydive, wage war or fly experimental aircraft. May 16 at 8:00 pm. Tickets $10-12.” Tickets available through eventbrite by following this LINK.

And if you like Broadway, mark your calendars…you won’t want to miss this! On Thursday, June 13 at 7:30, we’ll bring one of my favorite films from this year’s Cleveland International Film Festival – LEONARD SOLOWAY’S BROADWAY. More details coming soon…but if you can’t wait, check out the trailer HERE.