If one of your “favourite things” is to sing-a-long to the radio (in the car or in the shower) or to movie musicals, you’re in luck. The Townshend Theatre will be the site of a movie sing-a-long this Friday to the classic, “The Sound of Music.”
“We’re holding a sing-a-long version of ‘The Sound of Music,’” said organizer Mark Kowalchuk.
“It’s been done in major centres like Vancouver and Toronto, and been very successful,” he noted. “We want to carry over that success here.”
In January, the group started holding a movie night on Fridays at the Townshend Theatre. Typically, it has tried to bring movies in that wouldn’t be shown at the theatre across the river in International Falls, as well as classic or Academy Award-winning movies.
But what at first seemed like a great idea has raised a few questions since.
“It has not been great,” Kowalchuk said of the attendance. “It’s been rather dismal.”
He hoped the idea of a sing-a-long will catch on and get people out. And this time there is an added incentive.
“Anyone dressed up as something from the movie, like a brown paper package wrapped up in string, a nun, or people in lederhosen, will have their name put into a hat to win a DVD copy of the movie,” Kowalchuk said.
But you have to dress up to be eligible.
And don’t forget to have your vocal chords ready to sing—and no excuses that you don’t know the words. The movie will have subtitles so that everyone, whether they know the movie and songs or not, can sing-a-long.
“We’ll have ’em hiss and boo when the villains are on and cheer when the heroes kiss,” Kowalchuk added.
This will be the last movie night planned at the Townshend Theatre until late April due to other scheduled events there. “We’ll keep it going for the rest of this year,” Kowalchuk said.
“Depending on how well things go in the next few weeks [including this Friday’s movie], we’ll have to make a decision for next year,” he admitted, adding there’s a distinct possibility the whole thing will be dropped due to the lack of interest.
“For all the effort, we’d like to see more support,” he admitted.
They have been covering most of their costs, though he said some equipment costs still need to be recouped. The Student Executive Council also made a little money from the movies, he added, but no other school groups have benefited from the movies yet.
Kowalchuk encouraged the public to come out and experience the movies on the big screen as well as make movie requests.
“We’re looking for a mix that works,” he said, adding that foreign films with English sub-titles are something they might consider next.
“We want to let people know there are some choices out there [other than Hollywood blockbusters],” Kowalchuk added. “And educate them and introduce them to some of the great movies out there.”
Kowalchuk said to watch the paper for ads for future movie nights, which also may include a way to send in movie requests by e-mail.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
