First showings are June 21-23, 2 and 5:30 p.m.
By Kim Lewicki, Highlands Newspaper
It’s what everyone has been waiting for … movies aired again in Highlands.
Over the weekend of June 21, 22, and 23, the first movie “Summer Camp” a lighthearted, family-friendly comedy filmed in Western North Carolina around Hendersonville starring Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard will be shown.
Show times are 2pm and 5:30pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the Martin Lipscomb Theater (MLT) at the Highlands Performing Arts Center on Chestnut Street.
Click HERE for tickets.
After this first rollout, due to ongoing schedules of resident companies at MLT, movies will be limited to Tuesdays and perhaps one other day of the week in the summer if schedules permit. In September a more regular schedule will begin.
Plans are to air movies with mature themes, movies suitable for all ages and potentially a daytime Kids Series during the summer months.
“Bringing movies back to Highlands has been an expensive and time-consuming undertaking, but we are all set,” said Jack Austin Operations Director
Highlands Performing Arts Center. “A special thanks goes to Rachel Friday and Jeff Schenk, whose generosity has made it all possible.”
Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $10 for children plus processing fees and taxes. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks and bottles of wine will be available at the concession stand.
Austin said securing movies is a long, multi-stage process.
First, the theatre’s projection and sound equipment must be calibrated and certified by an independent cinema installation company. There are just three such companies in the country that do small, independent theatres, so their waiting lists are long.
“In addition, the theatre must meet strict criteria in order for the film distributors to work with us, which is a studio-by-studio process,” he said. “To secure first-run movies, you can’t go directly to the distributor. Instead, you have to go through an independent booking agent.”
Most of the time, movies can only be requested a week or two in advance, which is why theatres are unable to publish long-range schedules, said Austin.
“The Highlands Performing Arts Center is pleased to offer great cinema to the Highlands-Cashiers area and beyond. We hope it will further broaden the already growing audience for the PAC and our resident companies,” said Austin. “To keep ticket prices low, we’ll be selling on-screen ads to local businesses and organizations.”
Let’s keep the movies clean…please!!!