Broadway Week comes to Chilmark’s M.V. Film Festival and the drive-in at YMCA next Wednesday, June 30. Starting with the classic 1961 “West Side Story,” this awardwinning musical is loosely adapted from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Set in the Upper West Side of New York City, the film describes two rival gangs fighting for control of the turf. When one gang member falls in love with the sister of the rival gang, it leads to complications and a crisis in the story.
Plenty of activities for this drive-in event will precede the 8:30 pm screening. Anne Evasick, owner of the former Island Entertainment video store in Tisbury, along with actor Chelsea McCarthy and her sister Paige, will entertain the preview audience with film trivia and a singalong. The audience is also encouraged to come in costumes. The MVFF will screen the 2021 version of “West Side Story” when it becomes available.
The next screening, Thursday, July 1, features “Into the Woods” (2014), with a screenplay by summer resident and awardwinner James Lapine. Based on the Grimms’ Fairy Tales, this multiple-Oscar-nominated musical combines features from the stories of “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel,” and “Cinderella.” Meryl Streep stars as the witch, Emily Blunt as the baker’s wife, Chris Pine as the prince, and Johnny Depp as the Big Bad Wolf.
Lapine wrote the book and the Tonywinning Broadway musical adaptation on which it was based, as well as the film’s screenplay. He will attend the July 1 screening.
“It is an honor to host James Lapine,” said Film Festival artistic and executive Director Brian Ditchfield. “Not only is he an incredible talent, but he is also a genuinely kind person. The Island is lucky to have him here each year.”
On Friday, July 2 (sold out), and Saturday, July 3, the critically acclaimed new musical, “In the Heights,” will play. This film’s story describes the Washington Heights world of the Upper West Side of Manhattan’s Latino community. It’s told from the perspective of a bodega (convenience store) owner from the Dominican Republic, and features immigrants from a variety of Latin American countries who live in the neighborhood. Dance lessons inspired by the film will be available.
Information and tickets for Broadway Week screenings are available at tmvff.org.
