|
Hot Picks
| |
|
|
Into the Spotlight
USA 2023
produced by
Paul Rasmussen, Thaddeus D. Matula, King Hollis, Michelle Cox (executive) for Out of the Shadows, Double Life Films
directed by Thaddeus D. Matula
starring Erin Anderson, Nancy Appelman, Leah Battalora, Scott Beard, Caroline Beverly, Kinsey Boozer, Jason Carter, Esther Craven, Nicholas Ensminger, Jake Eubank, Luke Forehand, James Gulley, Shannon Harrison, Davis Hecksel, Christi Hockel-Davenport, Cindy Johnston, Jacob Kunko, Constance Lewis, Efrain Lopez, Christian Munguia, Abby Munn, Stephanie Newland, Andrea Parton, Katie Passmore, Lisa Lee Schmidt, Sally Smith, Scott Spitler, Michael Susens, Mary Claire Teeter, Chris Thompson, Daniel Wade
music by Sam Marshall
documentary
review by
Mike Haberfelner
|
|
|
Every year, the Spotlight Musical Theater Program puts on a
play, one that has been developed by all involved on and back stage, that
has been rehearsed for roughly half a year, and that features not only a
relevant plot but also song and dance and the like, with music written by
cast- and crewmembers. What makes the Spotlight Musical Theater Program
so special is that everybody involved in the play are special needs people
of one sort or another, who really see the theater as their means to
express themselves as people rather than being reduced to their special
needs. However, the 2021/22 season proves to be especially difficult, as
for one Covid restrictions don't necessarily facilitate things, but also a
troupe regular has died only shortly before the start of rehearsals, and
during rehearsals, the co-director dies as well, with now sole director
Lisa Lee Schmidt finding it difficult to cope with things on her own. And
there's also hundreds of other little issues, but also backstage romance,
and an unbroken spirit to bring the play over the finish line ... ...
and part of what makes Into the Spotlight so good is that it
remains positive throughout, doesn't make its material into a giant sob
story but shows the growth of its main personnel, both on and off stage.
Also it treats all of those portrayed with tremendous respect, never for a
moment reducing them to their special needs but focussing on their
undeniable talents and on overcoming obstacles, whether or not they have
to do with their individual disabilities. And the result is a very
engaging backstage story, one that's of course also achieved by a very
well crafted narrative structure that's as much drama as it's documentary,
and that makes for fascinating viewing for sure!
|
|
|
|
review © by Mike Haberfelner
 |
Feeling lucky?
Want to
search
any of my partnershops yourself
for more, better results?
(commissions earned) |
The links below
will take you
just there!!!
|
|
 |
Thanks for watching !!!
|
|
|
Robots and rats,
demons and potholes,
cuddly toys and
shopping mall Santas,
love and death and everything in between,
Tales to Chill
Your Bones to
is all of that.
Tales to Chill
Your Bones to -
a collection of short stories and mini-plays
ranging from the horrific to the darkly humourous,
from the post-apocalyptic
to the weirdly romantic,
tales that will give you a chill and maybe a chuckle,
all thought up by
the twisted mind of
screenwriter and film reviewer
Michael Haberfelner.
Tales to Chill
Your Bones to
the new anthology by
Michael Haberfelner
Out now from
Amazon!!! |
|
amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
amazon.de
eThaiCD.com
find Into the Spotlight at adultvideouniverse.com