The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of April 30 to May 7, 2020

Ernest Thompson & John Davidson Start May Schedule for Live Monadnock Tonight! TV Program

Academy Award-winner Thompson (On Golden Pond) and singer, actor, TV host Davidson to be guests on May 5th show.

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (April 28, 2020) The Park Theatre’s broadcast arm, ParkTV, announced their May schedule of guests appearing on the twice-weekly interview & entertainment program, Monadnock Tonight! The program broadcasts live on Facebook Live each Tuesday and Thursday at 5pm. The program is hosted by Park Theatre CEO, Managing Director, Steve Jackson. On Thursdays, GoMonadnock editor, Kim Graham, has a segment on the best things to do in the region. Kim is also the producer of the TV show.

The month of May starts off strong. The guests on the Tuesday May 5th (5pm) program are Ernest Thompson and John Davidson.

Ernest Thompson is an Academy Award-winning screenwriter (On Golden Pond), a playwright, director, actor, lyricist, an in-demand public speaker, and a teacher. His work has been produced around the world and he has helped hundreds of other writers develop their stories and thousands of actors realize their dreams of improving their skills and confidence on stage and in front of the camera.

You probably know John Davidson best as the TV host of The Hollywood Squares, and That’s Incredible!, as well as the guest host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (80 evenings, more than any other singer). Remember when he co-starred with Sally Field in the 1973 TV series The Girl With Something Extra? He’s also a movie star! Kids (of all ages) might know him now from videos of his Disney films: The Happiest Millionaire and The One And Only Genuine Original Family Band! He was also in Airport 80 and Edward Scissorhands.

Here is the list of Monadnock Tonight! Guests for May:
May 5 - Ernest Thompson, filmmaker, playwright, Academy Award winner for On Golden Pond
May 5 - John Davidson, singer, actor, tv host
May 7 - Susan Shaw-Sarles, Principal, Jaffrey Grade School
May 7 - Walden Whitham, musician and harpist
May 12 - Leaf Seligman, author, From the Midway: Unfolding Stories of Redemption and Belonging
May 12 - Jeff Rapsis, LIVE silent film accompanist, D.W. Griffith's “A Corner in Wheat" (1909)
May 14 - Jared Mezzocchi, Artistic Director, Andy's Playhouse
May 14 - Duncan Pelletier, Gumboots & Andy's Playhouse alumnus & music director
May 19 - Deborah Shakespeare Thurber, Founder & Artistic Director, Project Shakespeare
May 19 - Christopher Commander, actor & Associate Director, Project Shakespeare
May 21 - Christopher DiLoreto, Creative Director, Monadnock Underground
May 21 - The American Heirloom Singers
May 26 - The Kelly Girls, New England's premier Celtic band - our only guests!
May 28 - Simon Brooks, acclaimed storyteller

The Park Theatre also announced that underwriting sponsorships of Monadnock Tonight! are available for businesses, foundations and individuals. Sponsorships are available per show, weekly and at a multi month “Presenting Level” as well. Interested parties can contact Steve Jackson at (603) 532-9300 or sjackson@theparktheatre.org.

Award-Winning Filmmakers Interviewed on ParkTV

Filmmakers behind new acclaimed comedy that will virtually screen starting 5/1 at The Park Theatre are interviewed on ParkTV.

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (April 28, 2020) A new comedy, The Bellmen, will be debut at The Park Theatre’s Virtual Movie Theatre starting this Friday, May 1. Steve Jackson, CEO and Managing Director of The Park Theatre interviewed the director and producer of the film for the theatre's new “Film Scene” program on ParkTV. Other ParkTV programming has included a live broadcast of the Jaffrey St. Patrick’s Parade as well as the current Monadnock Tonight! program.

Interviewed were Cameron Fife, the director as well Jason Adler, the producer. Fife and Adler also co-wrote the movie. The new comedy stars Richard Kind (Mad About You, Red Oaks, Spin City, Argo) and Thomas Lennon (Reno 911). The film just won the Best Comedy Film at the 2020 Garden State Film Festival.

In the interview, Fife describes The Bellmen as “a little Airplane, Naked Gun... just tried to make it as fun and wacky as possible.” Both filmmakers also talk about the issues of opening an independent film during the Covid-19 crisis.

The interview began airing this week via the theatre’s Facebook page.

“When we open the Park Theatre, we will be inviting filmmakers regularly to visit us with their films and have audience talkbacks and film seminars. When we can’t get them physically here, our “Film Scene” program will bring them here virtually either live or recorded,” said Steve Jackson.

The Bellmen virtual screenings can be purchased by visiting The Park Theatre website, theparktheatre.org and look for “PAY MOVIES” in the top right navigation bar of the home page. Screening is $12 for a 72 hour streaming period. Watch on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast. Questions can be answered by calling The Park Theatre box office at (603) 532-8888 or by emailing boxoffice@theparktheatre.org.

Bellman poster
Poster for the film The Bellmem
Interview still
Still from Park TV interview: Jason Adler-top left, Cameron Fife-bottom, Steve Jackson-top right