DEC 6 – Turn Every Page

The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb

Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:00 pm

A Shepherdstown Film Society presentation

Exploration of a famous author-editor relationship

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Robert Caro (Power Broker, The Years of Lyndon Johnson) and legendary editor Robert Gottlieb have worked and fought together for 50 years, forging one of publishing’s most iconic and productive partnerships. Caro’s The Power Broker, edited by Gottlieb, continues to be a bestseller after 48 years. Now 87, Caro is working to complete the fifth and final volume of his masterwork, The Years of Lyndon Johnson; Gottlieb, 91, waits to edit it. The task of finishing their life’s work looms before them.

Directed by Gottlieb’s daughter, Lizzie Gottlieb, Turn Every Page explores their remarkable creative collaboration, including the behind-the-scenes drama of the making of Caro’s The Power Broker and the LBJ series. With humor and insight, this unique double portrait reveals the work habits, peculiarities and professional joys of these two ferocious intellects. It arrives at the culmination of a journey that has consumed both their lives and impacted generations of politicians, activists, writers and readers, and furthered our understanding of power and democracy.

Year Released: 2022

Rating: PG

Director: Lizzie Gottlieb

Cast: Robert Caro (self), Robert Gottlieb (self), Bill Clinton (self), Conan O’Brien (self) and many more

Runtime: 112 minutes

General admission (“pay what you will”). Reservations encouraged to ensure seating in our 100-seat theater. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Online reservations end 2 hours before showtime. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.


FILM SOCIETY SPONSORS

A BIG THANKS to the sponsors whose generosity helps the Opera House bring this Shepherdstown Film Society selection to the community:

Executive Producers: The Press Room Restaurant & German Street Marketplace Coffee and Candlery

Producers: Lisa and Paul Welch

NOV 10 – VANYA

Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 3:00 pm

National Theatre Live – On Screen

Shepherdstown Opera House and the Contemporary American Theater Festival join forces to present the next best thing to live theater in Shepherdstown. From the UK’s National Theatre, filmed live in London’s West End, see the best of British theater right here in Shepherdstown!

Vanya

Adapted by Simon Stephens, after Anton Chekhov;  Directed by Sam Yates; Designed by Rosanna Vize

Hopes, dreams, and regrets are thrust into sharp focus in Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. The play was first produced in 1899, but the story remains fresh today. The setting is a family’s rural estate. The “family” consists of an elderly professor (Alexander), his younger second wife (Yelena), his daughter Sonya from his prior marriage, his brother-in-law Vanya (uncle to Sonya), his mother-in-law Maria (mother to Vanya), Astrov the local doctor, and Telegin, a former landowner now reduced to a laborer on the estate. Alexander and Yelena live in the city, Vanya and Sonya have poured their hearts into keeping the country estate going. Alexander’s announcement that he intends to sell the state triggers a swirl of emotion and exposes long hidden desires.

This radical adaptation by Simon Stephens stars Andrew Scott (Fleabag) who brings all of these characters to life in a one-man show.

Filmed live during its sold-out run in London’s West End, Vanya will be playing exclusively in cinemas in 2024.  

Run time: 110 with no intermission

Recommended for ages 12+ (PG-13)

Tickets: $18 standard, $15 senior/student (general admission, seated). Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Seating in the historic Shepherdstown Opera House is limited, advance purchase encouraged. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

NOV 8 – The Monk and the Gun

Friday, November 8, 2024 at 7:00 pm

A Shepherdstown Film Society presentation

Political satire set in an exotic place

With the isolated yet idyllic nation of Bhutan on the cusp of modernizing change, an aging lama feels uncertain about the future of his country. He then enlists Tashi, his young disciple, to retrieve two guns from an arms dealer. The innocent Tashi then embarks on a journey inspired by James Bond, where he encounters a cunning American gun collector named Ron.

Year Released: 2024

Rating: PG-13

Director: Pawo Choyning Dorji

Cast: Tandin Wangchuk, Harry Einhorn, Tandin Sonam, Tandin Phubz, Pema Zangmo Sherpa

Runtime: 107 minutes

General admission (“pay what you will”). Reservations encouraged to ensure seating in our 100-seat theater. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Online reservations end 2 hours before showtime. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.


FILM SOCIETY SPONSORS

A BIG THANKS to the sponsors whose generosity helps the Opera House bring this Shepherdstown Film Society selection to the community:

Executive Producers: The Press Room Restaurant & German Street Marketplace Coffee and Candlery

Producers: Tobi and Patrick Moriarty

NOV 1 – Furnance Mountain Trio + Mink’s Miracle Medicine

Friday, November 1, 2024 at 8:00 pm

Furnace Mountain Band plays music from the American Appalachian traditions, as well as original compositions, and songs penned by their favorite song writing friends. Furnace Mountain consists of Aimee Curl on bass and vocals, , Dave Van Deventer on fiddle and vocals, and Morgan Morrison on guitar, bouzouki, and vocals, Danny Knicely on mandolin and fiddle.  The band creates music that is at times lively and raucous, with spirited fiddle melodies weaving in and around the powerful rhythms of the bass and bouzouki, and other times poignant and poetic, with sublime vocal harmonies beautifully interpreting some of the oldest songs ever written.


Mink's Miracle Medicine

Mink’s Miracle Medicine are the duo of Melissa Wright and Daniel Zezeski. Based out of Harpers Ferry, the pair pull in many musical influences to stretch the bounds of old-timey folk music with fresh lyrics and a modern vibe.

General Admission: $25 advance, $30 at door.

All Ages, doors open 1 hour before showtime.

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is cozy vaudeville-style theater that seats 100 — advance ticket purchase encouraged. Online sales end 2 hours before showtime. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase, no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.


ARTIST LINKS – Furnace Mountain

ARTIST LINKS – Mink’s Miracle Medicine

OCT 25-27 – Fairy Festival

Friday, October 25 — Sunday, October 27 , 2024

Something Fairy This Way Comes to Downtown Shepherdstown this October!

Once upon a time in Appalachia, there was a very special Traveling Show. It was made up of the strangest folk anyone ever saw. Straight out of storybooks they were, with pointed ears and gossamer wings, furry faces and tails that twitched, men with goat legs, even a mermaid. When they came to town, they brought the magic of Faerie with them: wishes could come true, animals could talk, the imaginary became real. The Story continues this October . . .

Festival Schedule

Saturday Oct 26 10am-6pm and Sunday Oct 27 10am-6pm: The Festival Proper!

General admission is free or Purchase a Souvenir Ticket for $15 and receive a copy of the beautiful Full-Color Program featuring original stories, festival lore, coloring pages, and activites!

The Magical Marketplace will line King Street in front of Town Hall and McMurran Lawn will be transformed into a fairyland with carnival games (50 cents/play), crafts ($5-$10), and live performances by a whole crew of storytellers and magical characters. Special Guests: Robert Turk, The Fairy Queens of Summer and Winter, Living Gargoyles, Satyrs with Banjos, Punk Rock Puck, The Fairy Gothmother, Prince Snowflake, Avian Encounters and others.

Special Events (add-on ticket purchase required):

Friday Oct 25, 8:30 pm (live music): Frenchy and the Punk. Location: Shepherdstown Opera House ($20, limited quantity). Doors open 1 hour before showtime.

Saturday Oct 26, 8:30 pm (movie): Something Wicked This Way Comes. A Halloween classic based on the Ray Bradbury Novel. $13 (limited quantity). Location: Shepherdstown Opera House. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

Sunday Oct 27, 3:30 pm (movie): The Last Unicorn. Beloved animated classic based on the novel by Peter S. Beagle. $13 (limited quantity). Location: Shepherdstown Opera House. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is cozy vaudeville-style theater that seats 100 — advance ticket purchase encouraged. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase, no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.


FAIRY FESTIVAL LINKS