Family Weekends

Film, Performances and Workshops for the Whole Family

On the Third Weekend of Every Month

Real Art Ways presents Family Weekends, year-round programming for children and their families. Now in its tenth year, we have expanded our family events into our monthly programming so that children can experience excellent films, inspiring workshops, and performances that make the imagination dance each month.

Check back at this site for up-to-date information about Family Weekends offerings. For more information call 860.232.1006.

I Was A Rat

Philip Pullman's Golden Compass deservedly gets the big attention. But his small book I Was A Rat is a wonderful satire on politics and prejudice with the right mix of kid-friendly plot. The film adaptation boasts a cast that includes  Academy Award winning actress Brenda Fricker and AA Nominated actor Tom Conti. But the real star is young Callum Worthy as Roger/Ratty. It's a take on what would happen if one of Cinderella's servants transformed by the fairy godmother didn¹t return to their original form. It's a funny, touching adventure story.

(UK, Canada, 90 min, 2001)

• Links coming soon
  

Outie or Innie

Outie and Innie is a selection of shorts from around the world that our film programmer organized to go together in a program for kids 8+. There's no particular theme, but some of the stand-out films are:

• The Boy Who Had No Story (Ireland)
• Mare Capoeira (Brazil)
• Charlie and Lola: That is My Book (UK)
• Where Stories Came From (Zimbabwe)
• A Great Big Robot Stole My Homework (Canada)
• Fumi and the Bad Luck Foot (US)
• and three 60-second films from John Izen called Black and White (Canada)

Mare Capoeira is in Portuguese with English subtitles. All other films are non-verbal or in English.

(78 min.)

• Links coming soon
  

Long Live the Queen

Long Live the Queen is a beautiful fairy tale (also based in real life) in which a young girl is drawn toward becoming a chess champion while also looking for her real father. The fascinating thing about the film is its frequent breaks in drama when the girl imagines the chess pieces speaking to her - not to tell her where to move, but giving her advice on her life while teaching her chess.

Long Live the Queen is a classic in Europe. It has consistently been an audience favorite at International Children's film festivals and at Real Art Ways where we have played it twice before.

The film is in Dutch with English subtitles. 110 min

• Links to come
  

The Stuntmen perform Peter Pan

PERFORMANCES OF PETER PAN ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE EVELYN W. PRESTON MEMORIAL TRUST FUND.

PETER PAN (1924)
One of the gems of the (silent) silver screen, this adapation of J. M. Barrie's classic delights children and adults as much now as it did in 1924 (see the period New York Times review linked below, for a description of the 1924 audiences!). Directed by Herbert Brenon, this adaptation makes the Darlings and the Lost Boys come alive before your eyes.

We are pleased to be able to offer this classic film in the context it was meant to be seen - with live musical accompaniment.

THE STUNTMEN
Formed in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1992, the Stuntmen create at the forefront of Insurgent Country (sometimes called Alt Country).  Drawing on such broad influences as American roots music, country, and indie rock, their music has been described as “a rollicking blast of earthy garage rock … [that fits] nicely alongside such similar exercises in musical cross pollination as Wilco’s A.M.” (by esteemed indie music producer Mike Flood).

In 2002, The Stuntmen began working collaboratively with the Young at Heart Chorus, a group of seniors who perform everything from Frank Sinatra to Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin to Outkast.  The performances with the Young at Heart Chorus were so successful that they gave rise to a DVD live concert release and a European tour.

The Stuntmen offer energized, honest Americana at its very best.  The group has released three full-length albums and has earned critical acclaim from such sources as Time and No Release.

• Peter Pan on Rotten Tomatoes
• 1924 New York Times Review of Peter Pan
• The Stuntmen Official Website
• The Stuntmen on MySpace
  

Schedule of Events

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Film description

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Family Weekends are made possible by support from:

Ensworth Charitable Foundation
Joseph S. Stackpole Trust and
Real Art Ways members