Woodstock Celebrates, which impressed us with its 80th anniversary of the Todd Theater Festival event in 2014, has finalized its plans to honor Orson Welles in May.
Events are spread across seven days in this beautiful northwestern Illinois town that Welles considered his hometown. It was in Woodstock that he was educated, directed his first professional production and filmed the silent short The Hearts of Age.
Noted Welles’ authors and scholars Joseph McBride, James Naremore, Josh Karp, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Todd Tarbox, Brad Schwartz, Vincent Longo and Patrick McGilligan will take, part along with Magnificent Ambersons reconstructionist Roger Ryan, filmmakers Chuck Workman and Michael Dawson, actor Erik Van Beuzekom and Welles’ companion Oja Kodar.
Below is the latest schedule.Tickets and more information may be obtained at welleswoodstock.com
Wednesday, May 6:
• Screening of Citizen Kane (7 p.m.)
Friday, May 8:
• Chuck Workman presents Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles, his new documentary on Welles. (6 p.m. meet and greet before 7 p.m. screening)
• Opening Night Gala Party at the Old Courthouse on the Square (9 p.m.)
Saturday, May 9:
• James Naremore discusses Welles’s film The Stranger (1:30 p.m.)
• The Stranger screening (3 p.m.)
• An Evening with Oja Kodar with host Jonathan Rosenbaum (7:30 p.m.)
Friday, May 15:
• Brad Schwartz discusses his new book Broadcast Hysteria (7 p.m.)
• War of the Worlds radio play staged by RG Productions (8 p.m.)
Saturday, May 16:
• Todd School for Boys panel with alum Todd Tarbox, Leonard Rubin, Caryl Lemanski( 10 a.m.)
• Welles Early Childhood: Todd Tarbox discusses his book: Orson Welles and Roger Hill – A Friendship in Three Acts. Patrick McGilligan discusses his new book: Young Orson: The Years of Luck and Genius on the Path to Citizen Kane. (1 p.m.)
• Welles & Restoration presented by Michael Dawson (3 p.m.)
• Rosebud: The Lives of Orson Welles – a one-man play starring Erik Van Beuzekom (8 p.m.)
Friday, May 22:
• The Magnificent Ambersons: Tainted Masterpiece – a special presentation with Joseph McBride and Roger Ryan (7 p.m.)
• The Magnificent Ambersons screening (9 p.m.)
Saturday, May 23:
• Orson Welles as Artist & Illustrator: Welles scholar Vincent Longo (10 a.m.)
• The Other Side of the Wind, discussion of Welles’ unfinished film with Josh Karp & Joseph McBride (1 p.m.)
• The Other Side of the Wind – a special presentation (4 p.m.)
• Festival wrap party and dance (7:30 p.m.)
Woodstock Celebrates, Inc. is a federal tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, as well as an Illinois nonprofit corporation registered with the Illinois Attorney General as a charity. Donations may be mailed to: Woodstock Celebrates Inc., P.O. Box 342, Woodstock IL 60098. Email woodstockcelebrates@gmail.com
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