Orson Welles’ adopted hometown of Woodstock, Illinois – which impressed us with its 80th anniversary celebration of the Todd Summer Theatre Festival in 2014 – has unveiled its centenary celebration plans.
This May, Woodstock Celebrates will present Welles authors James Naremore, Joseph McBride, Todd Tarbox, Josh Karp, Brad Schwartz and Patrick McGilligan, as well as director Chuck Workman (Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles) and Michael Dawson, who will screen a portion of his work-in-progress Citizen Welles.
On stage, Erik Van Beuzekom performs Rosebud: The Lives of Orson Welles and RG Productions brings The War of the Worlds radio show to life.
Roger Ryan, who has created a reconstruction of Welles’ cut of The Magnificent Ambersons will discuss the unmaking of the 1942 RKO film along with McBride.
The celebration ends with Karp and McBride talking about The Other Side of the Wind before a special presentation on the uncompleted film.
Here is the tentative schedule of events.
Wednesday, May 6:
• Orson Welles’s 100th birthday celebration – TBA
Friday, May 8:
• Chuck Workman presents Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles, his new documentary on Welles.
• Opening Night Gala Party
Saturday, May 9 [two separate panels and one joint lecture]:
• Todd School for Boys panel
• Welles’s Early Childhood panel
– Todd Tarbox discusses his book Orson Welles and Roger Hill – A Friendship in Three Acts
– Patrick McGilligan discusses his new book Young Orson
• James Naremore discusses Welles’s film The Stranger (an effort by Welles to show he could make a conventional Hollywood movie. Inspired by the Woodstock he knew, Welles included many tie-ins to Woodstock in this film).
• The Stranger (screening)
Friday, May 15:
• Brad Schwartz discusses his new book Broadcast Hysteria (with additional experts TBA)
• The War of the Worlds radio play staged by RG Productions
Saturday, May 16:
• Welles & Restoration (presented by Michael Dawson) & Citizen Welles: Vol. One: Cradle to Kane work in progress
• Rosebud: The Lives of Orson Welles (one-man play performed by Erik Van Beuzekom)
Friday, May 22:
• The Magnificent Ambersons: Tainted Masterpiece – a special presentation. Joseph McBride and Roger Ryan will discuss the ending and other missing scenes.
• The Magnificent Ambersons (screening)
Saturday, May 23:
• The Other Side of the Wind, discussion of Welles’ unfinished film (Josh Karp & Joseph McBride)
• The Other Side of the Wind – a special presentation
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