Midsummer in Newtown

Spotlight

World Premiere

USA | 81 MINUTES | English |

MIDSUMMER IN NEWTOWN

Documentary

In the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, a theater production comes to Newtown, Connecticut, seeking to cast local children in a rock-pop version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The project is aimed at healing the hearts and minds of a community devastated by the school shooting that occurred just over one year prior to production. From auditions and read-throughs to dress rehearsals; we witness the children find their voice, build their self-confidence, and ultimately shine on opening night. In parallel, we see a grieving family honor their daughter through the creation of a jazz album dedicated to her memory. The film culminates in a moving performance by Jimmy Greene and the pensive words of Nelba Márquez-Greene. Midsummer in Newtown is a testament to the transformative force of artistic expression to pierce through the shadow cast by trauma, and to the resilience of a community that is fighting to not be defined by tragedy.



The Grammy-nominated Jimmy Greene Quartet will perform after the premiere screening.



—Marina Hanna


CAST & CREDITS

Directed by Lloyd Kramer

Lloyd Kramer works in documentaries and scripted television. A three-time DGA nominee, he has also collaborated with producer Tom Yellin on America in Primetime, a four-part PBS series, and Report From Ground Zero, a two-hour ABC Special Documentary account of what happened inside the World Trade Center towers following the 9/11 attacks.

Director
Lloyd Kramer
Producer
Tom Yellin, Braden Cleveland Bergan, Jo Budzilowicz
Editor
Amilcar Gomes
Cinematographer
Matt Peterson, ACS
Executive Producer
Jeff Skoll, Diane Weyermann, Paul G. Allen, Carole Tomko
Composer
West Dylan Thordson
Co-Producer
Sarahbeth Grossman, Lynn Webb, Van Dean
Co-Executive Producer
Jody Gottlieb, Elise Pearlstein

CONTACTS

International Sales Contact
Lauren Kushner
Participant Media
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: 310 623 4914
lauren@participantmedia.com
Print Source
Lauren Kushner
Participant Media
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: 310 623 4914
lauren@participantmedia.com
Press Contact
Julia Pacetti
JMP Verdant Communications
New York, NY 11238
Phone: 917 584 7846
julia@jmpverdant.com
US Sales Contact
Josh Braun
Submarine Entertainment
New York, NY 10013
Phone: 212 625 1410
josh@submarine.com