Buffalo Screening Gala
The Burton sisters brought MANNA FROM HEAVEN,
their third feature film, back home for a special preview
screening at a gala event in Sheas Performing Arts Center,
where part of the film was shot.
Hundreds of people from all around packed the
theater to see the film, the sisters, and the stars! Besides
all of FIVE SISTERS PRODUCTIONS (Maria, Jennifer, Gabrielle,
Ursula, and Charity, and their parents, Roger and Gabrielle),
Mayor Anthony Masiello, County Executive Joel Giambra, and
stars Wendie Malick, Frank Gorshin, and Vincent O'Neill were
all in attendance for the festive affair there!
Beginning with a red carpet entrance of the
stars, FIVE SISTERS PRODUCTIONS, and special VIPs, the evening
kicked off to an elegant start with the crowd dressed to the
nines in tuxedos and evening gowns.
Shea's, originally a movie theater turned stage
house, is a gorgeous, meticulously restored work-of-art --
now on the national historic register. Bringing out popcorn
and sodas, the theater put this black-tie evening in the perfect
mood for the feel-good comedy. The technical limitations of
the original film projection equipment from the 1950's were
soon forgotten, as the audience got caught up in the film,
and the delightful mirroring of the live audience in Shea's
Theater looking at the audience at Shea's Theater in the movie
was a moment of magic.
With an ice sculpture, belly dancers, a smashing
band, and excellent food provided by the County, it was a
glorious and celebratory screening for the movie and also
for Buffalo, with the audience’s enthusiastic reponse
to MANNA FROM HEAVEN loving the film and also the film’s
inspiring a feeling pride for their beautiful hometown it
had captured in the film. After , the huge crowds spilled
onto Main Street to enjoy a beautiful warm night of food,
drinks, and dancing. Lit up by the klieg lights, Buffalo shone
on screen and off. It was a night to remember.
Thanks to the Mayor Anthony Masiello and County
Executive Joel Giambra for really knowing how to throw a party!
(click on photos to enlarge)
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