EASTON -- The Talbot Cinema Society is under new leadership, but its mission is still the same: to screen the movies its members want to see.

    "We want to continue to meet the needs of our longtime members," said former Star-Democrat entertainment editor and film critic Pete Howell, who just succeeded Bill Gordean as the Cinema Society's president." At the same time, we want to reach out to a broader cross-section of our community, so as to offer as many people as possible a moviegoing experience that's different from a night at the local cineplex."

    With that in mind, the Talbot Cinema Society is inviting all current members to its annual film selection meeting, to be held at noon Thursday, June 24, in the upstairs meeting room at the Easton Welcome & Resource Center, located at 11 South Harrison Street in Easton. Any member, including those who join on the spot, is welcome to attend and join the discussion. For a paltry $40 per person ($80 for couples), members will enjoy nine monthly movies at the Avalon Theatre, including a mix of Hollywood, independent, foreign and documentary films. Each movie will be introduced by an expert, and for those who are interested, a discussion will follow.

    "Bring a bag lunch to the meeting," says Howell, "and your best movie ideas."  To expedite the film selection process, please e-mail your suggestions to him at piratepete@goeaston.net, or telephone him at 410-924-5752. If you can't attend the meeting, your suggestions will be considered, as long as you contact Pete by June 18.

    Several dozen movies have already been suggested. To see a list of those that have more than isolated support, please visit the Talbot Cinema Society's website at www.talbotcinemasociety.org. Feel free to endorse one or more of those suggestions, or to make your own, at the June 24 meeting.

TILGHMAN – A preview of a new play by ESWA member Paul Briggs and two recent plays produced by the Hugh Gregory Gallagher Motivational Theatre, Inc. will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday, June 25 at Tilghman Elementary School.  The show is a co-production of the Bay Hundred Theatre Company and Motivational Theatre.

“The Worst Superpower Ever,” written by Briggs, a copy editor for the Star Democrat, dramatizes an encounter between a young student with an unusual and isolating disability and her wise and compassionate school counselor.  The play won Motivational Theatre’s 2009 “Excellence in Writing” award.   Jessica Crouse as the counselor and Katie Claggett as the student, will perform the play for the first time June 25.  David H. Foster is the director.

“The Card Table” and “18 Days in July,” complete the program.  Written by Carlton E. Spitzer, Motivational Theatre’s founder and resident playwright, “The Card Table” features three persons with diverse disabilities discussing their lives while playing cards.  Craig Brittingham and Bill Byrne of Tilghman, and Terry Taylor of Easton are featured

Brittingham and Byrne also play principal roles in “18 Days in July,” which chronicles public attitudes toward mental illness in 1972 that forced the resignation of Senator Thomas Eagleton as Senator George McGovern’s vice presidential running mate when it was revealed Eagleton had received shock treatments for depression.

David H. Foster plays the role of campaign director Frank Mankiewicz, Susan Claggett plays Eleanor McGovern, and Crouse plays the only fictional character, AP reporter Frances Farrington.

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Be sure to check out the theatre 's dedicated page for Paul Briggs - 2009 Winner of the First Annual "Excellence in Writing" Award presented by the Hugh Gregory Gallagher Motivational Theatre, Inc. 

ESWA member Teri Bordenave will spend the summer
through early fall at The Frost Place as their Interim Executive Director.

Be sure to check out their website at: www.frostplace.org