Broadway Theatre to host Hemingway Weekend
Event inspired by recent PBS documentary on the American author
The Broadway Theatre will be holding the first Hemingway weekend as a way to share interest in the life and work of the classic American writer Ernest Hemingway.
The Broadway Theatre had previously been closed for a year due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and have been able to live off the donations from community members as well as other fundraisers. The theatre has also had to cut back funding and applied for different funding from other sources.
“We’re doing ok but we’re definitely excited about the fall season,” Amy Perschbacher, a board member with the Friends of the Broadway, said. “There’s a lot heart and soul put into keeping the theatre open.”
The board is currently starting to put together shows and events for the next fall and spring season.
In terms of the Hemingway weekend, the Broadway Theatre decided to put this event on due the interest generated from the three-part Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) documentary series “Hemingway,” which was aired on WCMU Public Media on April 5. Part of the interest in Hemingway has to do with the time he spent in Northern Michigan during his life.
“We’ve pictures from the Hemingway exhibit at Clark Li
brary on to display at the event,” Perschbacher said. “They have a huge collection and we’ll also have brochures for the exhibit at the event.”
The event is expected to occur on April 10 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is a free event, open to everyone, and concessions will be available to attendees.
From 10 a.m. to noon, there will be a panel of local instructors and authors discussing the stories and history of Hemingway. The panelists include:
• Jared Morningstar: an author, high school English teacher at Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, and adjunct English professor at SVSU and Delta College.
• Dr. Stef Lassitter: a Teaching & Learning Consultant for the Central Michigan University Office of Curriculum & Instructional Support.
• Dr. Darrin Doyle: an author, and a professor and graduate coordinator for the CMU English Literature Department.
• Robin Lee Berry: a musician and the creator of the Hemingway Walking Tour in Boyne City.
The Broadway Theatre will also be showing two movies that are based on Hemingway’s works. This includes “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” at 2 p.m. and “A Farewell to Arms” at 7 p.m.
Masks are required and social distancing is expected to be followed. Some seats will be roped off and a the concessions stand will have a plexi-glass barrier.
“We’re doing our best to be as safe as possible,” Perschbacher said.
The Broadway Theatre will also be showing two movies that are based on Hemingway’s works. This includes “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” at 2 p.m. and “A Farewell to Arms” at 7 p.m.