Clearly, she’s never been to Movies in the Park in Little Rock. I’m offering her an open invitation to join us anytime this summer. Hopefully she’ll take me on it.

We hate to do this, but due to rain in Little Rock that is likely to continue throughout the evening, we are cancelling tonight’s screening of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” But 80’s fans have no fear. Due to the overwhelming interest in this film we are rescheduling it for July 29th. The annual People’s Choice will be held during the first week of August.

Thank you for all your support for Movies in the Park, and we apologize for this inconvenience. We look forward to seeing you next week for “The Princess Bride.”

Blake, Heather and Ben

• 2:00 p.m. – “U.S. vs. John Lennon”

The U.S. vs. John Lennon is a 2006 documentary film about British musician John Lennon’s transformation from a member of The Beatles to a rallying anti-war activist striving for world peace during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film also details the attempts by the government to silence him. Discussion to follow.

• 5:00 p.m.- “We Believe: Chicago and Its Cubs”

We Believe: Chicago and its Cubs is a 2009 documentary film about the city of Chicago and its enduring love for the Chicago Cubs. This feature film     documentary is a celebration of hope, loyalty, faith and the extraordinary connection between a great city and its baseball team. Premiering June 12 in Chicago, this new documentary will also screen June 23 at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Discussion to follow.

*Reserve your seats by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or calling 501.683.5239.

E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, The Wizard of Oz highlight growing film series’ 2008 summer line-up

LITTLE ROCK – Movies in the Park, the popular outdoor movie night at the Riverfest Amphitheater today announced its 2008 summer schedule with a diverse list of titles, including blockbusters like E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, along with oldie hits Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and The Wizard of Oz.

Movies in the Park begins its fourth season with a special thanks to sponsors Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Comcast, the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, the River Market and Stone Ward. The movies will play weekly on Wednesday nights beginning June 4 and running through July 23.

“We are excited about the fourth year of Movies in the Park,” said Blake Rutherford, head of the Movies in the Park volunteer steering committee. “We owe a special thanks to all of our sponsors and all of the people who continue to come and enjoy outdoor movies. In 2007, we saw more people than ever come downtown to enjoy a free movie at Riverfront Park.”

Moviegoers are encouraged to bring families, picnics and pets to the park to enjoy an outdoor movie under the stars. The amphitheater will open an hour before film showings and movies will start at sundown each week. The movies are free and open to the public.

“Movies in the Park provide families the opportunity to explore downtown and enjoy a movie together,” said Sharon Priest, executive director of the Downtown Partnership. “We believe this is another strong cultural attraction that complements the continued growth and vitality of downtown Little Rock.”

The 2008 schedule includes:

June 4 E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial
June 11 Rocky
June 18 Happy Feet
June 25 Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
July 2 Notting Hill
July 9 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
July 16 Casino Royale
July 23 The Wizard of Oz

*Along with the regular schedule, Movies in the Park will again host the closing night festivities of the Little Rock Film Festival on Sunday, May 18.