Expecting Mary Premiere in Palm Springs

Jim Casey, Lainie Kazan, Della Reese, Linda Gray and Kim Waltrip

Last night was the official Palm Springs premiere for the brand new film 'Expecting Mary'. It was held as a benefit to the Desert Aids Project, a non-profit organization that provides medical care and comprehensive support services to people living with HIV/AIDS in the desert community. Expecting Mary has close ties to the desert; J&J and Wonderstar Productions are both based here in Palm Springs.

Members of the supporting cast of Expecting Mary

Expecting Mary was completely sold out for this special viewing, just one day before the official opening Friday September 10th in select cities. Principal cast members attended, including Linda Gray, Della Reese and Lainie Kazan. If you missed my interview with Linda Gray, you can still listen to it on demand here. In addition, a broad group of supporting cast were also on hand to support this presentation, including Duncan Bravo, Kathy Lampkin, Kinsey Packard, Matt Kaminsky, Mandell Butler, & Larry Bates. I've seen Expecting Mary multiple times, having attended screenings in several cities. The audience reaction to the film was electric; people were experiencing the full range of emotions that the script so masterfully elicits. 

After the film, the key stars were on stage for a Q&A moderated by local personality Gloria Greer from Palm Springs Life magazine and CBS2 TV. The stars happily answered questions from an enthusiastic audience for about 20 minutes before attending a lovely reception held outside under the clear desert sky.

Until you see the film, this yellow VW bug won't mean much, but once you've seen it, it will make you laugh! The reception had an array of delicious cupcakes and cookies with various movie logos on them.

Della Reese and I chatted for awhile and caught up since we last saw each other in New York. She is such an incredible lady, and a true talent on many levels. Della's role in Expecting Mary is a scene-stealer for sure. Della plays 'Doris Dorkus", the grumpy owner of trailer park where much of this story takes place. She punctuates the screen with a bold, direct sense of humor, and draws in the viewer wondering what made her become so cantankerous and surly to the ditsy and innocent Darnella whom she encounters several times. But soon, even Doris has a transformation, along with several characters making her a lovable woman with great appeal. This film is filled with great characters, each colorful and likable. If you live in one of the cities where this opens for its initial run, please go check it out this weekend (see yesterday's post below for cities). Strong openings are very important to the success and sustainability of independent films. Go see the film and tell me what you think. With a dash of good luck and your support, it will expand to additional screens in time for Thanksgiving...stay tuned!
-Rick Rockhill

Tweet

Want FREE Tickets to See Expecting Mary?

At long last, Expecting Mary opens nationwide in select cities for its official release tomorrow. I'm offering FREE tickets (for this opening weekend only) to the first 100 of my readers who contact me by noon Friday Sept 10th. Look below to see if it is opening in a city near you. If so, let me know if you want to go, courtesy of The Palm Springs Savant. If you need more information about the film, check out my radio show from this last Sunday. My guests included actress Linda Gray ("Sue Ellen Ewing" of TV's Dallas). Linda is one of the major stars of Expecting Mary and speaks extensively of her role as Darnella Dare. Listen to the show, then go see the film!

Look below to see if there is a theater near you:

California

The River 12
Century Theaters
Rancho Mirage, California

Rancho Stadium 16
Rancho Mirage, California

The Camelot
Palm Springs, California

 

Florida

Coconut Point 18
Estero, Florida

Merchants Crossing 16
Fort Myers, Florida

Belltower Stadium 20
Fort Myers, Florida

Hollywood Stadium 20
Naples, Florida

Kansas

Cinemark 20
Merriam, Kansas

Great Mall 16
Olathe, Kansas

Palazzo 16
Overland Park, Kansas

Westglen 18
Shawnee, Kansas

Legends 14
Kansas City, Kansas

Barrywoods 24
Kansas City, Kansas

Town Center 20
Leawood, Kansas

Studio 30
Olathe, Kansas

Missouri

Kansas City Stadium 18
Kansas City, Missouri

Northglen 14
Kansas City, Missouri

Eastglen 16 Lee's
Summit, Missouri

Independence 20
Independence, Missouri

Ward Parkway 14
Kansas City, Missouri

Oklahoma

Kickingbird 8
Edmonds, Oklahoma

AMC Crossroads 16
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Bricktown Cinema 16
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Moore Warren Theatre
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Penn Square 10
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Quail Springs Mall 24
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Spotlight 14
Norman, Oklahoma

West End Pointe
Yukon, Oklahoma

Tennessee
Clarksville 16
Clarksville, Tennessee
Rocky Top Cinema 10
Crossville, Tennessee
Roxy 8
Dickson, Tennessee
Thoroughbred 20
Franklin, Tennessee
Streets of Indian Lakes
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Roxy 10
Lebannon, Tennessee
Providence Stadium
Mt. Juliett, Tennessee
Wynnsong 16
Murfressboro, Tennessee
Thouroughbred 20
Nashville, Tennessee
Hollywood 27
Nashville, Tennessee
Green Hills Stadium 16
Nashville, Tennessee
Malco Roxy
Smyrna, Tennessee

Utah

Cinemark 12
American Fork, Utah
Cinemark Bountiful 8
Bountiful, Utah
Tinseltown 17 USA
Layton, Utah
Megaplex 8 @ Thanksgiving Point
Lehi, Utah
Cinemark Tinseltown 14
Ogden, Utah
Megaplex 13 at the Junction
Ogden, Utah
Megaplex 17 at Jordan Commons
Sandy, Utah
Century 16 Union Heights
Sandy, Utah
Cinemark 16
Provo, Utah
Wynnsong 12
Provo, Utah
Carmike 12
West Jordan Utah
Cinemark 24 Jordan Landing & XD
West Jordan, UT
Megaplex 20 at The District
South Jordan, Utah
Ritz 15
West Valley City Utah

Be sure to let me know ASAP, either with a comment here, or just send me an e-mail at rickrockhill@msn.com

Tweet

Special Guest Actress Linda Gray on Sunday's Palm Springs Savant & Co Radio show

Tune into The Palm Springs Savant & Co radio show on Blog Talk Radio for my special guest, actress Linda Gray. She spoke about her upcoming film, Expecting Mary set for national release September 10. Of course millions of people know Ms Gray for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing on TV's long running hit show Dallas. She is an award winning actress, an accomplished director and a United Nations Ambassador. Ms Gray earned an Emmy nomination for Best Actress, won several achievements including Germany's "Bambi Award" (similar to the US Academy Award), Italy's "Il Gato" for Best Actress, and voted "Woman of the Year" by the Hollywood and Radio Television Society. Her stage work includes "The Graduate" in London's  West End theater district as well as "Terms of Endearment", and started her career in "Love Letters". She has appeared in numerous other TV series and programs throughout her professional career.

I am honored to welcome Linda Gray to the Palm Springs Savant & Co radio show. Listeners will get an inside glimpse of her new role in Expecting Mary, due out in select theaters nationwide starting September 10th. Linda's fans will be delighted to know her radio interview can be heard around the world, on demand any time from the internet on Blog Talk Radio, or on podcast via iTunes. A special screening of Expecting Mary will be held here in Palm Springs Sunday September 9th at the Camelot Theater to benefit the Desert Aids Project. Be sure to tune in to this show and get the scoop on a film that is sure to impress audiences everywhere. Read the press release here.
-Rick Rockhill 
Tweet

Special New York Screening of Expecting Mary film

I was so fortunate to be in New York for business at the same time as a special screening of the upcoming film Expecting Mary. Since the screening was at night I was able to work during the day and hit the movie screening in the evening. This was a benefit for the Actor's Fund, a non-profit organization founded in 1882 to assist performing art individuals in film, theater, television, opera, and dance. As you can imagine, the vast majority of people in these professions do NOT "hit it big" to enjoy easy financial success. Ticket sales of this screening were to benefit the Actor's Fund and introduce the film to peers within the community, which is a great way for an Independent film to gain exposure just before its official release on September 10th. The photo above is of actress Linda Gray, being photographed by the paparazzi. There were reporters from major newspapers and magazines. In Expecting Mary, Linda plays "Darnella" an aging Vegas showgirl who lives in a trailer park and still performs in a small town Indian casino.

above: the posters lined up at the entrance.

above: the flash of all the paparazzi cameras over-powered my little camera. But you get the gist. Here is Linda and young actress Olesya Rulin. Co-star Della Reese was also on hand but I didn't get a photo of her!

above: Producer Kim Waltrip, Linda Gray, Executive Producer Jim Casey and Olesya Rulin, being mobbed by the press. The film was well received by the attendees and met with excellent verbal reviews. It is exciting to see the buzz building for an Independent film. I can't wait for the next screening...stay tuned more more.
-Rick Rockhill

'Expecting Mary' Stars On Fox Good Day Show

'Expecting Mary' Stars Linda Gray and Della Reese appeared on NY's Good Day TV show on Fox this morning. They were speaking about the soon to be released film "Expecting Mary" that I've written about several times here. It is a marvelous film great for the whole family and boasts a great cast of stars you know and love, including Linda Gray, Della Reese, Elliott Gould, Lainie Kazan, Cloris Leachman, Olesya Rulin, Cybil Shepherd, Dred Willard and Gene Simmons (of KISS). Expecting Mary is an Independent film, so it will be released September 10th in limited cities in the US. I'll post about it again in a few weeks but in the meantime check out this clip from the Fox Good Day New York TV show.

World Premiere of "Expecting Mary" at the Palm Springs Film Fest

Last nightI attended the world premiere screening of the new film "Expecting Mary", featured at the Palm Springs International Film Fest. Expecting Mary is an independent film with close ties to Palm Springs. Written and directed by Dan Gordon, the Producer was Kim Waltrip and the Executive Producer was Jim Casey, both residents of Palm Springs. Expecting Mary is the story of a young well-to do girl who finds herself pregnant and runs away from him. While hitch-hiking across country, she ends up in a small New Mexico town, in a downtrodden trailer park for a few days. There, in this unlikely place she learns the real meaning of family, friends, and love. It is a wonderful story with lots of genuine laughs, emotional and touching moments and a strong story line. An incredible cast brings the story to life. Linda Gray plays Darnella, a sort of washed up Vegas showgirl, Cloris Leachman is hilarious as Annie, an aged neighbor in the trailer park who raises and cares for pigs. Olesya Rulin (of High School Musical fame) plays young Mary, Elliot Gould is a polka-loving truck driver, Cybill Shepherd is the snobby mother of Mary, Della Reese is the owner of the dumpy trailer park and is hysterical. Lainie Kazan plays Lillian Littlefeather, the last of an Indian tribe who owns a tiny casino, Gene Simmons is Mary's aging rock-star father and Fred Willard is a has-been Vegas agent whose clients are all of the by-gone era. There is a really hilarious scene when a crazed Cybill Shepherd arrives at a small local airport and interacts with the baggage handler, gate agent, and rental car clerk (all the same person, but just changes a hat or jacket). It was a very well done scene with perfect comedic timing. Several cast members were on hand for the premiere, including Linda Gray, Cloris Leachman, Olesya Rulin and Teresa Ganzel (see photo above).

above: at the after party, I had a chance to spend some time with Olesya and catch up on things. At just 23 years old, she is very sweet and developing solid skills as an actress. For those of you who may not know Olesya, she is a Russian born actress best known for her role in the first three High School Musical films as Kelsi Nielsen, along with Zac Effron,Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale.

above: the official movie poster from Expecting Mary. This is a scene where Darnella (Linda Gray) is out walking a little pig who lives in the trailer park. In full disclosure, imagine my surprise when at the end of the film, as the credits were rolling, I saw my name listed, as thanks from the Producers. Such a sweet gesture (thanks Kim and Jim). My contribution was a connection to get one of the stars to sign on for the film, but I was happy to do so. Anyway, mark this film down as one to watch- it will be a gem of a film in 2010. Not sure of the official release date yet, but I"ll keep you posted when I hear more.
-Rick Rockhill