'Love Chronicles' readies for red carpet

Next weekend's premiere of the movie "Love Chronicles (of the Cape)" promises to be a splashy affair, with a red-carpet promenade for its debut at Rose Theatre at Southeast Missouri State University.

Dan Steadman

Kathy Kaiser

The independent film, shot in January in and around Cape Girardeau, will be screened at 7:30 p.m. April 17 and 18, and the run-up to the screening should be Hollywood-style fun.

The public is encouraged to show up early and to bring cameras to the west entrance of the theater. At 6:30 p.m., cast members will begin arriving in vintage cars and will walk the red carpet and pose before a "step-and-repeat" backdrop -- the same sort of photo background one sees when viewing the Academy Awards telecast.

St. Louis-based movie critic Kathy Kaiser will interview cast members and other red-carpet-trotters for her show, "Matinee Chat with Kathy Kaiser."

"It's sort of like the prom for adults," said Dan Steadman, the film's writer and director.

Adam Rookard and Kathryn McWilson portray cheerleaders during filming of the movie "Love Chronicles (of the Cape)" on Jan. 11 at Shawnee Park Center in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

"Over 100 actors from Cape have speaking parts in the film, and nearly every scene features a local business or public setting," Steadman said, adding that about 150 people had nonspeaking roles.

Steadman said all participants are listed in the film's credits, which run at the beginning, not the end, of the movie.

After the screening, the director and cast members will take to the stage for a question-and-answer session, and then, at 9:30 p.m., it's party time. The public is invited to the April 17 after-party at Broadway Biergarten, 818 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. The after-party April 18 is at Keller's at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau; the public is invited and must show a screening ticket stub for entry.

Tickets, priced at $10, are on sale at circa87.com and will be available at the Rose Theatre box office before each screening, pending availability.

Screenings, followed by a Q&A with the director and cast, also will take place April 24 and 25 at the theater.

nhadler@semissourian.com

388-3630

Pertinent address:

818 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO

North Pacific Street and Normal Avenue, Cape Girardeau, MO