Hello Everyone!

We have space this week to add some holiday cheer to the mix - special screenings of the now classic movie ELF - starring Will Ferrell. Tickets for this one are just $5.  If you've not seen it on the big screen, it's so much fun (can you believe it's been 20 years since it premiered???). THE HOLDOVERS will hold for a 5th week, and DREAM SCENARIO will hold for a 2nd and final week...and on Dec. 14, we'll open MAESTRO - the new biopic about conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein - directed by and starring Bradley Cooper.  As a wonderful treat, our first screening of MAESTRO (Thu, Dec. 14 at 7:30) will be followed by a discussion led by Neal Gittleman - artistic director and conductor of The Dayton Philharmonic! Tickets are available now! (Speaking of tickets...we also have opening week tickets available for POOR THINGS starring Emma Stone (opening Dec. 21) and the bold and beautiful new adaptation of THE COLOR PURPLE (opening Dec. 25).  We've had several people ask if we'll bring back TRIANGLE PARK.  The answer is Yes.  We will have some encore screenings during the week of Dec. 15-21...more details coming very soon.

We've launched our annual Capital Campaign to ensure we can continue to grow in 2024.  If you haven't read our 2023 wrap-up letter, click HERE to check it out.

"Open Caption Mondays" continue to be well-received - DREAM SCENARIO and THE HOLDOVERS will be presented with Open Captions (captions projected on the screen) on Monday, Dec. 11. (As a reminder, seating is no longer assigned on Mondays-Thursdays for traditional engagements.)

THE NEON's Merch Shop

When shopping for the holidays, don't forget that we've got what you need for the movie lovers in your life - from hoodies and t-shirts to tote bags, posters and gift cards!  And though they might go quickly, we just got in our next batch of handmade mugs - and they're awesome.  Be sure to check out our Merch Shop next time you're here!

Synopsis for ELF: "When young Buddy falls into Santa's gift sack on Christmas Eve, he's transported back to the North Pole and raised as a toy-making elf by Santa's helpers. But as he grows into adulthood, he can't shake the nagging feeling that he doesn't belong. Buddy vows to visit Manhattan and find his real dad, a workaholic." Starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, Mary Steenburgen, Zooey Deschanel, Peter Dinklage and Amy Sedaris - it's hard to believe this film is already 20 years old!  Tickets for these special screenings are just $5 each!

TONIGHT!!! In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, THE NEON is excited to host a special screening of the classic film BEAT STREET (1984) on the big screen along with a special lecture from producer, musician and Hip-Hop historian TL Cross.  This one-time event is scheduled for Wednesday, December 6 at 7:30, and tickets are $12.50 each. Bringing this film along with TL Cross and his lecture was the brainchild of DJ Lu – who provided music on THE NEON’s patio over the summer for THE NEON’s Friday Patio Parties.  Several groups have come on board to help sponsor the event including Sinclair Community College Diversity Office, University of Dayton Department of Music, and Wright State University College of Liberal Arts Motion Pictures. BEAT STREET is considered one of Hip-Hop's most important and influential movies. Produced by Harry Belafonte and directed by Stan Lathan (who has directed most of Dave Chappelle's comedy specials), this film arrived on the heels of BREAKIN' in the summer of 1984. "When rapper-DJ Kenny (Guy Davis) meets cultured jazz artist Tracy (Rae Dawn Chong), he is so inspired by her dedication that he vows to use his talents to escape the ghetto. But when his friend, a gifted graffiti artist, is killed in a tragic accident, Kenny comes face to face with the high price of artistic passion." (Orion Pictures) This "gritty, streetwise musical" (LA Herald-Examiner) features a who's who of the movement's early stars.

TL Cross is a cultural historian, TV personality, musician, platinum songwriter and producer, narrator and educator. Growing up in the Jamaica section of Queens, New York, Cross has experienced a lot throughout his life and career. “Coming up in Queens was lowkey like starring in your own Tribe Called Quest music video mixed with Run DMC and Nas elements,” Cross remarks. Although Cross has received numerous accolades, including an American Music Award and two ASCAP awards, he is widely known today for his work as a cultural historian. Through his online shows WOW, TL CROSS!, and  CROSS IN A MINUTE as well as host of Bounce TV’s HIP HOP STATE OF MIND, Cross has established himself as one of music history's most innovative voices. Cross has worked with an impressive roster of heavy hitters like 50 Cent, Jazmine Sullivan, Musiq Soulchild, Ghostface, Usher, P. Diddy, Jadakiss,112, Yolanda Adams, Mary J Blige, and more. 

We're delighted to once again partner with The Downtown Holiday Festival to bring Free Filmsfor kids in December.  Our remaining line-up includes HOME ALONE and THEMUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL, and sponsors include AES Ohio, Dayton Children's Hospital and The RubiGirls.  Click thisLINKto access our flyer that has all the details for this year's screenings!
This Saturday's pick (Dec. 9) is HOME ALONE. It screens at 11:00am (doors open at 10:15). Tickets are first-come, first-serve (patrons must be present to claim tickets)...Free for kids 12 and under and $2 for everyone else.

7:45 SHOW ADDED! Fans of our one-night-only music docs swept in and bought every ticket to our 7:30 screening of IMMEDIATE FAMILY on Dec. 12 (from the director of THE WRECKING CREW)...and because this is a one-night only  national event - we figured we might as well add a 2nd show in our 2nd auditorium. Carole King said, "This film is a window into the lives of my musical brothers, whose gold standard is to make sure that every song they play on comes out even better than the songwriter imagined. Now they're doing that for their own songs, and this film tells their story beautifully." This one night only screening will take place Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 & 7:45, and tickets are already flying!

Join Muse Machine for a special fundraising screening of the beloved 1980 comedy 9 TO 5 - starring Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda! Wednesday December 13th, 7:30. Be part of the magic, January 11th -14th 2024, as over 100 Muse Machine students grace the Victoria Theatre stage to bring you the musical adaptation of this timeless classic. Your movie ticket enters you into a drawing for two free tickets to the Muse musical in January! 9 TO 5 tells the story of three workmates pushed to a boiling point by their egotistical boss. Concocting a plan to turn the tables on their despicable supervisor, will the women manage to reform their office – or will events unravel when the CEO pays an unexpected visit? Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of Muse Machine’s exciting journey from screen to stage. Wed, Dec. 13 at 7:30 - tickets are $10 each!

The early months of 2024 are already filling up our schedules with special events.  In the coming weeks, I'll bring you up to speed with all the details - including our annual MLK Day screening, Wright State's Doc Night, our Valentine's event, visiting filmmaker/screenwriter Nick Pinkerton (a graduate of Wright State's film program) with his new film called THE SWEET EAST, and many more.  Stay tuned!

Thank you for all of your support!

Hope to see you soon,

Jonathan