LDS Filmmaker LaBute Shooting New Film

LDS Filmmaker Neil LaBute's latest work, the film version of the A.S. Byatt book "Possession," is currently shooting on location in Yorkshire, England, and news reports reveal that the film has attracted actress Gwyneth Paltrow to the cast. LaBute, along with Laura Jones, adapted the Booker prize-winning novel for the big screen.

Southern Virginia College Chamber Choir at Washington Temple Visitors Center

The Southern Virginia College Chamber Choir opens the Fall Cultural Arts Series with a free concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, at the Washington DC Temple Visitor's Center, 9900 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington, Maryland.

Promised Valley Playhouse Will Become Parking Structure & Offices SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- A few weeks after the LDS Church decided against donating the structurally-unsound Promised Valley Playhouse to Salt Lake County, the Deseret News reports that the Church plans to turn the historic building into retail and office space in the facade and the rest into a parking structure. The plans call for restoring the facade and front portion of the building and constructing a seven-story garage behind it that can't be seen from the front. The plans will cost an estimated $3 million, instead of the $24 million estimated for renovating the entire building. The decision addresses a lack of parking in the area. Pretty face for parking structure Deseret News 30Sep00 A1 By Alan EdwardDeseret News staff writer

Tickets to MoTab Xmas Concert Available SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Tickets to the annual Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert will be distributed free of charge starting Tuesday, October 17th at six ticket offices along Utah's Wasatch Front.The Concert will be held Saturday, December 16th at 7:30 pm in the LDS Church's Conference Center. The tickets are free to anyone over age seven and can be obtained at the LDS Church's Conference Center, at the University of Utah's Kingsbury Hall, at the Hale Center Theater, at the Utah Festival Opera Company in Logan, Utah, at the Ogden Symphony Ballet Association in Ogden, Utah and at BYU's Harris Fine Arts Center in Provo, Utah. Christmas Concert Ticket Locations LDS Church Press Release 5Oct00 A1

Temple Square Chorale & Orchestra to Present "King David" SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- The 45-voice Temple Square Chorale along with members of the Orchestra at Temple Square will present Arthur Honegger's "King David"at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square on Friday, October 13th and at the University of Utah's Libby Gardner Concert Hall on Saturday, October 14th. Both concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. and are free to the public. "King David" is a "Symphonic Psalm in 3 parts" based on a drama by Rene Morax. Honegger, a French composer, composed and conducted the first performance of "King David" in 1921. The work tells the story of King David, including Samuel choosing him as King, his coronation and his kingship, including the deaths of Absalom and David. Chorale and Orchestra Combine for "King David" LDS Church Press Release 6Oct00 A1

Calgary Sun Review's "God's Army" CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA -- The Calgary Sun's Lisa Wilton reviewed "God's Army" as the film opened there, giving a positive view of the film, but saying that it "won't convert many." Wilton does say, however, that the film is "better than a lot of Hollywood's mainstream fare." Wilton calls the film an "interesting, witty, thought-provoking and surprisingly entertaining tale." She also says it is "well-done and extremely well-acted." Don't slam door on Mormon film Calgary Alberta Canada Sun 29Sep00 A2 By Lisa Wilton: Calgary Sun

LDS Conductor Debut's in South Carolina CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA -- LDS conductor Bundit Ungrangsee, a Thai native who joined the LDS Church in Salt Lake City where he was associate conductor of the Utah Symphony, debuted as Associate Conductor of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra on Friday, September 29th. Ungrangsee expects to get a lot of opportunity to conduct in Charleston since the orchestra's conductor also conducts a group in Europe. The Charleston Post and Courier's Lindsay Koob was impressed by Ungrangsee's debut. "Maestro Ungrangsee conducted throughout with poise, panache and skill - and his ensemble seemed eager to help him shine." The program included Igor Stravinsky's Divertimento from his 1928 ballet "The Fair's Kiss;" Camille Saint-Saens' "Africa Fantasy;" Mozart's "Rondo in A;" and William Grant Still's Symphony 1, the "Afro-American." Associate conductor shines at Sottile Charleston SC Post and Courier 30Sep00 A2 By Lindsay Koob: Post and Courier reviewer

"One More River to Cross" Released SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- The Deseret News' Dennis Lythgoe called "One More River to Cross" "impressive" in his short note on the book. The Bookcraft title by BYU professor Margaret Blair Young and Genesis President Darius Aidan Gray attempts to tell the story of the black pioneers that joined the Mormon church in the 1800s, before the Church's ban on blacks holding the priesthood was stated. The book is told as a historical novel and is the first of a projected three-volume trilogy, called "Standing on the Promises." The first volume tells of the conversions of Elijah Abel and Jane Manning James, as well as several others who joined the Church and traveled with the Mormon pioneers to Utah. Books: Leisure reading Deseret News 29Sep00 A2 By Dennis Lythgoe

See also: More about "One More River to Cross" at Amazon.com

Dutcher's Next Film: Brigham City SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- LDS Film maker Richard Dutcher has started filming his next project, reportedly a dramatic thriller about the sheriff and LDS bishop of a small Utah town named Brigham. Dutcher will star in the role of the sheriff, and Matthew Brown, who played the lead role in "God's Army" will play his deputy. Dutcher also brought in veteran actor Wilford Brimley to play a mentor to the town's sheriff. "Brigham City" will be filmed over the next four weeks in Dutcher's home town of Mapleton, Utah and like "God's Army will be financed entirely from local investors. "God's Army" has grossed more than $2.5 million and cost just $240,000 to make. It has placed among the top 10 independently made US films for the year. What next? 'Brigham City' Deseret News 29Sep00 A2 By Jeff Vice: Deseret News movie critic

Edmonton Reviewer says "God's Army" only for Devout EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA -- Edmonton Journal reviewer David Staples says that "God's Army" will only appeal to LDS Church members, but then admits that he enjoyed the film. As the film opened in Edmonton, Staples compared it to the rock albums that only devoted fans purchase, calling it "too slow, too corny, too earnest." But interestingly, Staples interviews several LDS Church members, talking to them about the film's honesty about the Mormon faith. This apparently lead's Staples to qualify his negative opinion of the film in the end, saying about Elder Allen's testimony-gaining prayer, "If you've ever had a religious experience, such a moment will ring true, even if you're like me . . . ". Only the devout will warm to new film on Mormons Edmonton Alberta Canada Journal 3Oct00 A2 By David Staples: The Edmonton Journal Popular film does tackle society's criticisms of faith head on, however

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