Prince Music Theater Launches Summer Cinema to Battle Financial Difficulties

Philadelphia's Prince Music Theater has launched Summer Cinema at the Prince, a series of first-run features, movies with music, independent premieres, new documentaries, and special film events that will continue all summer long. Disney Pixar's 'Toy Story 3' kicked off the program on Friday, June 18, bringing Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and all the gang to Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts. 'Toy Story 3' show times will be Monday to Friday at 12:30, 3:00, 6:30 and 9:00 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00 and 10:30 p.m.

The Summer Cinema Series is part of the Prince's strategy to keep the theater self-supporting, to fulfill its mission, and to serve a broad constituency from all segments of the community. In addition to first-run features, the Prince will offer a rich mix of live musical performances interwoven with independent premieres, film festival favorites, documentaries, and special interactive events, both on the Alter Mainstage and in the Independence Foundation Black Box. Plans for live musical performances and additional film programming will be announced in the weeks ahead.

The Summer Cinema series is one part of a three-year Prince Renaissance Plan aiming to rebuild and restore the Prince to full operations and return to full production, with a new business model and multiple revenue streams. Screenings of 'Toy Story 3' will continue on a regular full movie schedule. Other first-run features will be opening at the Prince throughout the summer months.

Marjorie Samoff, president of The Prince Music Theater, is excited about this new opportunity. She said, "Over the past 12 years, we've worked with major film studios and hosted many premiere screenings. Now, we're delighted to expand that relationship and bring first-run feature films to downtown Philadelphia, and to showcase independent premieres that might otherwise not be seen in Philadelphia. We look forward to welcoming visitors and local residents from all across Philadelphia to come and enjoy great films all summer long."

However, the Prince Music Theater is also facing difficulties, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.  Due to financial troubles and difficulties with mortgage payments, the theater is threatened with sale by TDBank, which holds the Prince's mortgages.  The theater was to be auctioned off on July 13, but the sale is currently postponed due to the bank's failure to advertise the Prince, the Inquirer reports.  Bank spokesperson Rebecca S. Acevedo told the Inquirer, "We are hopeful The Situation can be resolved. We have been working through the courts to address this issue and cannot comment further as these matters are in litigation."

The Prince Music Theater was founded in 1984 as the American Music Theater Festival, and in 1999 established a permanent home at 1412 Chestnut Street on the Avenue of the Arts. With two performance venues and first-class film capabilities, the Prince has offered more than 400 performances and screenings per year, attracting 100,000 arts attendees and serving as the catalyst for the revival of the Chestnut Street Corridor. The company has mounted 175 productions, including 132 world or American premieres by leading artists, and dozens of Prince productions have toured to New York (Broadway, Off-Broadway, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy Of Music) Los Angeles, London and worldwide. The Prince is home to Morgans Cabaret, a nationally recognized showcase for the finest performers of the Great American Songbook, featuring top artists from Karen Akers and Christine Andreas to Eddie Bruce and Mark Nadler. It is located at 1412 Chestnut Street, just off the Avenue of the Arts.

For tickets, film schedule, and other information, call 215 569-9700.  Tickets are $10, with $9 prices for senior citizens over 64 and $8 prices for children twelve and under and for 10:00 am shows.