Arts & Entertainment

'My Tale of Two Cities' Comes to Hollywood Theater for A Special Screening

The film, by screenwriter Carl Kurlander, is about his move back to the real-life "Mister Rogers Neighborhood" where he finds both himself and his hometown of Pittsburgh in mid-life crisis.

After a tour of more than 25 cities, "My Tale of Two Cities," the funny, hopeful movie about Pittsburgh's comeback, will return for a special screening at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at the  in Dormont.

This tale is about the once-great industrial giant that built America with its steel, conquered polio and invented everything from aluminum to the Big Mac — and has, against all odds, reinvented itself for a new age. 

After the screening, a panel discussion about Pittsburgh's own comeback stories will include state  (D-42nd District); Louise Sturgess, executive director of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation; Muriel Moreland, Dormont Historical Society president; Kelly James of Sugar Cafe; Corey O'Connor, son of the late Pittsburgh mayor Bob O'Connor; and director Carl Kurlander.

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"Mr. McFeely" from "Mister Rogers Neighborhood will also lead a sing-a-long of "Won't You Be My Neighbor."

Tickets are $7 at the door. To reserve tickets in advance, go online to http://www.showclix.com/event/80529.

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This funny and timely comeback story is told through the eyes of "St. Elmo's Fire" screenwriter Carl Kurlander, who moved back to the real-life "Mister Rogers Neighborhood" only to find both himself and his hometown of Pittsburgh in mid-life crisis.  

Armed with a cranky cameraman, funded by his dermatologist, (a scene actually shown in the film) and often battling his wife, who longs to return to the sunny West Coast, Kurlander and his film crew explore whether you really can go home again and how post-industrial cities like Pittsburgh can remake themselves. 

Playing football with Steelers legend Franco Harris and his son Dok, going shopping in the Strip with Teresa Heinz Kerry, eating breakfast at Ritter's Diner with U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O' Neill, Kurlander asks his neighbors — from his old gym teacher to the girl who inspired "St. Elmo's Fire"— how Pittsburgh can once again become "The City of Champions." 

"Tale" captures one of the most inspirational urban renaissances as Pittsburgh goes from a city which has had to declare itself "financially distressed" to hosting the G-20 World Economic Summit  where it was called as the "model of the future."

Last year, "My Tale of Two Cities" became the first film ever to be invited to play on Capitol Hill at the new U.S. Visitor Center, where Congressman Mike Doyle called the film "a comeback story to inspire cities everywhere."  

Pittsburgh City Council has declared Friday as "My Tale of Two Cities Day" in Pittsburgh.

"My Tale of Two Cities" will premiere of WQED on Thanksgiving evening at 8:30 p.m. A special edition DVD of the film is available at www.ShopWqed.org or by calling 800-274-1307.


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