‘Mister Rogers’ actor David Newell will meet fans at ‘Beautiful Day’ movie screening at Cinemark in Moosic on Dec. 8
From a press release:
WVIA will celebrate the 50th anniversary of PBS with a special screening of “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” which stars Tom Hanks as iconic children’s television personality Fred Rogers.
Attendees will have the chance to see this new film on Sunday, Dec. 8 at Cinemark 20 in Moosic with special guest David Newell, who played “Speedy Delivery” man Mr. McFeely on the classic “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” TV series, which ran from 1968-2001. Newell will open the screening with a presentation and will also be available for photos and autographs afterward.
Tickets are $30 each for VIA Members and $40 each for non-members. All proceeds benefit VIA Public Media, the public media organization serving the Northeast and Central Susquehanna Valley. Tickets are limited and can be purchased now via Eventbrite and wvia.org.
Starring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers in a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about kindness, love, and forgiveness from America’s most beloved neighbor.
Doors at Cinemark (40 Glenmaura National Blvd., Moosic) open at 2:00 p.m., and the screening begins at 3 p.m.
In honor of Mister Rogers, attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite cardigan to the movie screening. Prizes will be awarded for best dressed. There are no assigned seats; seating selection is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Rogers, who was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and passed away on Feb. 27, 2003 at the age of 74, still inspires millions today. The 2018 film “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” about his life and guiding philosophy received acclaim from critics and audiences and has grossed $22 million, making it the highest-grossing biographical documentary of all time. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is set for release on Nov. 22 by TriStar Pictures.
Filmed in Pittsburgh, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” airs in reruns on PBS to this day. Offering children a place where they feel accepted and understood, the show helps children to develop social and emotional skills necessary in a community through conversation, songs, visits with neighbors and guests, and puppet stories. In 2012, PBS debuted an animated spin-off show based on the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” that won the 2019 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series.
Earlier this year, Governor Tom Wolf proclaimed Thursday, May 23 as “1-4-3 Day” in Pennsylvania in honor of Rogers’ favorite number and issued a challenge to all Pennsylvanians to show neighbors more kindness to one another.
VIA Public Media, the PBS and NPR affiliate for Northeastern Pennsylvania, educates, inspires, entertains, and fosters citizenship, diverse cultures, and perspectives to nurture community.
