Magic hours

Philbrook’s evening Film on the Lawn series expands to year-round showings

The Philbrook Museum’s ongoing slate of summer movies, “Films on the Lawn,” ramps up its 2017 season beginning May 26 with a 30th-anniversary screening of the beloved, Rob Reiner-directed comic fantasy, “The Princess Bride.” But, according to Philbrook Communications Manager Jeff Martin, it’s not just about seeing a film in the mansion’s bucolic garden with friends, family, and a picnic blanket.

“We’re having a real themed wedding,” Martin said. “April Brooks and Will Gibson [dressed as Princess Buttercup and Westley] will tie the knot for free with an ordained performer acting out scenes from the film. We always want the films to be more than the sum of their parts. We’ve had a flash mob during ‘West Side Story.’ Terrance Malick guest-curated one season, and so on.”

The film series has been around for over 40 years, but this year they’re shifting gears. Rather than showing films just on
Friday nights during July, Philbrook will host movies every fourth Friday of each month, year-round—even if the weather doesn’t agree. 

“If it’s bad weather, we’ll go inside. Hell, if it’s snowy we might watch ‘Fargo’ outdoors,” Martin said. 

Let’s hope it snows again some year. 

Upcoming films include the bizarre Wolfgang Petersen fantasy adventure, “The Neverending Story” (Jun. 23), Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller, “Vertigo” (Jul. 28), and in August nobody is putting Baby in a corner for “Dirty Dancing” (Aug. 25). 

“We’ll have dancing in the garden for ‘Dirty Dancing,’” Martin said. “A campout for ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ in September with s’mores. Those are just a few teasers.” 

Guests will actually have the opportunity to stay overnight for “Moonrise” (details to come), and are encouraged to
ride their bikes in for the October screening of “E.T. the Extraterrestrial.” 

Admission is $6 for Philbrook members and $8 for non-members, and free for kids 17 and under (admission to “The Neverending Story” will be free for all). There will be a cash bar andplenty of food trucks each time, but guests are welcome to bring their own picnics, chairs, blankets, and other accoutrements for a night of cinema under the stars.     

For tickets and additional information visit my.philbrook.org or call (918)748-5300. 

For more from Joe, read his “Twin Peaks” primer in anticipation of the series’ return after 25 years.