LOCAL Houston | The City Guide August 2017 | Page 40

GISH AT THE
MOVIES
“MOVIES AT MILLER”
Yes, it’s August. Yes, it’s hot. But that doesn’t mean you can’t head outdoors to see movies. That’s right, my
friends – outdoors! Miller Outdoor Theatre (www.MillerOutdoorTheatre.com) kicks off its annual “Movies at
Miller” series this August and it’s a terrific place to see flicks because they have 1,700 seats in a covered
area with air-conditioning. This means you get nature, arts, and a/c all under one roof! Miller opened in
1923 and now is the largest "always free" program of its kind in the country. In addition to films, be sure to
check out their eight-month schedule of arts programming, including an annual Shakespeare Festival every
July and August. Some of the events are ticketed (the movies aren’t) so plan ahead.
“Movies at Miller” kicks off on Tuesday, August 8, with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,”
(2001, PG) the three-time Oscar-nominated film adaptation of J.K. Rowling's beloved bestselling series. In this
first installment, Harry Potter learns on his 11th birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards
and possesses magical powers of his own. And thus, his adventures begin. On Wednesday, August 9,
they’ll be screening another J.K. Rowling fantasy fest – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, (2016,
PG13) an adventure set in the world of wizards starring Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne as the
“magizoologist” Newt Scamander. The film opens in 1926 as Scamander has just completed a global
excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief
stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle)
named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could
spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.
Other films include the classic Singin’ in the Rain (1952, G), which will be shown on Tuesday, August 15,
and La La Land, (2016, PG13) which will unspool on Wednesday, August 16. On Friday, September 29,
the movie will be Sing (2016, PG) and the original Halloween (1978, R) will be screened on Tuesday,
October 31. All films will be screened at 8:30pm except for Sing, which will screen at 7:30pm and
Halloween, which will screen at 8pm. Interestingly, “Halloween” marked the screen debut of Jamie Lee
Curtis! It was also the first in a series of several other films with the same characters, just like the Harry Potter
franchise. As with all of Miller Outdoor Theatre’s programs, ALL THE MOVIES ARE FREE.
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WANT TO SEE MORE ART FILMS?
CHECK OUT THESE VENUES
14 Pews (www.14pews.org)
Alamo Drafthouse (www.drafthouse.com)
Asia Society (www.asiasociety.org/texas)
Aurora Picture Show (www.aurorapictureshow.org)
Blaffer Art Museum (www.blafferartmuseum.org)
Café Brasil (www.cafe-brasil.net)
Contemporary Arts Museum (www.camh.org)
Discovery Green (www.discoverygreen.com)
DiverseWorks (www.diverseworks.org)
Holocaust Museum (www.hmh.org)
Jewish Community Center (www.erjcchouston.org)
Landmark River Oaks Theatre (www.landmarktheatres.com)
Menil Collection (www.menil.org)
Miller Outdoor Theatre (www.milleroutdoortheatre.com)
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (www.mfah.org/films)
Orange Show (www.orangeshow.org)
Rice Cinema (www.ricecinema.rice.edu)
Sundance Cinemas (www.sundancecinemas.com)
By Sarah Gish | www.gishcreative.com
Images courtesy Miller Outdoor Theatre
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