PHOENIXVILLE PA – A showing of the 2022 crime movie “Paradise City,” and a real-time interview with its director, are featured attractions of a May fund-raising event to assist two local organizations.
Phoenixville’s Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., again serves May 2 (2025; Friday) as the setting for an evening coordinated by media producer Grady Craig. It will benefit the Hobart’s Run neighborhood improvement initiative in Pottstown, as well as repairs to the iconic theater.
The Paradise City event starts at 6 p.m. with a screening of the independent feature film that stars John Travolta and Bruce Willis. It will be followed by a live, virtual question-and-answer session with film director Chuck Russell.
Russell also is known for directing for directing “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors,” “The Mask,” “The Scorpion King.” He also directed the 1988 remake of “The Blob,” a sci-fi classic originally shot in 1958 using the theatre as a setting.
“The Colonial Theatre holds the legacy of ‘The Blob,’ so it’s an honor to reconnect with that franchise through this special event,” Russell says.
General admission tickets to the Paradise City event are now available online for $25; Colonial members may pay a reduced price.
A History of Charitable Fund-Raising
This is the third charitable event Craig and The Colonial have presented. Russell is a personal friend of Craig’s.
In 2023, the venue saw a sold-out fundraising screening of the film “Dig.” During 2024, Lionsgate provided the exclusive privilege to screen the film “Scrambled” ahead of its wide theatrical release.
A Chester Springs native, Craig is a 2014 Hill School graduate. He works as senior vice president of BondIt Media Capital, a California-based film, TV, and content financing firm. He also serves as president of BondIt’s production arm, Buffalo 8.
Hobart’s Run is a non-profit neighborhood initiative founded by The Hill School in 2016. Its mission is to “create a clean and safe community, foster inclusivity, provide incentives for home ownership and property pride, and generate quality business development.”
The 120-year-old Colonial Theatre hosted its first stage performance in 1903. The aging building in the heart of downtown Phoenixville reportedly is dealing with several problems: water infiltration, exterior damage, brick-and-mortar problems, and interior issues. The major repairs are estimated to cost about $240,000.
The theatre’s mission “is to nurture community by celebrating the power of film and the performing arts to entertain, inform, and reveal meaning.”
Top images from Google Maps and The Colonial Theatre
Grady Craig photo provided to Travels With The Post by Hobart’s Run
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