Film 'Queen of the City' debuts at Riviera Theatre

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—"Queen of the City," a film directed and produced by Western Michigan University staff and starring its students, will premiere at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at the Riviera Theatre, 48 N. Main St., in Three Rivers. The red-carpet event begins with brief comments followed by the showing of part one at 2:30 p.m. and part two at 5:30 p.m.

Produced by William Craft, director of information technology in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Kathy Purnell, instructor of political science and public administration, "Queen of the City" concentrates on character dynamics while engaging the audience. It takes familiar DC comics characters and uses parody and homages to classic films like "Casablanca," "Good Fellas," "Brokeback Mountain," "Tombstone," "Inglourious Basterds" and "Say Anything" to tell a poignant story of love, obligation and duty to a community with an underlying humor and playfulness.

Starring current WMU students Jack Kison, Khaliid Canales-King and Mitch Sowers as well as alumnus Dominic Pacini, filming took place mainly in Kalamazoo with some filming in Port Odessa, Port Hope, St. Thomas, Ontario and Windsor.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.