Free screenings of Phantom of the Opera at UPAC, Bardavon, including live organ accompaniment – Daily Freeman

KINGSTON, NY – The 1925 silent film adaptation of “The Phantom of the Opera” will be shown for free with live music at UPAC in Midtown and also at Bardavon in Poughkeepsie.

There will be a live accompaniment on the Mighty Wurlitzer organ, courtesy of the New York Theater Organ Society, the Bardavon said in the announcement.

Performances will be held on Thursday, October 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston; and Friday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m. at Bardavon, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie.

The film “serves as a showcase for the many talents of actor and makeup artist Lon Chaney Sr., known as ‘The Man of a Thousand Faces,'” according to an announcement about the screening.

“Chaney was considered one of the most versatile and powerful performers of the silent film era. His revolutionary makeup techniques allowed him to transform himself into a variety of grotesque and horrific characters, none more memorable than the Phantom, whose famous “unmasking” scene caused theatergoers to swoon upon its release in 1925 should,” says the announcement. “Nearly 100 years later, the film continues to captivate audiences and spawned a number of techniques that continue to populate the horror genre today.”

The performances are part of Bardavon’s Premier Performances program, which “focuses on legendary stars of stage and screen in some of their most memorable roles,” the announcement said.

All films in the series are shown free of charge. There’s a happy hour beforehand with free snacks and soda, as well as half-price beer and wine.

For all screenings, happy hour begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a screening at 7:30 p.m. Additionally, all Bardavon performances will feature a 30-minute pre-show concert by Juan Cardona Jr. on the Bardavon’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ.

Upcoming opening night performances include 1954’s “On the Waterfront” Nov. 21 at Bardavon; 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz” on Dec. 19 at Bardavon and UPAC; “Yojimbo” from 1961 on January 16 at UPAC; “Little Richard: I Am Everything” at Bardavon and UPAC on February 20; “Network” from 1976 at Bardavon on March 20; 1977’s “The American Friend” on April 24 at UPAC; and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” from 1975 on May 8 at Bardavon

The screenings are curated by the Kingston Film Foundation and made possible with support from Marshall & Sterling, Radio Kingston, Herzog’s, Woodstock Film Festival, NYTOS and the Poughkeepsie Public Library District.

For more information, visit bardavon.org.