Into the Spotlight. Photo courtesy of Thaddeus Matula
Lake Highlands native and film director Thaddeus Matula will premiere a documentary film about a special Dallas music theatre program during the Dallas International Film Festival in April.
Into the Spotlight is a “heartfelt story of how a script, a stage and a theater program composed of adults with disabilities celebrate their creativity, explore life’s complexities and empower a community,” according to the press release.
Matula documented a musical theatre program for young adults with disabilities as they prepared for their annual production at Highland Park United Methodist Church.
The film is told from the perspective of the cast in the play as they share their challenges and triumphs through the 2021-22 season. Into the Spotlight follows the musical theater group’s 11th show.
Neighbors may recognize Matula’s work from his sports documentary films, including “Pony Excess” and “Brian and the Boz” for ESPN. You can read more about that in this November 2022 feature.
The film will premiere at the Dallas International Film Festival at 4 p.m. on April 29 at the Texas Theatre in Oak Cliff.
