LETTER TO THE EDITOR / ARTS AND COMMUNITY
By Roger C. Kostmayer
In spite of serious attacks on education, books and libraries, and the absence of music and art classes in many of our schools, there are non-profit organizations in KW that are fighting the good fight here in our community. For example, in addition to our dedicated teachers and librarians, our cultural jewels are doing it every day: The Tropic Cinema, the Key West Literary Seminar, The Studios of Key West and the Impromptu at St. Paul’s. They, and others like them, are priceless and they enrich our community.
One such enrichment iscoming soon – The Tropic Cinema is showing The Secret Song on February 21st at 7pm. This 90 minute feature documentary, directed by (my fabulousstep-daughter) Samantha Campbell-her first! This film is an immersive view into the final chapter in Doug Goodkin’s 45-year career teaching music to children in San Francisco. In what could have been a celebratory victory lap, the charismatic teacher finds his efforts to instill a sense of belonging interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. When the classrooms are shuttered, Goodkin and his students must surmount new adversities and find a way to keep the music playing and the learning continuing. Watch the trailer!
The film had a great award-winning festival run in 2023. The most exciting news is that the film was recently picked up for national broadcast distribution via PBS Plus! It will be available on PBS platforms on March 4th! So this is your sneak peak!
I hope you’ll consider attending on Wednesday, February 21st to help support our special Tropic Cinema ~ and Director Samantha will be in attendance for Q&A. 100% of your ticket contribution will go to The Tropic Cinema. Doors open at 6:30 and the film starts at 7pm.
Thanks, and I hope to see you there.
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