Sonoma’s Sebastiani Theatre launches ‘Show and a Show’

L.A.-based singer songwriter Allie Crow Buckley will perform before a screening of the 1978 film, ‘Days of Heaven.’|

Late last year, Sonoma musician Sasha Papadin brought forth a simple idea: to present a musical show and a movie at the Sebastiani Theatre.

Papadin and his band, Loverman, performed their newly released album, “Wings of Desire,” before a Dec. 21 screening of the 1987 Wim Wenders movie of the same name. The songs and mood on the album were inspired by the critically-acclaimed film.

The night was such a success Papadin is doing it again. On Friday, March 22, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Allie Crow Buckley will perform before a screening of the 1978 film, “Days of Heaven.”

The “Days of Heaven”-Buckley show is part of an ongoing series that Papadin is calling “Show and a Show.” His plan is to present a classic film preceded by a musical performance that complements the theme of the movie. Papadin says his goal is to offer “unique nights of film, music and wine.”

“Everybody in the crowd was just really moved by (‘Wings of Desire’) and by the end of the night it just felt like everyone had gone on this really special journey,” Papadin said of the inaugural event.

His friends all agreed and urged him to turn it into a series.

Papadin said his idea is to “take your girl out and see a band and movie.”

“A little excitement, and new artists that you are not familiar with that film – then there’s wine, and it’s great,” said Papadin. “Three hours later you’ve had a really lovely time and it’s still early enough to go the Town Square.”

“Days of Heaven” was written and directed by Terrence Malick and stars Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard and Linda Manz. Set in Texas in 1916, the film follows a couple (Gere and Adams) on the run from the law, who pose as brother and sister while working on the farm of a wealthy landowner (Shepard). The landowner is rumored to be suffering from a life-threatening illness – and the drifters hatch a plan to inherit his land when he dies.

“Days of Heaven” won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. It also received Oscar nominations that year for best score, best costume design and best sound.

The film was scored by the legendary Ennio Morricone; late film critic Robert Ebert at the time described the film’s music as “wistful, full of loss and regret.”

To complement the “wistful” music, tone and emotion of the movie, Papadin enlisted Allie Crow Buckley, a 25-year-old musician currently living in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Buckley will be accompanied by guitarist Mike Viola and keyboardist Jason Boesel, both of whom played on Buckley’s new album, “So Romantic.”

“The three have cultivated a sparse, haunting sound that aligns well with Buckley’s dreamlike songs,” boasts Buckley’s website.

Reached by telephone, Buckley spoke excitedly about her musical career and the process of writing and recording her new album. Buckley said she writes her songs on autoharp. “It’s pretty easy, just buttons, and I can get the feel for the chords on it,” she said.

Being a California girl who once lived in Mendocino, she is familiar with Sonoma and its charms.

“I love going to Sonoma,” she said. “The wineries… I can’t wait to play in the Sebastiani Theatre, it is such a great old room.”

To round out his vision for a night of music movies and wine, Papadin enlisted Andrew Mariani from Scribe Winery to pour his new rose, Una Lou Rose.

Tickets are $20. Buckley performs at 7 p.m.; “Days of Heaven” follows at 8 p.m. sebastianitheatre.com.

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