Joe Manganiello's New Documentary Raising Money For Local Theaters
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A huge Hollywood star is back home in Pittsburgh.
You might know him from "True Blood" or "Magic Mike."
Joe Manganiello is in town this weekend to screen a new documentary that he and his brother created. Proceeds from the event will help raise money for two historic Pittsburgh movie theaters.
KDKA's Kimberly Gill Reports:
Manganiello, a Mount Lebanon native turned Hollywood star, is back home to walk the red carpet at the Hollywood Theater in Dormont.
He'll be showing a screening of a new documentary he created with his brother, Nick.
The film is a behind-the-scenes look at the world's most popular male strip club "La Bare" in Dallas, Texas.
"We've been kind of pseudo working together our whole lives, growing up together, whether it was him making movies or us playing role-playing games, so it is wonderful that we can potentially make money now," said Nick.
The money raised from Friday's event will help the Denis Theatre in Mount Lebanon reopen, and the Hollywood Theater in Dormont upgrade its projection system to digital.
The goal is to raise $75,000.
KDKA's Christine D'Antonio Reports from the Screening:
"It's a huge challenge. In fact, there are small town neighborhood cinemas like the Hollywood and the Denis that have closed around the country in the past five years cause of this switch. A lot of theaters just can't afford to make the switch," said Chad Hunter, the executive director of the Hollywood Theater.
The theater's history dates back to the 1920s during the times of silent film.
The Manganiello brothers say they have a lot of fond memories watching movies at both the Hollywood and Denis theaters, which is why they wanted to come back here for the screening.
Watch the full interview with Joe and his brother here:
The film marks Joe Manganiello's first time directing a major motion picture.
"You know, I come from Carnegie Mellon; I come from classical theater background. Nick has a business background. We both are yin and yang in that way," said Joe. "There's a bit of businessman in me. There's an artist in him. And we have the same taste. It is really complimentary in the perfect way."
"It will be a great fundraiser and I think it will bring some good attention to both the Hollywood and Denis Theater and to Dormont," added Hunter.
The private screening is Friday at 7 p.m. at the Hollywood Theater in Dormont. The show is sold out. But there will be two more screenings this weekend – on Saturday at 9:15 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. And tickets are still available for those screenings.
For more information, visit the Hollywood Theater's website:
http://www.thehollywooddormont.org/
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