Speech & Debate Film to Open at AMC's Empire 25
(© Haley Rynn Ringo)
The film adaptation of Stephen Karam's Speech & Debate opens April 7 and has now found a home for its opening: AMC's Empire 25 in Midtown Manhattan. The production has also announced that a portion of proceeds from New York screenings will be donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
"This movie is a love letter to musical theater nerds of all ages," says producer Tom Rice. "We are honored to share this exciting moment with such an important cause as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS."
Directed by Dan Harris, the film stars Sarah Steele (The Humans), Liam James (The Way Way Back), and Austin P. McKenzie (Deaf West's Spring Awakening). They play Diwata, Solomon, and Howie — three high school misfits linked by a scandal involving one of their teachers, who revive their school's long-defunct speech and debate society.
The cast also features Roger Bart, Janeane Garofalo, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kal Penn, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and Skylar Astin, with cameos by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kristin Chenoweth, and Darren Criss.
The original stage version of Speech & Debate opened off-Broadway at Roundabout Underground in October 2007. Directed by Jason Moore, the cast featured Steele (Diwata), Gideon Glick (Howie), and Jason Fuchs (Solomon).
