Writer/director Stewart Raffill

From left: Linnington, Joanne and Ann Reagan

Cast member Brianna Davids, a sixth grader at Crest Memorial School

Cast member Kaileigh Kita, a ninth grader at Wildwood Catholic.

Cast member Shannon Birdsell, a seventh grade at Cape Trinity

Cast member Kayleigh LaMaina, a Lower Cape May Regional graduate and NYU Student.

Cast members and family prepare to watch "Standing Ovation."

Arrivals at Wildwoods Convention Center

After show party.

Diane Kirman, co-writer/producer of "Standing Ovation"

More cast members arrive for "after party."

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RIO GRANDE – The Rio Grande Stadium 12 Theatres became Hollywood for a night replete with limousines, a red carpet, photographers, an emcee and dancers and actors from a major motion picture.

On Fri., July 16 the movie “Standing Ovation,” held a local premiere here and a large crowd filled six of the theaters in the complex including many of the 50 or so dancers in the movie, most of which are students of Joanne Reagan Dance Studio in Cold Spring. Reagan and her daughter Ann were choreographers of the film. Joanne put in a hilarious appearance in the film as a resident of an old folks home along with a number of local Red Hat ladies.

“Standing Ovation,” has 10 original songs and 13 choreographed dance routines. The film used locations in 2008 and 2009 on the Wildwood Boardwalk, Lower Cape May Regional High School and a rented storefront in the Acme shopping center in North Cape May.
While the movie is officially set in Atlantic City, locals will recognize Cape May’s Beach Theatre and Promenade, Sunset Beach and the Southern Mansion as filming locations.

The movie’s writer/director Stewart Raffill and Diane Kirman, producer and co-writer of “Standing Ovation,” made a brief appearance at the red carpet ceremony before the film’s screening.
“The film is a celebration of the dancing kids of this area,” Raffill told the crowd. “They were just spectacular.”

Cast members were formally dressed and were interviewed by Jim Linnington of the Bayshore Inn as they strode the red carpet.

A simultaneous premier was taking place in Ocean City featuring the youngest cast member, nine-year old Alanna Palombo who plays Alanna Wannabee, a feisty singer/dancer who is determined to join a girl group with members years older than her. She is a scene stealer in the movie and provided much of the film’s laughs. A number of her family members appear in a production number filmed at the Marmora Firehouse.

Following the screening, cast members, friends and family members reassembled at the Wildwoods Convention Center for an “after party” presented by Joanne Reagan.

The movie is rich in dance numbers set to music that will be loved by teens and pre-teens which is the target audience. Even though this reporter is about 30 years older than the targeted demographic, I got caught up in the plot and enjoyed seeing so much local talent on the screen.

Sal Dupree of Linwood is co producer of Standing Ovation. Dupree was also a comic scene stealer as manager of a less than ethical singing group.
The movie premiered in Philadelphia and Hollywood earlier in the week.