Looking ahead to the weekend at Wanee Theater, thrill-seekers can look forward to “The Conjuring: Last Rites” and the sci-fi spectacle “Tron: Ares.” Mark your calendars for October 17th, when “Fairyland,” which is based on the book by Alysia Abbott, Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father, debuts in Kewanee. The premiere will feature a special appearance by David Binder, uncle of producer and author Alysia Abbott, who is also a 1973 graduate of Kewanee High School. Fairyland premiered at the January 20, 2023, Sundance Film Festival and hit the big screen nationwide on October 10th. The film will debut at the Wanee Theater on Friday at 7 PM. Following the movie, there will be a virtual meet-and-greet with author Alysia Abbott. For showtimes and more details, visit waneetheater.com. Don’t miss these exciting community-centered events.
In the wake of her mother’s tragic car accident in 1973, Alysia Abbott relocated to San Francisco with her father, Steve, who sought the freedom to live openly as a gay man. Amid the city’s vibrant bohemian scene, Alysia’s upbringing unfolded unconventionally, often stretching the boundaries of normal family life. The intense bond between father and daughter faces ongoing challenges, both from societal expectations and personal longing. As she matures, Alysia finds herself immersed in a thriving artistic community shadowed by the AIDS crisis—a crisis that would ultimately claim her father, leaving a profound mark on her journey.
American Zoetrope secured screen rights for Alysia Abbott’s celebrated memoir, Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father, with Sofia Coppola initially attached as co-writer and producer. While Coppola transitioned to producer, Andrew Durham took the lead as writer and director. The cast features Emilia Jones, Scoot McNairy, Geena Davis, Adam Lambert, Cody Fern, Bella Murphy, and Nessa Dougherty, joined later by Maria Bakalova. Production wrapped in June 2022, marking a significant step forward for the project. Fairyland delves into Abbott’s childhood and her relationship with her father in San Francisco.
Alysia Abbott, acclaimed author of “Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father,” continues to leave a mark on the literary world. Her memoir, detailing her upbringing as the only child of gay poet Steve Abbott in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury, has earned numerous honors, including the ALA Stonewall Award and recognition as a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice. “Fairyland” is being adapted into a feature film and has been published in several languages. Abbott is also co-founder of The Recollectors Project, which supports those who lost parents to AIDS. She currently leads GrubStreet’s Memoir Incubator Program in Boston.
