Update: The Kickstarter funded! There was a surge of support in the final days and it came through in the nick of time. Thanks to any Mormon Momma readers who shared or contributed. It’s going to be great.
Join the Saturday’s Warrior Kickstarter campaign now!
When I was a kid, my sister, Nora, went to see a musical. It was all the rage, touring across the western states to sell out crowds. She bought the LP and we listened over and over and over. I memorized every song. That was my introduction to Saturday’s Warrior.
Fast forward to 1989. I’m married with my second child on the way. A VHS recording of the stage play is offered for sale. I bought it—I had a few friends in it—and my kids were introduced to a somewhat different version.
Fast forward to 2015. Lex de Azevedo—one of the writers of the original stage play–sets out to produce a feature-length, theater-release movie. With a refurbished script, a combination of old music and new music, and an amazing crew in place, the first script read through happened at BYU. My daughter, Alana Jeffery, read the part of the matron, along with other selected MDT students. Shortly thereafter, in March, auditions began in earnest. My daughter, Monica, auditioned—again and again and again. Finally, in early August, she was cast as the new Julie Flinders!
The Piano Guys are part of the deal along with Alex Boye and others you may recognize (like Vine star Kenny Holland). You can help support this wonderful, clean, family-friendly entertainment!
Today, Saturday’s Warrior is in the midst of filming. Friday, September 18 (until 8:00 pm), is also the last day you can join me in being a Saturday’s Warrior Kickstarter backer! Please click through and make a contribution. Kickstarter is all or nothing and if the producers don’t reach their goal they get nothing. Below are some of the promotional videos for your enjoyment!
There are lots of great awards. Please join us!
Congrats to your daughter! That is so cool! I’m so excited for this movie. I grew up belting these songs in the car on road trips. Every member of our family had them memorized. Can’t wait to see the new movie.
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Thank you! I was on set one afternoon and the new script is great. So fun. Can’t wait to see the final. Film takes so long! 🙂
Alison Moore Smith recently posted…An Open Letter to BYU Fans: 3-Step 12th Man Primer
My parents grew up with this and played the music all the time. I love “Saturday’s Warrior” (the theme song) and Dear John the best of all. Is the music the same? Is it in the 70’s? I can’t wait to see it!
It took the church leadership a whole generation to convince the youth that the concept of a “soul mate” that was promised in the pre-earth life was a false concept. Most of that thought was brought on by the original SW. Hopefully the new version will not regurgitate this same concept for a whole new generation.
what fun. i know some people will complain about parts that are doctrinally incorrect but DUH it’s fiction people.
pandorasboxes, the theme song is in, Dear John is out. (I know, the counterpoint of that song is my favorite. The most singable and fun!) Most of the music is the same, but there are three new songs and (I think) three old ones that are gone.
Yes, it is set in the 70s. I have a Facebook photo album of the photos I’ve been able to snag (most from Sally Meyer, the BTS gal and extra wrangler on the film). It’s supposed to be public, so let me know if you cannot see the 70s awesomeness in the costumes. 🙂
Saturday’s Warrior Photo Album
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Danny, if people are surmising “doctrine” from a fictional—and obviously fantastical—musical performance, they are idiots. Sometimes you can’t help stupid.
That said, I did know one person who had decided she had a “one and only” chosen in the pre-existence (this was in the 90s in Florida). I told her “Saturdays’ Warrior isn’t doctrine.” (What are we doing that anyone would be confused by this?) Then it took about five minutes to show her how obviously problematic the notion is. Problem solved. So—assuming we actually do have “a whole generation” of youth who are this clueless—it would have taken parents (or, lacking any parental teaching/supervision, a teacher or other responsible adult) about 10 minutes to correct the entire manufactured problem.
Given the raft of non-doctrinal material in media (read that: 99.9% of media), I think we might focus on those other things before we hate on Saturday’s Warrior. Just a thought. 🙂
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I know it’s kitschy but I love it. Can’t wait!