Fine By Mourning

FREE PREMIERE SCREENING

CEPA is excited to announce the premiere screening for “Fine by Mourning”. In one project, CEPA brought together more than 50 individuals throughout the region to produce its first original script, its first original stage play, and film its first original feature-length movie.

Join us June 14th at 7pm to view the film.

This film has taken hours of labor by dedicated individuals to develop and produce. It has included invaluable partnerships with Alabama State Council on the Arts, Jefferson State Community College, EBSCO and Film Birmingham.

“Fine by Mourning” is an original script written by local Spotlight students. Playwrights Jenna and Abby Kelley have performed in or worked behind the scenes on multiple productions for Spotlight and Spotlight Studio. Those experiences encouraged them to craft an amazing script that the entire Spotlight family is coming together to bring to life.

In Spring 2023, CEPA and Spotlight partnered with Jefferson State Community College to produce the theatrical version of “Fine by Mourning.”

Simultaneously, Spotlight Studio adapted the script into a feature-length film. This process provided numerous educational opportunities for students in the program to receive hands-on experience on a professional film set. The stage adaptation was directed by Lesley Warren and Ash Arrington, and the film version was helmed by experienced director and Pell City resident Joshua Briggs.

“It’s a rare opportunity to have a play of this caliber be created locally, and we’re thrilled it’s been made available to our theater company,” CEPA Director Jeff Thompson said. “I expect this to be one of the most influential and fascinating projects our Club members have ever participated in. I strongly encourage our community to join us in producing something truly special in 2023.”

About the Playwrights

• About the Playwrights •

Jenna Kelley

Virginia “Jenna” Kelley is a current student at Jefferson State studying theatre. She has been at CEPA for a year and a half and enjoyed being in heart-touching projects like SEM;COLON and Spotlight Core’s Radium Girls. She also enjoys bringing laughter to audiences with her work in comedies such as A Christmas Story the Musical and Sherlock Holmes and the 1st Baker Street Irregulars. Jenna has been writing for five years but this is her first script and she is stoked to have her work brought to the CEPA stage. She enjoys being with her family, reading, writing, and, of course, theatre. She extends her thanks to everyone who has encouraged her and worked to move her debut script from paper to stage!

Abby Kelley

Abigail “Abby” Kelley is an aspiring science teacher. She is currently in her senior year of high school. Abby has been with CEPA for a year and a half- contributing to shows such as, Radium Girls, Sherlock Holmes and the 1st Baker Street Irregulars, A Christmas Story, and SEM;COLON. She is a Dual Enrollment student at Jefferson State and will attend Troy University in the fall of 2023. In her pass time, she likes to read, paint, and listen to music, as well as study and act! She also enjoys spending time with her cats, Mouse and Waffle, in her down time. She wants to give thanks to her three older sisters and mother who helped her grow into the person she is today!

Film Behind-the-Scenes

This Spring, CEPA and Spotlight Studio teams worked together to film “Fine By Mourning” Thanks to the quick thinking and flexibility of the cast and crew, filming was done in roughly 18 hours. The film is expected to be finished in 2024.