Homegrown Juneteenth comedy screens tonight!

The made-in-Grand Rapids Juneteenth comedy “Block Party” (2022) will screen on Wednesday, June 19 at Wealthy Theatre as part of a community summer series presented by Baxter United! 

The film, which was co-written and produced by Grand Rapids native Lisa Mathis, stars Antoinette Robertson (Dear White People), Academy award nominated Margaret Avery (The Color Purple) and Golden Brooks (Girlfriends). Shot in and around Grand Rapids in 2021 in recognizable locations such as Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Calder Plaza, the film’s co-scribe Matt Allen describes the film as follows: 

“Recent Harvard grad Keke McQueen, 23, is eager to ditch her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan for her dream job in Atlanta, but when Keke discovers that her once super-sharp Grandma Janice is showing early signs of dementia, Keke puts her career at stake in order to save her Grandma’s block party, and in the process, Keke falls back in love with her hometown and its people.”

The legendary John Amos (Good Times, Coming to America), and comedienne/actress “Luenell” round out the cast.

Juneteenth celebrations will take place before the film, beginning at 5 p.m. in the parking lot behind Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy Street, SE.  Theater doors open at 6 p.m., and the movie begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Learn more about Baxter United here.