Press Release

Kathleen Turner to Introduce Serial Mom as Preview Event for Virginia Film Festival

October 14, 1996: Kathleen Turner, the smoky-voiced star of Body Heat, Romancing The Stone, and Prizzi's Honor will introduce John Waters' black comedy Serial Mom at The Culbreth Theatre on the eve of the 1996 Virginia Film Festival, October 30, 1996. Ms. Turner, who has appeared in several on- and off-Broadway productions throughout her career, will also address a group of UVA Drama students, and join University officials in launching the Festival at a press conference on October 30.

Ms. Turner's visit to Charlottesville coincides with her appearance in Richmond as a guest of Congressman Thomas J. Bliley, Jr., who is honoring her for her work on behalf of Childhelp, USA. Ms. Turner arranged her schedule so that she could also meet with acting students in the University of Virginia Department of Drama, in support of the Film Festival's recent move into this department, where it will be the centerpiece of a growing film studies program. The selection of the film Serial Mom for a 4:00 pm screening at the Culbreth Theatre, according to Festival Director Richard Herskowitz, "complements the Film Festival program, which features several films about urban and wild landscapes, but none about suburbia. All of John Waters' films are about the wild reality beneath the surface placidity of suburban landscapes."

Tickets for Serial Mom will be available October 18 by telephone from (804) 924 3376 or in person at the Festival box offices located in Culbreth Theatre, Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Barracks Road Shopping Center, and the UVA Bookstore. Tickets are priced at $6 ($5 for students and senior citizens.)

Ms. Turner leapt to fame with her film debut as Matty Walker in Lawrence Kasdan's contemporary film noir, Body Heat. This role established her as the perfect actress for the strong, seductive roles once epitomized by the likes of Barbara Stanwyck. Turner also proved herself adept at both light and dark comedic roles in such films as Romancing the Stone, Jewel of the Nile, The War of the Roses, and Prizzi's Honor. Throughout her cinematic career she continued to find time to return to the stage, appearing at the Long Wharf Theater in 1987 (Camille, title role) and on Broadway in 1990 when she received high praise as Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Ms. Turner is also an ambassador for Child Help, USA, which operates a residential treatment village in Culpeper County, where Virginia's most severely abused children receive essential therapy services.