Screening of Susan Seidelman’s Musical Chairs

The Gerald and Janet Carrus Foundation recently hosted a screening of director Susan Seidelman‘s Musical Chairs, a delightful movie about love and wheelchair ballroom dancing (watch the trailer below). All film proceeds will be donated to the Crossroads Adaptive Athletic Alliance and the Oliver H.M. Jordan Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, which affords scholarships to students with disabilities. From left: Sharon Pinkenson, executive director of Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Seidelman (who lensed of my favorite films, Desperately Seeking Susan), mayor Michael Nutter and producer Janet Carrus at the Kimmel Center screening.

Below, from left: Toni Crawford-Major, ‎regional director, commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Nicole Ross Giles, director of marketing and multicultural affairs for the Greater Philadelphia Film Office.

Below: Jonathan Saidel, former Philadelphia city controller and Judge Maria McLaughlin.

Below: Rachel Parrish and Charles Horton of the Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities.

Below: After the screening, the party continued upstairs at the Kimmel Center where guests enjoyed delights by Jose Garces. Did you know Hilda Bacon was a competitive ballroom dancer? Here she is with her partner, Ted Flum.

Adrien Abonce and Glendalee Gomez (below) said everyone needs to go see Musical Chairs—it’s an uplifting, feel-good movie.

Below, from left: Matthew Clark ( one of the dancers in the movie and participates in American DanceWheels Foundation ballroom organization), Laura Cohen of the American Red Cross and D5 (D to the Fifth Power, also in the movie, and a budding singer.)

Below: Aaron Alerner of the Mütter Museum and Caroline Gould, ‎director of business development at Daroff Design. Caroline is wearing Phillip Lim and is also a contributor to the charity blog Miss A.

Below: Brigid Squilla and councilman Mark Squilla.

Below: Nancy and Russ Henkin with Eve Rudin, who just celebrated her 97th birthday. The Henkins loved Philly native Susan Seidelman’s Musical Chairs, but one of their all time favorites is “Boynton Beach Club,” a romantic comedy that takes place in a South Florida retirement community, which Seidelman wrote and directed.

Below: Melanie Macready, senior account executive at Center City Film & Video, and Dan Parvu, certified and insured personal trainer.

Below: Florence Seidelman and Bill Melrose. Mrs. Seidelman is very proud of her daughter’s film and was excited to return to Philadelphia to show it to their family and friends: “Philadelphia has changed so much since she had last been here. It’s sophisticated; the downtown is much more cosmopolitan, and the arts scene has made if much more of a destination point.”

Although she lives in Florida now, Philadelphia will always be Susan’s hometown. Look for Musical Chairs to be released on cable by January. The ink isn’t dry yet, but as soon as I can say where, I will tell you.

Watch the trailer for Musical Chairs below.