'Burlesque' returns to Sedona in Cinema Under the Stars on Sept. 20

“Burlesque” — starring Cher and Christina Aguilera — is the story of a small-town girl with a big voice who escapes hardship and an uncertain future to follow her dreams to Los Angeles. Her spectacular voice restores The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory. In honor of the film festival’s seventh anniversary of presenting its Tuesday night series, all tickets to the Sept. 20 outdoor event will be $7.00 each.

'Burlesque' returns to Sedona in Cinema Under the Stars on Sept. 20
Film Festival presents film and concert at Tequa Marketplace to celebrate music and the movies

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present “Cinema Under the Stars” at Tequa featuring the return of the rousing crowd-pleaser “Burlesque” on Tuesday, Sept. 20. There will be one screening of the film outdoors at the Tequa Marketplace courtyard in the Village of Oak Creek.

A live concert performance compliments of the Celtic Harvest Festival will kick off the evening at 6 p.m. Come early, bring lawn chairs and blankets … and celebrate music and the movies at the festival’s final outdoor film of the season. “Burlesque” will follow the concert at dark.

In honor of the film festival’s seventh anniversary of presenting its Tuesday night series, all tickets to the event will be $7.00 each.

“This is our way of thanking the community and our audience members for their support over the past seven years since we introduced the Tuesday Cinema Series,” said festival director Patrick Schweiss. “This promises to be an extraordinary night of music and film under the beautiful Sedona night skies!”

“Burlesque” — starring Cher and Christina Aguilera — played to rave audience reviews when it premiered last fall.

“The lavish production numbers leave audience members tapping their feet and practically dancing in the aisles, which is why we thought it would be the perfect film finale to our summer outdoor series,” added Schweiss.

Ali (Christina Aguilera) is a small-town girl with a big voice who escapes hardship and an uncertain future to follow her dreams to Los Angeles. After stumbling upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theater that is home to an inspired musical revue, Ali lands a job as a cocktail waitress for Tess (Cher), the club’s proprietor and headliner. Burlesque’s outrageous costumes and bold choreography enrapture the young ingénue who vows to perform there someday.

Soon enough, Ali builds a friendship with a featured dancer (Julianne Hough), finds an enemy in a troubled, jealous performer (Kristen Bell), and garners the affection of Jack (Cam Gigandet), a bartender and fellow musician.

With the help of a sharp-witted stage manager (Stanley Tucci) and a gender-bending host (Alan Cumming), Ali makes her way from the bar to the stage. Her spectacular voice restores The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory, though not before a charismatic entrepreneur (Eric Dane) arrives with an enticing proposal.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase from the Tequa Marketplace restaurants. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and beach towels.

The Celtic Harvest Festival will kick off the evening with a special concert performance. Tramor (Overseas) is the new traditional music project of John Good. John is well known through out the West, South, Midwest and in his native Wales as a multi-instrumentalist, Welsh piper, singer/songwriter, composer and poet. Veteran of many Celtic festivals and concerts, including Estes Park, Chicago, San Diego and Denver, he brings the subtly different flavor of traditional Welsh music to the Phoenix stage. On this occasion he is aided and abetted by mandolin virtuoso Billy Parker.

The title sponsor for the event is Tequa Marketplace. The series is also made possible by a grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Sedona and the Sedona Community Foundation.

“Burlesque” will be shown outdoors at Tequa Marketplace in “Cinema Under the Stars” on Tuesday, Sept. 20, with a pre-film concert beginning at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are all $7 each for this special event, and will be available starting at Tequa beginning at 5 p.m. that evening. Cash or checks only.

Tickets can be purchased or reserved in advance at the Sedona International Film Festival office, 2030 W. State Route 89A, Suite 3A in West Sedona, or by calling 282-1177. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.com.