Encore screening in response to audience requests!

A Streetcar Named Desire

by Tennessee Williams

directed by Benedict Andrews

Gillian Anderson (Sex Education), Vanessa Kirby (The Crown), and Ben Foster (Lone Survivor) lead the cast in Tennessee Williams’ timeless masterpiece, returning to cinemas.

As Blanche’s fragile world crumbles, she turns to her sister Stella for solace – but her downward spiral brings her face to face with the brutal, unforgiving Stanley Kowalski.

From visionary director Benedict Andrews, this acclaimed production was filmed live in London during a sold-out run at the Young Vic Theatre in 2014.

Age Rating: R

Running Time: 198 minutes including intermission

General admission

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-style theater that seats 100 — advance reservations encouraged. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Online reservations end 2 hours before showtime. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

This is a community-wide film + discussion event that welcomes everyone, especially students.

Run, Hide, Fight: Growing up under the Gun is a 30-minute documentary about how gun violence affects young Americans, from PBS News Student Reporting Labs in collaboration with 14 student journalists. Each segment of the documentary was produced by student reporters and centers the perspectives of young people who live in the shadow of gun violence. The student-produced stories aim to highlight the scope of this problem and how young people are supporting each other and pushing for solutions.

Following the screening, there will be a facilitated dialogue for attendees to reflect on the documentary, share thoughts and personal experiences, raise questions, and propose ways to reduce the risk of gun violence. Local groups will share resources for counseling and secure gun storage.

This event is hosted by the Shepherdstown Opera House and organized by the Shepherdstown-based Panhandle Gun Safety group, in partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety and Brady United.

Admission:

Students – FREE

Others – Pay-What-You-Can

Ticket proceeds go toward Shepherdstown Opera House operating costs and make it possible for us to continue offering films, lectures and other programs like this to the community.

Year Released: 2024

Runtime: Total program will run approximately 90 minutes

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-style theater that seats 100 people. Advance reservations encouraged to ensure seating. General Admission. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, and for 21+ beer & wine available for purchase. Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

Hearing-impaired? For film screenings only, download the app AudioFetch on your phone (iPhone or Android) for use with Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids.

More information available on OperaHouseLive.com.

A Shepherdstown Film Society Selection

My Twentieth Century

Awarded the Camera d’Or for best first feature at the Cannes Film Festival, Hungarian trailblazer Ildikó Enyedi’s My 20th Century is a luminous, unconventional fairy tale. Two twins, Lili the anarchist and Dóra, a luxurious woman of loose morals, are separated as young girls. Their lives proceed on opposing tracks until their paths reconnect on the Orient Express with Mr. Z. who loves them jointly. Defiantly in pursuit of happiness and in retreat from the “mass murdering century,” they are all entranced by Thomas Edison’s inventions and drunk on the miracle of existence. Among the greatest of cinematic debuts, My 20th Century introduced the world to Enyedi (On Body and Soul), who remains a vital, distinctive artist into the 21st century.

Post-film discussion: Facilitated discussion follows the film for those who wish to stay. Thank you Daniel Bennett, our volunteer discussion leader for this evening!

A generous community member’s sponsorship has defrayed part of the costs of this event. Thank you for paying what you can to support the Film Society at the Shepherdstown Opera House.

Year Released: 1989

In Hungarian with English subtitles

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 90 minutes

General admission (“pay what you can”)

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-style theater — advance reservations encouraged. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Online reservations end 1 hour before showtime. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

Due to winter weather, this event has been rescheduled to Saturday March 7 at 2 pm.

Join us for the U.S. premiere of the film Privacy People!

The Film: Privacy People explores varied interpretations of what privacy is and why it is important to individuals and societies. Focusing on the events that raised cultural awareness of big data and surveillance, the film reflects on the common refrain that “privacy is dead.”

The story is told by some of the world’s most prominent experts from government, industry, academia, and civil society. Beyond the concept of privacy, the film examines how the “privacy profession” came to exist: who took up these roles, how the field has grown, and the important challenges ahead given the rapid march of technology especially AI.

Post-Film Discussion & Social Hour: An in-theater discussion with Q&A will follow the film, featuring: Live Zoom Q&A with London-based filmmaker Stephen Bolinger

In-person panel discussion with a diverse group of privacy leaders

The conversation will continue at a Social Hour at a nearby restaurant – everyone who registers for this event will receive an invitation to this free event .

Pre-Film/Post-Film Fun: The Shepherdstown Opera House is located in the heart of Shepherdstown, West Virginia – about 90 minutes from the DC beltway. Everyone who buys a ticket will be emailed additional information on pre- and post-film meetups and other things to do in and around the lovely historic town of Shepherdstown: dining and drinks, lodging, historic sites, art, nature/hikes/walks, shopping.

Admission is Pay-What-You-Can (suggested $15/ticket). Ticket proceeds go toward Shepherdstown Opera House operating costs and make it possible for us to continue offering films, lectures and other programs to the community.

Year Released: 2025

Runtime: 77 minutes plus discussion (total = approximately 2 hours)

Many thanks to our sponsors and promotion partners whose financial and promotional helps us to host this event:

Sponsors: Krysten Jenci (Cisco), Heidi Wachs, and Clayton Northrup (Latham & Watkins)

Promotion Partners – FPF (Future of Privacy Forum) and IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals)

Special thanks to London-based filmmaker Stephen Bolinger for allowing us to screen his film and for joining us live via Zoom for a post-film discussion.

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-style theater that seats 100 people. Advance reservations encouraged to ensure seating. General Admission. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

Hearing-impaired? Download the app AudioFetch on your phone (iPhone or Android) for use with Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids.

More information available on OperaHouseLive.com.

Join us for Stitch & Flicks at the Shepherdstown Opera House — a cozy night of handwork and film, co-presented with Yarnability.

Bring your knitting, crochet, embroidery, quilting projects, or other portable handiwork and settle in for a screening of the heartwarming 1995 drama How to Make an American Quilt.

In this beloved film, soon-to-be-wed graduate student Finn returns home for the summer and joins her grandmother’s quilting circle, where the women share stories of love, loss, and life while working together on a wedding quilt. As Finn reflects on her own choices and relationships, the quilt becomes a tapestry of wisdom and connection — perfect inspiration for a night of stitching with friends and neighbors.

🍿 Film runtime: approximately 117 minutes (PG-13)
🧵 Bring your favorite project and tools and enjoy an evening of creativity, conversation, and community.

🎟️Admission is Pay-What-You-Can. All are welcome, but please note that house lights will be brighter than during a typical movie screening to allow for stitching and handwork.

Presented with support from Yarnability – your local shop for superior yarn, quality tools, and fiber education.

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-era theater that seats 100 people. Advance reservations encouraged to ensure seating. General Admission. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

Hearing-impaired? Download the app AudioFetch on your phone (iPhone or Android) for use with Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids.

More information available on OperaHouseLive.com.

Welcome to the 2026 Shepherdstown Palestine Film Festival

March 20-21, 2026

Presented with support from the Eastern Panhandle T.E.A.M. (Together Educating and Advocating for Peace in the Middle East)

Click here to buy a discounted ticket for all three film blocks.

Film Block #1

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Nominated for Best International Picture in the 2026 Academy Awards

US release: 2025

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Starring: Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Amer Hlehel, Clara Khoury

January 29, 2024. Red Crescent volunteers receive an emergency call. A 5-year-old girl is trapped in a car under fire in Gaza, pleading for rescue. While trying to keep her on the line, they do everything they can to get an ambulance to her. Her name was Hind Rajab.

Program time: 89 minutes + post-film discussion organized by Eastern Panhandle T.E.A.M.

Language: Primarily Arabic with English subtitles.

Age Rating: Older teens and up

Content Advisory: This film contains recordings of real emergency calls depicting extreme distress, the sound of gunfire, and graphic discussions of violence and death involving a child. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.



General admission. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Advanced purchase encouraged. Refreshments available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

Welcome to the 2026 Shepherdstown Palestine Film Festival

March 20-21, 2026

Presented with support from the Eastern Panhandle T.E.A.M. (Together Educating and Advocating for Peace in the Middle East)

Click here to buy a discounted ticket for all three film blocks.

Film Block #2

Palestine 36

US release: 2026

Director: Annemarie Jacir

Starring: Jeremy Irons, Liam Cunningham, Hiam Abbass, Kamel Al Basha, Yasmine Al Massri

In 1936, as the British Empire tightens its grip on Palestine, Yusuf is caught between his village home and his work in Jerusalem. Amidst an anti-colonial revolt, and Jewish refugees fleeing persecution from Europe, all sides converge in a decisive moment for the entire region. Palestine’s Official Selection for the 98th Academy Awards.

Film run time: 119 minutes

A Post-Film Panel will help interpret the historical and contemporary context of this film. Speakers TBA. Thank you to the Eastern Panhandle T.E.A.M. for organizing this segment.

Age Rating: 12 and up (UK rating 12A)

Language: Arabic and English, with English subtitles



General admission. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Advanced purchase encouraged. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

Welcome to the 2026 Shepherdstown Palestine Film Festival

March 20-21, 2026

Presented with support from the Eastern Panhandle T.E.A.M. (Together Educating and Advocating for Peace in the Middle East)

Click here to buy a discounted ticket for all three film blocks.

Film Block #3

All That’s Left of You

US release: 2026

Director: Cherien Dabis

Starring: Cherien Dabis, Saleh Bakri, Mohammad Bakri

A deeply moving, multigenerational drama, ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU follows a Palestinian teenager who gets swept into a protest in the Occupied West Bank and experiences a moment of violence that rocks his family. The film unfolds as his mother recounts the political and emotional threads that led to that fateful moment. Spanning seven decades, the film traces the hopes and heartaches of one uprooted family, bearing witness to the scars of dispossession and the enduring legacy of survival. Jordan’s Official Selection for the 98th Academy Awards.

Film run time: 145 minutes

Age Rating: 12 and up (UK rating 12A, similar to PG-13)

Language: Primarily Arabic and English with English subtitles



General admission. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Advanced purchase encouraged. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

One of our most popular bands is back!

Local favorite X of the Potomac is an Americana and alt-country music group from Shepherdstown, WV. Led by Than & Mary Anne Hitt, the group writes and plays original Americana roots rock and covers (e.g., Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Wilco, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley). 

The story behind their name: During the Civil War, the Union Army, called the ‘Army of the Potomac,” occupied our area some of the time. Says the band: “We are all Gen X’ers, and we occupy this area now, so we are ‘X of the Potomac.’”

Opening Act: Mister Mae

Mister Mae is an Appalachian-influenced folk artist based in West Virginia, known for her debut album Sounds Like Home. Her music blends storytelling with traditional instruments like the banjo, mandolin, and lap dulcimer, exploring themes of innocence, home, and nature.

Artist websites:

https://xotpmusic.com/

https://www.mistermaemusic.com/music

Tickets: $12 advance/$15 door. Sales tax and ticket processing fee additional. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

Seating in the historic Shepherdstown Opera House is limited, advance purchase encouraged. Online sales end 1 hour before showtime. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase, no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

Life of Pi

by Yann Martel, adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti

directed by Max Webster

Puppetry, magic and storytelling combine in a unique, Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation of the best-selling novel.

After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, a 16-year-old boy named Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger. Time is against them, nature is harsh, who will survive?

Filmed live in London’s West End and featuring state-of-the-art visuals, the epic journey of endurance and hope is bought to life in a breath-taking new way for cinemas screens.

Age Rating: Treat as PG-13

Running Time: 150 minutes (including intermission)

General admission

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-style theater that seats 100 — advance reservations encouraged. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Online reservations end 2 hours before showtime. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

A Shepherdstown Film Society Selection

Lost in Paris

Lost in Paris is a 2016 French-Belgian comedy about Fiona, a Canadian librarian who travels to Paris to help her Aunt Martha. Upon her arrival, Fiona discovers her aunt has disappeared and, after a series of mishaps, is left with no money or identity documents. She then meets Dom, a charming but homeless man, and their adventures ensue amidst the backdrop of Paris. 

Post-film discussion: Facilitated discussion follows the film for those who wish to stay. Discussion leader TBD.

A generous community member’s sponsorship has defrayed part of the costs of this event. Thank you for paying what you can to support the Film Society at the Shepherdstown Opera House.

Year Released: 2016

In English and French

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 83 minutes

General admission (“pay what you can”)

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-style theater — advance reservations encouraged. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Online reservations end 1 hour before showtime. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

“A Doll’s House”

A play by Henrik Ibsen

Presented by the Town Run Theater Company

Artistic Director: Joe Yates

Company Members: Joe Yates, Homer Speaker, Emily Wanger, Sarah Ward and Richard Yates

Our production of Henrik Ibsen’s timeless classic about self-discovery and independence is inspired by the 2022 Broadway revival, which stripped the stage of all scenery and props, smashing the boundary between the 19th century and today. The play follows Nora Helmer as she begins to question the roles imposed on her by society and family—setting the stage for one of theater’s most famous exits.

General Admission – All Ages - Advance purchase strongly recommended to ensure availability

Ticket Prices (including taxes and ticketing fees):

Advance Purchase: $23.30 ($20 ticket plus 7% sales tax & ticketing fees)

At Door Purchase: $28.65 ($25 ticket plus 7% sales tax & ticketing fees)

Pay-What-You-Can Performance: Friday, April 10

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy theater that seats a maximum of 100 patrons— advance ticket purchase encouraged. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase, no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

The Fifth Step

by David Ireland

directed by Finn den Hertog

Olivier Award-winner Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk) is joined by Emmy and BAFTA-winner Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Responder) in the critically acclaimed and subversively funny new play by David Ireland.

After years in the 12-step progrm of Alcoholics Anonymous, James becomes a sponsor to newcomer Luka. The pair bond over black coffee, trade stories and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences. But as Luka approaches step five – the moment of confession – dangerous truths emerge, threatening the trust on which both of their recoveries depend.

Finn den Hertog directs the provocative and entertaining production filmed live from Soho Theatre on London’s West End.

Age Rating: R (due to due to strong language, sexual themes, and intense discussions regarding addiction)

Running Time: 90 minutes with no intermission

General admission. The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-style theater that seats 100 — advance reservations encouraged. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Online reservations end 1 hour before showtime. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

Accessibility: Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible. Open caption subtitles used to enhance everyone’s understanding of the dialogue and we use the AudioFetch system to support patrons who use hearing aids (download the AudioFetch app from Apple or Google app stores for free and use with bluetooth-enabled hearing aids).

A Shepherdstown Film Society Selection

Eleanor the Great

In Eleanor The Great, June Squibb brings to vivid life the witty and proudly troublesome 94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein, who after a devastating loss, tells a tale that takes on a dangerous life of its own. Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut is a comically poignant exploration of how the stories we hear become the stories we tell.

Post-film discussion: Facilitated discussion follows the film for those who wish to stay. Discussion leader TBD.

A generous community member’s sponsorship has defrayed part of the costs of this event. Thank you for paying what you can to support the Film Society at the Shepherdstown Opera House.

Year Released: 2025

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 98 minutes

General admission (“pay what you can”)

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-style theater — advance reservations encouraged. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Online reservations end 1 hour before showtime. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

Join us this special evening to:

• Enjoy watching O Pioneer, a made-in-WV film
• Engage live with the filmmakers (via Zoom)
• Support Shepherdstown’s Appalachian Heritage Festival

Made in West Virginia, O Pioneer reckons with and redefines the American pioneer.

This documentary follows three West Virginians—a blacksmith, a seamstress, and a hospital chaplain—as they creatively navigate hardship and call us to champion the pioneer within.

Narrated by lyricist and musician Kaïa Kater, the film weaves verité moments with archival footage, poetic vignettes, and dream-like animation—as Tim Hibbs, Nellie Rose Gundersen Davis, and James Morley humbly answer their calls to pioneer a way forward.

Post-film discussion features a live Q&A with Helvetia, WV-based filmmakers Clara Lehman and Jonathan Lacocque via Zoom.

Admission is Pay-What-You-Can. Suggested donation is $20, but any amount is welcome.

100% of the ticket proceeds will be donated to Experience Shepherdstown to help this nonprofit organization support the 2026 Appalachian Heritage Festival.

Film website: OPioneer.com

A Coat of Arms film

Directed by Clara Lehman and Jonathan Lacocque

Made Possible by Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN)

This and other screenings in West Virginia are supported by WVU Medicine

More about this evening’s nonprofit beneficiaries:

Appalachian Heritage Festival. Founded by Rachael Meads and now in its 30th year, Shepherd University’s 2026 Appalachian Heritage Festival will take place this September. The Festival brings the finest Appalachian musicians, story tellers and other artists to town for the entire community to enjoy, and is a cornerstone of Shepherdstown’s monthlong celebration of Appalachian art, music, and cuisine.

Experience Shepherdstown promotes, supports, and enhances Shepherdstown, West Virginia, a vibrant historic town with world class shops, cuisine, culture and community. Sign up for its biweekly newsletter about Shepherdstown happenings at Shepherdstown.info

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-style theater that seats 100 people. Advance reservations encouraged to ensure seating. General Admission. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

Hearing-impaired? Download the app AudioFetch on your phone (iPhone or Android) for use with Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids.

More information available on OperaHouseLive.com.

If you saw them perform at the Opera House last year, you know Kurt Crandall and True Story bring it all: talent, skills, and GREAT sound! We are thrilled to welcome these fine blues musicians back on Saturday, May 16. Get your tickets now!

Music has taken Kurt throughout the United States with stops in Kansas City, Washington, D.C., Macon, Chicago, Seattle and most recently Richmond, Virginia. In DC Kurt played regularly with Jesse James Brown (former bass player for Bo Diddley). Kurt relocated to the Deep South, where he spent three years playing with the Macon Blues All-Stars which included several alumni from Otis Redding’s band. Kurt left Georgia and moved to Chicago to immerse himself in the city’s storied blues scene as well as travel nationally and internationally to promote his debut album – True Story. During his tenure in Chicago, he landed on the regular rotation at the House of Blues, Shaw’s Crabhouse, Andy’s Jazz Club, Wise Fools Pub and Smoke Daddy and played with blues heavyweights Dave Specter, Kenny Smith, Barrelhouse Chuck and Jimmy Sutton.

Bio/Music: KurtCrandall.com

General Admission – All Ages

Doors open 7:00 pm

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy theater that seats 100 — advance ticket purchase encouraged. Online sales end 2 hours before showtime. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase, no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.