Dear Mr. Fidrych at ArtRageous Oak Park: A Fundraiser for the Oak Park Education Foundation (Sponsored by Classic Cinemas' Lake Theatre)

Dear Mr. Fidrych - Thursday, October 8, 2009 - Classic Cinemas' Lake Theatre, 1022 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL

First Screening: 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Second Screening: 9:30-11:30 p.m.

It's 1976 in Detroit. Twelve-year-old poet Marty Jones wants to be a baseball star. Motivated by the quirky success of Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych, Marty writes a poem to the Detroit Tigers' star rookie pitcher. Fidrych writes back, propelling Marty on a winning streak. 

Thirty years later, Marty is a Chicago advertising executive in a mid-life slump. Can a father-son road trip in search of The Bird help Marty reconnect with his family and his youthful optimism?

The film features a poignant performance by the late Mark Fidrych, who died in a tragic accident in April 2009.  To learn more about this independent film, go to www.dearmrfidrych.com.  Click here to watch the trailer of the movie (the trailer opens in a new browser window)!

This event benefits the Oak Park Education Foundation (OPEF), which brings scientists, artists, architects and technology experts into classrooms in every Oak Park District 97 school, through its Vex Robotics, Art Start, Global Village, Architecture Adventure, and Geared Up programs.  OPEF's professional partners share their passion for learning and solving problems while conducting hands-on projects with more than 3,000 students every year.  To learn more, go to www.oakparkeducationfoundation.org.

For more information about the ArtRageous Oak Park festival visit:

www.artoakpark.com or www.downtownoakpark.net.