Literary & Performing Arts   

Have a meet-cute with the Bronxville Adult School and The Picture House this spring as we present three classic Screwball Comedies. Come for some quick-witted repartee and hijinks, stay because you might've fallen in love with a seatmate who you thought at first you just couldn't bear.

Thursday, April 10: Experience the famously light and erudite "Lubitsch Touch" with Design For Living, one of the first Screwballs and one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time.

Thursday, May 8: It might be a Thursday but we'll be watching Howard Hawks's His Girl Friday. This film's influence can be felt to this day but there's no touching the crackling chemistry of Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell.

Thursday, June 5: Our last comedy will be The Lady Eve, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda and written and directed by Hollywood's greatest comic auteur Preston Sturgess.

Register for the series and receive a 10% discount.

Click on the links below to view each class separately:

Thursday, April 10: Screwball Comedy Screening and Discussion with The Picture House: Design for Living

Thursday, May 8: Screwball Comedy Screening and Discussion with The Picture House: His Girl Friday

Thursday, June 5: Screwball Comedy Screening and Discussion with The Picture House:The Lady Eve

Stylish, sophisticated, and delightfully scandalous, Design for Living is a sparkling pre-Code (ie censorship) comedy that pushes the boundaries of romance and friendship. When a free-spirited woman finds herself torn between two charming artists, their unconventional solution defies tradition—and the censors. Directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Miriam Hopkins, Fredric March, and Gary Cooper, this witty and provocative film is a masterclass in charm, innuendo, and the famed "Lubitsch Touch." And, sure, “a few insults can bring people together in three hours,” but we will have nothing but a fun and positive atmosphere!

Register for the series here and receive a 10% discount.

Check out the other two classes that are part of this series:

Thursday, May 8: Screwball Comedy Screening and Discussion with The Picture House: His Girl Friday

Thursday, June 5: Screwball Comedy Screening and Discussion with The Picture House:The Lady Eve

Learn the basics of TV and motion picture screenwriting through sharing original work with an intimate group and offering/receiving constructive feedback. The class begins with the screening of several short film clips and a discussion of what makes a scene work or not. Students will deepen their media literacy and analysis skills while workshopping their own ideas for feature scripts or TV pilots. After establishing the importance of setting, character, and conflict, the class will get to the really exciting stuff: three-act structure and professional screenplay formatting! Having crossed Joseph Campbell’s proverbial threshold, the class will workshop outlines and key scenes and return changed with the makings of a perfect script.

Imagine standing in the spotlight on a stage singing a song that speaks to your heart. This is your chance to make that dream a reality! Join award-winning cabaret singer Regina Zona as she leads you on an unforgettable journey into the world of cabaret. Regina will teach you how to connect with your audience through song, craft a performance with impact, and master the art of using a microphone. Each class will also have a piano accompanist to collaborate on the perfect arrangement. And the best part? The last class will be a cabaret performance on a stage in front of your family, friends, and community guests. No prior experience needed—just bring your energy, enthusiasm, and a passion to perform. Get ready for an incredible, fun-filled experience!

This course is designed for players who have mastered the basics, including holding the harmonica, playing chords, and producing single notes. Students will advance their skills by learning techniques such as note bending, blow bends, blues improvisation, improving time feel, and deepening their understanding of music theory. The class also focuses on expanding repertoire across various genres, including blues, folk, and jazz, helping students build confidence in their playing. Ideal for those looking to refine their technique and further develop their harmonica skills. This course requires completion of Harmonica for Beginners or equivalent experience.

Fast-talking, whip-smart, and endlessly entertaining, His Girl Friday crackles with rapid-fire dialogue and sizzling chemistry. When ace reporter Hildy Johnson tries to leave the newspaper business behind, her editor—and ex-husband—Walter Burns will do anything to keep her in both the newsroom and his life. This classic screwball comedy is a masterclass in wit, romance, and chaos. Join us to unpack its enduring charm and find out who "has the brains of a pancake!"

Register for the series here and receive a 10% discount.

Check out the other two classes that are part of this series:

Thursday, April 10: Screwball Comedy Screening and Discussion with The Picture House: Design for Living

Thursday, June 5: Screwball Comedy Screening and Discussion with The Picture House:The Lady Eve

Do you have bits and pieces of stories or ideas written on napkins, sticky notes, index cards, and journals--or even a book in the works? This class will help you put all of your ideas together and shape them into a well-written piece. In a writing workshop style, we will gather each week, share stories, and find ways to improve and move them along. So bring in your work(s) and let's start to shape and bring to life the story you have been envisioning.

Have you ever wanted to write a memoir but didn’t know where to start? In this workshop writer and educator, Frank Ingrasciotta will guide you on how to bring your life stories to the page. Storytelling is our most ancient art form and everyone has a story in us that wants to be told. When powerful storytelling resonates, it creates shared experiences of commonality that bonds us as a community. In this four-session memoir writing class, we will examine various aspects of storytelling. Through writing exercises, we will explore the tools of your personal expression that brings writing to life.

A con artist, a snake expert, and a case of mistaken identity—The Lady Eve is writer and director Preston Sturges at his sharpest and most playful. Barbara Stanwyck’s sly, seductive swindler meets her match in Henry Fonda’s hapless heir, leading to a deliciously twisted battle of love and deception. With sparkling dialogue and impeccable timing, this romantic comedy is as clever as it is charming. You need this "like the axe needs the turkey."

Register for the series here and receive a 10% discount.

Check out the other two classes that are part of this series:

Thursday, April 10: Screwball Comedy Screening and Discussion with The Picture House: Design for Living

Thursday, May 8: Screwball Comedy Screening and Discussion with The Picture House: His Girl Friday