Kennecott Theater presents Forever Strong

Kennecott Theater presents Movie Under The Stars Series:

Forever Strong

The Capitol Preservation Board is excited to show Forever Strong, a home-grown utah-made movie, as our fourth film this Thursday, July 22, 2010. The 2010 movie series will feature at total of nine movies, Thursday evenings through August 26, 2010. The movies will be shown at dusk on the State Capitol's south-western lawn and is free to the public. There will be pre-movie musical performances and events each week prior to the featured film. This week's performers will be The Riverdale City Band

We are thankful for the presenting sponsor Rio Tinto/Kennecott and our other sponsors; Utah Care Foundation, Utah Film Commission, Salt Lake Film Center and Harmons Grocery.

Thanks to the Salt Lake Community College Culinary Arts program, concessions will be available for purchase! This includes drinks and snacks. The consession stand will be located to the northwest of the film site, near the Vietnam Memorial.

Forever Strong was filmed in Salt Lake City beginning in August 2006 at three local high schools. Several All-American rugby players, predominantly from the University of Utah, Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University, played in the film. Some Highland Rugby alumni and current players also played roles in the film.

Forever Strong is based on an amalgam of true stories about the Highland Rugby high school team. The character Rick Penning is based on a real member of the rugby team who played in Flagstaff, Arizona and was sent to a group home in Salt Lake City. The story attracted the production company Go Films. The film name "Forever Strong" is taken from the team motto of the Highland Rugby high school. "Forever Strong".

Plot: Rick Penning (Faris) lives life just like he plays rugby; fast, hard-hitting and intense. When life on the edge lands him in jail, prison ward Marcus Tate (Astin) offers him a chance to get back in the game by playing for his rival, Highland Rugby. Reluctantly Rick joins the team where he must adopt the grueling training schedule and unique code of conduct that Coach Gelwix (Cole) enforces, or finish out the season behind bars. Egos clash as bitter competitors struggle to become a team. An unlikely brotherhood is formed with his Highland teammates, just as Rick is released from jail and sent back home to rejoin his former team, coached by his overbearing father (McDonough). Heading into a faceoff with Highland at the National Championship, Rick is forced to choose where his loyalty lies.

We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening at the Utah State Capitol!