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Glenwood Arts Theatre (aka RanchMart)
3707 W. 95th St.
Overland Park KS 66206
See www.fineartsgroup.com for tickets – Wednesdays, 5:15 pm followed by a Q&A by Terence O’Malley
Through October 3. See Screenland website for details.
2nd Sunday Cinema – Sunday, April 14
Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex
212 W 7th St
Joplin, MO 64801
Buy Tickets – 1-4 pm
Flick Theatre
105 E. Main Street
Anderson, MO 64831
Plaza Theater
107 11th St W
Lamar, MO 64759
Route Sixty Six Theater
24 S Main St
Webb City, MO 64870
Through October 10. Shows at 12:30p, 4p, and 7p. Visit the website for advance ticket purchase.
ABOUT THE MOVIE
NELLY DON STORY
NELLY DON ~ THE MUSICAL MOVIE voices the incredible story of Nelly Don and the
fashion revolution she ignited from Kansas City in the early 1900s when Nelly Don-brand
dresses sold more than any other brand in the world.
Yet in the shadows of her success, she faced drama – including a philandering alcoholic
husband and business partner, her affair with a United States Senator, a fake adoption of
her own son, and her infamous mafia-linked abduction and ransom. Her story comes alive
in this musical movie, with more than 20 songs propelling the story of her meteoric rise in
the world of fashion and fame.
This independent film has not been rated and is intended for all audiences with parental
guidance due to suicide, mature themes, and intense scenes.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER TERENCE O'MALLEY
Nelly Don is the great-aunt of Terence O’Malley. O’Malley, Kansas City author, filmmaker, musician, and full-time attorney, decided to produce this feature film after the musical sold out in 4 days in 2019. Despite the hurdles of filming during the pandemic and a limited budget, the film highlights Nelly Don’s legacy. O’Malley’s childhood memories reading his grandmother’s scrapbook of Nelly Don’s fascinating life, from her successes and kidnapping to her abductors’ trials, ignited his interest in preserving history.
PURCHASE RELATED PRODUCTS
Nelly Don the Musical Movie Soundtrack (COMING SOON)
COMING 2024
Lyrics – Nelly Don the Movie Musical Book
Libretto – Musical Screenplay available for Live Performance
Sing-along edition – Nelly Don the Musical Movie
NELLY DON THE MUSICAL CREATORS
Terence M. O’Malley, the movie’s Executive Producer, Writer/Lyricist.
Additional credits Director, Nelly Don ~ A Stitch in Time (2006 Documentary); Black Hand Strawman ~ The History of Organized Crime in Kansas City (2009 Documentary); Shooting Back in Time ~ The Kansas City Union Station Massacre (2008 Documentary); Tom & Harry: The Boss and the President (2013 Documentary); Nelly Don Musical (2019). O’Malley is the principal and practicing attorney at The O’Malley Law Firm. O’Malley has a passion for preserving history. Beyond the musical and films, he is also an author. His interest in history and the Nelly Don story was ignited at a young age when he read his grandmother’s scrapbook about his great-great-aunt, Nelly Don and her life adventures. O’Malley also regularly plays the piano at Conroy’s Pub in Overland Park, Kansas. Prior to law, O’Malley had worked as a TV news anchor, director and reporter and was a press secretary for the governor and the House of Representatives in Alaska.
Daniel Doss, the movie’s Lyricist, Composer, Music Director, and Keyboardist.
He is an esteemed Music Director, Conductor, Composer and Collaborative Pianist in over 90 musical theater productions across the globe since 2002, including the National Tours of THE COLOR PURPLE, THE ADDAMS FAMILY and RAGTIME. Daniel has worked as Music Director for the New Theatre & Restaurant in Overland Park, Kansas since 2015 as well as numerous other Kansas City theater companies including Starlight Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, the Coterie and the Unicorn. Daniel’s composition credits include TRUMAN & PENDERGAST: The Musical; WILD AND WILLFUL WOMEN, which was selected as one of three original musicals for the 2014 TRU Musical Reading Series in New York City; RED DEATH, an original one act opera based on the short story by Edgar Allen Poe which was awarded the ‘Best of Kansas City Fringe Festival 2014’; and multiple choral works including WHEN I KNEW, commissioned by the Heartland Men’s Chorus which premiered at GALA Choruses Festival 2012 in Denver.
LEAD CAST MEMBER BIOS
Julie Pope, starring as Nelly Don. Julie is an accomplished actor, singer, dancer, and voice over artist originally from the Chicagoland area. She has performed in Kansas City at Starlight, New Theatre, and at Musical Theatre Heritage and also been in several commercials and voiceovers for brands like Hallmark, Garmin, H&R Block, Drury Inn Hotels, Price Chopper, local banks and more. Other film credits include Earlybird, coming out in 2024. Julie has also been a vocalist for Disney parks in Hong Kong and Tokyo and sings with local cover band Lost Wax. Some of Julie’s live performances include The Chorus Line, Legally Blond, Chicago, Mama Mia, All Shook Up, Big Fish, Elf, among many others.
T. Eric Morris, starring as Paul Donnelly. Eric is an accomplished singer and actor born and bred in Kansas City making his film debut. He attended the Sargent Conservatory for Dramatic Arts at Webster University in St. Louis. He has performed at numerous theaters in Kansas City and across the Midwest including The KC Rep, St. Louis Rep, Music Theater Heritage, The Coterie, Theatre for Young America, The Living Room, KC Fringe Fest, and many more.
Tim Ahlenius, staring as Sen. James A Reed. Tim is originally from SE Kansas, Tim has worked professionally in Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Colorado, California and Kentucky. Locally, he has performed with The Coterie Theatre, The Barn Players, Martin Tanner Production, the KC Rep, Spinning Tree, MET, BRTKC, and The Living Room Theatre, where he also serves as its board President. In 2018, he joined with Heidi Van and others to create the Black Box Theatre in the West Bottoms. The original musical PREJUDICE & PRIDE, Off-Broadway run in NYC in 2023.
CAST & CREW
Terence O’Malley………………Director, Executive Producer, Writer and Lyricist
Daniel Doss.………………………Composer, Music Director, Lyricist, and Keyboardist
Jon Trozzolo.……………………Director of Photography
Ellen Baty…………………………..Associate Producer
Tommy Fagan……………….….Production Assistant/Craft Services
Linda Flake………………………..Costume Designer
Sarah Oliver………….……………Costume Designer
Scott Murray……………………..Production Designer
Amy Hurrelbrink………..……..Choreographer
Heather Laird…………………CSA, Casting Director
Julie Pope………………………….Nelly Don
T. Eric Morris……………………..Paul Donnelly
Tim Ahlenius……………………..Sen. James A Reed
Mark Sepulveda…………………Johnny Lazia
Kirsten Myers…………………….Mildred (Donnette)
Brooke Myers…………………….Beulah (Donnette)
Amy Hurrelbrink…………..……Tinker (Donnette)
Courtney Ellis……………………..Kathryn (Donnette)
Jeffrey Robertson……………….George Blair
Kelsie Clark Massey……………Hilda (Donnette)
Grace Taylor……………………..….Young Nell
Nathaniel Thomas……..………Ensemble/Gangster 3
Matt Leisy……………..…………….Ensemble/Mr. Strayer/Reporter
Jim Cosgrove……………………..Ensemble/Mr. Byrd
Delano Mendoza………………..Mr. Clemery
Robert Hingula……………….…..Mr. Croftchild/Reporter
Victor Castillo……………….…….Mr. Karzfeld
Vince Sanders…………………….Kidnapper 1
Shannon Moore …………………Kidnapper 2
Conor O’Malley………….……….Reporter
Helena K. Consentino…….…Reporter
Christian Owen…………………….Captain O. Higgins
Cole Haston……………………….Policeman
Madison Heizer………………….Chorus Dancer
Stefanie F. Stevens…….……..Chorus Dancer
Lilly Ladish………………………….Chorus Dancer/Fashion Model
Erin E Robertson Morton……Chorus Dancer
Hon. John R. O’Malley………..Judge
Chris McCoy……………….……….Gangster
Brian Houchin………….………….Gangster
Alec Bridges………….…………….Gangster
Melissa Bohon Webel…………Ma Quinlan
Marah McFadden…….………….Bubbles
Andrea Boswell-Burns………..Gertie McGee
James Wright………….…………..Francis Xavier McGee
TERENCE O’MALLEY: SPEAKER ENGAGEMENT
Use the website contact form to request rates and information about Terence O’Malley speaking at your event. Terence is a historical author and filmmaker, musician, and attorney performing estate planning, wills and trusts, power of attorney, healthy directives, and more.
HISTORY
Tom & Harry: The Boss and the President – Terence O’Malley presents the complex relationship between Harry Truman and Tom Pendergast, boss of the powerful political Machine that controlled Kansas City politics in the 1920s and 1930s. Video clips are interspersed from his award-winning documentary film and goes in-depth into the history of Truman’s unapologetic association in the crimeridden political Machine.
HISTORY
Nelly Don ~ A Stitch in Time – Tell the story of Nelly Don who’s credited for inventing the housedress. From 1916 to 1978, Nelly Don produced 75 million dresses, making her the largest dress manufacturer of the 1900s. O’Malley shows images from his book and video clips from his documentary to view some of the dresses, historical documents, photos, and film that stitches this remarkable story together.
HISTORY
Shooting Back in Time: The Union Station Massacre – In 1933 Pretty Boy Floyd hardly knew the criminal he was trying to liberate from lawmen that fateful morning when he and others perpetrated a wholesale slaughter outside Kansas City’s Union Station. The carnage shocked the nation and gave rise to the formation of the modern FBI. O’Malley includes clips from his documentary to show what happened and the manhunt J. Edgar Hoover orchestrated following the firestorm.
HISTORY
Black Hand Strawman: The History of Organized Crime in Kansas City – Kansas City had one of the most effective organized crime systems in the U.S. Incorporating excerpts from O’Malley’s popular book and documentary into the appearance, unfolds the history of the deeply-rooted Sicilian customs of the Black Hand that led to the mob’s formation. KC’s mob joined forces with Tom Pendergast’s political Machine whose sponsorship boosted Harry Truman to became president.
MUSIC
Piano Entertaining Musical Presentation – Don’t just sing the blues, play ‘em too! – O’Malley brings his popular blues, boogie-woogie and swing piano playing with a Kansas City influenced style all his own. In this presentation he shows adults how they can begin playing blues piano in a matter of a few minutes starting with a walking bass line and some toe-tapping easy chord progressions. O’Malley’s instructions show his audience members a new-found appreciation for this original American style.
HEALTH DIRECTIVES
Considering living in a Continuing care retirement community (CCRCs)? Host the presentation of financial principles of living at a continuing care retirement community referencing easy to understand points from O’Malley’s book “The Financial Intelligence of Living at a Continuing Care Retirement Community (Life Plan Communities)”. (CCRC) lifestyle.
FAQs
A: The film budget was limited compared to most films as it was entirely funded by the Executive Producer.
A: Nelly Don was the great-great-aunt of Terence O’Malley (the Executive Producer and Director). Her story was being lost to time and he believes it is important that the world know of her amazing success and everything she did as a woman during an era when men absolutely dominated American businesses.
A: It took three years to write the play and it took two years to adapt it for film and make the film.
A: COVID interfered on multiple occasions. Also, lip-syncing to pre-recorded music is always a challenge but necessary to get the best sound quality.
A:
Polsky’s Store – Akron, Ohio; Lichtenstein’s – Corpus Christi, Texas; Bullock’s West – Beverly Hills, California; John R Jones – North Peekskill, New York; Brothers Frost – San Antonio, Texas; Dickson Ives – Orlando, Florida; Block and Kuhl – Rockford, Illinois; Burdines – Miami, Florida; Herzberg’s Store – Gallup, New Mexico; Gilmores Shop – Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Additional areas featured: Lindenwood University – St. Charles, MO; Parsons, KS (birthplace); and Kansas City, MO including the jurisdiction scene about the State Line between Kansas and Missouri.
A: Twenty-nine days of principal photography.
A: To share the story of Nelly Don with the rest of the world.
A: Experiencing the music and lyrics coming to life on set.
A:
• Historic NE Kansas City home – Kansas City, MO
• Shawnee Towne 1929 Museum – Shawnee, KS
• Cockrell Mercantile – Lee’s Summit, MO
• Former home of Sen. James A. Reed – next to the current National Museum of Toys and Miniatures where Nelly Don lived and was kidnapped – South Plaza KCMO
• Epstein Tool’s Building – Kansas City’s Historic Garment District
• Browne’s Irish Marketplace – 3300 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO
• Pryde’s Old Westport – Historic Westport District in Kansas City, MO
• Kansas City’s Livestock Building – Historic West Bottoms in Kansas City, MO
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – 40th and Main in Kansas City, MO
• South Kansas City private ranch
• Featured a historic photo of what is now known as the Western Auto Building in Kansas City, MO but was the headquarters to the Donnelly Garment Company (Nelly Don)