(Chelsea Update would like to congratulate Randy Lee on this terrific accomplishment.)
Randall Lee, owner of RK Studios in Grass Lake, with an office in nearby Chelsea, announced that his recently completed documentary “The Purple Rose in Full Bloom” will be featured at the Florida International Documentary Film Festival on Sept. 12-14 in Boca Raton.
“It’s the history of actor Jeff Daniels’ Purple Rose Theatre Company which he founded in 1991,” said
Lee who wrote, produced and directed the film. “Very few people outside of Chelsea, his hometown, realize Jeff got his start in theatre, not movies.
“He started out as an apprentice at the Circle Rep Theatre in New York, which did only new American plays,” Lee says, adding, “At the same time he forged a bond with playwright Lanford Wilson, one of the Circle Rep’s founders. Wilson would eventually premiere plays at the Purple Rose.”
In addition to an extensive interview with Daniels, Lee said he filmed interviews with several cast and crew members as well as members of the community impacted by the theatre’s presence.
“The PRTC is a professional, not-for-profit theatre,” Lee said, adding, “For it to survive more than 20 years in a city as small as Chelsea, is nothing short of remarkable.”
Lee said just 32 films are being featured at the 3-day Florida event, which were chosen from several hundred submitted for consideration.
“It certainly validates my efforts over the past 10 years,” said Lee. “The challenge now is going to be how to top it with my next project.”
For more information, contact Lee at RK Studios, LLC, PO Box 306, Grass Lake, MI 49240 or call him at 517-937-8653.
