Movies returned to the Kings Theatre on August 7, 2016 in an epic way, as Alamo Drafthouse Cinema sponsored a Star Wars Trilogy showing of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi on a 17'x40' screen. The company is waiting on permits to open Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Brooklyn, a more upscale film and food venue than your average theater.

The sponsors were impressed not only by the majesty of the theater but by the hospitality of the staff and crew. Local 4 stagehands managed to squeeze two projectors and an AC unit up the narrow stairs to the followspot booth, and integrated the needs of the cinema into the line plot of another show, Bring It! Live which appeared on stage the night before. Alamo will definitely be back for more screenings.

The Kings Theatre is being utilized more and more for location work as well. Local 4 and Local 52 have worked together on television episodes and commercials in the space, including this must-see piece starring Christopher Walken.

The Democratic National Committee signed a national contract with IATSE to provide stage labor during the primary season, and nowhere were the stakes higher than here in Brooklyn. Hillary Clinton, the former senator from New York and Bernie Sanders, a native son of Brooklyn, ran campaigns that ranged from chess match to wrestling match. Events could be last-minute and sparse, or elaborately planned. It all came to a head at the CNN Democratic Presidential Debate at the Duggal Greenhouse on April 14th, 2016, and of course IATSE Local 4 was there.

Head of production Rocco Battaglia of Event Resource Professionals was impressed by our work. "Thank you for sending such a hardworking and highly skilled crew," he wrote in a letter to the Local's headquarters.

"It was a team effort where every man and woman Local 4 sent worked hard and diligently, while representing Local 4 in the very best light imaginable.  I have to thank the Local 4 Shop Steward Bill Horton Jr. and all of the Department Heads for their professionalism throughout the job, from start to finish.  They were absolutely magnificent."

We thank Mr. Battaglia for the kind words, and kudos to Brother Horton and the job's leads: Sean Saphire, Keith Silano, Ancell Brown, Jr., Mark Keshishian, Albert Salamone, Frank Torres, and Mike Matthews. Whether in an event space like the Duggal Greenhouse, an arena, amphitheatre, theater, mobile stage, or anywhere a production needs efficient, effective, and professional stage labor, IATSE Local 4 is the best choice in Brooklyn and Queens.

On October 19-23, 2015, the stage of the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Opera House became a Brooklyn street scene, and home to Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC's popular late-night talk show. This was the show's second visit to Brooklyn, and Local 4 renewed many happy acquaintances.

Guests included Jay Z, Bradley Cooper, Bernie Sanders, Tracy Morgan, Howard Stern, Joy Behar, and Bill Murray, among others. Two very magical moments stood out in particular: our IATSE brothers and sisters painstakingly loading in a DeLorean Time Machine through the just-wide-enough loading door for the 30th Anniversary of the film Back to the Future, with Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd as guests; and a special overdub of the trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, voiced by our very own Local 4 stagehands. You can check out the results here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXRqbcu5rhc

Local 4 is delighted and proud to have partnered with ABC and Jimmy Kimmel to deliver another memorable Brooklyn week (Jimmy's first visit was during Hurricane Sandy.) Come back soon, Jimmy!

Local 4 members proudly partner with the Brooklyn Academy of Music to present Semele at the Howard Gilman Opera House.

Chinese visual artist Zhang Huan directs this East-meets-West production of Handel’s opera from the Canadian Opera Company, pairing a cast of debaucherous characters with a centuries-old Ming Dynasty temple. The show opens March 4.

Presented by Local 4 News as part of our new BREAKING NEWS! feature.

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