MIDDLEBURY — Following the success of “DaVinci: A Life,” a direct broadcast from London’s National Gallery shown at Town Hall Theater last year, THT will show a new series of three broadcasts beamed directly from sold-out art exhibits from across the world, starting with “Manet: Portraying Life,” on Thursday, April 18, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The series offers an unprecedented opportunity for audiences to experience the finest masterpieces from the world’s foremost galleries. At Town Hall Theater, a special 11 a.m. screening has been added to the 7 p.m. screening. “Seniors and a lot of other people really enjoyed the morning show when we did DaVinci,” says THT executive director Douglas Anderson. “It’s a great time to come downtown, see something wonderful at the theater, and then stay in town to eat or shop. It makes a lovely day.”
“Manet: Portraying Life” is a close-up look at the recent sold-out exhibit at the Royal Academy, London, which spans the artist’s entire career. The exhibit explores more than 50 works, including masterpieces like “Olympia,” “The Railway,” and “Luncheon on the Grass.” The broadcast will take us behind the scenes at the exhibit, and will include a background documentary on Manet’s life and career.
“Even if you could get a ticket to this exhibit, you’d end up getting glimpses of the paintings in overcrowded rooms, and with no commentary,” says Anderson. “Watching these broadcasts is like being all alone in a gallery with the art, with your own personal art expert bringing insight into the work. It’s a dream for art lovers.”
The Manet exhibit has drawn rave reviews from the London press. The Daily Telegraph calls it “an unforgettable show.” “Full of astonishment and unmissable,” says the Independent. 
Future broadcasts in the series will be from a long-awaited Edvard Munch exhibit in Oslo (Aug. 15), which has been called a “once-in-a-lifetime show,” and a rare Vermeer exhibit at London’s National Gallery (Oct. 10).