Chicago-made indie film, Monuments, is finally set to grace the big screen in its hometown with two special screenings at the historic Music Box Theatre this June.
Directed by Jack C. Newell and produced by Angie Gaffney, the film stars David Sullivan as Ted Daniels, a grieving widower who embarks on a heartfelt journey to honor his late wife, Laura (Marguerite Moreau). Ted’s odyssey takes him across America’s heartland, aiming to scatter Laura’s ashes at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History, a place significant to their shared history. Along the way, he encounters a series of eccentric characters, including his rival Howl (Javier Muñoz), leading to moments of introspection, humor, and unexpected revelations.
Monuments premiered at the 2020 Nashville Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for U.S. Independent Film. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its release was limited to a virtual-only national theatrical run, preventing the film from being showcased in cinemas. This upcoming event at the Music Box Theatre marks the film’s long-awaited big-screen debut in Chicago, offering audiences a chance to experience it as originally intended.
“We made this film to be seen in cinemas and had a theatrical run set up before COVID forced it to be virtual-only,” said Newell. “So, to get the chance to share the film – as intended – is very exciting and gratifying for the whole team. The years of hard work that everyone who worked on this film put into it can finally be seen in the form that we intended – big picture, big sound – monumental even, at The Music Box.”
Saturday, June 7, 2025 2:00 PM
Music Box Theatre
3733 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL
Post-film Q&A with Writer/Director Jack C. Newell and members of the filmmaking team.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 7:00 PM
Music Box Theatre
3733 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL
Post-film Q&A with Writer/Director Jack C. Newell and members of the filmmaking team.
Director Jack C. Newell, is a multifaceted Chicago-based filmmaker, writer, and public artist known for his work in both narrative and documentary cinema. His storytelling often blends humor with poignant explorations of human experiences. His filmography includes the award-winning documentary 42 Grams, which delves into the journey of a chef and his wife as they transform their apartment into a Michelin-starred restaurant. He also directed Hope Springs Eternal, a coming-of-age story about a teenager with cancer, and Open Tables, a film that intertwines various stories set around Chicago’s dining scene. His documentary How (Not) to Build a School in Haiti examines the complexities of international aid through the lens of a decade-long school construction project in rural Haiti.
Beyond filmmaking, Newell is deeply involved in public art. He co-created The Wabash Lights, an interactive light installation under Chicago’s Wabash Avenue elevated train tracks.
Tickets for Monuments are available through the Music Box Theatre’s official website.
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