Over the weekend, the second annual Bentonville Film Festival was held in Bentonville, Arkansas, a festival which was co-founded by actressGeena Davisto celebrate women and other diverse voices in the film industry and media. The festival was capped off on Sunday with a very special event, a softball game that served as areunionforGeena Davisand five of her co-stars from the 1992 classicA League of Their Own. The cast was also joined byGina Casey, a former member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
TheBentonville Film Festival Instagrampage has posted photos from the reunion, which featureGeena DavisalongsideMegan Cavanagh(Marla Hooch),Ann Cusack(Shirley Baker)Tracy Reiner(Betty Spaghetti),Anne Ramsay(Helen Haley) andFreddie Simpson(Ellen Sue Gotlander). The festival was founded last year byGeena DavisandTrevor Drinkwater, President and CEO of ARC Entertainment, where they held the first annual reunion softball game, which featuredRosie O’Donnell.
A League of Their Ownwas inspired by the All-American Girls ProfessionalBaseball League, which was founded in 1943. The story followed Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis) and Kit Heller (Lori Petty), twosisterswho join the first women’s professional baseball league, on a team coached by Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks). The supporting cast includedMadonna,Jon Lovitz,David Strathairn,Garry Marshall,Bill Pullman,Rosie O’DonnellandMegan Cavanagh.
The movie made an impressive $107.5 million domestically during its theatrical run in 1992, which would equate to a $222.3 million movie when adjusted for inflation.Penny Marshalldirected from a script byLowell GanzandBabaloo Mandell, based on a story byKim WilsonandKelly Candaele. We’ll have to wait until next year to see who turns up for the 3rd annualA League of Their Ownsoftball game at the Bentonville Film Festival.
