originally published: 02/22/2024

(TEANECK, NJ) -- Tickets are now on sale for An Evening with Paul Schrader, hosted by John Bathke (from "On The Scene") and presented by Black Box PAC, on Sunday, March 17th, 2024 at Debonair Music Hall. Oscar Nominee Paul Schrader is an American screenwriter, film director, and film critic. The event begins at 7:30pm.

Schrader first became widely known for writing the screenplay of Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976). He later continued his collaboration with Scorsese, writing or co-writing Raging Bull (1980), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and Bringing Out the Dead (1999). Schrader has also directed over 25 films, including Blue Collar (1978), Hardcore (1979), American Gigolo (1980), Cat People (1982), Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985), Light Sleeper (1992), Affliction (1997), and First Reformed (2017). Schrader's work frequently depicts troubled men struggling through an existential crisis that is then punctuated by a violent, cathartic event.

Raised in a strict Calvinist family, Schrader attended Calvin College before electing to pursue film studies at UCLA on the encouragement of film critic Pauline Kael. He then worked as a film scholar and critic, publishing the book Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer (1972) before making the transition to screenwriting in 1974. The success of Taxi Driver in 1976 brought greater attention to his work, and Schrader began directing his own films beginning with Blue Collar (co-written with his brother, Leonard Schrader). His three most recent films have been described by Schrader as a loose trilogy: First Reformed (2017), The Card Counter (2021), and Master Gardener (2022). His upcoming film Oh, Canada reunites him with American Gigolo star Richard Gere.

Three-time Emmy Award winner John Bathke has interviewed many of the biggest stars of our time. Entertaining and thought provoking, Bathke's interviews are as enlightening as they are unforgettable. An acclaimed broadcast journalist, Bathke has reported from the red carpet of major entertainment events including the Tony Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). Bathke is best known for his interviews with Broadway performers and in-depth segments on New York and New Jersey theatre as well as music, dance, film and visual arts.

General admission seats are $40, and $30 for students with valid college ID. Tickets are available for purchase online. Doors open at 6:30pm at Debonair Music Hall (1409 Queen Anne Road in Teaneck, New Jersey) which boasts a cash bar/restaurant and is adjacent to free street and municipal lot parking. The venue offers accessible ground floor entry, and any remaining seats are $50 on the day of the event.

Since Fall 2021, Black Box PAC has incubated new and under-produced plays by world-class artists such as Paul Schrader, Eric Bogosian, Beth Henley, Craig Lucas, Neil LaBute, Daniel Handler, Ken Levine, and John Patrick Shanley. Collaborations are now underway with The Estates of Edward Albee, Sam Shepard, and I.B. Singer as well as with artists including John Lahr, Halley Feiffer, Billy Martin, and more.

Debonair Music Hall is a live music venue that brings the best national touring acts and local bands to Teaneck, NJ. Enjoy delicious food and drinks while you experience the electrifying energy of live music.