"Mangus" to World Premiere at the 2011 Dallas International Film Festival

Cranium Enterainment recently send us information about their dark comedy "Mangus", which will be having it's world Premiere on April 1st at the Dallas International Film Festival.

Press Release

Musical theatre, small town life and Clay Aiken are wickedly skewered in this dark comedy from Texas-native Ash Christian

Cranium Entertainment is proud to announce that MANGUS!, the newest film from actor, writer and director Ash Christian (Fat Girls, “The Good Wife”) will make its World Premiere at the 2011 Dallas International Film Festival on April 1, 2011 at 10:30PM at the Northpark AMC. The dark comedy, filmed in the Lone Star state, stars Jennifer Coolidge (Legally Blonde), Deborah Theaker (Best in Show), Heather Matarazzo (Princess Diaries), Leslie Jordan (“Sordid Lives”), newcomer Ryan Boggus and features a special appearance by cult-filmmaker John Waters. Tickets are available at the Festival’s official website: http://dallasfilm.org/

"I'm thrilled to be premiering MANGUS! in the city where I grew up as a young filmmaker and where we shot the film. As a young, community theater boy growing up in small town Texas, this is a story that I have been wanting to tell for a long time,“ says writer/director Ash Christian. “The movie is for every kid who has ever had a dream to "make it big" and all the challenges along the way. And it was a dream to work with such a fun cast, who helped bring this story to life."

Director Ash Christian will be in attendance for the screening along with surprise guests from the film. For more information visit the MANGUS! official website: www.MangustheMovie.com and become our Facebook pal at www.Facebook.com/MangustheMovie for screening updates and distribution news!

Taking a dash of star quality from Fox’s “Glee and “American Idol, sprinkle subversive humor and you have Ash Christian’s latest dark comey, MANGUS! Mangus Spedgwick’s (Boggus) one dream is to be Jesus…in his annual high school musical production of “Jesus Christ Spectacular!” Every Spedgewick male has played the part in previous years, so its only natural that the teen carries on the tradition. But when unforseen circumstances strike and Mangus loses the role, the resourceful young man, along with the help of his sister Jessica Simpson (Matarrazzo) will do anything to reclaim the role, taking them on a colorful road trip across the county and even requiring them to break a law, or two, along the way! The film is written and directed by Ash Christian, who also produced with Heather Matarrazo and Simon Millar (“Funny or Die Presents…”).

Born and raised in Paris, Texas, Ash Christian is an accomplished theater and film professional. He has appeared in NBC's "Law and Order", ABC's "Ugly Betty", FOX's "Standoff", HBO's "Six Feet Under", CBS’s “The Good Wife” as well as films such as Domino, directed by Tony Scott, and Man of the House with Tommy Lee Jones.

Ash directed, produced and starred in Fat Girls ( alongside Ashley Fink (Fox’s “GLEE”), which made its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. The comedy found worldwide acclaim and support from “indie” film lovers and received theatrical/DVD distribution. Ash has also raised equity for the hit Broadway, multi-Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical "Next to Normal,” which is currently on a national tour. He is currently in post-production on the dark relationship comedy Petunia , starring Brittney Snow (Hairspray), Thora Birch (Ghost World) and Christine Lahti (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”).

MANGUS! World Premiere @ 2011 Dallas International Film Festival
with director Ash Christian and special guests in attendance!
April 1, 2011 at 10:30PM
Northpark AMC,
8687 North Central Expressway, Dallas, TX 75225
Tickets NOW available at
2011 Dallas International Film Festival Official website:
http://dallasfilm.org/