Mr. McFeely, one of Mr. Rogers' beloved friends, is dropping by our Raleigh neighborhood
"Won't You Be My Neighbor?," the new documentary about Fred Rogers and his TV series "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," is generating buzz nationwide.
Friday, one of Rogers' most famous neighbors will be in Raleigh for a special screening of the film at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
David Newell — best known as the mailman Mr. McFeely on the beloved TV show — will introduce the 7:30 p.m. screening on June 22, and the 11 a.m. screening on June 23. Newell will host Q&A sessions after those screenings.
Newell, who will turn 80 this year, was one of the original cast members who stayed with the show the entire duration — more than three decades. Newell met Rogers through the Pittsburgh Playhouse theatre school and was originally hired onto the show as a public relations manager before being cast as Mr. McFeely.
He became known for his catchphrase, "Speedy Delivery!"
The film is considered a "Drafthouse Recommends" selection. For each ticket sold to "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will donate $1 to local PBS affiliate stations, with Raleigh sales contributing to WUNC-TV. Those who buy tickets to any movie using the Alamo app or drafthouse.com can add an optional donation to their purchase.
There will be a food drive this weekend with proceeds gong to the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina.
The film is directed by Morgan Neville, the Academy Award-winning director of "20 Feet From Stardom. It premiered in January of this year at Sundance Film Festival, and since has had a limited release in theaters. It screened in Durham this spring at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.
It currently holds a 99 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been touted by critics and audiences across America.
Alamo Cinema is at 2116-D New Bern Ave., Raleigh.
This story was originally published June 19, 2018 at 10:56 AM with the headline "Mr. McFeely, one of Mr. Rogers' beloved friends, is dropping by our Raleigh neighborhood."