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Final Vows: A documentary on aging, caring and faith

AZPM
Published September 5, 2024 at 12:28 PM MST
final vows landscape nun hero
courtesy A Street Productions
Abbess Victoria Murray, in an image from the documentary film "Final Vows", produced & directed by Victoria Westover.
Final Vows Abbess hero
courtesy A Street Productions
Abbess Victoria Murray, the elected leader of the nuns of Santa Rita Abbey, in an image from the documentary film "Final Vows", produced & directed by Victoria Westover.
Final Vows: A documentary on aging, caring and faith

Featured on the September 5th, 2024 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:

  • A new documentary called “Final Vows” tells the story of a small order of cloistered nuns who live at Santa Rita Abbey, an isolated monastery in the high desert of Arizona. Dwindling numbers and old age threaten the order’s long-term survival, and the monastery stands in the path of new mining projects being dug south of the Grand Canyon. “Final Vows” marks the directorial debut of Tucsonan Victoria Westover, building on her vibrant resume as a producer and programmer of films and festivals. “Final Vows” will be shown at 2 pm on Sunday, September 8th at The Fox Tucson Theatre.
final vows santa rita abbey
courtesy A Street Productions
Santa Rita Abbey, a Cistercian monastery located in the high desert of Arizona.
their final vows group shot hero
courtesy A Street Productions
A meeting of the nuns of Santa Rita Abbey, in an image from the documentary film "Final Vows", produced & directed by Victoria Westover.

  • Also, film essayist Chris Dashiell shares what he thinks are some of "Final Vows" hidden charms.
Film Essays with Chris Dashiell spot
Chris Dashiell is a regular contributor to Arizona Spotlight.

  • Meet Cynthia Meier and Joseph McGrath, who are celebrating the 20th performing arts season of their dream collaboration, The Rogue Theatre. The new season begins with a production of Thornton Wilder’s ambitious 1942 play called “The Skin of Our Teeth”. The setting has been changed to include many Arizona landmarks, as you will hear in a small excerpt from the beginning of the play, performed by Rouge repertory player Ryan Parker Knox, with special accompaniment by Rogue Theatre’s musical director, Russell Ronnebaum.

The Rogue Theatre begins their 20th anniversary season with Thornton Wilder’s “The Skin of Our Teeth”, September 6th through the 29th.

Meier and McGrath hero
courtesy The Rogue Theatre
Joseph McGrath and Cynthia Meier, together in front of their creative collaboration The Rogue Theatre in Tucson, Arizona.

  • And, the Tucson non-profit Literacy Connects sponsors a group of performers and musicians called “Stories That Soar!”. They help young writers realize the power and potential of bringing their stories to life, for the stage, video, and radio. We are now presenting these stories on the first Thursday of every month here on Arizona Spotlight.

Aspiring student-age writers can submit their stories to The Magic Box Story Portal now!

“Eyelid of the Moon” was written by Luis, a 5th grade student at Sam Hughes Elementary, and performed by Jordan Seibert. It is a poem dedicated to Luis' late father; and what the boy sees when he looks to the night sky and remembers the love they shared.

Web page by Sophia Hammer

Arizona Spotlight
Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Friday at 8:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.