NORTHAMPTON — The Academy of Music is inviting all craft lovers to pack up their current knitting, embroidery or crocheting projects and bring them into the theater starting next month for a special movie series.
The “Stitch ‘n Flix” program, now entering its second year, is offering a line-up of four classic movies starting in January specifically geared toward crafters.
“We only did three movies last year and it had such a good reception that we decided to continue it because people are always looking for something to do in the winter,” said Melanie Slabaugh, development and communications manager for the Academy of Music and organizer of the Stitch ‘n Flix, in an interview with The Republican. “Things really slow down here, and people are looking for cozy things to do.”
Unlike traditional movie screenings, “Stitch ‘n Flix” films feature gently dimmed lighting, making it easy for crafters to work on their projects.
“We also get people who come in without a project to work on. They just want to see a movie at the Academy,” Slabaugh said. “And really, there isn’t a lot of watching of the movie. Most people have their eyes in their laps, so that’s why we do classic films, because it’s films that everybody has seen before and are super familiar with.”
While the line-up for the inaugural “Stitch ‘n Flix” program was chosen by staff, the line-up for this year was chosen by participants of the original program, Slabaugh said.
The result is this year’s “Stitch ‘n Flix” line-up: “Moonstruck” on Jan. 11, “Groundhog Day” on Jan. 25, “Sense and Sensibility” on Feb. 8 and “Bridget Jones’ Diary” on Feb. 22. All “Stitch ‘n Flix” films begin at 2 p.m.
Tickets for “Sittch ‘n Flix” films are priced at $10 per screening ($14.95 after fees). Between Jan. 2 and Jan. 25, patrons can save 15% off of their ticket prices by purchasing tickets to three or more shows.
Tickets can be purchased online at aomtheatre.com, in person, or by calling the Academy of Music box office Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.
At the conclusion of the 2026 “Stitch ‘n Flix” program, anyone who purchases a ticket to a film will again be given the opportunity to vote on the films that will be screened in a future program.
“It’s a really fun and cozy environment,” Slabaugh said.
The “Stitch ‘n Flix” series is just one of the many ways the Academy of Music is implementing traditional movies and film screenings back into its entertainment line-up. Other initiatives include a screening of Western Massachusetts filmmaker Rio Contrada’s debut film “Splinter” on Dec. 22, and “Come See Me in the Good Light,” a documentary about poet Andrea Gibson, on Jan. 24.
“We’ve had a lot of feedback from people coming through as patrons saying, ‘I just remember when the Academy was a movie house and I love what you’re doing, but it would be so cool to see movies here again,’” Slabaugh explained.
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