Phoenix, AZ – Local film fanatic Andrea Beesley-Brown a.k.a. Midnite Movie Mamacita and her fellow skater Calamity Pain are organizing a benefit screening of the Fireproof Productions documentary “DEMON OF THE DERBY: The Ann Calvello Story”.  The benefit will honor the late Roller Derby legend Ann Calvello and will be at the Paper Heart Gallery, Thursday April 6^th with doors opening at 7pm. Their teammates, the Arizona Derby Dames, will be there in full force to show support for Calvello’s legacy.

“We started planning the event last week when we learned that the tenacious Roller Derby diva was diagnosed with Liver Cancer.  We wanted to do something to make her last days more comfortable,” says co-creator Beesley-Brown.  “Sadly we learned that Ann lost her battle with Cancer on Tuesday”.  The $10 admission fee and funds generated from the event will be donated to a fund set up in Calvello’s name. 

Ann Calvello was one of Roller Derby’s all time greats.  She started her pro-skating career in 1948 and traveled throughout the USA and abroad. She was well known wherever she skated. In fact one of her lines that she's often used is "I love to be hated". Her skating career spanned 7 decades.  She was a punk rocker in the 50s with her different colored polka dotted and dyed hair.  She took care of the rookie skaters that worked for her. She allowed them to shine on the banked track. She was an American Icon.

The night will begin with acoustic sounds from local musician Micah Allan, front man of the punk/rock band Family Secret and a titillating performance by Lolita Haze: The Nymphet of Burlesque.  She will twirl tassels on her “tickets” (Ann Calvello’s affectionate nickname for a woman’s bosom).  During the musical entertainment patrons will have their chance to bid in a silent auction and raffle.  There will be many exclusive donated items from roller girls all over the country, including a rare VHS rough-cut of the documentary with extra scenes. Following the auction, the screening of “DEMON OF THE DERBY” will enthrall viewers at 8.30pm.

This event will be a unique experience uniting roller girls and their fans in the first of its kind in Phoenix.  “We just want to have an event to bring together Arizona roller girls to celebrate the life of the lady that gave the sport so much,” says Calamity Pain who has welcomed all Phoenix roller girls to the event, including the Renegade Roller girls who will be in attendance.  “Head-smacking, body-slamming, hair-pulling Ann Calvello was Roller Derby’s Meanest Mama on Skates since 1948.  Covering 50 years of dirty tricks and outrageous hi-jinks, this candid documentary reveals the ferocious determination of a woman who has never played by anyone’s rules but her own” Fireproof Productions.

For more information please visit www.midnitemoviemamacita.com or call Andrea Beesley-Brown at 480-628-8505.