The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to partner with Theatrikos Theatre Company to bring movies to Downtown Flagstaff!

This series continues on Wednesday, April 8 with the Flagstaff premiere of “Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It” at 7:00 p.m. at Theatrikos Theatre Company.

Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, studio outtakes, and rare photos, “Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It” is an exhilarating documentary about the legendary Grammy-winning musician whose signature sound shaped the work of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin, and countless others.

Billy Preston was perhaps the most unsung musical hero of his time. Born in Houston, Texas, in 1946, he arrived in Los Angeles with his family three years later. At just 5 years old, he was backing gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. By age 10, he was appearing with Ray Charles on film, and by age 15, he was touring with Little Richard in Hamburg, Germany, where he met Richard’s opening act — The Beatles.

He would later perform and record with the biggest names in music, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and countless others.

He generated his own unforgettable No. 1 hits, including “Outa-Space,” “Will It Go Round in Circles,” “Nothing from Nothing,” and “You Are So Beautiful” — and his first hit single in 1969, on The Beatles’ Apple Records, “That’s The Way God Planned It,” produced by his lifelong friend, George Harrison.

“Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It” will show at Theatrikos Theatre Company on Wednesday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 general admission and $9 for Film Festival members.

For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Tickets can also be ordered in advance online at www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.

Theatrikos Theatre Company is located at 11 W. Cherry Ave. in Downtown Flagstaff.

This series and collaboration is made possible by a generous grant from Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff.