A free screening of a film directed by Illinois State University’s Professor of Communications Brent Simonds will include a performance by the documentary’s subject, Nashville veteran songwriter and virtuoso guitarist Verlon Thompson.

The much-lauded film, Sweet Dreams Do Come True: Verlon Thompson, a Musical Memoir will be screened at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 6, at the Normal Theater. Thompson will perform a live set after the conclusion of the film.

Free tickets can be requested ahead of time to guarantee entry. Walk-ins are welcome that night, depending upon available space.

Sweet Dreams Do Come True won best documentary feature at the Red Dirt International Film Festival, an Award of Excellence from the Broadcast Education Association, and was nominated for best music documentary at the Bare Bones International Film and Music Festival.

The screening is open to the public and sponsored by the Harold K. Sage Foundation Fund and ISU’s School of Communication in cooperation with the Normal Theater.

Thompson will also appear at the Songwriter’s Series at 3 p.m. Friday, September 7, in the Communication Innovation Center (CIC) in Fell Hall, room 280. He will be joined by the series’ producer, Emmy and National Headline award-winner Demetria Kalodimos. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to the free event.