SMC and FILMMAKERS IN FRANKLIN Presents: Disney’s Pocahontas and Special Q&A + Meet & Greet with Three Disney Animators
The Franklin Theatre is proud to offer this exclusive event featuring a live conversation with Disney Animators: John Pomeroy, Tom Bancroft, and Chris Sonnenberg.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 8, 2025) — SMC and Filmmakers in Franklin continue their celebrated film event series, “Bringing Hollywood to Historic Franklin,” at The Franklin Theatre with host, actress Leah Allers. This week, they are proud to present an exclusive screening of Disney’s Pocahontas on Saturday, September 13 at 11:00 AM.
Following the screening of the 1995 animated classic, attendees are invited to participate in a live Q&A and Meet & Greet with Disney animators John Pomeroy, Tom Bancroft, and Chris Sonnenberg. Together, these industry veterans will share stories from their time working on Pocahontas and other studio classics, offering a rare glimpse into the effort and artistry behind some of modern animation’s most popular films.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at:
About The Franklin Theatre: Located in the heart of historic downtown Franklin, Tennessee on 419 Main Street, The Franklin Theatre has been a cherished community landmark since it first opened in 1937. The beautifully restored art-deco venue seats 300 and hosts a variety of live performances, film screenings, and community events, offering an intimate and authentic entertainment space on Franklin’s historic Main Street.
About John Pomeroy: John Pomeroy is an American animator, producer, writer, and painter whose career spans over five decades. During the start of his career at Disney, he contributed to well-known classics such asWinnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974) and The Rescuers (1977), before co-founding Don Bluth Productions in 1979. There, he helped create landmark projects like The Secret of NIMH (1982) and The Land Before Time(1988). Returning to Disney in 1992, Pomeroy designed and supervised the animation of “Captain John Smith” in Pocahontas (1995), among others. Today, John lives in Brentwood, TN, where he teaches animation at Lipscomb University and continues his work through projects like Theo and Adventures in Odyssey.
About Tom Bancroft: Tom Bancroft has over 35 years of experience in the animation industry, beginning with Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he worked on films such as Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), and Pocahontas (1995). One of his most notable contributions is his work on Mulan (1998), where he created the character “Mushu the dragon.” Beyond Disney, Bancroft served as the Supervising Director for VeggieTales: The New Adventures of LarryBoy! (2002) and authored two of the most widely used character design instruction books, Creating Characters with Personality and Character Mentor. Based in Nashville, TN, Bancroft is the artist-in-residence at Lipscomb University’s animation program and is currently co-directing the 2D animated feature The Light of the World, set for worldwide release in September 2025.
About Chris Sonnenburg: Chris Sonnenburg is an Emmy Award-winning producer, writer, director, and animator with over 30 years of industry experience. He is best known as the creator and exclusive producer of Disney’sTangled: The Series (2017-2020). Sonnenburg began his career at Disney working on Pocahontas (1995), and he went on to contribute to major animated films including Hercules (1997), Tarzan (1999), and The Emperor’s New Groove (2000). His expertise spans hand-drawn animation, storyboarding, and show running. Now based in Brentwood, TN, Sonnenburg founded Emberscope Studios, dedicated to developing original animated projects rooted in timeless values and adventurous storytelling.
About Leah Allers: Leah Allers was raised in the world of film by her father and director of The Lion King, Roger Allers. After working in production for years at Walt Disney Feature Animation, Leah pivoted to performing arts, starring in Disney’s national and international tour of AIDA, and she appeared on several TV shows including Days of Our Lives and Criminal Minds. Leah currently lives in Franklin, TN, where she works as a voiceover artist and a private voice coach, and is directing a documentary about the unsung artists of Disney Animation in the 1980s and 90s.
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