Can't Stop the Serenity 2009 - the annual charity event organized and presented by the Arizona Browncoats - kicks off this Thursday, September 17th, at the Loft Cinema in Tucson, followed by two Saturday screenings on September 19th at MADCAP Theaters in Tempe. We asked Jennifer Anderson, Vice Chairman/President of AZB, Inc. and this year's event coordinator, why the CSTS screenings continue to be so popular in Arizona and why you shouldn't miss this year's Serenity/Dr. Horrible double header.

This will be the fourth year the Arizona Browncoats have participated in Can't Stop the Serenity. What keeps this event going strong?

Being a Browncoat isn't just about loving Firefly, Serenity, or anything Joss Whedon, it's about believing in a world where even a few individuals, no matter their personal circumstances, can make a difference to those around them in a seemingly impossible way. Being a Browncoat is also about being part of a family and Can't Stop the Serenity is as much about celebrating community as it is a fundraiser for social justice and women's rights. We know every Browncoat out there has at least one copy of Serenity in their personal DVD collections, but Can't Stop the Serenity continues to be a success in spite of the fact that you can watch the movie any time you want at your own home because the event is built on fellowship. Sitting in the theater watching Serenity with a 100+ people who love it as much as you do is an experience you rarely, if ever, get during a typical trip to the movies.

This is an entirely fan-organized event, on both a national and local scale. Can you give an outsider insight into the amount of work it takes to make these screenings happen?

Each year, over 40 cities have participated in the global fundraising effort and the coordination that occurs for these screenings is amazing. From the ordering and shipping hundreds of t-shirts, posters, and other CSTS merchandise, to working with Universal to get the prints of Serenity at reduced prices, to finding local venues willing to host a CSTS event at little or no cost, pulling this off requires a lot of patience, persistence, and positive thoughts. While the Arizona Browncoats is registered as a non-profit corporation in Arizona and holds regular business meetings, we are run by volunteers who donate their free time, skills, and money to each cause we undertake, and CSTS is no different. It's like organizing and hosting a big party while trying to get someone else to pay the bill. In addition to our volunteers, we also rely on the donations and generosity of outside sponsors like Bookmans.

What can attendees expect at this year's screenings? Why should they come out, even if they've already seen Serenity?

The biggest and best part this year is the screening of Joss Whedon's Emmy-nominated Internet phenomenon Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. If you've never seen Dr. Horrible, or even if you have, you must know that everything is always better when followed by these two words: Sing. Along. In Tucson, a local shadow cast group, The Vampire Bunny Slayers, will be performing along with the on-screen experience. In Phoenix, you can purchase your very own Dr. Horrible frozen yogurt bag filled with fun props to enhance your viewing pleasure.

We also have lots of shiny raffle prizes to give away, including two Serenity posters signed by Joss Whedon. One poster will be raffled off in each city. Each event will also be hosting a costume contest. Whether you're Jayne Cobb with your cunning hat, a barefoot River Tam, a gruesome Reaver, or even just yourself, the costume contest is a good time for everyone. Of course, you don't have to represent a character from Serenity to walk away with a prize. As in the past, we'll be giving away prizes for costumes from other parts of the Whedonverse as well. Check out the details on our website for more specifics about the costume contest in each city.

How can people get involved with the Arizona Browncoats or the Serenity screenings?

If you're interested in helping out at one of the CSTS screenings, we can always use an extra set of hands. To sign up just follow the Can't Stop The Serenity link on our website and then click on Volunteers. If you want to learn more about our organization just follow the About Us link on our website. From there you can learn more about our monthly meetings, shindigs, and how to become an official member of our non-profit corporation. If you're interested in staying connected, but don't want to join the organization, join our Yahoo! Group and receive emails about upcoming events and other note-worthy items. We also have a MySpace page and a Facebook page, both under Arizona Browncoats, or you can follow us on Twitter at @AZBrowncoats.

Do you have a favorite moment or experience from the screenings you've been involved in?

There are two things about that really stick out for me. The first is the thrill of standing in front a packed theater and coming to the realization we did it. We brought all these people together and they're having a great time and making friends. Sure, the event is about raising money for charity while keeping a movie that would otherwise be relegated tot he DVD shelves on the big screen where it belongs, but it's also an amazing feeling to have had a hand in the smiles of a few hundred people.

That being said, my second favorite part of the event involves watching Serenity itself. When you're running an event like this you don't get much time to sit down and enjoy the movie, but there are two parts I always try to be in the theater for (SPOILER ALERT) - [Wash's moment] and when River says "My turn." These two scenes elicit the greatest emotions from the audience, whether they are seeing it for the first time or for the hundredth time, and, just like being able to watch a hundred simultaneous smiles, to share those emotions with a room full of people is an incredible experience.

Quick: who's your favorite Firefly/Serenity character, and why?

Zoe Washburne.  She's beautiful, strong, and quick-witted. And even though she's second-in-command, her input and influence can be seen in Mal's decisions and the crew's actions.