A University of Idaho theatre arts professor is set to reach a national audience when a new family-friendly film debuts on Apple TV this Friday, May 29 — a project that also marks Hollywood legend John Travolta’s first turn behind the camera as a director.
“Propeller One-Way Night Coach” tells the story of a mother and son who board a cross-country flight bound for Hollywood, with their straightforward trip transforming into a memorable adventure. The film is set during what the story describes as the golden age of flight in America.
U of I professor Kelly Eviston-Quinnett plays the mother in the film, appearing alongside Clark Shotwell, a young actor from Coeur d’Alene, who portrays a boy captivated by the wonder of airplanes. The project is based on a children’s book Travolta wrote and published in 1997.
Cannes Premiere Precedes Apple TV Release
Before landing on streaming platforms, the film made its world debut at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in France earlier this month — one of the most prestigious film showcases in the world. For Eviston-Quinnett, the experience of representing the University of Idaho on that stage carried special meaning.
“I am so excited to carry the spirit of our program and our community to the Cannes premiere,” she said in remarks tied to the film’s debut. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I want to share it with everyone.”
The Moscow-based professor, who teaches in the U of I theatre arts program, described the opportunity as a career-defining moment. “I still can’t believe this is happening — this is something I have dreamt of for most of my life,” she said. “To have worked with such an incredible actor and human being, John Travolta, and to have been directed by him — well, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
A Moment of Pride for Moscow and the Palouse
For the University of Idaho and the broader Moscow community, Eviston-Quinnett’s role in a high-profile Apple TV release — one that premiered at Cannes — represents a notable moment of national visibility. The Vandal flag, as she put it, made its way to the French Riviera.
The film’s family-friendly tone makes it accessible to a wide audience, and its Apple TV platform ensures broad distribution when it goes live Friday. North Idaho also has a stake in the film’s success, with Shotwell representing Coeur d’Alene on what is shaping up to be a prominent release.
The University of Idaho has seen a strong spring on multiple fronts, with Vandal student-athletes posting notable academic results this semester alongside the program’s continued community presence.
What Comes Next
“Propeller One-Way Night Coach” becomes available to Apple TV subscribers beginning Friday, May 29. Viewers across Latah County and beyond will have the opportunity to see a familiar face from the University of Idaho community share the screen in John Travolta’s directorial debut. For those following the U of I theatre arts program, the release marks a significant milestone and a moment of well-earned recognition for one of Moscow’s own.