Phoenix’s signature outdoor films, the Moonlight Movies, are returning for their third season starting in March. The Moonlight Movies 2006 series is hosted by Phoenix City Councilman Tom Simplot. The films in this year’s series are “The Sound of Music,” “The Birdcage,” “Galaxy Quest” and “The Sandlot.” All are shown at Steele Indian School Park, at Third Street and Indian School Road. Moonlight Movies start at sunset and are free to the public.

“Our movies in the park are a great community activity,” said Simplot. “What better way to spend an evening than with family and friends under the stars, watching a film together?”

The series kicks off Saturday, March 18, with the classic Julie Andrews musical, “The Sound of Music.” Set in the pre-World War II idyll of Salzburg, Austria, the film follows the young Maria (Andrews) hired to care for dour Captain von Trapp’s seven children. With such famous songs as “My Favorite Things” and “Do-Re-Mi,” “The Sound of Music” is wonderful family entertainment.

The next film in the series is a screening of “The Birdcage” Friday, March 31. In celebration of Phoenix’s gay and lesbian Pride Festival, Moonlight Movies will show the zany Nathan Lane and Robin Williams comedy. In the film, Lane and Williams play a gay couple whose son is set to marry his college sweetheart. When they discover that the new fiancée comes from a conservative family, both must hide the nature of their relationship and play straight. When the families clash, hilarity ensues.

Third in the series is the interstellar laugh-fest “Galaxy Quest” on Saturday, May 20. Starring Tim Allen, the movie follows a group of television actors, whose claim to fame is a once-popular science fiction show called “Galaxy Quest.” During a fan convention for their series, the “Galaxy Quest” cast learns that aliens exist and that the aliens believe their TV program is real. A touching story of friendship and wonder, “Galaxy Quest” is fun for all ages.

Moonlight Movies 2006 concludes with the great American pastime, in the family favorite baseball movie “The Sandlot” on Saturday, June 24. The movie tells the story of Scotty Smalls, the new kid on the block who just wants to fit in. When he joins some neighborhood kids in a game of baseball, however, everything goes wrong. He hits the ball into the yard of the mean old man next door, and the boys must work together to retrieve it. Through it all, Smalls makes friends, plays ball and learns to believe in himself.

For more information about Moonlight Movies 2006, call Councilman Simplot's office at 602-262-7447 or visit phoenix.gov/district4.