SPANISH FORT, Ala. — The Baldwin County League of Women Voters will sponsor the Baldwin County Premiere of “Open Secret,” a film by Melanie Jeffcoat based on transcripts of the 1901 Alabama Constitution.

The screening will take place on April 17, at 1 p.m., in the Pete Allen Room at Westminster Village in Spanish Fort.

Westminster Village is located at 500 Spanish Fort Blvd. The film is free and open to the public.

A luncheon is available from noon-1 p.m. at $20 a person, and is open to the public.

Reservations for the luncheon will be accepted up to April 12 by contacting Cheryl Rooker, (251) 654-6793, or e-mail cherylrooker@gmail.com, or Jinnie Nelson, (251) 929-2460.

The film is the first historical reenactment of the original transcripts of the state’s 1901 Constitution. The words and actions of the delegates offer a shocking but valuable perspective in the debate over a new Alabama Constitution.

Melanie Jeffcoat wrote, directed, and produced the film with support from the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform, League of Women Voters of Alabama, the Alabama Association of University Women and Greater Birmingham Ministries.

The script for the film is based on the 109-year-old transcripts, and reveals the issues of race, suffrage and the foundation for our state laws.

The film brings to life eight of those delegates and one brave female suffragist. The audience is guided through the conversations by an on-screen narrator in the film, the only fictional character, who puts the words of these delegates into the context of American history.

The purpose of “Open Secret” is to capture the attention of the viewer and to promote awareness of how the 109-year-old laws influence the constituents of Alabama. It provides an avenue for stimulating constructive action and education.

Melanie Jeffcoat (writer/director/producer/“Miss Griffin”) was born in the Watts section of Los Angeles in the 1960s, was raised in Las Vegas and earned her bachelor of arts degree in theatre from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

She received her master’s of fine arts in acting from the prestigious Professional Actor Training Program at the University of Washington in Seattle.

She has traveled and worked around the country, playing lead roles at the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Repertory Theatre and the Seattle Repertory Theatre.

She worked in New York on the TV show “All My Children” and has appeared in numerous films.

She is the winner of two Ovation Awards for acting and producing as well as numerous Los Angeles-based Dramalogue Awards for Acting.

Since moving to Birmingham nine years ago, Jeffcoat has focused primarily on film, and is currently working on several projects.

She is producing two documentary films (currently in production) to be released later this year.