All forms of holiday giving—and giving in general—are lovely. But maybe you’re saying, “Yes, yes, but what do I get out of it?” If so, then the Found Theatre’s come up with a nice answer for you.
This Sunday, Dec. 12, the Found Theatre will screen a double-feature of holiday cheer: Miracle on 34th Street at 2:00pm and Holiday Heart at 4:00pm. The price of admission is one unwrapped toy valued at $10 or more.
This toy drive is sponsored by the Long Beach-based H.O.P.E. Foundation, along with several other organizations. If you don’t want to watch the films, of course you’re welcome to drop off a toy, anyway, whether between 12:30pm and 7:00pm Sunday or at any regular Found Theatre performance through December 19.1
But why not go to the films—or send someone who wants to see the films to donate the toy? The November–December holiday season is all about people being together, and the Found Theatre and friends have come up with a great way not only to give to a worthy cause but at the same time foster that spirit of holiday communion.
I haven’t seen Holiday Heart (dir. Robert Townshend, starring Ving Rhames and Alfre Woodard), but the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) says it’s about “[a] drag queen [who] takes in a drug addict and her daughter and helps raise the daughter.” Sounds warm and wacky to me—perfect for the Found Theatre. Miracle on 34th Street, of course, you know.2 I don’t know if the Found is screening the 1947 original or the 1994 remake starring Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, and Dylan McDermott, but as unpopular as it may be to say this, I think the remake is better.3 Whichever version they show, I don’t think you can go wrong.
Donate a toy, see a film or two with your neighbors, help make the holidays happier all around. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
The Found Theatre 599 Long Beach Blvd. (at 6th St.). For more info, call 562.433.3363 or visit foundtheatre.org.
Footnotes
1These performances include the Found’s holiday show, Somberton Senior Residence Presents ‘The Nutcracker,’ and a 70th birthday celebration of folk singer Phil Ochs.
2If you somehow haven’t seen it, do, because it’s truly worthy of the title “holiday classic.”
3At worst, it’s very true to the spirit of the original.