Courier Calendar

DEC. 20 ROTARY CLUB OF BEVERLY HILLS HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE AT THE BEVERLY HILLS FIRE STATION 3:00 P.M. The Rotary Club of Beverly Hills is holding a toy drive to benefi t the Hope Street Family Center, the Westwood Transitional Village/The Salvation Army and the Boys & Girls Club. Please bring unwrapped toys, such as stuff ed animals, games, puzzles and other small gifts for children to the Beverly Hills Fire Station on Dec. 20. https://bhrotary.org

L.A. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENT BLANKETS AND SOCKS DRIVE WEST L.A. DISTRICT YARD L.A. Sanitation and Environment is running a drive to collect new and gently used, clean and washed blankets, sleeping bags, and socks at 2027 Stoner Ave., Los Angeles. As colder weather arrives, it can be diffi cult for unsheltered LA residents to keep warm. All donations from the drive will be distributed to members of the homeless community. For other drop-off locations and further information, email san.cfrp@lacity.org or call (213) 485-2260.

NOW ROOFTOP CINEMA CLUB Rooftop Cinema Club Downtown Los Angeles and The Drive-Up at Santa Monica Airport are showing merry and bright holiday programming. Guests can also purchase classic drive-in tickets, which include tailgating space as well. Join for the last chance to experience The DriveUp at Santa Monica Airport before it closes on Dec. 31. The Downtown Los Angeles location will close on Dec. 19 with a fi nal screening of “Elf,” but it will be back in the spring and on other rooftops next year. https://rooftopcinemaclub.com/ los-angeles/ NOW – DEC. 24 AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY BALLET: “THE NUTCRACKER SUITE” “The Nutcracker Suite” is off ered by American Contemporary Ballet. The immersive staging of the Tchaikovsky classic captivates children and enchants adults, creating a sumptuous holiday experience. Guests will be thrilled by the live performance and enchanted by the magical snow-globe world of the dancing of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her subjects. https://www.acbdances.com/

NOW – JAN. 2, 2022 EL CAPITAN THEATRE: “WEST SIDE STORY” 12 P.M., 3:45 P.M., 7:30 P.M. El Capitan Theatre presents Twentieth Century Studios’ “West Side Story.” through Jan. 2, 2022. Guests can see costumes, which are displayed, and pose for photos at a “West Side Story” themed photo opportunity. The mighty Wurlitzer Organ will be played prior to showings on Saturdays and Sundays. There will be enhanced safety and health precautions for guests and cast members. Tickets are $28 for VIP, $17 for adults, and $14 for children and seniors. https://elcapitantheatre.com/ https://www.fandango.com/ el-capitan-theatre-aacon/theater-page

NOW – JAN. 2, 2022 LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE: FIVE FESTIVE SHOWS Join Laguna Playhouse to celebrate the holidays with fi ve festive experiences. The shows being performed include: The Skivvies’ “Say It Ain’t Snow” with Broadway's Lauren Molina and Nick Cearley from Dec. 6-7, “Merry Christmas, Darling: Carpenters’ Christmas” from Dec. 13-15, “Sister’s Christmas Catechism” from Dec. 20-21, Rita Rudner’s “Happy Vaccinated New Year’s Eve” on Dec. 31, and “Folk Legacy Trio” from Jan. 1-2, 2022. https://lagunaplayhouse.com/ NOW – FEB. 20, 2022 THE GETTY CENTER: “LA SURPRISE: WATTEAU IN LOS ANGELES” The Getty Center presents “La Surprise: Watteau in Los Angeles.” The exhibit brings together paintings and drawings from Los Angeles public and private collections to celebrate a recent Getty acquisition of the painting “La Surprise.” It is curated by former Associate Curator of Drawings at Getty Museum Emily Beeny and Senior Curator of Paintings Davide Gasparotto. The pieces convey Watteu’s methods and the elusive and captivating quality of his art. “La Surprise” joined a rich array of Watteau’s drawings and paintings in Los Angeles. https://www.getty.edu/visit/center/

DEC. 17, DEC. 22 PBS SOCAL AND KCET: PACIFIC CHORALE’S “THE WAYFARING PROJECT” 8 P.M. PBS SoCal airs Pacifi c Chorale’s “The Wayfaring Project” on Dec. 17, and KCET airs it on Dec. 22. The original concert fi lm was created and conducted by Artistic Director Robert Istad. Featuring Pacifi c Chorale, members of Pacifi c Symphony, and solo artists, the program was fi lmed between April and July 2021 and follows Pacifi c Chorale’s progression throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Wayfaring Project” includes video and audio production by Arts Laureate and video production by award-winning cinematographer Jeff Dolen. https://www.pacifi cchorale.org/

DEC. 17 – 19 LONG BEACH BALLET: “THE NUTCRACKER” 7:30 P.M. FRIDAY; 2 P.M., 7:30 P.M. SATURDAY; 1 P.M., 6 P.M. SUNDAY Join Long Beach Ballet for fi ve performances of “The Nutcracker” at the Long Beach Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. The show will highlight guest performances and surprise treats for the 39th production of the classical tale. It will feature a fl ying sleigh, a live horse, a full symphony orchestra, on-stage pyrotechnics, and a cast with over 200 members. Elliot Hessayon and Scott Schaff er, former Disney designers, made the enchanting scenery, Australian artists Adrian Clark designed the costumes, and magician Franz Harary made the special eff ects. The performance is half-priced on Friday night for a Preview Performance, and tickets range from $34-$115 with special VIP packages available and discounts for groups of 15 or more. https://longbeachnutcracker.com/

DEC. 19 – 20 PACIFIC CHORALE: “TIS THE SEASON!” 5 P.M. DEC. 19, 7:30 P.M. DEC. 20 Pacifi c Chorale presents the extravaganza “Tis the Season!” at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. The 85 members of the Chorale will sing the cherished holiday and traditional favorites, directed by Artistic Director Robert Istad. The Chorale will also perform “O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauriden, National Medal of Arts recipient, “Gloria” from Ji-Hoon Park’s “Lightning Bug” Mass, and “Angel Voices Ever Singing” by Bob Chilcott. Santa Claus will also pay a visit to the concert from the North Pole. The 2021-22 Season is possible due to the generous support from Platinum Season Sponsor Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons and Silver Season Sponsor Charles and Ling Zhang. Tickets range from $29-$150 and are available online. https://www.pacifi cchorale.org/events/ tis-the-season/

DEC. 20 THEATRE 40: “BEASLEY’S CHRISTMAS PARTY” 7 P.M. As part of the fi nal 2021 entry of the popular series Monday Night Seminars, Theatre 40 off ers a Zoom with a rehearsed reading of “Beasley’s Christmas Party.” There will be a Q&A after the reading. Theatre 40 presents the classic holiday tale by novelist, playwright, and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Booth Tarkington. The heartwarming and sweet story is ideal for the holiday season and enjoyable for all. Director Malanie MacQueen is part of the cast alongside Dulude, Philip Sokoloff , David Hunt Staff ord, Gloria Stroock, Rebecca Begue, John Leslie and David Westbay. MacQueen and Leslie moderate Monday Night Seminars. Zoom Password: R0pUWXF5bUtDWG1i T05VbitQcmV1dz09 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86958117238?