It’s holiday prime time, baby! For some Angelenos, that means heading back to whatever snow-covered Midwestern town that bore them. Others are hunkering down in what little sun pokes through those L.A. clouds this time of year. If you’re in the latter category, take a wee bit of a break this week and enjoy some holiday viewing that will both inspire you and fill you with a little Christmas cheer.
See a Tim Burton classic reimagined for the stage.
In the realm of movies that aren’t really Christmas movies but are synonymous with the holidays, few compare to “Edward Scissorhands.” Burton’s classic film about an outcast with scissors for hands, the community he inhabits, and the girl he loves is a must-watch this time of year. Shake things up by catching the live musical version, “Scissorhands,” at Rockwell on Dec. 23 (or any night through Jan. 6). This troupe has taken other ’90s classics and transformed them for the stage, so this production is sure to delight and show the magic of a truly versatile story. ($39)
Audition for another stage adaptation of a Burton staple: “Beetlejuice!”
Discover the film that debuted one of the most famous Christmas songs ever.
Speaking of movies that aren’t strictly Christmas but are compulsory viewing anyway, the 1944 Vincente Minnelli–directed vignette “Meet Me in St. Louis” ranks right up top. Starring Judy Garland, Mary Astor, Margaret O’Brien, and more, it’s an unsung gem of the Christmas canon, overshadowed by Garland’s other works (and, honestly, other holiday flicks). But it’s the movie that gave us “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” That fact alone should drive you to catch it on the big screen Dec. 22 at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, and then make sure it’s on your mandatory holiday viewing list forever. ($8–12)
Sing along with Bing Crosby (and fellow locals) to “White Christmas.”
“White Christmas” built a story around a now-canonical Christmas song, but its set design, costumes, and, of course, casting of Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen are simply iconic. Chock full of singable moments, head to the fabulous Walt Disney Concert Hall in D.T.L.A. and join your fellow merrymakers in a sing-along (with complimentary hot cocoa!) on Dec. 23. Witness a true classic come to life in real-time song along with other Angelenos who really can only dream of a white Christmas in L.A. ($39–74)
Celebrate the Mouse’s birthday with a few choice films.
One of the most revered and long-standing Hollywood legends isn’t even a person, and yet, his career has spanned the better part of a century. Of course, we’re talking about Mickey Mouse. Detox from the holiday revelry with the Alex Film Society’s celebration of the magical mouse’s 90th trip around the sun on Dec. 26 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Because the cartoons on display are oldies but goodies, there’s a lot to learn from their scripting and plot construction, even if they seem a bit trite and dated now. Mickey Mouse is still one of the world’s favorite actors for a good reason. ($17)
Check out Backstage’s Los Angeles audition listings!