PASADENA, Calif. – With most traditional movie theaters shuttered, drive-ins are all the rage. And now, there's a new player in town, at least temporarily.
Tribeca Drive-In will set up shop in Pasadena's Rose Bowl stadium, screening a slate of 30 films and hosting live comedy, starting July 2 and running Thursdays through Sundays until August 2.
“We look forward to movie theaters reopening and hope that the Drive-In serves as a reminder of the magic of the moviegoing experience,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of Tribeca Enterprises and the Tribeca Film Festival, which has run a Drive-in as part of the fest for 20 years. The Drive-In is expanding this summer, she said, "as an immediate and safe solution" for continuing to enjoy the movies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the films that will be screened at the Rose Bowl: movies with a musical theme, including Selena, The Bodyguard and Straight Outta Compton; sports-themed films including Creed, Jerry Maguire and Space Jam; the James Bond classics Goldfinger and Casino Royale; the high school comedies Mean Girls and Superbad; a 45th anniversary screening of Jaws; and kids’ films, among others.
Palm Springs, a critics’ darling at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, will also screen as part of the Drive-In series that will include filmmaker and actor appearances, teasers for upcoming films, and stand-up comedy.
In partnership with the independent production firm, Comedy Dynamics, the Rose Bowl will host four nights of stand-up July 9-12. The performances will incorporate film into the comedians’ live acts for what Tribeca’s organizers say is a “first-of-its-kind experience.”
Pasadena’s Rose Bowl is one of several venues nationwide that will host the Tribeca Drive-In series. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; Nickerson Beach in Nassau County, New York; and Orchard Beach in the Bronx, New York, are among the other host sites. Tribeca will also host events with a National Football League theme at NFL stadiums in Dallas, Miami and Seattle. The Drive-In’s organizers say they will announce additional venues in the coming weeks.