The Academy Theater has been showing the Coen brothers’ cult favorite The Big Lebowski for the past few days, but tonight’s screening is a special one: All ticket and concession proceeds, along with those from a silent auction and raffle, will benefit Academy Theater manager Patrick White.
White, who was in a coma for several days following complications from surgery, is expected to recover. But in a note to neighboring businesses in the Montavilla neighborhood, the Academy’s general manager, Dannon Dripps, noted that medical expenses “have stacked up to a considerable amount, even with insurance.”
So at tonight’s Lebowski, all proceeds from tickets, concessions, the raffle, and the silent auction will go to Lebowski fan White for his medical expenses.
“The community has really come together with items for the auction/raffle, and we have a lot of great stuff,” Dripps tells the Mercury, noting that Academy staff member Chris Dowling’s framed, original art for the event’s poster, pictured below, will be one of the items available at the auction. Other items for the auction and raffle have been donated by Montavilla Brew Works, Pistils Nursery, Oregon Bike Shop, Roscoe’s, Flying Pie Pizzeria, Townshend’s Teahouse, Guardian Games, pFriem Family Brewers, Swift Cider, Hop Valley Brewing, Beer Bunker, Ya Hala, Oni Press, and many more. The list of items from “amazing businesses and artists,” Dripps tells me, “keeps growing as we speak.”
Seeing The Big Lebowski is pretty much always a good idea. Seeing it at the Academy—one of the best parts of Montavilla, not to mention one of our favorite theaters in Portland—is also a good idea. And seeing it tonight, when the money you spend for a ticket, a beer, and a popcorn will go to a good cause? Well, that’s an excellent idea.
The Big Lebowski, Academy Theater, 7818 SE Stark, Wed May 24, 7 pm, $8
