The Christmas Foundling

The Christmas Foundling by Norman Allen

(5)
Productions (21)
Comedy/Drama
|
120 minutes
1 W, 6 M, 
Content Notes: Mild adult language
Set: A mountain cabin, including the woods immediately surrounding it.

When a baby boy is orphaned in the California Sierras on Christmas Eve, 1850, two curmudgeonly miners agree to raise him. A decade later, the boy's idyllic life is interrupted by the arrival of a meddling aunt, who intends to take him back to Boston for a formal education and a life of success. Inspired by the stories of Bret Harte, The Christmas Foundling is a heartwarming holiday tale, with the love of a child at its center and an unlikely romance as its driving force.

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Play Details

When a baby boy is orphaned in the California Sierras on Christmas Eve, 1850, two curmudgeonly miners agree to raise him. A decade later, the boy's idyllic life is interrupted by the arrival of a meddling aunt, who intends to take him back to Boston for a formal education and a life of success. Inspired by the stories of Bret Harte, The Christmas Foundling is a heartwarming holiday tale, with the love of a child at its center and an unlikely romance as its driving force.

  • Comedy/Drama
  • |
  • 120 minutes
  • 1 W, 6 M, 
  • Content Notes: Mild adult language
  • Set: A mountain cabin, including the woods immediately surrounding it.

Published Reviews

"A captivating and heartwarming drama..."

Nancy Worssam, Seattle Times

"The Christmas Foundling is a holiday treat that blends timeless themes of family with the romanticized charm of the Gold Rush."

Gary Linehan, The Union Democrat

"The Christmas Foundling seems to have all the ingredients that Sierra Repertory Theatre could have wanted when it commissioned playwright Norman Allen to write it... A theatrical nugget that's virtually guaranteed to draw throngs year after year."

Leo Stuzin, The Modesto Bee

"The starlit sky, log cabin, evergreen trees and leaf-strewn stage tip us off right from the start about where The Christmas Foundling is headed. This Gold Rush drama is a love-letter to the Mother Lode, an ode to the joys of rural living. With a touching, family-friendly plot and a strong cast, the show is sure to repeat the success of its 2001 premiere run, which drew large crowds."

Lisa Millegan, The Modesto Bee

Production History

NOV 17, 2022 - DEC 18, 2022
Sierra Repertory Theatre
Sonora, CA United States
 Sierra Repertory Theatre Sonora, CA United States
DEC 09, 2019 - JAN 12, 2020
Pride Films And Plays
Chicago, IL United States
 Pride Films And Plays Chicago, IL United States
DEC 01, 2017 - DEC 10, 2017
Very Little Theater
Eugene, OR United States
 Very Little Theater Eugene, OR United States
DEC 08, 2016 - DEC 18, 2016
County Seat Theater Company
Cloquet, MN United States
 County Seat Theater Company Cloquet, MN United States
DEC 11, 2014 - DEC 11, 2014
The Clemson Little Theatre
Pendleton, SC United States
 The Clemson Little Theatre Pendleton, SC United States
DEC 05, 2014 - DEC 14, 2014
The Clemson Little Theatre
Pendleton, SC United States
 The Clemson Little Theatre Pendleton, SC United States
NOV 21, 2014 - DEC 06, 2014
Hill Country Arts Foundation
Ingram, TX United States
 Hill Country Arts Foundation Ingram, TX United States
DEC 06, 2013 - DEC 21, 2013
Gaslight-Baker Theatre
Lockhart, TX United States
 Gaslight-Baker Theatre Lockhart, TX United States
DEC 06, 2013 - DEC 15, 2013
Port Austin Community Players, Inc.
Port Austin, MI United States
 Port Austin Community Players, Inc. Port Austin, MI United States
NOV 29, 2013 - DEC 29, 2013
Flying Pig Productions
St. Paul, MN United States
 Flying Pig Productions St. Paul, MN United States
NOV 30, 2012 - DEC 16, 2012
Woodford Theatre
Versailles, KY United States
 Woodford Theatre Versailles, KY United States
NOV 18, 2011 - NOV 20, 2011
Iowa Falls Community Theatre
Iowa Falls, LA United States
 Iowa Falls Community Theatre Iowa Falls, LA United States
DEC 03, 2010 - DEC 19, 2010
Ankeny Community Theater
Ankeny, IA United States
 Ankeny Community Theater Ankeny, IA United States
NOV 21, 2008 - DEC 21, 2008
Sierra Repertory Theatre
Columbia, CA United States
 Sierra Repertory Theatre Columbia, CA United States
NOV 21, 2008 - DEC 27, 2008
Taproot Theatre Company
Seattle, WA United States
 Taproot Theatre Company Seattle, WA United States
DEC 07, 2007 - DEC 07, 2007
Resort Players Of Mt. Washington Valley
Center Conway, NH United States
 Resort Players Of Mt. Washington Valley Center Conway, NH United States
DEC 14, 2006 - DEC 17, 2006
Prince Theatre
Chestertown, MD United States
 Prince Theatre Chestertown, MD United States
DEC 06, 2006 - DEC 30, 2006
Journeymen Theater Ensemble
Washington, DC United States
 Journeymen Theater Ensemble Washington, DC United States
NOV 30, 2006 - DEC 10, 2006
Resort Players Of Mt. Washington Valley
North Conway, NH United States
 Resort Players Of Mt. Washington Valley North Conway, NH United States
DEC 01, 2003 - DEC 31, 2003
Sierra Repertory Theatre
Sonora, CA United States
 Sierra Repertory Theatre Sonora, CA United States
DEC 01, 2001 - DEC 31, 2001
Sierra Repertory Theatre
Sonora, CA United States
 Sierra Repertory Theatre Sonora, CA United States
No upcoming productions.
NOV 17, 2022 - DEC 18, 2022
Sierra Repertory Theatre
Sonora, CA United States
 Sierra Repertory Theatre Sonora, CA United States
NOV 21, 2008 - DEC 21, 2008
Sierra Repertory Theatre
Columbia, CA United States
 Sierra Repertory Theatre Columbia, CA United States
NOV 21, 2008 - DEC 27, 2008
Taproot Theatre Company
Seattle, WA United States
 Taproot Theatre Company Seattle, WA United States
DEC 06, 2006 - DEC 30, 2006
Journeymen Theater Ensemble
Washington, DC United States
 Journeymen Theater Ensemble Washington, DC United States
DEC 01, 2003 - DEC 31, 2003
Sierra Repertory Theatre
Sonora, CA United States
 Sierra Repertory Theatre Sonora, CA United States
DEC 01, 2001 - DEC 31, 2001
Sierra Repertory Theatre
Sonora, CA United States
 Sierra Repertory Theatre Sonora, CA United States

Archival Video License

Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License to add to your order for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

This allows you to record one of your live performances for your internal archives only. This cannot be streamed.

For more information, please reach out to [email protected]

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