The experience of lining up at the movie theater on the opening weekend of  a big movie, getting popcorn and candy, settling into your seat in front of a giant screen before the lights dim, all make for just some of the most memorable cinematic moments in a child’s life. But what about the children who are battling life-threatening illnesses in hospitals throughout the United States who can’t go to the cinema? That’s where Lollipop Theater Network (Lollipop) comes in.

Founded in 2002, Lollipop is a non-profit organization that works with leading motion picture studios to deliver the biggest Hollywood blockbusters while they are still playing in theatres, directly to those children who are confined to hospitals across the country. (See also our profile of British company, MediCinema, who provides a very similar service in the United Kingdom.)

The idea for Lollipop came about when, almost 25 years ago in January 2001, founder Janis Fischer helped out with ‘movie nights’ as part of her volunteer work on the pediatric ward at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City. Fischer wanted to screen a current film so she managed to borrow a screening copy of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” which had just opened in theatres. The children were nothing short of elated and the excitement lasted for days. This inspired Fischer with the idea of bringing a genuine movie theatre experience to children in hospitals. 

Since 2002, Lollipop has screened hundreds of films, TV series and virtual programs for hospitalized children in the US, as well as in Canada, Mexico City, Argentina and Colombia,. The organization has expanded its programming to include their Rhythm of Hope music program, and collaborations with top animation studios and special celebrity visits.

The Original Superhero Walk Turned Reveal
Lollipop is all about creating moments of joy and respite, while offering some much-needed hope and a break from the ward through their film screenings. But the organization also hosts a wide range of events that bring sponsors and supporters together to help raise funds and celebrate their work. One such event is the annual Superhero Reveal that began as an organized walk.

“I had been encouraged to do a fundraising walk for Lollipop Theater Network but was stuck on how to make it stand out from all of the other charitable walks and runs already in existence,” said Evelyn Iocolano, Executive Director and Co-founder of Lollipop. “After finishing up our in-hospital music program called Rhythm of Hope, which happened to fall on National Superhero Day, I saw that our guest artists didn’t want to take off the superhero capes that I had brought along for them to wear. I realized that everyone loves pretending that they’re a superhero so I thought why not a Superhero Walk.”

After meeting costumer Steven Constancio, Iocolano  sought his advice on how Lollipop could create costumes for kids. Constancio then introduced her to the Costume Design Guild’s (CDG) then-president Salvador Perez who wholeheartedly supported the idea. The CDG reached out to their designers asking if anyone would be interested in volunteering their time for the initiative. A number of amazing artists quickly signed on, some of whom continue with the initiative every year.

Revealing the New Superheroes
And so for the past six years, in conjunction with national pediatric care specialists, Lollipop has selected six to eight pediatric patients to design their very own unique superheroes. Each child creates a one-of-a-kind personalized superhero costume and poster with help from the CDG, and world-famous photographers and Hollywood poster designers. These special designs are then unveiled to the world at the Superhero Reveal. This year’s seventh edition event on April 27 will see six pediatric patients from Los Angeles area hospitals reveal their brand new superheroes. 

This year’s superheroes and designers include:

• Superhero James (age 8) // costume designer Arieyla Wald-Cohain (“Naked”, “Insidious: Chapter 3”, “My Best Friend’s Exorcism”) 
• Superhero Valentina (age 11) // costume designer Maranda Nichols (“Holy Roller”, “Buck Wild”) 
• Superhero Ivan (age 13) // costume designer Daniel Selon (“Agatha All Along”, “WandaVision”, “Thor: Love and Thunder”) 
• Superhero Emmeline (age 7) // costume designer Michael Crow (“The Electric State”, “Avengers: Endgame”, “Avengers: Infinity War”) 
• Superhero Adonis (age 3) // costume designer Danielle Launzel (“Six Feet Under”, “Alien Raiders”, “The Middleman”) 
• Superhero Alayna (age 7) // Oscar-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell (“Wicked”) 

The Superhero Design Journey
To start the creative process, the child receives a questionnaire to help them start thinking about who their inner superhero is, including questions such as: what would their superhero name be? What are their favorite colors? What does their costume look like? What powers do they possess? How will they use those powers?  

Then there are design meetings, illustrations and, ultimately, fittings that lead up to a photoshoot with renowned commercial and fine-art photographer, Brian Bowen Smith, and his team.  

“Kids choose what their superpower is, then they team up with an amazing designer and they custom create their own costume and then I morph them into the actual superhero,” said Smith. “We might think it’s a small thing, that it’s just a photoshoot, but it’s not. This is a shoot that really matters and it changes the kids’ lives.”

This year’s photoshoot was held at Quixote Studios in West Hollywood on Sunday, 23 March and the event was catered by City Kitchen. Hair stylist and makeup artist Susana Nino, along with a group of future professionals from The Paul Mitchell School in Pasadena, were on hand to help the superheroes complete their look, as well as treat parents to some glam and pampering.

The main event will then take place on April 27 at the historic Harmony Gold Preview House on Sunset Boulevard. After showing the audience a video chronicling the personal journey of the children, each child will be introduced on stage in full costume and presented with the final finished movie posters of themselves as their superhero alter-egos.

The 7th Annual Lollipop Superhero Reveal, themed “The Heroes Among Us,” will feature the patients, their parents, siblings and caretakers, hospital staff and medical professionals, along with representatives from the movie studios, streamers and some of the stars who support the program that allow these children to feel like they can truly take on the world. 

“I love being part of a creative community that cares so much about other people to do something as special as this,” said Evelyn Iocolano.

Designer Ariyela Wald-Cohain added, “Designing costumes for kids through Lollipop Theater Network’s Superhero Reveal is more than just a creative passion—it’s a heartfelt experience.  Seeing the joy on their faces and the faces of their parents as they transform through costume and imagination makes every moment meaningful, and that is why I look forward to this project every year.”