Local Teen Theater Troupe Spreads Cheer with South Bay Caroling

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — GIFT Theater, a student-led organization dedicated to bringing live performances to underserved audiences, is set to spread holiday cheer this weekend by caroling at senior centers and children's hospitals across the South Bay.

“The most rewarding moment is definitely when we are caroling! When we perform shows, some residents aren’t able to watch as they may be bedridden,” Reina Subramanian, president of GIFT, told Patch. “However when we carol, we are able to go room to room and sing for these residents, who appreciate so much more as it’s around the holidays. I love seeing how happy they are that we took the time to perform for them.”

Founded in 2013, GIFT, which began as a small group of students performing for seniors in care facilities, has grown significantly, performing plays, musicals, and original works at healthcare centers across the Bay Area and even in New Orleans.

This season they visited Cedar Crest in Sunnyvale, Campbell village in Campbell, Carlton Senior Living in San Jose, Loma County Senior Living in Morgan Hill, CHONC Pediatric hospital in Campbell, Sunrise Cupertino in Cupertino, Saratoga Retirement in Saratoga, the Villas at Saratoga in Saratoga, Paradise Villa in Santa Cruz, and Sunshine Villa Merrill Gardens in Santa Cruz.

“We have a lot of challenges with outreach,” Subramanian told Patch. “A lot of care facilities might not respond to us or are hesitant to have teenagers perform and potentially bring in diseases that can harm their residents, [which] has become a bigger issue after the pandemic. It also takes a lot of time and care to find shows that can accommodate a small cast and resonate with the residents we perform for, which is an issue as the years go on and we start running out of shows we can perform.”

The group’s mission is two-fold: to Bring Live Theater to Every Audience—especially those who cannot easily travel to traditional theaters—and to Develop Young Artists and Leaders by creating opportunities in directing, producing, stage management, and performance.

Subramanian leads the group as they embody their commitment to community impact. The organization was originally founded by Jack McCarthy in January 2013 after realizing the therapeutic potential of theater for seniors.

Since its inception, GIFT has made a real impact. Within its first year and a half, the group raised nearly $12,000 for various charity projects, homeless causes, and children's hospitals. Even during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, GIFT adapted by producing a 1947-style radio play series on YouTube, keeping the theatrical spirit alive for teens and audiences. Most recently, in 2025, the team launched a theater workshop series to help teens build skills in all aspects of the art and industry.

Residents interested in learning more about GIFT’s mission, past performances, and upcoming projects can visit their website at theatergift.org.