SATURDAY: SteverinoSteve Allen is giving a benefit...

SATURDAY: Steverino

Steve Allen is giving a benefit performance Saturday night for the Glendale Symphony. Once more, we’re faced with the nagging question of just how to describe him.

Should we call him a composer, a comic, an author, a singer, an intellectual or a television personality?

Steve Allen the author has written 48 books while Steve Allen the musician-singer has recorded 40 albums. Allen the intellectual was given a lifetime achievement award last year by the World Skeptics Congress, a convention held by a media watchdog group, for “cultivating the public appreciation of critical thinking and science.”

On top of that, Steve Allen the historian was the creator of PBS’ “Meeting of the Minds” series. And Steve Allen the comic and raconteur was the original host of television’s “The Tonight Show” in 1954 as well as being a host or featured performer on other network prime-time shows too numerous to list.

Then there’s Steve Allen the songwriter. By his own estimate, Allen has written over 6,000 songs. It is unlikely that he will attempt to perform all of them Saturday evening. Nevertheless, Allen, accompanied by pianist Paul Smith, is sure to offer generous portions of his music and his comedy.

* “An Evening With Steve Allen” at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Star’s Theatre, 417 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. A benefit for the Glendale Symphony Orchestra, tickets are $35 and $62.50. Call (818) 500-8720.

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SUNDAY: Borscht Belt

On Sunday, without leaving the San Fernando Valley, locals can sample the entertainment fare of New York’s Catskill Mountains resorts, otherwise known as the Borscht Belt.

“Catskills, Bagels and Schmears” is the type of variety show that the Catskills are famous for. This tribute stars singer Jane Kean, who played Art Carney’s wife, Trixie, on Jackie Gleason’s “The Honeymooners.”

Also featured are comic Jackie Kahane, singer Stewart Rose, impressionist Frankie Pace, dancer Barbara Perry and concert pianist David Chan.

* “Catskills, Bagels and Schmears” at 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday at the CSUN Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. Tickets are $22.50. Call (818) 785-8885.

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MONDAY: Zing Go the Strings

For the third presentation of its 52nd season, the Music Guild will present the American String Quartet on Monday evening at Pierce College.

This veteran New York-based ensemble has been described as a “world beater” by The Times’ classical music writer Herbert Glass. Glass even described a quartet performance as “a comprehensive display of ensemble mastery, of passion, precision and interpretive smarts in near-perfect synchrony.”

In other words, this group is hot.

Monday’s program will include Mozart’s Quartet in B-Flat Major, K. 458, Wolf’s “Italian Serenade” and Beethoven’s Quartet in A Minor, Opus 132.

The remaining concerts of the 52nd Music Guild season will feature the Beethoven Piano Trio Vienna in February, the Artis String Quartet in March and the Dunsmuir Piano Quartet in April.

* The American String Quartet in concert at 8 p.m. Monday at Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills. Tickets are $22 general, $17 seniors, $7 students. Sponsored by the Music Guild. Call (310) 275-9040.