48 Hours

Joyce Rudolph

Angelic is the best way to describe the voice of Dale Kristien. The

Burbank soprano, best known for her portrayal of Christine Daae in Andrew

Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” returns to The Alex Theatre

Sunday for a benefit concert, A Holiday Cabaret.

The concert raises funds for LA’s BEST, a nationally respected after

school education, enrichment and recreation program focusing on children

with the greatest needs and fewest resources.

Kristien performed at the first benefit event at The Alex last year,

but this is the first time it is benefitting this charity, she says.

The event reunites many of the performers and those who worked behind

the scenes on L.A.’s “Phantom.” Margaret Irwin directs and shares

producer responsibilities with Karen Benjamin and D.C. Anderson.

Using a cabaret format, the show features several performers singing

two selections. Among those on the bill are George Ball, Amanda McBroom,

Stephen Applegate, Marie Cain, Alan Chapman and Anne Kerry Ford.

Kristien has a regular Christmas act she does with partner Bill

Hutton. Together they sing “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” Kristien performs a

solo on “O Holy Night” and Hutton finishes the segment with “Christmas

Time is Here.”

“O Holy Night” is one of Kristien’s favorite holiday carols.

“Because I love it. I’m a soprano and I like to sing high notes,” she

said “And because its Christmas and we love to sing at Christmas.”

Kristien and her cabaret friends learned about the LA’s BEST at a

fund-raising polo match hosted by William Shatner at the Los Angeles

Equestrian Center in Burbank. It was such a great charity, they decided

it would benefit from this year’s show.

LA’s BEST provides supervised after school education, enrichment and

recreation programs for children ages 5 to 12. The program reaches 29

elementary schools and 6,400 students. Recently the organization

announced plans to expand to 62 schools citywide by the end of the year.

Created in 1988, LA’s BEST is a partnership involving the city of L.A.,

the L.A. Unified School District and the private sector.

Tickets can be purchased at The Alex Theatre box office or by calling

Telecharge at (800) 233-3123. Tickets are $20. A special $50 ticket

package that includes a post-show reception with cast members and a

signed holiday CB may be purchased by calling (323) 651-1049. The Alex is

at 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.

SPECIAL EVENTS

“A Christmas Carol” at Glendale Centre Theatre

Glendale Centre Theatre is featuring “A Christmas Carol” Mondays

through Saturdays through Dec. 23. The theater is at 324 N. Orange St.,

Glendale. Tickets cost $15 to $20 and reservations can be made by calling

244-8481.

McGroarty Art Center has Holiday Open House

The annual Holiday Open House and Art Sale is planned from 10 a.m. to

5 p.m. today at the center, 7570 McGroarty Terrace in Tujunga. Admission

is free. There will be many gift items for sale including handicrafted

works like ceramics, jewelry, candles, art work, cards, Christmas

decorations and handpainted folk art. Class instructors will hold

demonstrations for pottery throwing.

For information, call 352-5285.

Glendale Symphony Orchestra performs Handel’s Sinfonia from ‘Messiah’

Glendale Symphony Orchestra will perform at 8 p.m. today at The Alex

Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Program is Handel’s Sinfonia from

“Messiah”, Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp K. 299 featuring soloists

Sheridon Stokes on flute and Marcia Dickstein on harp and Beethoven’s

Symphony No. 3 “Eroica.” The Glendale Community College Concert Singers

will entertain symphony patrons with a medley of holiday carols in The

Alex forecourt beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Tickets are from $15 to $45 and can be purchased at The Alex box

office or through Telecharge at (800) 233-3123.

Descanso Gardens hosts ‘Holiday on Parade’ festival

Descanso Gardens will be filled with the holiday spirit now until Dec.

12 as its presents its 40th annual holiday festival “Holiday on Parade.”

Highlights include a crafts bazaar, a wreath-making demonstration,

pinatas, decorated Christmas trees, holiday decorations, musical

entertainment, special displays in the Boddy House and visits with Santa.

During the holiday festival, a special buffet lunch and snacks will be

available at the Cafe Court next the Van de Kamp Hall. Hot cider, coffee

and freshly baked cookies will be for sale near the boddy House.

Admission to Descanso is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students

and $1 ages 5 to 12 and free for under 5. Parking is free. For

information, call 952-4401.

The Burbank Chorale spreads holiday cheer

A holiday concert is planned by The Burbank Chorale at 7 p.m. Sunday

at the Hall of Liberty, Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills, 6300

Forest Lawn Drive.

The group will sing selections from Handel’s “Messiah” and Bach’s

“Magnificat” as well as “O Holy Night,” and “Go Tell It On The Mountain.”

The program finale is a holiday carol sing-along. Admission is free.

College dance production features faculty, alumni

Ballet, jazz, modern, Latin and a rendition of “Footloose” are among

the features in the annual Faculty/Alumni Dance Production at Glendale

Community College at 8 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday in the campus

Mainstage Auditorium. The college is at 1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale.

Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis. Children under

5 will not be admitted. A raffle will be held during intermission on

Sunday to raise funds for the Glendale Reperatory Dance Theatre.

All the numbers in the show are choregraphed and performed by dance

alumni, faculty and students and the production is directed by GCC

professor, Lynn McMurrey, a Tujunga resident.

Holiday ceramics sale set at Barkley center

Works of more than 50 potters will be on display this weekend at the

Holiday Ceramics Sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday at the Roger Barkley Community Center, 4469 Chevy Chase Drive in

La Canada Flintridge.

There will be teapots, serving pieces, planters, sculpture, jewelry

and figurines in porcelain, stoneware and earthenware. Items will be

raku, saggar-fired and pit fired.

A portion of the proceeds help the Ceramics Department at the center.

For information, call 790-4353.

Towne Singers take audience down memory lane

The Towne Singers will perform “Memories of Christmas” a benefit

concert for The Roger Barkley Foundation at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the

Lanterman Auditorium, 4490 Cornishon Blvd., La Canada Flintridge. Tickets

are $10 with special rates for 10 or more. They can be purchased at Cal

Med East and the Roger Barkley Community Center, 1169 Chevy Chase Drive

and call (800) 518-7214.

* Items for the 48 Hours column may be faxed to Joyce Rudolph at

241-1975.