‘Snow Queen’ is combination of musical efforts

Joyce Rudolph

CAPTION: Jackie Speas dances the role of The Princess while Michael

Forscch is The Prince in “The Snow Queen” this weekend at The Lanterman

Theatre in La Canada Flintridge.

“The Snow Queen,” a ballet based on the story by Hans Christian

Andersen, has been redefined through a special partnership between a

local dance company and composer.

Burbank native Randy Tobin has written, produced and played all the

musical instruments on the recording for this production staged at 7

tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday at The Lanterman Theatre in La Canada

Flintridge.

The second year this rendition of the ballet has been produced,

creators wanted to do something different with it this year. And it seems

to have evolved into quite a major theatrical work, Tobin says.

Those combining talents on the ballet are Erin Holt and her Dance Now

Academy of La Canada Flintridge, story adapter Marti Marhsall and Tobin.

The collaboration began in September 1998 with the premiere shows

slated for mid-December that same year. That left Tobin very little time

to create, arrange, orchestrate, perform, mix and master about 1 1/2

hours of music.

Amazingly the score, mostly orchestral with some specialyt instruemtns

and percussion, was delivered to Holt one compostion at a time over an

eight-week period. Tobin says he was so busy with the music, he didn’t

get to actually see the dances until three days before the opening

curtain.

When “The Snow Queen” premiered last December with two performances a

tthe 700-seat Lanterman Theatre, Tobin wasn’t sure what to expect. But

perhaps the multiple standing ovations that occurred were a clue that the

show had captured the imagination of everyone attending.

Tobin promises the same wonderful show with some revisions by the team

to the choregraphy, costumes, staging, lighting and music.

The Lanterman Theatre is at 4490 Cornishon Ave., in La Canada

Flintridge. Tickets are available at the door and cost $12 adults, $8

for students and lapsitters are free. For information, call 790-7924.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Gay Men’s Chorus present ‘Joys of the Season’ concert

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles will present “Joys of the Season”

today and Sunday at The Alex Theatre in Glendale.

The special guest performer is Broadway and television star Joanna

Gleason, who has won the Tony Award for Best Actress, and who is starring

in the Lifetime television series “Oh, Baby!”

Gleason will join the chorus at this concert, first for “The Christmas

Song,” in a production number with a humourous spin on the holidays in

Southern California, later for a version of “Our Favorite One” from the

musical “The Will Rogers Follies” with Rudolph and eight surprise guests,

and finally for “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” with sign-language

interpreter Jon Maher.

This concert opens the 21st season for the chorus, and features a mix

of international carols and traditional holiday repertoire, including one

of the hallmarks of the chorus’ holiday concert, the audiene sing-along

in which audience and chorus join together to sing everyone’s favorites.

Jon Bailey is artistic director and Bill Bowersock is producer.

Show times are 8 p.m. today and 3 p.m. Sunday. The Alex is at 216 N.

Brand Blvd., Glendale. Tickets are from $15 to $35 and can be reserved by

calling Telecharge 24 hours a day at (800) 233-3123. For information

about the chorus, call (800) MEN-SING.

Classical holiday concert scheduled at Hall of Liberty

The New Valley Symphony Orchestra will present a classical holiday

concert at 2 p.m. Sunday at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.

The program will feature symphonies from Vivaldi and Mozart as well as

a Christmas carol sing-along and a Hanukkah celebration.

The orchestra includes Glendale and Burbank residents. Constantine

Yerdigarov, Nazareth Gevorkian and Karen Moore, all from Glendale, play

the violin. Burbank residents playing are Frank Morton on keyboard and

Bob Crosby on the oboe and Richard Dean on percussion.

Admission is free. For information, call 342-8400.

Mount Olive Lutheran Church has Christmas Cantata

The Clarion Choir and the Bells of Joy of Mount Olive Lutheran Church

will present their Christmas Cantata “Walk in the Light” at 5 p.m. Sunday

in the sanctuary.

This musical celebration features traditional, favorite carls as well

as new compositions.

The program begins will a medley of carols played as a piano-organ

duet, with Lynn Nickel at the organ and Emilie Heltsley at the piano.

Emilie, a student at Los Angeles Lutheran High School, is also a charter

member of the Bells of Joy, beginning when she was 8. The Clarion Choir

is directed by Ray Hardesty. The handbell choir is directed by Diane

Heltsley. The community is invited.

The church is at 3561 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta.

‘Texas Night Before Christmas’ featured book reading

Booker T. Frog’s Storytime Diner features “Texas Night Before

Christmas” by James Rice at 11 a.m. today at Barnes @ Nobel, 731 N. San

Fernando Blvd. Burbank.

Candlelight Tour planned by Glendale Historical Society

The Glendale Historical Society members will be hosting “A

Candlelight Tour” at the Victorian Doctors’ House Museum from 6:30 to 9

tonight in Brand Park in Glendale.

The house is festively decorated with greenery and antique ornaments.

Yuletide music will be sung by Michael Kouri. There will be a bake and

ornament sale. No reservations are needed.

Brand Park is at 1601 W. Mountain Ave., Glendale. Tours are free, but

a $1 donation is suggested. The museum is closed on Christmas Day. For

information, call 242-4290.

THEATER ARTS

‘Twelfth Dog Night’ continues at Falcon Theatre

The Troubadour Theatre Company is producing “Twelfth Dog Night,” a

madcap combination of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” and the rock ‘n’ roll

of the ‘70s pop band 3 Dog Night, at The Falcon Theatre in Burbank.

Songs such as “Joy to the World,” “One is the Loneliest Number,” and

“Just an Old Fashioned Love Song,” help tell the tale of Shakespeare’s

star-crossed lovers and their entourage of comic buffoons.

The Falcon stage will be filled with slapstick comedy appropriate for

the whole family. There will be actors on stilts, trampolines and

scaffolds, clowns, musicians who sing and dance and trip and flip their

way through this tale.

Tickets are $12. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2

p.m. Sunday. The production continues through Jan. 16. Special Christmas

week matinees begin Dec. 27 and run through Dec. 30 all at 2 p.m. The

Falcon Theater is at 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank. There is free on-site

parking. For tickets, call 955-8101.

Las Vegas-style show at Beyond the Stars Palace

Beyond the Stars Palace in Glendale is offering a unique dinner

theater production with music and dancing from around the world

Wednesdays through Sundays.

“Russian Extreme” features 26 famed Russian dancers in colorful

costumes in addition to daring circus acts, slapstick magicians, clowns

and audience participation.

Music in the show, spans the gamut from techno, jazz, Latin, ambient,

modern Jewish dance and even an African number with the “I Dream of

Jeannie” theme laced throughout. Another favorite number include a modern

dance version of “Back in the USSR.”

For dinner, there is an array of appetizers such as smoked fish and

meats, caviar, sushi, dolma, liver pate, vegetarian dishes and salads.

Entrees include baked salmon in a pastry shell, Saltimbocca, Chicken

Kiev, Beef Stroganoff and others. A variety of desserts is offered and a

full bar. After the show, dancing to a live band continues until 2 a.m.

Prices range from $48 to $75, which covers the food, show, dancing,

tax and tip. Valet parking is available.

For reservations, call 500-0151. Beyond the Stars Palace is at 417 1/2

N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Shows start at 8 p.m. Wedneday through

Saturday. On Sunday, doors open at 5 p.m. The palace is taking

reservations for New Year’s Eve.

HOLIDAY CONTINUING EVENTS

Descanso Gardens has holiday festivities for the family

Artists and local interior designers have transformed the former

residence of Manchester Boddy at Descanso Gardens into a holiday showcase

house featuring more than 60 paintings, holiday decorations, furnishings

and seasonal decor.

Designers have created the rooms and chosen the paintings to go with

their designs. All the paintings for this exhibit, a total of 86, have

been painted by 34 artist members of the Descanso Gardens Guild.

The Boddy House is open seven days a week. This exhibit continues

through Jan. 2.

Visitors to Descanso Gardens can also see the 35-acre camellia forest,

reportedly the largest in North America.

Admission to Descano is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors, $1

for 5 to 12 and free for those under 5. For information, call 952-4401.

Glendale Centre Theatre staging ‘A Christmas Carol’

An uplifting, family version of “A Christmas Carol” is continuing

through Dec. 23 at Glendale Centre Theatre. The play runs Monday through

Saturday at 8 p.m. with 3 p.m. matinees on Saturdays. Tickets are $15.50

to $20. For reservations, call 244-8481. The theater is at 324 N. Orange

St., Glendale.