Glendale artist paints places that are great escapes
JOYCE RUDOLPH
A pink floral couch with fluffy pillows, the perfect perch for
reading or sipping tea, beckons the eye and mellows the soul. It’s
not a real room, but a painting by Glendale artist Susan Rios.
She also creates illustrations for gift books, such as “The Twelve
Teas of Celebrations” written by Emilie Barnes and published by
Harvest House Publishers.
“My work is about feeling good,” she said. “I’ll do a garden
because it’s a place where you feel real peaceful and serene. Most of
the people who purchase my art say they depict something that feels
familiar, some place they would want to go sit.”
She will sign her artwork and books she has illustrated from noon
to 4 p.m. today at Fiona’s Gifts and Antiques in Glendale.
When she met store owner Fiona Bayliss several years ago, they
discovered a common love for tea and she joined Bayliss’ tea group of
seven women. Rios incorporates tea in many of her paintings and
illustrations.
Recently featured in “Romantic Homes” magazine, Rios’ work is in
galleries throughout the country. She describes her style as a blend
of realism and impressionism, with gardens, interiors, children and
women as some favorite subjects.
“Art, to me, has to do something to you emotionally,” she said. “I
think my paintings are metaphors for states of mind. They tell
stories, with everyone able to bring a personal interpretation to the
image.”
Rios’ appearance is part of a holiday open house, scheduled from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fiona’s Gifts and Antiques, 3463 N. Verdugo Road,
Glendale.
SPECIAL EVENTS
‘STEEL MAGNOLIAS’ OPENS AT FALCON
A limited run of Robert Harling’s “Steel Magnolias” opens tonight
at The Falcon Theatre in Burbank.
Six women gather in a beauty parlor over the period of two years
to discuss everything from favorite recipes and local beauty queens
to births and deaths, they find strength within themselves and
comfort in each other’s company.
Performances are 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays at and 4 p.m.
Sundays through Nov. 22. Tickets for adults range from $25 to $37.50.
The Falcon Theatre is at 4252 Riverside Drive, in Burbank. For
reservations, call 955-8101.
A NOISE WITHIN OPENS ‘THE PRICE’
Arthur Miller’s “The Price,” produced by A Noise Within, opens
this weekend. It will run in rotating repertory with Moliere’s “The
Miser” and Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus” until Dec. 7.
In the attic of a New York brownstone, overstuffed with furniture
and memories, two brothers -- one a retiring cop, the other a
successful surgeon -- struggle to come to terms with the past.
Tickets range from $20 to $40 and can be reserved by calling
240-0910. A Noise Within makes its home at 234 S. Brand Blvd.,
Glendale.
THEATRE BANSHEE OPENS ‘BUTLER’
Joe Orton’s play “What the Butler Saw,” produced by Theatre
Banshee, opens tonight at the Gene Bua Theatre in Burbank. Sean
Branney of Glendale directs the production.
In a quaint British mental hospital, a string of ill-timed
seductions, ill-conceived exchanges of clothing and ill-minded
psychiatrists unleash a bizarre and hysterical chain of events. Sane
and insane, doctor and patient, and even law and order become
hopelessly confused in one of the great farces of modern theater.
Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays
through Dec. 7.
The theater is at 3435 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. Tickets are
$15, $12 for student, senior and group tickets. For reservations,
call 628-0688.
‘LULU’ BEGINS RUN AT LITTLE VICTORY
Vox Humana Productions’ is presenting “Lulu” at The Little Victory
Theatre in Burbank. It is directed by Jerry Kernion.
Veering crazily between sex farce and bleak tragedy, “Lulu” is
Peter Barnes’ carnival-tinged adaptation of Frank Wedekind’s
proto-modern classic of sex, obsession, deception and death.
Inhabiting the shadowy world of tents and trailers in a circus
carnival-on-the-edge, Lulu is a woman blessed and cursed with the
instinctive ability to appear the object of fantasy. But is her life
a sexual funhouse, or is every distorted reflection in her lovers’
eyes just a little further from the truth, and a little closer to
destruction?
Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 7 p.m. Sundays
through Nov. 23. Tickets are $20 and $15 for students, seniors and
union members. The theater is at 3326 W. Victory Blvd., Burbank. For
reservations, call (323) 769-5794.
JAMES INTVELD APPEARS AT CRAZY JACKS
Singer and actor James Intveld and his band will perform at 9:30
tonight at Crazy Jacks, 4311 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. Intveld has
played lead guitar for the Blasters, upright bass for Dwight Yoakam
and has appeared on stage with Bruce Springsteen, Rosie Flores and
Adam Ant.
For more information, call 845-1121.
OPEN HOUSE PLANNED AT CASA ADOBE DE SAN RAFAEL
Members of Glendale Beautiful are sponsoring an open house with
free tours from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Casa Adobe de San Rafael,
1330 Dorothy Drive, Glendale.
Glendale Beautiful members maintain the state historic land- mark,
which was built in 1870 for Tomas Sanchez, the first sheriff of L.A.
County. The adobe contains period furnishings and historic artifacts
and photographs. For more information, call 246-3634.
VEGA STRING QUARTET PERFORMS
The Vega String Quartet, bringing a modern sound to chamber music,
will perform a concert presented by the Glendale Community Concert
Assn. at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Glendale High School.
Tickets are $10. The high school is at 1440 E. Broadway, Glendale.
For information, call 248-4080.
DESCANSO HAS JAPANESE GARDEN FESTIVAL
Descanso Gardens will honor the grace and style of the Far East
during the Japanese Garden Festival and annual chrysan- themum show
and sale today and Sunday.
The chrysanthemum, Japan’s national flower, can grow to the size
of dinner plates. On display will be spider mums, pom pom mums,
cascading mums and more. Thirteen classes of mums will be featured
and the best of class will be displayed on a Table of Honor. Experts
from the sponsoring Descanso Chrysan- themum Society and its sister
group, the Glendale Chrysan- themum Society, will explain how to grow
these spectacular fall plants.
Kishin Daiko will give a concert on taiko drums at 1 p.m. today.
Japanese dancers from the school of Madam Fujima Kansuma will perform
at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Descanso Gardens is at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge.
For fee information, call 949-4200.
SPECIAL MONDAY EVENTS
THEATRE GUILD PRESENTS ‘DEAR WORLD’
The Musical Theatre Guild is producing the musical “Dear World” in
the second of a series of concert staged readings Monday at The Alex
Theatre in Glendale.
Jerry Herman’s rarely produced musical is based on Jean Giradoux’s
“The Madwoman of Chaillot.”
This production is part of the guild’s Broadway in Concert series.
The group is in its eighth season of performing rarely seen musicals.
“Dear World,” with text by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee,
tells the tale of a wise old woman who saves the earth from greedy
oil barons, all the while sheltering a pair of young lovers.
Directing the production is Glenn Casale, with musical direction
by John Sawoski.
Show time is 7:30 p.m. at The Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd.,
Glendale. Tickets are $35 and can be reserved by calling 243-2539.
ON STAGE
COMEDY NIGHT AT MARIE CALLENDER’S
Glendale now has a comedy club. Shows begin at 9 p.m. Fridays and
Saturdays at Marie Callender’s, 707 N. Pacific Ave., Glendale.
Tickets are $10 and can be reserved by calling 503-7388. Dinner
packages are available. There is a two-drink minimum. Doors open at
8:30 p.m.
FUNKY PUNKS RETURN TO THE FALCON
The Troubadour Theater Company’s Funky Punks are back at The
Falcon Theatre in Burbank with an all-new “Circus Spectacular!”.
The Troubies have transformed the Falcon Theatre stage into a
rollicking three-ring circus. Lion tamers, acrobats and jugglers
abound as these misfits of mayhem find any excuse to wreak havoc.
It’s 60 minutes of family entertainment.
Performances are 1 and 3 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays through
Nov. 23. Tickets are $12 and $10 for children 12 and younger. The
Falcon Theatre is at 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank. For reservations,
call 955-8101.
‘WISHING WELL’ IN WORLD PREMIERE AT VICTORY
The world premiere of Jon Klein’s comedy “Wishing Well” continues
at The Victory Theatre in Burbank.
It is directed by Maria Gobetti and co-produced by Tom Ormeny,
Robert E. Alschuler, Susan Alschuler and Gobetti.
It’s about a family of strong women and their men. Secrets define
their lives and shocks of discovery force them to change.
Show times are 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m.
Sundays through Nov. 16. Tickets range from $22 to 24. The Victory is
at 3326 W. Victory Blvd., Burbank. For reservations, call 841-5421.
‘A FEW GOOD MEN’ AT THIRD STAGE
Aaron Sorkin’s military court- room drama, “A Few Good Men,”
continues in Los Angeles tonight at the Third Stage in Burbank.
The play is directed by David Blanchard, who also is playing the
role of Lt. Jonathan Kendrick. Co-producing the play are Birdman and
Old Country Productions. Before the film, the play was on Broadway
and even though it went on national tour, it was never produced in
Los Angeles.
Show times are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays until Nov. 22.
Tickets are $20, $15 for students and seniors. The theater is at
2811 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. For reservations, call 842-4755.
REALLY SPONTANEOUS GROUP APPEARING
The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company continues its
improvisational shows at 7 p.m. Sundays at the Third Stage, 2811 W.
Magnolia Blvd., Burbank.
Host actors Lynsey Bartilson and Patrick Renna are continuing with
the troupe through Nov. 2. Bartilson appears as Lily Finnerty on WB
Channel’s “Grounded for Life.” Renna started his film career playing
Hamilton Porter in “The Sandlot,” and since then has appeared in more
than 20 feature films and many TV series like “Judging Amy.”
Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by calling (323) 969-4991.
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JOYCE RUDOLPH at 637-3241 or e-mail joyce.rudolph@latimes.com or fax
them to 241-1975.