College actors produce drama with adult themes
JOYCE RUDOLPH
Glendale Community College drama students are flexing their creative
muscles with the production “What’s Wrong with Angry?,” written by
Patrick Wilde.
The play is about a young gay man, Steven Carter, attending
English Martyrs School for Boys and harboring feelings for the
unattainable school soccer superstar John Westhead. His story is
filled with laughter, music as well as anger.
Ken Gray is the director of the Theatre Arts Department
production. The cast features Karl Simon Vahlne as Steven. Now a
Glendale resident, Vahlne hails from Sweden. The role of John is
played by Richard Sharrah of Glendale. He comes to GCC from Oklahoma.
Dad is portrayed by Rich Scolari of Tujunga, who is also the sound
designer and assistant director. Mum is played by Christy Cassel of
Montrose. She has appeared on TV shows, such as “Seinfeld,” “Melrose
Place” and “Baywatch,” and in movies that include “As Good as it
Gets” and “Boogie Nights.”
Other cast member are Glendale residents Raymond Lee, Ben
Magallanes Jr., Chris Narimani, Matt Waters and Alex Wooten. Jennifer
Ullrich of La Crescenta, Brian Dembkoski of Los Angeles and Burbank
residents Jennifer Bordwell, Steve Ramos and Dante Rizzo are also in
the cast.
Reservations are strongly recommended due to limited seating in
the college auditorium Studio Theatre. There is no late seating.
Tickets are $10, $6 for students and seniors, and $4 each for groups
of 10 or more. For reservations, call 240-1000, ext. 5618. This
production contains adult language and subject matter. Performances
are at 8 tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday. Additional performances are at 8
p.m. Thursday through Nov. 13, at 2 p.m. Nov. 14 and at 8 p.m. Nov.
18, 19 and 20.
SPECIAL EVENTS
DESCANSO BLOOMS
JAPANESE FESTIVAL
The grace and style of the Far East will be honored during the
Japanese Garden Festival today and Sunday at Descanso Gardens.
A suiseki (water stone) exhibit and an annual chrysanthemum show
and sale will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. A family Taiko
drumming classes will be offered from 2 to 2:45 p.m. and from 3 to
3:45 p.m. today on the Main Lawn. Registration will open at 10:30
a.m. today.
Japanese Dancers from the school of Madam Fujima Kansuma will
perform traditional dances at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Descanso Gardens is at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge
For admission information, call 949-4200 or visit
www.DescansoGardens.org.
VERDUGO HILLS ART
GROUP HAS SHOW
Lorraine Ruby received the Best of Show for her watercolor
“Mission School” in the Verdugo Hills Art Assn.’s Juried Exhibition
of Member Works Fall 2004. The show is in the John L. Clarke Room of
the La Canada County Library, 4540 Oakwood in La Canada Flintridge.
Other winners are first place, Open Division: Albert Gmuer, “Bus
Trip, Guatemala,” watercolor; first place, Premier: John Parshall,
“Verdugo Adobe,” watercolor; first place, Honors: Gloria G. Clark,
“Colorado Autumn,” oil; first place, Abstract: Sandra Rooney, “Ajanta
Cave Secrets,” mixed media; first place, Photography: Jana Bitterman,
“Shades of Purple,” photo.
The juror was Charles Borman, owner of Village Square Gallery in
Montrose. Entries will be displayed through Nov. 27.
CONCERT ASSOCIATION
OFFERS WESTERN MUSIC
Glendale Community Concert Assn. will present Cowboy Envy at 2:30
p.m. Sunday at Glendale High School, 1440 E. Broadway.
This ensemble performs Western music from the 1930s and ‘40s
drawing from their repertories of such famous Western stars as Roy
Rogers, Sons of the Pioneers and Gene Autry. For tickets, call
248-4080.
ON STAGE
FALCON OFFERS ‘WRONG
TURN AT LUNGFISH’
The Falcon Theatre is producing “Wrong Turn at Lungfish,” written
by Garry Marshall and Lowell Ganz, directed by Garry Marshall and
starring Emmy Award-winner Hector Elizondo.
An elitist and irascible college dean (Hector Elizondo) has
suddenly gone blind. His only enjoyment comes from tormenting his
student nurse (Joanna Canton) until he is assigned Anita Merendino
(Ana Ortiz) to read to him. She is a young blue collar girl, both
sexy and manipulative, with a jealous boyfriend (Jason Gedrick). In
this poignant comedy our intellectual odd couple soon finds that
within each other lies the missing link in their own personal
evolution.
Performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 4 p.m.
Sundays until Nov. 14. Tickets range from $30 to 37.50. For
reservations, call 955-8101. The Falcon Theatre is at 4252 Riverside
Drive, in Burbank.
ALLIANCE REPERTORY
PRODUCING ‘SPEC’
Alliance Repertory Company is presenting “spec,” written by Tom
Grimes, and directed by Scott Campbell, through Nov. 14 at the
Alliance Theatre in Burbank.
Disillu- sioned by his choices in life, including his successful
career as a lawyer, Al is moving into the film business and stakes
his entire future on the dream of one day directing a great
Spielberg-ian epic. He convinces his young writing protege, Mike, to
write a “spec” script, “VIRUS,” a can’t-miss formulaic
horror/thriller. But, Al instead becomes positioned to direct
something bigger -- a war epic with major funding and logistical
support beyond his wildest dreams.
Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 7 p.m. Sundays.
Tickets are $20. For reservations, call (800) 595-4849. The theater
is at 3204 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank.
COLONY MUSICAL ‘GRAND HOTEL’
The musical “Grand Hotel” continues tonight at the Colony Theatre
in Burbank.
It is 1928 in Berlin, Germany. What schemes and dreams lie behind
each of the doors of Europe’s most opulent and extravagant hotels --
at one of history’s most dangerous and thrilling times? There’s the
fading, still-beautiful Prima Ballerina, the charming young Baron who
is out of money and riding on his looks, the ambitious Hollywood
hopeful, the mortally ill bookkeeper and others. All reveal their
lifelong desires and passions through music and dance in this
production directed by Peter Schneider.
The book is by Luther Davis with music and lyrics by Robert Wright
and George Forrest. Additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston.
Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m.
Sundays through Nov. 14. An added performance is at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Tickets range from $30 to $40 with student and senior discounts
available. For reservations, call 558-7000. The Colony Theatre makes
its home at the Burbank Center Stage, 555 N. Third St., Burbank.
ACTION REACTION PERFORMING ‘SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL’
The Action Reaction Theater Company of Glendale is presenting the
final performances of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s comedy, “School for
Scandal,” this weekend at the Verdugo Woodlands Dads’ Club in
Glendale.
The company was selected by the Jane Austen Society of North
America to produce the play as part of its national convention, which
is being held in Los Angeles this year.
“School for Scandal” was first produced in London, England in
1780. It pokes fun at the catty, gossipy behavior of English
aristocrats. The current production is directed by Carolee Shoemaker
and produced by Kathy Pearson.
Performances are at 8 tonight and 7 p.m. Sunday. The theater is at
1728 Canada Blvd., Glendale. Tickets are $15, $10 for seniors and
students. Group rates are available. For reservations, call 786-1045.
‘SLEEPY HOLLOW’
HAUNTS KIDS AT FALCON
Lori Marshall and Joseph Leo Bwarie scare up a new version of “The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow” at 1 p.m. today at the Falcon Theatre in
Burbank.
Bwarie directs this special Halloween treat that takes place one
stormy night in a small New England town. Four kids dressed as a mad
scientist, a pretty princess, a quirky quarterback and a wacky witch
wind up at a Halloween party. The party is flipped upside-down when
they stumble upon a dusty book of ghost stories.
Performances are at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays
through Nov. 14. Tickets are $12, $10 for children 12 and under. The
Falcon Theatre is at 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank. For reservations,
call 955-8101.
A NOISE WITHIN
PERFORMING THE CLASSICS
A Noise Within’s production “A Flea in Her Ear” is continuing at
the theater company’s home in Glendale. Written by Georges Feydeau
(1862-1921), and translated by Barnett Shaw, this French farce is
about 1930s Paris and is filled with jealousies, misunderstandings
and catastrophe.
Several characters, including a jealous Spaniard, a saucy maid and
a drunken Englishman, amid others, come together one fateful night in
this classic romp exposing the indiscreet charms of the Bourgeoisie.
The play runs in repertory through Dec. 1 with Harold Pinter’s
“The Homecoming” and Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Resident Director Sabin Epstein, directs “The Homecoming.” When
the prodigal son returns to his birthplace, his new wife in tow,
language becomes the menacing weapon of choice. The wife’s presence
rekindles long dormant and deadly rivalries. Not just words, but
pauses, are deafening in this production. It continues through Dec.
5.
Passionate lovers, ham-handed actors and discordant spirits of the
fairy world cross paths in a moon-drenched wood and discover the
transformative power of love in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It is
directed by artistic co-directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez
Elliott. It continues through Dec. 3.
Tickets for regular performances range from $20 to $40. For
reservations, call 240-0910, ext. 1. The company performs at the
former Masonic Temple, 234 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale.
ART EXHIBIT
NATURE IS ALL
AROUND BODDY HOUSE
Four artists are exhibiting their impressions of nature this month
at Descanso Gardens’ Boddy House Gallery in La Canada Flintridge.
Frank Lennartz brings his impressionist oil paintings of the
California landscape. Linda Fielder sees nature at its colorful best
and captures that vision in watercolor. Chris Hogan shows dramatic
gourd art while Miriam Balcazar exhibits “Tree Evolution,” a
collection of high-and low-fire ceramic tree sculptures.
This exhibit continues through Nov. 28. Open from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. daily, the gallery is the ground floor of the 22-room Boddy
House, former home of Descanso founder E. Manchester Boddy. Admission
to the gallery is free with gardens admission.
Descanso Gardens is at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge.
The gardens are open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Parking is free.
Admission fees are $6; $4 for seniors and students; $1.50 for
children 5 to 12, and free for members and children 5 and younger.
For information call 949-4200 or visit www.descansogardens.org.
ATTRACTIONS
SKATING IS COOL FUN AT PICKWICK ARENA
Pickwick Ice Skating Arena, 1001 Riverside Drive in Burbank, has
public skating, figure skating and ice-hockey lessons. It is also
available for private parties. Public sessions are from 2:30 to 4:30
p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 8 to 10 p.m. Saturdays; 1:15 to 5:30 p.m.
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 8:20 to 9:50 p.m. Wednesdays.
Admission is $10, $9 for 17 and younger, including skate rentals. If
you have your own skates, it’s $3 less. Discounts offered to groups
of 10 or more at $7 each, all ages. For information, call 846-0035.
EQUESTRIAN CENTER GREAT FOR HORSING AROUND
The Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive in Burbank,
has horse events throughout the year but also rents out the animals
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Horse rentals are $20 for one hour, $30
for 1 1/2 hours, and $35 for two hours, all with a $15 deposit, cash only. Private hour-long lessons are $35.
Private parties can take night rides or, for the summer only,
sunset barbecue rides. The sunset rides are also open to the public.
To horse around, call 840-8401, or for general information about the
center, call 840-9063.
MOONLIGHT ROLLERWAY IS THE PLACE TO SKATE
Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale offers skating for children and
adults throughout the week. Admission ranges from $4.50 to $6.75.
There is a $2 skate rental fee or skaters can bring their own in-line
or regular skates.
There is a session for children 12 and younger and their parents
from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
Public sessions are from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and
1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Adult Disco Night for those 18
and older is from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Monday. Old-timers Night with live
organ music is from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesdays.
Skaters receive a discount on the public session from 8 to 10:30
p.m. Wednesdays. Adult admission is $5 with $2 skate rental. The rink
is reserved for private parties Thursday.
Moonlight is at 5110 San Fernando Road in Glendale. For more
information, call 241-3630.
TALK TO THE ANIMALS AT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO
The L.A. Zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is
$10, $7 for seniors 62 and older, $5 for kids 2 to 12 and free for
kids younger than 2. Parking is free and strollers and wheelchairs
are available to rent. The zoo is at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles.
For information, call (323) 644-6400. .
MUSEUMS
HOWARD MUSEUM HAS
HISTORY OF BURBANK
The Burbank Historical Society’s Gordon R. Howard Museum Complex
features exhibits of early Burbank.
There are extensive collections of vintage vehicles, costumes,
dolls, cameras and special section showing the history of Lockheed,
and exhibits on Disney and Warner Bros. studios.
Hours are from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Admission is free, but donations are accepted. The complex is at
1015 W. Olive Ave., Burbank. Parking is available at George Izay Park
lot off Clark Avenue. For more information, call 841-6333.
THE DOCTORS’ HOUSE
FEATURES GLENDALE HISTORY
The Doctors’ House, tucked inside Brand Park in Glendale, is a
Victorian home in Queen Anne Eastlake-style open to the public from 2
to 4 p.m. Sundays unless it’s a holiday or it’s raining. Built in the
1880s by real-estate entrepreneur E.T. Byram, the house has been
restored.
Donations are $1 for adults over 16. Brand Park is at 1601 W.
Mountain St., Glendale. For more information, all 242-4290.
BOLTON HALL FEATURES
EARLY SUNLAND, TUJUNGA
Bolton Hall Museum in Tujunga, run by the Little Landers
Historical Society, features historical displays relating to the
Sunland and Tujunga areas. It is open to the public at 1 p.m.
Tuesdays and Sundays. Admission is free. The museum is at 10110
Commerce Ave., Tujunga.
For information, call 352-3420.
LOOKING BACK AT THE
LANTERMAN HOUSE
The Lanterman House, owned by the city of La Canada Flintridge, is
operated by the Lanterman Historical Museum Foundation and is open to
the public from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and the first and
third Sundays of the month.
The house was built in 1914 by the founding family of La Canada
Flintridge. The city took ownership in 1987, and public tours have
been offered since 1995.
For information, call 790-1421.
BURBANK MUSEUM
DEDICATED TO AVIATION
Burbank Aviation Museum is dedicated to the memory of the men and
women who made aviation history in the San Fernando Valley.
Located at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Cemetery, artifacts are
displayed in the Portal of the Folded Wings-Shrine to Aviation, an
ornate domed building that is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. Visitors can enter on Valhalla Boulevard behind
Fry’s Electronics, off Hollywood Way or use the main entrance at
10621 Victory Blvd.
The Portal building is accessible from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily for
viewing the cenotaphs and burial stones.
The aviation displays can be viewed from noon to 4 p.m. on
Sundays. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. For more
information, call 845-3300.
DANCING
GO TO GIGGLES FOR SALSA, LATIN HOUSE
Giggles night club, 215 N. Brand Blvd. in Glendale, is offering a
mixture of dancing and salsa lessons Fridays.
Salsa and merengue dancing are offered on the lower level Friday
and Saturday. On the main floor, Spanish rock and pop are played
Friday, while Latin house, trance and Top 40 are offered Saturday.
There is a strict dress code. The club is open 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Friday and Saturday. Admission is $12 both nights. For information,
call 500-7800.
DISC JOCKEY PLAYS
TOP 40 MUSIC AT THE MIX
The Mix, at 2612 Honolulu Ave. in Montrose, offers Top 40 music
played by a disc jockey from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesdays through
Saturdays. There is a dance contest every Thursday night. There are
also 12 pool tables and a pool league, dart boards and a darts
league, and the occasional live music band. The cover charge is $3 on
the weekends and $3 on Tuesdays. For information, call 248-3040.
* If you have news releases for the 48 Hours column, please call
JOYCE RUDOLPH at 637-3241 or e-mail joyce.rudolph@latimes.com or fax
them to 241-1975.