Rat Pack tribute reminder of famed comedy team

JOYCE RUDOLPH

You’ll remember the music. Who can forget the comedy? Refresh your

memory when “Direct from Vegas -- The Rat Pack” kicks off the Summer

Concert Series at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank.

The show pays tribute to the comedy team of Frank Sinatra (Gary

Corsello), Sammy Davis Jr. (Lonnie Parlor) and Dean Martin (Steve

Apple). Get ready for a heavy dose of nostalgia with this singing and

dancing group.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking. Concertgoers can bring

their own food and beverages, including wine and beer, or select food

and beverages from the Gordon Biersch concession stand. Coffee

favorites will also be offered by Priscilla’s Gourmet Coffee, Tea and

Gifts.

Tickets at the gate are $7, $4 for seniors and children 3 to 12.

Children 2 and younger admitted free. Parking is $5 per car. For more

information, call 525-3721 or visit www.starlightbowl.com.

Upcoming concerts are Bjorn Again -- The Abba Experience, July 18;

The Fab Four and Sol’RefleXion, (6:15 p.m. start time), July 25;

Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra, Aug. 1; Herman’s Hermits, starring

Peter Noone, with opening act The Answer, (6:15 p.m. start time),

Aug. 8; and Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries, Aug. 15.

SPECIAL EVENTS

CELTIC BAND

PERFORMS AT DESCANSO

The Celtic band, Banshee in the Kitchen, will perform a free

concert at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Under the Oaks Theater at Descanso

Gardens in La Canada Flintridge.

This open-air performance by a trio noted for instrumental

precision, is one of six Sunday afternoon stops in Descanso’s World

Music Tour. The concerts are free with Gardens admission.

Descanso Gardens is at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge.

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 younger

than 5. For more information, call 949-4200.

GAY MEN’S CHORUS

HONORS JUDY GARLAND

The Gay Men’s Chorus remembers a legend during its final concert

in its 25th anniversary season, titled “You Made Me Love You: the

Music of Judy Garland” at 8 tonight and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Alex

Theatre in Glendale.

Bruce Mayhall conducts the orchestra in this concert, honoring

Garland, whose death, some say, sparked the Stonewall riots, which

were one of the touchstones of the gay and lesbian civil-rights

movement.

The chorus will sing Garland’s classic hits as well as medleys

from her concerts and television appearances.

Tickets range from $15 to $70, with student, senior and group

discounts available. Those purchasing terrace and orchestra seats

will receive the chorus’ CD/DVD combination gift item and can attend

a post-event reception. For reservations, call (800) 636-7464 or

243-2539. The theater is at 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.

OPERA COMPANY

PRESENTS ‘LA TRAVIATA’

Casa Italiana Opera Company will present Venezuelan soprano Begona

Bilbao in “La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi on Sunday at St. Francis

Xavier Church in Burbank.

A gourmet dinner will be served at 2:30 p.m. followed by the opera

at 4:30 p.m. The performance, fully staged with orchestra and chorus,

and sung in Italian, marks the company’s debut at the church.

Bilbao will sing the part of Violetta Valery, the Lady of the

Camellias.

Company founder and General Director Mario Leonetti said proceeds

from the performance will benefit St. Francis.

Bilbao has appeared in Los Angeles recently in several leading

roles, including Manon, in Puccinni’s “Manon Lescaut,” and

Marguerite, in Gounod’s “Faust.”

She is joined by tenor Shawn Thuris, as Alfredo, and baritone Ken

Simms, as Germont. Abby Luttrell sings the role of Flora, with JC

Henning as Annina, Paul Junger as Gastone, William Bartlett as the

Baron, Robert Milewski as the Marquis, Jeff Bergquist as Dr. Grenvil

and Anton Riehl as Giuseppe.

The opera company presents six or more opera productions each year

in the Los Angeles area, as well as community events and private

parties. For tickets (advance sale only), call 559-8696. The church

is at 3801 Scott Road, Burbank.

‘GALILEO’ PERFORMED

IN BRAND PARK

Bertolt Brecht’s “Galileo” will be presented by the

Action/Reaction Theater Company for the fourth season of the

critically acclaimed Summer Theatre Project, a series of free outdoor

performances in Glendale’s Brand Park.

Going against the accepted theory of the time, astronomer Galileo

proved that the Earth revolves around the sun. Writing in everyday

language, instead of Latin, to make his discoveries available to the

public, Galileo was thrust to fame and power. Perceiving a threat to

its authority, the Catholic Church condemned his teachings as heresy,

subjected him to an inquisition, and kept him under house arrest

until his death.

Michael Holmes directs the production, and Kathy Pearson is

producing.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Sunday and July 16, 24 and 25. Brand

Park is at 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale. Guests are welcome to

bring picnics and refreshments. Admission is free; a donation of $10

is optional. For more information, call 786-1045.

ARTISTS’ WORK

UNVEILED IN HONORS SHOW

The Burbank Art Assn. is having its annual Honors Show at the

Burbank Media City Center Mall. An artists’ reception is from 2 to 4

p.m. today.

The awards are: Best of Show (Bill Lambuth-Swains Award) went to

Pong Apinyavat; Valley Moulding & Frame Award, Christina Ramos; M.

Graham & Co. Award, Gordon Fine; Autry National Center Award, Tony

Provenzano; Jerry’s Artarama Award, Jeanne Zinniker; Mandalay Fine

Arts Award, Charlotte Jones; Carter Sexton Award, Paul Lawson Taylor;

The Canvas Peddlar, Tony Provenzano; Windsor Newton Award, Pong

Apinyavat; Image-Ination/World Supply Award, Charlotte Rowland;

Continental Art Supplies award, Rene Bergeron; and Cheap Joe’s Art

Stuff Award, Ruth Boyd.

The gallery is on the first floor in store #138, near the center

of the mall at 201 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. Show hours are from 2

to 5 p.m. daily throughout July. Most of the paintings are for sale.

RESIDENT TAKES

BIG BAND ON THE ROAD

Toluca Lake resident Bobby Perino and his 11-piece orchestra will

play big-band music from the 1930 and ‘40s for dancing and listening

pleasure from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Alhambra American Legion.

Admission is $10. The hall is at 24 N. Stoneman Ave., Alhambra.

For more information, call (626) 458-2723.

ART EXHIBITS

NATURE IS THEME FOR

EXHIBIT AT DESCANSO

Four artists are showing their nature-themed art works at Descanso

Garden’s Boddy House Gallery in La Canada Flintridge.

Kendra Page returns with a collection of original oil paintings,

reproductions and notecards that focus on the California landscape.

Patricia Wiley exhibits watercolors of florals and still lifes in

bright, vibrant colors. She also will have greeting cards featuring

the florals of the original paintings.

John Drake returns to the gallery with one-of-a-kind ceramics and

clay bowls.

Chris Hogan is showing a new collection of gourds, grown in her

garden and decorated with all natural materials. The result is

reflective of pre-pottery vessels used for centuries for utility and

ceremony.

Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admittance is free

with garden admission. The exhibit continues through July.

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 younger than 5.

For more information, call 949-4200 or visit www.descanso

gardens.org.

* 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.