Alex Theatre

Dale Kristien will add sparkle to the Glendale Symphony Orchestra's `Christmas Celebration Gala' concert Friday at the Alex Theatre in Glendale.Glendale Symphony Orchestra will combine professional soloists and youth groups to present a magical musical holiday program on Friday at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. The star at the top of the orchestra's Christmas tree this year is singer Dale Kristien, who played Christine Daae during the 4 1/2 -year Los Angeles run of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera."

Tuba ChristmasThere are few better ways to let the neighborhood know the holiday season is here than to sound off with 200 tubas. Merry Tuba Christmas will resonate at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Alex Theatre, reuniting professional, amateur, young and old, but most of all, jovial tuba players for its 30th year. "Tuba players are generally a friendly lot," said Scott Wilkinson of Burbank, who has participated in the event for 20 years. "Many people think of them as jolly, so that's very appropriate for Christmas."

Robert Blechl MAGNOLIA PARK -- Seats are still available for two senior day trips from the Joslyn Adult Center. Adults 55 and older have the opportunity to visit The Alex Theatre in Glendale on July 29 to see the musical "Ain't Misbehavin'." The cost is $53. The bus leaves the center at 1 p.m. and returns at 6 p.m. Seniors can also see Pageant of the Masters Aug. 16 in Laguna Beach. The cost is $59. The bus departs at 3:30 p.m. and returns at midnight.

'Citizen Kane' next film society event GLENDALE -- The Alex Film Society will screen Orsen Welles' "Citizen Kane" at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at The Alex Theatre. Film historians Leonard Maltin and Phil Hardy at the 8 p.m. screening will debate why this film is on every "best" list. Also on the program is the John Nesbitt short subject "The Story That Couldn't Be Printed" and Walt Disney's 1941 Academy Award-winning cartoon, "Lend a Paw" with Pluto.

Janine Marnien Several area arts organizations are a little richer, thanks to awards from the California Arts Council. The council dispersed a total of $4 million in funds to 664 nonprofit organizations statewide, including The Victory Theatre and Robey Theatre Company in Burbank as well as The Alex Theatre and Pacific Serenades of Glendale. The news came as a surprise to several of the local recipients. "We're particularly grateful because of the huge cut," said Mark Carlson, artistic director at Pacific Serenade, a $4,000 recipient.

Joyce Rudolph, Enjoy! GLENDALE -- The Alex Theatre is introducing a new concept in entertainment this week with its Brown Bag Concert Series. Concerts will be from noon to 1 p.m. every Thursday in The Alex forecourt and will feature area musicians, actors, poets, dancers, magicians, choirs and school groups. The public is invited to bring their lunch and enjoy the entertainment. Beverage service will be available. Kicking off the series Thursday will be the Music Theatre of Southern California's cast of "Honk."

Annie Awards presented tonight GLENDALE -- The 30th annual Annie Awards Show, honoring outstanding animation, are at the Alex Theatre tonight. Presented by The International Animated Film Society, the event includes presenters Roy E. Disney, the chairman of Walt Disney Feature Animation and June Foray, legendary voice actress for Rocky the Flying Squirrel and many others. Tickets to the black tie event are $35 to $50, and are available at the door.

Fine to demonstrate watercolor painting BURBANK -- Gordon Fine will demonstrate a watercolor painting for the Burbank Art Assn. at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Burbank Board of Realtors, second floor, 2006 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. Guests can attend for a fee of $3. Fine is an active member of the Burbank Art Assn. He is a Marine Corps veteran, has a bachelor's degree from UCLA and master's degree from Long Beach State. He has taught art at Garfield, Fremont and Banning high schools, and was administrative vice principal at Birmingham High School and principal for Marshall High School.