Recently in the print press:
This LA Times special feature with high praise for the Glendale Pops and Artistic Director Matt Catingub.

This Glendale News-Press letter to the editor from Matt Catingub urging support for the Alex Theatre and its excellent programming. “The arts are what make a great city a great city.”

The Alex is the centerpiece of Glendale’s downtown district, providing cultural resources, creating jobs, and attracting spending by patrons, which benefits local restaurants and retailers.

Glendale Arts currently operates the Alex under an agreement in effect through mid-2015. This may delay the forced sale of the Alex, but will not prevent it. The Alex Theatre could be saved as a “carve-out” project through language that allows cities to retain public facilities built with redevelopment money.

A strong message from the community will make a difference, and go a long way in Sacramento. Write to state representatives, send letters to the editor in the Glendale News Press, and spread the word to others to do the same.

Check out the Glendale Arts fact sheet about the Alex Theatre, Glendale Arts programs and its many events and supporters.

Send messages to elected representatives now!
Local representatives contact information:

Senator Carol Liu – 21st District
(818) 409-0400
Senator.Liu@senate.ca.gov

Assemblymember Mike Gatto – 43rd District
(818) 558-3043
assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov

Assemblymember Anthony Portantino – 44th District
(626) 577-9944
assemblymember.portantino@assembly.ca.gov

Letters to the editor Glendale News Press
gnp@latimes.com

Glendale Arts ticket information and orders portal

We are enjoying every Glendale Pops concert immensely, and hoping the community will quickly realize what a gem this orchestra is and pack the Alex for every show, including the next one, This is Romance, featuring guest artist Kenny Loggins, February 10. Here’s what our resident expert just sent out in an email:

“The Glendale Pops Orchestra performs at the Alex Theater next on February 10. Led by Matt Catingub, it is one of the finest orchestras in the nation. Matt’s arrangements are sparkling, and when he’s not conducting them he’s singing a solo or taking a big saxophone cadenza. Top-notch guest musicians, like jazz pianist David Benoit, are featured at every concert. Matt handpicks the top studio musicians in LA for the orchestra (one standout is trumpeter Wayne Bergeron, whose stratospheric high notes soar over the band).

Go to the Glendale Pops Orchestra concert on February 10 at the Alex Theatre. You won’t be disappointed. I hope you give them the support I know they deserve.”

I received this email the same day Glendale and other cities in California confronted the news reported in the Glendale News-Press: “the state could try to pry away about nine properties the redevelopment agency transferred to the city, including the Alex Theatre. If the state got a hold of them, city officials fear quick liquidation.”

Glendale Arts manages The Alex Theatre, and the Glendale Pops Orchestra. In addition to Matt Catingub and his stellar musicians, it brings other top-rated orchestras, shows, and international groups to the Alex regularly. It supports local and aspiring artists and talent and partners with our school district, the entertainment industry, and other nonprofits and community leaders to support worthy causes.

Glendale Arts General Manager Elissa Glickman writes on her Facebook page: “If the state of California does choose to take and sell the Alex Theatre, it would not only impact the hundreds of downtown restaurants and businesses who rely on the Alex’s 150,000+ patrons to increase sales, but also our more than 30 full and part time employees and the hundreds of non-profit community, education and arts organizations that perform at the Theatre every year.”

Support our local arts organization and its stewardship of the Alex Theatre: speak out, write legislators, and fill theatre seats to keep excellent arts programming and resources in Glendale.

These incredible musicians, led by Matt Catingub, provide great entertainment, top-flight guest stars, and truly enjoyable shows. Smooth Jazz Magazine’s review calls the orchestra “full service entertainment. It has all the friendliness suggested by the idea of ‘Pops’ with music that includes the Great American Songbook, Swing, Big Band, The Movies, and Latin, even including Christmas.” A bonus appearance by the Glendale Pops Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Glendale.

HolidayPop show tickets make great gifts for family, friends, employees, and colleagues. Everyone can enjoy a great concert. Tickets don’t require space on a shelf, they don’t need to be kept beyond the show date, and they don’t have to fit or be the right color. Another advantage: they are a great way to express support and keep excellent arts programming right here in Glendale.

Get tickets to the concert, give tickets to the concert, go to the concert. Get the holiday season off to a great start. Put the Alex Theatre box office, or the Glendale Arts website, on your shopping itinerary this weekend!

Christmas is just weeks away; so is another chance to hear this great orchestra with stellar guest artists and the Glendale Pops Youth Chorus. Get tickets now to HolidayPop, set for Friday, December 9, 8 p.m. at The Alex Theatre.

GCC is hosting the Emmy-winning writer, producer, actor, and former GCC student in “THE SECOND RETURN OF DAN HARMON RETURNS: HOW GCC LAUNCHED A TV SHOW,” Monday, October 3, 7:30 p.m. in Kreider Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m.

The event is free and open to staff, students and faculty. The public is welcome, but parking is extremely limited as evening classes are ongoing.

Footloose, Stepping Stones Players production, showing at Hoover Auditorium, 651 Glenwood Road in Glendale. Last weekend of shows this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Great musical, great dancing, cameo appearances by local elected officials, and an opportunity to support local arts programming. Get out and see this show!

Bossa Nova on Brand, a FREE Glendale Pops Orchestra concert Thursday at 8 p.m. on The Green at The Americana at Brand. Pops season ticket holders get VIP seating. This is a world-class orchestra with many top studio musicians, led by the multi-talented Matt Catingub.

Business Women’s Healthcare Conference, at the Glendale Hilton, 100 W. Glenoaks Blvd., starting at 8 a.m. Monday, September 26, features FREE morning workshops on job search, contracting opportunities, career development, work-life balance, and more. Luncheon following honors Business Life 2011 Women Achievers of the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys. Luncheon tickets $50/table sponsorships $1000, contact women@businesslife.com.

Sellabration, National Charity League, Inc. Glendale Chapter’s gigantic community-wide rummage sale, Saturday, October 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pacific Park Community Center, 501 S. Pacific Ave., Glendale. Donations from over 140 families, treasures, new merchandise, kids clothing, free admission. Cash only sales. Proceeds benefit Twelve Oaks Lodge, a nonprofit retirement home in La Crescenta.

Check out the Sunroom Desk calendar for more events, including tonight’s Glendale Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase Mixer, and a League of Women Voters of Glendale/Burbank panel discussion, Thursday – Friends of the Glendale Library author event and Women’s Civic League luncheon with guest speaker Sheriff Lee Baca, Saturday – Community-Wide Gardening Workshop, and more.