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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Use of City Days at the Alex Theatre: Los Angeles Youth Orchestra
1. Council motion to approve use of one of twelve annual City Days at the Alex Theatre for the 25th Anniversary Performance of the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Action Item
Approved for December 3, 2024 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Glendale’s Community Development Department is requesting use of one of the City’s twelve annual rent-free dates at the Alex Theatre to sponsor the 25th Anniversary Celebration and Performance of the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra. This request would represent the first community sponsorship request for the 2025 calendar year.
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RECOMMENDATION
Provide direction for utilization of one rent-free date at the Alex Theatre.
ANALYSIS
As part of the Management Agreement, SAS agreed to provide the City with twelve annual days of Theatre use, free of facility rental charge. In addition to events hosted by the City, the City may sponsor community groups, who meet the minimum criteria and receive City Council approval, by providing them use of one of these twelve dates. The facility rental fee is waived by the Theatre for these groups, but all other costs associated with the use of the Theatre are to be paid for by the group requesting the sponsorship.
This is the first request received by the City from a community group for the 2025 calendar year. Staff and the Alex anticipate the City will use the Theatre for reoccurring events and are cognizant not to bring forward community events which would surpass the number of allocated dates considering these anticipated date uses:
1. Armenian Genocide Commemoration Event
2. Glendale Tech Week
3. Women’s Equity Day
The Council may direct staff to set aside additional dates for anticipated events.
Staff received a request on October 3, 2024 from the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra (LAYO) for City sponsorship of the event.
The orchestra, which is celebrating their 25th year, draws the participation of over 100 students ages 8-18 from across Los Angeles County. LAYO proudly presents an intermediate orchestra and an advanced orchestra, both playing at a high level. The Los Angeles Youth Orchestra has performed in Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Ambassador Auditorium. Last summer, the orchestra performed to full houses in major concert halls in Vienna and Prague. Now in its 25th season, the orchestra continues its mission to advance the future of culture by developing and nurturing a passion for music in young musicians that will last their lifetimes.
The concert is anticipated to be hosted on Monday, March 31, 2025 at 7:30pm.
Fostering an environment of lifelong inclusion and interest, the orchestra alumni will join the current orchestras on stage in a program that will include Beethoven’s fifth symphony, a world premiere by Russell Steinberg, Ponchielli’s Dance of the Hours, and selections from Manuel De Falla’s Three Cornered Hat. The concert will also include a fundraiser-reception in honor of the 25th anniversary, to be held either in the forecourt entrance to the theater or up in the upstairs lobby.
While the orchestra has not presented at the Alex Theatre before, there is a reasonable assumption the concert would attract at least a 50% capacity, as LAYO’s two annual concerts generally attract an audience of 600-700.
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STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
Marketing for the event will take place through the organization’s large base, and all regular Alex Theatre ticket marketing outlets.
Details for those interested in requesting sponsorships can be found on the City website at: glendaleca.gov/government/departments/community-development/cdd- administration/alex-theatre-sponsorship
And the Alex Theatre website at: https://www.thealex.com/sponsorship
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no costs to the City of Glendale for sponsoring this event.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
CEQA does not apply to projects where the lead agency determines "with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment." CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code Regs.) § 15061(b)(3). Here, the action involves hosting two shows within a built environment. There is no possibility that the action of hosting continued shows within the Theatre may have a significant effect on the environment.
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Alternative 1. Approve utilization of one of twelve of the City days at the Alex Theatre, and provide direction to staff on other anticipated City uses.
Alternative 2. Do not approve utilization of one of twelve of the City days at the Alex Theatre.
Alternative 3. Consider another alternative not proposed by staff.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Bradley Calvert, Director of Community Development
Prepared by:
Tamar Sadd, Deputy Director of Community Development
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS