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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Three requests for Use of City Days at the Alex Theatre – Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, Hollywood Arab Film Festival, and an educational event by Healthspan
1. City Council motion to approve use of one annual City Day at the Alex Theatre for a performance of the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra on April 20, 2026
2. City Council motion to approve use of one annual City Day at the Alex Theatre for the Hollywood Arab Film Festival on April 15 or 16, 2026
3. City Council motion to approve use of one annual City Day at the Alex Theatre for the Healthspan Salon: Eternal Life — Myth, Science, or Reality? on May 6, 2026
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Consent Calendar
Approved for January 27, 2026 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Glendale’s Community Development Department is requesting use of three (3) of the City’s twelve annual rent-free dates at the Alex Theatre to sponsor a performance by the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, the Hollywood Arab Film Festival, and a cultural and educational event titled Eternal Life — Myth, Science, or Reality by Healthspan Productions. These requests, if approved, would allow for four (4) more remaining community sponsorship requests for the 2026 calendar year.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the proposed motions allowing utilization of three rent-free dates at the Alex Theatre for three organizations.
ANALYSIS
As part of the Management Agreement, Evnsong agreed to provide the City with twelve (12) 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 (12) dates. The facility rental fee is waived by the Theatre for these groups, but all other 24d
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costs associated with the use of the Theatre are to be paid for by the group requesting the sponsorship.
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. The Council may direct staff to set aside additional dates for anticipated events in addition to the three below:
1. Armenian Genocide Commemoration Event
2. Glendale Tech Week
3. Women’s Equity Day
The City Council has already approved the following shows for 2026:
1. Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural Association Choir
2. GUSD Armenian American Heritage Night Celebration
If the following three (3) sponsorships are approved, in addition to the three (3) dates of anticipated City use, and two (2) previously approved community events, there would be four (4) out of the twelve (12) dates remaining for 2026.
Los Angeles Youth Orchestra:
The orchestra 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 26th 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 orchestra presented at the Alex Theatre for the first time last year with sponsorship of the City and had 700 attendees. This year’s event is scheduled for April 20, 2026.
Hollywood Arab Film Festival
Hollywood Arab Film Festival is a nonprofit organization, recognized as a 501(c)(3), dedicated to showcasing Arab cinema and fostering cultural connections. They intend to celebrate their fifth edition in April 2026, coinciding with Arab Heritage Month, either April 15 or 16, 2026. Over the past four years, the festival has successfully held the festival in Glendale, after initially hosting it at Universal Studios. The events have garnered significant coverage in both Arab and American media.
Healthspan Productions:
This organization has been seeking ways to co-host with the City’s Economic Development Division for some time, and this presents a collaborative opportunity for exposure here in Glendale. The salon, entitled “AI, Longevity & the Quest for Immortality” will serve as the biggest salon to date — a theatrical-style evening 34d
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featuring: A main-stage, moderated “debate” with leading voices in: Radical life extension and transhumanism, Traditional bioethics and public health, AI safety and the singularity, and clinical and practical longevity science.
The organizers view this as a flagship cultural and thought-leadership event that positions Glendale and the Alex Theatre at the center of one of the most pressing conversations of our time: the intersection of technology, health, and the future of humanity.
Healthspan Productions recently produced the 2025 Healthspan Summit in West LA with over 600 attendees and strong demand from clinicians, wellness professionals, and longevity enthusiasts. Based on their existing audience, partner network, and the broad appeal of AI and the “quest for immortality,” there is a reasonable and conservative expectation of 700+ attendees for this one-night salon at the Alex. The group will also partner with a number of other LA organizations with large followings and invite globally recognized speakers to maximize attendance numbers.
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 the three community events.
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 a show 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
Do not approve utilization of City days at the Alex Theatre for one or more of the requests. 44d
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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