WEEKEND: ON BROADWAYThe “Show of the Month�...

WEEKEND: ON BROADWAY

The “Show of the Month� at Cal State Northridge this weekend is strictly for fans of American musical theater. Singers John Raitt, Ann Blyth, Constance Towers and Bill Hayes will perform some of the best tunes that Broadway and Hollywood have had to offer in the last 50 years.

After attending USC, Raitt, 79, started his career in light opera. He made his Broadway debut as Billy Bigelow in the original production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel� in 1945. He later starred in the original Broadway production of “Pajama Game.�

In regional theater productions over the years, the baritone has starred in many popular musicals, including “Annie Get Your Gun,� “Man of La Mancha,� “Fiddler on the Roof,� “Zorba,� “Shenandoah,� “South Pacific,� “Kiss Me Kate� and “Oklahoma.�

Classically trained as a singer, Blyth, 67, made her screen debut in 1944 in “Chip Off the Old Block,� a musical starring Donald O’Connor. The next year, she was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her role as Joan Crawford’s daughter in “Mildred Pierce.�

Her later films included the musicals “The Great Caruso,� “The Student Prince,� “Rose Marie� and “Kismet.� In more recent years, Blyth has performed in a cabaret act with former “Days of Our Lives� soap star Hayes.

Towers starred opposite Yul Brynner in the Broadway revival production of “The King and I� from 1976 to 1979. Her television credits include “The Rockford Files� “Fantasy Island,� “Murder, She Wrote,� “L.A. Law� and “MacGyver.� More recently, she has been a frequent singing partner with Raitt at concerts.

* John Raitt, Ann Blyth, Constance Towers and Bill Hayes perform the music of Broadway and Hollywood at 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at CSUN’s University Student Union Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St. Tickets are $25 with discounts available. Call (818) 785-8885.

CHORUS GIRLS

Members of the Sweet Adelines like to say that men invented barbershop harmony singing, but women perfected it. Valley residents have a chance to find out if they’re right.

The 134-voice Verdugo Hills Showtime Chorus will perform two concerts Saturday at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. The award-winning Verdugo Hills ensemble is one of about 700 Sweet Adeline choruses worldwide.

The Sweet Adelines are an international organization of over 30,000 women who sing the close four-part harmonies of barbershop singing, a style popular among male singers since the early 1900s. The Sweet Adelines was founded in 1945, dedicated to giving women a singing chance.

Saturday’s program will include performances by the full Verdugo Hills chorus, plus songs by several of its award-winning quartets. At a recent Sweet Adelines regional competition, four of Verdugo Hills’ quartets placed in the top five.

All of the women are volunteers. Some are former professional entertainers, but most are not; most, but not all, have some kind of musical training, says Verdugo Hills chorus President Pat Kahmann.

Kahmann says she first got involved in the group about 15 years ago, through a friend. She knew she was hooked after her first rehearsal.

“I love to sing,� she says. And “I have a fabulous support group and 133 friends that I would never have if I hadn’t found Sweet Adelines.�

* Verdugo Hills Showtime Chorus performs at 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Tickets are $10-$20. Call (800) 233-3123.

SHORT STUFF

CalArts will present the best of San Francisco’s fourth annual “Short Attention-Span Film and Video Festival,� on Friday at its Bijou Theatre. All the video and film pieces shown are less than two minutes long. Included are examples of horror, animation, comedy, political commentary, experimental and narrative genres. Some of the pieces, many of which were produced by California filmmakers, are said to fall into the category of weird and bizarre.

* “Short Attention-Span Film and Video Festival� will screen 8:30 p.m.-midnight Friday at the Bijou Theatre, CalArts, 24700 McBean Parkway, Santa Clarita. Tickets are $5 general, $3 students. Call (805) 253-7832.