“All About Santa,” musical matinee series, through December 18, Birthday, Holiday and Tea Parties, hosted by one of the gaily costumed Playhouse actors are available in conjunction with the play for every performance. (310) 394-9779 x2. Santa Monica Playhouse is located, 1211 4th Street, (310) 394-9779 ext. 2.
Betty’s Summer Vacation, by Christopher Durang, a Los Angeles premiere, through Nov. 27, The Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave. Venice.
Blue Dahlia, a stage adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s classic film noir screenplay. Thru December 18. Performances are Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Pacific Resident Theatre, 705 1/2 Venice Blvd. in Venice. Tickets are $20-$27, (310) 822-8392.
Frozen, by Bryony Lavery, directed by Paul Wager, through November 27, Ark Theatre, 1647 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Happy End, Pacific Resident Theatre, written by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Pacific Resident Theatre, 703 Venice Boulevard, (310) 822-8392.
Haywire! Through Sunday, December 4 at the art/works theatre, 6569 Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood (between Highland and Vine). (323) 960-7744 or visit www.plays411.com/haywire.
Laughter on the 23rd Floor, by Neil Simon, Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theatre, 5021 E. Anaheim Street, through November 26, $25, (562) 494-1014.
Lucid Sound begins a six week run, through Sunday, November 19. Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd. in Santa Monica. $20.00 ($15.00 for students, and seniors). (877/986-7336).
Puppetolio, a puppet variety show for ages 3 and up, Santa Monica Puppet and Magic Center, 1255 2nd St., runs indefinitely, (310) 656-0483.
Walter Rane Art Exhibit, Los Angeles Temple Visitors Center, 10777 Santa Monica Blvd.,West LA Twenty of Walter Rane’s most famous religious paintings will be on display until November 14. Hours: 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. daily. (310) 474-1549.
Wife Swappers, will through Saturday, November 19. Third Stage, 2811 W. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank. (818) 842-4755.
World Premiere of “J.O.B. The Hip-Hopera” explores eternal question: ‘Why do bad things happen to good people, yo?’ Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood. Through November 27. 6773 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood. (323) 960-4420 or go to www.sableandbatalion.com.
Thursday, November 10
Southern California Ecology Lecture at SMC, “Surviving on the Edge: Carnivore Ecology in Southern California,” 11:15 a.m. Science Lecture Hall 145, 1900 Pico Blvd. The lecture is free and open to the public. (310) 434-4003.
From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America, The Skirball Cultural Center, through February 12, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., (310) 440-4500.
Two Shakespearean Actors, presented by the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television’s Department of Theater, Little Theater, Macgowan Hall, through November 19, for ticket info, please call (310) 206-2101.
Jose Torres Tama’s The Cone of Uncertainty: New Orleans After Katrina, which chronicles his personal experiences before and after the natural storm of Katrina and the social storm that engulfed the city as the levees breached, through Saturday, November 12 at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 13 at 7:30 PM at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th Street, (310) 315-1459.
Guys and Dolls, produced by Samohi Theatre and The Santa Monica Civic Light Opera Humanities Center Theater, 601 Pico Blvd., (310) 458-5939.
Graciela Sacco, Sombras Del Sur Y Del Norte/Shadows from the South and the North, through December 24, Stephen Cohen Gallery, 7 – 9 p.m., (323) 937-5525 or visit www.stephencohengallery.com.
McReele, as part of the Play is the Thing Radio Series, Skirball Cultural Center on through November 13 at 4 p.m. 2701 N. Sepulveda Boulevard, $20.00 to $45.00. For reservations and information, call the L.A. Theatre Works Box Office at (310) 827-0889 or go to www.latw.org .
Friday, November 11
“Mars Returns,” a look at the planet as it returns to our skies closer than at any time in the last two years, feature show and guest lecture are at 8 p.m. Each is preceded by “The Night Sky Show” – which re-creates the night sky and provides the latest information on space exploration – at 7 p.m. John Drescher Planetarium, 1900 Pico Blvd. The guest lecture is in Science Lecture Hall 140. (310) 434-4223 or (310) 434-3000.
Charlie Don’t Cry – A solo portrait of Charles Manson, through November 19, $25.00 General Admission, Secret Rose Theatre, 11246 Magnolia Boulevard (One and one-half blocks west of Lankershim) in the NoHo Theatre & Arts District of North Hollywood.
Saturday, November 12
Los Angeles Interior Design & Antiques Show, also Sunday, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, (310) 455-2886.
Film and Media Business Seminar, California Lawyers for the Arts, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., UCLA School of Law, General $65, CLA/co-sponsors members $55Students & Seniors $30, Co-Sponsor/ CLA Member discount (October 31st) -$10.00Early Registration Discount -$10.00, Volume 2005 material /CD only $15.00California Lawyers for the Arts, 1641 18th Street, (310) 998-5590.
Kimberly Spaglia’s “Scend,” opening reception from 6 – 9, Sherry Frumkin Gallery, through December 24, (310) 397-7493.
Milton Rogovin’s “Working People / Family of Miners,” Gallery Luisotti, through January 7, Bergamot Station, (310) 453-0043.
25th Annual Festival of Jewish Artisans, also Sunday, November 13,
Temple Isaiah, (323) 653-4555, 10345 W. Pico Blvd.
The Shape of Space, a group show, through November 12, Arena 1, 3026 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, (310) 397-7456.
Sunday, November 13
The Big Red Naugahyde Booth (Or, Would-be Elks), an absurdist comedy The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. (310) 455-3723 or www.theatricum.com.