LAST CHANCE
A Rare Bird, solo exhibit by Carol Powell, inspired by her volunteer work in bird rescue, through July 8, Bleicher/Golightly Gallery, 1431 Ocean Avenue, 310.451.9983, bgartdealings.com
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, through July 10, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., Theatre Palisade’s Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Drive, Pacific Palisades, $22, $24 on Saturdays and opening night, 310.454.1970, theatrepalisades.org
THIS WEEK
Friday July 8
An Evening of New Work: Writing, Music Performance, by poet Karen Karslyan, performer and author Anahid Aramouni Keshishian, and singer/songwriter Soseh Keshishyan, $7, 7:30 p.m., Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Boulevard, 310.822.3006, beyondbaroque.org
Messenger at Mercury, special feature show which takes a look at NASA’s exciting new mission to the planet that is closest to the sun. New and high-resolution images of the mysterious planet will be examined, 8 p.m., preceded by “The Night Sky Show” at 7 p.m., which re-creates the night sky, $5 or $9 for both shows, John Drescher Planetarium, 1900 Pico Boulevard, 310.434.3005, smc.edu/eventsinfo
Lynne Bronstein, reads her poetry, also open reading, 8:30 p.m., free, Rapp Saloon, 1436 2nd Street, rappsaloon.com
All Join In, part of the Santa Monica Playhouse’s Free Festival of Theatre, a delightful, interactive a fairytale journey that includes songs and scenes from such classic Playhouse family theatre stories as Cinderella, Alice and the Wonderful Tea Party, Barnyard Madness with the Three Little Pigs, The Amazing American Melodrama, Beauty and the Beast, Snowhite, Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz and more, free, 6:30 p.m., Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 Fourth Street, santamonicaplayhouse.com, 310.394.9779 ext. 2
Saturday July 9
Smiley Face, Jennifer Donnell transports the spirit of her popular “Aliso Viejo Smiley Face” reading series with a promise of a surprise reading with special guests, $7, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Boulevard, 310.822.3006, beyondbaroque.org
All Join In, part of the Santa Monica Playhouse’s Free Festival of Theatre, a delightful, interactive a fairytale journey that includes songs and scenes from such classic Playhouse family theatre stories as Cinderella, Alice and the Wonderful Tea Party, Barnyard Madness with the Three Little Pigs, The Amazing American Melodrama, Beauty and the Beast, Snowhite, Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz and more, free, 6:30 p.m., Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 Fourth Street, santamonicaplayhouse.com, 310.394.9779 ext. 2
O Solé L.A., 6th annual fundraiser for the Hamilton Galleries/LeMond Swim Scholarship, which sends inner-city kids to swim lessons or surf camp with Rob LeMond, enjoy live jazz, food, wine and fantastic art, featuring the “O Sole LA exhibit, $30, Hamilton Galleries, 1431 Ocean Avenue, 310.451.9983, hamiltongalleries.com
Community Puppet Build, presented by Beach=Culture with Santa Monica Rep, Join Santa Monica Rep Director Jen Bloom, and master puppet designer and carpenter John Burton in assembling large-scale and small hand puppets for this summer’s production of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” free, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., RSVP to jen@santamonicarep.org, Clover Park, 2600 Ocean Park Boulevard
Lana Chae Piano Recital, gifted local pianist Lana Chae will perform solo pieces by Prokofiev, Beethoven, Liszt, and Steve Reich, free, first-come, first-served seating, 2 p.m., Santa Monica Main Library, Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard, 310.458.8600, smpl.org
The Naughty Comedy Hypnosis Show, with Richard Anthony and Mistress MO, $20, 8 p.m., Westside Comedy Theater, 1323-A Third Street Promenade, 310.451.0850, westsidecomedy.com
Artist’s Paint Out, All artists, new and experienced, invited to join Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore in capturing the beauty of nature in any media, a really beautiful location, from the Palisades Bluffs overlook Will Rogers State Beach, and paint the sweeping views up and down the coast, set up in the neighborhood park, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Palisades Park, look for person with red flag, 310.383.1374
Sunday July 10
Hitched: African-American Los Angeles, featuring Wanda Coleman, Pam Ward, Douglas Kearney, and Chris Webb, 5 to 8 p.m., Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Boulevard, 310.822.3006, beyondbaroque.org
All Join In, part of the Santa Monica Playhouse’s Free Festival of Theatre, a delightful, interactive a fairytale journey that includes songs and scenes from such classic Playhouse family theatre stories as Cinderella, Alice and the Wonderful Tea Party, Barnyard Madness with the Three Little Pigs, The Amazing American Melodrama, Beauty and the Beast, Snowhite, Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz and more, free, 12:30 and 3 p.m., Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 Fourth Street, santamonicaplayhouse.com, 310.394.9779 ext. 2
‘Lectric Collective, poetry reading from Oakland based literary/arts group, $7, 8 p.m., Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Boulevard, 310.822.3006, beyondbaroque.org, lectriccollective.com
Jazz Vespers, Christian Jacob Trio, a performance in the setting of the ancient tradition of evening vespers, freewill offering, 5 p.m., Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Boulevard, mtolivelutheranchurch.org, 310.452.1116
Is God Worth Arguing About?, discussion with Dr. Ted Drange, Humanist Association of Los Angeles West Side Discussion Group, 11 a.m., Yahoo Center Community Room, 2500 Broadway
New Short Fiction Series, Wild Grass by David Malasarn, The performance stars spoken word artist Sally Shore with guest cast David Bickford, Kimiko Gelman, Dian Kobayashi,
and Matthew Lange, 7 p.m., $10 in advance, $15 at the door, The Writers Junction, 1001 Colorado Avenue, 866.811.4111, newshortfictionseries.com
Pamela Douglas Book Signing, noted artist, screenwriter and author will be featuring her “Life of Water” painting series and signing her new nonfiction book, “Back to Life: A Journey of Transformation Through Back Surgery,” 12 to 4 p.m., TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Avenue D-3, 310.829.9556
Monday July 11
Public Theatre Workshop, for ages 6 years 15, free, part of the Festival of Theatre events, 3:30 to 5 p.m., reservations are necessary and space is limited, please call 310.394.9779 ext. 3 or e-mail education@santamonicaplayhouse.com, Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 Fourth Street, santamonicaplayhouse.com
Tuesday July 12
Open Mic, Come workshop your three to five minute stand-up bit, showcase a new sketch, or show a short video. Videos must be in DVD format. Sign-ups are at 9:45 p.m., show starts at 10 p.m., $1, Westside Comedy Theater, 1323-A Third Street Promenade, 310.451.0850, westsidecomedy.com
Public Theatre Workshop, for ages 18 and up,, free, part of the Festival of Theatre events, 6 to 7:30 p.m., reservations are necessary and space is limited, please call 310.394.9779 ext. 3 or e-mail education@santamonicaplayhouse.com, Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 Fourth Street, santamonicaplayhouse.com
Poetry at the Beach, reading with NEO fellow Camille T. Dungy, Cave Canem Fellow Timothy Black, and Managing Editor of the WSC Press Cynthia Black, presented by Red Hen Press, free, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Highway, 310.458.4904, annenbergbeachhouse.com/cultural-programs
Wednesday July 13
Cinema on the Street presents “The Goonies,” free movie, begins at dusk, bring your own seats, 1200 block of Third Street Promenade, www.downtownsm.com
Punk House, weekly cutting edge stand-up show hosted by Ed Galvez, every week features a hot new set of headlining comics as well as hardcore up and comers plus selected musical guests, $8, 9 to 10:30 p.m., Westside Comedy Theater, 1323-A Third Street Promenade, 310.451.0850, westsidecomedy.com
Thursday July 14
The Bear Supply Hour, high intensity long-form improv comedy show from “the minds of Jordan Bull,” 9 to 10 p.m., $10, Westside Comedy Theater, 1323-A Third Street Promenade, 310.451.0850, westsidecomedy.com
