Picks and Clicks

Venezuelan playwright Moisés Kaufman brings the historical drama surrounding fallen English playwright Oscar Wilde to the stage in “Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde.” Using transcripts and real quotes from Wilde’s infamous trials, as well as newspaper articles and the personal accounts of those involved, Kaufman chronicles how the darling of Victorian England was shunned for “committing acts of gross indecency with other male persons.” An L.A. Theatre Works audio performance, recorded live without sets or costumes, to be broadcast on public and satellite radio nationwide. Sat. 2:30 p.m. Also, Sun. at 4 p.m. $40-$48. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 827-0889. latw.org.

SAT | NOVEMBER 14

(GALA)
The third annual Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Young Leadership’s Roaring ’20s Old Hollywood gala, at the historic Los Angeles Theatre downtown, includes casino gambling, dinner and an open bar. The evening honors the memory of Zev Karkomi. Guests are requested to dress in theme attire or black tie. Sat. 8 p.m. $125 (presale), $250 (at the door). The Los Angeles Theatre, 615 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. title=\”fidfyl.org\”>fidfyl.org.

Pioneering performance and interdisciplinary artist Rachel Rosenthal, who was honored by the city in 2000 as a “living cultural treasure of Los Angeles,” is the guest of honor at Rachel Rosenthal’s Birthday Bash 83. The evening will commemorate her new book, “The DbD Experience: Chance Knows What It’s Doing!” (Routledge), and the Rachel Rosenthal Company’s new TOHUBOHU! Extreme Theatre Ensemble. Come enjoy live music, as well as an exhibition and silent auction of 83 artists’ works. Sat. 7-11 p.m. $25. Track 16 Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., Building C1, Santa Monica. (310) 264-4678.

The latest film out of Israel to generate enormous buzz is the country’s official submission for the 2010 Academy Awards. “Ajami,” which won a special mention during the Camera d’Or competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, zooms in on the Ajami neighborhood within the Israeli city of Jaffa, a gritty jumble of cultures, religions and factions struggling for power and control. Co-directors, producers and writers Scandar Copti, a Palestinian resident of Ajami, and Yaron Shani, an Israeli Jew, used local amateurs, not trained actors, and guerrilla filmmaking that blurred the lines between documentary and fiction. This screening, part of AFI Fest, which runs Oct. 30-Nov. 7, is the first opportunity for Angelenos to see this provocative film. Sun. 10:30 p.m. Free tickets can be reserved online or over the phone. Mann Chinese 6, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood and Highland Center, Hollywood. (866) 234-3378. afi.com.

Local musical collective Fool’s Gold perform their blend of Western pop, African melodies and Hebrew lyrics as part of KCRW’s Sounds Around Town series of free concerts at Westfield Century City’s outdoor terrace. Thu. 7-9 p.m. Free. Westfield Century City, Dining Terrace, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Century City. kcrw.com/events/sounds-around-town. myspace.com/foolsgold.

“Women Rabbis: Trailblazers and Innovators,” a public discussion sponsored by The Jewish Journal and Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary, will feature Rabbi Sharon Brous from IKAR, Rabbi Denise L. Eger from Congregation Kol Ami, Rabbi Laura Geller from Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, Rabbi Zoë Klein of Temple Isaiah, Rabbi Naomi Levy of Nashuva, Rabbi Michelle Missaghieh of Temple Israel of Hollywood, Rabbi Debra Orenstein of Makom Ohr Shalom and Susan Freudenheim, The Jewish Journal’s managing editor, as the moderator. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to SOVA. Wed. 7:30 p.m. $10 (presale), $15 (at the door). Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (213) 368-1661, ext. 251.

Calendar Picks and Clicks September 26–October 2, 2009

The inaugural Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in Los Angeles gathers some of the top stand-up comedians in the business to dispel the myth that talent from that region of the world is only applied to explosive engineering. (That was a joke.) The festival begins with the Brown Carpet Stand-Up Comedy Gala for charity, starring Maysoon Zayid (“You Don’t Mess With the Zohan”), Peter the Persian (Sultans of Satire), Ronnie Khalil (Comedy Central’s “The Watch List”) and others, hosted by Maz Jobrani. The laughs continue with “Night of 1001 Sketches … More or Less … Probably Less,” four performances of sketch comedy at Acme Comedy Theatre. The last night, a stand-up comedy showcase at the Laugh Factory, will feature more headliners and up-and-comers, followed by a closing party. Opening Night: Tue. 7:30 p.m. $40-$50. Laugh Factory, 8001 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Through Sept. 25. For details, visit mideastcomedyfest.com.

Even faced with the worst of circumstances — war, poverty, illness and hunger — children make use of what’s around them to create toys. “The Power to Play — From Trash to Treasure” is a new ChildFund International and Museum of Tolerance exhibit that displays this indomitable spirit, showcasing more than 200 toys handmade by disadvantaged children around the world, using scraps of metal, discarded bottles and other waste to entertain themselves. Former Miss USA, Shauntay Hinton, who was sponsored by the same organization — ChildFund — as the young toymakers, will share her inspiring story. Children will also have the chance to create their own toy from recycled materials. Sun. 1:30-4 p.m. Through Dec. 31. Free. Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance, 9786 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (804) 756-8987. childfund.org.