Picks and Clicks for Feb. 20 – 26, 2010

SAT | FEBRUARY 20

(ART)
The physical barrier of Puget Sound evokes Jerusalem’s Kotel in “The Western Wall,” a new series of paintings by Laura Lasworth. Sat. through March 27. Free. Lora Schlesinger Gallery, 2525 Michigan Ave. #T3, Santa Monica. (310) 828-1133. loraschlesinger.com.

(THEATER)
Four couples travel to California at different times and occupy the same Beverly Hills Hotel suite in an L.A. Theatre Works performance of Neil Simon’s 1978 acclaimed comedy “California Suite.” Sat. 2:30 p.m. and Sun. 4 p.m. $20-$48. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 827-0889. latw.org.

SUN | FEBRUARY 21

(HEALTH)
Participate in a mock therapy group run by Cara Gardenswartz, a clinical psychologist and adjunct professor at UCLA. If you would rather observe, that’s OK, too. Coffee and discussion follows. RSVP by Feb. 15. Sun. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Location provided upon RSVP. (800) 306-2773. caragardenswartz.com.

(MUSICAL)
How would you say “hakuna matata” in Hebrew? Find out when Maimonides Academy students stage a Hebrew-language performance of the Disney classic “The Lion King.” Sun. 3-6 p.m. $10 (adults), $15 (adults-door), $5 (kids), $10 (kids-door), $30-$50 (reserved seating). Horace Mann Theater, 8701 Charleville Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 418-2949. maimonidesla.com.

(PURIM)
For Purim carnival listings, visit jewishjournal.com/calendar.

(THEATER)
Actors stage a re-creation of Steve Allen’s late 1970s award-winning PBS “talk show,” “Meeting of Minds.” Gary Cole (“Office Space”) stars as Allen, who hosts historical figures Catherine the Great, Oliver Cromwell and Daniel O’Connell. Sun. 7 p.m.-12 a.m. Also, March 21. $15 (advance), $20 (door). Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 851-2603. workingstage.com.

MON | FEBRUARY 22

(FASHION)
Matisyahu’s wife, Tahlia Miller, speaks at Shalhevet’s Project Frumway, a women-only, student-run fashion show promoting fashionable modesty and self-worth. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Orphans in Haiti and Od Yoseph Chai. Mon. 6:30 p.m. $20 (students, advanced), $25 (students, door), $25 (adults, advanced), $30 (adults, door). Out of Asia, 3249 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 930-9333. shalhevet.org.

(MUSIC)
New York Chasidic recording artist Benny Friedman performs at the Canyon Club as part of “The Songs and Stories of Hope and Joy,” Chabad of Calabasas’ inaugural gala event. Pre-event dinner with performers and VIP concert. Mon. 8 p.m. $20 (general), $360 (per couple, includes pre-concert and dinner). 28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills. (818) 585-1888. jewishcalabasas.com/concert.

WED | FEBRUARY 24

(THEATER)
Emmy-nominated actress Jane Kaczmarek (“Malcolm in the Middle”) stars as an American settler in Israel in a staged reading of Karen Hartman’s “Goliath.” Awarded the 2008 Dorothy Silver Playwriting Prize, the drama unfolds on the eve of Israel’s 2005 Gaza pullout. Discussion follows. Wed. 7:30 p.m. Free. UCLA De Neve Auditorium, 351 Charles E. Young Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 208-3081. uclahillel.org.

THU | FEBRUARY 25

(LECTURE)
Alpha bubbe Galia Albin speaks about her experiences as one of Israel’s leading businesswomen. Q-and-A follows. Sponsored by Citizens’ Empowerment Center in Israel. Evening includes a raffle for a trip to Israel, refreshments, a DJ and more. Thu. 7:30 p.m. $50 (before Feb. 20), $75 (until Feb. 24). Location provided upon RSVP. (310) 300-4120. americanfriendsofceci.org.

(MUSEUM)
“Rekindling the Bond” spotlights Jewish Americans’ involvement in the civil rights movement. Reception features Freedom Riders and civil rights activists giving testimonials, and a private tour of the African American Museum’s current exhibitions. Thu. 6-10 p.m. Free. California African American Museum, 600 Exposition Park, Los Angeles. (310) 282-8080. ajclosangeles.org/laaajc.

FRI | FEBRUARY 26

(MUSICAL)
“A Supercalifragilistic Evening With Richard M. Sherman” features the legendary Oscar- and Grammy-winning composer making a rare personal appearance to sing and tell stories behind the Sherman brothers’ music from “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book” and more. The event includes selections from “Pazzazz!” a musical co-written by Sherman. Fri. 7 p.m. Sat. 2 p.m., 8 p.m. $35-$50. El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (818) 845-3110. pazzazzthemusical.com.