Holiday preview calendar

Mon. Nov. 29

“PATCHWORK OF CULTURES.” In “Patchwork of Cultures: The Sephardic-Latino Connection,” Valley Beth Shalom music director Noreen Green leads the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony in a performance that highlights the music of Hispanic and Sephardic communities, including Spain, Iraq, Iran, Morocco, Israel, Yemen and Latin America. Public school and Jewish day school students display their work during an art show that precedes the concert. Mon. 11 a.m. Free. Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 436-5260. lajewishsymphony.com.

ROGER WATERS: THE WALL LIVE. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of “The Wall,” the Pink Floyd co-founder performs the entire album live. Mon. 8 p.m. $55-$250. Also Nov. 30 and Dec. 5. Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., downtown. ticketmaster.com.

Tue. Nov. 30

SALMAN RUSHDIE. The acclaimed author of “Midnight’s Children” and “The Satanic Verses” speaks at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre as part of L.A. Central Library’s ALOUD series. His most recent work, “Luka and the Fire of Life,” is a children’s book that follows a boy on a mission to rescue his father. Rushdie appears in conversation with Iranian American writer Reza Aslan. Tue. 8 p.m. $25. Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles. (213) 228-7500. lfla.org/aloud.

“WEST SIDE STORY.” Relive the singing, the dancing and more as the beloved musical returns. The Broadway revival features a mix of English- and Spanish-language songs, which won the Grammy for Best Musical Show Album. Under the direction of David Saint and choreographer Joey McKneely, the story unfolds just how you remember: Set in New York City in the mid-1950s, Tony, a member of the white working-class gang, the Jets, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, leader of the rival Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks. Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s score features, “I Feel Pretty,” “America” and “Tonight.” Through Jan. 2, 2011. Various times. $26-$101.30. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (800) 982-2787. broadwayla.org.

Thu. Dec. 2

“PARADISE LOST.” With the economy at the brink of disaster, the Gordon family struggles to maintain their wealth, lives and faith in each other. The themes of a crumbling American dream during the Great Depression in Clifford Odet’s “Paradise Lost” remain as relevant today as they were in 1935. Through Dec. 4. 8 p.m. (Thu., Fri., Sat.), 2 p.m. (Sat.). $17.75 (general), $15.75 (seniors), $7.75 (student with ID). Freud Playhouse at UCLA, 245 Charles E. Young Drive E., UCLA Campus, Los Angeles. (310) 825-5761. tft.ucla.edu.

Fri. Dec. 3

“BLACK SWAN.” This psychological thriller from director Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler”) stars Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis as ballet dancers whose rivalry develops into a bizarre friendship. Winona Ryder and Vincent Cassel co-star. foxsearchlight.com/blackswan.

“BHUTTO.” Duane Baugman’s documentary chronicles the life of Pakistani Prime Minster Benazir Bhutto, who broke the Islamic glass ceiling as the first woman to lead a Muslim nation. Bhutto eradicated polio and stood up for women while fighting the male-dominated political elite and a nervous military leadership. Assassinated in 2007, she left a legacy of simmering controversy and undeniable courage. bhuttothefilm.com.

Sun. Dec. 5

DOWN HOME HANUKKAH CELEBRATION. Get down roots-style as you celebrate the Festival of Lights. Live music with Peter Himmelman and The Witcher Brothers, arts and crafts projects, woodworking and quilting demos, circus acts and tasty treats highlight the family-friendly event. Sun. 11 a.m. $10 (general), $7 (seniors and full-time students), free (members and children under 12). Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 440-4500. skirball.org.

“SHALOM SESAME.”Join other families for the premiere of the new “Shalom Sesame” as the Westside JCC screens “Chanukah: The Missing Menorah,” which features Grover and Anneliese van der Pol (“That’s So Raven”) looking for a lost menorah as Chanukah is about to begin. Enjoy a sing-along and candle lighting as well as hanging out with “Sesame Street” characters. Sun. 11 a.m. $6 (advance), $8 (door). Westside JCC Auditorium, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 938-2531, ext. 211. discoverjcc.com.

Sun. Dec . 12

CAROL LEIFER AND LARRY MILLER. They’ll bring the funny, you bring the laughs as two veteran comedians headline an “Afternoon of Stand-Up Comedy” at American Jewish University’s Familian Campus. Leifer, who wrote for “Seinfeld” and “Saturday Night Live,” recently took an innovative approach to selling her new show by staging a live table read, and Miller, who established himself in quirky films such as “10 Things I Hate About You” and “The Princess Diaries,” recently performed at Sinai Temple. Up-and-coming comedian Bobby Tessel opens. Sun. 4 p.m. $25. American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 440-1548. ajula.edu.

Tue. Dec. 14

HEDVA AMRANI. The Yemenite singer who lit up the Israeli music scene in the 1960s comes to the United States with “My Israel,” performing folk and pop songs that span her 40-year career. Tue. 7:30 p.m. $25. American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 440-1548. ajula.edu.

Wed. Dec. 15

ADAM LAMBERT. Lambert headlines Glam Nation, his first international tour, as he performs material from his debut album, “For Your Entertainment,” which mixes rock with ’80s-style synths. Wed. 8 p.m. $52.55. The Music Box, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Also Dec. 16. 7 p.m. $31.50-$46. Club Nokia, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite A335, downtown. ticketmaster.com.

Fri. Dec. 17

“CASINO JACK.”Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey stars as Jack Abramoff in George Hickenlooper’s docudrama, which examines how the Washington lobbyist and his protégé, Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper), go down hard as their schemes to peddle influence lead to corruption and murder. casinojack-movie.com.

Sat. Dec. 18

OZOMATLI. The Grammy-winning L.A. band, which blends Latin, hip-hop and rock, celebrates 15 years together at Club Nokia. Sat. 6:30 p.m. $19.50-$37. Club Nokia, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite A335, downtown. ticketmaster.com.

Wed. Dec. 22

“LITTLE FOCKERS.” In the latest installment of the “Fockers” family saga, male nurse Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) suffers from a midlife crisis and has taken a second job with a drug company to support his twin children. This doesn’t sit well with his overbearing father-in-law, retired CIA agent Jack Tiberius Byrnes (Robert De Niro). As the family gathers to celebrate the twins’ fifth birthday, Focker sets out to prove to Jack that he’s fully capable of being the man of the house. Will the “circle of trust” be broken for good? Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman reprise their roles as Roz and Bernie Focker, and Paul Weitz (“American Pie”) takes over directing duties from Jay Roach. littlefockers.net.

“TRUE GRIT.” Joel and Ethan Coen bring us a more faithful retelling of Charles Portis’ 1968 novel, which was first adapted for film in 1969 and earned John Wayne a best actor Oscar. The father of 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) has been shot in cold blood by a drifter, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). Determined to bring him to justice, Mattie enlists the help of the U.S. Marshal “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), a trigger-happy alcoholic, and the pair head into Indian territory to hunt down Chaney. truegritmovie.com.

Fri. Dec. 31

“BETTE MIDLER: THE SHOWGIRL MUST GO ON.” If you would rather stay at home on New Year’s Eve, spend the evening with The Divine Miss M. Filmed at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the 70-minute concert features some of Midler’s greatest hits, including “The Rose,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “From a Distance.” hbo.com.