7 Days in the Arts

Saturday

Find yourself laughing tonight as Debbie Kasper and Sheila Kay perform their two-woman show, “Venus Attacks!” Their parody of New Age gurus and seminars and self-help Mars/Venus philosophizing had critics raving when they performed the show in 2001. Don’t miss it this time.Runs through Nov. 7. 8 p.m. (Fri. and Sat.), 2p.m. (Sun.) $15-$20. Hudson Avenue Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 960-5521.

Sunday

Unabashed Bush bashing begins today with the inaugural lecture in the Workmen’s Circle’s series “The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy: Unmasking, Understanding and Defeating It.” Renown author, lecturer and journalist John Powers discusses “George Bush’s America and the Rest of Us.”2 p.m. $6-$10. 1525 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles. R.S.V.P., (310) 552-2007.

Monday

And the hits just keep on coming in “The Future Dictionary of America,” newly released by McSweeney’s. With suggested new words by nearly 200 writers and artists including Michael Chabon, Art Spiegelman and Jonathan Safran Foer, the book is also accompanied by a CD featuring songs by musicians including REM, Tom Waits and David Byrne. Proceeds benefit organizations that oppose the current presidential administration.$28. store.mcsweeneys.net.

Tuesday

Philosophy and art converge with today’s opening reception of “Too Jewish-Not Jewish Enough” at The Jewish Federation’s Bell Gallery. The exhibit highlights 23 works by Jewish Californian artists whose work is influenced by their faith, and who have taken part in the Jewish Artists Initiative and dialogued for the past nine months on what it means to be a Jewish artist.6-8 p.m. Free. 6505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. R.S.V.P., (323) 761-8352.

Wednesday

Sabra pianist Daniel Gortler comes to the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts stage. Gortler has collaborated with the likes of Zubin Mehta, Valery Gergiev and Pinchas Zukerman, and performs solo works by Beethoven and Mendelssohn tonight only.7:30 p.m. $10-$20. 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. (800) 300-434

Thursday

Tune that radio dial to K-Mozart tonight at 10 p.m. for the first in the 13-part series, “American Jewish Music from the Milken Archive with Leonard Nimoy.” This episode offers a series overview, featuring conversations on the question of whether there is such a thing as a distinctly Jewish kind of music, as well as highlights from the various musical themes to be explored later on – including biblical epics set to music by Kurt Weill and other musicians, Jewish legends in tone poems, film scores, operas and klezmer music.105.1 KMZT FM. www.milkenarchive.com.

Friday

Opening tonight is Michel Deville’s, “Almost Peaceful.” Set in 1946 Paris, the film tells the story of Holocaust survivors working in a ladies’ garment workshop. They struggle to live with survivor’s guilt and the trauma of all they have endured, while at the same time they fervently try to embrace life.Laemmle’s Royal Theatre, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles. (310) 477-5581.