7 Days in The Arts

Saturday, March 18

Tonight’s Writers Guild 2006 Screen Laurel Award goes to “that member of the guild who … has advanced the literature of the motion picture through the years….” This year, that guy is writer-director Lawrence Kasdan, responsible for “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Return of the Jedi” and “The Big Chill,” to name but a few. The public is invited to attend this evening’s tribute and reception, which includes a screening of Kasdan’s “Grand Canyon” and an on-stage Q-and-A. There’s also a screening series of Kasdan films going on all weekend long at the Writers Guild Theatre.

Sat. evening tribute: $25. Weekend screening series: $45 (weekend package), $30 (screenings only), Free (minors accompanied by paying adults, daytime screenings only). 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. (323) 782-4692.

Sunday, March 19

Film legend Eli Wallach and his wife and fellow actor Anne Jackson get personal tonight only, in a special one-night performance of “Bits and Pieces,” a collection of poetry, scenes, tales and letters that tells the couple’s story. The event benefits Theatre 40 professional theater company on its 40th birthday.

7 p.m. $25. Reuben Cordova Theatre, Beverly Hills High School Campus, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills. R.S.V.P., (310) 364-0535. www.theatre40.org.

Monday, March 20

American Israel Defense Forces’ sisters-in-arms discuss their experiences volunteering to fight for Israel in an event sponsored by the Pacific Southwest Branch of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism. They share their stories at the University of Judaism this morning.

10:30 a.m. $6. 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. R.S.V.P., (310) 476-5359.

Tuesday, March 21

April Fools comes early at the Skirball. Their “twice monthly on Tuesdays” free film series honors comedy duo Abbott and Costello beginning with today’s screening of “The Naughty Nineties.” Attend later this month to see “One Night in the Tropics.” In April, see “Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein” and “Little Giant.”

1:30 p.m. (March 21 and 28, April 4 and 18). Free. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 440-4500.

Wednesday, March 22

William Shatner, the Rockumentary? Apparently it’s just the beginning. Tonight, TV Land begins airing new series of its “Living in TV Land” music-reality hybrid show, with the ex-Captain Kirk as their first subject. In this episode, they boldly go everywhere Shatner goes, into the recording studio where he records his spoken-word albums, to Trekkie conventions and his home. Future, um, “rock star” subjects include Barry Williams, Fred Willard, Sherman Hemsley, Adam West and Davy Jones.

10 p.m. www.tvland.com.

Thursday, March 23

Tonight, the Skirball presents Langston Hughes’ words as the poet intended them to be heard — accompanied by jazz. Hughes’ ’60s poetry series “Ask Your Mama” told of America’s history of racism and of African American civil unrest in the late 1950s and 1960s. In those lines, Hughes included musical cues, and today the Ron McCurdy Quartet follows them, layering jazz music onto the spoken-word performance. Adding a visual element, images of the Harlem Renaissance by African American artists and photographers will be projected.

8 p.m. $8-$15. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. R.S.V.P., (866) 468-3399.

Friday, March 24

The Purim parties just won’t stop. Tonight’s variation at Valley Beth Shalom features a Persian-themed Shabbat dinner and musical program. “A Night in Shushan: The Mystical Music of the Middle East” is its title, and the show features The Yuval Ron Ensemble with guest singers and dancers Iman Sufi and Tamra Henna. Come for the meal or just the music.

8 p.m. 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. R.S.V.P. for dinner, (818) 530-4009. www.vbs.org.