8Saturday
The film is a cult classic. The theatrical adaptation has inspired audiences for more than two decades. “Harold and Maude,” the offbeat comedic tale of a death-obsessed young man and the free-spirited 80-year-old woman who teaches him about life, opens today at The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. Theatricum’s artistic director Ellen Geer appeared in the 1971 film and plays the role of Maude in this production. Saturdays at 8 p.m. through July 22; Sundays 7:30 p.m. through Sept. 24; Saturdays 4 p.m. Sept. 9-30. $20/$13 (general admission); $14/11 (students, seniors and Equity members). 1419 North Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. (310) 455-3723.
9Sunday
Rich European folk traditions come alive today with performances from two exciting groups. Limpopo brings out their blend of Russian folk music, dance and costumes for a children’s concert that includes a take-home art project, at Skirball Cultural Center. Don’t stop dancing yet, because Yiddishkayt Los Angeles presents the infectious klezmer revival sounds of The Klezmatics in a concert of new and old Yiddish songs at the John Anson Ford Amphitheater. Limpopo, 11 a.m., $5. 2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Reservations, (323) 655-8587. The Klezmatics family show, 11 a.m., $7; concert 7 p.m., $30/$20. 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood. (323) 461-3673.
10Monday
Lavish decorative gold jewelry, plaques and other objects from the ancient Ukranian culture of the Scythians are on display at LACMA West. The museum addition at the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax houses over 170 precious works of art that tell the story of a once-feared warrior culture which prospered through control of Greek trade routes along the Black Sea. The wealth amassed by the Scythians is evidenced in the rich treasures now on display. “Gold of the Nomads: Scythian Treasures from Ancient Ukraine” is on display through Sept. 24. Mon., Tues., Thurs., 12 p.m.-8 p.m.; Fri. 12 p.m.-9 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Adults $7; Seniors and students, $5. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 857-6000.
11Tuesday
“Paragraph 175” is a documentary film about the Holocaust, but even among the recent wave of such films, this one has a different story to tell. The title refers to the Nazi sodomy law, under which tens of thousands of homosexuals were arrested, forced to wear pink triangles on armbands, and sent to concentration camps. Through interviews with survivors and historical footage, the film traces the effects of the Paragraph 175 law, which remained on the books in West Germany until 1969. The screening is presented as part of the OUTFEST film festival. 2 p.m. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 North McCadden Pl., Los Angeles. (323) 960-2394.
12Wednesday
Great (fake) moments in film, television and theater that never quite made it into the show have surfaced on a local stage.“The Cutting Room Floor” features Dorothy Gale, Romeo and Juliet, Jan and Marcia Brady, and many others in a unique evening of one-acts and sketch comedy. Wednesdays at 8 p.m. through Aug. 16. $10, cash only. The Complex, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. For information and reservations, call (323) 243-4488.
13Thursday
A traveling exhibition of rare books, manuscripts and artifacts from the Library of Congress makes its first stop at the Huntington Library. Now on view, “Religion and the Founding of the American Republic” is composed of approximately 200 items arranged in seven sections, and includes original documents like George Washington’s 1790 letter to Touro Synagogue where he testifies his support of religious liberty. Tues.-Sun., 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., through Sept. 3. $8.50 (general admission); $8 (seniors); $6 (students); free (members and children under 12). 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. For more information, call (626) 405-2141, or visit www.huntington.org
14Friday
In French, with subtitles: If those words excite the cinephile in you, Raul Ruiz’s “Time Regained”, an adaptation of Marcel Proust’s epic “In Search of Lost Time,” has what you need. The film opens in 1922 with Proust on his deathbed, reflecting on his life. His real memories are gradually overwhelmed by the stories and characters he has created. “Time Regained” received rave reviews at the Cannes and New York Film Festivals, no surprise considering the cast: Catherine Deneuve, Emmanuelle Béart, John Malkovich and others of the most respected actors around. Times vary. General Admission, $8.50; students $6.50 and seniors $5.50. Laemmle’s Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. For program information, call (310) 477-5581.
