Saturday
Fullerton Civic Light Opera will put you “In the Mood” tonight, as they present “The All Night Strut!” The musical show is a celebration of the 1930s and ’40s and features songs by Cab Calloway, George and Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington and Fats Waller. In short, a swingin’ good time.Plays weekends through July 28. 8 p.m. (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays), 2 p.m. (Sundays), special 7 p.m. show on Sunday, July 21. $16-$40. Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman, Fullerton. For reservations, call (714) 879-1732.
Sunday
It’s theater a little more intimate, a little more raw. Tonight, there are no actors. Instead, the writers themselves take the stage, reading their own words back to you live, as L.A. Theatre Works and Spoken Interludes present “Stories After Dark.”4 p.m. and 8 p.m. $30. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. For reservations, call (310) 827-0889.
Joel Rothberg’s “Etched in Darkness” is the printmaker and graphic designer’s latest exhibition. It’s an appropriate title for his works, which include mostly black and white ketubah- and haggadah-inspired drawings. The opening reception takes place today. 4-7 p.m. (opening reception), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Monday-Friday, through Aug. 16.). A Shenere Velt Gallery-The Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring, 1525 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information, call (310) 552-2007.
Monday
Among the good works promulgated by theater owners Boband Greg Laemmle is the DancesWithFilms film festival, held July 12-18 at theirtheater in Santa Monica. “No Politics. No Stars. No Sh–,” is the festival’smotto, and festival director Michael Trent and his organizers cherry pick filmswritten, directed and starring largely unknown talent. There are dozens tochoose from, but among my favorites is Dave Warfield’s contemporary noirthriller “Ocean Park.” Warfield, who co-wrote the brilliant Red Rock West, hasfashioned a tight, insightful morality tale for all us Angelenos. “Ocean Park”screens at 5 p.m. at Laemmle’s 4-Plex, 1332 Second St, Santa Monica. For moreinformation, call (323) 850-2929 or visit
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Tuesday
It’s time to warm up those vocal chords as you head over to the University of Judaism tonight. While pianist and singer Nina Deutsch dazzles you with great songs by Gershwin, Berlin, Rodgers and Kern, you get to dazzle her right back. Yep, it’s a singalong. They like to call it Broadway with a twist. It sounds like a hoot!7:30 p.m. $10. 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. For reservations, call (310) 476-9777.
Wednesday
Tel Aviv-born French actor Yvan Attal makes his directorial debut in a movie that seems to hit close to home. In real life, he’s married to top French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg. In “My Wife is an Actress,” the two play husband and wife, and are, coincidentally, named Yvan and Charlotte. The screwball romantic comedy shows Yvan’s travails in loving a woman who is also loved by all of Paris. A side-plot is the debate between Yvan’s Jewish sister and her non-Jewish husband over whether or not to circumcise their newborn son.The film opens this week in Los Angeles. Check local theaters for more information.
Thursday
Milton Hirschl was an important figurative-expressionist artist from the post-World War II era. But despite his early success, he spent little time promoting his work and never exhibited after the early 1950s. The Skirball Cultural Center offers the rare opportunity to see his works in, “Milton Hirschl: Southern California Painter and Printmaker.” Many of them reflect his and his wife’s early life experiences in World War II.Runs through Sept. 22. Noon-5 p.m. (Tuesday-Friday), 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sunday). Free. Ruby Gallery, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information, call (310) 440-4500.
Friday
What’s “Cooking?” you ask? Take one part Jewish theater and one part Greek mythology and mix to find out. The L.A. Jewish Theatre’s new play serves up a modernization of the ancient Greek goddess Circe. She now lives in the American city of Aerea, with her realm being the local culinary school. Bet she makes a mean ambrosia.Runs through Aug. 18. 8 p.m. (Thursday-Saturday), 3 p.m. (Sunday). $18 (general), $16 (seniors and students). 1528 Gordon St., Hollywood. For reservations, call (310) 967-1352.
