20Saturday
“The Ascension of Lili,” a comedy about beauty, age, sex and suicide, follows a year in the lives of a young aspiring poet and the older woman who initiates him into the languages of love. Set in New Orleans in 1959, this two-character play features Sandra Tucker as a flamboyant fading beauty and Adam Conger as the young man who, as a teenager, fell in love with her portrait. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Through July 8. $15. Two Roads Theatre, 4348 Tujunga Ave., Studio City. For reservations and information, call (818) 762-7488.
The City of Beverly Hills Recreation and Parks Department presents its biannual Affaire in the Gardens art show. Now in its 27th year, the art show features more than 200 exhibitors of original photography, painting, sculpture and more. The event also offers live music on three stages, a gourmet international food court, and interactive stations for children to explore their creative side. Sat. and Sun., May 20 and 21, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Beverly Gardens Park, Santa Monica Blvd. at Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 550-4796.
21Sunday
For a day of music, workshops, storytelling, and celebration with the family, the Yiddishkayt Family Festival is your best bet. With activities like klezmer music and dancing with Michael Alpert of Brave Old World and 12 foot khosn (groom) and kaleh (bride) puppets to cavort with, the festival is a 1,000th birthday party for undzer mame-loshn (our mother tongue), complete with song and cake.Shimon Wincelberg’s play “Resort 76,” at once mordant and moving, will get a one-time staged readingat the Museum of Tolerance at 7 p.m. Ed Asner, his daughter Kate and a cast of professionalactors are featured in the dark comedy, lauded by The New York Times and directed by Alexandra More. The “resort” is a wartime ghetto, where a cat is considered worth its weight in gold, or, more importantly, in bread. Admission is $8.50 ($6.50 for MOT members). For tickets, call (310) 772-2452.
22Monday
The Chamber Music Society of the Los Angeles Philharmonic presents “Shapiro and Brahms” featuring Daniel Shapiro on piano with violin, viola and cello accompaniment. Tonight’s program includes two works by Brahms: “Piano Trio No. 1 in B, Op. 8” and “String Sextet No. 2 in G, Op. 36.” 8 p.m. $25. Gindi Auditorium, University of Judaism, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. For ticket information call (213) 365-3500.
23Tuesday
With appearances in such films as “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “On the Waterfront,” Karl Malden became one of Hollywood’s most respected actors. University of Judaism’s University Women will honor Malden with the Burning Bush Award in recognition of both his artistic contributionsand his commitment to the community. The luncheon event begins at 12 p.m. $70. Beverly Hilton Hotel,Beverly Hills. (310) 476-9777 ext. 283.
24Wednesday
With all of the focus on box office receipts and glamorous premieres, it can be easy to ignore the ability of films to influence our moral views. The Anti-Defamation League brings this moral concern to the forein the third event of its lecture series “The Power of the Written Word.” Screenwriters David McKenna (“American History X”), Don Roos (“The Opposite of Sex”), Larry Karaszewski(“The People vs. Larry Flynt”), and Pamela Gray (“Music of the Heart”) participate in the panel discussion of tolerance, diversity and extremism in film, moderated by New York Times entertainment correspondent Bernard Weinraub. 7 p.m. cocktail reception, 8 p.m. program. $30. The Wyndham Bel Age Hotel, 1020 North San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood. (310) 446-8000 ext. 230.
25Thursday
Cardboard, sand, street trash, punch cards and other found materials form the palette forartist Tom S. Fricano. The University of Judaism’s Platt and Borstein Galleries exhibit 40 years of Fricano’s work in “Transformations: The Nature of Abstraction.” Sun.-Thu., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Through July 9. 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. (310) 440-1282.
26Friday
Experience the intense emotional struggles of the Wingfield family in Tennessee Williams’ classic drama “The Glass Menagerie.” One of the most famous plays in American theater, this production at The Pasadena Playhouse stars Susan Sullivan (best known as Kitty on “Dharma and Greg”) as Amanda Wingfield, a mother who strives to give direction to her children’s lives. Tues.-Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. $15-$42.50. 39 South El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Tickets available through Telecharge, (800) 233-3123.
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