7 Days In Arts

Saturday, May 19

The man behind The Comedy Store, whose career has
brought him onstage with the likes of Elvis and Barbra, has a new message for
audiences. Sammy Shore would like to tell you why “70 sucks.” The
septuagenarian’s latest solo show, “…But First, Sammy Shore,” which ironically
plays in the same complex as the upbeat “Funny, You Don’t Look Like a
Grandmother,” offers up the wry humor of a still-spry guy. $17.50. Saturdays
7:30 p.m.; Sundays 5:30 p.m. Through June 3. The Other Space at Santa Monica
Playhouse, 1211 Fourth St., Santa Monica. For tickets, call (310) 394-9779 ext.
1.

Sunday, May 20

On a quiet morning in London, Ella receives a visit from
the wife of the SS officer who had arrested her as a teen in Germany, more than
40 years before. Harris W. Freedman’s psychological drama “Ella’s Secret” plays
out the tension between the two women in a staged reading at the Workmen’s
Circle/Arbeter Ring. This first presentation of “Ella’s Secret” in Los Angeles
is directed by and stars Los Angeles’ doyenne of Jewish theater, Alexandra More,
with Edith Fields in the title role. $10 (general admission); $5 (children under
18). 2 p.m. 1525 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles. For reservations or more
information, call (310) 552-2007.

National Book Critics Circle Award-winner and former New
York State poet laureate Sharon Olds reads today in the final installment of
this year’s RATTLE poetry series at the Skirball. The Berkeley-born poet is
known for the physicality of her language and her fearlessness in describing
often difficult familial relationships. $5 (general admission); Free (students).
2 p.m. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. For
tickets, call (323) 655-8587.

Monday, May 21

The Synergy performance ensemble returns tonight with
its fourth concert performance of the 2000-2001 season. In “Mizrach,” the
seven-member music and voice ensemble present new, classical Middle Eastern
music and poetry, derived from Hebrew and Arabic sources. $12 (general admission
); $10 (seniors); $7 (students). 7:30 p.m. Greenway Court Theatre, 455 N.
Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 658-5824.

Tuesday, May 22

Peter Forgacs’ evocative use of found home movies edited
to form telling documentary films, in collaboration with composer Tibor Szemzo,
has resulted in a number of powerfully personal lessons in history. Tonight, the
Getty Scholar presents “Angelos’ Film,” from the secret recordings of Greek
businessman Angelos Papanastassiou, which captured the atrocities of the Nazi
occupation of Greece. 7 p.m. Harold M. Williams Auditorium, Getty Center. For
reservations or more information, call (310) 440-7300.

Wednesday, May 23

Two great instrumentalists from the Indian music stage
hit the Cotsen Auditorium stage tonight and Thursday for a Skirball “World
Mosaic” concert. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma has for over 40 years been creating a
place in Indian music for his instrument, the santur, a Sufi folk instrument
with hammered strings akin to the dulcimer. Tabla virtuoso Ustad Zakir Hussain
has regularly accompanied superstars like Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan,
George Harrison and Van Morrison. $28 (general admission); $25 (members); $20
(students). Wed., May 23 and Thu., May 24, 8 p.m. Cotsen Auditorium, Skirball
Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. For tickets, call (323)
655-8587.

Thursday, May 24

Born in Tashkent, in the Soviet Union, immigrated to
Israel at the age of 15 and an American citizen since 1989, renowned concert
pianist Yefim Bronfman guests with the L.A. Philharmonic this week in “A Russian
Finale” concerts featuring works by Rimsky-Korsakov and Rachmaninoff. The
tricultural pianist is honored tonight following the concert at a reception
hosted by the America Israel Cultural Foundation. Concert and reception $75;
concert only $10-$70; reception only $50. Concert also performed Wed., May 23, 8
p.m.; Sat., May 26, 8 p.m.; Sun., May 27, 2:30 p.m. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion,
135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles. For more information, call (310) 476-5397.

Friday, May 25

The second of three Murray Mednick plays in Padua
Playwrights Productions’ season is “Joe and Betty.” A poor, Jewish couple in the
Catskills in 1951, the title characters engage in a lyrical sort of verbal
sparring that director Diane Robinson compares to “[Be-bop pianist] Bud Powell
in a synagogue.” Tonight, final preview performance, $10. Opens Sat., May 26.
$20. Thu.-Sun. 8 p.m. Through June 23. 2100 Square Feet, 5615 San Vicente Blvd.,
Los Angeles. For reservations, call (323) 692-2652.