Hotdogging 11/7-11/13

“Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ” (1926) may be a silent film, but it’s spectacularly loud, and it’s screening at 8:15 on Friday and Saturday, plus 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets, $10 general and $8 seniors. (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.org.

Thursday, November 7

Don’t look down

Scientia hosts the “Reel Rock Tour” at 7 p.m. in the Hermosa Beach Playhouse, 710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, this being an annual compilation of adventure film shorts that mainly focus on rocking climbing around the world. Tickets in advance are $12 and at the door they’re $15. More at reelrocktour.com. Also, Scientia, with Bond Mountaineering, hosts a ski film called “Into the Mind” next Thursday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. in the Old Town Music Hall at 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets for the latter even are $10 now and $15 if you wait. More at scientiaclimbing.com.

Suspicious minds

Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” is being performed tonight (Thursday), tomorrow, and Saturday at 7:30, plus Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., in the auditorium at Mira Costa High School, 1401 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach. Story in last week’s Easy Reader. Tickets, $15 general; $12 students, seniors. (310) 318-7337 ext. 5242.

John Brown’s Body, in support of “Kings and Queens” (the album, not various monarchies), performs on Friday at Saint Rocke, 142 Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach. Also playing, Stick Figure, Alific, and Mighty Mellow Massive. Doors at 5 p.m. Cover, $20. Photo by Heather Ainsworth. (310) 372-0035 or go to saintrocke.com.

Friday, November 8

Visualize it

“Ragtime: The Musical in Concert” features a 22-piece orchestra, and it takes place at 8 p.m. today (Friday) and tomorrow in the Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Tickets, $45 adults, and $25 children. (310) 544-0403 or go to norriscenter.com.

The Nearly Famous Cover Band, with its lovely lead singer Paige Scott, performs on Friday and Saturday evening at Hennessey’s, 8 Pier Plaza, Hermosa Beach. (310) 372-5159.

Been teased lately?

Tizer is a multicultural band led by keyboardist and composer Lao Tizer, and the group performs a mix of rock, jazz, classical, but world rhythms at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Friday) and tomorrow in the George Nakano Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Doors open at 6:30 and dinner is available for a price from Daphne’s California Greek. Tickets, $33. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to torrancearts.org.

Leapfrogging over Thanksgiving

“Every Christmas Story Ever Told… and then some,” by Michael Carleton, Jim FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez, opens at Little Fish Theatre, 777 Centre St., San Pedro. Performances on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. through Dec. 14, with midweek shows on Wednesday, Dec. 4, and Thursday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m. Sunday matinees on Dec. 1 and 8 at 2 p.m., after which the creative team will engage in a post-show discussion (or maybe shouting match) with the audience. (310) 512-6030 or go to littlefishthetre.org.

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” by Joe Landry, opens on Friday at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Weschester. Performances, through Saturday, Dec. 14, take place on Friday and Saturday at 8 and Sunday at 2 p.m. Gypsy Foster directs. Tickets, $18, less $2 for seniors, students, serviceman, and metro riders (showing your same-day or monthly pass). Pictured, Patricia Butler as Violet, Ben Lupejkis as George, and Samantha Barrios as Mary. (310) 645-5156 or go to kentwoodplayers.org.

While the cat’s away…

Except that here the big cat is Odysseus, and “Penelope,” by Enda Walsh is about four men’s attempts to woo the wife of the mythic hero in his prolonged absence. It’s being staged in the drained swimming pool aboard the Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, by the California Repertory Company, with performances Tuesday through Saturday, closing Dec. 7. Tickets, $25 general; $20 students, seniors, military. (562) 985-5526 or go to calrep.org.

Soul survivors

“Standing in the Shadows of Motown,” the 2002 documentary by Paul Justman, focuses on The Funk Brothers, the little-know session musicians of Detroit’s original Motown recordings. It screens at 8 p.m. in the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. Sixth St., San Pedro.Tickets, $12 general; $10 students, seniors, military. (310) 833-4813 or go to grandvision.org.

Bluegrass background

“The Broken Circle Breakdown” screens for one week at the Nuart Theatre, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., W. Los Angeles. It’s a sweeping romance tested by tragedy, directed by Felix Van Groeningen. (310) 281-8223 or go to LandmarkTheatres.com.

Little Black Train delivers vintage fiddle tunes, sizzling mandolin playing, and songs of old time Americana at 8 p.m. on Saturday in the Grand Annex Theatre, 434 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. Tickets, $20 to $35. The Lyons Academy of Irish Dance opens. (310) 833-4813 or go to grandvision.org.

Saturday, November 9

More quality art

“Claybodies: Figurative Ceramics” and “Margaret Lazzari: New Paintings” open with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at Zask Gallery, 550 Deep Valley Drive, Suite 151, Rolling Hills Estates. Through Jan. 5. Call (310) 429-0973 or go to pszaskgallery.com.

It’s the season for it

The “Autumn Festival” takes place today (Saturday) and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. The traditions and cultures of Japan, China, Korea, and the Philippines are highlighted, with crafts, music, dance, ethnic cuisine, and more. With general admission. (562) 590-3100 or go to aquariumofpacific.org.

The percussion ensemble Smoke & Mirrors is set to perform at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, 26438 Crenshaw Blvd., Rolling Hills Estates. Free; donations appreciated for the artists. (310) 316-5574.

Sunday, November 10

Keeping the flame alive

The South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club meets from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Knights of Columbus Hall, 214 Avenue “I” in Redondo Beach. The featured band is Chet Jaeger’s Night Blooming Jazzmen. Admission, $9 general or $7 members, with visiting musicians who play additional “sets” getting in for free. (310) 376-2591.

When brother fought brother

The El Segundo Concert Band celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address with a free concert at 3 p.m. in the El Segundo Performing Arts Center, 640 Main St., El Segundo. Steven Allen Fox conducts Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” among others. (424) 242-3722 or go to esconcertband.org.

The National Watercolor Society opens its 93rd Annual Exhibition on Sunday with a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. in the NWS Gallery, 915 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro. The work is up through Jan. 11. Pictured, “In a Farm Yard,” by David Poxon. (310) 831-1099.

608 North presents “November Art,” opening with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday. The group show features Janet Milhomme, Bob Macke, Angelina D’Arcy, Gavin McGroggan, Edie Pfeifer, Robi Hutas, and Judy Lange. Through Dec. 1. The gallery is at 608 N. Francisca, Redondo Beach. Pictured, art by McGroggan. (310) 376-5777 or go to 608north.com

They worked hard to get here

The “JMAC Piano Concert,” presented by the Japan Musicians Association of California takes place at 1:30 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. It’s free. (310) 781-7171.

She’s got wheels!

Auditions are being held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. today (Sunday) and from 7 to 9:30 p.m. tomorrow, with callbacks at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, for “Becky’s New Car,” to be presented by the Kentwood Players in Westchester from Jan. 10 to Feb. 15. Susan Stangl will direct. Reach her at susanstangl@gmail.com.

Wednesday, November 13

Every bite counts

The Belasco Theatre Company invites the public to join them for dinner between 4 and 10 p.m. at Pitfire Pizza, 401 Manhattan Beach Blvd., MB. Money raised will go towards funding “Oliver,” which the company presents from Feb. 7 to 23 at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse. (310) 379-4208.