Hotdogging
Friday, November 26
A fowl that’s fair
The 11th annual Turkey Hop takes place at 5 p.m. at 711 S. Broadway Ave., Redondo Beach, with a bike ride that begins at 7 p.m. Bring new or used sporting equipment which will be donated to the local fire department and under-resourced (meaning broke) L.A. elementary schools. You can R.S.V.P. to Mike at mjmurf999@hotmail.com.
Funny stuff
Old Town Music Hall presents a “Laurel and Hardy Festival” at 8:15 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, plus 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, at 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets, $8. Call (310) 322-2592 or go to otmh.org.
Saturday, November 27
Here’s barking at you!
Big Wes and The Dirty Dogs Blues Band perform at 9 p.m. tonight and next Saturday at Lainey’s Bar, 17000 Western Ave., Gardena. Haven’t been there yet? What are you waiting for? (310) 324-3999.
Recognizable tunes
Conducted by James Conlon, LA Opera presents Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto” at 7:30 p.m. in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles in the Music Center. The designers took their cue from the often stark paintings of Giorgio De Chirico. Additional performances on Dec. 2, 8, 11, and 15 at 7:30, and Dec. 5 and 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets, $20 to $270. Call (213) 972-8001 or go to laopera.com.
An Austrian adventure
“Diamonds, Raindrops & Blood,” presented by the Denali Quartet, features violinist Tereza Stanislav in her debut with the ensemble, performing at 8 p.m. in the First Pres Santa Monica, 1220 Second St., Santa Monica. The selections are by Haydn, Johann Strauss, Schoenberg, and Hans Eisler. Special guest performers include bass baritone Dean Elzinga and pianist Gloria Cheng. Tickets, $35 general and $15 student online, or $40 and $20 at the door. Go to JacarandaMusic.org.
Sunday, November 28
Getting a clear view
LBOpera Cinema, the film series presented by Long Beach Opera, is screening Alan Johnson’s “Philip Glass: Looking Glass” at 11 a.m. in the Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., Long Beach. For $10 you get coffee and a lecture by the company’s artistic director Andreas Mitisek, plus a movie. (562) 432-5934 or go to longbeachopera.org.
Prize-winning musical
“Next to Normal,” which won a Tony Award and a Pulitzer, opens at 7 p.m. in the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles in the Music Center. The music is by Tom Kitt, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. Michael Greif directs. Tickets, $20 to $95. Through Jan. 2. Call (213) 972-4400 or go to CenterTheatreGroup.org.
Wednesday, December 1
Tune in
The Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities is presenting its final show of the season, and it’s Walton Jones’s musical holiday tribute to the swing era, “1940s Radio Hour.” It’s starring several CLOSBC regulars like Kim Arnett and Misty Cotton, Harrison White and Sam Zeller. The show is set in December, 1942. Previews tonight and tomorrow, with the gala opening on Saturday, Dec. 4. Tickets, $30 to $65. Through Dec. 19. Call (310) 372-4477 or go to civiclightopera.com.
Your monthly pass
Sangria Restaurant, 68 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, presents live jazz each Wednesday from 6:30 to 9:30, and here’s the lineup for the whole month of December. Tonight, it’s the Jacques Lesure quartet; on Dec. 8, the Clayton Cameron Trio; on Dec. 15, the Katie Thiroux Trio; on Dec. 22, the Richie Cole Quintet “Christmas Show;” and on Dec. 30, the Mike Scott Quartet. No cover. (310) 376-4412.
Of God and country
“The Calling,” directed by Daniel Alpert, screen at 8 p.m. in the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. Sixth St., San Pedro, as part of the free Community Cinema series. The film explores the forces that are drawing young people to serve their communities and their faith. (310) 833-4813 or go to grandvision.org.
A booster from Wooster
A radical restaging of Tennessee Williams’s “Vieux Carre” is being presented by The Wooster Group tonight through Dec. 12 at REDCAT, the Roy and Edna Disney/Cal Arts Theatre, 631 W. Second St., downtown Los Angeles. This is also a memory play, much like “The Glass Menagerie.” Tickets, $55 general; $45 students. (213) 237-2800 or go to redcat.org.
Something about nothing
The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, which seems to be Shakespeare/LA in new garb, presents a full-scale indoor production of The Bard’s “Much Ado About Nothing” for 23 performances at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City. Tickets, now through the Dec. 12 matinee, are $35 to $65; thereafter they’re $40 to $70. Call (213) 628-2772 or go to CenterTheatreGroup.org/MuchAdo. ER