Thursday, May 7
Cats and dogs? maybe not
Presented by South Bay Contemporary, “Visualization in Art and Science,” curated by Margaret Lazzari, opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Loft, 401 S. Mesa St., third floor, San Pedro. Both art and science are on an ongoing quest for knowledge about the natural world, as this exhibition shows. Featuring Ricky Alley, Fatemeh Burnes, David Chappell, Kristen Chen, Jennifer Dekoeyer Crump, Candice Gawne, Ken Goldberg, Bob Kao, Margaret Lazzari, Andrew McMahon, Ann Page, Sarah Perry, Jamie Sweetman, Ruth Trotter, and Gail Wight. Artist talk on Sunday, May 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. Call (310) 429-0973 or go to southbaycontemporary.com.
Cinematic photography
“Gabriel Figueroa: Photography from Mexico’s Golden Age of Film” opens with a reception from 5 to 9 p.m. at Post-Future: The Art Company @ Williams Book Store, 443 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. For more, call (424) 224-7656 or go to post-future.com.
Friday, May 8
Cute and adorable
Shirley Temple stars in “The Little Princess,” screening at 8:15 Friday and Saturday, with 2:30 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday, in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Miss Shirley was 11-years-old when she made this film and it was the final success of her childhood career (what had YOU done by that age, huh?). Tickets, $10 general; $8 seniors. More at OldTownMusicHall.org.
The marriage lottery
“Imported Bride,” a comedy set in the Scholars Restaurant in Chinatown, is about a lonely dishwasher (and scholar) named Zhang who becomes disfigured but still longs for the perfect mate. After many twists and turns, he finally finds his very own imported bride. It takes place on Friday and Saturday in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $30, $25, $20. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to torrancearts.org.
Now gather ‘round children
Author D.J. MacHale talks about his books and his career from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Hermosa Beach Library, 550 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. His works include “Morpheus Road,” the “SYLO Chronicles” and the picture book “The Monster Princess.” Cal (310) 379-8475 or go to colapublib.org.
Saturday, May 9
Found, and reworked
Ben Zask finds objects, mostly wood and metal, handles them, examines them, and then matches them up with other such objects that go together physically or visually.
He contrasts elements: rough with smooth; organic with geometric; and as the piece builds, the story builds. “These Into That (2010-2015): Found Objects Art” goes on view with a reception from 4 to 8 p.m. at Gallery H, 12619 Hawthorne Blvd, Hawthorne. Curated by Gloria Plascencia. There’s an artist talk and interactive demo for all ages on Saturday, May, 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. Call (310) 869-4992 or go to phantomgalleriesla.com.
Concertos and opera selections
The El Camino College Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dane Teter, performs at 3 p.m. in Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. They will perform Smetana’s “The Moldau,” Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Euridice,” Mozart’s “Clarinet Concerto in A Major K. 622,” Saint-Saens’s “Samson et Dalila,” Koussevitzky’s “Concerto for Double Bass in e minor, Op.3,” and Walton’s “Crown Imperial.” Tickets, $10. Call (310) 329-5345 or go to centerforthearts.org.
Looking way down
Aerial photographs of the South Bay, plus selected black-and-white imagery of greater L.A. and the Colorado Rockies (presumably not the baseball team), are included in “Elements: Sea-Air-Land,” the work of Kevin Gilligan. The photographs will be on view Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ego Fine Art, 604 N. Francisca Ave., Redondo Beach. Call (310) 345-0212.
Physics and Cubism
Steve Martin’s comedy “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” opens at 8 p.m. at the Torrance Theatre Company, 1316 Cabrillo Ave., Torrance. Basically it’s “Einstein and Picasso walk into a bar…” and you can take it from there. Fun stuff. Directed by Jim Hormel. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., plus Thursday, June 11, at 8 followed by a Q&A with the cast. No shows Memorial Day Weekend (May 24-26). Closes June 14. Tickets, $25. Call (424) 243-6882 or go to TorranceTheatreCompany.com.
And they’ll do just that
“I’m Gonna Sing” is being presented by the El Camino College Chorale at 8 p.m. in the Campus Theatre, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Joanna Medawar Nachef conducts. Works by Puccini, Rutter, Whitacer, Shank, Hogan, Gibbs and others will be performed. Tickets, $10. Call (310) 329-5345 or go to centerforthearts.com.
In your neighborhood
“South Bay Snapshots” opens with a reception from 4 to 8 p.m. at Phantom Galleries L.A., 12609 Hawthorne Blvd., Hawthorne. Local photographers include Melissa Richardson Banks, Jon Berry, Arlene P. Carley, and Richard Podgurski, Jr. Images depict daily life in the South Bay. Closing reception on June 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. (213) 446-3467.
It could happen here
King Harbor Brewing Company is hosting a “Crawl 4 Nepal” from 12 noon to 9 p.m. with 50 percent of the proceeds earmarked for relief and recovery efforts in earthquake-rattled Nepal. 2907 182nd St., Redondo Beach.
Old timers get ready
The “16th Annual Senior Faire: Get into the Act” takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Ken Miller Rec Center, 3341 Torrance Blvd., Torrance. Arts and crafts and of course blood pressure screenings. Free.
Sunday, May 10
Time to remember mom
The Palos Verdes Symphonic Band presents “Mostly Movie Music for Moms” at 5 p.m. in the Frances Young Hall at the South Coast Botanic Gardens, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. David Stanton conducts, and the program includes John Williams’ title music from “Catch Me If You Can” with saxophonist Jay Mason, plus work by Irving Berlin, Percy Grainger and others. Tickets, $9. Call (310) 792-8286 or go to pvband.org.
Variety show
Himawari Karaoke Doko-Kai presents their 25th anniversary show (Himawari) at 1 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $40. Call (310) 781-7171.
Wednesday, May 13
This style, now that
The “North High School Spring Dance Concert” takes place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, May 14, in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical, it’s all here. Tickets, $10. Call (310) 938-7033.
