SUMMERTIME : Escape Tourists, See the Arts : Beyond roller coasters and stunt shows is a world of theater, music and art close to home.

Not wild about roller coasters at Magic Mountain?

Tired of seeing King Kong on the Universal Studios tour?

Don’t be alarmed. Believe it or not, there are a lot of other things to do in the San Fernando Valley this summer.

For music, there are the sounds of Tchaikovsky and early rock ‘n’ roll. For art lovers, there are abstract pieces and poignant photography. And for theater fans, Valley stages will offer classics from Odets and Chekhov, and original contemporary works.

For plays, “the Valley has gone from the second choice of a lot of people to the first choice,” according to Dan Hirsch, managing director of the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks.

Hirsch contends that many producers find it less expensive and more convenient to put on plays at Valley venues. “In many ways, it’s better than Hollywood,” Hirsch said. “A lot of industry people live here, and so it’s closer than going over the hill.”

Better or not, here are some of the summer options available:

Theater

* The Actor’s Alley Repertory Theatre in North Hollywood will present a comedy, “The Male Animal,” written by James Thurber, running from July 22 to Sept. 5.

The play, which explores freedom of speech, revolves around a university student who is highly criticized for writing a pro-Communist editorial in the school newspaper. It was first staged in the late 1930s, when many Americans were beginning to fear the spread of communism.

Director Marcia Rodd said she will try to avoid excessive preaching.

“I will emphasize the comedy more,” Rodd said. “I don’t like being lectured to, and I don’t think most other people do, either.”

Rodd directed “Big Fish, Little Fish” at Actor’s Alley in 1990.

Call (818) 508-4200.

* The work of another well-known writer, Clifford Odets, will be produced this summer when the Company of Characters in Studio City presents “Rocket to the Moon” from July 16 through Aug. 30.

The play--which stars Ed Evanko, who was most recently in “Follies” at Long Beach Civic Light Opera--also gives Peter Ellenstein, 30, an opportunity to direct his father, character actor Robert Ellenstein, 69, who gave Peter acting lessons for nearly a decade. The elder Ellenstein appeared in such movies as “North by Northwest” and “Star Trek IV.”

“I feel like it’s graduation,” the son said. “Although I’ve directed professional actors before, this is different. At least, I’ll have someone who can let me know if I’m messing up.”

“Rocket to the Moon” tells of the search for love in the modern world. Unlike most of the work today, Peter Ellenstein said, there is no happy ending.

“But it is very real,” he added, “and that’s one of the reasons I’m doing it. It is some of Odets’ best writing.” Peter Ellenstein directed “Gift Rap” at the Encino Playhouse in 1990.

Call (818) 508-4538.

* The musical “Dear World” will open in August at the Center Stage in Woodland Hills. The show, which premiered on Broadway in 1969 with Angela Lansbury in the cast, has music composed by Jerry Herman.

Based on “The Madwoman of Chaillot” by Jean Giraudoux, the musical tells the story of an eccentric elderly woman who leads the fight against the oil barons in Paris. It was written in 1947.

Pamela Hall, a member of the original cast, will direct the performance.

“I can’t wait to look at it from the other side,” Hall said. “Everybody made the point that the show had been blown up too big, that it needed to be in an intimate theater. I have heard that so many times that I’m ready to explore it.”

Hall also directs “Broadway Sings Out,” which opened in October, 1990, at the West End Playhouse in Van Nuys and is still playing.

Call (818) 996-0505.

* Opening July 9 at the Group Repertory Theatre in North Hollywood will be “Nautilus,” an original play by writer-director Larry Eisenberg. The piece, about the owners of a New Mexico diner invaded by outlaws, borders on farce and features a 100-pound catfish named Charlie that keeps outgrowing its tank.

“That’s what happens with most of the characters,” Eisenberg said. “It’s about people outgrowing their limitations.”

Earlier this year, Eisenberg directed “Where I Came From” at the Hudson Theatre in Hollywood. “Nautilus” will run indefinitely.

Also at the Group Repertory, starting July 18 and running indefinitely, will be “Chekhov USA,” an adaptation of three Chekhov plays--”A Marriage Proposal,” “Swan Song” and “Harmfulness of Tobacco.”

Call (818) 769-7529.

Art

* The Installations One Gallery in Encino recently opened a new exhibit, “Color in a Dark World,” which features paintings and sculptures conveying the sense of hope that still exists in a world increasingly dominated by violence. The show continues through July 18.

“Color is still the one thing that brings out happiness in people,” said Greg Parsons, the exhibit’s curator. “There are some pieces that are kind of sad, but overall, it should be uplifting. It should still make you forget the horrible things going on in the world.”

Parsons said the collection, which will spotlight about 70 pieces by a dozen artists, was compiled before this spring’s Los Angeles riots. Much of the work, Parsons said, will be pure abstracts.

Starting July 21, the gallery will introduce “Portraits,” an exhibit of paintings, sculpture and photographs of celebrities and ordinary people. Among those unveiled will be Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein and Harpo Marx. The show continues through Aug. 15.

Call (818) 981-9422.

* “Looking In, Looking Out,” a series of window installations by six women artists, will continue through Sept. 1 at the Lankershim Arts Center in North Hollywood. Daniel Veneciano, the coordinator for the series that began in May, said, “When we put in a call for recommendations, most of the calls we received were for women artists.” He added that a panel discussion in August will attempt to investigate why women seem to favor this form.

Call (818) 989-8066.

The Gene Autry Museum will continue its exhibit, “Russian America: The Forgotten Frontier,” which includes 650 artifacts, photographs and artworks collected from the territory that eventually became Alaska.

Among the historical items featured are the actual check for $7.2 million that the United States paid to Russia in 1867 for sovereignty over Alaska; a brass tablet inscribed “Russian Land,” the only surviving example of plaques buried by Russian officials to mark Russia’s claim; and the first public showing of original watercolors by Mikhail Tikhanov, a former serf who joined V. M. Golovin’s around-the-world expedition that began in 1817 and included inspection of Russian America.

Call (213) 667-2000.

Music

* Ronnie Mack’s “Barn Dance,” held each Tuesday night at the Palomino in North Hollywood, will feature its third annual tribute to rock legends Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran on July 28. The final lineup isn’t set yet, but Mack said the concert will include about 15 bands.

“Vincent and Cochran were the original pioneers of rockabilly,” said Mack, who has hosted Barn Dance since 1988. “They influenced the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and a lot of other groups.”

Vincent, who recorded “Be-Bop-A-Lula” in 1956, died in 1971 after suffering from a bleeding ulcer. His band, Gene Vincent and the Bluecaps, was among the most popular acts in the country at the time.

Cochran is best known for two hits: “C’mon Everybody” and “Somethin’ Else.” He was 21 when he died in a car accident in 1960.

* The Fourth of July Celebration at the Iguana Cafe in North Hollywood will feature music, poetry and performance artists.

The event will kick off at 3 p.m. and run past midnight. Spoken-word readings will be presented by Bayla Winters, Raoul Hurd and Kathianne Osburn.

Call (818) 763-7735.

* On July 18, the Glendale Symphony Orchestra will hold its seventh annual Summer Pops Concert at Glendale High School. The theme, in conjunction with the 500th anniversary of Columbus landing in America, will be “Music of the Americas.”

The orchestra, conducted by Lalo Schifrin, will play songs ranging from Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” to “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” It will close with Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Overture.

Schifrin explained that the history of music in the Americas has made a huge impact throughout the world.

“People used to be dancing to the music of the polkas,” Schifrin said. “Now, in the whole world, people have adopted the music from here.”

Schifrin said, however, that he will mostly stay away from rock ‘n’ roll tunes.

“That music doesn’t translate too well into a symphony,” he said. “People might find it offensive or a distortion.”

Call (818) 500-8720.