ArtA generous group of black-and-white photos that...

Art

A generous group of black-and-white photos that speaks fondly of other times and places, William Claxton’s images of jazz musicians are a summer treat at the City of Brea Gallery. Most of these photographs from the 1950s and ‘60s are intimate views of musicians playing for their own amusement, or just hanging out in Hollywood, Memphis, New York, Chicago, New Orleans and Newport, R.I. The greats are here, including Louis Armstrong and Sarah Vaughan--so too are people who never got famous but were no less addicted to jazz culture. Claxton’s great skill is to catch peak moments of musical intensity, stylish preening and unbuttoned leisure time.

* What: “JAZZ: William Claxton.”

* When: Noon-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.Through Aug. 9.

* Where: City of Brea Gallery, 1 Civic Center Circle.

* Whereabouts: Exit the Orange (57) Freeway at Imperial Highway and go west. Turn right onto Randolph Avenue, right onto Birch Street and then make an immediate right into the parking lot.

* Wherewithal: $1; under age 18, free.

* Where to call: (714) 990-7730.

Comedy

Long before she became a household face as Margaret Cho’s pal in the ABC sitcom “All-American Girl,” Judy Gold had made her name as a comedy headliner across the country. The acerbic, offbeat New Jersey native, who recently landed a role as Richard’s neighbor on NBC’s “Caroline in the City,” loves to work the crowd while discussing her overprotective mother or mocking the overexuberance of Southern California’s TV weather forecasters.

* Who: Judy Gold.

* When: Tonight at 8:30, Friday at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., Saturday 8 and 10:30 p.m., Sunday at 8 p.m.

* Where: The Improv, 4255 Campus Drive, Irvine.

* Whereabouts: Exit the San Diego (405) Freeway at Jamboree Road and go south. Turn left onto Campus Drive. The club is in the Irvine Marketplace.

* Wherewithal: $8-$10.

* Where to call: (714) 854-5455.

Theater

If Peter Pan were paid by the head for watching over his Lost Boys, he’d really clean up in Brea, where dozens of boys--along with scads of pirates and great gobs of Indians--are performing in the Brea Youth Theatre’s staging of “Peter Pan.” The show, directed and produced by Janice Kraus of Stagelight Family Productions and closing this weekend, features two rotating casts of more than 100 children and adults singing and dancing their way through the 1954 musical version of James M. Barrie’s classic story. And yes, Peter and the Darlings really do fly, with a little pixie dust and a big boost from Flying by Foy.

* What: “Peter Pan.”

* When: 7:30 p.m. today and Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

* Where: Curtis Theatre, Brea Civic and Cultural Center, 1 Civic Center Circle.

* Whereabouts: Exit the Orange (57) Freeway at Imperial Highway; go west. Turn right onto Randolph Avenue, right onto Birch Street and then make an immediate right into the parking lot.

* Wherewithal: $7.50-$9.50, advance purchase suggested.

* Where to call: (714) 990-7722.

Kid Stuff

The fold-and-fly set will get its moment in the sun this weekend as part of an Americana Festival hosted by the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art. The event is a paper airplane flying contest open to aspiring pilots ages 5 and up. Contestants will be judged on the creativity of their craft, its flight range and maneuverability. Sign-ups start at 1 p.m., with launching an hour later from a museum balcony. BYO plane (built to contest specs) or make one with materials provided at the festival. There will also be music and dancing, stagecoach rides, historical displays, arts and crafts, lawn games and storytelling. Not to mention a patriotic sing-along and kazoo concert.

* What: The Bowers Museum Americana Festival.

* When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

* Where: The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana.

* Whereabouts: Exit the Santa Ana (5) Freeway at Main Street and head south.

* Wherewithal: Free.

* Where to call: (714) 480-1520 or (714) 567-3600.