8 pm: Theater

“Fame--The Musical,” set in the ‘80s, is the song-and-dance stage spectacular spawned by the hit movie and TV series revolving around the dreams and aspirations of students at New York’s High School for the Performing Arts. It was conceived by David De Silva, with book by Jose Fernandez, lyrics by Jacques Levy and music by Steve Marghoses. (Michael Phillips reviews “Fame,” Page TK.)

* “Fame--The Musical,” Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 2 p.m.; except this Sunday, 2 p.m. only. Also this Friday, 2 p.m. Ends Dec. 5. $22 to $47. (213) 365-3500.

all day: Movies

“Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull,” two films that solidified actor Robert De Niro’s tough-guy image, are playing now through Saturday at the New Beverly Cinema, and we see a kinder, gentler De Niro in writer-director Joel Schumacher’s new dramatic character study “Flawless.” The two-time Academy Award-winning actor plays a conservative blue-collar guy with homophobic tendencies who, following a debilitating stroke, takes voice lessons from, and ultimately befriends, a flamboyant drag queen (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who lives in his apartment building. (Meet the drag queens of “Flawless,” Page XX.)

* Robert De Niro double feature, New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. Today and Friday: “Taxi Driver,” 7:30 p.m.; “Raging Bull,” 9:45 p.m. Saturday: “Taxi Driver,” 2:45 and 7:30 p.m.; “Raging Bull,” 5 and 9:45 p.m. $3 to $6. (323) 938-4038. “Flawless,” rated R for pervasive language and strong violence, opened Wednesday in general release.

8 pm: Theater

Steve Allen will play Charles Dickens, narrating “A Christmas Carol,” in Allen’s own new adaptation of the holiday classic that will star stage and screen veteran Harold Gould as old Scrooge. Allen will appear at most performances, with celebrity guests filling in on selected dates.

* “A Christmas Carol,” Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 and 7 p.m. Ends Jan. 9. $25. (888) 551-WEST.

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FREEBIE: The Laugh Factory’s four Thanksgiving dinners are open to struggling comics, actors and others, 8001 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. Reservations: (323) 656-1336.