8 pm: Theater

With an excerpt from her acclaimed show “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe,” Lily Tomlin launches the opening night of the third annual one-person show festival, “Solo.” Also on the bill: excerpts from every show in the festival, which features a different program each evening.

* “Solo,” 2100 Square Feet, 5615 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles. Today, 8 p.m. Regular schedule: Fridays, 8 p.m., Syd Rushing and Joyce Guy. Saturdays, 8 p.m., Camille Saviola, Diana-Maria Riva. Saturdays, 2 p.m., John Pennington, Ilann Egeland and guest dancers. Sundays, 2 p.m., Bryna Weiss. Sundays, 7 p.m., Time Winters and Doug Tompos. Ends April 30. $15; opening gala, $25. (323) 655-TKTS.

7 pm: Movies

Janet Leigh may be best known for the legendary shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic “Psycho,” but the petite actress has made more than 50 films. The American Cinematheque is presenting a one-night tribute to Leigh (mother of actress Jamie Lee Curtis) with a screening of one of her earliest movies, director Fred Zinnemann’s 1949 “Act of Violence.” The tribute is part of the cinematheque’s “Side Streets and Back Alleys: The Second Annual Festival of Film Noir” series. The 7 p.m. screening of “Act of Violence” will be followed by a discussion with Leigh. In addition, two other Leigh films--”My Sister Eileen” (1955) and “Two Tickets to Broadway”--will screen Saturday night at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as part of the museum’s “All Singing! All Dancing! All New York!” series.

* “Act of Violence,” Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Today, 7 p.m. $5 to $7. (323) 466-FILM.

* “My Sister Eileen” and “Two Tickets to Broadway,” LACMA, Bing Theater, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Saturday, double feature begins at 7:30 p.m. $5 to $7. (323) 857-6010.

8 pm: Theater

Set in, on and around a reflective pool of water, Mary Zimmerman’s epic “Metamorphoses” delves into the the myths of Ovid to explore the transforming power of love. On the literally fluid set, the cast wades, floats, fights and makes love.

* “Metamorphoses,” Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 2:30 p.m., except 7:30 p.m. only on May 20. Ends May 21. $29 to $42. (213) 628-2772.

8 pm: Magic

Magicians Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger will join forces in “The Forbidden Secret of Magic” at Magicopolis in Santa Monica. The show, which runs through April 16, promises plenty of baffling magical manipulation as well as a look at the mysterious world behind the illusions. McBride was once named magician of the year by Los Angeles’ the Magic Castle.

* “The Forbidden Secret of Magic,” Magicopolis, 1481 4th St., Santa Monica. Tuesday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinees, 2 p.m. Ends April 16. $20 and $25. (310) 451-2241.

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FREEBIE: The First Look Festival screens USC film school projects at the Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. 7:30 p.m. (213) 740-1153.