Plan Ahead

* Theater--The Ojai Playwrights Conference will return July 21-23 to Zalk Theater at Happy Valley School. This year’s event will offer staged readings of new works by five playwrights. The schedule: July 21, 8 p.m., “Love and Yearning in the Not-for-Profits and Other Marital Distractions” by Ari Roth; July 22, 3 p.m., “Nocturne” by Adam Rapp, and 8 p.m., “Polish Joke” by David Ives; July 23, 3 p.m., “Good Thing” by Jessica Goldberg, and 7:30 p.m., “Fortune” by Deborah Zoe Laufer. Cost is $12 per performance or $50 for the series. The school is at 8585 California 150, Upper Ojai. For reservations or more information, call 640-0400.

* Benefit--Focus on the Masters, an arts education program, will hold its annual fine art auction fund-raiser July 23 at Ventura County Museum of History and Art in Ventura. There will be live and silent bidding for artworks by such area notables as Sergio Aragones, Michele Chapin, Gayel Childress, Bert Collins, Carlisle Cooper, Otto Heino, Gerd Koch and others. Preview and registration: noon-1 p.m. Auction: 1-4 p.m. Registration fee, $5. Proceeds benefit the organization’s “Learning to See Youth Outreach,” a youth-at-risk arts education program. A free auction preview and portrait exhibition will be held July 22 from 1 to 9 p.m. The museum is at 100 E. Main St. 649-9366.

* Jazz--Singer-pianist Yve Evans will perform with an ensemble July 23 at Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave. Show time: 7:30 p.m. $15 general, $12 seniors and students, $8 children 12 and under. 581-9940.

* Balladeer--Veteran singer Engelbert Humperdinck will perform July 23 at 7 p.m. at Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way. $65, $55, $44. 486-2424.