Theater

The Rubicon Theatre this weekend will present the world theatrical premiere of Dan Gordon’s “Murder in the First” at the Laurel Theatre in Ventura. The stage adaptation of the screenplay follows the friendship that develops between a prisoner on trial for first degree murder and the young public defender who is assigned to his case. A professional cast includes Ted Neeley, Joseph Fuqua and Larry Hagman. An opening-night fund-raiser, including the show, a sit-down dinner at Ventura City Hall and 1940s entertainment, will benefit the Turning Point Foundation, which provides shelter and services to the homeless mentally ill.

* “Murder in the First,” previews today and Friday, 8 p.m., $20; opening night fund-raiser black-and-white ball, Saturday, $150. Regular show times: Wednesday-Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Through June 25. Weeknights and matinees, $27.50; Friday-Saturday evenings, $32.50. Senior, student and group discounts available. 1006 E. Main St., Ventura.667-2900.

Family Fare

The 54th annual Ojai Festival Family Concert will return to the Libbey Bowl on Saturday. American composer Michael Gandolfi’s “Pinocchio’s Adventures in Funland” and Saint-Saens’ “Carnival of the Animals” will be performed by members of the Santa Barbara Symphony with narration by actor Malcolm McDowell. Also performing will be 13-year-old pianists Jessica Ou and Valerie Lau.

* Ojai Festival Family Concert, Saturday, 10:30 a.m.; Libbey Bowl, downtown Ojai. $6 general; under 17 free. 646-2094.

Jazz

A benefit concert Sunday for KCLU-FM, a National Public Radio affiliate at Cal Lutheran University, will feature the hard-swinging rhythms of the Frank Capp Juggernaut big band. Also performing will be noted jazz-blues singer Barbara Morrison. The show will be at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Outdoor pre-show entertainment will start at 5:30 p.m. with John Mosley’s Agoura High School jazz band. Don’t forget picnic-style snacks and refreshments.

* Frank Capp Juggernaut with Barbara Morrison, Sunday, 7:30 p.m.; Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Scherr Forum, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. $26-$32. 493-3900.

Photography

The Seabee Museum at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme will open a large format photography exhibition Tuesday, documenting the U.S. Navy during World War II. Photographer Edward Steichen was commissioned by the Navy for the project, which featured contributors Horace Bristol, Charles Kerlee, Fenno Jacobs, Victor Jorgenson, Wayne Miller and Dwight Long. The exhibit, which includes many rare color photographs, was prepared by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit Service.

* Photography exhibit, opening Tuesday; weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30-4:30 p.m., Seabee Museum, Naval Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme. Free. 982-5191.