8 pm Jazz

Guitarist Larry Carlton started as a first-call session man for Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Steely Dan (that’s his guitar solo on “Kid Charlemagne”), Quincy Jones and a host of others. For the last 20-odd years, he’s been a solo artist who brings edge and aggression to the smooth jazz scene. Here, he performs in one of Southern California’s most attractive venues, an intimate outdoor amphitheater with Newport’s back bay in the distance.

* Larry Carlton, Hyatt Newporter Summer Jazz Series, Hyatt Newporter Hotel, 11107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach. 8 p.m. $25. (949) 721-4000.

8pm

Movies

The American Cinematheque presents the 2nd Annual Universal Studios Hitchcock International Director Series, five days devoted to world cinema. Esteemed Chilean director Miguel Littin, a two-time Oscar nominee for best foreign language film, leads off the series with his latest, “Tierra Del Fuego,” which had its premiere at Cannes last month. Littin will participate in a discussion afterward.

* 2nd Annual Universal Studios Hitchcock International Director Series, Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. “Tierra Del Fuego” (2000), Friday, 8 p.m. “Lamerica” (1994), Saturday, 8 p.m. Short Film Directors Showcase, Sunday, 2 p.m. $5 to $7. (323) 466-FILM.

8pm

Theater

“The Deal,” Mark Witten’s political thriller about greed and entrapment, raises moral questions as an undercover FBI agent befriends a small-time politician to expose widespread corruption. The International City Theatre production is staged by noted director Allan Miller.

* “The Deal,” International City Theatre at Center Theater, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends July 16. $25 to $35; opening night, $40 to $60. (562) 436-4610.

8:30pm

Music

You know summer has truly arrived in Los Angeles when John Mauceri takes up the conductor’s baton in front of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. This year’s Hollywood Bowl Opening Night Gala includes the first inductions into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame: conductor-composer John Williams and singer-songwriter Garth Brooks.

* Hollywood Bowl Opening Night Gala at the Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave. 8:30 p.m. $7 to $75. (213) 972-3051. Tickets: (213) 480-3232.

8pm

Theater/Family

“Ventriloquism Unplugged: A Concert of Belly Talkers” stars “Ed Sullivan Show” veteran Rick E. Layne, and his wooden partner Velvel, plus ventriloquists Nancy Mitchell and Jerry Layne. The performances include a Q & A with the artists, video presentation and pointers in basic ventriloquism.

* “Ventriloquism Unplugged: A Concert of Belly Talkers,” Santa Monica Puppet & Magic Center, 1255 2nd St., Santa Monica. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Family-oriented shows: Saturday, 3 p.m.; Sunday, 1 and 3 p.m. Ends Sunday. $15 to $20. (310) 656-0483.

7:30pm

Festival

The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, but the Summer Solstice Folk Music, Dance and Storytelling Festival is three times longer. The festival steps off with a contra dance, a storytelling concert, and a music jam on Friday night. The weekend is full of workshops from fiddling to whittling. Or, just sit back and watch continuous music and dance performances. On Saturday night, there’s a special concert featuring folk singer Peggy Seeger.

* 18th Annual Summer Solstice Folk Music, Dance and Storytelling Festival, Soka University of America, 26800 W. Mulholland Highway, Calabasas. Friday, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Storytelling concert or contra dance, $10. Music jam, free. Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. $25; under 12, free with adult. Contra dance Saturday, 7:30-10:30 p.m., $10. Peggy Seeger, Saturday, 8:30 p.m., at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza Hotel, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village. $10 to $50. (818) 817-7756.

8pm

Theater

Douglas Carter Beane’s 1999 Off-Broadway hit show, “As Bees in Honey Drown,” is a zany cautionary tale about the dangers of excess in which a seemingly rich seductress hires a starry-eyed first-time novelist to write the screenplay of her life story. The subject of the screenplay turns out to be a con woman.

* “As Bees in Honey Drown,” Ensemble Theatre Company, Alhecama Theatre, 914 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m. Ends July 23. $20 to $28. (805) 962-8606.

Freebies

Bassist Art Davis leads his quartet at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. (323) 857-6000.

Director Roland Emmerich, producer Dean Devlin and writers Suzanne Fritz and Rachel Aberly discuss the upcoming film “The Patriot” at 7 p.m. at Brentano’s, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Century City. (310) 785-0204.