BEST BETS FRIDAY 10/13

7:30pm Storytelling

The spoken word comes to vivid life at the 10th annual “Once Upon a Story” storytelling festival in San Juan Capistrano. The two-day event combines the art of storytelling with music and performance art, with performances by Jim Cogan, Diane Ferlatte and Liz Miller. Merging storytelling with “mountain” music, “The David Holt Music and Story Show” caps a full evening of storytelling on Friday night. Workshops and performances will take place Saturday. Some shows will be geared toward families; others will be more appropriate for adults.

* “Once Upon a Story,” Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real; Historic Town Center Park, 31806 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. Friday, 7:30-10 p.m., $5 to $9. Saturday, 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m., $10 to $25 all day. Specific event tickets available. (949) 493-5911.

8pm

Theater

Making a rare stage appearance in “All Under Heaven,” Valerie Harper portrays Nobel Prize-winning writer and social activist Pearl S. Buck and people in Buck’s life. A West Coast premiere, the one-woman play was written by Harper with Dyke Garrison. Proceeds will benefit the nonprofit California Youth Theatre.

* “All Under Heaven,” Ivar Theatre, 1605 N. Ivar Ave., Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m. Ends Nov. 5. $32.50 to $40. (213) 365-3500, (323) 461-7300, (310) 657-3270.

all day

Family/Film

Hollywood may be on the hot seat over a lack of family fare, but the first “Burbank International Children’s Film Festival” is decidedly kid-friendly. Families--and film professionals, too--can sample feature-length and short independent films, including animation, student films and movies made by younger kids. This seven-day event also has special programs for children under 12 and for ages 12 to 18, as well as studio tours, filmmaker’s panels, awards and workshops.

* “Burbank International Children’s Film Festival,” Media City Center, I-5 at Burbank Boulevard, Burbank. Friday through Oct. 20. Screenings, $4 to $5. Admission varies for panels and special events for adults. Opening night celebration, Friday 6 p.m. to midnight, $10 to $25. Festival passes available. https://www.burbankfilm.org or (818) 841-3901.

8pm

Music

The second annual Eclectic Orange Festival opens officially with the West Coast premiere performance of Philip Glass’ evening-long (101 minutes) Symphony No. 5. Carl St. Clair conducts the combined Pacific Symphony, Pacific Chorale and Pacific Chorale Children’s Chorus and soloists in the work’s three movements: Requiem, Bardo and Nirmanakaya. At 7 p.m., composer Glass will discuss the work in a preconcert event free to ticket-holders. The same night over at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, Ballet Pacifica performs a new work by Peter Pucci. The Eclectic Orange Festival continues through Dec. 1.

* Eclectic Orange Festival opening, Philip Glass’ Symphony No. 5, Segerstrom Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. $15 to $55. (714) 755-5799. Ballet Pacifica, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Road, Irvine. 8 p.m. Also Saturday, 2:30 and 8 p.m. $20 to $24. (949) 854-4646.

all day

Movies

“Billy Elliot” is an 11-year-old son of a English coal miner who secretly trades in his boxing gloves for ballet slippers, changing his life forever. Billy’s natural dancing ability is at odds with his rugged home life, and the two very different worlds collide in dramatic fashion. The film marks the feature debut for heralded British theater director Stephen Daldry.

* “Billy Elliot,” rated R for language, opens Friday in selected theaters.

all day

Movies

And you thought Dick Cheney had it rough. In “The Contender,” writer-director Rod Lurie’s new drama, Joan Allen plays a U.S. senator tapped to be the next vice president--if she can survive political assassination. Jeff Bridges plays the commander-in-chief and Gary Oldman is Allen’s nemesis. The stalwart supporting cast includes Christian Slater, William Petersen, Philip Baker Hall and Sam Elliott.

* “The Contender,” rated R for strong sexual content and language, opens Friday in general release.

Freebies:

The California State University Media Arts Festival features screenings of films and videos by Cal State students from throughout the 23-campus system. Cal State Northridge Performing Arts Center and other CSUN venues. 7 p.m. Also Saturday, 7 p.m. (818) 677-3432.

Members of the literary salon Spoken Interludes will read new works on the themes of the Virgin Mary and Raphael’s “Poetry of the Body.” Harold M. Williams Auditorium, Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Brentwood. 7:30 p.m. Reservations required. (310) 440-7300.