8 pm: Theater

In “Life Is a Dream,” the world premiere of Kenneth Cavandar’s adaptation of Pedro Calderon de la Barca’s play, a prince, raised as a caged beast in a tower, is then placed on the throne to challenge a fate foretold by the stars.

* “Life Is a Dream,” A Noise Within, 234 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, Friday and May 9-10, 18 at 8 p.m.; Saturday and May 19 at 2 and 8 p.m.; May 6, 27 at 2 and 7 p.m.; May 26 at 8 p.m. Ends May 27. $16 to $40. (323) 953-7795.

1 pm: Music

Retiring Los Angeles Master Chorale Music Director Paul Salamunovich conducts an admission-free festival of high school choirs--30 in all--in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the 12th annual Los Angeles Master Chorale High School Choir Festival. This is one of the largest high school choral festivals in the nation and will host 1,200 student singers. This 12th annual festival draws from high schools in El Monte, Bell Gardens, Covina, Claremont, Los Angeles, San Gabriel, Fullerton, Glendale, Van Nuys, Pasadena, Lakewood, Lawndale, Alhambra, San Marino, Santa Monica and other Southern California communities. Tickets are free but reservations are required.

* The 12th annual Los Angeles Master Chorale High School Choir Festival, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A., 1 p.m. (213) 972-3120.

8 pm: Conversation

What Tiger Woods is to golf, what Hank Williams is to country music, Ira Glass is to radio--a master of his craft. As producer and host of public radio’s “This American Life,” Glass has brought to public radio the voices of hundreds of Americans--ordinary and not-so--to half a million listeners. Glass was a hit in previous appearances, when he produced a live installment with such guests as David Sedaris, Dan Savage and Sarah Vowell in “This American Life.” This time, Glass is on his own to talk about creating radio that unfolds like little movies.

* Ira Glass, Royce Hall, UCLA campus, 8 p.m. $20 to $30. (310) 825-2101.

8 pm: Theater

“Bingo!,” a world premiere musical comedy by Michael Heitzman, Ilene Reid and David Holcenberg, presented by Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities, takes a look at America’s favorite parlor game as seven die-hard players compete in a church basement.

* “Bingo!,” Hermosa Beach Playhouse, Pier Avenue at Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends May 6. $35 and $40. (310) 372-4477.

7 pm: Movies

For “Ang Lee’s Chinese Sword & Sorcery: The Films That Inspired ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,’ ” Lee and his longtime collaborator, writer-producer James Schamus, have chosen films from the martial arts genre that influenced their hugely successful movie. Presented by the UCLA Film and Television Archive and the Los Angeles Film Festival, the four-film series begins with the screenings of two features Friday, beginning with “A Touch of Zen,” a 1971 Taiwanese film directed by King Hu. It was the first Chinese film to win an award at Cannes and features a high-flying, acrobatic combat sequence over a bamboo forest. Xu Feng stars as a xia nu (female knight), an archetypal figure in Hu’s films. The second film is the 1980 Hong Kong film “The Sword” (“Ming Jian”), directed by Patrick Tam (Wong Kar-Wai’s mentor), about the pursuit by a wandering warrior of a legendary blade. Schamus selected Saturday morning’s feature, the 1993 Hong Kong feature “Iron Monkey” (“Shao Nian Huang Feihung Zhi Tie Ma Liu”), directed by “Crouching Tiger” and “The Matrix’s” martial arts choreographer, Yuen Wo-Ping. Based on an episode from the oft-told adventures of Wong Fei-Hong, a Cantonese folk hero, the film culminates in a fight between the good guys and the bad atop burning poles. “Iron Monkey” will be preceded by “Anger” (“Nu”), a 40-minute 1970 film by King Hu.

* “Ang Lee’s Chinese Sword & Sorcery: The Films That Inspired ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,’ ” Los Angeles Film Festival, Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. “A Touch of Zen,” Friday, 7 p.m.; “The Sword,” Friday, 10:30 p.m.; “Iron Monkey,” preceded by the short “Anger,” Saturday, 9:30 a.m. $8.50. (323) 937-9155.

8 pm: Pop Music

The last time veteran vocal legend Rosemary Clooney and pop-standards aficionado Michael Feinstein teamed for Los Angeles fans, it was in the vastness of the Hollywood Bowl. For a more intimate sampling of their loving sojourn into the classic pop of the pre-rock era, try them in the cabaret setting at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

* Rosemary Clooney and Michael Feinstein, Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. $47 to $75. (800) 300-4345.

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FREEBIE: Grant Gershon leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in an admission-free concert of music by Glinka, Liszt and Rachmaninoff in Alhambra High School Auditorium, 101 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, at 8 p.m. Piano soloists are Tanya Gabrielian and Xi-Bei Jia. (626) 308-2342.

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The city of Fullerton will offer music, art and dance programs at 11 locations at its 37th annual “A Night in Fullerton” celebration. 7-11 p.m. Call (714) 738-6575 for event descriptions and locations.