all day

Photography

A collection of 40 photographs taken by Stephen Wilkes during a 52-day cross-country journey offers a unique look at contemporary life in America in “Epson’s America in Detail,” opening Friday in Santa Monica. The New York photographer traveled 18 states in an effort to capture the face of America. He does this in portraits taken in traditional places such as New York’s Times Square and Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive as well as lesser-known photo ops such as a children’s rodeo and a tractor graveyard.

* “Epson’s America in Detail,” Patricia Correia Gallery, 2525 Michigan Ave., E-2, Santa Monica. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Ends March 31. The artist will participate in a discussion, 10 a.m.-noon Friday. Free. (310) 264-1760.

all day

Movies

Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts are paired for the first time in the violent comedy “The Mexican.” Pitt plays a lowly criminal given an ultimatum by the mob: Go to Mexico and retrieve the titular item, a priceless antique pistol, or face the consequences. Meanwhile, girlfriend Roberts is fed up with his career choice and orders him to get out. James Gandolfini of “The Sopranos” co-stars. Pitt and Roberts will reteam later this year in Steven Soderbergh’s “Ocean’s Eleven.”

* “The Mexican,” rated R for violence and language, opens Friday in general release.

6pm

Movies

Peter Bogdanovich’s fine 1971 adaptation of “The Last Picture Show,” Larry McMurtry’s novel of small-town Texas in the ‘50s, is this week’s entry in the Friday Night Classic Films Series at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro. A fine ensemble, including Cloris Leachman and Ben Johnson, who won Academy Awards for their supporting roles, plays out the intertwined stories of a dying era, crisply photographed in black and white by Robert Surtees. Jeff Bridges and Ellen Burstyn, both Oscar-nominated this year for “The Contender” and “Requiem for a Dream,” respectively, co-star along with Timothy Bottoms and Cybill Shepherd.

* Friday Night Classic Films Series, “The Last Picture Show,” Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro, 6 and 8:15 p.m. $4 to $5. (310) 548-7672.

8pm

Theater

Douglas Sills (“The Scarlet Pimpernel”) is Benedick to Nike Doukas’ Beatrice in Mark Rucker’s staging of Shakespeare’s classic “Much Ado About Nothing,” imbued with the flavor of Hollywood’s 1930s screwball comedies.

* “Much Ado About Nothing,” South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 8 p.m. Regular schedule: Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Ends April 1. $28 to $49. (714) 708-5555.

8pm

Theater

“Jerome Kern, Life Upon the Wicked S.T.A.G.E.,” the 17th annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event, is a tribute to Kern featuring more than two dozen such stage and screen notables as Ian Abercrombie, Robert Morse, Carole Cook, Charles Busch, Joely Fisher, Dale Kristien, Pam Dawber, Roger Rees and Jane Carr. Proceeds will benefit organizations supporting people living with HIV and AIDS.

* “Jerome Kern, Life Upon the Wicked S.T.A.G.E.,” Luckman Theatre, Cal State Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, L.A. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. $30 to $200. (323) 656-9069.

8pm

Jazz

Grammy winner Dianne Reeves’ musical eclecticism made it hard to categorize her early work, which ranged from R&B; to pop to jazz. But she’s made a strong jazz commitment in recent years and arrives at Royce Hall in support of her superb new album--”The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan”--a tribute to the legendary vocalist.

* Dianne Reeves, Royce Hall, UCLA, Westwood, 8 p.m. $45, $35, $25 and $12 (UCLA students with valid I.D.). (310) 825-2101.

*

FREEBIE: The Enigma Trio (violinist Linda Wang, cellist Marek Szpakiewicz and pianist Sarkis Baltaian) plays trios by Schubert and Dvorak in the Recital Hall at Los Angeles Harbor College, 1111 Figueroa Place, Wilmington, at 8 p.m. (310) 372-4222. The trio repeats the program Sunday at 3 p.m. at Pacific Unitarian Church, 5621 Montemalaga Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes.

* The Documentary Salon Series presents “States of Fear,” Mary Raftery’s film on Ireland’s industrial schools, where tens of thousands of Irish children were imprisoned during the last century, UCLA, Melnitz Hall, James Bridges Theater, near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Hilgard Avenue, Westwood, 7:30 p.m. (310) 206-8422