Weekend Forecast

TODAY

Holiday tradition a la Olvera

Olvera Street’s annual nine-day Las Posadas ceremony, re-enacting the original Christmas story of Mary and Joseph’s sojourn to Bethlehem, continues today and concludes Friday. Singing, a candlelight procession and the breaking of a pinata happen each night.

Las Posadas, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, 125 Paseo de la Plaza, L.A. 6-8:30 p.m. today. Free. (213) 625-5045.

* Also Friday, 6-8:30 p.m.

Peaceable bluesman

Keb’ Mo’s latest album isn’t a Christmas

collection, but if “Peace on Earth” is the season’s key sentiment, then

“Peace ... Back by Popular Demand” fits neatly into the spirit of the holidays. The Compton-born blues channeler figures to play some of the album’s nine classic peace and freedom songs (including Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin,’ ” John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”) during his Christmas concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Keb’ Mo’, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Today, 8 p.m. $25-$75. 323-850-2000.

Body language

Artist Diana Moore’s continuing solo exhibition, “The Exploration of the Body -- The Figure, the Vessel, the Purse,” makes discoveries through sculptures, containers and purses created to resemble the female body. Moore cast carbon steel and bronze into soft, feminine shapes that resemble archeological objects. Among them: ancient Egyptian canopic jars, and bulls that guarded Assyrian palaces.

“Diana Moore: The Exploration of the Body -- The Figure, the Vessel, the Purse,” Forum Gallery, 8069 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. today. (323) 655-1550.

* Closed Friday and Saturday; also 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-next Friday; ends Dec. 31.

ALL WEEKEND

Let’s get serious

Holiday movies typically are full of fun and froth, but with the end of the year also the domain for awards consideration, more serious fare is finding its way into theaters. Three such films featuring weightier themes open this week amid the frenzy of last-minute shopping and yuletide festivities. A Golden Globes nominee for best drama, best actor in a drama and best song, Terry George’s “Hotel Rwanda” stars Don Cheadle in the true story of an African hotel manager who gave refuge to 1,200 people during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Gianni Amelio’s “The Keys to the House,” the official Italian submission for the Academy Award for best foreign-language film, tells the story of a guilt-ridden father meeting the disabled teenage son he abandoned as a child. Since its premiere at Sundance in January, Nicole Kassell’s “The Woodsman” has earned critical praise for its demanding portrayal of a pedophile as well as for the performance of star Kevin Bacon.

“Hotel Rwanda,” rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and brief strong language, is playing at AMC Century City 14, Pacific’s the Grove and the Bridge Cinema De Lux. “The Keys to the House,” not yet rated, is playing at the Landmark Westside Pavilion Cinemas, West L.A. “The Woodsman,” rated R for sexuality, disturbing behavior and language, opens Friday at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 and Mann’s Criterion, Santa Monica.

SATURDAY

It’s simply a matter of faith

“Letting Go of God,” Julia Sweeney’s scathing, hilarious new solo show about losing her religion, is after more than cheap disdain. Instead, in her challenging, disarmingly honest testimony, it’s clear that she takes questions of faith more seriously than do many of the faithful.

“Letting Go of God,” Hudson Backstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. 8 p.m. Christmas Day. $23. (323) 960-4420.

* Also 3 p.m. Sunday. Regular schedule: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; dark Dec. 31; ends Jan. 23.

SUNDAY

Muppets paired with Dr. Seuss

The New Beverly Cinema does its best to alleviate the post-holiday blues with a double feature of kids films guaranteed to distract even the unruliest of children. “The Muppets Take Manhattan” finds Kermit and the gang attempting to mount a Broadway show, while “The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T” is Dr. Seuss’ fantasy about a nightmarish piano teacher.

“The Muppets Take Manhattan” 3:55 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; “The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T” 2:10, 5:45 and 9:20 p.m. Sunday, New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. (323) 938-4038.

* Also “Muppets” at 7:30 p.m. and “Dr. T” at 9:20 p.m. Monday-Tuesday.

They dare to defy gravity

The New Shanghai Circus, an astonishing, exotic theatrical dazzler, returns for the holidays with a family-friendly and colorfully costumed roster of daredevil acrobats and illusionists. In a homegrown twist, this year’s show is directed by award-winning American magician Greg Wilson.

New Shanghai Circus, Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. 3 p.m. Sunday, $30 and $40; four or more tickets for one performance, $25 per ticket. (800) 300-4345. www.cerritoscenter.com

* Also 2 and 7:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 2 p.m. next Thursday.

TUESDAY

Percussive choristers

Latin jazz meets holiday music from north and south of the border when Grant Gershon leads the 63-voice Los Angeles Master Chorale in a holiday program accompanied by a 17-piece all-star ensemble that includes percussionist Alex Acuna, saxophonist Justo Almario, trumpeter Bobby Rodriguez, percussionists Pete Escovedo and Sheila E. and pianist Otmaro Ruiz.

“Celebrar, Voces Navidenas de las Americas,” Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 7 p.m. Tuesday. $19-$79. (800) 787-5262.

* Also 7 p.m. Wednesday.