TODAYTHEATERPoliticsare broughtinto playPlaywright John Strand explores the...

TODAY

THEATER

Politics

are brought

into play

Playwright John Strand explores the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and the corruption of politics in contemporary America in “Lincolnesque,” a world premiere play at the Old Globe Theatre.

“Lincolnesque,” Old Globe Theatre, Cassius Carter Centre Stage, Balboa Park, San Diego. Opens 8 p.m. today. $19 to $56. (619) 234-5623; www.theoldglobe.org.

* Runs 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Ends Sept. 10.

MUSIC

Ready to take the lead

The excellent Los Angeles Philharmonic conducting support team swings into action with three concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. Joana Carneiro, L.A. Phil conducting fellow, leads a Russian program tonight, with works by Mussorgsky, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. Stephen Hough will be the soloist in Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.” Then, on Friday and Saturday, the Phil’s assistant conductor, Alexander Mickelthwate, will lead a Tchaikovsky program with fireworks. Jon Kiruma Parker will be the soloist in Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto. Next season, Carneiro will become assistant conductor. Mickelthwate moves up to associate conductor.

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. 8 tonight. $1 to $93. (323) 850-2000; www.HollywoodBowl.com.

* Also 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $5 to $111.

POP MUSIC

Like gefilte fish gumbo

It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to describe the

New Orleans Klezmer All Stars as the ultimate klezmer bar band. While they don’t hesitate to display their authentic klez credentials, they also don’t hesitate to rock out with an eclectic blend of styles, grooves and rhythms that could only have been generated in the melting pot of New Orleans. Add to that the wildly whimsical presence of tunes such as “Manichalfwitz” (the title of their current album), “The Bar Mitzvah of Raymond Scott,” “Mo White Fish” and “Benya Krik the Gangster” (after a character in Isaac Babel’s “Odessa Stories”), and this is a group that is, happily, like no other.

New Orleans Klezmer All Stars, Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. 7 tonight. Free. (310) 440-4500.

FRIDAY

DANCE

Movement on the

world stage

The final performance of the 2006 APPEX (Asia

Pacific Performance

Exchange) project at UCLA features collaborative

work by many of the 18

distinguished artists selected for the summer-long residency program. Presented on campus in Glorya Kaufman Hall, the event features the creative interaction of music and dance specialists from India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and the U.S.

Asia Pacific Performance Exchange, Glorya Kaufman Dance Theater, 120 Westwood Plaza, UCLA campus. 7 p.m. Friday. $10 (students, seniors) and $12. (310) 825-2101; www.tickets.ucla.edu.

JAZZ

Suspended in salty air

For those who enjoy their music with a salt-tinged ocean breeze, the 19th annual Long Beach Jazz Festival convenes this weekend at Rainbow Lagoon Park. Kicking things off Friday will be the Rendezvous All-Stars, featuring Wayman Tisdale, Jonathan Butler, Kirk Whalum and Brian Simpson. David Benoit also plays. Brian Culbertson and the duo of George Duke and Stanley Clarke head Saturday’s lineup, and on Sunday, Poncho Sanchez and Barbara Morrison with the Al Williams Jazz Society, among others, take over.

Long Beach Jazz Festival, Rainbow Lagoon Park, Shoreline Drive, between Pine Street and Linden Avenue, Long Beach. 5 to 11 p.m. Friday. $40 to $165. (562) 424-0013; www.longbeachjazzfestival.com.

* Also: Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

WORDS

In a world of Pixies

Frank Black and Kim Deal, the linchpins of the influential ‘90s band the Pixies, met when Black posted an ad looking for a bassist who liked Husker Du and Peter, Paul & Mary. With bandmates Joey Santiago and David Lovering, the Pixies mixed esoteric lyrics about Catholicism, surfing and Martians with abrasive, gut-level guitars, laying the groundwork for the alt-rock explosion of the ‘90s. In “Fool the World: The Oral History of a Band Called Pixies,” Josh Frank tells the story of the Boston-based band with help from A&R; executives, producers, collaborators and fans.

Josh Frank, “Fool the World: The Oral History of a Band Called Pixies,” Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Friday. Free. (626) 449-5320.

MOVIES

Another view of ’92

Snoop Dogg narrates “The L.A. Riot Spectacular,” music video director Marc Klasfield’s bid to satirize events that fueled the 1992 “civil disturbance.” Against a ‘90s rap soundtrack, the movie’s cast includes Charles S. Dutton as Mayor Tom Bradley, Ronny Cox as LAPD Chief Daryl Gates, William Forsythe as videographer George Holliday and T.K. Carter as Rodney King.

“The L.A. Riot Spectacular” opens Friday exclusively at the Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 848-3500. R for pervasive language, violence, some sexual content and brief drug use.

SATURDAY

EVENTS

Sports fans chill out

Need a break from these hot summer scorchers? Think ice. Michelle Kwan, Irina Slutskaya, Evgeni Plushenko, Sasha Cohen, Shizuka Arakawa and Johnny Weir head the cast of more than 20 performers in Champions on Ice, a noncompetitive extravaganza. The skaters will perform their choreographed routines to music including the Black Eyed Peas and Green Day, Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli.

Champions on Ice, Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., L.A. 3 p.m. Saturday. $29 to $160. (213) 742- 7340.

* Also at 3 p.m. Sunday at Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim. $29 to $160. (714) 704-2500.

SUNDAY

MUSEUMS

That’s life in suburbia

Before it was associated with desperation and sprawl, the suburbs represented the American dream for many. Bay Area photographer Bill Owens documented the phenomenon in the 1970s, when the number of Americans living in tract homes peaked. About 50 photographs in “Bill Owens: Suburbia” give an intimate peak into the lives of suburban dwellers, including images of housewives in their curlers, children’s birthday parties and backyard barbecues.

“Bill Owens: Suburbia,” MOCA at the Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. Free. Opens Sunday. (213) 626- 6222.

* Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, to 8 p.m. Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Ends Oct. 15.

TUESDAY

THEATER

The art

of the con

In “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” two con men on the French Riviera compete to be the first to swindle a rich heiress. This national touring production, marking the L.A. premiere of the hit musical, stars Norbert Leo Butz, who will reprise his 2005 Tony-winning role, and Tom Hewitt, Tony nominee for “The Rocky Horror Show.”

“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Opens 8 p.m. Tuesday. $25 to $80. (213) 365-3500. www.BroadwayLA.org.

* Runs 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Ends Aug. 27.

* Also Aug. 29 through Sept. 10, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. $27 to $72. (714) 556- 2787.

WEDNESDAY

THEATER

Audience

of millions

England’s Unlimited Theatre presents the U.S. premiere of “Static,” Chris Thorpe’s darkly comic look at what results when television brings global tragedies to viewers. The play was a Fringe First Award for “innovation in theatre and an outstanding production” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe of 2000.

“Static,” Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. Wednesday. $20. (866) 468- 3399. www.Skirballorg.* Also 8 p.m. Aug. 18, 7 and 9 p.m. Aug. 19. Ends Aug. 19.