FRIDAY, June 13
Ryan Miller
Ryan Miller
Tommy wigs out. See Wednesday.
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Tommy wigs out. See Wednesday.
When she isn’t making art out of cardboard and giving swimming lessons, “all-American, Jewish, lesbian folksinger” Phranc has been writing new songs about L.A. for the C.O.L.A. Artists Project grants finale{LAW_MORE}. Her Web site hints that we will be treated to “Griffith Park Pony” and “Old in L.A.” Also on the bill are writer Sesshu Foster and Los Angeles Poverty Department director John Malpede. Part of Grand Performances’ MMM series — Music, Movement, Meaning. California Plaza, 300-350 S. Grand Ave., dwntwn.; Fri., June 13, 8:30 p.m.; free. (213) 687-2159.
SATURDAY, June 14
Holy wow — this week’s no-brainer is The Greg Proops Chat Show, making its debut at the new Largo 310. Proops is a comic you can count on to bring his top game, not to mention the best-dressed funny man in town. Guests include Brit-wit Russell Brand; John C. Reilly, Raconteur Extraordinaire; “Musical Mozart” Jon Brion; and maybe a drop-in, ’cause Proops is Mr. Popularity in this town we call Tinsel. Largo at the Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A.; Sat., June 14, 9 p.m.; $20. (310) 855-0350.
SUNDAY, June 15
Hey there, Hip Dad! Yeah, you with the tattoo of your little ones’ baby footprints on your arm, pushing the leopard-print stroller with the adorable tot wearing the ironic “Chicks Dig Me” T-shirt. It’s your day today, a.k.a. Father’s Day. And because you are so adventurous yet studied in your tastes, we’ve picked out a slightly grown-up yet NPR-approved outing called Notes From the Edge. Singer (chanteuse even) Kathy Fisher, musician Mark Governor and ensemble take rock songs by Radiohead, Björk, Pink Floyd, David Bowie and the Killers and interpret them via string quartet and vocals. How is this a good thing? Wine tasting beforehand, that’s how. Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hlywd.; Sun., June 15, 8 p.m. (wine tasting at 6 p.m.); $22 & $27. (323) 461-3673 (323-GO 1-FORD).
MONDAY, June 16
We don’t include many casting calls in Hoopla, but, well, it’s Monday — a good day to play hooky/call in sick to keep that dream of stardom alive. Jared, the guy from the Subway commercials, and E!’s The Soup host Joel McHale hold an open talent show for 10 lucky beggars ... I mean, aspiring performers. So show up and pretend to be a Jared fan and you might get to be in a Subway commercial, which beats actually working at Subway. Hollywood & Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Mon., June 16, 12:30-1:30 p.m.; free (it'd better be). (312) 929-0510.
TUESDAY, June 17
Would Shakespeare approve? Tiny Ninja Theater presents Macbeth “as it was meant to be seen, performed by tiny plastic dime-store Ninja figures on a briefcase-sized stage.” It’s the miniature brainchild of Dov Weinstein, who stands by the principle that “there are no small parts, only small actors.” The production, which takes place entirely on a briefcase, features more than 100 Tiny Ninjas, along with aliens, a robot and Mr. and Mrs. Smile as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Fake Gallery, 4319 Melrose Ave., L.A.; Mon.-Tues., June 16-17, 8 p.m.; $12. (323) 644-4946.
WEDNESDAY, June 18
Want to make musical-theater history? Be among the first to see a brand-new production of the Who’s Tommy — in 3-D sound. What’s that, you say? Every seat at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre comes outfitted with Bose headphones. The producers promise, “The audience will experience being a paratrooper and encountering a WWII air raid ... and when Tommy goes deaf, so does the audience.” Except for that last part, it all sounds very cool. Nona Hendryx and Alice Ripley star. Ricardo Montalban Theatre, 1615 Vine St., Hlywd.; Tues.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; June 18-29; $50 & $75. (323) 461-0663.
THURSDAY, June 19
We love comedy venues that warn: “Don’t come to expect comedy.” The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre presents Command Performance, based on the maxim that “every comedian is just a closeted, frustrated rock-star wannabe. These comedians have been challenged to perform one song to the best of their abilities. These are comedians getting as seriously musical as they can possibly be.” Who are these comedians? Why, just Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Scott Aukerman, Sean Conroy, Chad Carter, Casey Wilson and Paul Rust, that’s all. Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hlywd.; Thurs., June 19, 11 p.m.; $10. (323) 908-8702.
