LA Weekly

FRIDAY, March 7

Larry "Darkman" Clack

(Click to enlarge)

Sheryl Crow still looks great for her age. See Tuesday.

You have two weeks to catch Silver for Gold (The Odyssey of Edie Sedgwick), the new rock musical by Bauhaus and Love & Rockets founder David J, before it heads to Off-the-Great-White-Way. Mr. J wrote and directed the show, based on the life of Edie Sedgwick, and his goth-yet-enchanting style should translate well to the story of the original party girl and Warhol muse. Monique Jenkinson (a.k.a. Fauxnique) plays Edie. The Met Theatre, 1089 N. Oxford Ave., Hlywd.; Thurs.-Sun., 8 p.m.; thru March 16; $20. (323) 960-7846 or www.plays411.com.

SATURDAY, March 8

Pomona does its best impression of Ireland this weekend for the L.A. County Irish Fair & Music Festival. It's not that much of a stretch: "Inland Empire" = "Emerald Island." Okay, so it is a stretch, but the bands, dancers and craftsmen are the real Irish deal, highlighted by Gaelic Storm (the band from Titanic), the Mulligans, Skelpin, Wrath of McGrath, Twilight Lords and Dublin Four, plus the colorful Emerald Society Drums and Pipers and the 42nd Highlanders Pipes and Drums. Traditional and contemporary dance groups performing include the Royal Scottish Country Dancers, Los Angeles Traditional Irish Set Dancers, Cripple Creek Cloggers and the youthful McCartan Dancers. An Ancient Irish Village will be the site of artisans and street performers re-creating Ireland of old, with a blacksmith, sword makers, and women sewing children's clothes, designing jewelry, and creating arts and crafts. And archers. And a Children's Leprechaun Kingdom. Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona; Sat.-Sun., March 8-9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; $18, $14 seniors & students, children 11 and under free. (310) 537-4240 or www.la-irishfair.com.

 
SUNDAY, March 9

Violin histrionics? Does that sound good to you? Then Barrage is your cup of musical thunder from Canada. That's six violinists/vocalists, a drummer, a bass player and a guitarist — a lot of expert frenzy for your dollar. Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; Sun., March 9, 2 p.m.; $35, $20 ages 17 & under. (310) 506-4522.

 
MONDAY, March 10

All those live-action and animated shorts you never got to see are being presented all week at the Egyptian, thanks to American Cinematheque. Oscar-Nominated Live-Action and Animated Shorts run in two segments, with live-action films screening at 7:30 p.m. each night, followed by a 10 p.m. animation program. Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; March 6-13; $10 for each program, $15 for both if you attend on the same night. (213) 466-FILM or www.americancinematheque.com.

Lisa Kudrow is one of many funny people who started at the Groundlings (see Laraine Newman, Cheryl Hines, Kathy Griffin). She'll talk about her experiences in a Q&A with Ted Michaels. The event's sold out, but there's a waiting list. And while you're there, book some tickets to one of the group's superb weekly shows, where you will no doubt see future funny famous folk. The Groundlings Theatre, 7307 Melrose Ave., Hlywd.; Mon., March 10, 8 p.m.; $15 (waiting list only). (323) 934-4747, Ext. 37 or www.groundlings.com.
 

TUESDAY, March 11

I take back every mean thing I've said about Sheryl Crow. Well, not the one about her too-weak voice. Have you heard her new album, Detours? There are a bunch of really nice, melodic songs. She seems really cool and dedicated to her causes. Did you know she used to sing backup for Michael Jackson? Now I'm free to devote more time to that overrated Cat Power. El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; Tues., March 11, 8 p.m.; $39. (213) 480-3232.

 
WEDNESDAY, March 12

Perhaps it makes sense that the world's biggest distributor of free, legal speed is the site for journalist David Sheff's reading and Q&A session for Beautiful Boy. The book chronicles Sheff's story of helping his son Nic overcome methamphetamine addiction. Starbucks Westwood, 10955 Weyburn Ave., Wstwd.; Wed., March 12, 2-4 p.m.; free.

 
THURSDAY, March 13

Do I Hear a Waltz? Anyone Can Whistle. A Little Night Music. Gypsy. Do you see where this is going? Musical-theater fans already have their tickets to "A Little Night Conversation" — Stephen Sondheim with host Frank Rich, a rare chance to be in the same room with a winner of an Academy Award, a Tony, an Emmy, a Grammy and a Pulitzer. More profoundly, it will be a gathering where the mere mention of "Send In the Clowns" should send the audience into spasms of reverent ecstasy. Royce Hall, UCLA campus, Wstwd.; Thurs., March 13, 8 p.m.; $38-$74. (310) 825-2101.