{mosimage}FRIDAY, November 24

Cerritos — it’s Spanish for “pure imagination.” Well, at least for this weekend it is, when the Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration on Tour presents Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka. Mr. Wonka and his Oompa Loompas, Charlie, bratty Veruca Salt, piggish Augustus Gloop, gum-snapper Violet Beauregarde and TV-head Mike Teevee will all be there, and fortunately it’s based more on the magical book and Gene Wilder movie than that disturbing Tim Burton version that scares kids. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Dr., Cerritos; Fri., Nov. 24, 8 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 25, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 26, 3 p.m.; $43, $32 children ages 12 & younger. (562) 467-8818 or www.cerritoscenter.com.

Unfortunately, you can’t bring your cat to Moscow Cats Theatre, which is too bad, because seeing these talented felines earn their keep by walking tightropes, balancing balls, and doing paw-stands and amazing jumps could really inspire them to get off the couch. Wilshire Ebell Theater, 4401 W. Eighth St., L.A.; Fri., Nov. 24, 7 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 26, 1 & 4 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 3, 1 & 4 p.m.; $49.90 & $57.90. (213) 480-3232 or www.moscowcatstheatre.com.

SATURDAY, November 25

Every year at this time, we rag on how the organizers of the Hollywood Christmas Parade can never seem to be able to find out the publicists of any major Hollywood star to take part in the Hollywood Christmas Parade. You’d think these people could at least hang out for a week at the top of Runyon Canyon and come away with a Minnie Driver, Kevin Costner or Jake Gyllenhaal. An afternoon stalking Kitson customers could yield a Hilton or a Lohan or two. It’s the Hollywood Christmas Parade, for chrissake — they live here! And they’re celebrities, so they live to be adored. But things are looking up this year. For the 75th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, they’ve nabbed George Lopez, Brooke Hogan (no clue), Michael Bolton (at least we’ve heard of him), some Wayans brothers, Joey Lawrence and the cast of The Simpsons (that may be a typo). The grand marshal is Regis Philbin, who we’re pretty sure just did this to meet Bolton. Grandstand seating on Hollywood Blvd., between Orange Dr. & Highland Ave., Hlywd.; Sat., Nov. 25, 5 p.m.; free along route, $35 for grandstand seating. (866) PARADE1.

SUNDAY, November 26

Here’s a first: Four local Asian-Pacific-American theater groups — Cold Tofu Improv, 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors, Lodestone Theater Ensemble and OPM — join together for quadruple the funny for your money. Calling it TeleMongol, the gangs will tell the story of “AHOLE-TV (Asia Home of Language Entertainment), a fictional Asian-American cable network with a mission to create programming by and for the Asian Pacific American community.” With the strength of each of these groups a proven commodity, you can expect some pretty clever tongues in many clever cheeks. GTC Burbank, George Izay Park, 1111-B W. Olive Ave., Burbank; Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; thru Dec. 17; $15, $13 students & seniors. (323) 993-7245.

MONDAY, November 27

Diana Ross needs tickets to Dreamgirls, the long-awaited movie version of the Broadway smash starring Beyoncé Knowles, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy. Writer-director Bill Condon will speak after the screening; part of Stephen Farber’s Reel Talk series. Wadsworth Theater, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., W.L.A.; Mon., Nov. 27, 7 p.m.; $10. (310) 479-3003.


TUESDAY, November 28

What was going to be in this space was an insightful preview of the Wall of Voodoo reunion show with Stan Ridgway, but the whole tour appears to be canceled, and that’s bad news for fans like me, even though I prefer the Andy Prieboy lineup. But the fact that two original members — Marc Moreland and Joe Nanini — are dead does sorta deflate any hope that the old times will be recaptured. Instead we give you a perfect opportunity to graze through some short comedy films, thanks to the American Cinematheque, with the HBO Comedy Festival’s “Best of the Fest” short-film program, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know, except for the following: Egyptian Theater, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Tues., Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m.; $10. (323) 466-FILM.

WEDNESDAY, November 29

I know a 5-year-old who stops what he’s doing (except for breathing) when he hears a Joanna Newsom song come on. Maybe it’s her cutesy voice or her fairy-tale lyrics that enchant the little guy. It’s too bad she’s not doing a before-bedtime show — I bet she’d have a whole new audience of fans sitting criss-cross-applesauce-kindergarten-hands during the whole thing. Malibu Performing Arts Center, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu; Wed., Nov. 29, 7 p.m.; $20. (310) 456-6722, Ext. 105.

THURSDAY, November 30

Do you get the feeling David Carradine likes himself a little bit too much? He’s titled his new book The Kill Bill Diary: The Making of a Tarantino Classic as Seen Through the Eyes of a Screen Legend. Of course, he’s kidding about the “screen legend” part. In fact, in the book he reveals that autograph conventions is where he gets his rent money these days. He’ll be signing — he’s had all that practice — and reading at Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., W. Hlywd.; Thurs., Nov. 30, 7 p.m.; free (but buy a book so Mr. Carradine can get some soup). (310) 659-3110.

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