WEEKEND FORECAST

TODAY

A Shavian

world view

In George Bernard Shaw’s comedy “Misalliance,� directed by Stephen Wadsworth, a dashing aviator crashes into the lives of a well-to-do family, and life becomes interesting, especially for the daughter of the house, chafing at the constraints of Victorian morality and parental domination.

“Misalliance,� Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. Opens 8 p.m. today. $19-$55. (619) 234-5623.

* Runs 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Sundays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; ends June 12.

His job is to transform

Artist Willie Cole has an eye for reinventing ordinary domestic products as visual expressions for the African American experience. In “Afterburn -- Willie Cole: Selected Works 1997-2004,� quotidian objects, including hair dryers, high heels, irons and bicycle parts, are transformed into West African-inspired tribal art in the form of sculpture, installation and assemblage pieces.

“Afterburn -- Willie Cole: Selected Works 1997-2004,� California African American Museum, Exposition Park, 600 State Drive, L.A. Opens Thursday. Free. (213) 744-7432.

* Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Ends Aug. 6.

Political moves

Half a week before Angelenos trudge off to the polls, Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica gets political with “Choreographing Democracy,� featuring works loaded with social commentary and new moves for the body politic. The dance-makers include Kristen Smiarowski and Peter Carpenter (“Brand New Day�), Victoria Marks (“Not About Iraq�), Simone Forti and Carmela Hermann (“Which It Shall Likewise�), Danielle Brazell (“No. 1003: White Plight� and “No. 1013: Battalion�) and Maya Zellman (“Ten�). Will there also be a “Close the Borders� salsa for a bodybuilder turned performance artist? Or perhaps a “Mayor, Mayor on the Wall� solo with lots of talk but no action? Wait and see....

“Choreographing Democracy,� Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica. 8:30 p.m. Thursday. $15. (310) 315-1459.

* Also 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

An eye for journalism

Best known for her images from the 1940s and ‘50s, photojournalist Esther Bubley chronicled people in a changing modern American landscape. Featuring some of her best-known work during that period, this exhibition includes the documentation of an oil town in Texas and the growing phenomenon of long-distance travel in the series “Bus Story.�

Esther Bubley, Stephen Cohen Gallery, 7358 Beverly Blvd., L.A. Opens Thursday. (323) 937-5525.

* Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Ends July 2.

Idyllwild

in L.A.

As part of its highly regarded training program in music, the Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra presents an annual new music concert in town as well as at its Idyllwild location. Today, at Zipper Hall in Los Angeles, Ransom Wilson will conduct the youth orchestra in the West Coast premiere of Ezra Laderman’s “Nonet of the Night� on a program that also includes Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra composer-in-residence Pierre Jalbert’s “Les espaces infinis� and Steven Mackey’s “Banana Dump Truck,� with Fred Sherry as the cello soloist. Both Jalbert and Mackey will be at the concert.

Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra, Zipper Hall, Colburn School of Performing Arts, 200 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. today. Free. www.idyllwildarts.org.

FRIDAY

Home run imbroglio

San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds may be on the shelf indefinitely with an injured knee, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy peripheral Bonds-related activities. The documentary “Up for Grabs� details the protracted legal battle between a couple of “fans� over the ball Bonds hit in 2001 to set a new single-season home run record. More about greed -- in a “Greed is bad� kind of way -- than it is about baseball, the film by first-time director Mike Wranovics tosses an “Emperor’s New Clothes� spin on the whole sports memorabilia field as he documents the crazy things people will do for a little wealth.

“Up for Grabs,� unrated, opens Friday in selected theaters.

As smooth as it gets

Saxophonist Mindi Abair’s concert Friday night kicks off a weekend of outdoor music at the Lexus Smooth Jazz Festival at the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach. Nineteen acts will perform, including David Sanborn, Brian Culbertson, George Duke and Brenda Russell on Saturday, and Jonathan Butler, Wayman Tisdale, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun and Peter White Sunday. There will be festival-style seating Saturday and Sunday, so attendees are advised to bring a blanket or low-backed beach chair.

Lexus Smooth Jazz Festival, Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Outdoor Amphitheater, 1107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach. 7:30 p.m. Friday. $40-$180. (714) 740-2000.

* Also 10:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

SATURDAY

Give them an ‘E’ ...

Is it possible to avoid the e-word when addressing the bill of Jimmy Eat World and Taking Back Sunday? Both bands emote to their young audience, but J.E.W. is more conventional than T.B.S., which can tie itself into intriguing musical knots. Both are melodic and hard-rocking, with an occasional ballad to serve as an emotional emollient. Hard-working and open-hearted, they figure to earn their emolument.

Jimmy Eat World and Taking Back Sunday, Long Beach Arena, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sold out. (562) 436-3661.

Community celebration

The Santa Monica Festival promises to have a little something for everyone, including live music, theater, dance, food, arts, crafts, workshops and ecological activities. Performers will include Maria Elena Fernandez, O-Maya, Paul Livingstone and the Arohi Ensemble, I See Hawks in L.A. and the Korean Classical Music and Dance Company.

Santa Monica Festival, Clover Park, 2600 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. Free. (310) 458-8350.