@TO-Cal Stand Out hed:Starring students Richard carpenter scholarship competition, Civic Arts Plaza Richard Carpenter, the brotherly half of '70s pop singing siblings the Carpenters, knows a thing or two about being a musical idol. "We've Only Just Begun" could be the theme song for Carpenter's annual scholarship competition that honors up-and-coming young dancers, vocalists and instrumentalists. Nine scholarship finalists — three each from middle school, high school and college — will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Scherr Forum Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Carpenter, who lives in Thousand Oaks with his wife, Mary, will be on hand to honor the winners. Prizes in each age group are $5,000 for first place, $2,500 for second and $1,500 for third. Tickets, $30, are available in person at the box office or through Ticketmaster at 583-8700 or http://www.ticketmaster.com. Star file photo Richard Carpenter and his wife, Mary, moved to Thousand Oaks in 2000. They were named Ventura County's Philanthropists of the Year in 2007.

theater + STAGE

Ventura County

"agatha christie takes manhattan": In this original play, mystery writer Agatha Christie is hired to direct a new whodunit for the Broadway stage, but is interrupted by murder and a real whodunit of her own. 8 p.m. May 8-10, Conejo Players Theatre, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. $16-$20. 495-3715.

"blue/orange": Joe Penhall's comedy, winner of the Olivier Award for best new play, is about an enigmatic patient in a London psychiatric hospital who claims to be the son of an African dictator. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 25, Petit Playhouse, 730 South B St., Oxnard. $17 general admission, $15 seniors and students. 483-5118; http://www.elitetheatre.org.

"the full monty": This musical comedy is about six financially strapped steelworkers-turned-male-strippers from Buffalo, N.Y. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 25, Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. $20 adults, $16 seniors and students. 583-7900; http://www.simi-arts.org.

"the importance of being earnest": Oscar Wilde's comedic story is about two men, Jack and Algernon, who pretend to be "Earnest." 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 18, Camarillo Community Theatre, 330 Skyway Drive. $17 general admission, $13 seniors and students, $8 children 12 and younger. 388-5716.

IMPROV COMEDY: Ongoing: The Ventura Improv Company presents improvisational comedy shows from 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Not recommended for children younger than 12. Livery Theater, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura. $10. 643-5701; http://www.liverytheatre.org.

"mamma mia!": Theater League presents this feel-good musical, featuring songs by pop group ABBA, about a mother, daughter and three possible dads. 8 p.m. May 13-16, 2 and 8 p.m. May 17, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. May 18, Kavli Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. $53-$68. Ticketmaster, 583-8700 or http://www.ticketmaster.com. Information: 449-2787.

"nude with pineapple": This comedy by Fulton Oursler and Aubrey Kennedy is about a married couple who fail to see eye to eye and the love triangle that ensues due to their failing marriage and his passion for art. 2 p.m. May 9-10, Conejo Players Theatre, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. $10. 495-3715.

"on golden pond": The Stage Door Theatre presents this love story about an elderly couple who return to their summer home on Golden Pond for the 48th time. 8 p.m. May 8-10. 28311 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills. $12-$15. 818-889-5209.

"visiting mr. green": Jeff Baron's drama is about a devout Jewish widower and a young hotshot executive who can't stand each other. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, through May 25, Santa Paula Theater Center, 125 S. Seventh St., Santa Paula. $18 general admission, $15 seniors and students, $12 children 12 and younger. 525-4645.

Up north

"victory": The Santa Barbara Theatre presents the American premiere of Athol Fugard's drama about the betrayal of hope in post-apartheid South Africa. 8 p.m. May 8-10 and 2 p.m. May 11, Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. $27.50-$47.50. 963-0761; http://www.lobero.com.

Down south

"freakin' sweet!": Alex Borstein and Seth McFarlane of "Family Guy" star in an evening of music and comedy. 8 p.m. May 10, Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. $30-$250. 213-628-2772; http://www.centertheatregroup.org.

"keep your pantheon" and "duck variations": Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet's works will be presented on a double bill. "Keep Your Pantheon" is about an impoverished acting company. In "Duck Variations," two elderly men discuss the meaning of life while sitting on a park bench watching ducks. 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays, May 11 through June 8, Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City. $20-$50. 213-628-2772; http://www.centertheatregroup.org.

"of mice and men": The Pasadena Playhouse presents this play based on John Steinbeck's classic American novel. 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays, through June 8, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. $25-$65. 800-378-7021; http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org.

"WICKED": Stephen Schwartz's mega-popular Broadway musical is about what happened in Oz before Dorothy dropped in. Through Jan. 11, Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. $27.50-$175. Ticketmaster, 583-8700 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.

classical

music + dance

Ventura County

"PETER PAN": Pacific Festival Ballet, the resident company of Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, will bring this classic to life. Mariah Murphy, a junior at Thousand Oaks High School, will star as Peter. In the show, she'll use the same flying technology that allowed Cathy Rigby to soar through the air as Peter on Broadway. Murphy will be joined by 135 performers from California Dance Theatre as well as Mark Reyes as Mr. Smee and Gary Franco as Captain Hook. 4 and 7:30 p.m. May 9, Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. The afternoon show is a children's matinee; the evening show will feature "Peter Pan" plus a Scott Joplin tribute titled "Classical Ballet Variations." $25. Ticketmaster, 583-8700 or http://www.ticketmaster.com. Information: 449-2787.

thousand oaks philharmonic: Young soloists Sydni Adler, Melody Chang, Ashley Chen, Daniel Chien, Rachel Flowers, Vivian Shen and Yasha Jenkins will perform flute, piano and violin concertos by Beethoven, Boccherini, De Beriot, Gershwin, Lalo and Mozart. 7:30 p.m. May 9 at Camarillo United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive, Camarillo; and 2:30 p.m. May 11 at Scherr Forum Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Camarillo concert is free (donations accepted). Thousand Oaks concert: $20 general admission, $10 seniors and students. 376-2485; http://www.cwoto.org.

southern california mormon choir: This 120-voice choral ensemble's concert repertoire includes classical, sacred, folk, patriotic and popular choral music. 7 p.m. May 10, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 480 Sinaloa Road, Simi Valley. Free. 578-1051.

spring string fling: The fourth annual concert will feature string orchestras from the Ojai Youth Symphony, Meiners Oaks Elementary, Matilija Junior High and Nordhoff High School. 7 p.m. May 13, Ojai Valley Community Church, 907 El Centro, Ojai. Free. 649-8086; http://ojaiyouthsymphony.org.

Up north

organ concert: Jerry Nagano, who's served as the organist at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and Stanford Theater in Palo Alto, will perform on the Arlington Theatre's pipe organ. 11 a.m. May 10, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara. $11 general admission, free for students and children. 692-0939; http://members.cox.net/sbtos.

santa barbara symphony: The Santa Barbara Symphony, which is moving to the refurbished Granada Theatre, will play its final concert at the Arlington Theatre, performing works by Beethoven, Strauss and Ravel. 8 p.m. May 10 and 3 p.m. May 11, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara. $18-$59. 963-4408; http://www.thesymphony.org.

santa barbara chamber orchestra: Violinist Michelle Kim will join the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra in playing works by Mendelssohn and Schumann. 7:30 p.m. May 13, Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. $38-$43. 963-0761; http://www.lobero.com.

culture

+ MORE

Ventura County

diavolo: Dancers, gymnasts, actors and athletes perform with oversized surrealistic sets, structures and machinery. 8 p.m. May 10, The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. $30-$55. 899-2222; http://www.granadasb.org.

kids'

stuff

Ventura County

"fractured fables": This comedic collection of fables was adapted for the stage from Asian and Middle Eastern folk tales. 1 p.m. Saturdays, through June 7, Theater 150, 316 E. Matilija St., Ojai. $10 adults, $7 teens and children. 646-4300; http://www.theater150.org.

"the velveteen rabbit": The Ojai Art Center Theater presents this classic story about a stuffed rabbit's quest to be real. 7 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 18. $15 general admission; $12 seniors, students and OAC members; $5 children 12 and under. 640-8797; http://www.ojaiact.org.