Top 10: Whether it's rock or theater, Ventura County offers these classics for size
From classic rock to classic Spanish theater, Ventura County has no shortage of things to do. And if you're one to embrace the holiday spirit as soon as possible, you can head to two tree lightings – one in Westlake Village and the other in Oxnard. Mark these events on your calendar.
Do your thing: Los Angeles band Ozomatli and singer Ricky Montijo will perform Nov. 15 at The Canyon Club at 28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills. Doors open at 6 p.m., and all ticket holders must be checked in by 7 p.m. Montijo takes the stage at 8 p.m., and Ozomatli at 9 p.m. Tickets may be purchased for $28 at https://bit.ly/34ZDzkC and include an autographed event poster and meet and greet 6:30-7:30 p.m. Montijo. For more information, visit https://wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/canyon-agoura-hills.
Happy 80th: The Ojai Art Center will celebrate eight decades of art with a free 80th Birthday Bash 7:30-10 p.m. Nov. 16 at 113 S. Montgomery St., Ojai. Live music will be performed by Dianne Miller Band. The bash will also offer refreshments and a no-host bar. For more information, call 805-646-0117 or visit www.ojaiartcenter.org.
A Spanish classic: “Fuenteovejuna" or "Like Sheep to Water…” will be staged at the Black Box Theatre at California Lutheran University, 141 Memorial Parkway, Thousand Oaks. The shows will be 8 p.m. Nov. 14-16 and 21-23 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 24. CLU's Theatre Arts and Dance Department takes on the historical play by Spain’s most popular Golden Age playwright Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio. Admission is $10. Tickets are available online at CalLutheran.edu/theatre. For more information, call 805-493-3452.
Singing circle: Rise Up Singing welcomes singers and musicians of all ages to its community drop-in singing circle 7 p.m. Nov. 15 in the parish hall of Universalist Unitarian Church of Santa Paula, 740 E Main St. The group sings a wide variety of songs, including folk, pop, oldies, show tunes, scouting and campfire songs and hymns. A $5 donation is suggested. Guests can bring a copy of "Rise Up Singing" or "Rise Again" or some copies will be available to buy or borrow for the evening. For more information, call 805-525-4620 or email at msifantus@uuma.org.
Retrospective opens: An opening Champagne reception for the exhibit, "A Retrospective Tkachenko & Johnson," will be 4-8 p.m. on Nov. 16 and 17 at Pacific Coast Art, 2401 Eastman Ave., Unit 21, in Oxnard. Admission is free. This exhibit will feature artwork of the late Eugene Tkachenko, who began painting as a child. He suffered a stroke in 2002 and continued to create line drawings. Also on display is artwork of the late Stanley Francis Johnson, who started illustrating for the motion picture studios during the Depression and whose work is on permanent display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The exhibit will be on view until Feb. 1 by appointment only. For more information, call 805-216- 2107 or email Pacificcoastart@att.net.
Embrace the season: Two holiday tree lightings are planned 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at The Promenade at Westlake, 100 Promenade Way, Westlake Village and at 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Oxnard's Collection Park, 2751 Park View Court. In addition to the lightings, the events will feature live music and other festive activities. For more information, visit thecollectionrp.com and www.shoppromenade.com.
Remembering Matthew Shepard: “The Laramie Project” will be staged in Malibu Hall, CSU Channel Islands, 1 University Drive, Camarillo at 8 p.m. Nov. 14-16, 21-23 and 2 p.m. Nov. 16 and 23. The play is about the 1998 killing of 21-year-old Matthew Shepherd, a gay University of Wyoming student. Cast members are from different majors and discussions will follow most shows. Admission is free to CSUCI students but reservations must be made online at https://bit.ly/2Kk9LXK. General admission is $15, faculty and staff are $10 and non-CSUCI students with ID are $5. Limited parking is available on campus with the purchase of a $6 daily permit. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station on Lewis Road with bus service to and from the campus.
The music of dance: New West Symphony will present two performances of "Trip the Light Fantastic," which includes six selections of music reflecting dance traditions from Transylvania to Argentina and the Andes mountains to the American West. The show features music director Michael Christie, Jason Vieaux on guitar and Julien Labro on bandoneon. The performances will be 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Kavli Theatre Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, and 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center, 4235 Mar Vista Drive, Camarillo. A 30 minute pre-concert talk begins an hour before the performance. Tickets vary by venue and run $30-$120. For more information, visit newwestsymphony.org.
What it's worth: Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Eric Burdon will perform with The Animals 8 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Kavli Theatre at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Burdon’s long string of hits includes “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood," and the Vietnam-era anthem, “We've Got to Get Out of This Place.” Tickets are $41-$71 with group discounts available. For tickets or more information, call 805-449-ARTS (2787) or visit bapacthousandoaks.com.
Words as art: The nonprofit Focus on the Masters will host a conversation with artist Linda Ekstrom 3-4:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St., Ventura. Ekstrom uses text as material and transforms books in her art. She received a master of fine arts from the UC California Santa Barbara where she now teaches at the College of Creative Studies. The event is free to Focus on the Masters members, $15 for the general public and $10 for seniors. For more information, call 805.653.2501 or visit focusonthemasters.com.
Read more Ventura County events:
- Get back to your roots with these Ventura County events
- Dancers pirouette in 'Nutcracker' for young cancer patients at Ventura County Medical Center
- Area musicians join forces to produce CD, raise funds for Thomas Fire victims
Have an event you want us to cover? Email us at calendar@vcstar.com.