Saturday, March 4

Before the Oscar envelopes are opened tomorrow night, head to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today to hear the directors of the five nominated foreign language films (subject to availability) discuss issues of art, politics and filmmaking. Clips from the films will be shown, and a Q-and-A will follow. The nominees include the Palestinian entry, “Paradise Now,” and the German “Sophie Scholl — The Final Days.”

9 a.m. Free (with advanced tickets). Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 247-3600. www.oscars.org/events.

Sunday, March 5

Last chance to see the West Coast premiere of the Jerome Kern Broadway musical extravaganza, “Never Gonna Dance.” The story follows professional dancer John “Lucky” Garnett to New York City as he tries to prove himself to his fiancee’s father by earning a salary through means other than dancing. But the big city’s rhythms get his feet to tapping to Kern songs like “Pick Yourself Up,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” and “I’m Old Fashioned.”

Through March 5. $25-$50. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach. (562) 856-1999. www.musical.org.

Monday, March 6

Their mission? To teach you how to put on tefilin. But if you’ve ever wondered why the young Chabad shlichim have made Jewish outreach their life’s work, author Sue Fishkoff offers insight into their lives tonight at Conejo Jewish Academy. Her lecture, based on her similarly titled book, is, “The Rebbe’s Army: A Journalist’s Look Inside the World of Chabad.”

8 p.m. $10-$13. 30345 Canwood St., Agoura Hills. R.S.V.P., (818) 991-0991.

Tuesday, March 7

USC fine arts major Michael Maizels has found a new way to build community among the many art students in our city. His project is “Boroughs of Los Angeles,” an art exhibit that features the photos, paintings, digital media and drawings of undergrads from five major L.A. art campuses: USC, UCLA, Otis, Art Center and Cal Arts. The first-ever collaborative student art show of this kind, it runs daily through April 14.

Noon- 5 p.m. Free. William Grant Still Arts Center, 2520 S. West View St., Los Angeles. finearts.usc.edu.

Wednesday, March 8

Tobey C. Moss Gallery presents “David P. Levine: In Memorium (1910-2005),” an exhibition of the late artist’s emotional paintings, drawings and assemblages depicting the history he lived through. His works take the viewer from Depression-era California through the “signs and symbols that dominate the contemporary landscape,” according to the gallery.

Through April 22. Free. 7321 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 933-5523.

Thursday, March 9

Plan a trip to San Diego to coincide with the Lawrence Family JCC’s eclectic Distinguished Author Series, which begins today. Tonight’s opening speaker will be Dr. Susannah Heschel, scholar and daughter of theologian and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. Or save your trip for future speakers, including actor and former teen idol Tab Hunter, authors Faye Kellerman and Alexandra Zapruder and Rabbi Elliot Dorff.

Times vary. March 9, 21, 23, 26 and 28. $9-$12. 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. (858) 362-1348. www.lfjcc.org.

Friday, March 10

The Lost Studio’s “Pinter Project,” exploring plays by the recent Nobel Prize winner, began in 2000 but was interrupted for a time by an arson fire that destroyed the theater in 2002. Three years later, it’s back to work on another Pinter play, “No Man’s Land.” The mysterious and emotionally turbulent story involving two men — maybe friends, maybe strangers — unfolds slowly over the course of two days.

Through March 26. $20. The Lost Studio Theatre, 130 S. La Brea Ave., Hollywood. R.S.V.P., (800) 595-4849.