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FRIDAY, JUNE 10

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BENEFITS

CHICK SINGER NIGHT TO BENEFIT ARTS & MUSIC PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS with Jennifer Truesdale, the Vykki Vox Band, Jennifer Matthews, Chris Rucker, Parul Vakani, and Gary Backstrom is at 7 p.m. at the Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. Tickets $20, $15 for kids under 12; (781) 646-4TIX.

FUNDRAISER & BAKE SALE TO BENEFIT THE ARTISTS FOUNDATION with entertainment by David Wildman, Gail A. Burton, Charles Coe, Chuck Goldstone, and Christopher Millis, plus baked goods and an art sale is at 7 p.m. (art sale) and 8 p.m. (bake sale and entertainment) at the Mills Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St., Boston. Tickets $20 (for art sale), $15 (for bake sale); (617) 464-3559.

ZOOTOPIA BLACK-TIE GALA TO BENEFIT ZOO NEW ENGLAND with animals, a silent auction, dinner, and dancing is from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston. Tickets $300; (617) 989-2030.

AT THE CLUBS

Get geekin’, freakin’, and tweakin’ tonight at ManRay (21 Brookline Street, Cambridge), as the nutso Freak Show rolls into town with a collection of oddities that is sure to blow your mind. Produced by XMORTIS and Black Ocean, Freak Show features master of ceremonies — and star attraction — Tyler Fyre, whose résumé includes the following: human blockhead, sword swallower, fire eater, escape artist, glass eater, bed of nails, and carnival talker. (And you thought prospective employers might wince at that line on your résumé about taking a semester off after sophomore year.) In addition to Fyre’s many talents, the night will feature a stunning array of human oddities, such as Lizard Boy, the Insatiable Geek, and Delinquent Dog-Faced Boy. DJs Chris Ewen, Mothra, and Shivar will be spinning goth, industrial, and electronic in both rooms. Tickets are $10, doors are at 9 p.m., and the night is 19-plus. There is a strict dress code of "gothic finest, fetish fabulous, industrial, and creative attire"; at bare minimum, wear all black.

POWER POP. If you want to feel long in the tooth, start thinking about the fact that Buffalo Tom used to be on SST. Remember when pop with anything so much as a shaggy chord was "alternative" enough to show up on punk labels? Dinosaur Jr. on Homestead, Lemonheads on Taang! . . . and what do any of them have to show for it? Major-label deals, sure; a year in the sun, for a couple. Mostly, though, they just got to be huge in Australia. We started thinking about this because of the Youth Group album Skeleton Jar that just came out on Epitaph. Add up those three indicators and you’d expect a hardcore fight club from North Jersey. What do you get? Folk, strummy, longingly jangly pop band from Australia. Bill Janovitz: your time has come again! If that isn’t full-circle enough for you, try Buffalo Tom and Youth Group at the Paradise, 967 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. It’s a 9 p.m., 18-plus show, and tickets are $18; call (617) 562-8800.

More recently, Somerville’s Q Division studio has been home to a thriving Boston power-pop scene that seems to have a glass ceiling: never tough enough to appeal to mainstream punk kids, and not obscure enough to flip the lids of art-school indie rockers, its bands have always been cult figures. So perhaps you can forgive the young Berklee-bred quintet the Click Five, who are attempting to do the unthinkable: become the first group since the Cars to make Boston power pop a mass-appeal, teeny-bopper attraction. Their Atlantic debut, Greetings from Imrie House (due in August), has garage-rock-band-doing-emo-as-teen-pop songs written by Kiss’s Paul Stanley and Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger; and on their recent tour opening for Ashlee Simpson, they dressed up in Monkees suits while shamelessly pandering to an audience of 12-year-olds. Now they’re back on the road with the other band from the Ashlee tour, Pepper’s Ghost (almost rhymes with Philly’s Strokes). They’re at Axis, 13 Lansdowne Street in Boston, for a 7:30 p.m., all-ages show, and tickets are $12; call (617) 262-2437.

Also tonight: the scientific-minded, D-Plan-style Chicago indie-pop band Troubled Hubble are at the Paradise Lounge, 969 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, behind their Lookout! debut, Making Beds in a Burning House. It’s a 9 p.m., 21-plus show, and admission is $7; call (617) 562-8814.

JAZZ. One of the more provocative players in town, guitarist Jeff Platz, leads one of our more provocative bands, the Bright Light Group, with alto-saxophonist Jim Hobbs and drummer Django Carranza of the Fully Celebrated Orchestra, trumpeter Scott Getchell, and bassist Kit Demos. It’s fractured, noisy swing that also reflects sunlit lyricism. Opening is the augmented Dan Levin Trio with Levin on cello, Todd Brunel on bass clarinet, Peter Biten on bass, and Croix Gallipault on drums. That’s at Zeitgeist Gallery, 1353 Cambridge Street in Inman Square. Sets start at 9:30, and the requested donation is $12; call (617) 876-6060.

OTHER LIVE SHOWS:

For the following shows, see the Club Directory for phone numbers and addresses.

ABBEY LOUNGE, Somerville. Mainstage: Rudds, Mercy James Gang, Bryan Thomas, Rick Burton. Pubstage: Mascara.

ACTON JAZZ CAFE, Acton. Cercie Miller Quartet.

AQUA, Boston. Greg Luttrell.

THE ASGARD, Cambridge. Cool Black Kettle.

AXIS, Boston. At 7:30 p.m., Click Five, Pepper’s Ghost, Last Week.

THE BEACHCOMBER, Quincy. Kashmir, Love Tarantulas.

THE BIG EASY, Boston. "Mardi Gras Friday."

BRAVO at THE MFA Boston. Rusty Scott.

CANTAB LOUNGE, Cambridge. Upstairs: New Day with Tony Funches.

CLUB 58, Quincy. "Get Some Fridays," hip-hop with the Freakas.

CLUB PASSIM, Cambridge. At 8 p.m., Vance Gilbert, Jason Myles Goss.

COPPERFIELD’S, Boston. Fairmont, Minus Scale, Junction 18.

DICK’S LAST RESORT, Boston. Soul City.

DODGE STREET BAR & GRILL, Salem. Spike Emerson Society.

DRUID PUB, Cambridge. At 6 p.m., "Traditional Irish Seisiun" with Peter Molloy & Friends.

ENCORE, Boston. "Cabaret Open Mic" with Jan Peters, Colleen Powers, Michael Ricca, Brian Patton.

EVOS ARTS, Lowell. Abhorred, Dissector, Witch Tomb, It Will End in Pure Horror, Throwing Shrapnel.

THE GOOD LIFE DOWNTOWN, Boston. Weepin’ Willie.

GRAND CANAL, Boston. Fubar.

GREEN DRAGON, Boston. Incadence.

HARPERS FERRY, Allston. "Benefit in Memory of Bobby Coburn" with Superhoney, Entrain, Johnny Trama, Charley Carozzo.

JASMINE & KENDALL LOUNGE, Cambridge. At 6 p.m., Marianne Solivan Jazz Quartet. At 10 p.m., Carol O’Shaughnessy.

JOHNNY D’S, Somerville. Racky Thomas Band, Mr. Nick’s Blues Mafia.

KENNEDY’S, Boston. At 5 p.m., Peter Rice. At 9 p.m., Springhill Rounders.

KIRKLAND CAFE, Somerville. Three Balls of Fire, Rock Island, Roger That, Mickey Bliss Organ Combo.

LES ZYGOMATES, Boston. Ronnie Ron Trio.

LIZARD LOUNGE, Cambridge. At 8 p.m., Goat. At 9:30 p.m., Heygoods, Coots.

LUPO’S AT THE STRAND, Providence, RI. Machine.

MATT MURPHY’S, Brookline. Toussaint & the Chinaband.

MIDDLE EAST, Cambridge. Upstairs: Chinstrap, Dr. Frog, Pako, Wack-Ass Egyptians. Downstairs: Pietasters, Mass Hysteria, Riki Rocksteady.

MIDWAY CAFE, Jamaica Plain. Ms. Donna Parker, White Mice, Coughs, Mantooth.

MR. DOOLEY’S TAVERN, Boston. At 5 p.m., Celtic Clan. At 9 p.m., Patsy & Tony.

O’BRIEN’S, Allston. Low Red Land, Buck 50, Uncle Billy’s Smokehouse, Turtlebone.

OCEANA RESTAURANT, Boston. Mike DiBari Trio.

PADDY O’S, Boston. Last Laugh.

PARADISE LOUNGE, Boston. Troubled Hubble.

PARADISE ROCK CLUB, Boston. At 8 p.m., Buffalo Tom, Youth Group, Brendan Little.

PARRIS, Boston. Split Decision.

P.A.’S LOUNGE, Somerville. Distinguished Members, 8MM Fuzz, Vershok, Amigazo.

PLOUGH & STARS, Cambridge. At 5:30 p.m., "Irish Seisiun." At 9 p.m., EJ Ouellette & Crazy Maggie.

THE RACK, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Anthem Elite Model Search."

RENDEZVOUS, Waltham. George Leh.

ROGGIE’S, Brighton. Upstairs: Ali.

RYLES, Cambridge. At 8 p.m., RPM’s.

SCULLERS, Boston. Regina Belle.

SEA NOTE, Nantasket Beach. Mission of Blues.

SISSY K’S, Boston. At 5 p.m., Matt Browne. At 9 p.m., Stu Sinclair & Kevin Kirrane.

SPONTANEOUS CELEBRATIONS, Jamaica Plain. "Next Level" with DJ Nomadik, Kwesi Johnson, Kiki Breevlife, Ladies of Boston Reggae.

TOAD, Cambridge. Tennesse Hollow.

TOP OF THE HUB, Boston. Chris Taylor Quartet.

T.T. THE BEAR’S PLACE, Cambridge. Blanche, Ditty Bops, Low Country Messiahs, Irreverends.

WALLY’S CAFE, Boston. At 9:30 p.m., Jason Palmer/Warren Wolf Jazz Collective.

WELLFLEET BEACHCOMBER, Wellfleet. At 9 p.m., Roots Down Below.

WESTERN FRONT, Cambridge. Shango Axe.

ZEITGEIST GALLERY, Cambridge. At 7 p.m., Emily Grogan. At 9:30 p.m., Jeff Platz’ Bright Light Group, Dan Levin Trio.

ZUZU, Cambridge. "Latin Night" with Gian Carlo Buscaglia.

DJ SHOWS:

AN TAIN, Boston. At 5 p.m., DJ Sean O. At 10 p.m., DJ David Natola.

AN TUA NUA, Boston. "Superlovers," early hits to the latest sounds with DJ Vinny.

ARIA, Boston. "Foundation Friday" with DJ Klutch.

ATLAS DANCE, Boston. "Top 40 Dancing."

AVALON, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Avaland."

THE AVENUE, Allston. At 9 p.m., DJ Steve Auston.

AXIS, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Flavor Friday" with DJ Master Millions.

BLARNEY STONE PUB, Dorchester. Commercial dance and R&B.

BLUE CAT CAFE, Boston. DJ Pete Winfrey.

BOSTON ROCKS, Boston. Top 40 Dance & hip-hop with DJ Bruno.

BUCK MULLIGAN’S, West Roxbury. R&B, rock, and dance with DJ Keith.

BUZZ BOSTON/EUROPA, Boston. "Club Twist for Women."

CANTAB LOUNGE, Cambridge. Downstairs: DJ du Jour.

CLUB CAFE, Boston. "Non Stop Video Show" with VJ Tom Yazbek.

DEVLIN’S LOUNGE AND BAR, Brighton. "Uptempo House" with DJ Paul Dailey.

EMBASSY, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Hip-hop, Reggae, and Dance."

ENORMOUS ROOM, Cambridge. "all st*rs have eyes" with Amy Lee Grill and DJ David Day.

THE E ROOM AT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE, Brookline. Vocal house, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s with DJ Bob Gallagher.

THE EXCHANGE, Boston. House and hip-hop with DJs Tiziano & Luca.

GREAT SCOTT, Allston. "The Pill" with DJs Ken & Terence, Raymond.

GREEN STREET GRILL, Cambridge. "Latin DJ & Dance."

G-SPOT, Boston. "Deep, sexy house" with DJs Mike Traylor & Paul Incus.

HONG KONG, Cambridge. Top 40 Hip-Hop, Rock & Club Classics with M.C. Renn.

I/D, Boston. "Bashment" Reggae beats with DJ King Ilabash.

THE INDEPENDENT, Somerville. At 10 p.m., "Mash Ave" with DJs BC and Lenlow.

THE INTERNATIONAL, Boston. "The Basement" house music with DJ Bradford James.

THE KELLS, Allston. "Ladies Night" with DJs Doc and Kieran.

MANRAY, Cambridge. "XMortis," goth industrial fetish with DJ Chris Ewen and industrial with DJ Tim Ryan.

McGANN’S, Boston. At 10 p.m., Hip-hop, R&B, Reggae, & House with DJ Sparky.

THE MODERN, Boston. "Mission" with DJs Odi, Keithy Bee vs. Mathius, Illux.

ORLEANS, Somerville. DJ Tom.

PHOENIX LANDING, Cambridge. "Junkbox Heroes" with Phat Mike.

THE PLACE, Boston. At 10 p.m., VJ Laptop.

THE POINT, Boston. "Fluid," house and techno, with DJ troupe Recordheadz.

Q, Boston. "Hip-hop & Top 40" with DJ Massai.

REDLINE, Cambridge. At 9 p.m., Deep Soulful Chicago House with DJs KC, Rodney Marable & Craig Kapilow.

RIVERGODS, Cambridge. "The Appliance of Science" with Unlockedgroove & Erik Pearson.

ROGGIE’S, Brighton. Lounge: "Dance Your Ass Off" with DJ Hoff.

THE ROXY, Boston. At 10:30 p.m., "The Cat Club" with DJ Adilson plus special guest DJs.

SCRUFFY MURPHY’S, Dorchester. "Party Time" with DJ Jen.

SISSY K’S, Boston. Upstairs: Hi-NRG and pop house, with DJ Tom McKenna.

SOLSTICE CAFE, Mission Hill, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Solstice Friday" Quality house, techno, breaks, & electro with DJs Jamie B, Duggan, Mark V, and Kalide UK.

SPONTANEOUS CELEBRATIONS, Jamaica Plain. "Next Level" with DJ Nomadik, Kwesi Johnson, Kiki Breevlife, Ladies of Boston Reggae.

STEWART’S, Everett. At 9 p.m., "On Tap" UK Hardhouse, progressive trance, techno with Jbeta and DJ Fishstix.

SUGAR SHACK, Boston. "Boston’s A-List" Hip hop, old school, and top 40 with DJ B-Spin.

SWEETWATER CAFE, Boston. Old and new dance hits with DJs KC and Gallo.

TOAST, Somerville. "Official Dyke March After Party."

TRATTORIA IL PANINO, Boston. ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s with DJ Zino; progressive, top-40, club, and international with DJ Peter D.

21st AMENDMENT, Boston. DJ Sean Daly.

VENU, Boston. "Roomba," Latin sounds with DJ Roger M, and house with DJ Arsit.

VERTIGO, Boston. "Dream Lounge," international, Latin and house with DJ Marcocci, and vocal and high energy house with DJ Soulheris.

WEST STREET GRILLE, Boston. Top 40 funk and dance with DJs Gabe and Lazee Boy.

COMEDY

BEANTOWN COMEDY VAULT, (781-729-2565), at Remington’s, 124 Boylston St., Boston. "Boston Attitude" with Mike Koutrobis.

COMEDY STUDIO, (617-864-5311), 1236 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Tony Moschetto, Ellen Moschetto, DJ Cage, Alvin David, Myq Kaplan, Walsh Bros.

IMPROV ASYLUM, (617-263-6887), 216 Hanover St., Boston. At 8 and 10 p.m., "Pork Fried Clowns." At midnight, "The Night Shift."

IMPROVBOSTON THEATRE, (617-576-1253), 1253 Cambridge St., Cambridge. At 8 and 10 p.m., "Felt!"

JIMMY TINGLE’S OFF BROADWAY, (617-591-1616), 255 Elm St., Somerville. At 7 p.m., "Jimmy Tingle’s American Dream." At 10 p.m., "It’s Not That Late Show" with Peter Dutton.

NICK’S COMEDY STOP, (617-482-0930), 100 Warrenton St., Boston. At 8:45 p.m., Bill Tobin, Carolyn Plummer, E.J. Murphy.

CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERTS

We already know that Keith Lockhart has LeAnn Rimes on his speed dial. And this week, the Boston Pops continues its country-crazy spring season with a visit from the Wayfaring Strangers, Matt Glaser’s sophisticated Americana big band, who essay bluegrass, folk, and Western swing with twists of jazz and klezmer, and has the added attraction of an A-list front line of female vocalists including Boston alt-rock siren Tracy Bonham. The nine-piece group join the Pops tonight at 8 p.m. at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, for the second half of a program that also includes some Gershwin/Copland/Bernstein chestnuts and a tribute to Artie Shaw. Tickets are $16 to $72; call (617) 266-1200.

CATHERINE BURRELL gives an organ recital at 12:15 p.m. at Old South Church, 645 Boylston St., Boston. Donations accepted; (617) 536-0944 ext. 376.

GREATER BOSTON YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS perform Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E-flat, Webern’s Passacaglia, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Boston. Free; (617) 353-5330.

POPULAR MUSIC CONCERTS

Keren Ann is one Wes Anderson film soundtrack away from greatness: a whisperer of intimacies and treacheries, she writes the kind of songs that are easy to ignore until they reach you in an empty moment — we suggest a mournful skyline for her latest, Nolita (Metro Blue), which was recorded in Paris and New York. Like Jane Birkin, she’s from France but not French, though her voice is more the Françoise Hardy type. She’s at the Museum of Fine Arts’ Remis Auditorium, 465 Huntington Avenue in Boston, on an 8 p.m. bill with the Argentine television actress turned chanteuse Juana Molina. Tickets are $15; call (617) 369-3306.

DARK STAR ORCHESTRA performs tonight at 8 p.m. at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, (tickets $22.50; (617) 931-2000), and tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, NH. Tickets $32; (603) 929-4201.

INDIGO GIRLS perform at 8 p.m. at Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, NH. Tickets $32; (603) 929-4201.

RUTHIE RISTICH AND BILL BRINKLEY perform at 8 p.m. at Chelsea Theatre Works, 189 Winnisimmet St., Chelsea. Tickets $10, $7 for seniors and kids under 12; (617) 887-2336.

YELLS AT EELS AND ZE EDUARDO UNIT perform at 8 p.m. at Artists-at-Large Gallery, 6 Webster St., Hyde Park. Tickets $10; (617) 276-3223.

DANCE/PARTICIPATORY

BALKAN DANCE is at 7:30 p.m. at Scalzi School of Dance, 101 Bigelow Ave., Watertown. Tickets $8; (617) 840-2362.

EL BEMBÉ LATIN DANCE PARTY is at 9 p.m. at the Center for Latino Arts, 85 West Newton St., Boston. Tickets $15; (617) 927-1730.

ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE is at 7:30 p.m. at the Harvard-Epworth Church, 1555 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Tickets $6, $3 for students; (617) 744-5331.

HAVANA CLUB SALSA is at 8:30 p.m. at the Greek Club, 288 Green St., Cambridge. Tickets $12; (617) 312-5550.

INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE is at 8 p.m. at Park Avenue Congregational Church, 50 Paul Revere Rd., Arlington. Tickets $7, $4 for students; (781) 662-7475.

NORWEGIAN DANCE is at 8 p.m. at the Church of Our Saviour, 21 Marathon St., Arlington. Tickets $8; (781) 224-0575.

RENAISSANCE DANCE features music by Renaissonics at 7:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 11 Garden St., Cambridge. Tickets $8; (617) 661-3353.

DANCE/PERFORMANCE

ANDREA M. BLESSO, JILL A. JACKSON, AND ANNIE KLOPPENBERG present "Between the Lines" tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Green Street Studios, 185 Green St., Cambridge. Tickets $15, $12 for students, seniors; (617) 864-3191.

EVENTS

BOURBON SAMPLING with Jim Beam’s great-grandson is at 9 p.m. at Smith & Wollensky, 101 Arlington St., Boston. Free; (617) 423-1112.

COPLEY SQUARE FARMERS’ MARKET is today and Tues. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Copley Square, along St. James Ave., Boston. Free; (781) 893-8222.

IRISH CONNECTIONS FESTIVAL with Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, Gaelic Storm, 2-U, Prodigals, Evolution, Sean Keane, plus and Irish harp tent, dancing, wolfhounds, storytelling, and more is tonight from 7 p.m. to midnight, tomorrow from noon to midnight, and Sun. from 12:30 to 9 p.m. at the Irish Cultural Centre of New England, 200 New Boston Rd., Canton. Tickets $15; (888) GO-IRISH.

GAY & LESBIAN

PRIDE. Not merely a prelude to this weekend’s gay-pride parade, the Boston Dyke March has grown from an independent grassroots offshoot of the official Pride festivities to one of the main events. Now in its 11th year, it’s one of the largest of the loosely affiliated Dyke Marches in the nation, providing an umbrella for the transgendered, "gender queers," bisexuals, lesbians, and others who don’t fit into tidy definitions of homo. Alison Bechdel, author of the comic strip Dykes To Watch Out For, gives the keynote address at 6 p.m. at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common, The bill also includes bands, performers, and the fire-eating Lesbian Avengers; for more information, visit www.bostondykemarch.com. At 9 p.m. the official after-party heats up at Toast, 70 Union Square in Somerville; call (617) 623-9211.

BOSTON GAY MEN’S CHORUS presents "Here To Stay: The Music of George Gershwin" tonight and Sun. at 8 p.m. at Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston. Tickets $12-$44; (617) 542-SING.

AT THE MOVIES

OPENING THIS WEEKEND: Do we ever really know the ones we love? Ask Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the troubled couple played by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie who discover they’re undercover assassins targeting each other. Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) directs. The widowed mother and lesbian daughter in Saving Face also go through some redefining of their relationship when the mother ends up unmarried and pregnant and the daughter has to help find her a husband so she can preserve mom’s reputation. Alice Wu directs; Michelle Krusiec, Lynn Chen, and Joan Chen star. Will dodging a serial killer help Cécile De France and Maïwenn Le Besco define their relationship? That’s the question posed by Alexandre Aja’s French thriller Haute tension/High Tension. Throwing fairy-tale magic into the mix doesn’t make matters much clearer: in the animation Howl’s Moving Castle, a young girl braves ruin and romance in taking on the Witch of Waste and the spell-casting lothario of the title. Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, and Lauren Bacall give voice; Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) directs. One way to get to know your family and loved ones is to Tell Them Who You Are, as happens in this documentary by Mark Wexler in which he confronts the career of his father, the maverick cinematographer and filmmaker Haskell. It’s at the Brattle Theatre all week. Another is to give free rein to your imagination, as Robert Rodriguez did when he collaborated with his young son in making The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D; David Arquette and Cayden Boyd star. Yet another is to re-create your domestic troubles in the form of a hit sit-com of the ’50s, as does the black cast updating the old Jackie Gleason series in The Honeymooners. Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps, Regina Hall, and Gabrielle Union star; John Schultz (Like Mike) directs. On the other hand, muddying the waters is pretty easy, as the Parisian pals in Ils se marièrent et eurent beaucoup d’enfants/Happily Ever After find out when a rumor spreads that one of them is having an affair. Charlotte Gainsbourg and Anouk Aimée star along with Yvan Attal (Ma femme est une actrice), who also directs. And as hard as it is to get to know those who are close, it’s a snap to bond with complete strangers, at least in movies. That’s what happens in Historias mínimas/Intimate Stories, in which three disparate characters traveling in Southern Patagonia cross paths. Carlos Sorin (Eversmile, New Jersey) directs.

For more movies and showtimes, see our Movie Theater directory.

READINGS & LECTURES

"GUANTANAMO: HONOR BOUND TO DEFEND FREEDOM" features a reading of the titular play tonight at 6 p.m. at Freedom House Inc, 14 Crawford St., Dorchester, and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the Cambridge YMCA, 820 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Free; (617) 482-3170 ext. 314.

"LANGUAGE USAGE" is a discussion with Sidney Landau, Jan Freeman, and Barbara Walraff at 3:30 p.m. at Boston University, George Sherman Union, 775 Comm. Ave., Boston. Free; (617) 351-3312.

THEATER

Brian Tuttle, artistic director of 11:11 Productions, saw Joe Orton’s What the Butler Saw and was inspired to write "an insane farce with no doors." Set in a park where a suspicious husband and wife have arranged retaliatory trysts that turn out to be with each other, A Run in the Park (which also involves a cannibal and some detectives) continues through June 18 at the Actors Workshop. 327 Summer Street, near South Station. Tickets are $15; call (866) 811-4111.

He supervised Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and brought The Lion King to Boston. Now impresario-turned-director Tony McLean travels back to the golden age of American musicals, helming A Grand Night for Singing, a compendium of tunes by Rodgers & Hammerstein that opens the Gloucester Stage Company season. Have a lobster. Have a walk on the beach. Have a turn on Carousel and a wade in South Pacific. The R&H fest continues through June 26 at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street in Gloucester. Tickets are $30, $20 for seniors and students; call (978) 281-4433.

Guantánamo: Honor Bound To Defend Freedom, by British journalist Victoria Brittain and writer Gillian Slovo, played to sold-out audiences in London before moving to New York last summer. Based on spoken and written testimony, it "focuses on the stories of five British detainees in Guantánamo Bay." The play will be given readings tonight at 6 p.m. at Freedom House, 14 Crawford Street in Dorchester; and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the Family YMCA, 820 Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square. Both readings are free and will be followed by discussions. (Sponsors include the ACLU, Cambridge Peace Commission, the Community Church of Boston, and Freedom House.) Call (617) 482-3170 extension 314, or visit www.aclu-mass.org