Diversions: May 8-14

THEATER Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits The Walnut Street Theatre presents a tribute to the big shows and bigger legends in this hilarious, loving and endlessly entertaining revue, through June 28 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St. ; (215) 574-3550.

Jihad Jones & The Kalashnikov Babes InterAct Theatre Company presents a fast and furious satire examining the effect of Hollywood’s stereotyping of Arab Americans, through May 10, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 568-8077.

The Little Dog Laughed The Tony Award-nominated satire about a gay actor and his agent’s efforts to keep him closeted makes its Philadelphia premiere, through May 30 at Second Stage at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 665-9720.

The Producers The Walnut Street Theatre presents an all-new production of Mel Brooks’ Tony Award-winning musical, May 12-July 19, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.

Something Intangible Arden Theatre Company presents the world premiere by celebrated Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham, set in Hollywood circa 1941, through June 7, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.

A Stone Carver New City Stage presents a newly revised version of William Mastrosimone’s first play, about a 1970s Italian-American patriarch who must move out of the Trenton home he built with his own hands to make room for a new highway, through May 24 at Walnut Street Theatre’s Studio 5, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.

Thoroughly Modern Millie The Media Theater presents the Tony Award-winning 1920s musical romp, through June 7, 104 E. State St.; (610) 891-0100.

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet Lantern Theater Company presents the famous play in a surprising theatrical event that plumbs the dark humor of Shakespeare’s tragic son, through May 17 at St. Stephen’s Theater, 923 Ludlow St.; (215) 829-9002.

MUSIC classical Rattle Conducts Bruckner The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Sir Simon Rattle leading a program pairing musical visions from two Austrian masters, 2 p.m. May 8 and 8 p.m. May 9 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Conga Kings The Kimmel Center presents an evening of Afro-Cuban music, American jazz and Latin percussion, 8 p.m. May 8 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Beethoven’s Emperor The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia presents this classic conducted by Ignat Solzhenitsyn, at 2:30 p.m. May 10 and 7:30 p.m. May 11 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Hooray for Hollywood! Peter Nero and the Philly Pops present a special multi-media event to honor the captivating music that has the uncanny ability to transport us to another place and time, May 10-17 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Leonard Cohen The Kimmel Center presents the singer-songwriter’s 2009 World Tour, at 8 p.m. May 12 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

KLR Trio The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents the acclaimed trio, at 8 p.m. May 12 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Dvorak, Bartók and Enescu The Philadelphia Orchestra presents two orchestral works by Antonín Dvorák, at 8 p.m. May 14 and 16 and 2 p.m. May 15 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

MUSIC other UB40 The reggae group performs at 8 p.m. May 8 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.

Four Bitchin’ Babes: Hormonal Imbalance Sally Fingerett, Debi Smith, Nancy Moran and Deirdre Flint perform an estrogen-fueled, hilarious show that celebrates the best of babes and Botox, at 3 and 8 p.m. May 9 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; (215) 257-5808.

Alo Brasil Twelve Philadelphia musicians spanning three generations crank out Brazilian music at 8 p.m. May 9 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

Ben Harper The roots-rocker artist performs at 8 p.m. May 9 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011.

India.Arie The singer-songwriter performs at 8 p.m. May 9 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.

The Crystal Method The electronica group performs at 8 p.m. May 10 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011.

Kevin Costner & Modern West Yeah, that Kevin Costner, and some other dudes backing him up, at 7:30 p.m. May 10 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

The Damned The influential punk band performs at 8 p.m. May 13 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011.

Lez Zeppelin The all-girl Led Zeppelin tribute band performs at 8 p.m. May 13 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-5483.

Johnny Lang The blues guitarist performs at 9 p.m. May 14 at the House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; (609) 236-2583.

Jagermeister Music Tour Punk groups Pennywise and Pepper perform at 8 p.m. May 14 at Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; (215) 627-1332.

Jill Sobule The girl-kissing singer-songwriter performs at 8 p.m. May 14 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; (215) 257-5808.

Unwigged & Unplugged Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer perform songs from films “This Is Spinal Tap” and “A Mighty Wind” at 8 p.m. May 14 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.

EXHIBITS Benjamin Long Proximity Gallery presents the artist’s current exhibition of paintings and photography through May 31, 2434 E. Dauphin St.; (267) 825-2949.

A Closer Look Allens Lane Art Center presents new paintings and sculptures by artists Henrietta and Reinhold Edelschein, through June 12, 601 W. Allens Lane; (215) 248-0546.

Collective Aphrodite Gallery, Philadelphia’s showcase for erotic fine arts, presents a staff art show through May 24 at Passional Toys, 620 S. Fifth St.; (215) 829-4986.

Figure Fleisher/Ollman Gallery presents a solo exhibition of the work of Philadelphia artist Bruce Pollock, through May 9, 1616 Walnut St., Suite 100; (215) 545-7562.

Ion Zupcu: Works on Paper Gallery 339 presents an exhibition of still-life photography, through May 16, 339 S. 21st St.; (215) 731-1530.

Pulp Function Fred Beans Gallery at Michener Art Museum presents a wide variety of artistic expressions using handmade paper pulp, recycled paper, paper cuts, cardboard, papier-mâché and folded paper, through June 28, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; (215) 340-9800.

Quiescent The Clay Studio presents the latest works from utilitarian potter Julia Galloway, through May 31, 137 N. Second St.; (215) 925-3453.

Show Some Love AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of the winners of the American Institute of Graphic Artists Philadelphia Design Awards, through May 30, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.

Small Favors IV: Benefit Exhibition and Sale The Clay Studio presents an original ceramic arts exhibition, showcasing the latest in miniature, wall-mounted artworks, through May 31, 137 N. Second St.; (215) 925-3453.

Two Women: Two Visions Edge Gallery presents an exhibition featuring the work of Monika Dalkin and Noelle Stoffel, through May 31, 72 N. Second St.; (215) 413-7072.

Yuichi Hibi: Neco Gallery 339 presents Hibi’s photographic exhibition that evokes the menace, beauty and mystery of urban landscapes at night, through May 16, 339 S. 21st St.; (215) 731-1530.

DANCE Spooky Action Micro Dance Theatre presents the magical story of two bodies falling eternally through a void, fatefully intertwined and inseparable, May 9-10 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

FILM The Sound of Music The classic 1965 musical is screened at 2 p.m. May 10 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223.

Handel’s Giulio Cesare The Opera Company of Philadelphia screens director David McVicar’s acclaimed production of the Handel favorite set in the early 20th century, during a period of British colonialism in Egypt, May 10-20 at Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898.

BOOKS Chuck Palahniuk The openly gay author of “Choke” and “Fight Club” hosts a reading at 7:30 p.m. May 8 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.

Elmore Leonard The author of “Road Dogs” hosts a reading at 7:30 p.m. May 14 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.

ETC The Ins and Outs of Female Masturbation Aphrodite Gallery hosts an interactive workshop exploring the historical and societal influences on female masturbation, from 7-9 p.m. May 8, 704 S. Fifth St.; (215) 829-4986.

Vinyl DJs spin actual records at Philly’s newest LGBT party, 10 p.m.-3:30 a.m. May 9 at Pure, 1221 St. James St.; (215) 735-5772.

Dane Cook The “comedian” performs at 8 p.m. May 9 at the Wachovia Spectrum, 3601 S. Broad St.; (215) 336-3600.

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