Plan Ahead: Next Weekend

* Theater. “The Darker Face of the Earth,” an epic retelling of the Oedipus myth set in pre-Civil War South Carolina by Pulitzer Prize winner and U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove, opens Aug. 18 at 8 p.m. at the American Renegade Theatre at 11136 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood. It plays Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 7 p.m.; and Aug. 27 and Sept. 10 at 3 p.m. only. $18 to $22. (323) 663-1525.

* Theater. Tyne Daly and Wendie Malick are among the celebrity artists slated to appear in “The Strength of Women,” a celebration of female poets, politicians and personalities who have fought for equality through the ages. The performance is Aug. 19 at 4 p.m. at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. Proceeds benefit Theatricum. $50. (310) 455-3723.

* Art. “The Queen of Angels” and “The Making of a Medieval Book” will run Aug. 15-Nov. 5 at the J. Paul Getty Museum, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Brentwood. Tuesdays-Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursdays-Fridays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free; parking reservations required, with the exception of college students and Thursdays and Fridays after 4 p.m. (310) 440-7300.

* Dance. The locally based Marla Bingham Contemporary Ballet performs six works Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. in the Redlands Bowl, 25 Grant St., Redlands. Free. (909) 793-7316.

* Dance. Juan Talavera presents the Flamenco Bravo and Flamenco Loco companies Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. in the Whittier High School Auditorium, 12417 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier. $10 (children) to $20. (562) 699-7595.