BOOKSIGNINGS

• Dr. Keith Black, the chair of the department of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai MedicalCenter, has written a memoir not only about his life but his patients and the intricate procedures he has used on the brain. The memoir is entitled “Brain Surgeon: A Doctor’s Inspiring Encounters with Mortality and Miracles.” Black will sign copies of the book and talk about his experiences July 8, 7 to 9 p.m., at the California Science Center, 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. The event is sponsored by the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center and Eso Won Books. This event is free but parking is $8. Please RSVP for this event by calling (323) 957-4747.

• Bay Area author Brandelyn Castine will make her first Los Angeles appearance to sign copies of her latest novel, U.G.L.Y. In the book, Blair Hughes is a beautiful, intelligent and talented young woman who believes her identity is defined by her size 22 waistline. Suddenly forced to recreate her personal definition, Blair travels through a series of right and wrong turns, chance encounters and unimaginable situations that ultimately lead her to a place where she is able to look past the physical and discover what it truly means to be U.G.L.Y.  This event will be at Zahra’s Books ‘N Things, 900 N. La Brea Ave., Inglewood, July 11, 2 to 4 p.m. Information: (310) 330-1300, visit www.beencee.com.

THEATER

• “Mutiny at Port Chicago” will have its world premiere July 10 and run through Aug. 15 at the Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Ave., Santa Monica. At Port Chicago in the night, San Francisco’s East Bay residents attempted to shield themselves from shattering windows as the sky blazed after an explosion. In the tragedy, 320 people were killed, 400 more were injured, and everything within a 1 mile radius was destroyed in a flash. Fifty survivors were imprisoned for mutiny. Performances of the play are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., and tickets are $20 ($15 for students, seniors and guild members) and can be purchased in advance by calling (310) 397-3244. Information: www.ruskingrouptheatre.com. Free parking is available at the theater.      

• Samantha Cooke is a complex and conflicted woman torn between two worlds, fighting to sustain and protect her family from a past that threatens to undermine her almost-perfect present. Kellita Smith (“The Bernie Mac Show”) stars as Cooke in “One Woman, Two Lives,” which makes its world debut July 17, at The Imagined Life Theater (formerly the 2100 Square Foot Theater). The play is directed by three-time NAACP Best Director Image Award recipient Denise Dowse and written by Alretha Thomas. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Sunday performances are at 3 p.m. The play will run from July 17 through Aug. 23, at the Imagined Life Theater, 5615 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles. General admission tickets are $25. Information: (626) 858-1907, www.onewomantwolives.com.

CONCERTS

• The 14th Annual JazzFest West will take place July 18 and 19 at Frank Bonelli Park, 120 Via Verde, San Dimas. Scheduled performers include Teena Marie, The Sax For Stax Tour featuring Gerald Albright and Kirk Whalum, Eric Benet, Will Downing and more. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and general admission is $48 per day or $78 for the two-day pass. Children ages 6 through 12 are $10 for general admission and children ages 5 and under can attend for free. A limited number of VIP & Gold tickets are available. Information: (949) 360-7800, omegaevents.com.

• Preservation Hall opened its doors to the public in 1961 to showcase the national treasures of traditional New Orleans jazz music. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band provides an opportunity for music fans throughout the world to experience this music. The band is scheduled to play several dates in the Southern California area: July 10 at Irvine Barclay Theatre, on the campus of the University of California, Irvine, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine; July 12 at the Lou Bredlow Pavilion in Warner Center Park, 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills; and July 13 at the Madrid Theater, 21622 Sherman Way, Canoga Park. Information: www.preservationhall.com.