Pencil This In: Salman Rushdie at ALOUD, David Sedaris at Vroman's and West Side Story Opens

THEATER
It’s been more than 50 years since West Side Story made its 1957 Broadway debut. With music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and choreography by Jerome Robbins, the stage and movie versions have become an integral part of American culture. A revival opens at the Pantages Theatre tonight at 8 pm that promises to stick true to the Broadway version. Runs through Jan. 2. Tickets: $25 - $90.SALMAN RUSHDIE*

ALOUD at the Central Library welcomes author Salman Rushdie (Midnight’s Children) tonight at 8 pm at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo. Rushdie will be in conversation with author Reza Aslan (No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam) to discuss Rushdie’s new novel, Luka and the Fire of Life, written for his youngest son, about relationships between fathers and sons. Tickets: $25, $17.50 Library Associates.

DAVID SEDARIS
Humorist David Sedaris reads from and signs his latest book Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary at Vroman’s tonight at 7 pm. The characters in this book aren’t human, but their situations are pretty Sedaris-like. For example, in "Hello Kitty," a cynical cat struggles to sit through his prison-mandated AA meetings. Original illustrations by Ian Falconer. Tickets to the event are sold out, but tickets to get a book signed are still available. Sedaris will only sign his books and leave the cameras at home...no photos!