True-life theater: Join the San Diego Playback Theatre for an evening of improvisational theatre based on a variety of true-life stories from the audience. The show takes place at 8:00 p.m. at the Swedenborgian Theatre, located at 1531 Tyler Ave., in Hillcrest. Tickets are $10. Call (858) 274-1747 for information and directions.

George Balanchine tribute: City Ballet celebrates the 100th anniversary of the great revolutionary choreographer George Balanchine with a tribute performance at 8:00 p.m. at the Spreckels Theatre. The program will showcase important works from every phase of Balanchine’s career, and includes Valse Fantasie, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Who Cares? and Agon. Tickets are $12-$37. Call City Ballet’s box office at (858) 272-8663 or (619) 220-TIXS for tickets.

Second Avenue Klezmer Ensemble: Celebrate the 350th anniversary of Jews in North America with the melodies of Eastern Europe, the American Yiddish Theatre and the soulful songs of Jewish Spain. Join San Diego’s beloved Second Avenue Klezmer Ensemble in an evening of joyous, foot-stomping music at the Neurosciences Institute at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students, $20 general admission. Call (619) 275-1539 for more information. The Neurosciences Institute is located at 10640 John Jay Hopkins Dr. in San Diego.

Beauty 101: Empower Girls is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping girls and women discover their power. Beauty 101 is their workshop on self-identification, taking place from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the Escondido Girl Scout Camp, located at 3050 Las Palmas Ave., in Escondido. This workshop contains a critical study of television commercials, physical movement activities and creative art projects, as well as confidence-building and positive message exercises. The workshop is designed for anyone who wants to uncover inner beauty or help friends overcome poor self-image. Bring your girlfriends and mother along! Call Nicole T. Scott at (858) 689-2427 for more information.

Skott Freedman: Local bisexual singer/songwriter Skott Freedman performs at Twiggs Coffeehouse at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $8. Freedman will be featured on The Discovery Channel this fall as part of the “Sex Files” program. Twiggs is located at 4590 Park Blvd. Call (619) 296-0616 for more information.

Chicana feminist activist: The San Diego chapter of the National Organization for Women and San Diego Voices of Women present a lecture/discussion featuring internationally acclaimed Chicana feminist activist Elizabeth “Betita” Martinez, who will speak on the topic “The Insurgency in Iraq and the Impact on Women and People of Color”. The event takes place from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the WorldBeat Center in Balboa Park. A $5-10 donation is suggested at the door, but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Call (619) 238-1824 for more information.

The Road to Mecca: 6th@Penn Theatre presents Athol Fugard’s highly acclaimed play following the life of Miss Helen, an old woman who lives alone and has transformed her home into a work of art by creating a myriad of cement wise men, camels, owls, mermaids and other figures around the house; and decorating the inside with dozens of candles and mirrors. She has created her own “Mecca” of beauty and freedom amid the harsh environment, the church-going Afrikaners and voiceless “colored” who inhabit a desolate region of South Africa. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. and plays through June 2. Tickets are $15-18. Call (619) 688-9210 for reservations.

Hot monkey social: Hot Monkey Love Cafe is San Diego’s newest all-ages venue for great coffee, live music, dancing and meeting people. Every night they have something different, including comedy, jazz, blues, open mic, Beatles night and a steady schedule of great local and touring blues and rock bands. They have what you want to hear, a great atmosphere and all the best new talent that So Cal has to offer. The café is located at 5960 El Cajon Blvd., near SDSU. Call (619) 582-5908 for further information.

Musical history: Every Tuesday evening in May at 6:30 p.m., Museum of Photographic Arts film curator Scott Marks presents a class on the history of the Hollywood musical. Each week, Marks discusses films from different decades, ranging from the 1930s to the 1960s. The 1960s heyday of the Hollywood musical is featured May 18, and the last of the great musicals, such as Bye Bye, Birdie and West Side Story, close the series on May 25. Admission is $4-$7. Call (619) 238-7559 for more information.

Indie by Design: This ongoing showcase of independent-minded musicians, making music on their own terms, features Danielle LoPresti and The Masses, Alicia Champion, Nicki, Simeon Flick, Brea and special guest Michael Tiernan at Korova Coffe Bar and Art Gallery starting at 6:30 p.m. Pay-what-you-can cover charge. Call (619) 260-1917 for more information. Korova Coffee Bar is located at 4496 Park Blvd.

The dark side of Johnny Cash: Singer/songwriter Richard Buckner, the husky-voiced, guitar picking purveyor of pathos-laden songs, captures the dark side of Americana at the Casbah at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. Call (619) 232-4355 for more information.

An iconic affair: The opera that inspired Moulin Rouge, La Traviata plays at the San Diego Civic Theatre at 7:00 p.m. Verdi’s tragedy features Violetta, a fabulous “grande horizontale” who – already the pampered mistress of the haughty Marquise – is in love with the sensitive Alfredo, and is slowly dying of tuberculosis. Tickets are $18-148. Call (619) 570-1100 for tickets and information.

On-air theater: Check out “San Diego Theatre Scene On-Air”, a new online radio show featuring 6th@Penn Theatre’s artistic director Dale Morris and writer/speaker Jenni Prisk, every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. at worldtalkradio.com. Morris and Prisk dive into local and national theater events and interview the people involved in them. Recent shows have featured Patricia Rincon, Luis Valdez and the creative talents behind New Village Arts. You can also listen to archives of previous shows on the website. For more information, contact Dale Morris at (619) 688-9210.

Families & Fairness: A community rally for marriage equality takes place at 5:00 p.m. in front of Long Beach City Hall. There will be a town hall reception and town hall meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Long Beach, located at 241 Cedar Ave. in downtown Long Beach. Call (562) 434-4455 ext. 224 for more information.