Apr. 8: Oedipus, Meet Shakespeare

Greetings, all. Due to some breaking news on Thursday, our weekend guide was pre-empted. Accordingly, today's SM AM Report will be of the traditional weekday variety—not abbreviated, as it typically is on Fridays.

Also on Thursday, we published news on Santa Monica High School basketball players , and, in less fortunate news, a report on the same school's baseball team on Wednesday night.

One more thing: For those of you keeping tabs on the amount of money raised for in Santa Monica, here are the latest figures (click on the hyperlinks for the related stories): American Red Cross of Santa Monica Youth Run 4 Japan—$150,000; Red Cross fundraising drive—$10,261; St. Monica's Catholic Schools—$1,725.10; Emperor's College—$1,000.

Now, here's the lowdown on today:

Weather Forecast

• showers possible
• high temperature: 59 degrees
• low temperature: 45 degrees
• chance of precipitation: 40 percent
• humidity: 50 percent
• sunrise: 6:32 a.m.
• sunset: 7:20 p.m.

The Main Event

• An innovating play that presents the Oedipus story through Shakespearean language makes its world premiere at this evening at 8 p.m. The production, which is presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, will run through Sunday. Tickets are $10.

The Runner-Up

• Also happening at SMC tonight is "Charles Messier & the Faint Fuzzies,” a planetarium event that explores sights highlighted by the titular 18th-century comet hunter. The Frenchman "compiled a remarkable list of the brightest galaxies, star clusters and nebulae in the northern sky, and he is the reason that 'M' is in front of numerical designations for many beautiful objects in the night sky," the college said in a statement. Tickets for the 8 p.m. event are $5, or $9 if you're also planning to check out the “The Night Sky Show” at 7 p.m.

Other Happenings

• The much-anticipated, one-night-only theatrical performance of Carlie & Doni Help Save the Theatre hosted by Lily Tomlin happens tonight at the . Go here to read our full preview of the show.
• The 62nd annual Stairway of the Stars concert—featuring 26 bands, orchestras and choirs—continues tonight at 7 p.m. at the . Check out Thursday's SM AM Report for more info.
• The Milken Educator Forum, which is being held at the hotel, starts today with an orientation and welcome dinner. The theme for this year's forum, which runs through Sunday, is "Milken Educators as Ambassadors for Excellence."

Last but Not Least

• Also from today through Sunday, members who rent three or movies get treated to a free chocolate bar.

(Go here for more events happening today.)

This Day in Santa Monica History

• On Apr. 8, 1970, the Kinks performed at the (source: GoGoNotes.blogspot.com).

Did you take a great pic of SM in the early morning? Want to see it in The SM AM Report? Drop a note to Kurt.Orzeck@patch.com.

City News Service contributed to this report.