VENTURA COUNTY / Best Bets

Rubicon Theatre Company will return to the stage beginning tonight with a reader’s theater presentation of A.R. Gurney’s romantic two-character drama, “Love Letters.� The production will be at Laurel Theater in Ventura through March 5 and features a different pair of actors each show.

Love Letters, presented in reader’s theater format, will open tonight at Laurel Theater, 1006 E. Main St. Show times: Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m. Through March 5. $25 general; $20 senior citizens and students; group rates available. A Feb. 26 benefit show is sold out. Call 667-2900.

Blues Champion

John Hammond, arguably the preeminent interpreter of the delta blues today, will make a tour stop Friday at the Church of Religious Science in Ventura. The spirit of Robert Johnson comes alive when multiple Grammy Award-winner Hammond takes to the stage with his National steel guitar. Also on the bill, guitarist Alvin Youngblood Hart.

* John Hammond, 8 p.m. Friday, Church of Religious Science, 101 S. Laurel St., Ventura. $15. Call 641-1372.

Dawn of the Dragon

Arts Council of the Conejo Valley will celebrate the Year of the Dragon when it presents a Chinese New Year party Sunday afternoon at Thousand Oaks Community Gallery. The event will include traditional folk dancing, painting and calligraphy demonstrations, foods and vendors.

* A Chinese New Year celebration will be held from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at Thousand Oaks Community, 2331 Borchard Road, Newbury Park. Free. Call 498-4390.

Tommy, Can You Hear Me?

Theater League, a Kansas City-based organization that brings touring musicals to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, will return Tuesday to stage The Who’s rock opera, “Tommy.� In Pete Townshend’s tale, a boy becomes deaf, dumb and blind after witnessing his father kill his mother’s lover. The original album produced such hits as “See Me, Feel Me� and “Pinball Wizard.�

* The rock opera “Tommy� will open Tuesday at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Show times: Tuesday-Feb. 18, 8 p.m.; Feb. 19, 2 and 8 p.m.; Feb. 20, 2 and 7 p.m. $29.50-$38.50. Call 497-8616.