FRIDAY

HOOP DREAMS

In the fall of 1963, the Ventura High School Cougars--en route to a 24-5 basketball season--knocked off the new guys from across town, the Buena Bulldogs, 66-57, in the first ever meeting between the two schools. Thirtysomething years later, the Poinsettia City’s arch enemies are still at it. The cats and the dogs will tip it off for a Channel League game at Ventura College gym, 4667 Telegraph Road, beginning at 7:30 p.m. In addition to bragging rights for the city of Ventura, first place is at stake as well. Battling for the top spot in the Channel League are Ventura (9-5), Buena (9-6), plus Oxnard and Santa Barbara. This is the first of two meetings between the rivals and the place is usually packed. Adult tickets are $3 and students get in for a buck less. Call 643-2116 or 642-2156.

SATURDAY

CONCERT

Young talent takes center stage when the New West Symphony presents its “Discovery Artists Concert” at the Civic Arts Plaza Auditorium, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. A competition in Ventura County netted a roster of teenage musicians--pianist Eric Cheung, 15, cellist Giovanna Moraga and oboist Jeffrey Paul II, both 18, and violinist Clifford Wang, 17. They will perform, starting at 8 p.m., works by Rossini, Beethoven, Vieuxtemps and Bach with members of the New West Symphony, conducted by music director Boris Brott. Before the concert, there will be a “Pre-Concert Jazz Festival” featuring jazz bands from area junior high and high schools. Tickets are $10 to $20, with student tickets for $5 and family packages, of up to six tickets, for $25. For more information, call 643-8646.

SUNDAY

JAZZ LEGEND

Radio programming note: KCLU-FM, 88.3, will commence a weekly special dedicated to the music and life of jazz legend John Coltrane. Hosted by music director Cary Ginell, “The John Coltrane Hour” will air at 8 p.m. each Sunday. With the station’s ever-growing ‘Trane catalog, there will be no shortage of his wares to explore. Combining a fierce energy and an affecting poetic tone, the tenor-soprano saxophonist traversed the jazz idiom, passing through the swing era to rhythm and blues, be-bop, straight-ahead, free jazz and in the late ‘60s, a probing, mystical style that called upon Eastern influences. “Coltrane was something to everybody, but something different to everybody,” said Ginell. “We want to define the elements of his career, then go into greater depth as we get into the series.” With an eye toward the informative, the program will include biographical sketches of Coltrane, whose career began in earnest during the mid-’40s and continued until his untimely death at the age of 40 on July 17, 1967.

UP THE COAST

* With a much-touted, six-year international tour behind him, playwright-actor Neil Marcus and cohorts will return to Santa Barbara where it all began for a videotaping of his acclaimed “Storm Reading.” Here is the semi-autobiographical episodic look at life with dystonia musculorum deformans--a crippling disease similar to cerebral palsy--that afflicts the wheelchair-bound Marcus. At times hilarious, serious, eloquent, the play is replete with often ludicrous reactions to his condition: A museum guard who practically shoves his wheelchair through the exhibit, a reporter who asks, “Aren’t you using your disability as a crutch?” or a man at the self-service laundry who screams, “I’m gonna help you whether you want me to or not!” Cast mate Matthew Ingersoll takes on the oddball characters, while Kathryn Voice signs the performance and plays some key supporting roles. Access Theatre will restage the production in front of live audiences for two final performances at the Lobero Theatre, where the show premiered in March 1988. Show times: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets: $16 show only; $50 show and Grand Finale Celebration reception. Information: 963-0761.