WEEK IN PREVIEW

MOVIES

“Sphere,” based on Michael Crichton’s bestseller, stars Dustin Hoffman and Sharon Stone, who are investigating a massive, possibly alien, craft that’s been submerged for almost 300 years. Director Barry Levinson’s film, with Samuel L. Jackson and Peter Coyote, opens Friday in general release.

THEATER

Buffalo Nights Theatre Company presents the world premiere of “Featuring Loretta” and the West Coast premiere of “Problem Child,” two comedies in Canadian playwright George F. Walker’s six-play suite “Suburban Motel.” The production opens Saturday at the new Falcon Theatre in Burbank.

ART

“Out of Actions: Between Performance and Object, 1949-1979,” a multimedia exhibition opening today at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, compares disparate artists and movements of the postwar period for which the act of artistic creation was emphasized as much as the objects produced.

OPERA

Openings abound this week, most notably L.A. Opera’s revival of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” on Friday at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and San Diego Opera’s presentation of a new production of Richard Strauss’ “Salome,” with Kristine Ciesinski in the title role, starting Saturday at Civic Theatre.

POP MUSIC

The annual Bob Marley Day Celebration at the Long Beach Arena has grown so big that it now takes two full days to complete the reggae music, food and crafts fair. Headlining Saturday are Sizzla, Yellowman and Barrington Levy. Next Sunday, it’s Bunny Wailer, Luciano and, back for an encore, Sizzla.

DANCE

Dance Theatre of Harlem returns to Southern California on Friday and Saturday with three repertory programs at El Camino College in Torrance. The big news for ‘98: “Sasanka,” by hot South African choreographer Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe. Above: Alicia Graf and Meredith Rainey.

JAZZ

Path-breaking folk-jazz group Oregon--guitarist Ralph Towner, multi-reedist Paul McCandless and bassist Glen Moore--hits town for two nights during a rare U.S. tour, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City. Opening the bill will be the witty duo of Moore and singer Nancy King.

VIDEO

Harrison Ford may have been lost at sea in the romantic comedy “Sabrina,” but he’s perfectly cast in the high-flying thriller “Air Force One” as a super-heroic U.S. president. The blockbuster, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and co-starring Gary Oldman, lands Tuesday in video stores.

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Early Warning: March 6 shapes up as a big day for fans of indie films, with the Coen brothers delivering “The Big Lebowski” and John Sayles “Men With Guns.”