8 pm: Cabaret

Andrea Marcovicci believes that cabaret is “an intensely personal evening of song and stories . . . “ (Don’t believe us? She says so on her Web site: www.galender.com/andrea/). The singer-actress, who’s appeared on screen with Woody Allen and Michael Caine as well as on television programs, including “Cybill” and “Hill Street Blues,” will put that philosophy to work as she sings from her latest CD, “New Words,” backed by a nine-piece orchestra.

* Andrea Marcovicci, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. $27-$35. (714) 854-4646.

all day: Movie

“Mean Streets,” Martin Scorsese’s 1973 masterpiece, has become the touchstone for all gangster dramas. Now the seminal film is back for a one-week 25th anniversary run at the Nuart. Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel, who have since become Scorsese stalwarts, star.

* “Mean Streets,” Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles. Friday-March 19, 4:45, 7:15 and 9:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. matinee, Sat.-Sun. only. $5-$8. (310) 478-6379.

all day: Movie

If you thought the 1993 Charlie Sheen version of the much-filmed Dumas tale “The Three Musketeers” was anachronistic, get ready for “The Man in the Iron Mask” with teen idol Leonardo DiCaprio as the evil King Louis XIV and the title character, the king’s secret and imprisoned twin brother. MGM/United Artists no doubt hopes that the film will ride the coattails of Leo-mania. Oh, the film also stars older guys Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich and Gerard Depardieu as the Three Musketeers, and Gabriel Byrne as d’Artagnan.

* “The Man in the Iron Mask” opens in general release.

7:30 pm: Family

With a ‘50s twist, Golden State Children’s Theatre presents its musical version of Shakespeare’s magical fantasy romp “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

* “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. $8. (562) 944-9801.

8 pm: Words & Music

Before there was rap, there were the Watts Prophets, a trio of South Central-based wordsmiths who chanted, ranted and told it like it was in the ‘60s. Today, the Prophets--Richard Dedeaux, Amde Hamilton, Otis Solomon--continue to bring their social and spiritually conscious message to those hip enough to hear it.

* The Watts Prophets, El Camino College Center for the Arts, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance. $16. (310) 329-5345.

8 pm: Dance

Founded in 1963, Batsheva Dance Company of Israel celebrates two anniversaries this year, its 35th and Israel’s 50th. Maybe that’s why its programs this weekend abandon modern dance business-as-usual for a commemorative collage of excerpts from works by artistic director Ohad Naharin. All bearing quasi-biblical titles, they include “Anaphase,” “Arbos,” “Queen of Golub” and “Mabul.” Coincidentally, Naharin’s “Axioma 7” is being danced the same night (as well as Saturday and Sunday) by the Rambert Dance Company just down the freeway at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

* Batsheva Dance Company, Veterans Wadsworth Theater, Veterans Administration grounds, Brentwood. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. $9-$35. (310) 825-2101.

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FREEBIE: Purim Carnival, University Synagogue, Brentwood, 10 a.m. (310) 472-1255.