7 pm: Theater/Family

Nine teenagers navigate their way through the turmoil of war in “Can’Teen: Letters to the Front,” a new musical by Chris DeCarlo, Evelyn Rudie and M. Rather set in a USO teen canteen in 1942. It’s presented by Santa Monica Playhouse Summer Stock ‘99, a youth company.

* “Can’Teen: Letters to the Front,” Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. Today-Sunday, 7 p.m.; also Saturday-Monday, 2 p.m. $12.50 to $15. (310) 394-9779, Ext. 1.

7:30 pm: Movies

The county museum will kick off its Alfred Hitchcock Centennial Film Series with a screening of Hitch’s 1959 classic comic-thriller “North by Northwest.” Cary Grant stars as an advertising man whose world is turned inside out when he’s mistaken for an assassin and is chased across country by a pack of spies led by James Mason--at his most suave and oily--and Martin Landau as Mason’s henchman. Eva Marie Saint, who played the quintessential cool blond to perfection, will be on hand to take questions from the audience following the screening.

* “North by Northwest,” Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Bing Theater, 5905 Wilshire Blvd. 7:30 p.m. $5 to $7. (323) 857-6010. The series will continue on Fridays and Saturdays through Sept. 11.

9 pm: Pop Music

Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers have taken a sudden left turn with their latest album, “Spirit of Music,” enlisting star producer Don Was to help bring out their rock and acoustic side. The four young reggae veterans, who play three shows at the House of Blues, still take time to salute their late father Bob with versions of his “All Day All Night” and “High Tide or Low Tide.”

* Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers, House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. Today-Saturday, 9 p.m. $35. (323) 848-5100. Also Sunday at Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 N. Milpas St., Santa Barbara, 3 p.m. $21 to $36. (805) 962-7411.

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FREEBIE: The Latin jazz and dance band Johnny Polanco & Conjunto Amistad plays the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A., 7:30 p.m. (parking, $5). (310) 440-4500.