ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

STAGE

‘Phantom’ of the Century: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” was feted in London on Monday as the most successful show of the century after worldwide box-office sales topped $3 billion. “ ‘The Phantom’s’ box-office revenues are higher than any film or stage play in history, including blockbusters like ‘Titanic’, ‘E.T.’ and ‘Star Wars’,” said a spokesman for Lloyd Webber’s company, the Really Useful Group, which tabulated the results. (They were verified by the West End Theatre Group and by independent auditors.) The British composer, meanwhile, said: “I am amazed, delighted and surprised, and we haven’t even started on the film yet,” referring to a long-in-the-works film adaptation currently being developed by “Elizabeth” director Shekhar Kapur. “Phantom,” which premiered in 1986, has been staged in 91 cities in 15 countries, and the soundtrack has sold 25 million copies. New theatrical productions are due to open next month in Mexico City and Antwerp. Meanwhile, another Lloyd Webber musical, “Cats,” holds the No. 2 spot in terms of all-time theater grosses, with a take of $2 billion.

POP/ROCK

Rocking With Friends: Mick Jagger is joined by a number of fellow music makers--including B.B. King, Annie Lennox, Natalie Imbruglia, Lionel Richie, Iggy Pop, Joe Cocker and the Spice Girls--in a “We Are the World”-style recording of a new version of the Rolling Stones’ “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll.” The song, released in Britain on Monday, will raise funds for Children’s Promise, a charity that aims to convince people to donate their salary from the final hour they work this century to improve life for children.

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Internet Beatles Moment: Paul McCartney’s return today to Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club--a venue he last performed at in 1963 with the Beatles--will be carried live over the Web at https://www.msn.co.uk. In local time, the Webcast will begin at noon; it’ll remain available on the site through 4 a.m. Wednesday. “This is going to be a thrilling and emotional night for me, and it’s fantastic that fans from around the world can log on to the gig and party with us,” said McCartney. The show’s 200 tickets were allotted by raffle, and a large video screen is being erected in a Liverpool park to compensate the 15,000 fans who could not squeeze into the small underground club where the Beatles were born.

TELEVISION

‘Angels’ Touches Down: “City of Angels,” the much discussed new CBS drama from “NYPD Blue” producer Steven Bochco, will make its debut Jan. 16 in “Touched by an Angel’s” Sunday slot before settling in at 8 p.m. Wednesdays later that week. CBS is hoping that the series--set in an inner-city hospital and featuring a largely minority cast, including Blair Underwood (“L.A. Law”)--will benefit from promotional exposure during the network’s NFL playoffs telecast. To make room for the new show, CBS will move “Cosby” in mid-January to Fridays at 8:30 p.m., where the sitcom will follow the Bill Cosby-hosted “Kids Say the Darndest Things.”

LEGAL FILE

Leo’s Split Decision: A New York judge has ruled that Leonardo DiCaprio cannot be sued for assault by a man who was beaten outside a Manhattan restaurant, however he let stand the victim’s $45-million suit claiming that the “Titanic” star incited the attack. Roger Wilson, 41, says he was attacked last year when he went to the restaurant to tell DiCaprio to stop trying to date “Showgirls” star Elizabeth Berkley, Wilson’s live-in girlfriend at the time. He contends DiCaprio was among a group of eight people who surrounded him outside the restaurant and taunted him. Wilson, an actor who appeared in two “Porky’s” movies, claims that one of the group then punched him in the throat, causing “severe” damage. However, Wilson says he does not know who threw the punch.

QUICK TAKES

Pikachu, the ubiquitous Pokemon, will join Santa Claus in a public appearance at Hollywood’s GCC Galaxy Theater this morning at 10:30. The duo will deliver a new shipment of Pokemon trading cards to the theater, which will have a blanket of real snow for the pair’s arrival. . . . Kirk Douglas, starring in the new movie “Diamonds,” chats online tonight at 6 at https://www.estar.com. . . . Tina Turner will sing “Proud Mary” and a new song, “When the Heartache Is Over,” during the Super Bowl pregame show on Jan. 30. The halftime lineup has not been announced. . . . A Vancouver court has dismissed songwriter Darryl Nuedorf’s lawsuit seeking credit for several songs on “Lillith Fair” founder Sarah McLachlan’s 1988 debut album, “Touch.” McLachlan’s attorney said Monday that the singer feels “vindicated” by the ruling. Nuedorf, who is also a record producer, had been hired by McLachlan’s record company to help the then-neophyte performer complete the album, but the court ruled there was no agreement that Nuedorf was part of the songwriting process.