Crawford, Carreras Part of Cerritos Season Lineup

Tenor Jose Carreras, comedians Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, country’s Willie Nelson, pianist Ivo Pogorelich, rockers Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart and the Dance Theatre of Harlem headline the wide-ranging 1999-2000 season at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

Michael Crawford, Broadway’s original “Phantom of the Opera,” will open the season Aug. 13 with a concert performance. Other highlights:

* Singer Tom Jones (Aug. 27-28).

* Soprano Kathleen Battle (Oct. 20).

* Flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia (Nov. 6).

Carreras (Sept. 18) launches classical music offerings of the new season, also featuring Pogorelich (Feb. 3).

The Dance Theatre of Harlem (Feb. 19) tops dance events, which also include Farukh Ruzimatov and Stars of the Russian Ballet in a tribute to Vaslav Nijinsky (Nov. 11-14) and the Trinity Irish Dance Company (Jan. 14-15).

Longtime Carol Burnett sidekicks Conway and Korman (Oct. 23) will reunite for an evening of sketch comedy for variety programming. Victor Borge (March 5) and magician Lance Burton (March 17-19) also will appear.

Willie Nelson (Nov. 20-21) and Sawyer Brown (Aug. 29) are among the center’s country lineup.

Ann and Nancy Wilson (Aug. 20) are on the list of pop music events, along with a New Year’s Eve night of dining, comedy, dancing and music from Peabo Bryson and Max Carl & Big Dance, billed as “The Party of the Century.”

The respected New York-based Acting Company’s productions of “The Rivals” (April 7), by England’s Richard Brinsley Sheridan, and “Macbeth” (April 8) are among theatrical events. Leslie Nielsen will appear as “Clarence Darrow” (Oct. 1-2) in a play based on Irving Stone’s novel.

Jazz and big-band events include Wynton Marsalis and his orchestra (April 15) in a Jazz at Lincoln Center program called “For Dancers Only.”

“Pasion Mexicana” (April 30), featuring Mariachi Sol de Mexico with a symphony orchestra, heads Cerritos’ world music lineup.

Ticket sales by fax, mail or drop-off at the Cerritos Center begin June 22. Phone orders and box office sales begin July 13.

Information or a schedule: (800) 300-4345 or (562) 916-8500.