BEST BETS / SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 2, 1999

MOVIES

David O. Russell’s “Three Kings,” an action-adventure involving a greedy band of American soldiers in Iraq at the end of the Gulf War, stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube. Opening in general release on Friday.

Mark Illsley’s comedy “Happy, Texas” stars Jeremy Northam and Steve Zahn as two escaped prisoners who assume the identities of beauty pageant directors in a tiny Texas town. With Ally Walker, Illeana Douglas, William H. Macy, M.C. Gainey and Ron Perlman. Opening wide or selected theaters Friday.

JAZZ

As one of the members of the Manhattan Transfer, Janis Siegel has sung music ranging from bebop and swing to Brazilian and pop. Her solo careerhas also been impressive,as she will show during ajazz-oriented one-night stand this Monday at theJazz Bakery, with the assistance of pianist Alan Broadbent and bassist Putter Smith.

VIDEO

Brendan Fraser flexes his muscles and proves to be an engaging action-adventure hero in the box office hit, “The Mummy.” Written ands directed by Stephen Sommers, “The Mummy” is set in in Egypt of the 1920s and features some nifty special effects. Arnold Vosloo is perfectly cast in the title role. Rachel Weisz and John Hannah also star. “The Mummy” will unwrap at video stores on Tuesday.

ART

“The Art of Twentieth Century Zen: Paintings and Calligraphy by Japanese Masters,” the first exhibition in the United States to feature painted and calligraphic works by Japanese Zen masters, will include71 scrolls, screens and objects by 14 prominent artists when it opens Thursday at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

MUSIC

Chanticleer, the San Francisco-based male vocal ensemble, sings music from William Byrd to Augusta Read Thomas, Friday in Torrance, and on Saturday, with Frederica von Stade as guest, the group kicks off the Orange County Philharmonic Assn.’s Eclectic Orange Festival with a local premiere of Jake Heggie’s “Anna Madrigal Remembers,” based on Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City.”

THEATER

Eileen Barnett, Teri Bibb and David Engel reprise their lead roles in the Musical Theatre Guild production of “Passion,” Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical about love and obsession in a remote military outpost in 1863 Italy. Presented by Reprise! Broadway’s Best in Concert and the Guild at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse on Monday.

DANCE

Depicting the life of a beloved warrior-king, the dance-theater spectacle “Kamehameha: A Hawaiian Epic” comes to the mainland for the first time, performed by the acclaimed Halau o Kekuhi company at the Japan America Theatre from Friday to next Sunday, and at UC Santa Barbara, Oct. 7 and 8. The troupe is also on the bill for the opening celebration of the World Sacred Music Festival on Oct. 10.

Pop Music

In its five years, the Hollywood Bowl Salsa & Latin Jazz Festival has hosted some memorable moments, including the 1997 reunion of Ruben Blades and Willie Colon. Saturday’s edition features matriarch Celia Cruz heading a bill that includes red-hot merengue singer Elvis Crespo, Oscar D’Leon, Grupo Niche and Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca.