Best Bets / MAY 28-JUNE 3, 2000

Movies

Martin Lawrence stars in the comedy “Big Momma’s House” as an FBI agent whose mastery of disguise is put to the test. While on a stakeout in a small Southern town, he suddenly must pass himself off as a local matriarch. Nia Long co-stars. Opening Friday.

Art

From dramatic depictions of thunderstorms at sea to lush floral compositions, the paintings of 19th century American artist Martin Johnson Heade show a landscape painter who is engrossed with his surroundings. Not considered a major artist in his time, Heade receives his due today as LACMA hosts a traveling survey organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The exhibition will include about 70 paintings from the artist’s sojourns in New England, South America and Florida including “An Amethyst Hummingbird With a White Orchid” (about 1875-90, oil on canvas).

Music

Closing its 14th season, Los Angeles Opera on Saturday opens its latest production of an opera by Benjamin Britten, “Billy Budd,” with an all-male cast led by Rodney Gilfry, below, in the title role. Designed by Alison Chitty, conducted by Roderick Brydon and staged by Francesca Zambello, the production also features Robert Tear, Jeffrey Wells and Richard Stilwell, and runs through June 17.

Theater

The world premiere of “The Education of Randy Newman” tells the life of a 20th century American artist through the words and music of the singer-songwriter behind “Short People,” “I Love L.A.” and “Sail Away.” Michael Roth, Jerry Patch and Newman modeled the musical on the literary classic “The Education of Henry Adams.” Opens Friday at South Coast Repertory. Above, from left: Jennifer Leigh Warren, Scott Waara and Allison Smith.

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Peter Falk and Jason Alexander headline the world premiere of “Defiled,” Lee Kalcheim’s drama about a police negotiator (Falk) and an over-the-edge city librarian (Alexander) who is threatening to blow up his workplace if the library’s quirky card catalog is replaced by a computerized filing system. Opens Wednesday at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood.

Pop Music

The small, Mississippi-based Fat Possum label serves as a refuge for some of the edgiest but authentic blues extant from such incorrigibles as Paul Jones, Robert Belfour and 78-year-old T-Model Ford. Those three are joined Thursday at the House of Blues by label-mate R.L. Burnside, the man who linked raw blues with the worlds of alternative rock and techno.

Video

Jim Carrey won a Golden Globe--but was ignored by Academy Awards voters--for his turn as the late outrageous comedian Andy Kaufman in Milos Forman’s bio-pic “Man on the Moon.” The drama, which also stars Courtney Love and Danny DeVito, arrives Tuesday on video and DVD.

Jazz

Ruth Price and the Jazz Bakery present “Jazz in June” on Saturday at the John Anson Ford Theatre. The impressive lineup features singers Nnenna Freelon and Carmen Lundy, the trios of Billy Childs and Prime plus the great trumpeter and film composer Terence Blanchard.