Theater

Returning for a third year to San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” right, comes alive as a musical holiday spectacular for all ages. By Timothy Mason and Mel Marvin, the show stars Guy Paul, who reprises his acclaimed performance in the title role. The Globe again will create a Who-ville fantasy-scape on the outdoor Copley Plaza. Opens today.

Movies

“102 Dalmatians” finds Cruella De Vil (reprised by Glenn Glose) released from prison on good behavior on the dubious promise that she will never have anything to do with fur again. Opens Wednesday.

Also: “Unbreakable” re-teams “The Sixth Sense” director M. Night Shyamalan and star Bruce Willis in another unusual suspense thriller in which Willis mysteriously survives a train wreck without a scratch. Samuel L. Jackson and Robin Wright Penn co-star. Opens Wednesday in general release.

Dance

Wanna samba? Think capoeira is a kick in the head? Then prepare for the heat and flash of Brazil’s only professional folk dance company, the 32-member Bale Folclorico de Bahia, in “Carnaval 2000.” The company, right, performs today at Citrus College in Glendora and Tuesday in the Smothers Theatre at Pepperdine University in Malibu. Then from Thursday through next Sunday, it comes to the Irvine Barclay Theatre in Orange County.

Music

In the first of two guest-conducting visits to the Los Angeles Philharmonic this season, former music director Zubin Mehta this week leads the orchestra in one of his specialties, the Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection,” by Gustav Mahler, in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Joining Mehta, the orchestra and the L.A. Master Chorale are vocal soloists Heidi Grant Murphy and Mary Phillips.

Video

Ridley Scott’s visceral, exciting and violent epic “Gladiator” transformed Russell Crowe into a bona fide sex symbol. Crowe gives a rousing performance as Maximus, a Roman general who is betrayed and sold into slavery, only to become a champion gladiator. Joaquin Phoenix, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi and a splendid Oliver Reed, in his final film, also star. In stores Tuesday.

Pop Music

Lock up your children--Eminem and Limp Bizkit, this year’s scourges of decent society, have pooled their powers of evil to form the ultimate rap-rock alliance, the Anger Management Tour. With sub-demons Xzibit and Staind along, they play the Arrowhead Pond on Tuesday. And to rub your nose in it, Bizkit, below, comes back to the Forum on Friday, this time with Godsmack and DMX.