11am &1pm

Children

The critically acclaimed Canadian Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia makes a rare appearance at four Southern California theaters with its glow-in-the-dark puppet versions of Eric Carle’s beloved picture books, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “The Very Quiet Cricket.”

* “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “The Very Quiet Cricket,” Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Saturday, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. $15. (310) 506-4522, (213) 365-3500. Also: McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, Monday, 6:30 p.m. $10-$20. (760) 340-ARTS; Norris Center, 27570 Crossfield Drive, Rolling Hills Estates, March 18, 1 and 4 p.m. $14. (310) 544-0403; Haugh Performing Arts Center, Citrus College, 1000 W. Foothill Blvd., Glendora, March 24, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. $5. (626) 963-9411.

all day

Art

“Valie Export: Ob/De+Con(Struction),” an award-winning 30-year survey of photographs, videos and installations documenting the Austrian artist’s early works, opens Saturday at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. The exhibition will look at the feminist Export’s early performance works, digital and conceptual photographic works, expanded cinema, and large-scale video and film works, which deal frankly with sexuality and repression, often through audience-participation performances.

* “Valie Export: Ob/De+Con(Struction),” Santa Monica Museum of Art, 2525 Michigan Ave., G-1, Santa Monica. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. $3 suggested donation. Ends May 6. (310) 586-6488.

7pm

World Music

Think of “Barrage” as Riverdance, but with violins instead of clogs. It has rock ‘n’ roll lighting, theatrical choreography and a full band, all in the service of showing off seven violists. They bow, pluck and fiddle their way through many continents of world music, from jazz to klezmer, from Celtic to calypso. The company, which has toured Europe, makes its first appearances in the U.S. on this tour with “A Violin Sings, a Fiddle Dances.”

* “Barrage: A Violin Sings, a Fiddle Dances,” Wadsworth Hall, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Brentwood, 7 p.m. $19 to $25. (800) 233-3123.

7:30 & 9:30pm

Pop Music

The San Francisco-based a cappella institution the Bobs are marking their 20th anniversary with a new album, “Coaster,” which introduces new member Amy Bob Engelhardt and includes versions of “Light My Fire” and “Caravan,” along with some typically twisted originals.

* The Bobs at McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. $22.50. (310) 828-4403.

8pm

Theater

“Titanic,” the Peter Stone-Maury Yeston musical, opens Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities’ 10th anniversary season, with Richard Kline as captain of the ill-fated ship. The production’s spiffy new look is due to two respected theater artists: Tom Buderwitz, who designed the big, multifaceted sets--constructed by NBC Studios--and costume designer Shon Le Blanc.

* “Titanic,” Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach. Saturday, 8 p.m. Regular schedule: Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 2 p.m. $35 to $50. Ends March 25. (310) 372-4477.

8:30pm

Celebration

Armandinho and his Trio Eletrico and Moraes Moreira will headline Brazilian Carnaval 2001 at the Hollywood Palladium. This annual celebration, which occurs one week after Brazil’s own Mardi Gras-like carnivals in Rio de Janeiro and Bahia, is billed as the largest celebration of its kind in Southern California. Armandinho is a master of the mandolin and Bahian guitar. Moreira is a singer-songwriter and a 30-year veteran of Brazilian music making. A costume contest and authentic Brazilian food and crafts will contribute to the merrymaking. Other entertainers include Brasil, Brazil Show, which will perform samba rhythms from Rio de Janeiro, and the TropiDANZA dancers.

* Brazilian Carnaval 2001, Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., L.A., 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Advance tickets: $30; reserved table seating, $40. At the door: $35; reserved table seating, $45. (818) 566-1111.

9pm

Pop Music

In the world of alt-country, few are held in higher esteem than Jeff Tweedy, whose resume includes two of the genre’s key groups--fountainhead Uncle Tupelo and the carrying-it-on Wilco. The singer-songwriter steps away from the band to play a rare solo show.

* Jeff Tweedy, with Fred Armisen, the Knitting Factory Hollywood, 7021 Hollywood Blvd., L.A., 9 p.m. Sold out. (323) 463-0204.

FREEBIE: A pops program by the La Mirada Symphony offers music by Korngold and Barber, plus arrangements by the late Carmen Dragon. Leon Guide is conductor, and the soloists are vocalists Stacy Sullivan and William Schallert, and violinist Radu Pieptea, who plays the Violin Concerto by Korngold. 8 p.m. in the Theater for the Performing Arts, Rosecrans and La Mirada boulevards, La Mirada. (310) 472-1846.

“Influence and Identity: Printmaking From Self-Help Graphics,” an exhibition of prints by 13 Chicano artists, opens Saturday at the Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. Ends June 3. (213) 228-7000.