Three-day forecast

MUSIC

Plain talk and insight

“You could practically see lights going on above people’s heads,” an East Coast music critic wrote of Robert Kapilow’s “What Makes It Great?” lecture-demonstrations. Like

Leonard Bernstein, Kapilow uses plain talk to generate insight. Returning to

Cerritos for the fifth year in a row, he looks at music by Verdi. Soprano Deidra

Palmour and tenor

William Gorton will be his guests.

“What Makes It Great?” Cerritos Center, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. $15. (800) 300-4345.

THEATER

It must be ‘Kismet’

Broadway veteran Len Cariou heads the cast in Reprise! Broadway’s Best production of “Kismet,” the classic “Arabian Nights” musical featuring such romantic standards as “And This Is My Beloved” and “Stranger in Paradise.” Starring with Cariou are musical stage veterans Anthony Crivello and Jason Graae.

“Kismet,” Freud Playhouse, UCLA, 405 Hilgard Ave., Westwood. Opens Wednesday. Runs Tuesdays to Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Feb. 1. $50 to $60. (310) 825-2101.

HOLIDAY

A march

to honor greatness

Today would have been Martin Luther King Jr.’s 75th birthday. The national holiday in his honor will be celebrated Monday. King once said, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” Because King encouraged all to perform public service, the official motto of his holiday is “Make it a day on ... not a day off.” Still, many local events are scheduled to honor the man and his legacy, including the annual parade in the Crenshaw business district. For more information, see www.kingdayinla.homestead.com.

* The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, Martin Luther King Boulevard, near Crenshaw Boulevard to Western Avenue. Monday, 11 a.m. Free. (310) 537-6486.

* Martin Luther King Annual Labor Breakfast, Watts Labor Community Action Center, 10950 S. Central Ave., L.A. Friday, 7 a.m. (213) 381-5611, Ext. 49.

* Museum of Tolerance, Simon Wiesenthal Plaza, 9786 W. Pico Blvd., L.A., will honor King with a program dedicated to community service, social action and the importance of instilling awareness of these issues in our children. Monday, 10:45 a.m., 12:45 and 2:45 p.m. Free, reservations required. (310) 553-8403.

POP MUSIC

Matthews flies solo

Ask Dave Matthews to explain his decision to put the long-running band that bears his name on hold long enough to launch a solo

career and he can always say the devil made him do it. “Some Devil,” the

singer-songwriter’s hit solo debut, has sold 1.3 million copies in the U.S., in part because its songs don’t fall far from the DMB tree. But they’ll take on a slightly different flavor with backing from such friends as longtime collaborator Tim Reynolds and Phish guitarist Trey Anastazio, who make up his solo touring band.

Dave Matthews & Friends, Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. Tonight, 7. $52.50. (213) 742-7340.

JAZZ

Musical master

Although he originally came to prominence as a twentysomething string-snapping electric bassist in the Miles Davis groups of the early 1980s, Marcus Miller has blossomed into a musical renaissance man. He’s a busy and successful record producer for both jazz and pop music artists. He writes musical scores for motion pictures. And he works soprano sax, bass clarinet and, sometimes, even singing into his live performances.

Marcus Miller Group, Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Thursday to Saturday, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. $20 to $35. (323) 466-2210.

DANCE

Koresh’s ‘Judgment’

“If you like your dancing hard, fast and intense,” gushed the Philadelphia Inquirer, “the Koresh Dance Company is for you.” Founded in 1991 by Israeli-born choreographer Ronen Koresh, the company makes its West Coast debut with Koresh’s “Judgment” (commissioned by the Cerritos Center), along with his “Twisted Pleasures” and “Backtracks.” Expect contemporary music (by John Vosbikian, Daniel Bacon and Alan Hovaness on this program), a movement vocabulary that the Philadelphia Citypaper called a “seductive fusion of ballet, jazz and modern dance,” plus what Koresh calls an Israeli mentality: “living in the moment.”

Koresh Dance Company, Cerritos Center, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; $25 to $45. (800) 300-4345.

MOVIES

See Spot dream

Spot is already a pretty unusual dog because he can talk. But he wants more. He wants to be a boy. A human boy. Through the genetic experiments of the loony -- some might say mad -- scientist Dr. Krank, this is possible ... with some complications. With the help of his best friend/master Leonard and their mother/fourth-grade teacher Mrs. Helperman, Spot just might realize his dream. In the animated feature “Disney’s Teacher’s Pet,” director Timothy Bjorklund infuses the visuals of illustrator Gary Baseman with enough kinetic energy to match the vocal high jinks of stars Nathan Lane and Kelsey Grammer. The cast also includes Shaun Fleming, Debra Jo Rupp, Jerry Stiller, David Ogden Stiers, Megan Mullally and Paul Reubens.

“Disney’s Teacher’s Pet,” PG for some mildly crude humor, opens Friday in general release.

THEATER

Composers during war

“War Music,” Bryan Davidson’s drama exploring the resilience of the human spirit and the connection between art and the context in which it is created, is based on events in the lives of composers Frank Bridge, Anton Webern and Olivier Messiaen during the first and second World Wars. The production is directed by Jessica Kubzansky.

“War Music,” Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood. Opens Wednesday. Runs Tuesdays-Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 4 and 8:30 p.m.; Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Feb. 22. $28-$46. (310) 208-5454.

MUSEUMS

Weekends in the ‘City’

Goodbye, Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, Miranda. Goodbye, Carrie and Big, Carrie and Aleksandr, Carrie and Jack, Carrie and Aidan. And goodbye ... well, let’s not even get started with Samantha. This is it. No more “Sex and the City.” Creator Darren Starr and his co-producers, cast and crew are signing off after this season, and the Museum of Television & Radio salutes the Emmy Award-winning show with a six-weekend marathon. Episodes from the first five seasons, up to and including the first 12 shows from the sixth and final season will be screened -- one season per weekend -- beginning Saturday.

“Sex and the City” Marathon, Museum of Television & Radio, 465 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. Saturday and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.; Jan. 24 and 25, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 and Feb. 7 and 8, noon to 4:30 p.m.; Feb. 14 and 15, noon to 4 p.m.; Feb. 21, noon to 5 p.m.; Feb. 22, noon to 1 p.m. $10, adults; $5, children under 14. (310) 786-1000 or visit www.mtr.org.

ART

Photo expo showcases Viggo, more

A reception tonight at 6 featuring actor and photographer Viggo Mortensen kicks off the 13th international photographic art exposition Photo L.A. 2004. And on Friday and throughout the weekend, visitors will have the opportunity to view thousands of images, including works by Diane Arbus, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Imogen Cunningham, Lynn Geesaman, Man Ray, Luis Gonzalez Palma Weegee, Aaron Siskind and others. Collectors, students of photography and the curious will also be able to attend seminars, lectures and panels throughout the weekend.

Photo L.A. 2004, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica. Reception: tonight, $50. Exhibition: Friday, Saturday, noon to 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. Admission: one day, $15; three days, $25. Tickets at the door or at Stephen Cohen Gallery, (323) 937-5525 or at www.photola.com.