TODAYDANCETechnical numbersDance’s love affair with advanced image-manipulation...

TODAY

DANCE

Technical numbers

Dance’s love affair with advanced image-manipulation technology is consummated anew in “Landing/Place,” a new full-evening work by Bessie Award-winning contemporary choreographer Bebe Miller. Indeed, the offstage techies outnumber the dancers in a piece incorporating digitalized motion-capture effects, real-time video interface design, animation, video projection and live music by Albert Mathias. Reportedly, the subject of the piece is sensory, spatial and cultural dislocation -- or is that the effect it wants to produce?

Bebe Miller, “Landing/Place,” REDCAT Theater at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown L.A. 8:30 tonight. $20 to $32. (213) 237-2800, www.redcat.org.

* Also 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday

THEATER

A master

from Milan

The noted Piccolo Teatro di Milano, last seen locally during the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival, presents “Arlecchino, Servant of Two Masters,” Carlo Goldoni’s 1745 commedia dell’arte classic about a crafty servant who gets the better of his betters. Italian actor Ferruccio Soleri plays the title role -- as he has done in Milan for more than 45 years.

“Arlecchino, Servant of Two Masters,” Freud Playhouse, UCLA, 405 Hilgard Ave., Westwood. 8 tonight. $38 to $55. (310) 825-2101.

* Also 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Ends Sunday.

MUSIC

Debut with L.A. Phil

British-born Jonathan Nott, principal conductor of Germany’s Bamberg Symphony, is a musician on the rise, often credited with breathing new life and a sense of adventure into a distinguished but staid orchestra. The conductor, also noted as a champion of new music who boasts a long association with the Ensemble Contemporain, makes his debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic leading works by Mahler and Korngold. Philharmonic principal concertmaster Martin Chalifour and soprano Mary Wilson are featured artists.

Korngold Violin Concerto and Mahler Symphony No. 4, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave. 8 tonight. $15 to $129. (323) 850-2000.

* Also 11 a.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday.

FRIDAY

MOVIES

Look beyond the leads

At first glance, the movies “North Country” and “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” seem to have little in common. In the first, Charlize Theron portrays a single mother who leads a fight against sexual harassment at an iron mining company in Minnesota. In the latter, Robert Downey Jr. plays a small-time criminal who comes to L.A. to act but becomes wrapped up in a murder investigation involving the detective (Val Kilmer) who trains him for his role. So other than opening Friday, what link do these two seemingly disparate films share? Time’s up. Actress Michelle Monaghan has supporting roles in both.

* “North Country,” rated R for sequences involving sexual harassment including violence and dialogue, and for language, opens Friday.

* “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang,” rated R for language, violence and sexuality/nudity, also opens Friday.

MUSIC

A soprano who barks

Dawn Upshaw faces new vocal challenges in “Ayre,” a song cycle created for her by contemporary composer Osvaldo Golijov. Written to complement Luciano Berio’s “Folksongs,” the cycle centers on southern Spain and its intermingling of cultures, Christian, Arab and Jewish, in the late 15th century. One piece, based on an 18th century Sardinian song, requires the celebrated soprano to bark, meow and ululate. In the first half of the program, Upshaw will sing a selection of songs with guitarist Gustavo Santaolalla, followed by new music ensemble eighth blackbird.

“Ayre,” Dawn Upshaw, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave. 8 p.m. Friday. $28 to $82. (323) 850-2000.

EVENTS

Things are sure to get a little sticky

The third annual

TarFest, a two-day Miracle Mile party, begins

Friday night with a reception and art exhibition at the Craft and Folk Art Museum and continues Saturday with a picnic and live music at the La Brea Tar Pits. Local rock, R&B;, reggae, chamber, hip-hop and experimental musicians will take the stage. At dusk, 10 to 12 short films -- documentary, comedy, drama and experimental -- from around the world will be shown on a theater-sized outdoor screen. TarFest 2005 will conclude Saturday evening with a reception with more art, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a DJ at Subud House.

TarFest 2005, reception at Craft and Folk Art Museum, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7 to 11 p.m. Friday. All events are free. (323) 964-7100.

* Also, picnic, music and film screenings at the La Brea Tar Pits, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday. Closing reception at Subud House, 5828 Wilshire Blvd., 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday.

JAZZ

Decorated guitarist

George Benson was already firmly established as a mainstream jazz guitarist when “This Masquerade,” his take on the Leon Russell song, featured his voice as well as his guitar on Benson’s 1976 album “Breezin’.” The cut became a huge pop hit and won the Grammy for record of the year. All told, Benson has won eight Grammys. He was nominated for a ninth last year for a tune on his CD, “Irreplaceable.” Benson, who had a live “best of” album come out last month, will make a stop in Long Beach.

George Benson, Terrace Theater, Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. 8 p.m. Friday. $45 to $75. (562) 436-3661.

SATURDAY

EVENTS

Read all about it

The ninth annual L.A. Latino Book & Family Festival, which promotes literacy, education and culture in a festival atmosphere, moves to the

Fairplex in Pomona this year. The festival features a book village to expose children and adults to a wide range of English-

and Spanish-language books as well as live

entertainment, art, theater, children’s activities, two food courts and science, travel and health exhibits.

L.A. Latino Book & Family Festival, Pomona Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Free. (760) 434-4484.

* Also 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

ART

Totally rad sculptures

Jesse Simon is an artist and avid surfer whose new work reflects his love for the ocean. But don’t expect to see any beach or wave scapes in this exhibition -- Simon constructs sculptures using broken surfboards. After stripping the boards down to their foam cores, Simon slices them into smaller pieces and refinishes the body to create smooth, organic shapes that resemble ivory and marble surfaces.

Jesse Simon, Patricia Faure Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., B7, Santa Monica. Opens Saturday. (310) 449-1479.

* Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Ends Nov. 26.

WEDNESDAY

THEATER

A tortured psyche

In Peter Shaffer’s psychological drama “Equus,” an intense -- and strictly adult -- exploration of the meaning of individuality, passion and sanity, a therapist confronts the tortured psyche of a teenager who has inexplicably blinded several horses. Tim Dang directs this East West Players production; George Takei plays the psychiatrist.

“Equus,” David Henry Hwang Theatre, 120 Judge John Aiso St., L.A. Opens 8 p.m. Wednesday. Opening night, $65 (with reception). (213) 625-7000, www.eastwestplayers.org.

* Runs 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays through Sundays, except 8 p.m. only Oct. 29. American Sign Language-interpreted 2 p.m. Nov. 12; ends Dec. 4. $35 to $40.