WEEKEND FORECAST

TODAY

Cool sounds on land

and at sea

Starting tonight, the 11th annual West Coast Jazz Party will say goodbye to summer with four nights and three days of almost nonstop, decidedly straight-ahead jazz. Besides multiple performing stages at the Irvine Marriott, a musical cruise on Newport Harbor is planned for Sunday morning. Those scheduled to perform include Terry Gibbs, the Jeff Hamilton Trio, Ken Peplowski, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Annie Sellick, Carol Welsman, Grant Geisman, Bill Cunliffe, Gerald Clayton and many more.

West Coast Jazz Party, Irvine Marriott, 18000 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. 8 to 11:15 . $20-$310. (949) 759-5003. www.westcoastjazzparty.com

Also noon to 12:15 a.m. Friday, noon to 12:30 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 12:20 a.m. Sunday.

Jazz pianist guests with the Phil

The Los Angeles Philharmonic goes Latin when Leonard Slatkin conducts a colorful program including familiar favorites such as Ginastera’s “Estancia” Suite, Fernandez’s “Batuque” and excerpts from Falla’s “The Three-Cornered Hat.” The program also will include the Piano Concerto by Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist-composer Michel Camilo, written in 1998. The composer will be at the keyboard. He will also play two of his solo pieces.

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. 8 tonight. $1 to $92. (213) 480-3232. www.HollywoodBowl.com.

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FRIDAY

Inside an enigma

The Mass Games, an elaborate, choreographed gymnastics performance by a cast of thousands, is North Korea’s ode to the strength of its leader, Kim Jong-Il, in resisting U.S. imperialism. British filmmaker Daniel Gordon’s documentary “A State of Mind” profiles two teenage girls as they arduously train for the big event, and also peers behind the country’s veneer of secrecy.

“A State of Mind,” unrated, opens Friday at Laemmle’s Fairfax Cinemas, 7907 Beverly Blvd., L.A. (323) 655-4010.

Musical ‘Women’

“Little Women -- The Musical,” based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel, launches its national tour, with Maureen McGovern reprising her Broadway role as Marmee. Written by Allan Knee, whose play “The Man Who Was Peter Pan” was the basis for

the film “Finding Neverland.” The work features music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein.

“Little Women -- The Musical,” Civic Theatre, 3rd Avenue and B Street, San Diego. Opens 7:30 p.m. Friday. $19-$65. (619) 570-1100. www.broadwaysd.com

* Runs 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday.

* Also at Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Opens 8 p.m. Tuesday. Runs 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Sundays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Ends Sept. 18. $21.25-$64.75. (714) 556-2787. www.ocpac.org

Southern exposure

In past projects, artist Kara Walker has used black paper cutouts to create dramatic shadow puppet shows that explore issues of desire, fantasy and fear. With her latest installation, “Kara E. Walker’s Song of the South,” Walker incorporates silhouettes and other materials to project light and shadows in her live performance, film and video. The opening reception will feature a presentation by the artist.

“Kara E. Walker’s Song of the South,” the Gallery at REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., L.A. Opens Friday, reception 6 to 9 p.m. (213) 237-2800.

* Hours: Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Ends Oct. 23.

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SATURDAY

Washington

looks back and ahead

She’s fought city hall to hold onto her dream. She’s lost dancers to Hollywood, rock ‘n’ roll and “The Lion King.” Yet somehow, Lula Washington has managed to keep her company on the move. And now, with a quarter century of choreography and artistic direction behind her, she celebrates her achievements and resilience with a program titled “Looking Back/Moving Forward: 25 Years of Dance and Going On....” With her brand-new “For Those Who Live and Die for Us,” Washington pays tribute to our troops. In addition, her daughter, Tamica Washington-Miller, premieres “Thanks and Praises.” The evening will also include Donald McKayle’s “I’ve Known Rivers,” Rudy Perez’s “Shifts,” Louis Johnson’s “Pas de Deux for Noel Pointer” and Christopher Huggins’ “On the Edge.”

“Looking Back/Moving Forward: 25 Years of Dance and Going On ... ,” John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood. 8 p.m. Saturday. $16 (children, students) to $25. (323) 461-3673.

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WEDNESDAY

The East River runs through it

In “Dead End,” Sidney Kingsley’s 1935 gritty exploration of issues of class and poverty, street-tough teenagers in Depression-era Manhattan find that tenants of luxury apartments are encroaching on their territory, leading inexorably to a clash between the haves and have-nots. With a set that includes an orchestra pit filled with more than 10,000 gallons of water to represent the East River, this epic, directed by Nicholas Martin, is the first production under the aegis of new Center Theatre Group artistic director Michael Ritchie.

“Dead End,” Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. Opens 8 p.m. Wednesday. $15 to $75. (213) 628-2772. www.TaperAhmanson.com

* Runs 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Sundays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; dark Oct. 5. Ends Oct. 16.