WEEKEND FORECAST

TODAY

BOOKS

Imagine, a play a day for a year

On Nov. 13, 2002, Suzan-Lori Parks, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of “Topdog/Underdog,” undertook the outrageous project of creating 365 distinct, fully realized plays at the rate of one each day for the duration of a year. The result is “365 Days, 365 Plays,” a testament to her commitment and dedication to the writing life: at once excessive in its rigor and tender in its devotion.

Suzan-Lori Parks in conversation with Jessica Kubzansky, Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A., 7:30 tonight. (323) 660-1175.

DANCE

Challenging,

lyrical and effervescent

For its first repertory season, Los Angeles Ballet has chosen masterworks close to the heart of its two artistic directors. Balanchine specialist Colleen Neary is staging two of Mr. B’s most challenging works: the edgy “Agon” (to Stravinsky) and the lyrical “Concerto Barocco” (to Bach). In addition, Thordal Christensen capitalizes on his Danish heritage with a staging of August Bournonville’s effervescent pas de six and tarantella from “Napoli” (music by Helsted and Paulli). The result will be on view in two different venues this weekend -- plus one more at the end of the month.

Los Angeles Ballet, Freud Playhouse, UCLA campus, Westwood. 7:30 tonight and Friday. $35 to $95. (310) 998-7782. www.losangelesballet.org* Also 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd.

* Also 7:30 p.m. March 31 at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.

FRIDAY

THEATER

Getty Villa’s wild ‘Birds’

Latino comedy troupe Culture Clash -- Richard Montoya, Ricardo Salinas and Herbert Siguenza --

explores the wild and crazy Greek comedy of Aristophanes in an update of its 1998 adaptation of “The Birds,” as part of the Getty Villa’s experimental Theater Lab Series. Expect topical

humor, warring black

crows, pollos locos and weapons of mass guano. (Not appropriate for children younger than 13.)

“The Birds,” Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. 8 p.m. Friday. Free. (310) 440-7300. www.getty.edu* Also 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.

MUSIC

Conductor’s connection

A prizewinner in the Geneva, Van Cliburn and Ravel competitions, German pianist Christian Zacharias also began a conducting career in 1992. “I had this deep desire to perform with others,” he told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer earlier this month. “Conducting is not about technicalities, but communicating with a group of people.” From the keyboard, Zacharias will conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto. Also on the program: Haydn’s “London” Symphony and C.P.E. Bach’s Symphony in E-flat. A shorter version of the concert will be presented as a “Casual Friday” program. That will include the Beethoven concerto and the Haydn symphony.

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Christian Zacharias, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Friday. $39 to $135. (323) 850-2000. www.laphil.com* Also Saturday, 8 p.m., and Sunday, 2 p.m.

WORLD MUSIC

Persian, with a twist

The performances of three-time Grammy nominee Hossein Alizadeh are reminders of the rich cultural heritage that is too often overlooked in Western views of the troubled Middle East. Iranian-born, Alizadeh’s pursuit of new approaches to classic Persian music features improvisations on a newly developed instrument, the shurangiz, Sufi poetry and songs performed by female vocalist Afsaneh Rasaei and the lutes, kamancheh (spike fiddle) and percussion of the rare mixed-gender Hamavayan Ensemble.

“Persian Innovations”: Hossein Alizadeh & Hamavayan Ensemble, Royce Hall , UCLA, 405 Hilgard Ave., Westwood. 8 p.m. Friday. $32 to $55; ($17, UCLA students). (310) 825-2101.

MOVIES

Fighting

for the Irish

Winner of the Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” marks a high point in the four-decade-long career of socially conscious filmmaker Ken Loach. Cillian Murphy stars as a young man who abandons medicine to fight for Irish independence from the British in 1920, a battle that unites and divides the Irish.

“The Wind That Shakes the Barley,” unrated, opens Friday in selected theaters.

THEATER

Keys to memories

In Julia Cho’s new play, “The Piano Teacher,” a troubling occurrence in a retired music instructor’s past compels her to contact former students, whose mysterious memories are not what she expects. Directed by Kate Whoriskey, the world premiere play features Linda Gehringer.

“The Piano Teacher,” South Coast Repertory, Julianne Argyros Stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Opens 7:45 p.m. Friday. $28 to $60. (714) 708-5555. www.scr.org* Runs 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Ends April 7.

SATURDAY

ART

Pop’s power and whimsy

Since forming in 1999, Argentine collective Mondongo (including core members Agustina Picasso, Manuel Mendanha and Juliana Laffitte) has created labor-intensive, intricately crafted works harnessing the power and whimsy of pop for emotionally loaded scenes rendered in ubiquitous objects. thread/bare grants many a sly, irreverent slice of cultural criticism: Red Riding Hood is captured in Plasticine, amorous scenes are “painted” with masses of cotton thread.

“Mondongo: thread/bare,” Track 16 Gallery, 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica. Opens Saturday. (310) 264-4678.

* Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Ends April 14.

SUNDAY

MUSEUMS

A true original

Unusual paintings, drawing, ceramics, clothing and jewelry comprise the new exhibition “The Unconventional Beatrice Wood” at the Ventura County Museum of

History & Art. Originally an actress, Wood worked as an artist from her 40s until her death

at 105 in 1998. Her work contains elements of Dadaism, as well as influences including Modernism, Indian spirituality and folk and ethnic art. The exhibit includes photographs of the artist, who was a friend of Marcel Duchamp.

“The Unconventional Beatrice Wood,” Ventura County Museum of History & Art, 100 E. Main St., Ventura. Opens Sunday. $1 to $4. (805) 653-0323.

* Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Ends June 10.

WORLD MUSIC

‘La Pasion’ with Souza

Traditional musical boundaries are meaningless to Brazilian singer Luciana Souza, whose resume includes classical and jazz performances, recordings devoted to poets such as Pablo Neruda and Elizabeth Bishop, and a constant fascination with new horizons. She appears, in ensemble and duet performances, with the four similarly eclectic members of Los Angeles Guitar Quartet in a program exploring the colorful diversity of Latin America via the compositions of Brazil’s Hermeto Pascoal, Paulo Bellinati and Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Argentina’s Osvaldo Golijov, as well as the works of Manuel de Falla and Aaron Copland.

“La Pasion”: Luciana Souza with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 800 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 7 p.m. Sunday. $15 to $45. (714) 556-2787.

MONDAY

POP MUSIC

Another Bloc Party in L.A.

Bloc Party spent

so much time playing shows in the Southland when it was building

its initial audience that you might have thought the quartet was from

L.A. rather than East

London. That extensive groundwork might have also contributed to the long lag between their striking debut and the

follow-up, but “A Weekend in the City” finally came out last month, a more accessible collection that positions the charismatic Kele Okereke and company to expand that loyal following.

Bloc Party, the Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. Monday. $30 (sold out). (213) 380-5005.

* Also 8 p.m. Tuesday.