Movies - April 8, 2001

Writer-directors Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont (‘Can’t Hardly Wait’) reteam for the big-screen translation of cartoon girl rockers “Josie and the Pussycats,� played by Tara Reid, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Rosario Dawson, right. Co-starring Parker Posey and Alan Cumming, the comedy opens wide Wednesday. Also: Whoopi Goldberg, LL Cool J, Jada Pinkett Smith and Vivica A. Fox star in “Kingdom Come,� an irreverent look at a family gathered to mourn the death of a grumpy patriarch. The ensemble comedy, directed by Doug McHenry (‘Jason’s Lyric’), opens Wednesday.

Music

Baroque specialist Helmut Rilling, below, conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic this week, leading two performances of Bach’s “St. Matthew� Passion in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Friday and Saturday. Anthony Rolfe-Johnson sings the role of the Evangelist, with Matthias Goerne as Jesus; other soloists are Christine Oelze, Ingeborg Danz, Stanford Olsen and Christian Gerhaher in his belated local debut.

Pop Music

How often does a living legend make his L.A. debut? That description fits Pablo Milanes, an icon of Cuban music since he and Silvio Rodriguez pioneered the politically conscious nueva trova movement in the late ‘60s. The singer has since proved equally adept at love songs, and both sides figure to come into play when Milanes headlines the Conga Room Thursday.

Also: Audiotistic, an ambitious festival that endeavors to bring together all aspects of dance culture, picks up the beat from last year’s debut at the National Orange Show for a second edition Saturday at the Long Beach Convention Center. Jurassic 5, Common and Dilated Peoples head the rap contingent, while Cut Chemist, LTJ Bukem and Donald Glaude, among others, represent DJ culture.

Dance

World-champion step dancer Liam Harney brings his CelticFusion to the California Center for the Arts in Escondido on Wednesday. Infusing traditional Irish dancing with contemporary ideas and forms, the show was created and choreographed by Harney and Kevin Patterson, with original music by Ivan Drever.

Video

Cuba Gooding Jr. and Robert De Niro star in “Men of Honor,� an inspiring drama about the first African American Navy diver. Gooding gives a terrific performance as Carl Brashear, the African American who fought tremendous odds to become a diver. De Niro plays his racist commander-a fictionalized character-who ultimately becomes Brashear’s champion. The drama, directed by George Tillman Jr., arrives Tuesday on video and DVD.

Theater

In the world premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire’s comedy “Kimberly Akimbo,� a teenager has a rare condition that causes her to age far beyond her years. Her family doesn’t make it any easier: Mom’s a hypochondriac, Dad is sobriety-challenged and Aunt Debra is a scam artist. What’s a girl to do? Opens Friday at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. Below: Steven Flynn and Marylouise Burke.