thursday 1|2 Pachucos On Stage
ZOOT SUIT Twenty-five years ago, writer and director Luis Valdez, founder of the El Teatro Campesino theater company in San Juan Bautista, penned Zoot Suit, a story about the Mexican-American community in which he grew up. It''s based on the "Sleepy Lagoon" incident of the 1940s, when a group of young Latinos in Southern California were railroaded into jail on murder charges, leading to the historic Zoot Suit Riots and the rise of Chicano consciousness. The play was acclaimed in New York and Los Angeles, and was made into a film starring Edward James Olmos, but it was never put on by El Teatro-until this winter, when ETC mounted the play''s Northern California premiere. Directed by Kinan Valdez and choreographed by Laura Akard, the play has been so successful that it''s already been extended twice (now running through Feb. 9), and might even run longer. Lotsa dancing, lotsa ''40s Big Band music, and those great, wide-shouldered, baggy-trousered zoot suits are just some of the reasons to grab tickets now. It''s a piece of local Chicano history that''s not often told.
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8pm tonight through Saturday, 2pm Sat. and 3pm Sun. El Teatro Campesino Playhouse, 705 Fourth St., San Juan Bautista. 623-2512. _**

saturday 1|4

The Man Who Planted Hope
STORYTELLERS ASHLEY RAMSDEN AND NANCY MELLON During World War I, there was a man who traveled around the war-torn European continent planting trees in the barren earth. Legends grew up around him, including the story "The Man who Planted Hope," which will be retold tonight at the Thunderbird by storytellers par excellence Ashley Ramsden and Nancy Mellon, founder and co-founder respectively of the School of Storytelling at Emerson College. Ramsden has been a frequent visitor to the Central Coast, most notably in his one-man presentation of A Christmas Carol. He and Mellon will read other stories, about trees and hope, at this evening''s performance, and will lead a six-hour storytelling workshop earlier in the day where they will present biographical and imaginative stories from many lands. Participants are asked to bring musical instruments, a notebook for writing exercises, and a twig from your favorite tree. Ramsden will also speak Wednesday at the Monterey Public Library, but tickets are sold out.
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7pm, Storytelling Performance, $10. 10am-4:30pm, storytelling workshop, $65. Both events at the Thunderbird Bookshop, The Barnyard Shopping Center, Rio Rd. at Highway One, Carmel. 624-1803. _

Not Your Average Bar Band
UNDERSCORE AND INBALANCELocal favorites underscore really know how to rock the house. Fusing upbeat, danceable music out of punk, funk, rock and searing vocals, they have gained themselves a faithfully returning audience and continue to rake in the praise. This four-piece group is strongly backed by bassist Dale Hameister and drummer Matt Brown, with distinctive guitar playing from Lake Sachtleben and vocals by the one girl in the band, Nikki Anderson. Also playing this evening is local rock band InBalance.
_9pm. Blue Fin Cafe and Billiards, 685 Cannery Row, Monterey. 375-7000. _**

monday 1|6

On The Twelfth Day of Christmas
TWELFTH NIGHT PARTY It''s philanthropy, good music and a history lesson all in one. The Carmel Music Society holds its second Twelfth Night Party to benefit the 27th Young Artists Competition. All over the Carmel Mission there will be music, revelry and yummy nosh (wine, and a buffet.) There''s also a silent auction, many surprises in store, and music from local folks and kids'' fave MaryLee Sunseri, jazz by Dave Morwood, and a short violin and piano concert by Caroline Campbell and Dimitry Cogan. The history part comes in when you consider that the event''s name refers to the Eastern Orthodox Christmas celebration, feted 12 days later than the Western Church''s date of Dec. 25. Ever heard of the 12 days of Christmas? This is what they meant.

_5pm. Carmel Mission Basilica, Rio Rd. at Lasuen, Carmel. $75. 625-9938. _