01:00 AM EST on Sunday, January 18, 2004

The Full Monty and an all-star version of Nunsense, Rigoletto and Firebird, Chris Rock and Cassandra Wilson. There's a lot going on around here next month.

To help you plan ahead, here are some of the top events coming in February:

1: Construction Site -- Musicians at Work, Rhode Island Philharmonic (Happy White family series), Francisco Noya conducting, Bill Harley narrating, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Avenue of the Arts, Providence. 831-3123. 3 pm. $16; $9 age 18 or under; $13 age 65 and over.

1: Musica Dolce, Granite Theatre, 1 Granite St., Westerly. 364-6792, 315-0373. Baroque Pops. Lecture by Joseph Ceo, 1:30 pm. Concert 2 pm. $14, elderly $12, children accompanied by adult free. Program repeated Feb. 8 at The Towers, Ocean Road (Route 1A), Narragansett.

3: Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto, Rhode Island Philharmonic (All-Italian opera presentations) with Teatro Lirico D'Europa, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Avenue of the Arts, Providence. 831-3123. 8 pm. $25-$70.

6: Evan Dando (formerly of the Lemonheads), The Century Lounge, 150 Chestnut St., Providence. 751-2255. $12.

6-7: Chris Rock, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Fox Theatre, Route 2, Mashantucket, Conn. (800) 200-2882. 9 pm. $82.50, $110.

7: Mardi Gras with the Side Street Strutters, Rhode Island Philharmonic (pop series), Michael Krajewski conducting, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Avenue of the Arts, Providence. 831-3123. 8 pm. $30-$65.

7: Cassandra Wilson, jazz, Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. (617) 876-7777. 8 pm. $29.50, $35.

9: Muir String Quartet, Rhode Island College, Sapinsley Hall, 600 Mount Pleasant Ave., Providence. 456-8144, 456-8194, www.ric.edu/artseries. Muir V, Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 127, Quartet in F Major, Op. 18, No. 1, Quartet in C. Major, Op. 59, No. 3. 8 pm. $13-$25.

10-15: The Full Monty, Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. 421-2787. Broadway musical about six good buddies whose desperate plan to get their lives back together requires them to triumph over their fears, their nerves and their clothes. Tue 7 pm; Wed-Thu 7:30 pm; Fri 8 pm; Sat 2, 8 pm; Sun 2, 7 pm. $42.50-$62.50.

13-15: Festival Ballet Providence, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Avenue of the Arts, Providence. 353-1129. The Firebird and MORE! Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $15-$50.

14: That's Amore! Rhode Island College, Nazarian Center, 600 Mount Pleasant Ave., Providence. 456-8144, 331-6060, www.operaprovidence.org. Opera Providence Valentine's pops concert with soprano Diana McVey, mezzo soprano Valerie Nicolosi, tenors Evan Denmark and Fredric Scheff, baritone Douglas Jabara, bass baritone Steven Pence and pianist Matthew Larson; dancers Nelia and Barry Lawton; host Kathryne Jennings. 8 pm. $25, $30.

14: Chris Smither, folk, Common Fence Point Community Hall, 933 Anthony Rd., Portsmouth. 683-5085. 8 pm. $20.

17-22: Nunsense 20th Anniversary All-Star Tour, Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. 421-2787. Musical comedy, with Kaye Ballard, Mimi Hines, Darlene Love, Lee Meriwether, Georgia Engel and Arlene Violet, about the Little Sisters of Hoboken. Tue 7 pm; Wed-Thu 7:30 pm; Fri 8 pm; Sat 2, 8 pm; Sun 1, 6:30 pm. $30-$50. Closes Feb. 22.

19-28: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, University of Rhode Island, Fine Arts Center, J-Studio, Kingston. 874-5843. All about a sane rebel in a mental ward. Feb. 19-21, 25-28 at 8 pm; Feb. 22 at 5 pm. $12, children/students/elderly $12. Closes Feb. 28.

20-21: Cajun & Zydeco Mardi Gras Ball, Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston. 783-3926, www.mardigrasri.com. Fri: Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, Roy Carrier & the Night Rockers, Jesse Lege & Bayou Brew. Sat: Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Terrence Simien & the Zydeco Experience, Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners. 7:30 pm-midnight. One-day ticket: Advance $25; door $30; table of 10 $275, advance only. Two-day ticket, advance only: $45; table $475. Advance tickets by mail only: Check or money order with self-addressed, stamped envelope by Feb. 15 to Lagniappe Productions, 255 Holly Rd., Wakefield, RI 02879.

26: Mancini at the Movies, Zeiterion Theatre, 684 Purchase St., New Bedford. (508) 994-2900. Henry Mancini's daughter Monica sings the movie and TV standards which which he is best known. 7 pm. $16-$30.

20-21: Seussical the Musical, Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London, (860) 444-6766. When chaos erupts in the Jungle of Nool, it will take the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz and a gaggle of characters to bring harmony back to their world. 8 pm. $30-$55. Also Feb. 21 3, 8 pm.

28: Rhode Island Philharmonic, Larry Rachleff conducting, and featuring violinist Elmar Oliveira, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Avenue of the Arts, Providence. 831-3123. Works by Kolb, Hindemith, Dukas and Tchaikovsky. 8 pm. $25-$55.

28: Jim James (of My Morning Jacket), M. Ward, solo and collaborative performances, Lupo's at The Strand, 79 Washington St., Providence. 331-5876, 272-5876. 7 pm. $16.

29: Surprise Me Mr. Davis, featuring The Slip, Leslie Helpert and Nathan Moore, Ultra Live, 127 Friendship St., Providence. 454-5483. 8 pm. $15.