WEEKEND: Cowboy TunesYippee yi yo ki yay!The...

WEEKEND: Cowboy Tunes

Yippee yi yo ki yay!

The Autry Museum concludes its “Western Serenade” music series this weekend.

Featured today will be the Wild Horse Singers performing powwow songs. As a late substitution for Craig Chambers, who had to cancel, Lanny Fiel will perform traditional Texas fiddle tunes Friday.

Mike Mann and the Nightriders will bring their own brand of cowboy soul music to the museum Saturday, and the American Lily Duo will conclude the series Sunday with its renditions of popular tunes from the 19th century.

* “Western Serenade” music presentations will be at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. today-Sunday at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park. All “Serenade” presentations are included with the price of museum admission. Museum hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily except Monday. Museum admission: $7.50 general, $5 students and senior citizens, $3 children 2-12. Call (213) 667-2000.

TUESDAY: Touched by an Angel

The Up Choir will perform a concert of contemporary gospel music Tuesday at the University of Judaism in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

The ensemble, which won second place at the McDonald’s 1995 Gospel Fest competition, is the resident choir at Understanding Principles for Better Living, a Westside church headed by none other than actress-singer Della Reese.

Long before she started her acting stint as a heavenly being on CBS’ “Touched by an Angel,” Reese had been in touch with her spiritual side.

Reese began her singing career as a teenager with Mahalia Jackson’s gospel troupe in the 1940s. She scored a gold record in 1959 with “Don’t You Know?” and segued into acting while continuing to perform extensively in night clubs and concerts.

Reese, 65, has been a practicing minister for more than 12 years, and she presided over the dedication of her church in 1992. The congregation is affiliated with the Universal Foundation for Better Living, which has 22 churches in several countries.

Sometimes described as a metaphysical congregation, the church teaches that all people have positive spiritual powers that can lead to high self-esteem. Reese has described her Westside congregation as multiethnic with a strong interest in music.

The choir, under the direction of Robert Henley, will perform “The Hallelujah Chorus” and other favorites.

* The Up Choir performs contemporary gospel music at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Gindi Auditorium at the University of Judaism, 15600 Mulholland Drive. Tickets are $12. Call (310) 476-9777, Ext. 335.

Extended

The Interact Theatre company production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” directed by John Rubinstein, reopens Friday, and it has already been extended through March 2.

The theater company has announced a special fund-raising performance of the show at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12. Tickets for this special performance will be $100, and proceeds will go toward the purchase of the theater building.

* “Into the Woods,” the Stephen Sondheim musical, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday at the Interact Theatre Company, 11855 Hart St., North Hollywood. Tickets are $20-$22. Tickets to special performance 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 are $100. Call (213) 466-1767.