Best Bets: Thurs 10/15

8 pm: Dance

Almost exactly 50 years after its debut performance, New York City Ballet returns to the Southland with two programs of mixed repertory--including the late Jerome Robbins’ last ballet: “Brandenburg,” from 1997. The engagement also offers two works by current company leader Peter Martins: “Fearful Symmetries” (1990) and “Barber Violin Concerto” (1988). The rest is Balanchine, ranging from the starkly experimental “Agon” (1957) to the sweetly whimsical “Western Symphony” (1954). Some of the greatest classical choreography of the century was created by and for this company. Now you can come and see it interpreted by a new generation of specialists. See review, Page XX.

* New York City Ballet, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Program A: “Agon,” “Fearful Symmetries,” “Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux,” “Western Symphony.” Thursday, 8 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m. Program B: “Raymonda Variations,” “Barber Violin Concerto,” “Brandenburg.” Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m. $10-$66. (714) 740-7878.

7:30 pm: Movies

If you were stranded on a desert island (that for some reason was equipped with a 35-millimeter film projector) and you could only take one movie with you, what would it be? That’s the question that the UCLA Film Archive posed to Academy Award-nominated actor Robert Forster (“Jackie Brown”). After narrowing his faves down to three (which included “Song of the South” and “Pinocchio”), what did the tough guy actor pick? “Bambi”! “ ‘Bambi’ was my very first movie. It made me cry.” Now you can watch the Disney classic with Forster, who will introduce the film.

* “Bambi,” Desert Island Movies, James Bridges Theater, northeast corner of UCLA campus. $4-$6. (310) 206-FILM.

8 pm: Theater

Critically acclaimed actress Salome Jens headlines in Joanna Miles’ musical play, “Feathers,” about America’s last authentic burlesque show. Presented by the Playwrights’ Group and Los Angeles Writers’ Workshop.

* “Feathers,” St. Ambrose Art Center, 1261 Fairfax Blvd., Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7:30 p.m.; through Oct. 25. Donation. (213) 892-6825.