LOOKING AHEAD

The largest fireworks show in New England (put on by the Grucci family, best known for their performances at the Brooklyn Bridge celebration and the Boston Bicentennial) will blaze forth on Saturday, June 16, about 9:30 p.m. It's being sponsored by the Sonesta International Hotesl Corporation to celebrate the opening of its new Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge. MUSIC Friday

* JIM PLUNKETT Bestcruise, Commonwealth Pier -- 8 p.m. Saturday

* WCRB NIGHT AT POPS Symphony Hall, 301 Mass. Ave. -- Boston Pops Orchestra plays themes from ''Return of the Jedi'' and ''Indiana Jones,'' Empire Brass Quintet performs selections from Bernstein, Tommy Dorsey, and Fats Waller. Wednesday

* MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS -- FOLK NIGHT 465 Huntington Ave. -- Music and dance of Ireland. 7:30 p.m. THEATER Dates in italics indicate original publication of reviews.

* BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS (Reviewed today.) Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St. Through June 30.

* 42ND STREET (Dazzling. 5/31.) Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St. Mon.-Sat., 8 p.m. mats., Wed. , Sat. 2.

* JONESTOWN EXPRESS (Reviewed today.) Trinity Square Repertory Company, 201 Washington St., Providence, R.I. -- Tues.-Sun., 8 p.m. Through June 17.

* NIGHTCLUB CANTATA (Elizabeth Swado's collection of international poetry and writings about ''really living,'' put to music. 5/31.) New Ehrlich Theatre, 539 Tremont St. -- Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7. Through June 16.

* ON THE RAZZLE (Stoppard translates orginial of ''Matchmaker.'' Result: fluffy, frothy fun. 5/ 31.) Huntington Theatre Comapny, 264 Huntington Ave. -- Tues.-Sat., 8 p.m.; mats., Wed., Sat., Sun., 2. Through June 10.

* PLAYWRIGHTS' PLATFORM Seventh Annual Festival of One-Act plays. Emerson College Theatre, 69 Brimmer St. -- Thurs.-Sat. only. 8 p.m.

* SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR (Excellent production of Pirandello's classic. 5/24.) American Repertory Theatre , 64 Brattle St., Cambridge -- Fri., Sat. 8 p.m.; mat., Sat. 2 Ends Sat.

* THE LAST YIDDISH POET (Review to come.) Traveling Jewish Theatre at Boston Shakespeare Company, 56 St. Botolph St. Opens Tues. Tues.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 5:30 & 9:30; Sun., 3 & 7:30. Through July 1. DANCE

* FORRAS FOLKDANCE STUDIO AND UJSTILUS Hungarian dance, music, and song. Jordan Hall, 290 Huntington Ave. Tonight and Wed., 8 p.m. ART

* 'WITHIN 1984' (Too much is small -- in size, scope, and conception. 5/31.) Boston Center for the Arts third annual exhibition of works by contemporary Boston artists. The Cyclorama, 539 Tremont St. -- Tues.-Sun. 11-5

* BUSCH-REISINGER MUSEUM Kirkland and Quincy Sts., Cambridge -- Drawings by German artist Joseph Beuys. Through June 17.

* HAYDEN GALLERY (Reviewed today.) MIT, Cambridge. ''Aesthetics of Progress.'' Through June 24.

* MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS Jean-Francois Millet: ''Seeds of Impressionism,'' through July 1; ''Trees,'' through June; ''Masterpieces of Chinese and Japanese Painting,'' through June.

* INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART 955 Boylston St. -- ''Currents'': an 18-month program designed to reflect the broad diversity in contemporary art styles, issues, and themes. OTHER EVENTS

* A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH 101 Belvidere St., Christian Science Center, Boston -- Free, nondenominational exhibit exploring the Bible in sight and sound. Mon.-Sat., 10-5; Sun. 12-5; closed Tues.