KIDS/SNEAK PEEK : CELEBRATING VARIATIONS ON AN ALIENATION THEME.

So you didn't make it to Roswell, N.M., this summer for the golden anniversary of the government's secret discovery of an alien spacecraft. You missed the fun as people - what, celebrated? - whatever it was that may or may not have happened there 50 years ago.

Not to worry. Universal Studios is creating its own ``Area 51'' at its theme park this fall, complete with a 50-foot spacecraft. Visitors can witness an alien autopsy and come face to face with space creatures.

The exhibit is part of Universal Studios' ``Halloween Horror Nights,'' a mega haunted house show premiering Oct. 9 and running through Nov. 1 during evening hours only.

In addition to ``The X-Files''-ish display of UFO stuff, the spooky show will include ``Tales From the Crypt Film Vault,'' featuring cinematic fiends of the past.

It makes sense, of course, that Universal would have a cool haunted house, since it's the studio that brought Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolfman and the Mummy to the silver screen in the first place - not to mention Beetlejuice.

This year, the Halloween attraction includes a watery display, too: The Creature From the Black Lagoon's Monsterquarium, which houses mutant sea ogres.

More than 350 performers will be on hand to entertain during Halloween Horror Nights, including fire-eaters, caged dancers and a human pin cushion.

The attraction will operate from 6 p.m to midnight on Sundays and Thursdays and 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $32 at Ticketmaster locations and the Universal Studios box office.

For more information, call [phone].

Singing for dollars

The Music Center of Los Angeles County invites high school students to audition for its 10th annual Spotlight Awards, a program open to solo performers and visual artists enrolled in any high school from San Diego to Santa Barbara.

Categories include ballet, jazz/modern dance, classical voice, musical theater/pop voice, classical instrumental and jazz instrumental. Visual artists are required to submit a poster.

The competition is a great way for young performers to get a foot in the door of the entertainment industry. Semi-finalists get to train in master classes with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the L.A. Opera. Finalists showcase their talents in a gala performance on March 24, 1998, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Winners receive $5,000; runners-up get $2,500.

Previous winners have gone on to dance with Alvin Ailey, sing on Broadway and perform with world-class orchestras.

To receive an application, call Barbara Haig at [phone] or write to: The Spotlights Awards c/o the Music Center, 717 W. Temple St., Suite 400, Los Angeles, Calif. 90012. Applications are due Oct. 10. A $10 application fee is required.

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Photo: Universal Studios' ``Halloween Horror Nights,'' a mega haunted house show premiering Oct. 9, runs through Nov. 1 during evening hours.