8 pm: Cabaret

Lovers of the Great White Way will want to be on hand when Broadway composer-actor Albert Hague (known as Professor Shorofsky in “Fame”) and actress-television writer Renee Orin combine to sing, tell stories and generally carry on about their theatrical experiences in an evening entitled “Still Young and Foolish,” which continues through the weekend at Cinegrill.

* Albert Hague & Renee Orin, Cinegrill, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd. $15. Also Friday-Saturday. (213) 466-7000.

8 pm: Music

Mandy Patinkin comes to the Orange County Performing Arts Center for a one-night-only special concert engagement. The award-winning Broadway veteran and “Chicago Hope” star will perform his interpretations of works by Rodgers and Hart, Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and other musical greats.

* “Mandy Patinkin,” Segerstrom Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. $20-$50. (714) 740-2000, (213) 480-3232.

8 pm: Readings

“The Real Great Writers Series: Winterlude ‘98,” six themed programs of literature and performance presented by the Loretta Theatre at Ivy Substation, features works by writers from Don DeLillo to Chekhov, read by Holly Hunter, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, Darrell Larson and a host of other notables (subject to availability). Today’s program is “Kids: About Them, Not for Them,” with works by DeLillo, Donald Barthelme, Walter Kirn, Wendi Kaufman and Rick Moody read by John C. Reilly, James Spader and David Paymer.

* “The Real Great Writers Series: Winterlude ‘98,” Ivy Substation, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City. Also Friday, 8 p.m.: “A Night About Love,” writers Nicole Burdette and Daniel Menaker; readers Angelina Jolie and Ed Harris. Saturday, 7:30 p.m.: ‘A Night About Marriage,” writers Kevin Canty, Molly Giles, Ron Carlson, Steven Milhauser; readers Amy Madigan, Elizabeth Ruscio, Darrell Larson and Tony Shaloub. Saturday, 10 p.m.: “A Night About Sex,” writer Jonathan Lethem; readers James Gammon, Elias Koteas, Bud Cort, Darrell Larson and Holly Hunter. Sunday, 4 p.m.: “Walt Whitman & The Civil War,” writer Chris Adrian; reader to be announced. Sunday, 7 p.m.: “Trains: Four Stories by Chekhov,” readers Tom Bower, Beth Henley, Holly Hunter and Brian Cox. $12. (310) 399-5929.