Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press.

ART

Christie’s Triumph: Christie’s first auction of California, western and American art in Beverly Hills was a raging success on Wednesday night, racking up a total of $2.8 million--about twice the presale estimate of $1.2 million to $1.8 million. All but four of the 94 artworks offered were sold in the fast-paced auction, with collectors and dealers bidding from the jampacked sales room or by telephone. “Decorative Flower Panel,” a painting by Charles Caryl Coleman, had been valued at $40,000 to $60,000, but brought a whopping $706,500, the auction’s top price. John Marshall Gamble’s “Poppies and Lupine” went for $178,500, far outstripping its estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. “John Wayne,” a sculpture by Harry Jackson estimated at $30,000 to $50,000, brought $156,500.

STAGE

Civic Pride, Shakespeare Style: So you thought there were backstabbers in L.A. politics? Shakespeare Festival/LA will present “Julius Caesar” on the Spring Street steps of L.A. City Hall July 8-19. Spring Street will be closed and buses re-routed for the performances, with seating for 1,000 jutting into the street and free parking across the street. Performances at City Hall will be free, though admission will be charged when the production later moves to South Coast Botanic Garden in Rolling Hills Estates.

High Kickin’: The Rockettes are coming to town in December, as Universal Amphitheatre hosts “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” for 40 performances, Dec. 9-29. Besides lots of legs, the show features music, animals and Santa Claus. Promoted as “the most successful live theatrical production in the nation,” five different companies of the show grossed $68 million last year in New York, Chicago, Detroit, Branson, Mo., and Myrtle Beach, Fla.

POP/ROCK

No Lesbians Allowed: A South Carolina high school principal has canceled a free concert by the Grammy Award-winning duo the Indigo Girls after parents complained about the openly lesbian singers’ sexual orientation. A spokesman for Irmo High School in Irmo, S.C., said the May 7 concert was canceled because of protests that were “polarizing” the community. The duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers--who will be featured in this summer’s Lilith Fair concerts--are currently on a three-week tour of U.S. colleges and high schools.

TELEVISION

How About Yankee Stadium?: Fearing that as many as 35,000 fans could have shown up, the New York City Parks Department has denied Fujifilm company’s request to host “SeinFest,” a free public farewell and viewing party for the NBC series’ May 14 finale, in a Manhattan park. Officials said they feared that the planned event would draw a larger crowd than Bryant Park could hold. Fujifilm had originally planned to host the party in Times Square, but that request was also turned down by the city, which feared “traffic problems of monumental proportions.” Fujifilm did not immediately say if it would try another location.

Programming Advice: Meanwhile, as NBC executives try to figure out which show should replace “Seinfeld” next season in the coveted 9 p.m. Thursday time slot, the syndicated “Access Hollywood” asked its viewers Wednesday which show they wanted in the spot. “Friends” landed on top with 7,702 phoned-in votes, just topping “Mad About You,” which had 7,650 votes. “Frasier” (6,049 votes) ranked third, followed by “3rd Rock From the Sun” (5,164) and “Just Shoot Me” (4,841).

QUICK TAKES

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have undergone a guitarist change, with John Frusciante, who left the group in 1992, returning to replace Dave Navarro. A Warner Bros. Records spokeswoman said that Navarro “parted ways” with the band a few weeks ago, leaving to pursue his own band, Spread. Frusciante is currently writing music with the Peppers for an album due in 1999; a Spread album is planned for the fall. In December, the Peppers canceled a week of concerts in Hawaii and Alaska amid news reports that Navarro had relapsed into hard-drug use. . . . “Nash Bridges” star Don Johnson, 48, is engaged to Kelley Phleger, a 29-year-old former San Francisco debutante, his agent said Thursday. Johnson has been married four times before--including twice to actress Melanie Griffith--and had recently been seen with actress Jodi Lynn O’Keefe, who plays his daughter on the CBS show. It will be Phleger’s first marriage.