TODAY’S CALENDAR: OUT AND ABOUT IN ORANGE COUNTY

MAIN ATTRACTIONS

FIRST LOOK

The premiere of “The Education of Randy Newman,” Newman’s musical following an everyman musician from his childhood in Louisiana to his adult years in Los Angeles, begins previews on South Coast Repertory’s Main Stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. $23-$40. Through June 1. Opens June 2. $33-$52. Ends July 2. (714) 708-5555.

The Vanguard Theatre Ensemble production of “Lend Me a Tenor,” a comedy by Ken Ludwig about an opera company whose star tenor turns out to be more trouble than they bargained for, opens at the Curtis Theatre, 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea. 8 p.m. $17 today, includes reception. $5-$15 beginning Saturday. Ends June 11. (714) 990-7722.

SPRING CONCERT

The Men in Blaque singers, the UC Irvine Concert Choir and UC Irvine Brass Ensemble perform pieces by Gabrielli, Harbison, Ives, Dukas and others at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive. 8 p.m. $6-$12. (949) 854-4646.

UNDER THE BIG TOP

Circus Vargas is at the Anaheim Indoor Marketplace, Anaheim Boulevard and Cerritos Avenue. 5 and 7:30 p.m. $5-$24. Also Saturday, 2:30, 5 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30, 3 and 5:30 p.m. (714) 799-0771.

LIQUID GOLD

The United Scottish Society sponsors a single malt scotch tasting at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, 17900 Jamboree Road. 4:30 p.m. $25 in advance. (310) 370-9887.

SPECIAL SCREENING

The UC Irvine Film Society continues its “New Wave: Inspiration & Repercussion” series with “La Discrete,” Christian Vincent’s 1992 drama about a writer who attempts to seduce and abandon a woman as revenge for being dropped by his lover, at the campus Student Center, West Peltason and Pereira drives. 7 and 9 p.m. $2.50-$4.50. (949) 824-5588.

BRAND X

X plays rock at the Galaxy Concert Theatre, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. At 7:30 p.m. with the Bleeders and 10:30 p.m. with Creeper. $22.50-$24.50. (714) 957-0600.

ISLAND CROONER

Hawaiian singer-songwriter Henry Kapono performs at the Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. Gail Swanson opens. 8 p.m. $19.50-$21.50. (949) 496-8930.

COMEDY & MAGIC

Magician Chris Blackmore performs at the Magic Laugh at the Rib Trader Restaurant, 2710 E. Chapman Ave., Orange. 7 p.m. $25.95, includes dinner. Also Saturday, 8 p.m. Reservations: (714) 639-6126.

Julie Kidd’s Komedy Konnection with Bill Word, Martin Moreno, Sharon Barragan, Cindy Burns, Jay Hewlett and Julie Kidd, is at Vanilla’s Caffe, 1948 N. Tustin Ave., Orange. 8:30 p.m. Free. (714) 921-8035.

John Pinette performs at the Irvine Improv, 71 Fortune Drive. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. $17. Also Saturday, 7, 9 and 11 p.m. $17. Sunday, 7 p.m. $15. (949) 854-5455.

Comic hypnotist Flip Orley performs at the Brea Improv, 945 E. Birch St. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. $12. Also Saturday, 8 and 10:30 p.m. $12; Sunday, 8 p.m. $10. (714) 529-7878.

MUSIC

The Lehigh University Choir sings at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2150 Bonita Canyon Road, Newport Beach. 7:30 p.m. Free. (949) 642-1123.

THEATER

“On Golden Pond,” Ernest Thompson’s drama about the relationship between an aging couple, their alienated daughter and her teenage son, continues at the Ensemble Theatre, 844 E. Lincoln Ave., Orange. 8:30 p.m. $18-$20. Through Saturday. (949) 263-4170.

“Echoes and Encores,” a revue of 20th century American music, continues at the Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 8 p.m. $12. Through Sunday. (949) 489-8082.

“To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday,” Michael Brady’s tear-jerker about a man’s obsessive mourning of his wife, continues at the Chance Theater, 5576 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim Hills. 8 p.m. $10-$15. Through Sunday. (714) 777-3033.

The Fullerton Civic Light Opera production of “Mirette,” a musical by Elizabeth Diggs, Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones set in 1890s Paris, about a young girl and her mother who runs a boarding house for music hall performers, continues at the Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. 8 p.m. $15-$36. Ends Sunday. (714) 526-3832.

“The Beginning of August,” Tom Donaghy’s exploration of the American family in transition, in which a mother who abandons her husband and baby is replaced by a band of odd but earnest strangers who help the struggling father with the domestic duties, continues on South Coast Repertory’s second stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 7:45 p.m. $26-$45. Through Sunday. (714) 708-5555.

“Rumors,” Neil Simon’s comedy in which a group of highbrow New Yorkers try to conceal from the police and one another what might--or might not--have been a prominent friend’s suicide, continues at the Westminster Community Theatre, 7272 Maple St. 8:30 p.m. $10-$12. Through June 3. (714) 527-5546.

POP & ROCK

Square 1, Philliacs, Imbi-Souls, Revolver and others play at the Backalley, 139 W. Amerige Ave., Fullerton. 7 p.m. (714) 284-5587.

Sap, Engine 51, Creeping Death, A Wake and Prymary play at the Shack, 1160 N. Kraemer Blvd., Anaheim. 7 p.m. (714) 630-0121.

Jeffries Fan Club, Limbeck, One Hit Wonder, Ozma and Melee play at Chain Reaction, 1652 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim. 7:30 p.m. (714) 635-6067.

T.R.I.P., Thing and others play at La Vida Roadhouse, 6105 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea. 8 p.m. (714) 996-0720.

Joyride and Orangemen play at the Tiki Bar, 1700 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. (949) 548-3533.

Wayside plays at Hogue Barmichael’s, 3950 Campus Drive, Newport Beach. 8 p.m. (949) 261-6270.

Missiles of October play at the Renaissance Dana Point, 24701 Del Prado Ave. 8 p.m. (949) 661-6003.

Naked Movie Star plays at the Boogie, 1721 S. Manchester Ave., Anaheim. 9 p.m. (714) 956-1410.

The Bel-Airs play at the Canyon Inn, 6821 Fairlynn Blvd., Yorba Linda. 9 p.m. (714) 779-0880.

Big Fat Dragster, Lisafer and others play at Club Mesa, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa. 9 p.m. (949) 642-8448.

World Tribe plays at the Hard Rock Cafe, 451 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. 10 p.m. $7. (949) 640-8844.

Kiss the Clown, Natural Afrodisiac, Flight 180 and Kirby Grips play at Linda’s Doll Hut, 107 S. Adams St., Anaheim. 9 p.m. (714) 533-1286.

Eden plays at the Marine Room, 214 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach. 9 p.m. (949) 494-3027.

The Derek Bordeaux Group plays at the Salt Creek Grille, 32802 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. 9 p.m. (949) 661-7799.

The Dave Robyn Band plays at Silky Sullivan’s, 10201 Slater Ave., Fountain Valley. 9:30 p.m. (714) 963-2718.

Senza Motiva and Gasoline Addicts play at the Felt Room, 6202 Garden Grove Blvd., Westminster. 9:30 p.m. (714) 896-9877.

Redliners, Thinker and Red Channel play at the 13th Floor, 17208 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach. 10 p.m. (562) 592-5833.

JAZZ & BLUES

Brian Barrett and Jason Wilkins play at PJ’s Abbey, 182 S. Orange St., Orange. 6 p.m. Free. (714) 771-8556.

The Ron Kobayashi Trio plays at Oysters, 2515 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. 6:30 p.m. (949) 675-7411.

Sam Shepherd and Rex Thompson play at DeMario’s, 17 Monarch Bay Plaza, Dana Point. 7 p.m. (949) 240-9436.

The Majestics and Eddie Perez play at Abilene Rose, 10830 Warner Ave., Fountain Valley. 7:30 p.m. (714) 963-1700.

Walter Lakota & David Alcantar play at Mama Gina’s Ristorante, 251 E. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. 8 p.m. (949) 673-9500.

Jack Wood, Joel Scott and Luther Hughes play at Nieuport 17, 13051 Newport Ave., Tustin. 8 p.m. (714) 731-5130.

Ivan Marcelo plays at Romeo Cucina, 249 Broadway St., Laguna Beach. 8 p.m. (949) 497-6627.

2000 Lbs. of Blues plays at Spaghettini, 3005 Old Ranch Parkway, Seal Beach. 8 p.m. (562) 596-2199.

The Steve Wilkerson Quartet with Andrea Baker play at Steamers Cafe, 138 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton. 8 p.m. (714) 871-8800.

The James Exchange plays at Bistango, 19100 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. 8:30 p.m. (949) 752-5222.

The 3rd Degree plays at Hennessey’s, 213 Ocean Blvd., Laguna Beach. 8:30 p.m. (949) 494-4327.

The Works play at the Studio Cafe, 100 Main St., Newport Beach. 9:30 p.m. (949) 675-7760.

Raging Sun plays at Alcatraz Brewing Co., the Block at Orange on The City Drive, Orange. 9 p.m. (714) 939-8686.

COUNTRY

Thunderridge plays at the Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 8:30 p.m. (949) 493-3188.

COFFEEHOUSES

Allan Goodman plays rock at Diedrich Coffee San Juan Capistrano, 31760 Camino Capistrano. 7 p.m. (714) 488-2150.

Dave Cross plays jazz at Diedrich Coffee Crown Valley, 27680 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. 7 p.m. (949) 347-0225.

JJ Slim plays jazz and blues at Diedrich Coffee Orange Plaza, 44 Plaza Square. 7 p.m. (714) 288-6222.

Carol Martini plays pop at Starbucks, 691 S. Main St., Santa Ana. 7 p.m. (714) 647-0971.

On the Mile plays jazz at Diedrich Coffee La Paz, 26137 La Paz Road, Mission Viejo. 7:30 p.m. (714) 699-0566.

Perry Martin plays country music at Renaissance Coffee, 2959 El Camino Real, Tustin. 8 p.m. (714) 832-2233.

Kerry Getz plays folk rock at Diedrich Coffee Brea, 730 E. Imperial Highway. 8 p.m. (714) 256-6790.

The Ben Cleall Trio plays blues at Diedrich Coffee Costa Mesa, 474 E. 17th St. 8 p.m. (714) 646-0323.

The Almond-Sherick Band plays rock at Diedrich Coffee Mesa North, 1170 W. Baker St., Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. (714) 432-0747.

Roger Kraft plays rock at Diedrich Coffee Ocean Ranch, 32371 Street of the Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel. 8 p.m. (949) 443-0044.

Shawn Penny plays R&B; at Diedrich Coffee Lake Forest, 22621 Lake Forest Drive. 8 p.m. (949) 837-4555.

Clif Miller plays rock at Diedrich Coffee Trabuco Hills, 27775 Santa Margarita. 8 p.m. (949) 472-3733.

Fernando Olivares plays rock at Diedrich Coffee Tustin, 13681 Newport Ave. 8 p.m. (714) 832-7030.

Toni Imus plays jazz at Diedrich Coffee Laguna Beach, 180 N. Coast Highway. 8 p.m. (949) 497-7660.

TCB plays funk and R&B; at Diedrich Coffee Irvine Spectrum, 31 Fortune Drive, Irvine. 8 p.m. (949) 450-4959.

George Matoian plays jazz at Borders Books, Music and Cafe, South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. 8:30 p.m. (714) 432-7854.

Dennis and Roger Reed play folk at the Gypsy Den Cafe & Reading Room, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. 8:30 p.m. (714) 549-7012.

EVENTS

“A Taste of Burgundy,” a tasting of fine wines from France’s Burgundy region matched with such French delicacies as snail bouchees, cre^pes financiers, mini lamb chops and more, is at the Sutton Place Hotel, 4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach. 6 p.m. $115. (949) 476-2001, ext. 2194.

Foods from China’s Peking province will be served at a dinner inspired by the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art’s current show of treasures from the Forbidden City at the Topaz Cafe, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. 6 p.m. $55. Reservations: (714) 835-2002.

Writers and editors of the poetry journal California Quarterly will read and offer tips on getting published in a meeting at Libreria Martinez Books and Art, 1110 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Presented by PEN Orange County. 8 p.m. Free. (714) 973-7902.

LECTURE

Rabbi Arnold Rachlis presents “Honoring Our World War II Veterans” at University Synagogue, 4915 Alton Parkway, Irvine. 8 p.m. Free. (949) 553-3535.