Briefly in Datebook

Author Stan Jolley, the Academy Award-nominated production designer for

“Witness,” will sign his new book today and Sunday at two Newport Beach

locations.

Jolley, a descendant of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, drew on memories of

his childhood in the Amish community of Lancaster County and his

experience working on “Witness” when writing “Dichotomy -- Amish

Justice!” with his wife, Beverly Jolley.

Jolley will appear today at Via Lido Drugs, 3445 Via Lido, Newport Beach.

Call (949) 723-5858 for more information. Sunday’s book-signing will be

at Barnes & Noble Fashion Island, 953 Newport Center Drive, Newport

Beach. Both appearances will be from 2 to 4 p.m.

Call (949) 759-0982 for more information.

‘The Nutcracker’ to be staged at OCC

Festival Ballet Theatre and children from the Southland Ballet Academy

return to OCC this weekend with the holiday production of “The

Nutcracker.”

The production features a company of 125 dancers ranging in age from 8 to

65 in the dance in which toys come to life.

Performances are today, Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m. in OCC’s Robert B.

Moore Theatre. OCC is at 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Tickets are $14

in advance, $18 at the door.

For tickets or more information, call (714) 432-5880.

Southland Opera performs at center

The Southland Opera will perform Gian Carlo Menotti’s Christmas story,

“Ahmal and the Night Visitors,” opening Dec. 19 at the Orange County

Performing Arts Center.

The English-language, one-act opera is appropriate for the family and

includes lavish costumes, elaborate staging and dancing.

The opera is about a shepherd boy and his mother whose lives are changed

by a visit by the Three Kings. It has a simple lesson that to be happy,

one must have patience and generosity.

Performances are scheduled Dec. 19, 20 and 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29

for adults, $20 for children. The center is at 600 Town Center Drive,

Costa Mesa. For more information, call (909) 623-6222.

Rock Harbor presents Christmas musical

Rock Harbor Church will present the Christmas musical “The Unexpected

King” Dec. 17 and 18 at 6 and 8 p.m.

The musical is part of the church’s community outreach. Rock Harbor is a

Bible-based, multigenerational church.

The free musical will be performed at 1901 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa. For

more information, call (949) 548-2600.