Briefly in Datebook

Saturdays at The Center return in the fall

The Orange County Performing Arts Center will kick off its Saturday at

the Center series Sept. 16 with Repercussion Unit’s extraordinary

instruments.

The ensemble will present a musical medley of sounds, using found

objects such as pots, pans, coffee cans and pipes. “Foreign Objects” and

“Elementary Junk” are just two of the group’s cornucopia of percussion

pieces.

In a holiday classic Dec. 2, the Southland Opera will perform “Amahl

and the Night Visitors,” a story about a poor shepherd boy who is visited

by the Three Kings on their way to Bethlehem. The musical features

singers, dancers and a chamber orchestra.

On Jan. 27, Mum Puppettheatre will perform “Fantoccini,” a dramatic

piece with puppetry and fanciful art dolls.

The March 17 show will spotlight sight-gag specialist Michel Lauziere.

The all-in-one entertainer rolls onto the stage inside a giant balloon to

demonstrate his skills as an inventor, acrobat, comedian, musician and

juggler.

Ruby Hinds will present “See There in the Distance,” a one-woman

performance June 2. Hinds wrote the show, chronicling the life of Marian

Anderson, the first African American singer to perform at the

Metropolitan Opera in New York.

There are two performances for each show: at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in The

Center’s Founders Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Admission is

$8. A subscription for all five performances is $30.

Information: (714) 556-2746.

Pearl sings hot blues at cool benefit

This year’s “Hot Blues On A Cool Summer Night,” which benefits the

Orange County Performing Arts Center, will feature a variety of blues

music and hearty cuisine from restaurants throughout Orange County.

The highlight of this year’s show will be the Bernie Pearl Blues Band.

The perennial group will perform a number of blues standards, as well as

original works.

The event is from 5 to 9 p.m. July 27 at the Village Green in South

Coast Plaza Village, 1631 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa. Tickets are $35 for

Center Stage members, $40 for nonmembers and $50 at the door.

Information: (714) 284-5456.

Chorale to hold new season’s auditions

The Pacific Chorale, which performs at the Orange County Performing

Arts Center in Costa Mesa, will hold auditions in July and August to fill

positions for the 160-voice chorale.

The auditions will take place Saturday and Aug. 16 for paid positions

and Sunday and Aug. 14 for volunteer positions. The singing tryouts will

be held in the Performing Arts Building, Room 118 at Cal State Fullerton,

800 N. State College Blvd.

Singers auditioning for volunteer parts should be prepared to sing

with an accompanist and sight-read rhythmic and melodic motives.

Similar auditions will be held for singers trying out for professional

positions, only they will be expected to show an exceptional ability to

perform as a soloist and have superior skills in sight-reading.

Pacific Chorale is planning an 11-concert season, including guest

appearances by the Pacific Symphony, Pasadena Symphony and Long Beach

Symphony Orchestra.

The chorale’s repertoire for 2000-01 season includes Glass’s Symphony

No. 5 (choral), Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” Mahler’s “Second Resurrection”

symphony, Verdi’s “Requiem,” Barber’s “Prayers of Kierkegaard,”

Bruckner’s Mass in F Minor, Mozart’s C Minor Mass, Bernstein’s

“Chichester Psalms” and a special performance with vocalist, composer and

conductor Bobby McFerrin.

Chorale rehearsals with Artistic Director John Alexander will be

scheduled Monday evenings from August to May.

To schedule an audition or for more information, call (714) 662-2345.