BRIEFLY IN DATEBOOK

The Readers Repertory Theatre will present a free dramatic reading of

“The Archbishop’s Ceiling” at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Newport Beach

Central Library’s Friends Meeting Room at 7 p.m. April 20 in the Mesa

Verde Library. This is a change from its original program, a reading of

Miller’s “The American Clock.”

“The Archbishop’s Ceiling” dramatizes how suppression and surveillance

distort human identity. Miller wrote the play after having dinner with

writer friends from the Soviet block. In it, he explores the American

relationship to the power of the state, as it differs from relationships

of those who live under totalitarianism.

The Newport Beach Central Library is at 1000 Avocado Ave. The Mesa

Verde Library is at 2969 Mesa Verde Drive, Costa Mesa. Information: (949)

717-3801.

Museum gets $750,000 gift for docent program

The docent program at the the Orange County Museum of Art will be

renamed after Camille and Eric Durand in honor of a recent donation of

around $750,000 from the couple’s estate.

Camille Durand, who died in November 1999, was a supporter of the

museum and added several works to its permanent collection. The docent

council has also been renamed for the couple.

Officials said the gift will be placed in the museum’s endowment and

the proceeds will help support the volunteer docent program. Docents give

guided museum tours and present art education programs to schools and

community groups.

A coffee reception for prospective docents -- including those

interested in the weekend docent program -- will be held from 2:30 to 4

p.m. May 7 in the Pacific Life Pavilion of the museum, 850 San Clemente

Drive, Newport Beach. Information: (949) 759-112, Ext 204.