Briefly in Datebook

Last chance to see ‘Another 10-Minute Christmas’

Looking for holiday entertainment that’s out of the ordinary? Look no

farther than the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse, where the New Voices

Playwrights Workshop presents “Another 10-Minute Christmas,” finishing

its run this weekend.

With playlets from such writers as Tom Swimm, Jack Stanley and New Voices

founder Christopher Trela, these nine quirky tales will satisfy those

wanting an offbeat look at Santa and everything Christmas.

“Another 10-Minute Christmas” plays at 2 p.m. Saturday and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday at the playhouse, 661 Hamilton St., Costa Mesa. Tickets are $12,

$10 for seniors and students.

For more information, call (949) 225-4125.

California Lutheran choir to stop in Newport

The California Lutheran University Choir will stop in Newport Beach

tonight for a performance at Newport Harbor Lutheran Church during its

1999 Concert Tour.

The choir, a 50-voice ensemble from Thousand Oaks, was founded in 1961 by

Robert Zimmerman and has earned a reputation for its commitment to

performing the finest in chorale literature.

The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $7. Newport Harbor

Lutheran Church is at 798 Dover Drive, Newport Beach. For more

information, call (949) 548-3631.

Chicago to perform March 9 at The Center

Classic rock band “Chicago” will perform March 9 at the Orange County

Performing Arts Center.

The band, known for its hits “Saturday in the Park,” “Does Anybody Really

Know What Time it Is?” “If You Leave Me Now” and “Hard Habit to Break,”

had 20 Top Ten singles, 12 Top Ten albums and sales of more than 120

million records.

Tickets are $25 to $52 and are on sale. The Center is at 600 Town Center

Drive, Costa Mesa. For tickets or more information, call (714) 556-2787.

Irish play gets Southern California premiere at SCR

The founders of South Coast Repertory have announced that Martin

McDonagh’s “The Beauty of Leenane” will receive its Southern California

premiere March 7 through April 9 at SCR.

The play, one of the most acclaimed in Ireland, won a 1998 Tony Award for

its director and three of its actors. It is set against a rural landscape

and tells the story of a mother and her spinster daughter who engage in a

battle of wills until a neighbor offers the daughter a chance to escape.

Tickets are $18 to $45, with discounts for seniors and students. SCR is

at 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, call (714)

708-5555.