ARTS NOTES : Barclay Expands Pop Offerings

The Irvine Barclay Theatre will offer an expanded roster of pop-music acts in its 1993-94 season, highlighted by a Dec. 4 appearance by singer-songwriter Randy Newman.

Also slated for the 750-seat venue is folk singer Richie Havens, who will play Nov. 7, and a cross-genre “Guitar Summit” on March 6 featuring Leo Kottke (folk), Pepe Romero (classical), Joe Pass (jazz) and Paco Pena (flamenco).

Making a return appearance July 7 as part of the theater’s “Visiting Artists” series will be the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

UCI Cultural Events has also announced a jazz and gospel series for the theater, including a Feb. 17 performance by gospel group the Mighty Clouds of Joy. The series will also include appearances by Tuck & Patti (Oct. 2) and Marcus Roberts (Oct. 28).

Also in the Irvine Barclay’s “Visiting Artists” series will be Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’99 (Oct. 16), a production of “Mur-Mur” by Canada’s Dynamo Theatre (Oct. 18-19), Jack Jones (Dec. 3), David Benoit and Kenny Rankin (Dec. 18), Guy Lombardo’s Royal Canadians (Jan. 9), Joe Williams (Feb. 5), the Swiss mime troupe Mummenschanz (March 12) and the San Francisco-based vocal ensemble Chanticleer (April 16).

Tickets are on sale now for all events. Information: (714) 854-4646 (Irvine Barclay box office) or (714) 740-2000 (TicketMaster).

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GOING UP: The top price for tickets to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa will hit $60 when the show plays there next summer. Although that will be a center record, it is still less than the $65 top being charged in some cities for the same touring production. And it matches the $60 top that the Ahmanson began charging in January, 1992, for its production of “Phantom,” which concludes its more than four-year run on Sunday.

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AND GOING DOWN: Shakespeare Orange County has launched a half-price “rush” ticket discount available to students and senior citizens for all remaining performances of “Julius Caesar.”

The play runs through Sept. 11 at Chapman University’s Waltmar Theatre, 310 E. Palm St., Orange. Show times are Thursdays to Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m. Unsold tickets, normally $21 to $23, may be purchased for $10.50 and $11.50 at the box office 30 minutes before any show.