GET OUT!

Music

* Pianist Vern Pat Nelson plays music by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Gershwin, Lutoslawski and others at the Huntington Beach Library & Cultural Center, 7111 Talbert Ave. 8 tonight. $5-$10. (714) 842-4481.

Jazz

* Saxophonist Big Jay McNeely plays at Abilene Rose, 10830 Warner Ave., Fountain Valley. 8:30 tonight. Free. (714) 963-1700.

* The Alan Broadbent Trio plays at Steamers, 138 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton. 8 tonight. Two-item minimum and cover. (714) 871-8800.

Pop/Rock

* Paul Anka sings with the Pacific Symphony Pops at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 8 tonight. $14-$52. Also Saturday. (714) 755-5799. Story, F2.

* James Intveld, the Dan Edwards Trio and the Sundown Trio play at the La Vida Roadhouse, 6105 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea. 8 tonight. $7. (714) 996-0720.

* Candlebox, Goodness and Ball play at the Galaxy Concert Theatre, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. 8 tonight. $18.50-$20.50. (714) 957-0600.

Country/Folk

* The Sam Morrison Band plays at the Crazy Horse Steak House, 1580 Brookhollow Drive, Santa Ana. 8 tonight. $5. (714) 549-1512.

Dance

* Orange Coast College’s spring faculty and student dance concerts begin in the campus’ Robert B. Moore Theatre, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. 8 tonight. $8-$12. Also Saturday. (714) 432-5880.

Stage

* “Muskets, Missiles and Martians: A Madcap Salute to the Armed Forces,” a revue, is being presented in the theater at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. 8 tonight. $25-$30 ($100 with cast party after the show), benefits Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Also Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. (714) 532-8690.

* Alan Ayckbourn’s “The Norman Conquests: Round and Round the Garden” opens at South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 8 tonight. $28-$45. Through May 16. (714) 708-5555.

Events

* The Garden as Art is the theme of the annual Spring Garden Show opening at South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. today. Free. Through Sunday. (714) 435-2160.

* The 20th annual Orange County Youth Expo begins at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Through Sunday. (714) 708-1520.

Film

* “Post Coitum” (1998), directed by Brigitte Rouan, screens in the Student Center’s Crystal Cove Auditorium, Campus Drive and Pereira Road, UC Irvine. 7 and 9 tonight. $2.50-$4.50. (949) 824-5588.

--Compiled by Ken Williams