4:30 pm: Theater

In “La Posada Magica,” a young girl regains her holiday spirit when she’s unexpectedly swept up in a magical journey on Christmas Eve. The musical by Octavio Solis and Marcos Loya, an annual holiday tradition at South Coast Repertory, is loosely based on the Latin American posada, commemorating Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging.

* “La Posada Magica,” South Coast Repertory, Second Stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Sunday, 4:30 p.m. Regular schedule: Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 3 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 12:30 and 4:30 p.m.; also Dec. 24, 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. Ends Dec. 26. $18 to $30, except opening with post-performance party, $32 to $40. (714) 708-5555.

2 pm: Movie

The Autry Museum of Western Heritage will screen John Ford’s final western, “Cheyenne Autumn,” as part of its Western Amerykanski film series. The 1964 film is about the struggle of a tribe of Cheyenne to return to their ancestral land in the Dakota Mountains after being relocated by the U.S. government. The movie is something of an olive branch from Ford to the Native American community (the director was criticized for “The Searchers”--a great film--which some believe is anti-Native American). Kevin Mulroy, director of the research center at the Autry, will give a brief talk, with slide show, about Polish poster interpretations of American westerns.

* “Cheyenne Autumn,” Wells Fargo Theater, Autry Museum of Western Heritage, 4700 Western Heritage Way, 2 p.m. $3 to $7.50. (323) 667-2000. The Western Amerykanski series will continue on Dec. 19 with the 1952 film “High Noon.”

11 am: Art

In 1984, the then-fledgling Museum of Contemporary Art scored a coup by purchasing 80 pieces of Abstract Expressionist and Pop art for $11 million from Italian collector Giuseppe Panza di Biumo. The highly regarded Panza Collection, which was last displayed at the Temporary Contemporary in 1985, will go on view Sunday as “Panza: The Legacy of a Collector” at MOCA. Featuring works by Jean Fautrier, Franz Kline, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist, Mark Rothko, George Segal and Antoni Tapies, the collection illustrates major movements in postwar art such as Abstract Expressionism and the New York School, Pop Art, assemblage, eccentric abstraction and post-Minimalism.

* “Panza: The Legacy of a Collector,” Museum of Contemporary Art, 250 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles. Ends April 30. Tuesdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Adults, $6; seniors and students, $4; children 12 and under free. Free admission to all every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. (213) 626-6222.

4 pm: Music

Get into the holiday spirit when the plucky, highly regarded Long Beach Chorale, conducted by founder Mark Barville, offers “Wintersong ‘99: Ceremony of Carols” in two performances this weekend.

* Long Beach Chorale, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 7th Street at Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, 4 p.m. $15. Also Saturday, 7 p.m. (562) 427-1931.

4 pm: Theater

Jean Valjean and the pitiless Inspector Javert engage again in their lifelong struggle in the return of “Les Miserables,” the Victor Hugo epic-turned-musical spectacular by Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Herbert Kretzmer, set in turbulent 19th century France. Presented by Cameron Mackintosh, the long-running musical is now in its 13th year on Broadway.

* “Les Miserables,” Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Sunday, 4 p.m. Regular schedule: Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 2 p.m. Also Dec. 23, 30, Feb. 10, 2 p.m.; Dec. 20, 27, Feb. 7, 8 p.m. Dark Dec. 24 and Jan. 1; 8 p.m. only on Dec. 25; Dec. 31, 7 p.m. only. Ends Feb. 12. $25-$70. (213) 628-2772.

7 pm: Theater

Songs, dances and scenes from Christmas favorites are on tap at the “20th Century Christmas,” a theatrical production that spans holiday traditions from the London of Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” to the present. Think of it as a way to give and receive: Proceeds from the performance benefit the Alex in the Schools program.

* “20th Century Christmas,” Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, 7 p.m. $15 to $32.50. (818) 243-2539.

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FREEBIES: The 19th annual “Black Doll Exhibit,” examining sociopolitical influences on 20th century dolls, opens at the William Grant Still Art Center, 2520 Westview Ave., L.A.. 3-6 p.m. Ends. Feb. 28. (323) 734-1164.

The Crossroads School Chamber Orchestra and the American Youth Symphony perform at UCLA’s Royce Hall, Westwood, 8 p.m. (310) 829-7391, Ext. 232.