Best Bets Orange County HERE AND NEAR

TODAY

9:30am

Lecture

The Crescendo chapter of the guilds of the Orange County Performing Arts Center presents “Revenge of the Dumped.” Olivia Goldsmith, author of the novel “First Wives Club,” is the speaker.

* “Revenge of the Dumped,” Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. 9:30 a.m. $25. (714) 567-3600.

TODAY

8pm

Music

Folk, jazz and classical music mingle in this program of strings, Americana and improvisation featuring bassist Edgar Meyer, mandolinist Mike Mitchell and banjo player Bela Fleck titled “Uncommon Ritual.”

* “Uncommon Ritual,” Founders Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. $44. (714) 556-2787.

TODAY

8:30pm

Comedy

Though East Texas is hardly known as a launching pad for comedians, Rodney Carrington is working hard to change that. Buoyed by the recent release of “Hangin’ With Rodney” on Mercury Records, the 5-foot-7 former weightlifter continues to headline across the country, spreading what he likes to call “Rodneyisms,” his takes on marital infidelity, old-time religion, topless bars and more.

* Rodney Carrington, Brea Improv, 945 E. Birch St. $10-$12. Through Sunday. (714) 529-7878.

FRIDAY

8pm

Jazz

The jazz world’s most celebrated repertory band, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis, honors Duke Ellington with two Southern California performances of “America in Rhythm and Tune: The Ellington Centennial.”

* The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive. 8 p.m. $27 ($37-$42 tickets sold out). (800) 300-4345. Also Saturday, 8 p.m., at Royce Hall, UCLA. $40-$55; UCLA students, $16. (310) 825-2101.

FRIDAY 7:30pm

Ice Skating

Olympic silver medalist Nancy Kerrigan dons a poodle skirt for “Grease on Ice,” billed as a “high energy rock musical” on skates based on the Broadway musical made famous in the movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. Choreographer Barry Lather, who has styled for Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul, is said to make those ponytails fly. The multimillion-dollar production comes to both the Long Beach Arena and Anaheim’s Arrowhead Pond, complete with lavish sets and such songs as “Greased Lightnin’ ” and “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee.”

* “Grease on Ice,” Long Beach Arena, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30 p.m. Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, Tuesday and Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. $13.50-$27.50. (714) 740-2000 or (213) 480-3232.

FRIDAY

8pm

Pop Music

“Unsung Dance,” a track on Sally Taylor’s independent debut album, “Tomboy Bride,” features a guest guitar appearance by James Taylor--or, as Sally refers to him, dad. If that’s not enough singer-songwriter in her bloodline, consider that her mother is Carly Simon.

* Sally Taylor, Galaxy Concert Theatre, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. 8 p.m. $8-$10. (714) 957-0600.

FRIDAY

all day

Movies

The new Morgan Creek-Warner Bros. film “The King and I” is the first Rodgers & Hammerstein musical ever to be made into an animated feature. The musical is just the first of two films to be released this year that retell the story of Anna Leonowens, a widowed British teacher who became the private tutor to the children of the king of Siam in the mid-19th century. Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat are currently in production on the nonmusical “Anna and the King” for 20th Century Fox. Both films have been made before, memorably: Irene Dunne and Rex Harrison starred in the 1946 “Anna and the King of Siam,” and Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr immortalized the characters in the 1956 musical version, “The King and I.”

* “The King and I” opens Friday in general release.

FRIDAY

8pm

Dance

Founded in 1977 by dancer-choreographer-teacher Lou Conte, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago began as a slick, lightweight, feel-good jazz-dance company but evolved unexpectedly into a major modern dance repertory ensemble versatile enough to look impressive in everything from early Twyla Tharp to late Jiri Kylian. Confirming its stylistic diversity, the 22-dancer company will perform pieces by Nacho Duato, Kevin O’Day and Harrison McEldowney on its programs in both Glendale and Irvine. In Irvine alone, the rep includes Kylian’s stark “Six Dances,” about as far from the troupe’s old feel-good diversions as dance can get.

* Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive. 8 p.m. Also Saturday, 8 p.m., and Sunday, 3 p.m. $25 to $30. (949) 854-4646.

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

all day

Festival

The Fiesta de las Golondrinas, recognizing the time when the swallows are supposed to return to Capistrano, wraps up this weekend with a couple of big events. Hoosegow Day (Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) is a San Juan tradition in which a Fiesta “sheriff” and his “deputies” go around town arresting cleanshaven men and people not in western attire. Bail is the purchase of a garter, button or other fiesta memorabilia. Money raised helps pay for the Swallows Day Parade. The old-fashioned, nonmotorized parade through downtown is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; most streets will be closed by 10 a.m. on the day of the parade. Look for equestrians, bagpipers, marching bands and more. Concurrent with the parade is the Mercado (Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.), a street fair and marketplace to eat, drink and shop. There will be entertainment, and booths will feature local foods, crafts, area history and more. In conjunction with the market, a beer and wine garden will be set up for revelers 21 and older.

* Fiesta de las Golondrinas, various locations in San Juan Capistrano. Free. (949) 493-1976.

SATURDAY

7:30pm

Pop Music

Jack Hardy, who has described himself as “undoubtedly the least famous person to have a boxed set,” is a folk music song craftsman with a Celtic tinge; he also was at the core of a New York City folk music revival in the early ‘80s that boosted Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin, among others. In fact, Hardy never had a record deal until recently, but the songwriter-oriented PrimeCD label has compiled 10 of his 11 albums on two boxed sets.

* Jack Hardy, with the Tinkers Own, the Living Tradition Concert Series, Anaheim Downtown Community Center, 250 E. Center St. $10 (free for 18 and younger with paid adult). (949) 646-1964 (series information) or (714) 765-4500 (community center).

SATURDAY

9pm

Pop Music

The Go-Go’s have gone-gone, but the Delphines are here-here, making spirited power-pop with a bluesy streak. Guitarist Kathy Valentine and drummer Gina Schock are Go-Go’s alumnae; lead singer Dominique Davalos fronts the catchy, forceful band and plays bass.

* The Delphines, with Wayside, the Buckeys and Mule Davis, Linda’s Doll Hut, 107 S. Adams St., Anaheim. 9 p.m. $6. (714) 533-1286.

SATURDAY

9pm

Pop Music

Walter Clevenger, the Orange County rock scene’s answer to Nick Lowe, will be showcasing tasty, twangy, harmony-coated pure-pop morsels from his new album, “Love Songs to Myself,” with backing from his band, the Dairy Kings.

Walter Clevenger, with Bionic Blimp and Tammy & the Lords of Misrule. Fitzgerald’s, 19171 Magnolia St., Huntington Beach. 9 p.m. $5. (714) 968-4523.

SATURDAY

8pm

Cabaret

Michael Feinstein, vocal champion of the American songbook, celebrated last year’s 100th birthday of George Gershwin with a new album, “Michael & George--Feinstein Sings Gershwin.” The singer-pianist, working with a small musical ensemble, will concentrate on Gershwin when he performs in the center’s intimate cabaret configuration.

* Michael Feinstein, Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive. 8 p.m. $32 to $47. (562) 916-8500.

SUNDAY

8pm

Pop Music

Stavesacre plays Christian-themed rock with an attitude; its most recent album, “Absolutes,” coupled the metal-based intensity of Tool with a sense of taut spiritual struggle.

* Stavesacre, with Every Day Life, Conspiracy of Thought and Kundalini, Koo’s Cafe, 1505 N. Main St., Santa Ana. 8 p.m. Free (donation requested). (714) 648-0937.