BEST BETS Thursday 12/14

ANAHEIM

9:30pm

Pop Music

Traditional-country standard-bearer Randy Travis makes a rare small-theater stop in Anaheim to record an in-concert DVD. Last fall at the Hollywood Bowl he tried something ambitious with the backing of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. This time he’ll be using a more conventional country band again and will be drawing from his latest album, “Inspirational Journey,” as well as from his catalog of modern country classics that includes “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “On the Other Hand.” See story, Page XX.

* Randy Travis, Sun Theatre, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim. 9:30 p.m. $30. (714) 712-2700.

IRVINE

8:30pm

Comedy

As an actor, comedian Harland Williams has been a busy man. He played the quirky hitchhiker in “There’s Something About Mary,” the romantic lead in “Superstar,” starring “Saturday Night Live’s” Molly Shannon and Will Fefrell, and Rosanna Arquette’s secret love interest in “The Whole Nine Yards.” He’s also provided voices for several animated series, including Fox-TV’s “Gary and Mike.” But he continues to pursue his good-natured yet offbeat brand of stand-up comedy in clubs around the country and with regular appearances on “Late Night With David Letterman” and “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.”

* Harland Williams, Irvine Improv, 71 Fortune Drive, 8:30 p.m. Also Friday, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, 7, 9 and 11 p.m. $15 to $17. (949) 854-5455.

COSTA MESA

8pm

Music

Los Angeles-based Musica Angelica will play its annual “Renaissance of the Spirit: A Christmas Concert.” Led by director and archlutanist Michael Eagan, the period instrument ensemble will play holiday anthems, motets and instrumental pieces. Works by Ravenscroft, Biber, Attey, Merula, Scheidt, Uccellini, Leonarda, Praetorius, Bach and Vivaldi.

* Musica Angelica, Founders Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. $40. (714) 556-2787.