Coming up NEXT
Looking forward to the arts in the new year
“Tiger Woods” by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian, May 15
Waterford native/Old Lyme resident Benedict, with occasional writing partner Keteyian, spent three years and conducted hundreds of interviews in the process of crafting the biography of golf immortal Woods. There have been other books about Woods, but knowing this pair’s attention to detail and skill at reporting, I suspect this is going to be pretty delicious. — Rick Koster
David Sedaris, April 14, Garde Arts Center
One of his books may be titled “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” but David Sedaris damned sure “write funny every day.” His tour stops are a fusion of deadpan societal observations, self-deprecating autobiography, and selected readings from his hilarious bibliography. — Rick Koster
Groton Regional Theatre’s “A Streetcar Named Desire,” in April
When was the last time you saw a local theater group take on Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski? Well, get ready for GRT’s April performances of the classic play “A Streetcar Named Desire.” You know you’ll be hearing bellows of “STEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLAAAAA!!” echoing around the city. GRT must have felt emboldened by the response to their production of another Tennessee Williams drama, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” in 2014. And don’t forget: always rely on the kindness of strangers. — Kristina Dorsey
“The Coral Reef Project,” Feb. 10-April 15, Lyman Allyn Art Museum
Coral reefs seem to be something of a fascination for New London, what with Credabel Coral Gallery on Bank Street, of all things. The Lyman Allyn will be following suit in an exhibit all about coral reefs. With paintings, sculpture and installations, this should be a colorful affair. — Mary Biekert
“Animal Farm” by Flock Theatre
Flock is planning to do a production of “Animal Farm” sometime in 2018, but exact dates and details are yet to be determined. “Animal Farm,” with its satire that serves as an indictment of totalitarianism, experienced revived interest in the Trump era. When there was a kerfuffle over the novel being dropped from Stonington’s eighthgrade core curriculum, Flock’s Derron Wood decided to create templates for “Animal Farm” masks so that anyone anywhere could perform the piece easily and inexpensively. This year, we’ll get to see how an accomplished theater group like Flock does it. — Kristina Dorsey
The National Music Theater Conference, this summer at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
As sad as I was to see Pauline Haupt step down as the head of the National Music Theater Conference after four amazing decades, I am looking forward to seeing what new conference artistic director Alexander Gemignani will bring to the table. — Kristina Dorsey
“Pen to Paper,” Feb. 9-May 6, Florence Griswold Museum
It’s always been something of a curiosity for me to study the great artists who have come before my time. Reading their biographies and whatnot is one of my favorite pastimes and, in Florence Griswold Museum’s upcoming exhibit, I’ll be able to take this hobby another step further. With the museum displaying numerous handwritten letters by artists such Mary Cassatt, Claes Oldenburg, Georgia O’Keeffe and Jackson Pollock, I expect this to be a treat. — Mary Biekert
Lorde, April 7 at Mohegan Sun
We are spoiled in this region. Most big-name music luminaries have performed around here, usually at Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods. So it’s a fun occasion when a freshly minted star strides into town. That’s why I’m happily anticipating Lorde’s concert at Mohegan Sun. — Kristina Dorsey “Let Me Be Myself: The Life Story of Anne Frank,” Jan. 3-Jan. 31, Otis Library
When I was a child, Anne Frank was a huge inspiration. I adored reading her diary when I was in the sixth grade, and I can imagine that many others can relate. A traveling exhibition exploring the life and struggle of the young girl will make a stop to Norwich’s Otis Library next month, and we are looking forward to learning more about that, plus additional information about her time in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. — Mary Biekert
Reba, June 29 and 30, Foxwoods
Why am I looking forward to this? She’s Reba, that’s why! — Kristina Dorsey
Judas Priest, March 22 at Mohegan Sun Arena
While rock dudes we always thought of as immortal are dying at an alarming rate, I personally don’t believe Rob Halford will ever leave us. Still, I’m hedging my bet and will be on hand when the Priest arrive, on their first tour in three years, behind their imminent “Firepower” album. And for the dark lord’s sake, fellas, give me a break and do “Sinner”! — Rick Koster
Bridging the Arts! Curated Film Series at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Feb. 6-May 8
This film series, co-sponsored by Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts and the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, has featured films about artists such as Picasso and Braque in the past, and this year’s intriguing film line-up will include explorations of Horst Janssen, the 20th century German draftsman, and architect Philip Johnson, among others. Each of the next four films in the series will be held at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month starting in February. A brief lecture will also be held before each film. — Mary Biekert