Anka sings Sinatra
Paul Anka is performing at the Mohegan Sun Arena next month. The venue has posted a note from Anka: “The Anka Sings Sinatra tour will honor a great artist who has influenced me more than anyone else throughout my career, Frank Sinatra. It will also feature the hits that have spanned my career on this 60th anniversary year. It will be a night filled with his songs, my songs, my way!”
1 Cook acoustic 1
Rocker David Cook, Season 7 winner of “American Idol,” comes to Ridgefield next month with an acoustic show. Cook has released three successful albums since he appeared on the show, with hits including “Time of My Life,” “Come Back to Me” “Light On” and “Fade Into Me.” Earlier this year, he starred in the hit Broadway musical “Kinky Boots.”
Holiday memories 1
A stage adaptation of Jean Shepherd’s “A Christmas Story” is being produced in Sherman. The Shepherd story follows 9- year- old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas despite his mother’s opposition (“You’ll shoot your eye out”). The short story inspired the beloved 1983 movie from which the play by Philip Grecian was adapted.
Rascals’ romp 1
The Town Players of New Canaan starts off its 72nd season with an adventurous farce, full of romance and pandemonium.
“The Beaux’ Stratagem,” which was first produced in London in the early 1700s, is a story by George Farquhar, later adapted by Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig, about two playboys on a search for wealthy heiresses to wed. The story gets cooking once the two end up at an inn, filled with the kinds of characters that make up for a good tale — aristocratic ladies, highwaymen, saucy servants and other rascals. Powerhouse Theater, Waveny Park, 679 South Ave., New Canaan. Sunday, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, 2: 30 p. m.; Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2 and 3. $ 25 to $ 20. 203- 594- 3636, tpnc. org
Contemporary convergence 1
Several Connecticut art galleries have come together for the second year to present a contemporary art show of new works. The exhibition, “CT Contemporary 2018,” runs through next month in New Canaan. Participants include EBK Gallery of Hartford, Fred Giampietro Gallery of New Haven, Melanie Carr Gallery of Essex and artists from the Silvermine Guild of the eponymous art center where the show is being held. Contemporary sculptures, paintings and other works are on view. Concurrently, intaglio prints by artist Margot Bittenbender are on exhibit in a solo show, “Imagine Alice ….” Silvermine Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Road, New Canaan. Through Nov. 10. Monday to Thursday, Saturday, 12 to 5 p. m.; Friday by appointment; Sunday, 1 to 5 p. m. 203- 966- 9700, silvermineart. org
Artistic trio 1
The Greenwich YWCA will feature three artists next month, who use various media to capture scenes of nature, as well as figurative and nonfigurative work. Sotiraq Kugali, a native of Korce, Albania, is an award- winning, internationally known artist who is inspired by nature. He will have a solo show, “Escape.” Mayann Weinberg and Gay Morris will be featured in “Where the Wild Women Are.” The exhibition will feature Weinberg’s fiber work and paintings and Morris’ paintings of her woodland surroundings. Gertrude White Gallery of the Greenwich YWCA, 259 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich. Nov. 1 to 30. ( Weinberg/ Morris reception: Friday, Nov. 2, 6: 30- 8: 30 p. m.; Kuqali reception: Saturday, Nov. 3, 2: 30- 4: 30 p. m.) Call for hours: 203- 869- 6501, ext. 100. ywcagreenwich. org
Keeping it tight 1
An evening of the best shorts from the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival is planned in Norwalk. “Short Cuts” is an ongoing series, devoted to short films, that has been enormously successful. The program is sponsored by the same company that produces the “Play with Your Food” lunchtime theater program now in its 17th year. Five short films will be screened, and director Richard Raymond will do a Q& A session after his film “Souls of Totality.”
Female coming of age 1
The newly restored 1977 Diane Kurys comedy- drama “Peppermint Soda” is being screened in Stamford. The first film by Kurys was an art house hit in this country. The story follows the coming of age of Anne and Frederique, the teen daughters of a separated Jewish couple, during the early 1960s. The screening is part of the French Cinematheque series sponsored by the Alliance Francaise of Greenwich. The Hearst Movie & A Martini group will also attend.
Terrorist tower 1
The 30th anniversary of the Bruce Willis action blockbuster “Die Hard” is being celebrated with a screening in Ridgefield. The 1988 movie established Willis as a big screen star after making a name for himself on the TV series “Moonlighting.” Willis plays an off- duty New York City cop who finds himself stuck in a Los Angeles office tower that has been taken over by terrorists.
Acclaimed cartoonist 1
Roz Chast, who has been a New Yorker cartoonist star for many years, is the guest speaker at a Stamford luncheon. The artist won great acclaim in 2014 for her graphic novel “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” which was inspired by Chast’s own experiences with her aging parents. The benefit is for SilverSource, a charity designed to improve the quality of life of older adults and provide critical financial support in some cases.