ARTS PICKS

1. Chang-rae Lee

Novels by Chang-rae Lee require some patience: The new “My Year Abroad” is his first in seven years. But they’re constructed with such care that they always make the wait worthwhile. His latest focuses on a college dropout, Tiller Bardmon, on an overseas adventure, a “twelve and one-half percent Asian” visiting Asia on a wild, life-changing adventure guided by his mentor, a Chinese American entrepreneur. He’s joined by Lily King, author of “Writers & Lovers,” for a virtual reading and discussion.

When: 7 p.m. Feb. 22

Details: $5; inprinthouston.org Andrew Dansby

2. ‘The Man With the Flower in His Mouth’

Nobel Prize winner Luigi Pirandello envisioned a nighttime meeting at a train station of two men who choose interaction over silence, striking up a conversation that gradually grows into a meditation on the meaning of life. Edward Albee admired the piece so much that he based his “The Zoo Story” on it. With a translation by director Rob Melrose, Jay Sullivan and David Rainey bring this short play to life as part of the Alley Theatre’s virtual programming.

When: Feb. 12-March 14

Details: free with registration; alleytheatre.org

Andrew Dansby

3. ‘In Dialogue: On Acedia and Specters of Noon’

Artistic duo Allora & Calzadilla created seven works to evoke the acedia, described in early Christian texts as a demon who besieges the soul at noon. “Specters of Noon” is currently on view in the Menil Collection’s main building and thrusts the listless, delirious visions of midday into blinding light. Join the artists plus religious studies scholars Niki Kasumi Clements and Jonathan Zecher for a conversation on the topic next Tuesday — and no, the online event is not at noon.

When: 6 p.m. Feb. 23

Details: free with registration; menil.org

Amber Elliott

4. ‘REELpoetry’

Third time’s the charm for REELpoetry. In 2021, the third annual poetry film festival is expanding its free, online program from three days to five. Public Poetry, a literary nonprofit based in town that operates the event, welcomes more than 100 poem-films and videopoems to this year’s lineup from content creators all over the world. International entries were from submitted from Australia, Canada, China, Ireland, Spain, Russia and Zimbabwe.

When: Feb. 24-28

Details: pay what you can; publicpoetry.net Amber Elliott

Courtesy of Roderick Robinson / Attawa Charles Sapp, poet and participant in the third annual REELPoetry Festival.

Photo by John Carrithers for the Alley Theatre David Rainey stars in “The Man With The Flower in His Mouth,” a virtual short play produced by the Alley Theatre.