Fall Arts Preview

Our guide to the season's must-see exhibits, concerts, plays, performances, and events.

By Madeleine O'Neill

The glorious autumn landscape isn’t our region’s only attraction this fall. A full complement of art, culture, and performance will keep you busy right up until the holiday lights replace the falling leaves. See the beauty of the autumnal Hudson Valley captured in a variety of mediums, from painting to dance. Reflect on the vulnerability and importance of our environment through film and innovative art exhibits. Laugh out loud with a roster of Comedy Central comedians, and lose yourself in the music of classical conductor Itzhak Perlman and Latin American sensation José Feliciano, just two of the many genres on offer. If theater is your passion, there are a number of fabulous productions you won’t want to miss, including the musical phenomenon “Rent.” Best of all, enjoy the company of your neighbors as you support the arts and celebrate their vital contributions to the communities we call home.

Museums and Galleries

Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden
Event: “Hyper Calligraphy”
Kohei Okamoto brings the ancient art of calligraphy to Hammond’s Guild Hall. At age 17, Okamoto became the youngest person to receive the prestigious Mainichi Calligraphy award. At age 37, he withdrew from his career as a highly regarded calligrapher in order to explore the origins of the graceful art form, traveling through China, Korea, and Tibet. He is now the most esteemed avant-garde calligraphy artist in Japan. With his works extending well outside the bounds of tradition, his work has been exhibited in Belgium, Germany, and France, in addition to American venues.

Event: “Circulation Series”
South Korean painter and printmaker Jung Eun Kim created her “Circulation Series” aquatints using the image of charcoal and lady bugs, and evoking the roughness of trees with her printing techniques. This motif was chosen to express her belief that all creatures exist within a “cycling order” in nature, and possess “peaceful and harmonious relationships with the universe.” Her exhibit was recognized with a prestigious award in South Korea, and will be on display in the Hays Gallery at Hammond.

Event: Richard Pitts: “Metal Alchemy”
Sculptor Richard Pitts portrays his own interpretation of nature with the works in his “Metal Alchemy” exhibit, expressing the idea that art is a product of life. His art, which includes large outdoor pieces, has been shown in galleries in New York City and Japan. The vibrant sculptures are animated by impressions of fins and tendrils, allowing viewers to feel the energy of nature as it flows throughout the collection.
Date: All three exhibits run from now through Sat., Sept. 18.
Hours: Wed.-Sat., 12-4pm.
Admission: adults, $5; seniors, $4; children under 12 and members, free.
Info: 669-5033 or www.hammondmuseum.org

Neuberger Museum of Art,Purchase College
Event: American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold’s Paintings of the1960s
Date: Sept. 11-Dec. 19
Faith Ringgold helped to generate movements for artistic freedom in the political and social tumult of the 1960s, sparking much controversy for her noapologies, honest portrayal of a period marked by war and racial turmoil. The exhibit, coinciding with the artist’s 80th birthday, features her two earliest series, which have not been exhibited together since the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Event: Natalie Jeremijenko: Connected Environments
Date: Now through Oct. 24
Examine the effects of technology on the world we’ve built and the world we were given through a diverse collection of Natalie Jeremijenko’s thoughtprovoking, experimental designs. Works on display include a grass-roots mapping of the BP oil spill, robotic geese, a bat translator, and an edible gallery guide.
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8:30am-5:30pm; Tues.-Sun., 12-5pm; Sat.-Sun.,12-5pm.
Admission: general public, $5; seniors (62+), $3; students, $3.
Info: 251-6100 or www.neuberger.org

Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art
Event: After the Fall
Date: Sept. 19 (with opening reception 3-5pm and discussion with artists 5-6:30pm) through July, 2011
As former communist countries in eastern and central Europe searched for a new societal identity, they produced a generation of artists who were born under communist rule but schooled in the aftermath of its fall. These artists aspire to share their work at an international level, recognizing that they may benefit from the Internet age, whereas their predecessors struggled to practice in isolation under repressive rule.
Hours: Sat-Sun., 12-6pm or by appointment.
Admission: adults, $5; seniors (65+), $4; educators (with valid ID), $4; students (with valid ID), $2; children, $2.
Info: 788-0100 or http://hvcca.org

Katonah Museum of Art
Event: Mapping, Memory, and Motion in Contemporary Art
Date: Oct. 3-Jan. 9, 2011
As maps continue to develop from written guides to digital displays and, inevitably, unimaginable forms of technology, more artists are symbolically and visually integrating them into their work. This exhibition includes paintings, works on paper, sculpture, video, and a live Web broadcast, all which incorporate maps in a different and often unconventional way.
Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10am-5pm; Sun., 12-5pm. (Tues.-Sun., 2:30, docent tours free with admission).
Admission: 10am-12pm, free; 12-5pm, $5; students/seniors (60+), $3; members/ children under 12, free .
Info: 232-9555 or www.katonahmuseum.org

Pelham Art Center
Event: The Things Themselves: Contemporary Still Life
Date: Sept. 10-Oct. 30 (with free opening reception and all-ages art workshop, Fri., Sept. 10, 6:30-8pm)
Still-life painting, photography, printmaking,
sculpture, and video art portray material objects as they relate to human beings. The featured artists do not observe the objects as universal and concrete, but focus on concepts of reality and the nature of experience in their works.

Event: Day of the Dead Art Workshop
Date: Sat., Oct. 30, 1:30-3:30pm
Commemorate those who have died by making vibrant memorial altars with Mexican paper crafts and sculpture. It’s all part of the Latin American holiday, Day of the Dead, or El Día de los Muertos. The workshop is hosted by Zafiro Acevedo and Aurelia Fernandez. Participants are asked to bring a shoe box.
Admission: Free. Hours: Tues.-Fri., 10am-5pm; Sat., 12-4pm.
Info: 738-2525 or www.pelhamartcenter.org

Hudson River Museum, Yonkers
Event: Paintbox Leaves: Autumnal Inspiration from Cole to Wyeth
Date: Sept. 25-Jan. 16, 2011
Experience the glory of the autumnal landscape through the eyes of American artists, some of whom worked right here in the Hudson Valley. Almost 100 paintings from major museums and private collections will be on display. From the 19th century art of Thomas Cole and Jasper F. Cropsey to the work of later American impressionists and contemporary artists, this exhibit offers many lenses through which to view the visual splendor of autumn. Opening weekend will include art workshops, face painting, and gallery tours (from 12-5pm) for guests over the age of 7.
Admission: adults, $5; seniors (62+) and youths (5-15), $3; children under 5, free.
Hours: Wed.-Sun., 12-5pm & Tuesday.
Info: 963-4550 or www.hrm.org

Rye Arts Center Gallery
Event: 10th Annual Painters on Location: A Plein-Air Paint-Out & Live Art Auction
Date: Fri., Sept. 24, 7am; Sat., Sept. 25, 2pm
Observe the artistic process as it unfolds in the crisp autumn air with over 40 professional artists from the tri-state area painting “on location” at a variety of sites throughout the Hudson Valley. The artists will paint rain or shine, and the depictions of landscapes, historic sites, and street scenes will then be delivered to The Rye Arts Center for a public exhibition and reception (5-6pm), followed by a live auction at 6:15.
Tickets: Reception, free; auction, $10 bid paddle (prepurchase encouraged)

Event: Jazz: Iconic Portraits and Contemporary Images
Date: Sun., Oct. 17 (opening reception 3-5 pm)-Dec. 4
This exhibit aims to capture the boundless nature of jazz through the more tangible art forms of painting and sculpture. Some pieces pay homage to jazz’s most legendary figures, while others reflect the life of the art form in contemporary and abstract styles. Featured artists include Jerry Prettyman, Melvin Clark, Cynthia Burgos, Priya Tambe, Joel Trieger, Michael Keropian, and John Conroy. On Friday, Oct. 29, at 8pm, there will be a performance by area jazz musicians in conjunction with the exhibit.
Admission: Free. Hours: Tues.-Fri., 11am-5pm; Sat., 10am-4pm
Info: 967-0700 or www.ryeartscenter.org

Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, CT
Event: Robert Taplin: Main Street Sculpture Project
Date: Oct. 31-March 20, 2011
Western mythology and the roots of comedy will be embodied in New Haven-based sculptor Robert Taplin’s ongoing series at the Aldrich. Taplin’s sculptures portray Punch, the Westernized version of historical trickster figure Punchinello, who played a major role in 16th-century Italian commedia dell’arte. The exhibition opening starts at dusk on Halloween, and the museum welcomes all trick-or-treaters to meet the legendary trickster Punch in sculpture form.
Admission: adults, $7; seniors and college students, $4; members, K-12 teachers, and children under 18, free; Free admission for all on Tuesdays.
Hours: Tues. Sun., 12-5pm.
Info: (203) 438-4519 or www.aldrichart.org

Center for Curatorial Studies and Hessel Museum of Art, Bard College
Event: Works by Philippe Parreno
Date: Now through Sun., Sept. 26
The French artist and filmmaker Philippe Parreno creates innovative works by reinvigorating existing materials with his personal perspectives and ideas. The CCS Bard exhibit focuses on three of Parreno’s pieces: “June 8, 1968 (2009)” recreates Paul Fusco’s famous footage of Robert F. Kennedy’s funeral train by re-enacting it against the breathtaking backdrop of the West Coast. “Anywhere Out of the World (2000)” incorporates an animated manga character and is part of a widely collaborative artistic project. “Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (2006)” is a feature-length film portrait of a football player accompanied by a unique narrative.

Event: At Home/Not At Home
Date: Now through Sun., Dec. 19
Bard College is now showing one of the most extensive, idiosyncratic contemporary art collections in the United States. The pieces in “At Home/Not At Home” are from the collection of Martin and Rebecca Eisenberg, who have about 500 works of art occupying the free space in their suburban residence. By transplanting artworks from the privacy of a residential home to the openness of a public gallery, the exhibit conceptualizes the blurred boundary between the private and public spheres of our social domain.
Info: (845) 758-7598 or www.bard.edu/ccs/museum

Music

Tarrytown Music Hall
Event: Blood, Sweat & Tears
Date: Fri, Oct. 15, 8pm
As some of the world’s greatest jazz and rock musicians, the members of Blood, Sweat & Tears have always delivered top-rate performances, even as their lineup has changed over the past 41 years. With three Grammy awards and 10 Grammy nominations, they consistently delight audiences with their mainstay hits, including “And When I Die,” “God Bless the Child,” “Spinning Wheel,” and “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy.”
Tickets: $40; $48; $60.
Info: 631-3390 or www.tarrytownmusichall.org

Westchester Philharmonic at The Performing Arts Center, Purchase College
Event: Itzhak Perlman, conductor and violin
Date: Sat., Oct. 9, 8pm. Sun., Oct. 10, 3pm
Legendary conductor and violinist Itzhak Perlman will awe local audiences with Beethoven’s “Romances for Violin and Orchestra,” Berlioz’s “Roman Carnival,” and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6 (Pathetique).”
Event: Chelsea Tipton, guest conductor
Date: Sat., Nov. 13, 8pm, and Sun., Nov. 14, 3pm
A benevolent contributor to educational outreach and a sought-after guest conductor, Chelsea Tipton has led a number of major American orchestras, and has appeared on NBC’s “Today” show. In his visit to the Weschester Philharmonic, he will lead Stravinsky’s “Dumbarton Oaks,” William Schuman’s “Symphony No. 5,” Copland’s “Quiet City,” and Dvorak’s “Czech Suite.”

Event: Winter Pops, featuring Marvin Hamlisch
Date: Sun., Dec. 19, 3pm
Conductor and pianist Marvin Hamlisch has won a plethora of notable awards, including three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony, three Golden Globes, and a Pulitzer Prize for the memorable score of “A Chorus Line.” Hamlisch will be featured in this season’s Winter Pops, with a program to be determined.
Tickets: $25-$90.
Info: 682-3707 or www.westchesterphil.org

Emelin Theater, Mamaroneck
Event: Mariachi Los Camperos
Date: Sat, Nov. 13, 3pm
As part of the “Great Traditions” series, this highly acclaimed Grammy-winning ensemble will perform some of Mexico’s most memorable folk songs. Winners of the Silvestre Vargas award, Mexico’s highest musical honor for mariachi, Mariachi Los Camperos has garnered a reputation for innovative performances.
Tickets: $40.
Info: 698-0098 or www.emelin.org

Ridgefield Playhouse
Event: José Feliciano
Date: Sun., Dec. 5, 8pm
The man who pioneered as a Latin artist on the English music scene is returning to the Ridgefield Playhouse 10 years after opening its doors in December 2000. Praised as the world’s “greatest living guitarist,” José Feliciano has been awarded more than 45 gold and platinum records, and eight Grammy awards. His smash-hit “Feliz Navidad” has been generating holiday warmth for 40 years, and this performance comes just in time to get audiences in the holiday spirit.
Tickets: $90; limited Gold Circle (with meet & greet), $125.
Info: (203) 438-5795 or www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org

Bendheim Performing Arts Center, Scarsdale
Event: Mr. Greg’s Musical Madness
Date: Sun., Oct. 3, 2pm
Songwriter Greg Roth has been awarded the Parents’ Choice Award for his CD “Lots of Fun!,” which presents themes of environmental and social awareness through kid-friendly music. “Mr. Greg’s Musical Madness” program features songs from this CD with a unique, interactive show that allows kids to jump, dance, and move to the music. Make sure your child wears comfortable shoes to the performance.
Tickets: $15.
Info: 472-3300 x302 or www.thebendheim.org

The Performing Arts Center Recital Hall, Purchase College
Event: Orion String Quartet
Date: Sun, Dec. 5, 3pm
The renowned Orion String Quartet is known to move audiences to ecstatic applause and stun them to silence with successive pieces. Since its founding 23 years ago, the ensemble has been in high demand by composers such as Chick Corea, John Harbison, Leon Kirchner, and Wynton Marsalis. The troupe is the quartet-in-residence at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Mannes College of Music.
Tickets: $50.
Info: 251-6200 or www.artscenter.org

Stamford Center for the Arts, Palace Theater, Stamford, CT
Event: Birthday Souvenirs
Date: Sat., Nov. 13, 8pm; Sun., Nov. 14, 3pm
2010 marks the 200th birthday of Frederic Chopin and Robert Schumann, two of classical music’s most revered composers. The Stamford Symphony Orchestra is celebrating the music legends with two nights of “mania, melancholy, and a Transylvanian mystery.” Birthday Souvenirs will feature Schumann’s “Symphony No. 2,” the contrasting themes of which reflect the bipolarafflicted composer’s conflicting emotions and states of mind. A highlight of the Chopin selections, “Piano Concerto No. 1,” will feature pianist Janina Fialkowska, a well-respected interpreter of the Polish composer.
Tickets: $29; $49; $65; $79.
Info: (203) 358- 2305 or www.stamfordcenterforthearts.org

Film

Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville
Event: Fritz Lang’s Metropolis with live Alloy Orchestra performance
Date: Fri., Sept. 17-Thurs., Sept. 23
The uncut version of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, a cornerstone of the silent film canon, has not been seen since the film’s 1927 Berlin premiere. Recently unearthed by an Argentine film archivist, the original, complete version of Lang’s cinematic masterpiece is now available for the world to see. The digital restoration is running for a week at the Jacob
Burns Film Center. There will be live musical accompaniment by the Alloy Orchestra on opening
night, Fri., Sept. 17, at 7pm, and by pianist Ben Model on Wed., Sept. 22, at 7pm. (Tickets for these special nights of live accompaniment are $20 for nonmembers and $15 for members. Regular ticket prices apply for the rest of the showings.)
Tickets (for regular showings): Members, $6; general public, $11; children under 12, $6.50; seniors (Mon.-Thurs.), $8; students with valid ID (Mon-Thurs & after 9pm Fri-Sun), $8

Event: Jay Fox’s Gasland
Date: Tues., Oct. 5, 7:30pm
As part of the Global Watch 2010: Crisis, Culture & Human Rights series, the Jacob Burns Center will be showing Josh Fox’s brilliant documentary, Gasland. A favorite at Sundance this year, the film examines the hydraulic drilling process of extracting natural gas from shale, called “fracking.” Fox documents his research and personal experience, revealing the environmental, economic, health, and social concerns surrounding the process, as well as the great divide between affected citizens and the officials who put them in the line of fire. This special showing will be followed by a Q&A with director Jay Fox.
Tickets: Members, $9; non-members, $14.
Info: 747-5555 or www.burnsfilmcenter.org

Dance

Stamford Center for the Arts
Event: Cirque d’Or
Date: Sat., Nov. 27, 2pm and 7:30pm, and Sun., Nov. 28, 2pm
The highly entertaining Chinese Golden Dragons Acrobats are known for shocking their audiences with incredible feats of strength and balance. Their Cirque d’Or program is a great family show. Viewers of all ages will watch in awe as the performers build human pyramids on moving bicycles and climb stacks of chairs while doing a one-handed hand stand 30 feet in the air. Prepare to be amazed!
Tickets: $40; $30; half-price for children under 12.
Info: (203) 325-4466 or www.scalive.org

Hudson River Museum
Event: Lauren Hale Dance Company performs “Hudson”
Date: Sun., Oct. 10, 2pm
The modern dancers of “Hudson” perform a graceful interpretation of life along the great river, using movement to depict the cleanup of the river, Hudson River School fall paintings, and the amazing water landing of US Airways Flight 1549. The performance will be followed by a movement workshop for children, offering the opportunity to meet the dancers and discuss the inspirations behind the piece.
Tickets: Free with museum admission; adults, $5; seniors (62+) and youths (5-15), $3; children under 5, free.
Info: 963-4550 or www.hrm.org

Emelin Theater, Mamaroneck
Event: Works by Pascal Rioult
Date: Sat., Nov. 20, 8pm
The Emelin kicks off this season’s dance series with performances from choreographer Pascal Rioult, who is known for breaking stylistic ground in the world of modern dance. Rioult’s “neo-modern” pieces are most notable for their sensual air and eloquent expression. The series will begin with performances of Rioult’s “City,” “Wien,” and “Views of the Fleeting World.”
Tickets: $42; $21 for students
Info: 698-0098 or www.emelin.org

Academic Arts Theater, Westchester Community College
Event: Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater
Date: Sat., Oct. 23, 8pm
Spanish ballets, traditional folkloric suites, and flamenco dramas are just some of the rich varieties of music and dance that have emerged from Spain’s distinctive culture. Individual performers and a flawless ensemble present astounding pieces from their repertoire of more than 120 beautifully polished works.
Tickets: General admission, $20; students/ seniors/faculty, $18; children under 13, $13.
Info: 606-6262 or www.sunywcc.edu

The Performing Arts Center Concert Hall, Purchase College
Event: The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, “The Balanchine Couple”
Date: Sun., Nov. 7, 3pm
The Kennedy Center’s Suzanne Farrell Ballet company has preserved the stunningly beautiful choreography of George Balanchine, a universally regarded ballet icon. The founder and artistic director of the company, Suzanne Farrell, was Balanchine’s most inspirational muse. She will be introducing the full-length performance of nine classic Balanchine duets.
Tickets: Orchestra, $75; Grand Tier, $60
Info: 251-6200 or www.artscenter.org

Special Event

ArtsWestchester
Event: Free Arts Week
Date: Mon., Nov. 29-Sun., Dec. 5
In response to the immense popularity of ArtsWeschester’s annual Free Arts Day, the event is being expanded to a Free Arts Week! Art lovers will be ecstatic to see the schedule for this week of free museum admission, free concerts, free family workshops, and free films (shown at select times throughout the week). Participating organizations include ArtsWestchester, the Clay Art Center, the Croton Cortlandt Center for the Arts, Evolve Dance, Hudson River Museum, Jacob Burns Film Center, the Katonah Museum of Art, the Mount Vernon Public Library, the Music Conservatory of Westchester, Pelham Art Center, Play Group Theatre, Rye Arts Center, The Schoolhouse Theatre, and more.
Info: www.artswestchester.org/freeartsday

Comedy

Stamford Center for the Arts, Palace Theater, Stamford CT
Event: Lewis Black
Date: Fri., Oct. 1, 8pm
Lewis Black doesn’t speak—he yells—and his listeners typically break into uncontrollable fits of laughter. The Grammy award-winning comic has been a regular commentator on the “Daily Show” since its inception, offering insights on the political and social workings of our nation.
Tickets: $55; $50; $45.
Info: (203) 325-4466 or www.scalive.org

Tarrytown Music Hall
Event: Ralphie May
Date: Sat., Nov. 6, 8pm
When Ralphie May opens his mouth, you are bound to hear something both funny and truthful, political correctness aside. The popular comedian enlists humor to point out the hypocrisy of society and its rules. May debuted his no-apologies style of comedy on “Last Comic Standing.” He has since made 11 appearances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” had two highly rated Comedy Central specials, and earned the first standing ovation in 10 years on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
Tickets: $30; $35.
Info: 631-3390 or www.tarrytownmusichall.org

Paramount Center for the Arts, Peekskill
Event: Brian Regan
Date: Sat., Sept. 25, 7pm
Brian Regan, with his relatively clean, relatable humor, has acquired a fan base of all ages and been declared a “universal comic.” His observations of everyday events often uncover new, side-splitting angles on the most seemingly mundane subjects. Regan has released two hugely popular Comedy Central specials, “The Epitome of Hyperbole” and “Brian Regan Standing Up.”
Tickets: $38-$48.
Info: 739-2333 or www.paramountcenter.org

Benefits and Galas

Westchester Italian Cultural Center, Tuckahoe
Event: Westchester Concorso d’Eleganza 2010
Date: Sun., Sept. 19, 11am-5pm
This inaugural event celebrates Italian culture by featuring the very best of exotic Italian automobiles and culinary delicacies. A magnificent showing of more than 40 privately owned Italian sports cars will occur on Depot Square, with Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo as a few examples of fine Italian engineering and style on display. Delectable Italian food will be provided by some of the area’s greatest restaurants and pastry shops. All proceeds from the event will help support the Cultural Center’s children’s programs, which include a unique full-immersion Italian language program, and hands-on culinary, cultural, and educational programs.
Suggested donation: Adults, $10; children 12 and under, free.
Info: Maria Masciotti, executive director, 871-7700 or www.wiccny.org

The Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT
Event: 10th Anniversary Gala with performance by Natalie Cole
Date: Fri., Nov. 19, 8pm
Celebrate 10 years of unforgettable performances at The Ridgefield Playhouse with yet another unforgettable night. The evening will feature a performance by legendary singer-songwriter and Grammy award winner, Natalie Cole. There will also be an hour of open bar at 7pm, followed by a live auction and cash bar at 8pm, as well as other bonuses for Gala and VIP ticket holders.
Tickets: Mezzanine, $125; Orchestra, $175; VIP, $250.
Info: (203) 438-5795 or www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, CT
Event: Aldrich Undercover: A Secret Art Sale
Date: Fri., Nov. 19, 7-10pm
Aldrich Undercover, the popular benefit exhibition and “secret” art sale, is returning to The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum for a third time. The night kicks off at 7pm with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, which will be served throughout the event. The sale, featuring approximately 250 exceptional new works by veteran Aldrich artists created specifically for this event, will begin at 8pm. Each work will sell for $300, with the signature and identity of the artist concealed until after purchase. The artistic chairs will be Janine Antoni, Huma Bhabha, Mark Dion, Paul Ramirez Jonas, KAWS, Peggy Preheim, and Alyson Shots, who will also contribute pieces for the event.
Tickets: General admission, $150; VIP, $1,000.
Info: (203) 438-4519 x18 or www.aldrichart.org

Series

Katonah Art Museum
Event: Cross Talk: Molly Friedrich and Lisa Belkin
Date: Thurs., Sept. 16, 6:30pm
The provocative “Cross Talk” discussion series brings together book agent Molly Friedrich and New York Times writer Lisa Belkin, two very different people who will speak on unrelated topics, fueling a question-and-answer period that is sure to lead to insightful connections and unexpected realizations. A wine reception precedes the program at 6:30pm, and all proceeds benefit the children’s programs at the museum and the Katonah Library.
Admission: $20 in advance; $25 at the door (reservations strongly suggested)
Info: 2 32-9555 or www.katonahmuseum.org

Westchester Italian Cultural Center, Tuckahoe
Event: Secret Recipes of Great Italian Chefs
Date: Tues., Sept. 21, 6:30pm; Mon., Oct. 25, 6:30pm; Tues., Dec. 7, 6:30pm
Hands-on culinary programs offer the chance to taste Italian delicacies and experience regional wines while learning about traditional preparation and presentation of Italian food from highly acclaimed culinary talents. There are three demonstrations available— “Sicilian Recipes Every Italian Should Know,” featuring  executive chef Giusto Priola (Cacio e Vino, New York City), “Contemporary Italian Cuisine—La Cucina di Casa Spadaro,” featuring Antonio and Rina Spadaro (Spadaro Restaurant, New Rochelle), and “Feasting, Sicilian Style!—Piattie delle Feste,” featuring executive chef Salvatore Fraterrigo (Tre Otto, New York City). A complimentary glass of wine will be served at each class.
Tickets: $50, members; $60, non-members (must be 21 or older, early registration recommended)
Info: 771-8700 or www.wiccny.org

Theater

Westchester Broadway Theatre, Elmsford
Event: Rent
Date: Now through Sat., Sept. 25
“Rent” is the powerful story of a group of impoverished young artists who learn to fall in love and find their voices, even under a cloud of endless struggles and the threat of HIV/AIDS in New York’s East Village of the late 1980s. A modern version of the classic Giacomo Puccini opera, “La Bohème,” this groundbreaking show redefined musical theater, garnering four Tonys and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Patricia Wilcox, whose previous WBT projects include “Aida” and Little Shop of Horrors,” directs.

Event: Jekyll & Hyde
Date: Sept. 30-Nov. 28, Dec. 29–Feb. 12, 2011
The classic tale of a brilliant doctor’s struggles with an irrepressible evil, “Jekyll & Hyde” is intensified in its musical representation by evocative ballads that add to the story’s power.
Hours: Thurs.-Sun. with select Wed. matinees and evenings; Wed. and Thurs. matinees, 11am lunch and 1pm show; Wed.-Sat. evenings, 6pm dinner and 8pm show; Sun. matinees, 11:30am lunch and 1:30pm show; Sun. evenings, 5pm dinner and 7pm show.
Tickets: $62-$75 plus tax, discounts available for children, students, and senior citizens at select performances (price includes food service); show-only tickets may be purchased on the day of the show.
Info: 592-2222 or www.BroadwayTheatre.com

Academic Arts Theater, Westchester Community College
Event: The National Players in “The Scarlet Letter”
Date: Sat., Sept. 25, 8pm
SUNY WCC’s Academic Arts Theater brings the passion of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s masterpiece to the stage, where the drama and creativity of the play immerse the audience in the conflict of the main character, Hester Prynne. The universal themes of alienation, sin, and guilt are as applicable in today’s society as the judgmental world of 17th century Puritan Boston, making the story consistently thoughtprovoking 150 years after its debut.
Tickets: General admission, $20; students/seniors/faculty, $18; children under 13, $13.
Info: 606-6262 or www.sunywcc.edu

Paramount Center for the Arts, Peekskill
Event: John Lithgow, “Stories by Heart”
Date: Thurs., Oct. 13, 8pm
Distinguished actor John Lithgow, winner of two Tony awards and four Emmy awards, welcomes audiences to share in stories of his family, childhood, and personal journey. In his endearing, one-man theatrical memoir, “Stories by Heart,” Lithgow traces his love for storytelling back to his grandmother and father, acting out the stories they told him as a child.
Tickets: $35-$55
Info: 739-2333 or www.paramountcenter.org

The Performing Arts Center, PepsiCo Theater, Purchase College
Event: Anna Deavere Smith, “Let Me Down Easy”
Date: Sat., Nov. 13, 8pm
Featuring excerpts from Anna Deavere Smith’s critically acclaimed off-Broadway show, “Let Me Down Easy” moves audiences through a wide spectrum of emotions as it explores the power of the body, the price of health, and the strength of the spirit. Smith’s range of interview subjects includes Lance Armstrong and former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, as well as unknown doctors and their patients. These first-person accounts collectively invoke the human experiences of life, death, and how we cope.
Tickets: Orchestra, $65; Balcony, $50
Info: 251-6200 or www.artscenter.org

White Plains Performing Arts Center
Event: “Wallenberg”
Date: Thurs., Oct. 28-Sun., Nov. 21 (shows run Thurs.-Sun., call or visit website for times)
During days of unfathomable darkness, diplomat Raoul Wallenberg was a beacon of hope for humanity. The Swedish hero rescued tens of thousands of Jews from the Holocaust by issuing protective passports and housing. This original, epic musical drama tells the story of Wallenberg and his compassionate movement to save lives, ultimately putting himself in danger and possibly leading to the much-disputed cause of his death. The show is premiering at White Plains Performing Arts Center.
Tickets: To be determined
Info: 328-1600 or www.wppac.com

Captions: top to bottom: Daniel Pitin's "Sleeping Orgre", 2010, oil, acrylic, and paper on canvas, 194 x 150cm on view at the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art; Orion String Quartet will be at The Performing Arts Center on 12/5; Fritz Lang's Metropolis, a silent film classic from 1927, is being shown at Jacob Burns Film Center on 9/17; The Golden Dragon Acrobats perform daring feats with grace, power, and athleticism at The Palace Theatre in Stamford, CT, on 11/27-28; Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art's Free Arts Week back in 2008; Ralphie May has become one of the hottest comedians in the country and performs at Tarrytown Music Hall on 11/6; The Westchester Italian Cultural Center is showcasing 40 privately owned Italian sports car at their Westchester Concorso d’Eleganza 2010 gala event on 9/19; Molly Friedrich will be speaking with Lisa Belkin at Katonah Musem of Art's Cross Talk event; Westchester Broadway Theatre's production of "Jekyll & Hyde".