Dance, Murder, Giggles and Ghoulies...and Abagail Adams

"Meditations from a Garden Seat" at Charter Oak Cultural Center

Dance-theater artist Judy Dworkin presents her new work, "Meditations from a Garden Seat," at the Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, on Nov. 1 - 3. This multi-media work, which draws upon a letter penned by Harriet Beecher Stowe and narratives, songs and dnaces by contemporary women who are in or out of prison, is intended to challenge common perceptions of the incarcerated by depicting their questing spirits, permanent sorrows and joyous transformations within the barren confines of prison.

The garden of the work's title refers to the prison garden at the York Correctional Institute in Niantic, which became a source of healing, regeneration and inspiration for some 30 women incarcerated in the institution.

For tickets or more information call 860-249-1207 or go to www.charteroakcenter.org


The Legacy Theatre Premieres"Affectionately, Abigail"

The Legacy Theatre is staging a premiere of "Affectionately, Abigail," starring Keely Baisden Knudsen. The musical focuses on the life of Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, the second president of the United States. There will be three performances: Nov. 9 and 10 at the Nathaniel B. Greene Community Center in Guilford and Nov. 17 at the James Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford. Admissions is free; donations accepted. For reservations call 203-457-0138 or go to info@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Staged Reading of "Animal Farm" at Goshen

The Goshen Players will present a staged reading of George Orwell's "Animal Farm" Nov. 16 - 18. Reservations are recommended. Tickets ($15): 860-491-9988

More Sips and Giggles! Set to Sparkle

                                              The cast of Sips and Giggles!


An evening of Sips and Giggles!, the perfect pairing of plays with complimentary wines and light bites, is set for Saturday, October 20 at the intimate Lyric Hall in the Westville section of New Haven, at 827 Whaley Avenue. The first event this summer sold out.

Thanks to actress and entrepreneur Joanna Keylock, the night promises to sparkle, with amuse-bouches, little tastes that explode in the mouth, combined with appropriately refreshing and unusual wines and a selection of delightful one-act plays that fit the spirit. The delicious nibbles are courtesy of Stacey Ference of Savour Catering LLC (203-906-7144) or Savourfood@sbcglobal.net and the distinctive wines are thanks to The Wine Thief, located at 101 Crown Street and 370 Whitney Avenue, New Haven.

The plays, all comic brain children of area playwright Frederick Stroppel, will include “Mulberries,” about neighbors who get to know each other too well, “Coelacanth,” about a sister and her mentally challenged brother who are caught in the past as they try to plan for the future, and “Harvest Time,” about a man who needs a kidney transplant and the brother who may or may not provide it. As if that weren’t enough, Jim Noble will read "Testament," an unusual last will that is bitingly funny.

For tickets ($40), call 203-298-0730. Non-alcoholic beverages are available for those under 21.

"The Groovy Ghoulies" Haunts New Haven

"The Groovy Ghoulies," Pantonchino Productions new family-friendly musical, will open on Oct. 26 for five performances at Arts Hall, 55 Audubon St., in New Haven

With book and lyrics by Bert Bernardi and music by Justin Rigg, the show follows a rock and roll band of monsters -- Wolfgang, Swankenstein, D-Rac and Bones -- as they try to get their new song to the top of the charts in the face of determined resistance by upstanding citizen Rosalind Stark.

Tickets ($16): www.pantochino.com