Old formats rock New Haven this week, with a lecture on why vinyl records are great, separate festivals devoted to home movies and VHS tapes, and a screening of the black-and-white Hollywood spectacular The Magnificent Ambersons. For the even older-school, there are fairy tales, plus talks on farming and cheesemaking.
Monday, Oct. 12
“There’s aren’t any times but new times”
The Whitney Humanities Center continues its “Interpreting Film Masterpieces” screening and lecture series with another Orson Welles flick, The Magnificent Ambersons, based on the novel by New Haven/Hamden resident Thornton Wilder. 6:30 p.m. 53 Wall St. Free.
Tuesday, Oct. 13
More Mormons
The national tour of The Book of Mormon, the smash musical by the South Park guys (not to mention Yale grad Robert Lopez) opens tonight at the Shubert, where it will spew hilarious sacrilege through Sunday the 18th. Performances are tonight through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 & 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 & 6:30 p.m. 254 College St. (203) 562‑5666.
Fine Vinyl
Sam Sigg, founder of the CT Record Club, enthusiastically answers the question “What’s So Great About Vinyl Records?” 6:30 p.m. at the Institute Library, 847 Chapel St.
Wednesday, Oct. 14
Please Look After This Bear
Paddington Bear is hanging out somewhere other than a railway station. The cuddly behatted bruin is at the main (Ives) New Haven Free Public Library (133 Elm St., 203) 946‑8129) 11 a.m. today and at the Wilson branch library on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Once Upon a Time…
“Fairy tales from around the world” are told at Mitchell branch library, Harrison St. (203) 946‑8117.
Nice Jobs If You Can Get It
A special preview screening of the new biopic Steve Jobs, directed by Danny Boyle and written by Aaron Sorkin, screens 7 p.m. at the Whitney Humanities Center, 53 Wall St.
The Occupy Movement
The documentary Resistencia, about an agripolitical revolution in Honduras where farmers defiantly claimed plantation land after a coup, has its New Haven premiere 6 p.m. in the Community Program room of the main (Ives) New Haven Free Public Library, 133 Elm St., with its director Jesse Freeston there for a post-screening discussion.
Opening in Disgrace
Disgraced the Off Broadway and regional theater hit by Ayad Akhtar about cultural identity, opens the Long Wharf Theatre’s 51st season. Preview performances are tonight through Tuesday, opening night is Oct. 21, and the show runs through Oct. 31. (203) 787‑4282.
Thursday, Oct. 15
Cheese It!
Cheesemaker Allison Hooper of Vermont Creamery and cheesemonger Laura Downey of the Fairfield and Greenwich Cheese Company speak “On Women and Cheese” 4:30 p.m. at Harkness Hall, 100 Wall St. The moderator, Prof. Maria Trumpler, is a former cheesemaker itself, so expect a conversation that doesn’t curdle. (203) 436‑9138.
Marvelous Night for a Moonsong
The Yale Cabaret show this week is Moonsong, an “imaginative biography” about a woman with multiple sclerosis and how she connects with her son. Tonight at 8 p.m. and Friday & Saturday night at 8 & 10 p.m. $20. 217 Park St. (203) 432‑1566.
Friday, Oct. 16
Baton for Bartok
Peter Oundjian is the guest conductor for the Yale Philharmonia, 7:30 p.m. at Woolsey Hall, 500 College St. The program: Bartok’s Divertimento for String Orchestra, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. $10, $5 students. (203) 432‑4158.
His Way to You
Guitars and beards, in a low-key modern-country-music kind of way, at College Street Music Hall tonight with Jamey Johnson and Chris Hennessee. 8 p.m. 238 College St.
Decepticomics Head East
The Joker’s Wild comedy club is under new management, and is shaking things up a little at 232 Wooster St. On Saturday the 17th, for instance, there’s an “Absolute Men” all-male erotic revue. Tonight, there’s the nationally touring D.C.-based African-American stand-up quintet Decepticomics, self-described as “20% Smart, 20 Geeky, 20% Insane, 20% Dirty and 20% Country-fried.” $10.
Laugh Till They Cry
The multi-styled indie folk/rock/punk/emo act The Front Bottoms are at Toad’s Place, 300 York St. with tourmates The Smith Street Band (from Australia) and locals Elvis Depressedly. 8 p.m. (203) 624-TOAD.
Saturday, Oct. 17
Equal Weight
There’s a “Deadlift to Smash the Patriarchy” weightlifting competition 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Westville side of Edgewood Park. The event, meant to “promote women’s rights and gender equality,” is open to both men and women and will benefit the Connecticut Chapter of the National Organization for Women. There will be prizes. Register at http://westvillekettlebell.wix.com/deadlift.
Anywhere But Here
A packed bill of today’s indie rock — it’s the AP (Alternative Press magazine) Tour featuring Mayday Parade, Real Friends, This Wild Life, and As It Is. 6:30 p.m. College Street Music Hall, 238 College St.
Reel Life
Home Movie Day is an annual worldwide celebration of the kinds of movies families made before there were smartphones. Bring your 8mm, 16mm, or Super 8 films to New Haven Museum between noon and 2 p.m., then see them screened between 2 and 4 p.m. 114 Whitney Ave. (203) 562‑4183.
Be Kind Rewind
The same day that Home Movie Day is screening your Super 8 reels at the New Haven Museum, the Lyric Hall Theater over in Westville is holding Magnetic Fest: VHS Swap and Screening Day. You can trade, watch, purchase, sell and just honor the VHS format, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 827 Whalley Ave., New Haven. Films being shown include the just-released-on-VHS rarity Run Coyote Run and the 1985 horror classic Night Train to Terror. $5.
SOLARiS Powered
The electro band SOLARiS is at Stella Blues, 204 Crown St. (203) 752‑9764.
Sunday, Oct. 18
Pipes
Thomas Murray performs works by Duruflé, Grieg, Christopher Theofanidis, Horatio Parker, and others on his preferred instrument, the Newberry Memorial Organ at Yale’s Woolsey Hall. 7:30 p.m. 500 College St. (203) 432‑5062.
Frankly
Two famed Frank Zappa sidemen — Denny Walley (who also played in Captain Beefheart’s band) and Ike Willis — come to Toad’s Place (300 York St.) with the Zappa revival act Project/Object. $25.
