In the Arts

Kathleen Murphy Jackson and James Alexander in a scene from "Ain't Misbehavin'," which is playing to packed houses at the Two River Theater in Red Bank, where it runs through Oct. 22.

Jon Francis will host the musical presentation "Uncanning Worms" at the Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts in Long Branch on the third Saturday of every month. The first show will be held Oct. 21 at 8 p.m.

This month's showcase artists will be John Alberici and Tommy Bendel with an improv section consisting of Jon Francis, Erik Major, Adam Vacarelli and Bob Vacarelli, and audience participation is welcomed and encouraged. There will be a $5 cover charge. SICA is located at 20 Third Ave. For more information visit www.sica.org.

A cocktail fundraiser Friday will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Monmouth County Arts Council (MCAC). "Celebration of Excellence" will be hosted by Mike and Holly Lyttle 6:30-9:30 p.m. at their home overlooking the Shrewsbury River. The evening will include entertainment by jazz performer Andrea Rienen and classical guitarist Tony Sloan, creative and interactive art work of Pinky, and the original paintings of Tony Migliaccio from the Plein Air Painters of the Jersey Coast. In addition, guests will enjoy food by Mumford Culinary Center of Tinton Falls and desserts by Blackwell's Organic, Red Bank. The event will include a silent auction. All proceeds will benefit the MCAC, Red Bank. Contact MCAC at (732) 212-1890 or visit www.monmouthartscouncil.org.

Award-winning Jerseyana author Helen-Chantal Pike has launched a new project to make learning about New Jersey fun for students. "Greetings From New Jersey: A Workbook for Younga Adventurers" is written for children ages 8-11 (grades three to six). The workbook has exercises for reading state history, journaling and drawing about New Jersey. Included are maps, a glossary for vocabulary-building, a food pyramid, a resource page for each of the state's six regions, and projects for children to work on in groups or individually. Pike has book signing dates at River Road Books in Fair Haven and at Family Night at Dean Porter School in Rumson. Visit www.helenpike.com.

A show of artwork by Pat Corboy and Penny Ticehurst is on display at the J.W. Ross Cultural Arts Center/Library in Sea Bright through October. "Summer Revisited" includes summer scenes from the surrounding Shore area created in watercolors and oils. The library is located at 1097 Ocean Ave. Call (732) 758-9554.

The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts (SICA) in Long Branch and the Shrewsbury Foundation for the Arts have come together for a night of great live music. The Shakedown, the winning band from Shrewsbury's Battle of the Bands, will headline at SICA on Oct. 14. Fallen Sky, The Pad, Teim, Morning Star, Restricted, Matt Keppler and the Happy Endings, and Apologue will also be performing. The show starts at 7 p.m. and there is a $4 cover. SICA is located at 20 Third Ave. For information, call (732) 263-1121 or visit www.sica.org.

Honey Child Music, 73 Monmouth St., Red Bank, is celebrating 10 years of music education and entertainment Oct. 15 with an open house and fall concert from noon to 3 p.m. at the studio.

The Monmouth Symphony League will hold its annual Luncheon Musicale on Sunday, Oct. 15 at Deal Golf & Country Club. The event, which will begin at 11:30 a.m., will feature a gift auction and a performance by The Java String Quartet. Proceeds from the luncheon support the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra, which opens its 58th anniversary season on Sunday, Oct. 22, at the Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank. For information, call Joan Berransky at (732) 531-0601.

First Avenue Playhouse is seeking a cast of inspired lunatics to bring to life the inspired lunacy of "Animal Crackers." Auditions for the January production will be held Sunday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m., and Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Atlantic Highlands Senior Center, First Avenue and Sutton Walk Drive; and Monday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m. at the playhouse, 123 First Ave, Atlantic Highlands. Needed are three leads who can do imitations of the Marx Brothers, 11 men and five women of all ages to surround them with people just as funny. For more information, call (732) 291-7552 or visit www.firstavenueplayhouse.com.

The Two River Film Festival will present the award-winning film "Fateless" at Monmouth University's first annual Holocaust/Genocide Symposia on Oct. 18 at 7:15 p.m. The public is invited to attend the film screening and discussion, which will be held at Pollack Theatre. The film is based on the autobiographical novel of 2002 Nobel Prize-winner Imre Kertesz and chronicles the attempts of a young Hungarian Jewish boy to reconcile the unimaginable horror of having been incarcerated in German concentration camps. More information is available at www.tworiverfilmfestival.com.