Highlights this weekend include City Center’s acclaimed revival of the 1998 Broadway classic “Ragtime” and WBLS’ star-studded 50th Anniversary celebration featuring legendary DJs Marley Marl, Chuck Chillout and Red Alert.
Plus, there are several free events including a children’s book fair, a flea market and a community health expo.
Theater
“Ragtime”
New York City Center — 131 W. 55th St.,Manhattan (Midtown)
Through Nov. 10. Various times.
More than 25 years after winning four Tony Awards, “Ragtime” returns with an acclaimed (albeit brief) engagement helmed by Lear deBessonet. The production stars Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz, Tabitha Lawing and Nichelle Lewis — fresh from her Broadway debut as Dorothy in “The Wiz” revival.
With a book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, the musical, based on E.L. Doctorow’s best-selling 1975 novel, explores themes of racial tension, immigration and social inequality centering on three three families from Harlem, New Rochelle and Eastern Europe pursuing the American dream at the turn of the 20th century.
Limited tickets are available, starting at $45 (fees included).
Comedy
“Audrey Stewart Off Her ADHD Meds”
The Second City New York Blackbox Theater — 64 North 9th St., Brooklyn (Williamsburg)
Sun. Nov. 10, 7 p.m.
Los Angeles-based comedian Audrey Stewart will bring her hourlong set to this year’s New York Comedy Festival at the new Brooklyn outpost of Second City, the Chicago-based sketch comedy and improv institution where Stephen Colbert and Tina Fey trained.
The “Don’t Tell Comedy” star’s show posits that anything can happen when she doesn’t take her medicine for an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Stewart plans to lean “into crowd interactions and games to create a fun, hilarious night for the entire audience.”
Tickets are $20.
Music
WBLS 50th Anniversary Concert Celebration
Prudential Center — 25 Lafayette St., Newark (Downtown)
Fri. Nov. 8, 8 p.m.
WBLS-FM has served the latest and greatest of Black music since 1974, and is celebrating its golden anniversary with a star-studded line-up let by DJ Cassidy for “Pass The Mic Live!”
10-time Grammy-winning Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Chaka Khan is among the headliners at the arena concert, powered by SJ Presents, in collaboration with the Black Promoters Collective.
R&B hitmakers Charlie Wilson, Bobby Brown and Meli’sa Morgan, hip-hop pioneer Roxanne Shante, New York City’s very own SWV and soul newcomer October London are also on the bill.
The station’s legendary DJs Marley Marl, Chuck Chillout and Kool DJ Red Alert will also appear at the event, which WBLS program director Cynthia Smith promises will be “the party of the year.”
Tickets start at $56.
Film
“Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point”
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn — 445 Albee Square West/City Point building, Brooklyn (Downtown)
Opens Fri. Nov. 8. Various times.
One of the first new holiday movies to hit the big screen this year is Tyler Thomas Taormina‘s dramedy about a Long Island clan returning to their family home — possibly one last time.
Michael Cera (“Superbad,” “Juno”) produces and stars in the film, which also includes Ben Shenkman and Francesca Scorsese and Sawyer Spielberg, the offspring of two of Hollywood’s biggest filmmakers.
Tickets are $20.98.
Family
18th Annual Brooklyn Children’s Book Fair
Brooklyn Museum — 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn (Crown Heights)
Sun. Nov. 10, 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Over 40 local authors and illustrators will assemble in the museum’s Beaux-Arts Court for this year’s event, which is considered the largest to date.
The fair will feature readings and book signings, book-related art projects and the chance to browse from a wide selection of literary offerings for kids of all ages.
Social media star Maxine the Fluffy Corgi will also be on deck, alongside presentations from bestseller Lauren Semmer, artist and designer Dan-ah Kim and illustrator John Patrick Green.
Free.
Outdoors
First Annual Fun Run + Community Health Expo
Queens County Farm Museum — 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Queens (Floral Park)
Sat. Nov. 9, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
It’s still warm out this weekend and pumpkins are still in play for the inaugural event aiming to engage children ages 3 to 12. Youngsters participating in two runs will sprint on a course around the farm and receive a medal, water and goody bag. Throughout the day, there will also be workshops and education stations on diabetes awareness, nutrition, mental health and composting.
Free. Registration required.
Shopping
40th Annual Westbeth Flea Market
Westbeth Basement—55 Bethune St., Manhattan (Greenwich Village)
Through Nov. 11. 11a.m. – 5 p.m.
Resident artists of the historic Westbeth housing complex produce this annual fundraiser event peddling one-of-a-kind created or collected items. Proceeds benefit Westbeth’s beautification committee.
“We value the opportunity to recycle things that may otherwise end up in landfills and to donate in a variety of ways to people in need,” Westbeth executive director Peter Madden said. “As we are a community of artists we emphasize the funding of projects that support the artistic endeavors of our residents and strengthen Westbeth’s ties to the larger community.”
Free. Check or cash only for purchases.
If you have an upcoming weekend event you’d like to submit for consideration in an upcoming roundup, please email: [email protected] with the details. Consideration does not guarantee inclusion.
