Harry Connick Jr. Does ‘Your Songs’ at Foxwoods

No corner of the American entertainment scene is shut off to Harry Connick Jr. He is an award-winning singer, composer, pianist, arranger and actor. On Friday, April 22, at 8 p.m., he and his orchestra will perform at the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods.

In recent years, Connick has written a Broadway score, patented computer technology for the performance of orchestral music and created the character Leo on NBC-TV’s “Will and Grace.” His honors include multi-platinum and gold albums, Grammy and Emmy awards, and a starring role in a Tony-winning Broadway musical.

At Foxwoods, Connick and Co. will perform from his latest album, “Your Songs,” and undoubtedly from his rich trove of others.

Tickets are $65-90. For information, call 1-800-200-2882 or visit the Foxwoods Web site.

Songbook Duo to Rock the Meetinghouse

The creators of the best-selling songbook, Rise Up Singing, blessed by Baez and Seeger, will perform Saturday, April 23, at the Storrs Friends Quaker Meetinghouse. Annie Patterson and Peter Blood return to this venue to bring an eclectic mix from Broadway, the Beatles, camp songs, carols, gospel and more, accompanied by guitar, banjo, mandolin, auto harp, African drum and penny whistle. 

The songbook has sold more than a half million copies since it hit the scene a decade ago. Pete Seeger, the beloved folk singer now in his 90s, said, “I waited a long time for a songbook like this one to come along and catch fire!” Joan Baez called the book “a true treasure.”

The concert, open to all ages, begins at 7 p.m. at the meetinghouse on the corner of Hunting Lodge and North Eagleville roads. A free-will donation of $10 is suggested.

Exhibits on Nursing and Dying at Benton

The William Benton Museum of Art at UConn has opened two spring exhibits about nursing and end of life, running through May 8.

The first one is “The Art of Nursing: Posters and Prints from the University of Connecticut School of Nursing” and is timed to honor Josephine Dolan, the first professor of the School of Nursing and collector of these works. The exhibit coincides with the groundbreaking for the new Widmer Wing at the school. Works include World War I and II posters used to rally volunteers to the patriotic call of nursing, with art by James Montgomery Flagg, Norman Rockwell, N.C. Wyeth and Howard Chandler Christy.

The second exhibit, “The End of Life: A Multicultural Interdisciplinary Experience,” was created in support of a nursing school course of the same name, taught by Thomas L. Long, associate professor-in-residence.

The Benton is open daily except Monday. For information, visit the Benton’s Web site.

Calling Young Wildlife Artists

Artists ages 6 to 10 are encouraged to give into their wild side in a sketch class with live animals as the subjects Wednesday, April 27, at Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester.

Promising wildlife artists may follow in the brush strokes of Audubon, Rousseau and other masters as they draw animal likenesses and then turn them into colorful masterworks. The class starts at 4 p.m. and costs $13 for museum members, $15 for non-members. Call 860-643-0949 to register.

An Open Forum for Artists

Artists in all categories are invited to join an Open Artist Forum Monday, April 25, at Mitchell’s Restaurant in Rockville. Visual artists, performers, musicians, writers, poets and others in the field of art can participate in an evening of conversation, networking and even “show and tell” of sample work after the 7-9 p.m. proceedings. The restaurant is at 1237 Hartford Turnpike, in the Rockville section of Vernon. Complimentary snacks and beverages will be on hand. For information, e-mail Vernonarts@comcast.net.