By Susan Granger

If you read Stephen King’s sprawling eight-novel saga, “The Dark Tower,” which reportedly took more than 30 years to assemble, you may understand what’s happening on-screen. If not, it’s an epic hit-or-miss proposition.

The story begins in earthquake-plagued Manhattan, where teenage Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor) is suffering horrific nightmares following the death of his firefighter father. When his mother (Katheryn Winnick) sends him to an asylum for psychiatric evaluation, he escapes, literally running for his life.

Apparently, Jake has vaguely defined but formidable psychic powers. He feels compelled to document his terrifying, apocalyptic visions in spooky sketches which include a mysterious Man in Black and an impassive hero known as the Gunslinger.

Finding his way to an abandoned house in Brooklyn, Jake stumbles through a portal into a surreal dimension known as Mid-World, where he not only encounters the trench coat-wearing Gunslinger (Idris Elba) but also the demonic Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey).

Independent filmmaker Jonathan Smith is seeking extras for an independent feature film that is shooting in and around Westport. 

‘It’s a really funny wedding comedy and the producers and I are trying to find extras for wedding, reception, party, and restaurant scenes,” said Smith, who lives in Stamford. He said he chose to shoot around Westport because he secured a wedding venue here.

“Since the film is so micro-budget, we can’t pay extras, but they will receive an IMDb credit if they’d like one,” Smith said. “Plus, it’ll be fun.”

He said the film is about a bride who, on April Fool’s Day, pranks her fiancé right before their wedding by telling him that she thinks that they “have lost that spark.”

Brian Reich, a former Westport resident, addressed an overflow Westport Library Large Reading Room audience tonight on the topic of imagination as crafted in his newly released book, “The Imagination Gap.”  Reich, the son of Westport art patron Ann Sheffer, said, “Imagination is our greatest natural resource. It’s what differentiates us from one another. We’re capable of imagining anything.” Citing entrepreneur Elon Musk as the one person most people refer to when asked to name an imaginative person, he said Musk exhibits the profile of successfully imaginative people—“They do not care about the rules”  He added: “Imagination happens when you let it happen.” He encouraged attendees to “unleash your imagination, capture and share ideas, ask questions” and offered this advice: “Stop shutting down other people’s imaginations.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The red and white signs in the window are kind of hard to read sideways, but they say “Burger Lobster,” heralding the opening of Match Burger Lobster at 580 Riverside Ave. in Westport’s Saugatuck area. Offering a new fast casual concept, the new restaurant is in space formerly occupied by Fleishers Craft Kitchen, companion to Fleishers Craft Butchery, which remains. According to Fleishers manager Guy Sealey, the new eatery will open in weeks, will have a few tables for indoor dining, and an outdoor patio in addition to the takeout option. The menu will feature lobster rolls, whole lobsters, a variety of burgers, local Copps Island oysters, Fleishers hot dogs, onion rings, donut milk shakes, wine and beer. Sealey said the new eatery is designed so that patrons can walk through the connection between Match and Fleishers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Sultans of String entertained tonight at the Levitt Pavilion, serving up a mix of gypsy-jazz, Arabic, Flamenco, Celtic and Cuban rhythms. A belly dancer, Ghada Makuch of Norwalk, joined them for part of their performance. She originally is from Beirut, has been dancing since the age of 7, and has belly danced professionally. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

Blues rock country singer Wendy May and the Wendy May Band entertained tonight at the Westport Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts. May has been entertaining audiences at fairs, festivals, clubs, and concerts, for more than 20 years.  She has performed with musical legends such as, Charlie Daniels, Kenny Chesney, Mark Chestnut, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr. Marty Haggard, Hank Thompson, and countless others. Her band was one of two headliners on the program; the other was the Doug Wahlberg Band. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

The Doug Wahlberg Band was part of a two-headline concert tonight at Westport’s Levitt Pavilion – the other was the Wendy May Band. Offering up a unique brand of classic guitar rock and roll numbers, the band has been an audience favorite for years. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

Westport artist Miggs Burroughs was guest announcer tonight at the Levitt Pavilion introducing the double bill of the Wendy May Band and Doug Wahlberg Band. Burroughs knows both artists well. Wahlberg and May were featured in Burroughs’ 2013 music video “What If?,” which was inspired by, and is the musical companion to his book “What If? Book of Questions.” While Wahlberg and May collaborated on the video, they never were in the same place at the same time while working on it, making tonight’s reunion especially notable for Burroughs. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Westport Arts Center (WAC) has announced its new 2017-18 concert series led by curator and Westporter Alexander Platt.

Alexander Platt: coming home to curate concert series. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo by Matthew F. Witchell

WAC has combined its previously distinct jazz and chamber music programs into a singular concert series, an announcement said.

The five concerts will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings between September and May 2018 at the Arts Center.

Platt will serve as a guide for concert attendees, sharing his perspective and insights at each of the performances. He takes over from his twin brother Russell, who has led the programs in recent years.

Terrapin, which calls itself the region’s best Grateful Dead experience, performed at the Levitt Pavilion tonight, enticing many in the audience to get up and dance. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com