In the spirit of the holiday season, Westport resident, Greg Porretta, a graduate of Juilliard School in Drama, tonight portrayed Charles Dickens as he play-read a condensed version of “A Christmas Carol” at the Westport Museum of History and Culture (formerly the Westport Historical Society) where Porretta is a board member. Coincidentally, it was on this date in 1843 that Dickens published the book which he wrote in just six weeks, according to the internet publication, Writer’s Almanac. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport Country Playhouse’s Family Festivities Series will present “Judy Moody & Stink,” produced by ArtsPower National Touring Theatre, on Sunday, Jan. 12, at 1 and 4 p.m.

The show is based on the books “Judy Moody Gets Famous” and “Stink and the All-Time World’s Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers” by Megan McDonald, an announcement said.

Performances are approximately one-hour in length, and appropriate for ages five and up. Tickets are $20 each.

The announcement said “Judy Moody & Stink” are a dynamic sister and brother duo who take the audience on a hilarious adventure. After seeing her classmate’s picture on the front page of the newspaper, Judy wants to be famous and sets off to find fame and happiness.”

Anne Keefe, the popular script in hand play reading series’ founding curator, director and Country Playhouse associate artist, announced to the audience tonight that the Playhouse curator responsibility will expand. Keefe directed nearly 50 script in hand play readings and served as artistic director of the Playhouse with Joanne Woodward in 2008, and as associate artistic director from 2000-2006, also with Woodward. Keefe said that actor Mark Shanahan will join her as co-curator of the series effective at the start of the 2020 season. Shanahan has appeared in many roles on many stages including Broadway, off-Broadway and the Playhouse. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Actors paused today during a rehearsal for tonight’s Westport Country Playhouse script In hand and reading of “Miss Bennet:  Christmas at Pemberley,” the romantic comedy sequel to Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. The reading will be directed by Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist and curator of the play reading series. According to organizers the one-time performance is “nearly sold out.” Pictured: (seated, l-r) – Allison Altman, Elizabeth Stahlmann, Kristen Hahn and Rebekah Brockman; (standing, l-r) Anne Keefe, series curator and director, Joe Delafield, Max von Essen, Brenda Meaney, Carson Elrod and Alexandra Rappaport, stage directions. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Susan Granger

Jake Kasdan strikes gold again with “Jumanji: The Next Level,” continuing family-friendly fantasy he introduced in “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” (2017), in which four teenagers get sucked into playing a mysterious video game in which they ‘become’ intrepid explorers.

It’s now a year later, and Spencer (Alex Wolff) is coming home from college in New York to visit his family and friends over winter break. Feeling anxious and awkward, he once again turns to the magical game, hoping to assume to confident persona of Dr. Smoulder Bravestone (Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson).

But the game has a different twist. Suddenly, Spencer’s grouchy Grandpa Eddie (Danny DeVito) becomes muscle-bound Bravestone and Eddie’s estranged pal/ former business partner Milo (Danny Glover) turns into genial “Mouse” Finbar (Kevin Hart), the zoologist

Spencer’s friends also assume their avatars. While Martha (Morgan Turner) again plays Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan), football star Fridge (Ser‘Darius Blain) becomes portly cartographer Prof. Shelly Oberon (Jack Black), while bubbly Bethany (Madison Iseman) is somehow left behind, temporarily.

Today’s afternoon performance of the 79th Staples Candlelight Concert ends with Staples graduates joining in the Hallelujah Chorus from “The Messiah.” The final concert is at 8 p.m. today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo