Monica Lewinsky, now an anti-bullying advocate 20 years after she endured worldwide ridicule when her affair with President Bill Clinton was revealed, will speak at the Westport Arts Center (WAC) next month about bullying, it was announced today.

Monica Lewinsky delivering a March 2015 TED talk, “The Price of Shame.”  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Her appearance on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. coincides with the current WAC exhibit, “MORE Than Words,” which examines the topic of bullying.

VIP tickets for $200, including a reception, are on sale to WAC members today and will be available to the public beginning on Friday, an announcement said. It said the event is closed to the press.

Lewinsky, 43, will speak on “bullying, cyberbullying, resilience and reclaiming your narrative,” the announcement said.

Scenes from tonight’s 2016 Westport Playhouse gala, “The Night They Invented Champagne: Celebrating Lerner & Loewe..” Dave Matlow and J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com and WestportNow.com photos. Performance photos by Steve Walter Photo.

There was a stamding ovation tonight for the Westport Country Playhouse’s 2016 gala, “The Night They Invented Champagne: Celebrating Lerner & Loewe.” Actor Richard Thomas hosted a variety of artists who performed the music of the legendary Broadway composing team. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Jill and Alex Dimitrief of Westport receive the 2016 Playhouse Leadership Award tonight at the Westport Country Playhouse 2016 gala from Barbara K. Streicker (l), chair of the Playhouse board of trustees. Dimitrief, senior vice president and general counsel of GE who joined the Playhouse board of trustees in 2010, told the audience he and his wife were most appreciative of the award and hoped to return often to the Playhouse. He and his wife are moving to Massachusetts where GE has moved its corporate headquarters from Fairfield. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo by Steve Walter Photo

Michael Barker, new Westport Playhouse managing director, and wife Heidi pose at tonight’s Playhouse gala. Anne Keefe, associate artist, made the onstage formal introduction of Barker to the gala audience, noting he was a new Michael, a reference to his predecessor, Michael Ross, who left in June after seven years in the post. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Guests at the 2016 Westport Country Playhouse gala tonight check out some of the auction items available. They included tickets to theater and sporting events, stays at luxury accommodations, and items donated by Westport merchants and residents. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

The Chiara String Quartet performed today at the Westport Arts Center (WAC).  In addition to playing without printed music, the quartet, based in Lincoln, Neb., is also known for performing in a variety of unusual venues, including bars. The group performed a program of Britten, Bartok and Brahms and was complimented by the commentary of chamber music co-curator Alexander Platt. The concert is the first in the 2016-17 WAC Performing Arts concert series. The next chamber music performance will be on Oct. 30 featuring Jenny Lin, a Taiwanese-born American pianist. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Leslie LaSala for WestportNow.com

Workers today prepare the main tent for the Westport Country Playhouse’s annual fundraising gala Monday, “The Night They Invented Champagne: Celebrating Lerner & Loewe.”  It features artists Richard Thomas, host; Britney Coleman, Kristen Hahn, Robert Sean Leonard, Stephen Mark Lukas, Howard McGillin, Ciara Renée, Mary Testa, Richard Troxell, Max von Essen, Nicholas Ward, and members of the New York Theatre Ballet and begins with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Susan Granger

Timed to coincide with the release of Oliver Stone’s docudrama “Snowden,” the American Civil Liberties Union and Amnesty International launched an initiative to get Edward Snowden a presidential pardon from President Obama.

So is whistleblower Snowden a 21st century hero or traitor?

Director Stone (“The Walk,” “World Trade Center”) believes that knowing the backstory of the contractor who leaked classified documents about the National Security Agency’s enormous invasions of privacy will influence your opinion.

If you’ve seen Laura Poitras’ incisive, Oscar-winning documentary “Citizenfour,” you’re familiar with much of Snowden’s tale. Stone’s begins in 2013, when Snowden (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) meets with Poitras (Melissa Leo) and journalists Glenn Greenwald (Zachary Quinto) and Ewan MacAskill (Tom Wilkinson) in a Hong Kong hotel room.