Abstract artist Bill Jacklin (l), an “Englishman in New York” since 1985 who now lives in Westport, got together Tuesday night at Manhattan’s Rizzoli Bookstore with legendary musician Sting, a fellow Englishman, at a packed launch party for Jacklin’s new book,”Bill Jacklin in New York.” Sting, who is an avid collector of Jacklin’s work, wrote the foreword to the book. He and jazz trumpeter Chris Botti performed a “musical toast” to the artist that included a stirring performance of Sting’s hit “Englishman in New York.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Miggs Burroughs for WestportNow.com

The Westport Community Theatre presents “Godspell” from June 3 through June 26, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on Sundays, with Thursday performances on June 9 and June 16 at 8 p.m. A musical by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John-Michael Tebelak, “Godspell” opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival which played on Broadway from Oct. 13, 2011, to June 24, 2012. Tickets are $28, $26 for seniors and students, and can be purchased at westportcommunitytheatre.com or by calling (203) 226-1983. The Westport Community Theatre is located at the Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Ave. Pictured (front row l-r): Betzabeth Castro, Caitlin Brown, Jessica Braun, Norris Wakefield (Jesus), Rosalind Cormier, Tyler Campbell, Katherine Logan (back row): Dena Lagonigro, Bill Warncke (Judas), Rob Pawlikowski, and Emily Beers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

An historic 1937 Steinway that was the house piano at the Village Gate in New York City for many years Thursday inaugurated the second year of live jazz at Restaurant 323, 323 Main St., produced by Richard Epstein and Ina Chadwick. Rabbi Greg Wall of Westport, artistic director and sax player, teamed up with Chris Coogan to play two sets of hot music to a full house. Pianists Frederic Chiu, Joe Utterback, and Marco Scott also had chances to try out the instrument. The piano was crowd-funded and fundraising is still underway with the intent of forming a nonprofit devoted to live jazz performance and education in Fairfield County. 323 Jazz Club is ongoing from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. every Thursday night, and an upcoming program will also feature singer Melissa Newman of Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Scenes from tonight’s Art About Town opening night street party sponsored by the Westport Downtown Merchants Association.. J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com and WestportNow photos

The Westport Downtown Merchants Association today launched its month-long Art About Town with an opening night street party on Main Street. During the event, local art will be on display in local stores for purchase. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Scenes and stories of Cuba, off limits to Americans for decades, are set to come to life as photojournalist Cynthia Carris Alonso reads from her book, “Passage to Cuba: An Up-Close Look at the World’s Most Colorful Culture” on Saturday, June 4, at 3 p.m. in the Westport Library’s McManus Room.

With access few other have had, Alonso spent 20 years in Cuba, choreographing the starkly different worlds on the island nation, the luxurious realm where foreigners flock, and the unseen corners where ordinary citizens make due.

As an American journalist and member of a Cuban family by marriage, Alonso has enjoyed rare access to the country, event planners said. She has photographed for Newsweek, Vanity Fair, Business Week and Time.com and has exhibited her photographs in the United States, Canada and Latin America.

Library officials said books will be available for purchase and signing at the program, which is free and open to the public.

Legendary sportswriter Frank Deford—a former, longtime Westporter, the author of 19 books, an NPR “Morning Edition” commentator and the man the San Francisco Chronicle dubbed “the Sinatra of sportswriting” —is set to read from his latest work at the Westport Library on Wesdnesday, June 8, at 7 p.m.

Frank Deford: former Westporter. Bruce Plotkin photo

Publicists say his newest book “I’d Know That Voice Anywhere” collects the best of his writing, creating a wide-ranging look at athletes and the world of sports.

As a journalist, Deford has won the National Magazine Award for profiles, has been elected to the Hall of Fame of the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters and has been voted by his peers as U.S. Sportswriter of the Year six times.

For his radio and TV work, Deford has won both an Emmy and a George Foster Peabody Award.