UPDATE There was a reunion/homecoming tonight at Westport’s Toquet Hall teen center. Justin Honigstein (l), who goes by the stage name of Honeystone, a 2010 Staples High School, appeared on stage with fellow Staples grads Alan Southworth and Jonathan Foster. Honigstein moved to Chicago to pursue a career in music and came home this weekend for a show in New York City at The Bitter End. In addition to that concert, he set up this event at Toquet Hall and invited the two two other Staples grads to join him. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Mary Brewster, daughter of the late Westport artist Howard Munce, greets Westport artist Neil Hardy today at the Westport Arts Center at a tribute to her father. A Westport resident since 1935 and a spry, ubiquitous presence in town arts circles, Munce died at his Westport home on March 5 at 100.  (See WestportNow March 8, 2016) He was revered as a painter, illustrator, sculptor and writer, as well as a living link to the town’s time-honored arts history. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Scenes from today’s Westport Arts Center tribute to the late Howard Munce, dean of Westport artists. Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Ron Chernow: to be honored May 26.  Contributed photo

The Westport Library said today that its BOOKED for the Evening Thursday, May 26 event honoring Ron Chernow, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of “Alexander Hamilton,” the inspiration for the Broadway hit “Hamilton,” is sold out.

The sell-out is a first in the 18-year history of the event, said Marcia Logan, the library’s spokesperson.

She said while no more tickets are available for the 7 p.m. event, “we are still accepting donations—all proceeds benefit Library programs.”

Chernow won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for biography and the 2011 American History Book Prize for his book, “Washington: A Life.” He published “Alexander Hamilton” in 2004.

The Staples Players production of “The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later” runs Thursday, May 19 through Sunday, May 22. It is about the lasting effects of the 1998 murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard, who was tied to a fence outside Laramie, Wyoming and left to die. Staples Players last spring produced the original play, “The Laramie Project.” Tickets to the play, coo-directed by David Roth and Kerry Long, are available at http://www.staplesplayers.com. Pictured (l-r) are juniors James O’Brien, Jacob Leaf, and Nick Roehm. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Kerry Long photo

ABC has approved a new comedy series about a plump housewife in Westport raising her “flawed” family but has dropped the working title “The Second Fattest Housewife in Westport,” the network announced today.

Katy Mixon: stars as plump Westport housewife. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The series, now known temporarily as “Untitled,” stars Katy Mixon, a lead in the “Mike and Molly” series on CBS since 2010, which was canceled in January.

The network said she stars as Katie Otto, a “confident, unapologetic, plump wife and mother of three, [who] raises her flawed family in the wealthy town of Westport, Conn., filled with ‘perfect’ mommies and their ‘perfect’ offspring.”

It adds: “She lets us in on her deepest, most unfiltered thoughts through voiceover as the she lives her life as the second fattest housewife in Westport.”

By Susan Granger

POW! Crammed with action, “Captain America: Civil War” should really be dubbed “Avengers 2.5,” since it features a plethora of superheroes in conflict with one another.

Responding to public protests after an alarming amount of casualties…a.k.a. collateral damage…caused by their derring-do, Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) proposes the Sokovia Accords, which would limit the vigilantes’ autonomy under international law.

Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) opposes this threat to their independence, joined by his buddy Falcon (Anthony Mackie), plus Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen).

Somewhat surprisingly, Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) accedes to Ross’ proposal, along with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Vision (Paul Bettany) and a newcomer, African Prince T’Challa (Chadwich Boseman)…a.k.a. Black Panther, who will get his own feature film.

UPDATE Connecticut’s congressional delegation today applauded $1,053,800 in grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support several projects in the state, including one in Westport.

In a joint statement, the lawmakers said: “The arts play a vital, valuable role in our communities—enriching our neighborhoods and attracting visitors to experience the rich cultural heritage and modern artistic scene that Connecticut has to offer. These awards are a wise investment, and will encourage many across the state to learn, create, and engage.”

A $25,000 grant went to the Westport Country Playhouse to support a production of Ayad Akhtar’s “The Invisible Hand” with a community engagement initiative.

Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA is an independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts.

The cast of “Art” takes a bow today at its opening performance at the Westport Country Playhouse.  The play, which centers on the controversy between three longtime friends on the artistic merit of a blank white canvas, earned a Tony Award for Best Play in 1998. It is being performed on even-numbered dates, alternating with the play “Red.” Pictured (l-r) are Benton Greene, John Skelley, and Sean Dugan. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com