Pencil This In

DISCUSSION: Tonight Dirty Dancing author Eleanor Bergstein will discuss the similarities between Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and her own masterpiece, which starred Patrick Swayze. Shakespearian scholars will be in attendence to agree or, most likely, refute the argument. This discussion may have been a bit more relevant in, say, 1987 - when the film came out.

7:30pm // National Arts Club [15 Gramercy Park South] // Free

THEATER: The No Frills Company, which is dedicated to nurturing a collaborative theatre environment for women of all ages, continues its Monday night reading series. Tonight’s play is Twigs by George Furth, starring Anne Pitoniak, Cynthia Darlow, Sarah Baker, Sue Brady, John FitzGibbon, Matte Osian, Joel Leffert, and Kenneth Boys. “It's the day before Thanksgiving back in the time of disco and orange appliances, and three sisters and their mother are making their various preparations. Through their established rituals and chance encounters, the audience gets a peek into how four women hewn from the same wood have been shaped by the forces in their varying surroundings.” - John Del Signore

8pm // Cherry Lane Theatre [38 Commerce Street] // Tickets are $15

MUSIC: Small Sins (pictured) and The Little Ones are over at Mercury Lounge tonight. Small Sins are just off a tour with Scissor Sisters, and really...deep down, it's just a guy and a drum machine creating some lo-fi electro goodness (listen here).

Listen: Lovers Who Uncover.mp3 - The Little Ones

7pm // Mercury Lounge [Houston at Essex] // $10

Meanwhile, over in Brooklyn, My Brightest Diamond, Pedestrian and papercranes are at Northsix. The latter, papercranes, is led by Joaquin Phoenix's sister, Rain. We caught her band recently at Sin-e, beautiful voice and mellow tunes. Very indie easy-listening, if you will. You can listen here.

8pm // Northsix [66 North 6th St, Williamsburg] // $12