THEATER: The Sisyphean life of an “emerging” playwright is often confined to a seemingly endless series of play readings, half-baked workshop productions, and audience-feedback bull sessions that often culminate not in a real production but more of the same. Tonight a group of theater people get together to bitch have an exchange about this now-entrenched play development process. The symposium is moderated by Time Out NY theater critic David Cote and features Richard Nelson, Playwright and Chair of the Department of Playwriting at the Yale University School of Drama, playwright/13P co-founder Madeleine George, and dramaturg/theatrical agent Morgan Jenness. - John Del Signore

7:30pm // Studio Theatre, Theatre Row at [410 West 42nd Street] // For reservations, call Sam Levy at 212 279 4040 x 202, or email him at sam@spfnyc.com

READING: Recent interviewee, Neal Pollack, is reading from his new book Alternadad tonight. We highly recommend checking this out, even if you aren't quite a parent yet. (Pollack is pictured, at right, with former Austinist Editor Ben Brown during the calm before a SXSW extravaganza).

7pm // Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction [34 Ave A] // Free

EVENT: Just when we've all put R. Kelly's Trapped in the Closet behind us, it's back. In karaoke form! After screening all 12 chapters of Trapped in the Closet - all of which (with easy sing-a-long lyrics) you can sing along to, you can also enjoy more "classic" R. Kelly videos.

8pm // Galapagos [70 N 6th St, Williamsburg] // $5

MUSIC: The Shins play the Virgin Megastore tonight, sometime around the witching hour. Maybe they'll do some busking in Union Square afterwards? Doubtful. But if you have the time, inclination and trouble sleeping, head over there. However, we are being told there may have been some sort of writstband thing involved, in which case - get your music fill at Stolen Transmission's benefit show - details here.

Shins - 12am // Virgin Megastore, Union Square // Free