One Night, Three Acts, Eight Bucks

The Island is home to a lot of talent, but if you aren’t much of a barfly, you’d think homegrown musicians fly south for the winter. Tonight at 7 p.m., the Unitarian Universalist Society will turn their chapel into a dancefloor.

In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Movement in honor of black history month will be live-streamed on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center, courtesy of the social action committee and the program committee.

The musical play Bears Beware — Goldilocks Is in Your Town answers the question “What kind of world is it were little girls break into houses that bears own?”

A Howling Good Time

A snowy weekend forecast will find many at home, staying warm and stimulated with a blanket and a movie. But for those ready to brave the elements, Che’s Lounge in Vineyard Haven has got your wintry fix: Adam Howl and a few of his many friends will play the Island’s coziest cafe Saturday night, starting at 7:30 p.m. Chords, choruses, caffeine and a cast-iron pellet stove keep the heat just right for lounge lizards looking for a place to bask into the night. $4 cover; call 774-521-8898 for details.

For those on the Vineyard who have witnessed the past two summer productions from the PigPen Theatre Company you know what it means to be completely transported, body and soul, to, without gilding the lily one bit, a place of imagination so powerful adults have been known to become toddlers on the spot: mute, with finger outstretched and prone to falling down in fits of giggles and wonderment. Kids, well, they simply become transfixed, the feeling so strong they refuse to watch television for weeks afterwards. It just doesn’t compare.

Tisbury School Play

The Tisbury School fourth graders are getting set to take you inside the minds of the ant and grasshopper and also up the beanstalk with dear Jack as he tries to search for his missing cow. The results are not your grandfather’s well-worn fables.

The kids have written the story, built the sets, created the music; heck they have done everything but fill the seats. That’s where you come in.

Poetry Celebration

The Martha’s Vineyard Poets Society presents a Winter Solstice celebration of poetry and song, beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

The evening features twelve poets including Justen Ahren, Ellie Bates, Jill Jupen, Francesca Kelly, Lee McCormack, Clark Myers, Fan Ogilvie, Barbara Peckham, Valerie Sonnenthal, Daniel Waters, William Waterway and Michael West.

As A Witness, a Christmas pageant for the 21st century, will be performed at the Old Whaling Church on Sunday, Dec. 18, and Monday, Dec. 19.

The production features music ranging from medieval carols such as The Angel Gabriel Came Down, and O Come All Ye Faithful to modern gospel music including Rise Up Shepherd and Follow, and He Had Done Great Things for Me.

Minnesingers Concerts

The Martha’s Vineyard High School Minnesingers are coming and, well, the holiday season on the Island wouldn’t be complete without them. Go hear the concert this weekend or go one better and hang out with high schoolers at the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust soiree held tonight, Dec. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House in Edgartown.

The concerts take place at the Old Whaling Church today, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m. and tomorrow, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m.

Chorus Is Community Event

Back in 1996, yes that is now a long time ago, the Island Community Chorus sounded its first note. Since that time the choral group, led by director Peter Boak, has performed year-round on the Island. The group has gained a loyal following and by staying true to its roots as a group open to anyone with no auditions required, it has remained an Island institution.