‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ creator at Mount Holyoke College

John Cameron Mitchell, the writer, director and star of the movie musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” will take part in a screening and discussion of the movie at Mount Holyoke College’s Gamble Auditorium on Monday, March 10, at 5 p.m.

The musical is about a rock singer who undergoes sex reassignment surgery to be able to leave East Germany, but the surgery is botched, leaving her with an “angry inch.” After she teaches a teenager how to play music, he becomes a wildly successful rock star — albeit because he stole her songs.

The event is free and open to the public.

‘Fairy Tales and Magic in Opera’

The University of Massachusetts Amherst Opera and Symphony Orchestra will join forces for “Fairy Tales and Magic in Opera” on Sunday, March 9, and 3:30 p.m. in Tillis Hall at UMass.

The event will feature excerpts and arias from “The Magic Flute,” “Don Giovanni,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Rusalka,” “Turandot,” and two different operas about the Cinderella story, “La Cenerentola” and “Cendrillon.” The orchestra will also play the “Overture” from “Hansel and Gretel,” the “Entr’acte” from “Carmen,” and “Méditation” from “Thaïs.”

The concert is meant to be accessible to people who are less familiar with opera.

Conductor Gonzalo Hidalgo Ardila said in a statement, “I tell my classes that at that time, the opera was like the cinema — the way people enjoyed their time was seeing the opera. Now, people think the opera is for only a small group. But it’s for everybody. This is the idea of this concert. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know anything about the opera — when you listen to the music, you’re going to recognize many of these melodies from movies, TV, commercials. Come, enjoy the show, enjoy the feeling and spend a few hours listening and seeing this beautiful show that we have for everybody.”

Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for seniors, youth, staff, and non-UMass students, or free for full-time UMass students with ID via fac.umass.edu or by calling 413-545-2511.

Sean Mason Quartet at The Drake

Grammy Award-nominated pianist Sean Mason will be performing at The Drake in Amherst on Wednesday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m.

A Juilliard alumnus who taught himself to play piano by ear at the age of 13, Mason is “a generational talent whose unique voice in jazz is steeped in the sound of the South, allowing an extended time for groove while also displaying his considerable talent as a composer,” according to a press release.

The Northampton Jazz Festival is bringing Mason to the Drake as a new initiative to sponsor year-round jazz programming outside of the festival itself, which is in September. Tickets are $30 in advance (via northamptonjazzfest.org/sean-mason-quartet) and $35 at the door.

Learn about publishing books

Author Dennis Sweeney, an Amherst College professor, will read from his new book, “How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses,” at Amherst Books today (Thursday, March 6) at 6 p.m.

He will be joined by poets Yona Harvey and Zoe Tuck, who will read from their own work as well.

The event will be an opportunity for people to hear stories shared by the three writers, who will talk about the process of submitting their work and take questions from attendees.

Pizza and cake will be served following the talk.

Sculpture and installation artists wanted

Art in the Orchard is looking for artists to create works for its eighth biennial exhibition, which will be at Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton from Saturday, Aug. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 30.

According to its Call for Entries guidelines, Art in the Orchard is looking for “sculptures that resonate with our public during these challenging times; such as those containing the concepts of Community and face-to-face interaction and those that elicit emotional responses.”

“Nothing is off the table and we stand ready to work with the artists to move, create and install great concepts,” the guidelines said.

Each artist will receive a $750 honorarium, and some artists may be able to get a residency in July if necessary to create their work. Art in the Orchard expects that 30,000 guests will come through the space to view the art.

For more information or to apply, visit artintheorchard.org/apply. Applications are due Tuesday, April 1, and applicants will be notified on Sunday, April 20.

Audition for ‘A Walk in the Woods’

Shutesbury theater company Valley Players is looking for two actors of any gender for its upcoming production of “A Walk in the Woods.” One must be in their 30s-50s; the other must be in their 50s-70s and able to do a Russian accent.

According to a press release, “‘A Walk in the Woods’ takes place in the 1980s and follows the evolution of the personal and professional relationship between two nuclear disarmament negotiators — a Russian and an American — who meet at a bench in the woods outside Geneva over the course of a year. [Playwright Lee] Blessing’s drama is a witty, moving, tightly scripted exploration of conflict and coexistence, dialogue and diplomacy, and the critical role that reaching out and building personal relationships plays on the path to peace.”

Auditions will be at the Bangs Community Center in Amherst on Monday, March 24, and Wednesday, March 26, from 7 to 9 p.m.

The show will run the weekends of June 20-29 at First Church in Amherst.

The company is also looking for a stage manager, lighting designer, costume designer, and house manager. If interested, email info@valleyplayers.org with a resume or a description of your experience.

This is a volunteer opportunity, but cast and crew members receive complimentary tickets.

To book your appointment slot or for more information, visit valleyplayers.org.

1970s-themed party for adults

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst will host a 21-and-over 1970s-themed party on Friday, March 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. The party will be themed around the museum’s exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of “Free to Be … You and Me,” the hit Marlo Thomas album about defying gender stereotypes that inspired books and TV specials.

There will be drinks and refreshments and a “Free to Be” singalong with pianist Joshua Sitron and vocalist Myka Plunkett at 7 p.m.

At 8 p.m., guests can join a dance party, take part in a costume contest (bring your 1970s attire), and sing karaoke with piano accompaniment.

To learn more about the “Free to Be” exhibition, visit carlemuseum.org.

Tickets are $20 for members or $25 general admission via Eventbrite.