readings

MICHAEL ALBERT. Albert reads from and discusses his new book PARECON: Life After Capitaliasm at Harvard Bookstore’s Friday Forum. The book suggests that an alternative economic system, “Participatory Economics,” which purportedly gives the average citzen more control over his own life, might be the solution to world poverty. Friday, April 25 at 3 p.m. Free. Harvard Bookstore, 1256 Massachusetts Avenue. (617) 222-3200. (MSH)

JILL McCORKLE. McCorkle, whose writing has been compared to the best of Truman Capote and Flannery O’Connor, will read from her new book Creatures of Habit, a collection of 12 interconnected short stories set in North Carolina. Taken together, the stories mimic the arc of a single person’s life. The title refers to two types of characters: animals with human qualities and humans with animal qualities, which McCorkle uses to expose subtle human failures and victories. Monday, April 28 at 7 p.m. Free. Wordsworth Books, 30 Brattle Street. (617) 354-5201. (MSH)

culture

SOUTHEAST ASIAN NIGHT. Hosted by The Harvard Vietnamese Association, Philipine Forum, Thai Society, Indonesian Association, and The Singaporean and Malaysian Student Association, SEA night promises a fifteen-course meal representing all nationalities involved and a slew of performaces including a Dragon Dance, Filipino Tinikling, and “Romantic Serenades.” Special to this year’s event is an exhibition of works by photographer Jacques de Roquancourt depicting the landscapes and people of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Friday, April 25, exhibition at 7:30, dinner and performances beginning at 8:30. $8. Exhibition in Leverett House Junior Common Room, dinner and performaces in Leverett House Dining Hall. (MSH)

PRESENCIA LATINA. Harvard’s First Annual Latino and Latin American cultural show will bring dance, musical acts and short skits to demonstrate the complexity and influence of Latin American artistic culture. Both celebrating traditional dance, and questioning its accepted formulas, the show will attempt to deconstruct popular stereotypes of Latino culture, providing an entertaining and educational experience for viewers. Friday, April 25 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets $10 regular, $7 student, available at the Harvard Box Office or by phone (617) 496-2222. Lowell Lecture Hall, 17 Kirkland Street. (LAA)

visuals

GONESVILLE, or THE DISAPPEARING CITY. This exhibit in the Three Columns Gallery features photography by Martin Berenstein and sculpture by Christopher Frost. The collaborative installation explores the Boston neighborhood of Fort Point, which is rapidly changing due to gentrification and development, in two media photographs and wood. There will be an opening on Friday, April 11 at 6 p.m, followed by a talk and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Through April 27. Free. Three Columns Gallery, Mather House, 10 Cowperthwaite St., Cambridge. (ABM)

ALPHABETICS. This exhibit at the Amy Lowell Room in the Houghton Library features various historical artistic representations of different alphabets throughout the world. Works include a Medieval illustrated Bible, an early 18th century Russian alphabetic book and an early Latin translation of the Qu’ran. Through April 30. Amy Lowell Room, Houghton Library. For details, call Hope Mayo at (617) 495-2444. (MC)

THE COLOR YELLOW: BEAUFORD DELANEY. The exhibit, which is the first retrospective of an African-American artist at a Harvard University museum, is also Delaney’s first retrospective since he passed away in 1979. It features 26 highly textured, vibrant paintings by the underappreciated 20th-century African-American expatriate artist, most of which are dominated by warm, vivid shades of yellow See full story in the Feb. 28 Arts section. Through May 4. Hours: Mondays through Saturdays, 10 to 5 p.m.; Sundays 1 to 5 p.m. Free. Sert Gallery, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St., (617) 495-9400. (CWP)

IMAGE AND EMPIRE: PICTURING INDIA DURING THE COLONIAL ERA. The exhibit features about 50 different works of art that capture different views of colonial India. The paintings, decorative objects, figurines, photographs and sketches not only document the colonial era (17th-20th centuries) in India, but also demonstrate the cross-pollination between British and Indian artistic traditions. See full story in the Feb. 7 Arts section. Through May 25. Hours: Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. $6.50, $5 students/seniors, free for Harvard ID holders, Cambridge Public Library card holders and to people under 18. Group rates available. Sackler Museum, 485 Broadway, (617) 495-9400 (CWP)

BUDDHIST ART: THE LATER TRADITION. This comprehensive exhibit at the Sackler of Buddhist art from China, Korea, Japan, Tibet and India spans more than a thousand years. Surveying the transmission of Buddhism throughout East Asia from the 10th through the 18th centuries, the exhibit feature 72 pieces, including scroll paintings, Buddhist “sutras” or sacred texts, Chinese censers and Tibetan bell handles. See full story in the Feb. 14 Arts section. Through Sept. 7. Hours: Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. $6.50, $5 students/seniors, free for Harvard ID holders, Cambridge Public Library card holders and to people under 18. Group rates available. Sackler Museum, 485 Broadway, (617) 495-9400. (CWP)

theater

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM. “Something for everyone, a comedy tonight!” Cabot House Musical Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim’s irreverant farce, widely regarded as one of the funniest musicals of all time. Inspired by Plautus’s “The Menaechmi,” which was presented by the Harvard Classical Club last month, “Forum” goes back to the very start of drama to utterly disparage it. The plot is simple: a slave seeking his freedom helps his young master get the girl of his dreams. Then a courtesan house, a bloodthirsty tyrant, Rome’s version of Mr. Magoo and a slew of other characters get thrown into the mix, resulting in a laugh-fest with hints of vaudeville that would probably make Ovid roll in his grave. But modern-day audiences have adored it. Through Saturday, April 26, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8.pm. Tickets $5 are available through the Harvard Box Office (617) 496-2222. Cabot House Junior Common Room, 100 Walker St. (JJH)

FARCE OF HABIT. The Adams House Drama Society presents “Farce of Habit: The Boor Hug” and “The Castrata.” In the former, Casimir’s attempts to dump his mistress are blocked at every turn by his well-meaning but dimwitted German servant who manages to keep the “lovebirds” together, thus innocently making a mess of his employer’s love life. “The Castrata” plunges the conceited composer Pizzicato into the Roman world of intriguing cardinals Di Gorgonzola and Manicotti, with a handsome prince and a cross-dressing, would-be castrato thrown in, to thoroughly complicate matters both musical and romantic. Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27. 8 p.m. Tickets $5, $4 students, $4 seniors, $3 Adams House residents, available through the Harvard Box Office (617) 496-2222. Adams House Pool Theater, 13 Bow St. (TIH)