PICK OF THE DAY
Is it the wine, the food, or the boredom that causes a bunch of privileged suburban friends to start uncorking their secrets at a dinner party? The reasons are complex, but the consequences are evident in Steven Dietz's new black comedy "Rancho Mirage." New Repertory Theatre participates in the National New Play Network's rolling world premiere of the play, which will also be produced in Maryland, Indiana, and Colorado. Robert Walsh directs. Oct. 12, 8 p.m. Oct. 13, 2 p.m. Spotlight Symposium with playwright in attendance Oct. 13, 4:30 p.m. Through Nov. 3. $28-$60. Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown. 617-923-8487, www.newrep.org
THURSDAY
Village feuds The Dani people of New Guinea alternate between everyday life and war with rival villages in filmmaker Robert Gardner’s 1960s flick “Dead Birds.” “Dead Birds: A 50th Anniversary Celebration” features a screening of the movie (Thursday), and a showing of its 2013 follow-up, “Dead Birds Re-encountered,” followed by a discussion with Gardner (Friday). Oct. 10-11, 7 p.m. Free. Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge. 617-495-4700, hcl.harvard.edu/hfa
It makes the world go ’round Who and what is to blame for today’s economic divide? In “Money & Power: A Debate” former New York Times journalist Hedrick Smith and Yaron Brook of the Ayn Rand Institute offer different viewpoints. Rachael Cobb moderates the Ford Hall Forum discussion. Oct. 10, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Modern Theatre, 525 Washington St., Boston. 617-557-2007. www.fordhallforum.org
The hands have it It’s not eye contact, but hand contact that a woman nearing the end of her life remembers about her first love, a boy she brushed fingers with when she was only 12. ArtsEmerson: The World on Stage presents “Kiss & Cry,” an interdisciplinary performance incorporating text, theater, dance, and film by Belgian artists. Oct. 10, 7 p.m. Oct. 11-12, 8 p.m. $25-$89. The Cutler Majestic Theatre, 219 Tremont St., Boston. 617-824-8400, www.artsemerson.org
FRIDAY
In the making The RISD Museum gathers more than 100 works from its collection showing how American ambitions are reflected in the history of American art. “Making It in America” features paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts from pre-Revolutionary times to the 20th century. Oct. 11-Feb. 9. Tues-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., until 9 p.m. Thursdays. (Reception Oct. 10, 5:30-
8 p.m.). $12, $10 seniors, $5 students, $3 ages 5-18. Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, 224 Benefit St., Providence. 401-454-6500, www.risdmuseum.org
SATURDAY
Good afternoon, moon Celebrate International Observe the Moon Night at Moonapalooza. Astronomers of all ages are invited to hear a presentation about the moon, see it through telescopes, participate in a moon trivia contest, and eat a Moon Pie. Oct. 12, 7 p.m. Free. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St., Cambridge. 617-495-7461, www.cfa.harvard.edu
Red carpet rollout Last May, artist Danielle Festa set up a red carpet in Somerville’s Union Square and invited passersby to be photographed on it. She’s since turned some of those pictures into mixed-media fabric paintings. They’ll be on display at “Who Are You Wearing: An Outdoor Exhibition of Street Fashion Paintings.” The event also features music and hors
d’oeuvres. Oct. 12, 2-5 p.m. Free. Union Square Plaza, Somerville. www.daniellefesta.com
