Vocalist Shiri Zorn brings her acclaimed project, The Breath Between, to the Bedford Playhouse this October. DownBeat Magazine has praised her voice as "cool, calm, and cerebral," noting its "pure tone and scalpel-like precision," the perfect instrument for a concert where, as Zorn puts it, the unexpected is to be expected. The evening finds American Songbook classics reimagined through the lens of Middle Eastern influence and Brazilian rhythm, with Zorn's intercultural phrasing guiding the trio into new territory on familiar ground. Joining her are two extraordinary collaborators: pianist Matt King, winner of the Great American Jazz Piano Competition and a Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition semi-finalist, whose own recordings have fused the music of Monk with the pulse of Brazilian rhythm, and percussionist Brian Melick, an Eddies Hall of Fame inductee with over 450 recording credits, whose hand-crafted instruments bring texture and depth to every performance. Together, this trio builds a space for deep listening and unexpected connection. Come find stillness in the music, lose track of time, and lean into the profound.

This is a free event!

Welcome to Rippowam Cisqua School!

RCS is an independent school in Bedford, NY, serving students from Junior Pre-K through Grade 8. Our immersive, hands-on curriculum empowers children to grow as independent thinkers, confident communicators, and engaged leaders.

Join us for our Fall Admissions Open House
Friday, October 16 | 9:15 a.m.

Rippowam Cisqua School

439 Cantitoe Street

Bedford, NY 10506

No Country for Mothers is a documentary investigation into the lies used throughout history to distract and divide American mothers. The film opens on a simple truth: motherhood in America is impossible by design. Work ends at 6, but school pickup is at 3. Child care costs more than a paycheck. Some moms are back at work two weeks after giving birth. Moms aren't broken. The system is. So why hasn't it changed? Because every time mothers get close to fixing it, someone hands them a culture war instead. Tradwife versus girlboss. Working mom versus stay-at-home mom. It's the same fight on repeat since the 1950s, just in new costumes. And it works, because the worst thing you can accuse a woman of is being a bad mother. So moms take the bait. They spend their energy defending their choices instead of demanding better ones. And while they fight each other, nothing changes. No Country for Mothers traces that struggle through American history and travels the country to hear from the moms actually living it. Most don't want to milk a cow or hustle past their kids' bedtimes. They're just trying to get through the week without a sick kid or a broken car blowing up the budget.

Join us at oHHo The Old Firehouse for a night of trivia hosted by Rock Paper Scissors Custom Events!

Play solo or gather a team and put your knowledge to the test with questions covering movies, music, pop culture, history, geography, and more.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase throughout the night!

This fall, as part of our Future of Education (FES) lecture series, we are excited to host Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, bestselling authors, educators, and co-founders of Less Awkward. Together, they host the popular podcast This Is So Awkward and co-authored the national bestselling book This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained.

They are also the authors of That Health Class, a science-backed health and wellness curriculum being launched this year at RCS. Research tells us that school health education reduces health-risk behaviors, fosters better academic outcomes, and helps establish healthy behavior patterns that young people can carry into adulthood. It’s hard to find two people who love their jobs more — the original architects of the modern puberty conversation who changed the way we talk about growing up. They’ve built the most joyful, science-based solution for the most transformative stage of life.

So mark your calendars, grab your friends, and join us for an evening of education and laughter!

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. 250 years after they were written, these words remain at once familiar and startling. What do they mean to us today? Do we understand them in the same way the Founders did? Historian and former presidential speechwriter Ted Widmer seeks to answer these questions by returning to where the nation’s story began, the Declaration of Independence, to trace the remarkable history of how it came to be and how it has shaped the democratic aspirations of Americans and other peoples for more than two centuries. Weaving together more than sixty fascinating original texts, in The Living Declaration, Widmer finds in the words of succeeding generations of Americans—radicals and conservatives, revolutionary insurgents and civil rights leaders, presidents and philosophers—the key to understanding the extraordinary durability of America’s founding ideas. Moderated by Playhouse Founder John Farr.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary! "Casino Royale" marks Daniel Craig's first appearance as the legendary James Bond at the start of his career, having just earned 00 status and his licence to kill. His target: the ruthless terrorist financier known as Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen). From the jungles of Madagascar to the beaches of the Bahamas, Bond's pursuit of Le Chiffre leads to a showdown in a high-stakes poker game at the luxurious Casino Royale in Montenego, and to a jaw-dropping finale on the Grand Canal in Venice.

Join us for a meet-and-greet with Susan Bauerfeld and Chris Parrott, authors of Base Camp Parenting: Worry Less to Help Your Kids More—a must-read for parents who want to worry less, step back, and help their kids grow with more confidence and independence.

Copies of their book (releasing on 10/1) will be available for purchase, and light refreshments will be served.

A great movie soundtrack can make all the difference. In this series, Rob Cavenagh guides you through the music that makes movies memorable.

Smart, funny, sickly and sometimes just plain unconscious, Mark Renton is a hero for our times. Set in an underbelly of Edinburgh the city fathers never dreamed of, TRAINSPOTTING is the story of Mark and his so-called friends – a bunch of losers, liars, psychos, thieves and junkies. Hilarious but harrowing, the film charts the disintegration of their friendship as they proceed, seemingly inevitably, towards self-destruction. Mark alone has the insight and opportunity to escape his fate – but then again, does he really want to ‘choose life’?

Rob Cavenagh is a Bedford resident since 2000, a lifelong music fan, record collector, musician and self-described soundtrack nerd. An ad agency guy by profession, he spent his college years working in a record store and then making music videos (back when that was a thing) for Atlantic Records in the 1990s. When not on his bike, you can usually find him playing locally with his band Ask Your Mom.

Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) doesn't expect much when she moves to the small town of Forks, Washington, until she meets the mysterious and handsome Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) - a boy who's hiding a dark secret: he's a vampire. As their worlds and hearts collide, Edward must battle the bloodlust raging inside him as well as a coterie of undead that would make Bella their prey. Based on the #1 New York Times best-selling sensation by Stephanie Meyer, Twilight adds a dangerous twist to the classic story of star-crossed lovers.

This five-star comedy, performed by Bedford’s own Lily Edwards, parodies the romantasy genre while exploring the seductive pull of escapism.

Premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2025 to critical acclaim—including a nomination for the BoP Theatre Excellence Award—Of Fire and Flame has toured the UK with performances at Theatre503 in London and Northern Stage in Newcastle.

Fantasy romance. Brooding fae warriors. Enemies to lovers. Formulaic titles. Anne knows the genre inside and out. She crafts her own elaborate romantasy daydream where she is kidnapped by Dragomir, a dangerously powerful, ridiculously attractive fae, and is conscripted into battle against the Wraiths. It’s absurd. It’s dramatic. And it’s easier than facing the chronic pain consuming her real life. But as Anne’s fantasy begins to take over, she must find the courage to fight for herself in the real world.

Performed by Lily Edwards, “a magnetic powerhouse in this solo turn,” (Neurodiverse review) and written by Emma Zetterberg, “electric and achingly funny” (AdventuresinTheatreland).

We’re thrilled to welcome New York Times bestselling author Jane Green to Bedford Books!

She’ll be in conversation with Michelle Garside about her new novel, The Many Private Lives of Missy Cooke, and her recently released memoir Rewilding.

Copies of both books will be available for sale and signing, and light refreshments will be served.

Ticket price includes a $20 shopping credit to use at the event.

An American soldier struggling to make sense of civilian life is confronted with the complexities of gun violence in his Hometown. A Q&A with writer/director Aaron Davidman follows the film.

Some things are too heavy to carry in your head and heart. Writing helps us give shape to what feels tangled, find language for what has been hard to say, and gently move emotion through the body instead of holding it there.

Join Barri Leiner Grant, author, certified coach and founder of The Memory Circle, for a guided writing experience. This is designed for anyone navigating grief, change, or life’s harder seasons. No writing experience is needed. You don’t have to be “good” at writing. You simply have to be willing to show up with curiosity.

Through thoughtfully crafted prompts, gentle reflection, and a supportive community, you’ll discover how putting pen to paper can help you process what hurts, reconnect with yourself, and make space for healing.

Come as you are. Leave with lighter shoulders, a fuller page, and the reminder that your story and words matter.

Bring pen and journal or buy one at the shop.

Limited to 12 participants.

Theatre Revolution invites you to celebrate 10 years of bringing theatre, film and connection to the Hudson Valley and beyond! TR has been connecting Hudson Valley Artists to each other and presenting plays and films for 10 years and it's time to celebrate! Join us for an afternoon of some of Theatre Revolution's favorite films, plays and musicians that they have presented over the years (a full list can be found on their website: www.theatrerevolution.org) .

Then hang out for refreshments after the show!

Grandpa Moses is ready to rock. They are a mix of talent from the Fairfield/Westchester Counties playing classic rock, indie, and covers from the '60's through today.

Show begins at 6:30pm.
Admission is free, no reservation required.

We know climate change is bad for the planet. But in what ways is it bad for our health? And how can we protect the places and people we love? On October 1st, Emmy-winning journalist and author David Pogue will get the scoop from three experts on climate and health: Dr. Sandra Steingraber, a scientist who’s tracked the line from fossil fuels to cancer, Dr. Amy Brown, a pediatrician who prioritizes protecting our children’s developing lungs from bad air quality, and Jack Algiere, an agroecologist who restores human health and soil through regenerative farming. It’s time for a conversation that will change the way you think about one of the defining issues of our time. Climate change is not just an environmental issue—it’s a public health crisis. Learn what we can do now to protect the health of our families, community, and planet. Reserve your seat for an evening exploring the link between climate and human health. Plus, all guests receive a locally made tote (designed by multidisciplinary artist and Bedford 2030’s Communications Director, Harmony Dixon), an intimate in-person look at our silent auction, and hors d'oeuvres.

Join artist Jeremy Houghton for a conversation about his work and career with a reception in the Playhouse Café at 6:30pm before the program. Over the past two decades, Houghton has served as artist-in-residence in extraordinary settings including Windsor Castle, Wimbledon, and the Olympic Games. His paintings distill movement, atmosphere, and presence through a process of reduction, revealing more by showing less. From intimate portraits to his vibrant studies of flamingos, Houghton's work explores perception, experience, and the power of suggestion across a wide range of subjects.

A book club for men. (Because they read, too.)

Bourbon included.

Join us for the Not-Quite-Inaugural Second Semi-Annual meeting of MAN ALSO READ BOOK.

A note from your host, Alec Guettel:
This event is an opportunity to prove to a skeptical world that men actually do read books! Sometimes! And we will prove it by each sharing a short description of a book or two we particularly loved. We will leave with a stellar booklist and, if we do it right, a smug sense of intellectual accomplishment. This worked great last time. Don't miss out!

Bourbon will be served!

The critics and public agree. Brian De Palma's The Untouchables is a must-see masterpiece - glorious, fierce, larger-than-life depiction of the mob warlord who ruled Prohibition-era Chicago... and the law enforcer who vowed to bring him down. This classic confrontation between good and evil and stars Kevin Costner as federal agent Eliot Ness, Robert De Niro as gangland kingpin Al Capone and Sean Connery as Malone, the cop who teaches Ness how to beat the mob: shoot fast and shoot first.

Part of our Classic Tuesday series, introduced by Artistic Director, Dan Friedman.

Launch Party: Nowhere to Go but Everywhere by Jessica Rao

Join us in celebrating Jessica Rao on the launch of her debut novel, Nowhere to Go but Everywhere.

She’ll be in conversation with Corrie Jackson, followed by a book signing.

Enjoy cocktails, light bites, and plenty of time to mingle and celebrate. 🥂📚

Our September Book Club pick is Under Story by Chloe Benjamin.

This one is getting so much early buzz, and we can't wait to read it with you!

Synopsis:
At the edge of the world, biologist Laurel Salter is hiding from everything she’s ever known. For ten hours a day, six days per week, she works as a dishwasher at McMurdo Station, an isolated research base in Antarctica. She tells no one that before she arrived, she was a renowned young scientist with a promising career and a family.

But even in this remote outpost, Laurel can’t escape her past. When a strange light appears across the ice—and draws a group of physicists to McMurdo—her former husband, Eli, won't be far behind. Laurel is captivated by the Arc: its surreal glow; the way it seems almost alive. And though Eli is reluctant to test her wildest theory, Laurel is convinced that the Arc leads down a rabbit hole and into a world they can barely imagine. Can she persuade him to risk everything to fix the burden that hangs between them—to turn back the clock and live their story a second time?

A breathless page-turner and a love letter to our planet, Under Story grapples with the great questions of our time: human hubris, the precarity of the natural world, and the mysterious webs of consciousness that bind us. A modern epic of science and soul, of bravery and redemption, it offers a vision of the future that demands we reckon with what we owe to one another, and to the earth itself.

Light refreshments will be served. Come ready for a rich conversation and the chance to connect with fellow readers — we can’t wait to see you there!

All essays should be submitted to Christy Smith at christysg@gmail.com by September 20th. Cost is $30.00.

At a time of profound social and political polarization, Fox News' liberal commentator Jessica Tarlov works every day to argue for her beliefs while remaining respectful and building relationships across lines of difference. Her new book “I Disagree” explains how all Americans can learn from her experiences. She demonstrates that navigating contentious situations is a skill that requires radical honesty, knowing how to engage with numbers and statistics, understanding when to listen and when to talk, and articulating the common threads that unite us all. Speaking with her is Bedford’s own Lauren Leader, founder of the non-partisan women’s leadership organization All In Together. She too has worked for years to help bridge political divides and their conversation promises to be full of heart, honesty and optimism.

Following the talk Jessica will sign copies of her new book which will be sold on site by Bedford Books.

College Essay Writing Workshop

Working on your college essay and need a little help? If so, come to Bedford Books on Sunday, September 27th, from 4-5:30 pm and work with Bedford Books staff member, and former high school and middle school English teacher, Christy Smith, to hone your essay. This session will work best if you submit your essay in advance so feedback can be provided.

Even if you have a very rough draft or you're still tinkering with your idea, this session will be helpful. We'll briefly review the elements of a standout essay and help you find your voice as a writer.

Space is limited to 8 students.

All essays should be submitted to Christy Smith at christysg@gmail.com by September 20th. Cost is $30.00.

Professional naturalist and mushroom aficionado Taro Ietaka will teach basic identification skills, offer tips on what mushrooms can be found this time of year, and discuss the numerous and varied uses of mushrooms -- as well as their mystical lore.

Celebrate the Best of Broadway with beautiful ballads and upbeat favorites performed by singers straight from the stage, curated and conducted by Dan Micciche. Starring Ben Jacoby (Beautiful, Phantom of the Opera), Dee Roscioli (Death Becomes Her, Wicked, The Cher Show) and DeLaney Westfall (Kinky Boots, The Lost Boys).

Community gathering with fire pits, live music, beer, wine, mocktails, n/a beverages and food.

This fundraiser supports the preservation of Bedford's historic buildings and landmarks!

Meet & Greet: Zibby Owens

Join us for a special celebration of bestselling author, bookstore owner, podcast host, “NYC's Most Powerful Book-fluencer" (Vulture), and dear friend Zibby Owens on the release of her new essay collection, Between Chapters.

Copies of Zibby's book will be available for purchase, and light refreshments will be served.

About the Author:

ZIBBY OWENS is the bestselling author and editor of seven books, including Between Chapters: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot, Blank: A Novel, Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature, and On Being Jewish Now: Reflections from Authors and Advocates, which has spent 29 weeks on the USA Today bestseller list. Zibby has interviewed more than 2,000 authors on her award-winning podcast, Totally Booked with Zibby, and weekly TV show, Totally Booked on JBS. In 2021, she founded Zibby Media with the launch of boutique publishing house Zibby Publishing and unique year-round hosted retreats and events for book lovers. In 2023, she opened indie bookstore Zibby's Bookshop in Santa Monica, CA. A frequent speaker (repped by UTA), moderator, and broadcast guest, Zibby, dubbed "NYC's Most Powerful Book-fluencer" (Vulture), is known for highlighting the book industry’s most anticipated new releases and emerging authors in "the Zibby-verse" (L.A. Times).

Enjoy a guided bird walk along one of Bedford Riding Lanes Association’s beautiful trails. Bedford Audubon’s expert Naturalist, Tait Johansson will lead us during the early morning feeding hours.

Event includes bagels & coffee.

Sam Hollander has a unique connection to Snakes on a Plane, having helped create Cobra Starship specifically for the film and co-written and produced its title song, “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It).” The song and music video became part of the cultural phenomenon surrounding the movie while Cobra Starship went on to become a multi-platinum band with a string of hits far beyond the film that launched them.

Sam also had additional music featured in the movie through his work with Gym Class Heroes, making Snakes on a Plane an unforgettable chapter in his career.

Join Sam for a special anniversary screening of the film followed by an audience Q&A.

Terror strikes at 30,000 feet! When hundreds of venomous snakes invade an ill-fated trans-Pacific flight in this action horror extravaganza, it’s up to Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson to thwart the twisted scheme of a deadly assassin to eliminate a key witness in an upcoming trial — and kick some serpentine asps! Director David Ellis ups the velocity in this adrenaline rush of a picture with no-holds-barred performances from Rachel Blanchard, Julianna Margulies, Nathan Philips and more. Giving new meaning to cold-blooded terror, the friendly skies will never be the same!