Motion pictures aren’t always the main event. Often they can interact with, augment or just prepare you for a live show.

This week you can find the real-life subjects of two acclaimed music documentaries performing live onstage. Judith Hill was celebrated for her relative anonymity in the documentary about back-up singers, “20 Feet from Stardom,” and is now a headlining act with a bunch of solo albums. Buena Vista Social Club, a shifting lineup of musicians demonstrating the varied glories of Cuban jazz and dance music, was formed in 1996 and had a movie made about them in 1999 that was directed by the great Wim Wenders.

Cinestudio, the independent arthouse cinema situated on the Trinity College campus in Hartford, is screening a silent movie, a 1916 version of the fairy tale “Snow White.” The film, directed by J. Searles Dawley and adapted from his own Broadway play by Winthrop Ames, reportedly inspired Walt Disney to make his own animated version of the story 20 years later. Not only that, but it was lost for decades and rediscovered in the 1990s. But the excitement of this screening is that it will feature a live original musical accompaniment by composer/harpist Leslie McMichael and violist Barbara McMichael.

The quirky modern classical ensemble Vitamin String Quartet did a “Motion Picture Soundtrack” — a dynamic cover of the Radiohead song of that name — but they’re best known for their contributions to the soundtrack for the TV series “Bridgerton.”

‘Snow White’
Cinestudio, 300 Summit St., Hartford

A 1916 silent movie version of “Snow White” is projected while West Coast concert harpist Leslie McMichael performs her own live musical accompaniment with her sister Barbara McMichael on viola. Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. $15, discounts for students, seniors and Cinestudio members. cinestudio.org.

Instantiations
Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor St., Hartford

Joe Morris’ latest monthly music series at Real Art Ways begins on Sept. 28 with a 2:30 p.m. concert featuring himself on bass, Stephen Haynes on trumpet, Josh Roseman on trombone, Jerome Deupree on drums and Steve Lantner on piano. The new title of the series, “Instantiations,” refers to Morris’ compositional and improvisational system. $15, $12 RAW members, $8 students. realartways.org.

Buena Vista Orchestra
Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London

The current version of the 10-member Cuban jazz ensemble Bueno Vista Orchestra, led by trombonist Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos,” plays in New London on Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. $35-$175. gardearts.org.

Harpist Leslie McMichael performs her original soundtrack to a 1916 silent movie version of “Snow White” with her sister violist Barbara McMichael Sept. 28 at 1 at Cinestudio. (Courtesy of Leslie McMichael)

Bertha: Grateful Drag
Infinity Music Hall, 32 Front St., Hartford

If you ever wanted to see drag queens perform Grateful Dead songs, this is your chance. The musicians hail from Nashville and, both separately and collectively, go by the name Bertha. The event is a benefit for Q Plus. One of Connecticut’s own prominent queens, Kiki Lucia, opens the show. Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. $38.14-$53.16. infinityhall.com.

The World is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden

The excellent sped-up emo/indie Connecticut band The World is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die released a new album, “Dreams of Being Dust,” this year. The band is from Willimantic and is returning to Hamden’s Space Ballroom for an Oct. 2 show at 8 p.m. with ASkySoBlack and Sleepwalk. $32.34, $28.75 in advance. spaceballroom.com.

‘Incident at Our Lady of Pepetual Help’
Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main St., Ivoryton (Essex)

Ivoryton Playhouse stages Katie Forgette’s coming-of-age comedy “Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help,” set in 1970s Boston, Oct. 2-28. Performances are Wednesdays at 2 p.m., Thursdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. $60, $55 seniors, $25 students. ivorytonplayhouse.org.

Zain Zohaib
The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford

A traditional Qawwali concert of Sufi music, poetry and ritual will be performed by the duo Zain Zohaib. Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. $73-$167.50. bushnell.org.

Justin Silva
Shubert Theatre, 247 College St., New Haven

If you went regularly to comedy clubs and open mics around Connecticut in the past decade, odds are good that you saw Justin Silva. Now when Silva returns to the state, he plays big rooms like one of the casino theaters or The Shubert in the city where he was born. Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. $44.70-$80.40. shubert.com.

Keith Urban
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville

The country legend Keith Urban — no, he’s not an urban legend — brings a jam-packed event to Mohegan Sun Arena with three opening acts: Alana Springsteen, Chase Matthew and Karley Scott Collins. Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. The show is sold out. “Verified resale tickets” range from $200-$875. mohegansun.com.

Keith Urban will perform at Mohegan Sun Arena on Oct. 3. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Butttootking
The Webster, 31 Webster St., Hartford

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” veterans Lydia “Butthole” Kollins, Suzie Toot and Kori King are calling their mutual tour Buttootking. Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. $44.15, $84.15 VIP meet & greet, $509.15 eight-person table. thewebsterct.com.

‘Frankenstein’
Hole in the Wall Theater, 116 Main St., New Britain

The Tim Kelly adaptation of “Frankenstein,” which has been around since 1980s and heaps fresh anxieties on the doctor who creates the monster, is nicely timed Halloween-month programming for New Britain’s Hole in the Wall Theater. Oct. 3-18. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. with a single Sunday matinee Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. $25, $20 students/senior; “Pay What You Can” on Oct. 10. hitw.org.

Tyler Hubbard
College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., New Haven

Country-tinged singer/songwriter Tyler Hubbard, formerly half of the duo Florida Georgia Line, is now a successful solo act with nearly two dozen No. 1 country hits to his name. Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. $38.14-$53.16. collegestreetmusichall.com.

Tyler Hubbard, formerly of the duo Florida Georgia Line, is bringing his solo acts to College Street Music Hall on Oct. 4. (Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)

‘Take Me As I Am:’ A Joni Mitchell Tribute with Rainee Blake
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Road, Storrs

Australian performer Rainee Blake evokes the spirit of the legendary Joni Mitchell, singing as well as playing guitar and dulcimer and telling stories of the origins of “Both Sides Now,” “A Case of You” and other classics. Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. $10-$30. jorgensen.uconn.edu.

Judith Hill
Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook

Judith Hill has sung or played, in the studio or in concert, with Prince, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Josh Groban and many others. She wrote songs for a Spike Lee movie. She was a contestant on “The Voice.” You might have heard about some of this if you saw the documentary “20 Feet from Stardom,” in which she’s one of the key subjects. In the past decade, Hill has released several solo albums. Her latest, last year’s “Letters from a Black Widow,” is informed by the deaths of Jackson and Prince. Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. $36. thekate.org.

Vitamin String Quartet
Warner Theatre, 68 Main St., Torrington

Vitamin String Quartet, which plays classical versions of current pop hits and also provides the history-mashing soundtrack to “Bridgerton,” plays The Warner’s Oneglia Auditorium on Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. $29.50-$165.50. $29.50-$165.50. warnertheatre.org.

https://www.courant.com/2025/09/27/arts-picks-for-sept-28-through-oct-4/