Artists network at 'Hit the Lights'

WHAT Islip Art Museum is throwing an artists' networking event, "Hit the Lights," Saturday night with performance art/music by Ravalias and Veronica Pena, digital projections by FreakCast and site-specific installations by Clayton Orehek. Refreshments and munchies by Toast Coffeehouse will help keep the party going. The bimonthly networking collaboration with Fresh Art Long Island coincides with a "sneak peak" of three exhibits at the museum. "Jam Session," a group show, mixes animation, photography, drawing, sculpture, collage and printmaking to represent music as visual art. Curated by Karen Shaw, it features works by a dozen Long Island, Brooklyn and Queens artists. From the museum's permanent collection, "Norman C. Colp, Open Book" presents conceptual works by the late artist, writer and provocateur whose "The Commuter's Lament/A Close Shave," commissioned by the MTA in 1991, continues to draw curious glances from commuters passing through the Times Square subway station. Also opening is "Rhythms," a digital photography show by JoAnne Dumas, in the museum shop.

WHEN | WHERE "Hit the Lights," networking session (for over 21), 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday; "Jam Session" and "Norman C. Colp" officially open on Wednesday; exhibits run through Jan. 24; reception 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 4; museum hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, Islip Art Museum, 50 Irish Lane, East Islip

INFO $6 for party, includes entertainment and food; $3 at other times, islipartscouncil.org, 631-224-5402

MUSIC: Happy 'Funksgiving'

WHAT Funk Filharmonik throws its 26th annual day-after-Turkey Day "Funksgiving" party -- this time with two shows of jazz, blues, soul and funk-oriented music and mischief. Funk Philharmonia, as the ensemble was originally called, started out in 1985 at Huntington's Canterbury Ales and evolved into a 10-piece orchestra with five horns specializing in a Tower of Power sound. In terms of getting you moving after a day of feasting, it sure beats watching football.

WHEN | WHERE Friday night at 8 and 10:15, Bellmore Movies & Showplace, 222 Petit Ave.

INFO $27.50, $35 at the door; funkfilharmonik.com, 516-783-3199

THEATER: 'Evan Claymore' at Studio

WHAT "Ethan Claymore" may not ring bells when it comes to Christmas-theme plays. But Canadian playwright Norm Foster, a favorite at Studio Theatre ("The Love List"), has written a comic drama set the week before Christmas. It stars Bob and Jim Lingner, brothers in real life, who play Ethan, an egg farmer who'd rather be an artist, and his supposedly deceased older brother. Ethan meets a woman, played by Carol Carota, who could turn his life around. But things get complicated when he's visited his estranged brother. "Ethan Claymore" also stars Jack Howell, a longtime favorite among Long Island theater-goers. Marian Waller directs.

WHEN | WHERE Saturday night at 8, Sunday at 2:30 p.m., Fridays-Sundays through Dec. 17 at Studio Theatre, 141 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst

INFO $20, $18 seniors, $25 at the door; studiotheatreli.com, 631-226-8400

A new musical 'Carol'

WHAT OK, now that the turkey's been unstuffed and Santa's made his Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade appearance, it's time for the first "A Christmas Carol," the musical, of the season. Nebraska Theatre Caravan brings its version, faithfully re-creating the Victorian period of the story's premiere -- the Charles Dickens classic was first published on Dec. 17, 1843. Charles Jones takes his adaptation very seriously. "It is not a musical comedy," he says. "The songs do not move the story forward; they stand apart, completely separate from the text. Each song or carol was chosen for the dramatic atmosphere it contributes to the total experience. The songs are traditional, but John Bennett's scoring is contemporary and exquisitely beautiful." We'll see.

WHEN | WHERE 2 p.m. Sunday, Tilles Center, C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, Brookville

INFO $20-$50; tillescenter.org, 516-299-3100