CULTURE BRIEFS: Week of October 8

FIREBIRD PERFORMED WITH PUPPETS

For anyone familiar with Igor Stravinsky’s daring 1910 balletFirebird, the idea of staging the piece with puppets may not seemso crazy. The otherworldly qualities of the score, coupled with thescope of Stravinsky’s vision, make the artistic choice seem almostpractical. On Saturday, October 15 at the Brooklyn Lyceum, thehusband and wife puppetry team of Mark Carrigan and MichelleSmith-Carrigan will perform the ballet with handcraftedmarionettes. Shows are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at 227 Fourth Avenue.Tickets are $10. For more information go to www.thepuppetpeople.organd click on shows.

BROOKLYN POUR CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL

And on the other end of the cultural spectrum, the Brooklyn Pourcraft beer festival, also on Saturday, October 15, will offer morethan 100 local craft beers to sample for the $40 cover charge. Andwhile that may seem like a sizable sum to down a few pints, theadmission fee includes unlimited sampling between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.and a souvenir glass. Consider it a celebration of what someconsider the best part of fall: seasonal brews. The carnival ofcraft beer will be held at the old Williamsburg Savings Bankbuilding, now called Skylight One Hanson at 1 Hanson Place. Formore information go to:microapp.villagevoice.com/brooklyn-pour/index.php.

CHINESE ACROBATS AT BROOKLYN COLLEGE

Brace yourself for some high-flying action when the NationalAcrobats of the People’s Republic of China make their debut at theBrooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College onSaturday, October 29 at 1 p.m. The company was the first performingarts troupe established by the government of the People’s Republicof China in 1950. And although it has since toured over 40countries, this is its first time in the U.S. The performance willbe at the Walt Whitman Theatre, 2900 Campus Road. You can purchasetickets online at www.BrooklynCenterOnline.org or by calling thebox office at 718-951-4500.

GEORGE BURNS ONE MAN SHOW

Who could forget George Burns? The cigar smoking, wise-crackingcomedian died in 1996 at the age of 100, but not before making anindelible impact on the world of comedy with his trademarklaid-back style. On Sunday, October 30, at 2 p.m. at the BrooklynCenter for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College, Alan Safierwill play Burns in the Tony Award-winning one-man show, SayGoodnight Gracie. The theater is located at 2700 Avenue H. Ticketsare $30. You can go to: www.brooklyncenteronline.org for moreinformation or call the box office at 718-951-4500.