POETRY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROMEO The Shakespeare Society celebrates the bard’s 443rd birthday with a marathon of readings from his plays, including “Much Ado About Nothing,” “The Tempest,” and “A Winter’s Tale.” Celebrity readers include Debra Messing, Rainn Wilson, Richard Kind, and Michael Cerveris. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., Hunter College, Kaye Playhouse, 69th Street, between Park and Lexington avenues, 212-327-3399, free.

ART

BIG PAPER The Pratt Institute’s printmaking department presents its third annual Big Damn Prints outdoor workshop with over 40 artists, dozens of students, and lo cal residents who print huge 4 foot-by-8-foot woodblock prints with a giant industrial street paving steamroller. Live music and onsite T-shirt printing are also of fered. The project was conceived by a professor of fine arts at Pratt Dennis McNett, as a way of pushing printmaking students outside the usual boundaries of the medium

Wednesday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Pratt Institute, 200 Willoughby Ave., be tween Emerson and Hall streets Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, 201-892 6850, free.

FAMILY

COMPUTERS FOR ALL Samsung’s Hope for Education program is de signed to minimize the technology gap in the educational system through a partnership with Mi crosoft Corporation. The program donates more than $2 million worth of technology and software to schools across the country. Teenage musicians Aly and AJ perform a concert to celebrate the program’s launch. Wednesday, 2 p.m., Time Warner Center, Samsung Experi ence, 10 Columbus Circle at Eighth Avenue, free.

MUSIC

IVORIES AND STRINGS The 92nd Street Y’s “Distinguished Artist in Recital” series presents cellist Miklós Perényi and pianist András Schiff in two concerts. The first pro gram includes Beethoven’s Sonata for Piano and Cello in F Major. The second program features the composer’s “Variations” in E-flat Major on “Bei Männern, welche Lie be fühlen” from “The Magic Flute.”

Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m., 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. at 92nd Street, 212-415-5500, $45.

READINGS

THE PERFECT CHEF The James Beard Foundation’s “Beard on Books” series features Laura Shapiro, author of “Julia Child” (Penguin). Ms. Shapiro discusses Child’s larger-than-life personality and her seamless transition from writing cookbooks to hosting public broadcasting cooking shows in the 1960s. Wednesday, noon, James Beard House, 167 W. 12th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-627-2308, $20 general, free for students.

POETRY

FESTIVAL OF VERSE The Poetry Society of America celebrates Na tional Poetry Month with a two night Festival of New American Poets, featuring readings and talks Featured poets include Tyehimba Jess, Richard Siken, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Tony Tost Also featured are members of the PSA’s 2005 and 2006 Chapbook Fellows, including Dan Chelotti and Jessica Fjeld. Wednesday and Thursday, 7 p.m., the New School Tishman Auditorium, 66 W. 12th St., between Fifth and Sixth av enues, 212-254-9628, $10 general for both nights, $7 for each night, $7 for both nights for members and stu dents, $5 for each night for members and students.

PAINTINGS

A KIND OF MAGIC “A Kind of Order” is an exhibit of new paintings by Ron Ehrlich. Dedicated to the late poet Stanley Kunitz, the paintings feature three dimensional techniques of vessel-making with the spontaneity and vitality of painting. Selections include “Shunyata” (2007), above.

Through tomorrow, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Stephen Haller Gallery, 542 W. 26th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 212-741-7777, free.

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