To make the Hartford Courant’s arts picks for this week, it helps to have a Pulitzer Prize.

Eugene O’Neill, whose name adorns a theater center near his childhood home in New London, had four of them. Tony Kushner got one for “Angels in America,” which students are performing at Western Connecticut State University, and Bruce Norris won his in 2011 for “Clybourne Park,” being staged by Norwalk’s Music Theatre of Connecticut.

Aaron Sorkin did not win one for adapting “To Kill a Mockingbird” (at the Palace Theater), but Harper Lee won one for the original novel in 1961. Choreographer David Dorfman (whose company is performing at Connecticut College) does not have a Pulitzer, but he did win one of New London’s coveted Whalie Awards for his dance/pop collaborations. Likewise, Jason Alexander (appearing at The Bushnell) has to settle for a Tony Award, a SAG Award and seven Emmy nominations.

In any case, a Pulitzer Prize is not a prerequisite for a good time out in Connecticut. Screaming’ Jay Hawkins never got one. Neither did Tower of Power, though how cool would that be?

Here are some of the top things to do and see.

Hallow-Gene 2023
Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, 305 Great Neck Rd, Waterford

The O’Neill in Waterford, known for its summertime development of new American plays and musicals, doesn’t vanish in wintertime like Brigadoon. There are 10 hours of Halloween activities happening on the grounds of the center on Oct. 28. From 1 to 4 p.m. it’s a “Ghouls and Goodies” family-friendly affair with trick or treating and arts and crafts. Then it becomes “Boos and Booze” at Blue Gene’s Pub, with a trivia match at 7 p.m. and ghost storytelling at 9 p.m. Special cocktails will be available and costumes are encouraged. facebook.com/oneilltheatercenter/.

The Resurrection of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Dust Hat
Cafe Nine, 250 State St., New Haven

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins was the early rock and roll star whose awesome vocal workouts on “I Put a Spell on You” gave Little Richard a run for his money. He also pioneered shock by emerging from a coffin or wearing a bone through his nose. A touring tribute to this uncompromising blues rock shouter features Mike Armando, who was in a 1970s rendition of Hawkins’ band. Local garage/pop sensation Dust Hat opens the 8 p.m. Oct. 29 show at Cafe Nine. $15. cafenine.com.

Tower of Power
Infinity Hall, 32 Front St., Hartford

The game-changing soul/funk act Tower of Power formed in 1968, so this is the band’s 55th annual tour. Three of its 10 current members have been with the band since the beginning. Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. $95-$115. infinityhall.com.

Fauré’s Requiem: Music of Remembrance
St. James’ Episcopal Church, 19 Walden St., West Hartford

The St. James Choir, with Alan Murchie at the piano and Christopher Hill playing cello, performs several works by late 19th-century composer Gabriel Fauré, including his Requiem, “Cantique de Jean Racine,” one of his “Songs Without Words,” his Elegy and the 1887 “Pavane” for cello and piano. The works are being grouped as “Music of Remembrance” and being played in a church, St. James in West Hartford. Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. $25. stjameswh.org/.

A Conversation with Jason Alexander
The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford

Jason Alexander was on “Seinfeld.” He was the nasty businessman in “Pretty Woman.” Before he was a screen star, he was a Tony-winning Broadway actor. He’s got lots of stories, and a natural inclination to be amusing. Alexander’s one-man show “As Long as You’re Asking,” which has him performing as well as talking about his career, is this year’s attraction at WRCH’s Nite of Lite Laughter at The Bushnell. Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. $61-$168. bushnell.org.

‘Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird’
Palace Theater, 100 East Main, Waterbury

Usually, when the national tour of a Broadway show returns to Connecticut after playing here once already, it’s in a scaled-down version with a different cast. But “Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird” is a different bird. Aaron Sorkin’s stage version of the classic novel, which was just at The Bushnell in July, is still on its first national tour and still stars the great Richard Thomas as Atticus Finch. It plays at the Waterbury Palace Nov. 3-5. Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. $45-$115. palacetheaterct.org.

‘Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches’
Western Connecticut State University, 43 Lake Ave. Extension, Danbury

Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer-winning “gay fantasia on national themes” is about life during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. It touches on health issues, social issues and leadership issues that are just as relevant today. Western Connecticut State University is presenting Part One (which is often staged all by itself) Nov. 3-12 at the Visual and Performing Arts Center. Performances are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1 and 7 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m. $32, $25 seniors. Group discounts are available. wcsu.edu.

‘Clybourne Park’
Music Theatre of Connecticut, 509 Westport Ave., Norwalk

Bruce Norris took a fresh look at Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” a classic drama of a Black family moving to a white neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. Music Theatre of Connecticut (which does not exclusively do musicals) is staging the play Nov. 3-19. Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. $45-$60. musictheatreofct.com/.

Candace Bushnell
The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford

Candace Bushnell, whose writings about single New Yorkers led to the “Sex and the City” series, has been doing speaking engagements around the country for decades. But it’s always special when Bushnell plays The Bushnell. Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. $71-$143. bushnell.org/shows-concerts/candace-bushnell.

David Dorfman Dance
Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave., New London

“(A)Way Out of My Body” is renowned choreographer David Dorfman’s translation of modern social ills and pressures to the dance floor, searching for hope and joy. Dorfman often works with rock artists and his dancers rock, too. Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Palmer Auditorium at Connecticut College. $28, $25 seniors, $14 students. conncoll.edu.

Jessica Vosk
UConn’s Jorgensen Center, 2132 Hillside Road, Storrs

Jessica Vosk played Elphaba in the national tour of “Wicked” when it played at the Oakdale Theatre in 2016. She later played the same role on Broadway. She has other Broadway credits, hosts a Broadway-themed podcast and has a solo concert act she’s bringing to UConn’s Jorgensen Center on Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. $15-$56. jorgensen.uconn.edu.

Rael
The Webster, 31 Webster St., Hartford

Rael is a particular tribute act that specializes in the initial phase of the British progressive band Genesis when Peter Gabriel was the vocalist and Phil Collins just played drums. They do songs from “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway,” “Nursery Cryme,” “A Trick of the Tail” and other hip LPs, and have been known to throw in some of Gabriel’s later solo hits. Rael vocalist Lloyd Gold even dresses in over-the-top costumes as Gabriel did. Rael is at the under-new-management The Webster in Hartford on Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. $20-$35. VIP booth ($800) and VIP suite ($1,500) available. thewebsterct.com.

Comedy Night
Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford

Playhouse on Park’s latest two-comic Comedy Night is Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. with Carole Montgomery and Tom Daddario. It’s an intimate set-up, with seats on the stage right near the performer. $20. playhouseonpark.org.