IN THE ARTS Two River Theater Company in Red Bank closes out the season with a new bluegrass musical-comedy adapted from a little-known short story by Mark Twain. Set in Deer Lick,Mo., in 1876, "AMurder, A Mystery & A Marriage" opens Saturday, May 17, and will close on Sunday, June 8. With book and lyrics by TRT artistic director Aaron Posner and original music by James Sugg, themusical score is filled with bluegrass, country, and gospel music plus some gypsy jazz. Jersey Shoremusic legend Pat Guadagno leads the band. In addition to performing up and down the Jersey Shore, Guadagno is known for BobFest, his annual Bob Dylan tribute concert at Two River Theater. Tickets are $30-$56. For more information, call (732) 345-1400, visit www.trtc.org or visit the box office, located at 21 Bridge Ave. The Heart of New Jersey Chorus is seeking newmembers for the chorus, which is a group of fun-loving women ages 14-80- plus who hail from Monmouth, Mercer, Middlesex and Ocean counties. Rehearsals are held at the Frank Defino Central Elementary School, Route 79, Marlboro, on Wednesday evenings 7:30-10 p.m. For further information, contact Audra at (732) 239 5052 or honj.membership@gmail.com. Monmouth University in West Long Branch presents "Fifty Posters," a selection ofmovie posters created by graphic design alumni and majors from the Department of Art and Design, on exhibit at the Gallery at Pollak Theatre, through May 20. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Karen Bright at (732) 923-4786. The Count Basie Theatre will host the 2008 Count Basie Theatre Awards Wednesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. Hosted by Joe Piscopo, the BasieAwards honor excellence inMonmouth County high school theatrical productions. Tickets for the Basie Awards are $15 and may be purchased by calling the box office at (732) 842-9000, in person at 99 Monmouth St., or online at countbasietheatre.org. The Monmouth County Arts Council (MCAC) has announced grant deadlines and grant workshops for nonprofit arts organizations and community groups. The deadline is Friday, June 27 at 4 p.m. or postmarked. Grant guidelines and application can be downloaded from www.monmoutharts.org. Organizations must be able to demonstrate accountability. Grant-writing workshops will be held at Phoenix Productions, 111 Monmouth St., Red Bank. The first, "Grant Workshop andADARequirements," will be held Monday, May 19, at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. "Creating a Long-Range Strategic Plan" will be held on Thursday, May 22, at 7 p.m. The Performing Arts Ensemble in Red Bank will perform two shows this spring, "Alice in Wonderland" and a "Midsummer Night's Dream," at Monmouth University in West Long Branch on May 31. The ensemble recently performed at Lincoln Center, NYC, in a rock ballet and at the Dance NJ Festival held at the Two River Theatre in Red Bank. The dancers represent many N.J. towns and are supplemented by NYC guest artists. For more information, contact Evelyn Gardell at (732) 614-5426. Laughter and mystery collide when Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore make their annual return to the Brookdale Community College Performing Arts Center in Lincroft with the premiere of their 22nd and newest comedy, "Wrong Window." Two nosy neighbors peer through the rear window of a Manhattan apartment and witness what appears to be a murder. Performances are May 23, 24, 30 and 31 and June 6 and 7 at 8 p.m. Amatinee performance on June 1 at 3 p.m. will be followed by a special question-and-answer session. Van Zandt and Milmore are the authors of 21 plays produced worldwide and annually stage their original work at Brookdale, where they continue to underwrite scholarships for theater arts students. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Ticket prices are $20, and $15 for BCC students with valid ID and seniors. Tickets are available by calling the box office at (732) 224-2411. Compiled by Gloria Stravelli Designed by Eileen Russell Gerber