A queen of the blues

The Garde Arts Center will join 60 cities throughout the nation in welcoming Rita Chiarelli, Canada's Queen of the Blues, and the critically-acclaimed documentary "Music from the Big House." The movie will be screened at 7 p.m. June 5 at the New London theater, and then Chiarelli will give a brief performance and participate in an audience discussion with fellow panelists including author Wally Lamb, choreographer Judy Dworin, retired warden Rosetta Jones and other guests. "Music from the Big House" follows Chiarelli as she takes a pilgrimage to the birthplace of the blues: Louisiana State Maximum Security Penitentiary, a.k.a Angola Prison - formerly the bloodiest prison in America. Tickets are $10. Call (860) 444-7373, ext. 1, or visit gardearts.org.