Are you ready for the sounds of some Halloween soul? Then take the soul train on down to the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank Saturday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m., for "Halloween Soul '07," a concert featuring soul legends The Manhattans with Gerald Alston and Blue Lovett ("Kiss and Say Goodbye," "Shining Star"); Ray, Goodman and Brown ("Love on a Two-Way Street," "Special Lady"); former lead singer of The Temptations, Richard Street; and Ted Mills, former lead singer of Blue Magic. According to concert promoters Mr. (Ronnie) Sol/ Frank Harris R&B Promotions, the evening will include a performance by up-and-coming vocalist Taina. Tickets are $100 - $65 and can be purchased at the Count Basie box office at 99 Monmouth St., (732) 842-9000, or www.countbasietheatre. org. Queen Latifah will bring her "Trav'lin' Light Tour" to the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m. The tour embraces a repertoire of songs by fabled female vocalists who've inspired her. Latifah, a local resident, adds her warm vocals and saucy personality to a mix of familiar classics and forgotten jewels, exploring the songbooks of icons like Peggy Lee, Etta James and Sarah Vaughn. Tickets $100 - $42 at the box office, 99 Monmouth St., (732) 842-9000 or at www.countbasietheatre.org.

On Friday at 8 p.m., The Black Box of Asbury Park's fifth annual Women's Arts Festival presents "The Women of Rock and Roll" featuring Lori Michaels, Jackknife Betty, Christine Martucci and Virago at Georgie's Tavern, 5th Avenue and Memorial, Asbury Park; $5 suggested donation. Join Producer Robin Rohr for a night of wild women performers in a fundraiser for Reach Out Inc., an organization that supports women with breast cancer. For more information, visit www.blackboxap.org.

Award-winning animator Bill Plympton will make a guest appearance at Cel-ebration! Gallery in Red Bank Saturday, 3 to 5 p.m. Artwork from his cartoons "How to Kiss" and the Academy Award-nominated "Guard Dog" will be on display and available for purchase. Cel-ebration!, which specializes in animation art from all major studios, is located at 30 Monmouth St. in Red Bank. For more information or to R.S.V.P. for the Oct. 6 event, please call (732) 842-8489 or visit www.cel-ebration.com.

Monmouth Players presents Levinson and Link's "Guilty Conscience" Oct. 6, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 8:15 p.m. and Oct. 7, 14, 21 (sold out) at 2 p.m. at the Navesink Library Theater, at the corner of Sears and Monmouth avenues in the Navesink section of Middletown. Tickets are $12 for seniors and students and $15 for all others. Coffee and homemade desserts will be available. For reservations or further information visit www.monmouthplayers.org.

The Performing Arts Ensemble will hold

auditions for the annual "Nutcracker" ballet Oct. 7 at 2 p.m., at The Galleria, Red Bank. A wide range of dancers will be needed, including boys and girls ages 4-12, pointe dancers and teens, gymnasts and male actors. All ability levels are welcome. This is a chance to perform with New York guest artists and professional scenery. Costumes are provided. Contact Evelyn Gardell at (732) 671-9655 for information.

Perennial heart throb Engelbert Humperdinck will appear on the stage of the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank Friday at 8 p.m. Engelbert's music transcends generations, and his mellow voice continues to reach out to people, transporting, inspiring and embracing audiences. Tickets are $150 $35 at the box office, 99 Monmouth St., (732) 842-9000 or at www.countbasietheatre.org.

Dave Mason and John Mayall will perform at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank on Saturday at 8 p.m. A founding member of Traffic, Mason is known for the Top 10 hit "We Just Disagree," and "Feelin' Alright" has been recorded by over 300 artists. Mayall's Bluesbreakers helped pioneer the British blues boom of the 1960s. Tickets are $39.50, $29.50 at the box office, 99 Monmouth St., (732) 842-9000 or at www.countbasietheatre.org.

A free workshop for music composers or those interested in self-publishing in the music business will be held Monday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. at the First Reformed Church, 650 Broadway, Long Branch. A workshop on all aspects of self-publishing in the music business will be given by Dr. Joe Utterback, jazz composer, and his manager, Bill Todt, from Jazzmuze Inc. The discussion will address issues about printing, score marketing, postage, copyrights, mechanical rights, royalties, advantages and disadvantages of selfpublishing, etc. The workshop is sponsored by the Monmouth Chapter of The American Guild of Organists and is open to anyone interested in this topic.

The Eatontown Playhouse will hold

auditions for the Christmas classic "Miracle on 34th Street" Wednesday, Oct. 10, 7 to 9 p.m. Some roles have already been cast, but many great roles are still open. The Children's Entertainment Series will hold auditions for the holiday show "The Hobo and the Miracle" Wednesday, Oct. 24, 5-7 p.m. for ages 8 and up. All roles are open for the show, which will be performed in December. Eatontown Playhouse is located in the Tower Market Shopping Center on Route 35 north. For more information, call Debby @ (732) 888- 0339.