5 things to do this weekend, including a performance of 'The Prodigal Son' and dance at the ICA

Isn’t October the best? The changing leaves, the chill in the air and the Halloween decorations always make me feel super nostalgic. I’m not a huge horror fan, but I do love a spooky folktale. One of my favorites from childhood is the legend of the Headless Horseman. This weekend, you can watch a new rendition of the tale from the Greater Boston Stage Company. If you’re not ready to dive into Halloween activities just yet, there is a movement workshop on the Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, a new photography exhibition and a dance performance at the ICA. We've got you covered with a little something for every mood this weekend.

Boston Uncornered is working in the city to lift people out of harmful cycles of violence by providing mentorship and sharing stories of those who have found success despite difficult upbringings. This weekend, catch the final days of the organization's photography exhibition. The exhibit showcases portraits of leaders around Boston by photographer John Huet, including Celtic's photographer Bred Hampton and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley. It’s an exhibition with inspiring stories not to be missed.

The Liz Gerring Dance Company and the JACK Quartet will come together for a special live performance this weekend at the ICA. Friday will be the world premiere of  the piece "Harbor." It’s a combination of movement, live music and poetry that marries athleticism with elegance. The ICA commissioned a string quartet from Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Luther Adams, and striking choreography compliments his new music.

In this entirely new staging of music drama “The Prodigal Son,” attendees will experience the importance of comforting those around them. This parable focuses on themes that remain important today: family, division and reconciliation. This Enigma Chamber Opera production features tenor Omar Najmi and baritone Aaron Engebreth, along with an eight-player orchestra onstage at The Cathedral Church of Saint Paul. Cash-only tickets will be available to purchase at the door.

Described as “ghoulishly funny,” this one-man show is making an old folktale new again. The Headless Horseman is a ghost story involving a Hessian soldier who lost his head to a cannonball during the Revolutionary War and the community he haunts. In the Greater Boston Stage Company’s rendition, Paul Melendy will play a wide range of characters, including schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, his love interest Katrina Von Tassel, and the townspeople. The show is running for a few short weeks, so catch it while you can.

One of WBUR’s The Makers, Anita Morson-Matra, will host a dance and movement workshop at the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Morson-Matra is a public artist whose mission is to bring people together in public spaces. For this event, she’s partnered with contemporary dance company Jean Appolon Expressions to lead participants in dance and movement to help them connect with the outdoors. Morson-Matra told WBUR’s Amelia Mason that the "Baldwin in the Park" series is a set of “theatrical performances and opportunities for us to engage with Baldwin's work.” This is the first installment, and definitely, one to attend. Be sure to also secure next week's event on Oct. 29. [Read more about Anita Morson-Matra's work here.]

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated the size of the orchestra performing for "The Prodigal Son." We regret the error.