October 20, 2026 - Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band and Vanessa Bumpus on The Smile Gallery

Hank Azaria, Emmy Award-winning actor, comedian and voice artist, has spent decades creating characters on The Simpsons. Now he’s taking on another unmistakable voice: Bruce Springsteen. Azaria tells us how a surprise performance at his 60th birthday grew into Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band, a full-fledged Springsteen celebration benefiting his Four Through Nine Foundation. The band performs at The Sinclair in Cambridge on October 21. Vanessa Bumpus, director of exhibits at the Museum of Worcester, explores the story of Worcester-born artist Harvey Ball, who created the iconic Smiley Face in 1963 for just $45. The museum’s newly expanded exhibition, The Smile Gallery: An American Icon, traces how his simple drawing became a universal symbol, appearing everywhere from T-shirts and bumper stickers to pop culture and digital communication.