Attend a conference that will focus on the tercentenary of Daniel Defoe’s “Robinson Crusoe” and the 18th-century novel. Jonathan Kramnick, the Maynard Mack Professor of English, will lead the conference, which will feature scholars from around the country. A reception will follow. The conference will continue on Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Rm. 38-39, 121 Wall St. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Enjoy a performance by the renowned singer, who has appeared with the world’s most celebrated ensembles, including the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the Cleveland Orchestra. Tickets: $5-$12. Morse Recital Hall, 470 College St. 7:30 p.m.
Listen to Nicole Phelps, director of Vogue Runway, discuss her career in fashion journalism. Phelps spent 10 years working for Style.com, where she reviewed runway shows in New York, Milan, and Paris. She has also written for Elle, where she served as fashion news editor, and for Women’s Wear Daily and W Magazine. Free. William L. Harkness Hall, Rm. 116, 100 Wall St. 4-5 p.m.
Grab your pajamas and sleeping bags and head to the Peabody Museum for a night under the dinosaurs. The evening will include a scavenger hunt, fun natural history activities, hands-on specimens, and snacks. Continental breakfast will be served on Sunday morning. Tickets: $49.50-$55 per person. There must be at least one adult for every three children. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave. 5:30 p.m.-10 a.m.
Experience a new version of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, staged by the renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema, which incorporates the author’s own biography in “a gothic tale about the beauty — and horror — of creation.” Tickets: $25-$40. University Theatre, 222 York St. 2 p.m.
View a screening of the film that tells the story of the Peace Corps. Founded during the Cold War, the Peace Corps is considered an icon of American idealism. From the beginning, its mission of world peace and friendship was believed to be “a towering task.” Free; reservations required. Edward P. Evans Hall, Zhang Auditorium, 165 Whitney Ave. 3:30-6 p.m.
Travel with children of all ages to distant times and faraway lands through artworks at the Yale University Art Gallery. Teaching staff will tell folk tales, myths, and stories from around the world that highlight unique features of selected objects in the collection. Free. Yale University Art Gallery, 1111 Chapel St. 1 p.m.
Experience the Indian dance group Natyamandala’s performance of “The Four Horsemen,” a production that centers around vignettes of life and death through four female protagonists who represent the universal human experience. Free; register in advance. Mary S. Harkness Memorial Auditorium, 333 Cedar St. 6-8 p.m.
Explore rare items from the personal papers of authors E.Y. Harburg, Rosamond Johnson, Cole Porter, Harold Rome, and Kurt Weill. The exhibit takes a look inside the Broadway revue, revealing key moments in the life of an iconic stage form that revolutionized the American musical in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. On view through Dec. 20. Free. Gilmore Music Library, 120 High St. 1-8:45 p.m.
