Entitled Words and Music By . . . A Celebration of the Singer-Songwriter, the ongoing series will kick off Nov. 13 at 8 PM with Nikos and Friends. Featuring the tunes of Nikos Tsakalakos, the concert will also include appearances by Heath Calvert, Demond Green, Christy McIntosh and Alysha Umphress. The singers will be backed by Brian Usifer (piano), Jeff Roberts (drums), Eric Day (bass) and Sean Mahoney (guitar).

Deaf composer Jay Alan Zimmerman will present his variety show, J@Z: The Jay Alan Zimmerman Show Nov. 19 and Dec. 17 at 9:30 PM. He will be joined onstage Nov. 17 by Jessica Phillips, Kelly Ellenwood, Kevin Massey, Kiebpoli Calnek and Susie Williams. The Dec. 17 performance will feature several singers, aerial performers, drag queens and a rock-n-roll Santa.

Eric Himan, who has been dubbed "the gay Bruce Springsteen," will take to the Zipper Factory stage Nov. 28 at 9 PM. The evening will celebrate Himan's fifth solo recording, "Everywhere All at Once" (Thumbcrown Records).

On Dec. 12 "Shortbus" co-star Jay Brannan will perform an evening of his original songs. Brannan's music, according to a press release, "blends folk and rock with a slight touch of pop, and bridges the gaps between hope and bitterness, courage and insecurity, honesty and denial." Show time is 8 PM.

Transgendered composer/performer Our Lady J will present The Gospel of Dolly Dec. 14 at 9:30 PM. Featuring Dolly Parton songs and Our Lady J's original tunes, the evening will also feature the Pink Champagne Orchestra and the 30-voice Train to Kill Gospel Choir. Todd Almond, who penned the award-winning musical People Like Us, will play the Zipper Dec. 17 at 7 PM. Almond is currently writing a new musical called Mexico City.

The Zipper Factory is located in Manhattan at 336 West 37th Street. To purchase tickets in advance, call (212) 352-3101 or visit www.thezipperfactory.com.