Norwich - The city's oft-shunned native son will be the focus of much attention this weekend with several events planned surrounding Benedict Arnold's life, actions and death at several locations.

The Spirit of Broadway Theater at 24 Chestnut St. will continue its staged readings of the new play "Benedict Arnold, the Musical," with two major fundraiser galas Friday and Saturday at the theater.

On Friday, a Norwich Historical Society fundraiser, "Benedict Arnold: Is there more to the story?" will start at the Leffingwell House Museum at 348 Washington St. at 6 p.m. with an 18th century-style dinner. At 7:15 p.m., guests will move to the Spirit of Broadway Theater for 18th century desserts and drinks and to hear former state Troubadour Tom Callinan of Norwich perform several songs he has written about Norwich. At 8 p.m. they will see an exclusive staged reading of the play.

Tickets for the Friday fundraiser are $76 per person including all events. Tickets can be reserved at www.norwichhistoricalsociety.org or by calling Dianne Brown at (860) 887-6882.

Saturday's Benedict Arnold events start at 10 a.m. with the first Benedict Arnold History Trail walking tour through grounds a young Arnold traversed - Lothorpe Meadow, the Norwichtown Green and the cemetery, where his mother and family members are buried.

The walk, which is free, will be led by Regan Minor. The tour will begin and end at the Leffingwell House Museum, where an afternoon of Arnold-centered activities is planned.

From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, visitors to the Leffingwell House Museum will get to meet Arnold re-enactor Art Mueller and hear Minor interview the general every half-hour. Museum admission is $5.

At 2 p.m. Saturday at the Howard T. Brown Memorial Park at Norwich Harbor, a schooner is expected to arrive carrying a dummy of Arnold's "good leg" - the one wounded in the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.

Flock Theatre burned Arnold in effigy last weekend in New London and preserved the leg for delivery to Norwich. A special hearse will transport the leg to the Leffingwell museum for a service and burial.

On Saturday night, the festivities return to the Spirit of Broadway Theater for the theater's gala starting at 7 p.m. with Champagne and hors d'oeuvres followed by a full buffet reception, a staged reading performance at 8 p.m. and dessert and coffee after the show. Tickets are $75 and are available at the theater, (860) 886-2378 or by going to www.spiritofbroadway.org.

The final staged reading of "Benedict Arnold, the Musical" will be performed at 2 p.m. Sunday at Spirit of Broadway.

Throughout September, the Otis Library at 261 Main St. is featuring a display of books about Benedict Arnold and his family in the library atrium.

Also on display is a map of the Battle of Groton Heights, on loan from the Leffingwell House Museum.

c.bessette@theday.com