Martin on the mend

Nicholas Martin, the artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, is expected to fully recover from the minor stroke he suffered last week. Martin, who previously was artistic director of the Huntington Theatre, is resting comfortably at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York, according to Ellen Lis, WTF's development director. "He's up and talking," Lis said. "He's had tons of visitors." Martin had been in rehearsals for the Lincoln Center Theater production of Noah Haidle's "Saturn Returns." A Lincoln Center Theater spokesperson told us the play will go forward with another director, though that person hasn't been identified yet. "Saturn Returns" begins previews Oct. 16 with the official opening set for Nov. 10.

Boss hits the Heights

Rocker Bruce Springsteen and his wife, Patti Scialfa, watched BC blow out URI Saturday from the comfort of the president's box at Alumni Stadium. (It was parents weekend at the Heights and the couple's son Evan is a freshman.) At halftime, the Globe's Mark Blaudschun, who grew up in New Jersey, briefly talked to the Boss about their shared history. "At some point, Patti said to me, 'You have beautiful blue eyes,' " Blaudschun told us. "I put my hand on Bruce's shoulder and said, 'That's why I love Jersey girls.' " Springsteen laughed. (Broadcaster Bob Costas, whose daughter Taylor is a BC freshman, was also in the box.) We're told Springsteen and Scialfa attended the Pops on the Heights concert the night before the game.

On Broadway

Boston-based theater producer Spring Sirkin stood shoulder to shoulder with actor Daniel Radcliffe after the Broadway opening of Peter Shaffer's "Equus." Sirkin, who won a Tony in 1996 as part of the producing team behind Terrence McNally's "Master Class," is one of the producers of "Equus."

Around town

Comedian Norm MacDonald dropped by the Beehive Sunday, having drinks at the South End hotspot and taking photos with fans. . . . Meanwhile Jim Belushi, who'd been at the Beehive Saturday, ate dinner at Anthony's Pier 4 and posed for a pic with brothers Michael and Anthony Athanas Jr. . . . BU alum Jamie Kaler, who stars on the TBS show "My Boys," bowled a few strings at Kings Lanes in the Back Bay Sunday. The actor put on a comedy show for freshmen at his alma mater. . . . Myra Kraft hosted a panel on health issues affecting Boston's inner-city kids, and participants included Sam Amado, winner of ABC's reality show "Fat March."

Her cause is all sewn up

Two years ago, Boston designer Hadley Pollet had one of those "aha" moments. Her six-year-old company, known for its colorful bags and belts, was undeniably successful, claiming high-profile clients like Oprah Winfrey and Charlize Theron. But she was exhausted and spending all her time at New York trade shows. "I got very tired of fashion for fashion's sake," she said. "When you're in the fashion industry, you see a lot of Botox and not a lot of focus on what really makes you look good - feeling good." She decided to "repurpose" her company and make it as much about doing good as looking good. Now, sales of her new line of embroidered T-shirts, scarves, and hoodies will benefit Our Journey Inc., a nonprofit in South Africa helping families suffering from HIV. Pollet and her yoga teacher and friend, Amy Leydon, held an unusual fund-raiser - it's not often we see yoga paired with a trunk show - last week at the Exhale Spa. Pollet also supports Martha's Vineyard Community Services. She said her designs - the bold colors and fun patterns - lend themselves to her new theme: empowerment for the less fortunate. "Women do say they feel really empowered in [our clothes]," Pollet said. "If you wear them, you stand out."

Nissinen gets extension

Boston Ballet has extended the contract of its artistic director, Mikko Nissinen. J. Peter Lyons, the chairman of the Ballet board, announced yesterday that Nissinen's contract, which was due to expire next year, now runs through 2014. The Flying Finn, as Nissinen is known, has been artistic director since 2001. "Over the past seven years, Mikko has dramatically raised the profile of the institution by establishing a roster of talented dancers, heightening the quality of dancing, building a varied and reputable repertory, and expanding the reach of the school and community programs," Lyons said in a statement.

Novel idea for Wilson

Famed Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his book "On Human Nature," is trying his hand at fiction. We're told Wilson has written a novel, "The Anthill," about a young Southern boy's fight to save a unique ecosystem from developers. Norton is publishing and Dreamworks is negotiating for the film rights, says Boston-based literary agent Ike Williams.

Riding high

Cape-bred actor Adam Nelson was gearing up yesterday to introduce "Appaloosa" at Loews Boston Common, at a fund-raiser for the Nevins Farm, the equine facility for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (Western-dressed folks from the Blue Hills Riding Center planned to pass a boot around for change.) Nelson plays bad guy Mackie Shelton in the western, directed by and starring Ed Harris and also starring Viggo Mortensen and Jeremy Irons. He admits his character, who speaks with a raspy voice and has a scar from being shot in the neck, didn't get as much screen time as he'd hoped. But his fellow actors more than made up for it. "When you're making something like this, with this caliber of people, you hope some of their character rubs off." Mortensen, for example, is a real sweetheart, he confided. "We had a birthday party for him . . . and he had a gift for everyone at his own party. I mean, who does that?"

Donaldson to return

Julie Donaldson, the Channel 7 sports reporter who's been off the air since she was assaulted by her former boyfriend in June, is returning to work tomorrow. Donaldson met yesterday with WHDH-TV news director Linda Miele, and was given the green light to resume her duties at the station. Her first assignment will be covering the Patriots. "Julie's thrilled to be going back to work and she's appreciative of all the support she's received from colleagues," said Joe Baerlein, a publicist who's been advising Donaldson. A onetime beauty queen from Florida, Donaldson started at Channel 7 last March.

Talking books

Actress and bookworm Christy Scott Cashman was in LA over the weekend, where she chatted up "Sex and the City" author Candace Bushnell at a signing for her new book, "One Fifth Avenue." Now there's a chance the "Sex" goddess might wing into Boston to appear on Cashman and Debbie DiMasi's NECN show, "Open Book Club." Dennis Lehane chats with the ladies about his newest, "The Given Day," on Oct. 5.