- Theater
The best in Washington, DC things to do, entertainment, nightlife, culture, arts, fashion and more.
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By
Matt Carr
,
Catherine Andrews
A new craft cocktail happy hour, a chocolate-themed happy hour, journalists rocking out, and a, er, pantless Metro ride. All this and more in your deliciously busy weekend nightlife picks.
You might also be interested in... Inaugural Balls for the Rest of Us: Where to Party Without an Invitation | Where’s Your Favorite Spot to Grab a Beer? | All Inauguration Coverage
Thursday, January 8: Always hunting through thrift stores for that treasure? Can’t get enough of Antique Roadshow? Then you’ll want to head to the Washington Antiques Show, which kicks off today at American University’s Katzen Center and goes through the weekend. Over 40 antiques dealers will be showing off their wares. Tickets are $15 at the door.
Good news, craft cocktail lovers: there’s a new happy hour in town, just for you. Punch Club at the Warehouse Theater is a weekly night of cocktails, held every Thursday, conjured up by bartender Dan Searing of the Looking Glass Lounge. Head over from 6 PM to 11 PM to get your fix.
Looking to add a little, say, spontaniety to your life in 2009? You should check out the free intro to improv workshops that excellent local improv group WIT is holding this weekend. From 7 to 9 PM today and Sunday, the group will be showing you the ropes of how to get up on stage and improvise, hilariously so. Email topher@washingtonimprovtheater.com to request a day and more information.
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By
Matt Carr
A compilation of interesting—and, most important, free—lectures, cultural events, and more throughout the week.
Monday, January 5:
Cultural historian and author Steven Johnson brings his newest book, The Invention of Air, to Politics & Prose at 7. In the book, Johnson chronicles the life of Joseph Priestley, an 18th-century scientist who discovered oxygen and helped influence the Founding Fathers.
Tuesday, January 6:
The Library of Congress screens Pick Up on South Street at the Packard Campus’s Mount Pony Theater tonight at 7. Samuel Fuller’s 1953 film stars Richard Widmark as Skip McCoy, who winds up with a piece of a top-secret microfilm after picking the purse of Candy, played by Jean Peters. Call 202-707-9994 for more information.
Wednesday, January 7:
The Corcoran’s Wednesday Jazz Series continues with the Frank Russo Trio today at 12:30 in the Frances and Armand Hammer Auditorium.
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By
Catherine Andrews
What to do every night of this week for fun.
Monday: A Work Week Happy Hour
Heading into happy hour hungry after work? The downtown Chef Geoff’s, three blocks from the White House, is the place to go. The $5 burgers are served with a heaping helping of shoestring fries. And the beer? Oh, Lord, the beer. The dark-wood-paneled bar tosses out this heavenly thing called a Supermug: 34 ounces of beer for $7.95 from an excellent array of beers on tap. If you’re less thirsty, long-necked beers (I usually go for the Shiner) are $2.95.
Tuesday: Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night —December 2 through January 4—stars great comic actors: Veanne Cox, Floyd King, and Nancy Robinette. Rebecca Bayla Taichman, who directed The Taming of the Shrew, is at the helm. For tickets ($20 to $79.75), call 202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org. 7:30 PM.
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By
Sonia Harmon
Though going to the theater or a concert isn’t cheap, there are deals that can make it almost as affordable as going to the movies—even free.
The first preview night of each performance is a “pay what you can” show at MetroStage. Photograph by Colin Hovde
Free Seats
Free Night of Theater: Theaters including Arena, Shakespeare, and Round House are taking part in a Free Night of Theater on October 16, when a limited number of tickets will be available for each. There will be additional shows with free seats at participating theaters October 9 through November 23. Tickets are available at the League of Washington Theatres Web site, lowt.org, beginning October 1 at noon.
Monday Night at the National: All Monday-evening performances in the Helen Hayes Gallery of the National Theatre are free. Tickets are available half an hour before showtime. Free tickets are also available for the Saturday Morning at the National Theatre series for children. 1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; 202-783-3372; nationaltheatre.org.
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage: Free concerts every evening at 6. No tickets required; kennedy-center.org.
Student, Senior, and Military Discounts
Almost all theaters offer these types of discounts. Especially good ones are at the National Theatre, Kennedy Center, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Open Circle Theatre, and Zemfira Stage. Check with individual theaters for details.
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By
Susan Davidson
What's on stage at local theaters this month.
Theater J
Honey Brown Eyes, by Stefanie Zadravec, is set in Bosnia in 1992. The title comes from a Serbian new-wave song. Says Zadravec, a former Washingtonian: “The sound reminded me of DC’s new-wave and punk music scene in the ’80s, when there was something magical about feeling on the brink of something big, which I wanted as a backdrop to war’s tragedy. The two soldiers in the story used to be in a band together in the ’80s. By 1992, the bandmates find themselves on opposite sides of the Bosnian/Serbian war.” Closes November 30; postshow discussions Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. For tickets ($30 to $55, half price for ages 25 and under), call 800-494-8497 or visit theaterj.org. 1529 16th St., NW; 202-777-3210.
Synetic Theater at Rosslyn Spectrum Theater
Host and Guest, a Georgian epic poem that has been turned into a play, concentrates on two men from different religious communities whose friendship transcends religion and politics. It closes November 9. For tickets ($15 to $40), call 800-494-8497 or visit synetictheater.org. 1611 N. Kent St., Arlington.
Arena Stage at Crystal City
Next to Normal is about how a seemingly ordinary family copes with the mental illness of one of its own. A New York Times review of the off-Broadway production said the play was “steeped in an inescapable, aching compassion for people crippled by pain.” Alice Ripley heads the cast; Tom Kitt wrote the music, Brian Yorkey the book and lyrics. November 21 through January 18. For tickets ($57 to $76), call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org. 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington.
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By
Matt Carr
A compilation of interesting—and, most important, free—lectures, cultural events, and more throughout the week.
Monday, November 3
We’ve heard plenty about the two presidential candidates, but what about their wives? The Washington Post’s Liza Mundy aims to answer questions about Barack Obama’s other half with her book Michelle: A Biography. Mundy will be at Politics and Prose at 7 to discuss the book, which draws upon interviews with more than 100 people, including the potential first lady.
Tuesday, November 4
It’s Election Day—go vote! If you’ve already cast your ballot but still have politics on the brain, check out the political-cartoon collection at the National Postal Museum from 11 to 2. Or see our list of election-watching parties.
Wednesday, November 5
Like a little music with your lunch? The Corcoran’s Wednesday jazz series continues with Harry Appleman at 12:30 in the Frances and Armand Hammer Auditorium.
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We stopped diners exiting the new bar and restaurant next door to Ben's Chili Bowl to find out how chef Rock Harper's crab cakes compare to the famous half-smoke.
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Here’s our list of galas, balls, and parties happening around town during inauguration time. We’ll be updating this on a rolling basis as events are confirmed.
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