MONDAY, DECEMBER 11
MUSIC Songwriter Robbie Schaefer from the folk-rock band Eddie from Ohio is hosting an album launch and signing party at the Signature Theatre’s Mead Lobby for his new album, Sounds Like Home—Songs from the Musical Light Years. Schaefer’s new musical, Light Years, tells the autobiographical tale of his immigration and relationship with his father. Though the musical debuts in February, Schaefer will perform some of its songs on Monday. Free, 7 PM.
FILM The Washington Jewish Film Festival’s year-round programming launches its Winter Season on December 11. The nine-film series launches on Monday night with the romantic comedy Keep the Change at the Edlavitch DCJCC. The rest of the season includes a documentary about finding two blues singers in Civil-Rights era Mississippi (Two Trains Runnin’), a portrait of a Holocaust survivor (Big Sonia), and Israel’s official submission for the 2018 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award (Foxtrot). Through February 20. $13.50.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12
THEATRE The DC premiere of the new Tony Award-winning musical An American in Paris runs at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House. Featuring the music of George and Ira Gershwin, it’s the story of a romance between an American soldier and a mysterious French woman at the end of World War II in Paris. Through January 7. $59-$175.
HANUKKAH The Wharf is celebrating the First Night of Hanukkah with the lighting of the menorah. In addition, guests can enjoy cookies, s’mores, and live music by the String Queens. There’s also a dreidel-decorating station for kids. Free, 5 PM.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13
MUSEUMS Historian Robert Dallek’s new biography Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life examines Roosevelt’s role in the second world war and his response to the persecution of Jews. Dallek will speak about his research on Roosevelt at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum alongside Museum historian Rebecca Erbelding. Free, 1 PM.
MUSIC Classical crossover group ThePianoGuys rose to fame from the videos posted to their YouTube channel. The four Utah dads perform piano and cello covers of pop artists, songs from movies, and their own original compositions. The group’s most recent album, Christmas Together, is a collection of holiday tunes. The group performs at the National Theatre. Through December 16. $60.75-$103.75.
