Out On the Town

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

As one of the most oft-told holiday stories, Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol hardly needs any summary. Director Robert Zemeckis resurrects his animation style from The Polar Express to give Dickens's cautionary tale another visit. Fortunately this time Zemeckis manages to avoid the dead-eye issue that plagued his last holiday treat. Taking a page from an Eddie Murphy movie, Jim Carrey takes on the Scrooge role, as well as all three of the visiting ghosts. Since one is a flaming candle, one a portly jolly tub of man, and one a skeleton, it's tough to tell it's Carrey behind all of the make-up and animation. Actually, all of the make-up and animation make it tough to tell what he is doing at all. The heart of Zemeckis's film, which he also wrote, is dark and dreary. Even with the animation, it's quite adult. It's this more grown-up nature that makes the film enjoyable and the moments of whimsy feel out of place. Zemeckis doesn't walk the line between the two extremes with any finesse and it's one of the few -- albeit it big -- faults with the film. Where Zemeckis shines is in the visuals. Between snow falling and Scrooge flying, there's a whole lot of eye candy packed into this stocking. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. (Tim Plant)

FANTASTIC MR. FOX
This stop-motion animated adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1970 children's book features the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray. Though it's a bit out of character for him, director Wes Anderson (Rushmore) signed on because Dahl is reportedly one of his heroes. Opens Wednesday, Nov. 25. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.

OLD DOGS
Robin Williams and John Travolta find themselves saddled with 7-year-old twins in this supposed comedic romp. With Justin Long, Seth Green and Bernie Mac, so you can just guess how long this has been sitting on the shelf waiting for a release. Opens Wednesday, Nov. 25. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.

THE BOX

The Box could be really interesting if it weren't such a boring, garbled mess. At first The Box is a Sociology 101 experiment -- a $1 million gift is proffered to a couple if they are willing to push a button that will cause the death of a stranger -- but it's actually a sci-fi cautionary tale of humankind's destructive and selfish nature. Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur (James Marsden) are having a bad run of luck, so when a mysterious man (Frank Langella), makes them the million buck offer, Norma pushes the button. Director Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko) takes his sweet time setting up the film, and then more time revealing each clue. But rather than a glimpse into the real story behind the button, each new piece of information seems to taunt rather than clarify. As compelling as Diaz can be, she should not under any circumstance attempt a Southern accent again. Marsden is a little more reliable as Arthur. There are all sorts of references to texts that theoretically support the film, including Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit, the Bible, and sociological concepts like the Altruism Theory. While it can lead to a good 24 hours of conversation about what Kelly was trying to do, at the end one question is going to prevail: ''Does this film deserve so much time spent on deciphering it?'' The answer is no. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. (Tim Plant)

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON
"The Twilight Saga" persists. At least this one promises to feature less of the broody vampire (moribund Robert Pattinson) and more of a certain hunky werewolf (abs-elicious Taylor Lautner). All together now: Arrrooo! Opens Friday, Nov. 20. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.

26 MILES
A Tony Award-nominee for In the Heights, playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes's newest work focuses on a woman and her estranged daughter who head off on a spontaneous cross-country road trip. An '83 Buick Regal may be an unlikely place to find out what family really means. Neither mother nor daughter is prepared for what lies ahead. KJ Sanchez directs this funny, heartwarming work featuring Michael Frederic, Zabryna Guevara and Laura C. Harris. To this Sunday, Nov. 22. Round House Theatre Bethesda, 4545 East-West Highway. Tickets are $25 to $60. Call 240-644-1100 or visit roundhousetheatre.org.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
If so inspired, you could see adaptations of the classic Charles Dickens tale both on the big screen and onstage this season, as Ford's Theatre presents a new production directed by Signature Theatre's Michael Baron and starring local actor Edward Gero (Shakespeare Theatre Company's King Lear, Round House's Nixon's Nixon)as Ebenezer Scrooge. Opens Monday, Nov. 23, at 12 p.m. To Jan. 3. Ford's Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. Tickets are $16 to $65. Call 202-397-7328 or visit ticketmaster.com.

ANGELS IN AMERICA
Considered one of the greatest American plays of the past 25 years, Tony Kushner's two-part Angels in America is a daunting feat for any theater company to stage, but Forum Theatre is up for the challenge. Through mid-November, the company stages in repertory both parts of this epic on national themes, the AIDS crisis and spiritual and political morality set in Reagan-era New York City. Jeremy Skidmore directs Part I: Millennium Approaches and Michael Dove directs Part II: Perestroika, both featuring an all-star local cast including Alexander Strain, Ro Boddie, Daniel Eichner, Nanna Ingvarsson and Casie Platt. Now extended to Nov. 28. Round House Theatre-Silver Spring, 8641 Colesville Road. Tickets are $25. Call 240-644-1099 or visit forumtd.org.

AS YOU LIKE IT
The irrepressible Rosalind finds freedom of a different kind as she pursues love in disguise. One of Shakespeare's most delightful comedies, here with a stage re-imagined as a busy Hollywood soundstage with journeys through American history as depicted by Hollywood over the past century. Tony Award-winner Maria Aitken (Broadway's The 39 Steps) directs this adaptation, with a musical score by Michael John LaChiusa (Giant, The Wild Party). Now to Dec. 20. Sidney Harman Hall, Harman Center for the Arts, 610 F St. NW. Tickets are $45 to $87. Call 202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org.

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Estelle Parsons (Bonnie and Clyde, TV's Roseanne) stars as the dysfunctional family matriarch in Tracy Lett's gripping, darkly funny and astoundingly witty Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning play, set in Oklahoma in August. Opens Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7:30 p.m. To Dec. 20. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Tickets are $25 to $80. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

CAMELOT
The irresistible musical by Lerner & Loewe takes you inside the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and features the enduring ''If Ever I Would Leave You,'' and of course ''Camelot.'' Stephen Nachamie directs this production, starring Todd Alan Johnson (Broadway's Aida) as King Arthur, Patricia Hurley (Olney's Peter Pan) as Queen Guinevere, and Aaron Ramey (Broadway's Young Frankenstein) as Lancelot. To Jan. 3. Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. Tickets are $26 to $49. Call 301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.org.

FULL CIRCLE

To director Michael Rohd's credit, his unique staging of Charles Mee's Full Circle works in both concept and execution. Not only do we share the mischievous joy of being moved in and around the Woolly Mammoth environs as we follow the action, but we are still afforded just enough "head space" to be drawn into the play itself. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Full Circle is largely a comedy with a strong sardonic edge, so although there are thought-provoking moments, it doesn't require the concentration of, say, Stoppard's Rock N' Roll, another play touching on themes of Communism and the societal costs of repression. Some will loathe having to get up every few scenes and move around, with no reserved seating and times where one must stand in a crowd. But rest assured that the instructions are clear, the ushers (or guides, as they are called) are plentiful and the movements gentle. Better yet, your drink travels with you. The logistics involved and the dramatic challenges of keeping afloat this part-madcap, part-satire, part-soul-searching tale of two women and a baby navigating the chaos that follows the fall of the Berlin Wall require an extraordinarily focused acting ensemble. Serving as essential flotation devices are Naomi Jacobson as Pamela, the Washington socialite who finds herself holding the very important baby, and the always-brilliant Sarah Marshall as the various hilariously rendered characters Pamela meets while trying to get herself and the baby out of Germany. To Nov. 29. Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW. Tickets range from $45 to $62. Call 202-393-3939 or visit woollymammoth.net. (Kate Wingfield)

JERSEY BOYS

There's no denying New Jersey's national persona as a state where the women are ballsy and the guys are connected. And this musical does nothing to break that cycle. Comic and full-throated, with all the subtlety of an episode of The Sopranos, Jersey Boys is -- straight to the point -- an incredibly good time. A multi-award winning jukebox musical that tells the ''behind the music'' story of singer Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Jersey Boys remembers that pre-vocoder time when singers had to be able to, well, sing. As Valli, Joseph Leo Bwarie is a heartbreaker with the kind of vocal range that makes one sit up and take notice. It's a voice that not only does justice to the pop group's songbook, but reminds one how ingrained into our common consciousness the music of the Four Seasons has become. To Dec. 12. National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $51.50 to $111.50. Call 202-628-6161 or visit nationaltheatre.org. (Tom Avila)

LIE WITH ME
Charter Theatre's Keith Bridges wrote this uncommonly dark comedy about an all-too-common family tragedy. How badly can you fail at being a father, a sibling, a mother, a child? A family torn apart by secrets, lies and silence is thrown reluctantly back together at their mother's deathbed. Damaged and in turmoil, they each try to put the past behind them -- but instead find nothing but old wounds. Mature subject matter, themes and language; parental guidance strongly recommended. To this Sunday, Nov. 22. Charter Theatre, Theatre on the Run, 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington. Tickets are $25 to $28. Call 202-333-7009 or visit chartertheatre.org.

LOST IN YONKERS

There's a lovely sentimentality at work in Lost in Yonkers, a wonderfully broad, almost romantic notion of family. It's into this nest of family battles, also known as Grandma's apartment, that Eddie is trying to drop his boys. Jay and Arty need somewhere to stay while Eddie hits the road in an effort to pay off the debts he incurred for his late wife's medical care. But Grandma (Tana Hicken) is not convinced. Her life is not designed to be a grandmother. Pulling for the boys is Eddie's good-hearted but mentally impaired sister Bella (Holly Twyford), who lives with her mother and longs for other companionship. Those who saw Hicken and Twyford in Studio Theatre's Road to Mecca will be delighted to see the two paired once more. They create a fascinating and utterly believable mother-daughter dynamic that offers the show a solid foundation on which to build. Twyford is singularly outstanding in the role of Bella, imbuing the character with warmth, sensitivity and a brilliant sense of truth. To Nov. 29. The Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater, Washington, D.C.'s Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW. Tickets are $30 to $55. Call 800-494-TIXS or visit boxofficetickets.com. (Tom Avila)

LULU
Abused, debased and maligned, the original girl-gone-wild Lulu climbs through German and Parisian high society, leaving a trail of dead lovers behind her, only to find herself crashing onto the streets of Jack the Ripper's London. This Washington Shakespeare Co. production is directed by Christopher Henley and stars Sara Barker and Jay Hardee. To Dec. 13. Clark Street Playhouse, 601 S. Clark St., Arlington. Tickets are $26.50 to $51.50. Call 1-800-494-TIXS or visit washingtonshakespeare.org.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

The folks at the Folger Theatre have decided to take William Shakespeare on another time-warp road trip, this time piloting Much Ado About Nothing to D.C in the days before the city's annual Caribbean Carnival. It's all there: The bright masks, tropics-drenched shirts and, of course, a glowing neon palm tree. It may not be what the Bard originally envisioned for his tale of antagonistic lovers and malicious deception but this Ado is as cool and refreshing as an umbrella-crowned cocktail. To Nov. 29. Folger Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $39 to $60. Call 202-544-7077 or visit folger.edu/theatre. (Tom Avila)

OF MICE AND MEN

The folks at The Keegan Theater have brought Of Mice and Men, that bane of high school sophomores everywhere, to the stage of their new home at the Church Street Theater. While not without some very well-crafted scenes and solid performances, the play's full movement is too often hindered by a tone that is monotonously aggressive. The tension is high, the tenor is loud, and any hope of nuance dissolves into a very black-and-white rendering. Like the John Steinbeck novella on which it is based, the drama tells the story of George (Mark A. Rhea) and Lenny (Danny Gavigan), a pair of migrant farm workers in the late 1930s. The two men travel together from job to job; George taking the lead and acting as guardian for the extraordinarily strong but mentally impaired Lenny. It's a grim life based on equally grim history. But the brutality of the real world is one thing. The dynamic of a play is yet another. We crave relief not simply for the sake of comfort but for the establishment of some rhythm in the production. There is a largely unanswered desire to witness some kind of ebb in the emotional landscape, to be offered the sensation of an unexpected texture, to be able to embrace characters who are more fully realized, more wholly constructed. We get a glimpse of that in the play's final moments, a stunning scene that makes one long to have had that kind of experience throughout the show. To Nov. 29. Church Street Theater, 1742 Church St. NW. Tickets are $25 to $30. Call 703-892-0202 or visit keegantheatre.com. (Tom Avila)

PEARL BAILEY…BY REQUEST

Metro Stage revives last year's charming world-premiere production of this staged cabaret, about the splendid showboater Bailey, a famed singer and actress who grew up in Virginia and spent many years in D.C. President Nixon actually dignified her the ''Ambassador of Love.'' Local actress Roz White impersonates Bailey after having conceived of and helped compose the book to the show, weaving in anecdotes and monologues from Bailey in between 15 of her songs, chosen to best amplify the story. It launches with a rendition of ''Hello Dolly'' -- here, ''Hello Pearly'' -- from the Jerry Herman musical for which Bailey won a Tony in an all-black revival. Later, she sings ''St. Louis Blues,'' drawn from the 1959 movie in which she appeared alongside an all-star cast, including Nat King Cole, Eartha Kitt and Ella Fitzgerald. White is a first-rate singer and performer who seduces you with her expressive alto voice and ineffable star quality. She's occasionally joined onstage by William Hubbard, almost stealing the show as Hot Lips Page, a singer who regularly performed with Bailey. MetroStage has set up café tables in front for this show. Gorgeously dressed and accessorized, White employs a light touch throughout the entire production, gingerly gliding through the Bailey songbook as well as her monologues. She handles the role with such aplomb, in fact, you'll almost forget she's not Bailey. It's a remarkable feat you'll remember for a long time to come. Opens Thursday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. MetroStage, 1201 North Royal St., Alexandria. Tickets are $45 to $50. Call 800-494-8497 or visit metrostage.org. (Doug Rule)

SHOWBOAT
Eric Schaeffer reinvents this classic 1927 Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein musical -- the first great American musical -- with an intimate new staging. Featuring new orchestrations — and a new overture — by the renowned Jonathan Tunick, the musical spans the years 1880 to 1927, chronicling three generations of show folk on the Mississippi, and includes such staples as ''Ol' Man River'' and ''Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man.'' Will Gartshore leads the 25-person cast as dashing riverboat gambler Gaylord Ravenal. To Jan. 17. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $52 to $76. Call 703-820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org.

THE ALCHEMIST

Michael Kahn has an exceptional talent for injecting antique plays with contemporary flair, but his take on Ben Jonson's comedy makes one long for jerkins, ruffled collars and the trills of a dusty harpsichord. Although it is impossible to fault the precision, energy and tight pacing of the production, there is something patently off-putting about the spin Kahn gives to the trio of grifters at the heart of this farce. Instead of channeling the required lovable roguery, David Manis as the phony alchemist Subtle comes across like a seedy front-man from a marginal '80s rock band recently denied entry to Margaritaville. Michael Milligan as his partner and rival Face, is less repellant but no more convincing, and Kate Skinner, the female con Dol Common, suggests world-weariness to the point of ossification. One of the smallest parts, Robert Creighton as the diminutive and aggressively suspicious Ananias, for example, steals every scene with an abject silliness that is no doubt harder to pull off than it looks. To this Sunday, Nov. 22. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW. Tickets are $41 to $87. Call 202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org. (Kate Wingfield)

THE FANTASTICKS
Arena Stage presents a whimsical adaptation of the musical that charmed off-Broadway for a record-breaking 42 years. A twist on the classic story of boy meets girl, Matt and Luisa are led by El Gallo from the wistfulness of "when life was slow and oh so mellow" to the reality that "without a hurt the heart is hollow." Director Amanda Dehnert re-imagines this timeless fable by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt in an abandoned amusement park, with a grand set designed by Tony Award-winner Eugene Lee (Broadway's Wicked, Sweeney Todd) and magical illusions from an illusion designer who's worked for David Copperfield as well as Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. Opens Friday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. To Jan. 10. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. Tickets are $25 to $74. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
The Georgetown University Music Program and Georgetown University Theater and Performance Studies Program join with the Mask and Bauble Dramatic Society and Black Theatre Ensemble to stage an adaptation of this musical, from Tony Kushner (Angels in America) and Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie), set against the backdrop of the Kennedy assassination and the Civil Rights Movement in 1963. To this Saturday, Nov. 21. Georgetown University: Gonda Theatre at the Davis Performing Arts Center on Georgetown University's main campus. Tickets are $15 to $18. Call 202-687-ARTS or visit performingarts.georgetown.edu.

BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Marin Alsop leads the orchestra and French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet in a program that includes Liszt's Totentanz, the ''Red Cape Tango'' from Michael Daugherty's Metropolis Symphony and Berlioz's groundbreaking Symphonie fantastique. Thursday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Also Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Tickets are $25 to $80. Call 410-783-8000 or visit bsomusic.org.

BEBEL GILBERTO
Gilberto's father, João, is the father of bossa nova, and her mother, Miúcha, a bossa nova superstar singer. (And then there's her father's first wife, Astrud, also a bossa nova superstar singer.) But Gilberto will not be a music history footnote -- a Brazilian Lisa Marie Presley. Gilberto, born in New York but raised in Rio de Janeiro, deserves recognition for musical talent all her own. Her music is a lushly orchestrated, gently swaying hybrid of Latin pop and -- what else? -- bossa nova. The newly married singer's sense of happiness is stamped all over her new set, All In One. Monday, Nov. 23. Doors at 6 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $35. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND
After Obama campaigning and inaugural duties, and after the Super Bowl, Springsteen and his E Street Band have spent the year touring, hitting music festivals and putting on the last show at his home state's Giants Stadium before it was torn down. After a stop a few weeks ago at the Verizon Center, the third American leg of the ''Working On A Dream'' tour stops here. Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. 1st Mariner Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore. Tickets are $29 or $98. Call 410-727-7811 or visit livenation.com.

CHRIS KNIGHT
Formerly a coalmine inspector from rural Kentucky, this acoustic country crooner records in a traditional style like a modern-day Hank Williams -- akin to John Prine or Steve Earle -- and a recent release was hailed by the New York Times as ''a record no lover of great American music should miss.'' Sunday, Nov. 22, at 8:30 p.m. IOTA Club and Café, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Tickets are $12. Call 703-522-8340 or visit iotaclubandcafe.com.

DEADMAU5
One of dance/electronica's fastest-rising stars -- and also one of its most baffling -- Canada's Joel Zimmerman only started spinning and recording as DeadMau5 (pronounced ''dead mouse'') four years ago, and just released his mostly instrumental debut artist album last fall. But he already ranks in the upper tier in international DJ polls and has garnered several industry awards. Six months after his last stop at the 9:30 Club, he returns to promote his sophomore set, For Lack Of A Better Name, which is slightly less spare and blippy -- bizarre -- than the debut. Monday, Nov. 23. Doors at 10 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $25. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

HAYDN TRIO EISENSTADT
Wrapping up the Library of Congress's celebration of the Haydn bicentenary, this Austrian trio appears with two Scottish singers, soprano Lorna Anderson and tenor Jamie MacDougall, partners in a project to record the composer's complete piano chamber music -- and all 429 Scottish songs -- at the Esterházy Castle. Friday, Nov. 20, at 6:15 p.m. The Whittall Pavilion at the Library of Congress. No tickets required for this free concert. Call 202-707-8000 or visit loc.gov/concerts.

JEFFREY OSBORNE
A pop hitmaker in the '80s ("You Should Be Mine [The Woo Woo Song], the Dionne Warwick duet ''Love Power''), this R&B singer/songwriter has earned five gold and platinum albums. Sunday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $65. Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com.

LIEF OVE ANDSNES
Internationally acclaimed pianist Leif Ove Andsnes performs an installation piece titled ''Pictures Reframed,'' a Lincoln Center 50th Anniversary commission that integrates Andsnes's playing through Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition and others works with screen and floor projections by South African artist Robin Rhode. Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are $45. Call 202-785-9727 or visit wpas.org.

MARYLAND OPERA STUDIO
University of Maryland School of Music students perform Gaetano Donizetti's Elixir of Love, a comic story of a simple peasant who buys a supposedly magic potion to woo the beautiful and wealthy girl that he loves. Fully staged, with minimal production and only piano accompaniment, this opera focus attention squarely on these young singers and the characters they create. Performed in Italian with English supertitles. Friday, Nov. 20, and Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7:30 p.m. Also Sunday, Nov. 22, at 3 p.m. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center's Gildenhorn Recital Hall, University of Maryland, University Boulevard and Stadium Drive, College Park. Tickets are $21. Call 301-405-ARTS or visit claricesmithcenter.umd.edu.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
The much-hyped ''Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor'' exhibit focuses on 15 out of the thousands of life-size clay figures buried nearly 2,000 years ago in massive underground pits to accompany China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, into the afterlife. Their discovery outside the city of Xi'an in 1974 is one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century, and this exhibit is the largest collection of significant artifacts from China ever to travel to the United States. Opens today, Nov. 19. Through March 31. National Geographic Society, 1145 17th St. NW. Tickets are $12. Call 202-857-7700 or visit warriorsdc.com.

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
Riccardo Muti conducts the orchestra in a program of Liszt, Elgar and Prokoviev. The New York Times raves the philharmonic is ''a band of extraordinary virtuosos who can switch from Haydn to Berio on a dime.'' Saturday, Nov. 21, at 4 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets are $65 to $115. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

NSO POPS
In ''The Music of The Music Man,'' Marvin Hamlisch conducts the NSO Pops in a medley of composer Meredith Willson's greatest hits, along with Broadway stars Rebecca Luker as Marian the Librarian, Shirley Jones as Mrs. Paroo and Patrick Cassidy as Harold Hill singing classics from the Tony Award-winning musical, from ''Seventy-Six Trombones'' to ''Till There Was You.'' Friday, Nov. 27, at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets are $20 to $85. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

ROBBIE SCHAEFER
The famed guitarist and songwriter from folk-rock band Eddie From Ohio and host of XM's Robbie Schaefer's Stuck in a Real Tall Tree entertains audiences with an energetic warmth and honesty in his music. Lucy Wainwright Roche is his special guest. Thursday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $18. Call 703-255-1900 or visit wolf-trap.org.

SIGNATURE SINGS: 1995-1999
Signature Theatre hosts a special cabaret series throughout the season to celebrate its 20 years of musical theater. Next up: select songs from Sondheim productions during its second five years, including Cabaret, Passion, The Rink, Sunday in the Park with George and A Little Night Music. To this Sunday, Nov. 22. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $33. Call 703-820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org.

TRANSGENDER HEALTH EMPOWERMENT
This nonprofit organization sponsors two events this weekend: a Transgender Day of Remembrance event Friday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m., at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C., 474 Ridge St. NW; and participation in Fannie Mae's 22nd Annual Help the Homeless Walkathon. Walk for homeless GLBTQ youth by selecting Transgender Health Empowerment as the beneficiary agency when registering for the walkathon. Saturday, Nov. 21, at 8:30 a.m. (rain or shine) National Mall, between 7th and 14th Streets NW. Registration costs $25. Call 202-636-1646 or visit theindc.org.

WASHINGTON CONCERT OPERA
The Washington Concert Opera presents the last local event as part of the first-ever National Opera Week, organized by OPERA America, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, in which over 90 opera organizations across the country offered special activities over the past week. Anthony Walker conducts this opera and chorus, along with Charles Castronovo, John Relyea and Amanda Majeski, in a concert version of Gounod's Faust, which hasn't been presented by a major opera company in D.C. in about 15 years. In French with projected English translations. Sunday, Nov. 22, at 6 p.m. Lisner Auditorium, George Washington University, 730 21st St. NW. Tickets are $30 to $90. Call 202-364-5826 or visit concertopera.org.

DAKSHINA DANCE CO.
Daniel Patrick Singh's dance company performs Anna Sokolow's Dreams along with other award-winning works in a signature blend of both modern and Indian dance styles. Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m. Baltimore Theatre Project, 45 W. Preston St., Baltimore. Tickets are $20. Call 202-247-1292 or visit dakshina.org.

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY DANCE COMPANY
Established in 1974, this company performs its fall concert, diverse works in classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, indigenous, hip hop and tap, with all choreography created by the faculty director Miya Hisaka Silva and student members, led by Amanda Silva. Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m. Walsh Black Box Theatre at the Davis Performing Arts Center on Georgetown University's main campus. Tickets are $10. Call 202-687-ARTS or visit performingarts.georgetown.edu.

LOUIS VAN AMSTEL
Television's Dancing with the Stars champion van Amstel directs and choreographs ''Ballroom with A Twist,'' a dazzling production featuring dancers from that hit reality-TV competition as well as So You Think You Can Dance and High School Musical -- with celebrity host Gilles Marini (Sex and the City) and American Idol's David Hernandez and Trenyce Cobbins. Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $35 to $79. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org. PENNSYLVANIA BALLET'S NUTCRACKER The first of several takes on Tchaikovksy The Nutcracker to come to town this holiday season, this ballet company's production is said to be the first in D.C. to present George Balanchine's choreography. ''This dressed-up Nutcracker dazzles,'' raves the Philadelphia Inquirer. Tuesday, Nov. 24, Wednesday, Nov. 25, Friday, Nov. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. Also Friday, Nov. 27, Saturday, Nov. 28, and Sunday, Nov. 29, at 1:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets are $47 to $150. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

KATE CLINTON
The lesbian comic returns with her timely political humor in a show called Yes on K8! Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $45. Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com. Clinton also appears Friday, Nov. 20, at 1 p.m. Lambda Rising Bookstore, 1625 Connecticut Ave. NW. Call 202-462-6969 or visit lambdarising.com.

BOB MARLEY
This comedian from Portland, Maine -- and not the late singer from Nine Mile, Jamaica -- is known as Detective Greenly in the action/drama film series Boondock Saints, and as host of a half-hour special on Comedy Central and a limited-run series on Sirius XM's Raw Dog Comedy Channel. His reportedly ''high-energy'' stand-up routine focuses on growing up in Maine, his kids, marriage and living in L.A. Now through Sunday, Nov. 22. DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW. Tickets are $17 to $20. Call 202-296-7008 or visit dcimprov.com.

COLIN AND JULIE ANGUS
Rowed Trip: From Scotland to Syria by Oar documents this Canadian couple's human-powered 7,000-kilometer journey that earned them the designation of 2006 Adventurers of the Year by National Geographic Adventure magazine. Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7:30 p.m. National Geographic Society's Gilbert H. Grosvenor Auditorium, 1600 M St. NW. Tickets are $18. Call 202-857-7700 or visit nglive.org.

ATHENAEUM
Tracey Clarke's ''New Mythology'' exhibition presents oil paintings of animals. Opens Thursday, Nov. 19. An opening reception happens Sunday, Nov. 22, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. To Jan. 3. Athenaeum, 201 Prince St., Alexandria. Call 703-548-0035 or visit nvfaa.org.

ARTHUR M. SACKLER GALLERY
''Falnama: The Book of Omens'' is the first exhibition ever devoted to these extraordinary manuscripts from Ottoman Turkey and Safarid Iran. Falnama were splendid, illustrated tools devised to foretell the future. Through Jan. 24, 2010. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Call 202-633-4800 or visit asia.si.edu.

CIVILIAN ART PROJECTS
Carole Wagner Greenwood, best known as a celebrated local restaurateur and chef (Greenwood, Buck's Fishing & Camping, Comet Ping Pong) offers her second sculpture exhibition at Civilian, ''A Little Give and Take,'' along with a companion recording of the same name. Also inaugurating Civilian's new space is ''Woods,'' the gallery's first exhibition from photographer Terri Weifenbach, focused on photographs taken within the woods of the D.C. metro area. Through Dec. 19. Civilian Arts Projects, 1019 7th St. NW. Call 202-607-3804 or visit civilianartprojects.com.

CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART
John Singer Sargent, the preeminent American expatriate painter of the late 19th century, is the focus of this gallery's ''Sargent and the Sea,'' gathering more than 80 paintings, watercolors and drawings depicting seascapes and coastal scenes from his early career in Europe. The centerpiece of the exhibition is the Corcoran's own En Route pour la pêche (Setting out to Fish). Through Jan. 3, 2010. Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St. NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-639-1700 or visit corcoran.org.

HILLWOOD MUSEUM & GARDENS
''Sèvres Then And Now: Tradition and Innovation in Porcelain, 1750-2000'' is the first exhibition in America to present together the earliest Sèvres pieces alongside the contemporary works of the 20th and 21st centuries, and to explore fully how continuous innovation propelled Sèvres to become the preeminent porcelain factory. To May 30, 2010. Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested donation is $12. Call 202-686-8500 or visit HillwoodMuseum.org.

HIRSHHORN MUSEUM & SCULPTURE GARDEN
Associate curator Kelly Gordon has organized ''Directions: John Gerrard,'' featuring re-imagined landscape art from the Vienna-based Irish artist who adds images from Realtime 3-D, a customized game-design software, to on-site photography to capture 360-degree views of his subjects, blending fact and fiction. Now through May 31. Hirshhorn Museum, Independence Avenue and 7th Street SW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit hirshhorn.si.edu.

LONG VIEW GALLERY
Anna U. Davis, Scott G. Brooks, Dana Ellyn and Tony Savoie are among the artists whose works are part of the first exhibit at this gallery's brand-new renovated space, several thousand more square feet than its previous location a half block south. An exhibit of Long View regulars appears through the end of November. Long View Gallery, 1234 9th St. NW. Call 202-232-4788 or visit longviewgallery.com.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
Through remarkable acuity, exhaustive study and close relationships with the artists, Robert and Jane Meyerhoff amassed one of the most outstanding collections of modern art, with an emphasis on six American masters: Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, Roy Lichtenstein, Brice Marden, Robert Rauschenberg and Frank Stella. This gallery presents select works from the collection. Through May 2, 2010. National Gallery of Art East Building, 3rd Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Call 202-737-4215 or visit nga.gov.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
''IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas'' is a 20-panel banner exhibition focused on the interactions between African-American and Native-American people, especially those of blended heritage. Now through May 23, 2010. National Museum of the American Indian, Independence Avenue and 4th Street SW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit nmai.si.edu.

NEVIN KELLY
Several gay artists, including Scott Brooks, Thomas Drymon, Tim Tate and Ruth Travarrow, factor in this gallery's new exhibit, ''Zeitgeist II: What's Important Now?,'' exploring socially conscious subjects, from the environment to the economy, and a sequel to last year's ''Zeitgeist: Under Surveillance.'' An opening reception happens Thursday, Nov. 19, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. On exhibit through Dec. 12. Nevin Kelly Gallery, 1400 Irving St. NW #132. Call 202-232-3464 or visit nevinkellygallery.com.

PHILLIPS COLLECTION
''Man Ray, African Art and the Modernist Lens'' features about 60 of Man Ray's photographs, many never before exhibited, along with more than 40 photographs by his contemporaries, including Cecil Beaton, Walker Evans and Alfred Stieglitz. The photos appear side-by-side with 20 of the African objects featured in the images. Through Jan. 10, 2010. The Philips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Tickets are $12. Call 202-387-2151, ext. 247, or visit phillipscollection.org.

SUSAN CALLOWAY FINE ARTS
Whether she turns her eye to the mountains and valleys of her home in Wyoming, or to the bridges, parks and monuments of D.C., Kathryn Mapes Turner captures the inherent beauty of her subjects moving seamlessly from watercolor to oil. ''Magnifique'' features cityscapes, landscapes and figurative works. Through Dec. 12. Susan Calloway Fine Arts, 1643 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Call 202-965-4601 or visit callowayart.com. THE ART REGISTRY GALLERY
J. Huffman's first solo show features several of his three-dimensional pieces, or what he calls ''stages,'' conceived and developed as narratives. On exhibit now through Jan. 4, 2010, with a reception this Saturday, Nov. 21, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Art Registry Gallery, upstairs at Todd Christofaro, 3146 Dumbarton St. NW. Call 202-557-6655 or visit theartregistrygroup.com/index.html.

WASHINGTON PRINTMAKERS
Anne McLaughlin presents ''Cones 'n Tones'' this month at this gallery. Through Nov. 29. Washington Printmakers Gallery, 1732 Connecticut Ave. NW. Call 202-332-7757 or visit washingtonprintmakers.com.

1409 PLAYBILL CAFÉ
1409 14th St. NW Washington 202-265-3055 Cost: $$ Serving harried theatergoers and local barflies with the same aplomb, this 10-year-old Logan Circle stalwart is the perfect answer, whether hearty bar fare or a multi-course dinner are on your personal menu. Generous nachos and Playbill's signature "Naomi's Fries" star on the appetizer menu, while nearly every entrée offering will have you yelling "encore!" -- and loosening your belt a notch. Vegetarian options on this mostly traditional American-fare menu abound, while regular dinner specials expand the offerings with flavors from more exotic locales.

18TH & U DUPLEX DINER

2004 18th St. NW
 Washington 
202-265-9599 Cost: $$ Perched on the border of the Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle neighborhoods, Duplex Diner has long served as a lively and casual gathering spot for D.C.'s gay movers and shakers. The dining room is as social as the bar, with much table hopping and hobnobbing. The food is classic American comfort -- a generous meatloaf, a terrific mac and cheese, unbeatable pork chops, a savory rib eye and a wedge salad comprised of crisp iceberg lettuce and thick chunks of bacon, bathed in blue-cheese dressing -- that adds to the at-home-with-friends feel.

ALBERTO'S
2010 P St. NW 2438 18th St. NW Washington 202-986-2121 Cost: $ Quality can be found at any price. On the low-end of the financial spectrum, Alberto's definitely delivers quality. Alberto De Souza, who owns the two-outlet Alberto's with his wife, Jillian, combines his Chicago-trained sensibility and French influences -- by way of serving as Sofitel Washington's executive chef -- in a stone oven. The result? ''Go Bears!,'' if you go Chicago style, or c'est magnifique! for a, say, thin crust with goat cheese and capers. By the pie, it's the perfect rustic dinner in, or the soothing nightcap slice as you stumble home. Free delivery around Dupont and Adams Morgan.

ANNIE'S PARAMOUNT STEAK HOUSE
1609 17th St. NW Washington 202-232-0395 Cost: $$ Annie's is a mix of modern meets comfortable and not a lick of pretension, be it morning, noon or late night -- 24 hours a day on weekends. While steak is what made Annie's famous -- we salivate particularly for the filet mignon Oscar, with crab imperial and Béarnaise -- lighter fare abounds these days. Make a meal of the Greek supreme salad with beef tips or grilled chicken, go for the blackened-salmon sandwich, or pass an hour at the bar enjoying one of Annie's signature Manhattans with some Maryland crab-cake sliders. Or try a wedge salad, if you're partial to iceberg with bacon, gorgonzola and a blue-cheese dressing.

BANANA CAFE & PIANO BAR
500 8th St. SE Washington 202-543-5906 Cost: $$ When at the vibrant, festive Banana Café, do as any visiting Cuban would do -- order up yourself a sub-style Cuban sandwich, packed with tender, juicy sliced roast pork loin, honey baked ham and Swiss cheese. Even better, go for a Cuban pizza, smothered with ground beef, pork, plantains and mozzarella cheese. The restaurant, owned and operated by artist Jorge Zamorano, prides itself on its authentic Cuban and Puerto Rican cuisine, but it also traverses Tex-Mex and tapas territory. No matter which way you go with your food, make sure not to miss Banana's mojito. Cigars notwithstanding, it's as close to Cuban perfection as you'll ever get.

BEACON BAR & GRILL
1615 Rhode Island Ave. NW Washington 202-872-1126 Cost: $$ Nothing says gay venue like a great happy-hour bar menu -- $5 apiece for mini burgers, crab quesadillas and plenty more. Then there's the elaborate Sunday buffet brunch, with unlimited mimosas, champagne or Bloody Marys; the Saturday night prix fixe wine dinners; or Tuesday's three-course pasta dinners. From bar fare to eggs Benedict, Beacon Bar & Grill hits every appetite. Sneak up to the rooftop Beacon Martini Sky Bar, when open, for one the best views around.

CAFÉ BERLIN
322 Massachusetts Ave. NE Washington 202-543-7656 Cost: $$ For more than 20 years, Café Berlin has faithfully recreated an authentically Deutsch dining experience, while respecting American sensibilities by aiming for a slightly lighter interpretation. Feast upon Café Berlin's saurbraten, schnitzel or wurstplatte year round. Enjoy a nice Riesling with the lighter fare, while the bar's variety of German beers will undoubtedly have a nice pairing for the classical dishes. You'll want to make a special trip this month for their Thanksgiving dinner.

D.C. NOODLES
1410 U St. NW Washington 202-232-8424 Cost: $$ D.C. Noodles is focused on churning out delectable dishes of fresh ingredients in unexpected combinations. Asian pumpkin factors into at least two standouts on the menu: Crispy, dense pumpkin empanadas and the Red Curry Chicken with pumpkin and spinach linguini. There are several enticing noodle salads, featuring bean sprouts and string beans. Wash it all down with an earthy saketini or a heavenly Kaffir Lime Martini. Whatever you do, don't skip the dessert course of cold, coconut ice cream and warm, sticky rice. It's a match made in carb heaven.

DUPONT ITALIAN KITCHEN
1637 17th Street NW Washington 202-328-3222 Cost: $$ Dupont Italian Kitchen has held down its comfortable perch at the southeast corner of 17th and R streets NW, where it's served reliable, hearty Italian fare that's kept its customers satisfied for 23 years. The menu is full-on Italian -- no surprises here -- but there are some wonderful standouts, including Fettucini Alfredo, its broad, al dente noodles swiming in a velvety cream sauce. And really, you can't go wrong with D.I.K.'s gooey cheese manicotti or robust lasagna. If, however, you're in the mood for something extra special, try the Chicken Francaise, boneless breasts lightly sauteed in a piquant garlic and lemon butter. Dupont Italian Kitchen also serves a decent pizza, a smattering of parmagiana-inspired sandwiches, and a special brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays.

FLORIANA
1602 17th St. NW Washington 202-667-5937 Cost: $$ Floriana offers Old World charm for a New World clientele. From its romantic dining area to its chipper service, the effect is to make you feel at home, part of one big happy family. Whatever you do, don't come here while on a diet, because the rich sauces and delicious pasta made by hand are not to be missed, especially the classic lasagna. The restaurant also turns out a nice rack of lamb, while shrimp and scallops are served with a decadent cheese risotto that actually melts in your mouth.

FREDDIE'S BEACH BAR & RESTAURANT
555 South 23rd St. Crystal City 703-685-0555 Cost: $$ Perched atop Crystal City's restaurant row for over seven years, Freddie's is a beachside oasis that'll warm you up and take you to the shore no matter what the weather. The extensive menu features an array of hearty appetizers, burgers and entrées. The crab cakes are some of the best we've had and the roasted half-chicken with au gratin potatoes is flat-out delicious. And the surf and turf is a bona fide crowd pleaser. Don't miss Wednesday night's $6 burger special or Sunday's brunch buffet, offering everything from eggs Benedict to General Tso's chicken.

JACK'S
1527 17th St. NW Washington 202-332-6767 Cost: $$ With a mix of European flair and American simplicity -- peppered with a dash of Turkish exoticism -- Jack's draws festive crowds to both the bar and bistro. Half-price bottles of wine/champagne on Tuesdays and Thursdays doesn't hurt, especially when paired with fare that ranges from burgers to pork loin al balsamico. Bon vivants will certainly appreciate the ambitious cocktail menu and Jack's unique birthday celebrations.

KRAMERBOOKS & AFTERWORDS CAFE
1517 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington Cost: $$ For decades, Afterwords Cafe has whipped up a flavor more akin to Greenwich Village than the capital. Whether it's a weekday breakfast of blueberry pancakes or a tower of late-night, signature "Sharezies" -- maybe crab cakes, mussels and mushroom crostini? -- Afterwords gives D.C. a taste of the bohemian bistro that nearly never sleeps, even if the Metro does. Don't make a mistake of missing the rockin' beer and wine list, to be enjoyed on the patio or in the cozy, wooden bar.

LEVEL ONE
1639 R St. NW Washington 202-745-0025 Cost: $$ With tasteful, inviting décor, and just as tasteful, inviting food, Level One, the youngest addition to 17th Street's famous restaurant row, has quickly become one of its darlings. The menu is diverse, 21st century-style American, and the charming and amicable servers guide you to the best things, from the best bottle of wine to the best way to top a popular Level One burger -- the Southern way, with bacon, BBQ sauce and cheddar. At half-price on Sundays, your Southern burger will come to just over $5. With the average entrée priced at just $15, chances are, you'll leave with fond memories all around.

M STREET BAR & GRILL
2033 M St. NW Washington 202-530-3621 Cost: $$ Sundays at the M Street Bar & Grill are an institution, where table-service brunch and endless mimosas/Bloody Marys are the rule. Yvonne Johnson's jazz accompaniment is the perfect aural digestif with brunch or Thursday dinner. All menus offer solidly American fare with hints of the Middle East and soul cooking at the edges. The two-course dinner for two for $40 makes for a great date -- especially so considering the rooms and suites of the St. Gregory Hotel fill the floors above the restaurant, for those wanting to add their own spice.

NAGE
1600 Rhode Island Ave. NW Washington 202-448-8005 Cost: $$ Nestled in the Marriott Courtyard Embassy Row, Nage's ground-floor space feels cozy, bright and airy. As summer turns to fall, continue the summer mood with a grilled summer vegetable panini, or a soft-shell crab croissant with mango, arugula and chipotle aioli. Both are available for either brunch or lunch, and offer just a hint of what's on offer.

NELLIE'S SPORTS BAR
900 U St. NW Washington 202-332-6355 Cost: $$ Nellie's is popular for its big-screen TVs and huge rooftop patio overlooking U Street. But when you want to eat, you don't have to stick to the typical sports-bar staples of burgers, hot dogs and fries. In fact, the real draws on the menu are the Latin-derived dishes. For pub grub, try one of Chef Maria's empanadas or an arepa, a Venezuelan corn muffin puffier and heartier than a pita, stuffed with either delicious chicken salad and avocado or shredded criollo chicken.