FILM

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

Considered one of the best films featuring slapstick kings the Marx Brothers, Sam Wood’s 1935 “pandemonium of hilarity” returns to the big screen as part of Landmark’s West End Cinema Capital Classics series. Wednesday, July 25, at 1:30, 4:30, and 7:30 p.m., 2301 M St. NW. Happy hour from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $12.50. Call 202-534-1907 or visit landmarktheatres.com.

BEHIND BLUE SKIES

As part of its summer series, Sweden on the Screen, the House of Sweden on the Georgetown Waterfront presents Hannes Holm’s dark, complex depiction of Swedish society in the ’70s. Behind Blue Skies stars Bill Skarsgård as a young man who escapes the grasp of his alcoholic father to work the summer job of his dreams at the exclusive Royal Yacht Club. Peter Dalle is the playboy at the center of high society who takes Skarsgård’s character under his wing, drawing him into events beyond his control. Subtitled. Rated NC-17 for explicit nudity and sex. Sunday, July 29, at 3 p.m. 2900 K St. NW. Free but registration required. Call 202-536-1500 or visit swedenabroad.com/Washington.

CHERRY GROVE STORIES

Reel Affirmations presents Michael Fisher’s documentary about the history of a pristine beachfront hamlet on Fire Island which became a safe haven for gays in the mid-20th century. Cherry Grove Stories offers an oral history of the enclave bolstered by interviews with Cherry Grove residents, as well as news and archival footage. Friday, July 20, at 7 p.m. Preceded by a Cocktails and Cinema Open Bar Happy Hour starting at 6 p.m. with music by DJ Honey. HRC Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW. General Admission is $12, or $25 including VIP seating, complimentary cocktail or drink, and movie candy or popcorn; VIP Xtra Pass for all five monthly screenings from July through December is $100. Call 800-777-4723 or visit thedccenter.org/reelaffirmations.

DON’T WORRY, HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT

Gus Van Sant has a mixed track record, but this comedy-drama based on John Callahan’s memoir is apparently worth watching. Joaquin Phoenix plays Callahan, a heavy drinker who became a quadriplegic after a night of drinking led to a devastating car accident. The film follows his recovery, from giving up drinking to discovering his gift for edgy, irreverent editorial cartoons. Opens Friday, July 20. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. (Rhuaridh Marr)

FOOTLOOSE

Georgetown Sunset Cinema presents Herbert Ross’ 1984 drama that introduced the world to Kevin Bacon, who landed the role after Tom Cruise passed to film All The Right Moves instead. John Lithgow portrays a minister in a small Midwestern town where dancing and rock music has been banned — until Bacon moves to town and cuts everybody loose. The screening takes place in a grassy knoll along the banks of the Potomac River, with the panoramic Key Bridge as backdrop. Vendors include Muncheez and Stella’s PopKern and Maracas Ice Pops. Everyone is encouraged to bring a blanket, food and water or soft drinks — just no chairs or alcohol. Tuesday, July 24, at the intersection of Water Street and Cecil Place NW. The area opens at 6:30 p.m., and the screening starts at sunset, around 8:30 p.m. Call 202-298-9222 or visit georgetowndc.com/sunset-cinema.

MEAN GIRLS

The Bethesda Urban Partnership continues the 14th annual Bethesda Outdoor Movies series with a screening of Tina Fey’s hilarious 2004 film, directed by Mark Waters and starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Amy Poehler. A limited number of seats will be provided, though attendees are encouraged to arrive early and bring their own lawn chairs. So fetch. Friday, July 27, at 9 p.m. The corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle. Free. Call 301-215-6660 or visit bethesda.org.

SAMSON & DELILAH

The Phillips Collection presents a screening of indigenous Australian director Warwick Thornton’s 2009 “survival love story.” Samson & Delilah is set in an isolated Aboriginal community near Alice Springs in the Central Australian desert. Presented in conjunction with the special exhibition Marking The Infinite (see separate entry under Galleries), the film screens as part of a series also featuring Rabbit-Proof Fence and Ten Canoes. Thursday, July 26, at 6 p.m. The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Tickets are $15, or $5 for Phillips members, including admission to the special exhibition. In addition, admission to exhibitions is free for those 30 and under until Sept. 2 as part of a special summer promotion at the Phillips. Call 202-387-2151 x247 or visit phillipscollection.org.

THE SANDLOT

Scotty Smalls, the new, awkward kid in town joins a never-ending baseball game for one unforgettable summer in 1962. Lauded by several sports publications as one of the best baseball films ever made. The supporting cast includes James Earl Jones, Karen Allen, and Denis Leary. Sunday, July 22, at 1 and 4 p.m., and Tuesday, July 24, at 2 and 7 p.m. Area theaters including Regal Gallery Place (701 7th St. NW), AMC Hoffman Center (206 Swamp Fox R., Alexandria), and Regal Rockville Center (199 E. Montgomery Ave., Rockville). Visit fathomevents.com.

STAGE

AIN’T TOO PROUD

The Kennedy Center presents a new musical about The Temptations, a group that churned out 42 Top 10 hits, including 14 No. 1’s. Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys) directs and Sergio Trujillo (Memphis the Musical) choreographs a production featuring classics everyone knows — from “My Girl” to “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” to “Just My Imagination.” To July 22. Eisenhower Theater. Tickets are $59 to $159. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

CAPITAL FRINGE FESTIVAL

Southwest D.C. is the hub for this year’s Capital Fringe, with 11 stages set up at venues throughout the neighborhood, including Arena Stage, Blind Whino, and area churches — all within a five-minute walk of one another. Most shows at Fringe are selected through an unjuried, open-invitation process — first-come, first-staged — with works largely created and produced by new or relatively inexperienced theatermakers. Shows wth LGBTQ themes in 2018 include: M. Cristina Garcia’s Lesbians and the Men Who Love Them, Samir Bitar & Mahayana Landowne’s 50 Ways…, Jamie Brickhouse’s darkly comic Dangerous When Wet: Booze, Sex & My Mother, Kate Robards’PolySHAMory, Sri Mirajkar’s Draupadi’s Arranged Marriage, Glass Attic Collective’s devised work Up Your Aesthetic, Caitlin M. Caplinger’s Riot Brrrain, and Flying Blind Theatre Ensemble’s The Country Co-ed. To July 30. Tickets are $17 per show, with a one-time purchase of a $7 Fringe button. Multi-show passes range from $60 to $350. Call 866-811-4111 or visit capitalfringe.org.

HAMILTON

★★★★★

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical raps and rhymes American history with an uncanny flair for mining gold from the tremendous life story of one “bastard orphan.” Inspired by Ron Chernow’s 2005 best-selling book Alexander Hamilton, Miranda’s musical infuses emotion and insight throughout a score that’s as efficient in delivering story as it is a delight to hear sung and played live. Director Thomas Kail has constructed a smartly executed succession of set-pieces that showcases each song for individual impact, and it adds up to an impactful epic. Alexander Hamilton bore a restless, relentless energy that Miranda has tapped into willfully and quite successfully. The compositions reflect a practically unerring ear for synthesizing pop, hip-hop, R&B, Broadway, and dexterous narrative into a stirring, cohesive blend. The music paves the way forward for an entire production that feels classic and iconoclastic, historical and hip. To Sept. 16. Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets are $99 to $625, or $49 for any same-day, standing-room-only tickets, released two hours before curtain. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org. (Andre Hereford)

H.M.S. PINAFORE

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

The Hypocrites and the House Theatre of Chicago, two innovative theaters in the Windy City, have teamed up to stage two of Gilbert & Sullivan’s best-loved comic operettas in rotating rep at Olney Theatre. Celebrated for being immersive and family friendly, the productions are presented promenade style, with some seats on stage with the actors. These silly tales of scurvy pirates, modern Major-Generals, and star-crossed lovers were both directed by Sean Graney, who co-adapted The Pirates of Penzance with Kevin O’Donnell, and H.M.S. Pinafore with Andra Velis Simon and Matt Kahler. In previews. To Aug. 21. Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. Tickets are $30 to $64 each. Call 301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.org.

ON THE TOWN

Three sailors romp around New York in 1944. Olney Theatre Company revives this early musical that features an exuberant score by Leonard Bernstein. The original show grew out of a ballet that Jerome Robbins had worked on with Bernstein, further developed by the writing and lyricist team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Olney’s starry cast includes Evan Casey, Rhett Guter, Sam Ludwig, Donna Migliaccio, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Bobby Smith, and Rachel Zampelli, with Robbins-inspired choreography by Tara Jeanne Vallee. The company’s artistic director Jason Loewith helms the show. To July 29. Mainstage, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. Call 301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.org.

OZ

Synetic Theater presents a new adaptation of the American classic The Wizard of Oz featuring some of L. Frank Baum’s original text and dialogue — in contrast to the “wordless Shakespeare” works the company has become known for. Offered as the first production in the Synetic New Voices Series, through which select company members are mentored in leadership roles by co-founder Paata Tsikurishvili, Oz combines verbal and nonverbal communication for an “environmental and spectacular adventure” down the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy and friends. Longtime Synetic actor Ryan Sellers steps up as director, assisted by Tori Bertocci as choreographer, for a production that has had to move to Georgetown University’s main campus. (Synetic’s usual venue in Crystal City recently suffered water damage.) To Aug. 12. Devine Studio Theatre in the Davis Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $20 to $45. Call 866-811-4111 or visit synetictheater.org.

PIPPIN

Fresh off its win as Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company at the Helen Hayes Awards, Monumental Theatre tackles the musical that Stephen Schwartz created two decades before Wicked. Rebecca Wahls directs a Millennial-run production based on the 2013 Tony-winning revival, following the titular prince on a journey to magic-making self-discovery. Tiziano D’Affuso plays Pippin, Solomon Parker is the narrating Leading Player, and Chani Wereley is Catherine. Choreography by Ahmad Maaty and music led by Leigh Delano. To July 30. Ainslie Arts Center in Episcopal High School, 3900 W. Braddock Rd. Tickets are $30 to $40. Call 703-933-3000 or visit monumentaltheatre.org.

THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE (AND OTHER SONGS)

Virginia’s Hub Theatre presents Marc Acito’s play with songs about the unlikely yet real-life relationship between singer Marian Anderson and Albert Einstein. The two titanic figures on a quest to unlock life’s mysteries. To July 29. The John Swayze Theatre in the New School of Northern Virginia, 9431 Silver King Court, Fairfax. Visit thehubtheatre.org.

COMMUNITY STAGE

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

Maryland’s Port Tobacco Players presents a non-professional production of this musical based on the DreamWorks blockbuster starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. Terrence McNally teamed up with the musical minds behind Hairspray — Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman — for a tale, set in the jazzy, swinging “60s, following the real-life adventures of charming con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. and the FBI agent, Carl Hanratty, who pursues him in a cross-country chase. Weekends to Aug. 5. 508 Charles St., La Plata, Md. Tickets are $15 to $18. Call 301-932-6819 or visit ptplayers.com.

JUDY AND THE GENERAL

Baltimore’s Spotlighters Theatre presents the world premiere of a new musical comedy by Rosemary Frisino Toohey based on the Book of Judith. One of only a handful of strong female characters in the Bible, Judith is the heroine in a classic tale of good vs. evil, ingeniously using her feminine wiles to outwit the powerful general Holofernes to save her people from destruction. To July 29. 817 St. Paul St., Baltimore. Tickets are $18 to $22. Call 410-752-1225 or visit spotlighters.org.

MUSIC

ARCADE FIRE

Not quite a year since the Infinite Content Tour stopped at Capital One Arena, Arcade Fire returns with a tour called Everything Now Continued — a play on the title of its album from last year. On Everything Now, the group pulls together bits of disco, reggae and punk, and they do find some success with a handful of fun moments scattered throughout — “Everything Now,” “Electric Blue,” “Creature Comfort,” and the unexpected detour into country on the reprise “Infinite_Content.” Raw cynicism can make for good songwriting material, but Arcade Fire is trying to somehow be sincere and wry and jaded all at the same time and they don’t quite pull it off. Instead, the album looks and sounds like what it is — a wildly popular indie band, who once won the Grammy for Best Album, attempting to level outsider criticism of the mass culture industry. Hamilton Leithauser opens. Friday, July 20, at 6:30 p.m. Jiffy Lube Live, 7800 Cellar Door Drive, Bristow, Va. Tickets are $30 to $118. Call 703-754-6400 or visit livenation.com. (Sean Maunier)

CHOPTEETH

The Washington Post has referred to this 12-piece band as “a storming powerhouse of big-band African funk…smart, tight and relentlessly driving.” Chopteeth has already won a number of Washington Area Music Association Awards, including Artist of the Year in 2008. The Afrobeat-driven group performs regularly throughout the region and returns to a preferred venue The Hamilton next weekend. Saturday, July 28. Doors at 7 p.m. 600 14th St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $25. Call 202-787-1000 or visit thehamiltondc.com.

CHRIS URQUIAGA

A native of Silver Spring, this budding Latin pop singer-songwriter was selected as an Artist-in-Residence at Strathmore two years ago. At the top of 2017, Urquiaga released Complete, an album of original pop tunes in English, Spanish, and Portuguese — many of which he’s expected to perform in a concert next week titled “Pop & Latin Songs by Chris Urquiaga.” Friday, July 20. Doors at 7 p.m. Dupont Underground, 1500 19th St. NW. Tickets are $15. Visit dupontunderground.org.

COURTNEY BARNETT

Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit is one of the wryest titles ever for an album, and this rambling rocker from Australia used it to great effect with a 2015 debut that cemented her status as a hipster favorite and a critical darling, garnering her a Best New Artist Grammy nod in the process. Last year, Barnett was among the opening slate of acts at the Anthem, where she was supported by her wife, fellow Aussie singer-songwriter Jen Cloher. Barnett becomes the first act to return for a second, non-consecutive headlining gig at the DC Wharf’s largest concert hall, touring in support of her latest discursive full-length set with another noteworthy title: Tell Me How You Really Feel, which includes the songs “I’m Not Your Mother, I’m Not Your Bitch,” “Walkin’ on Eggshells,” and “Crippling Self Doubt and a General Lack of Self-Confidence.” Julien Baker and Vagabon open. Tuesday, July 24. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. Tickets are $40 to $60. Call 202-888-0020 or visit theanthemdc.com.

CREATIVE CAULDRON CABARET

The 9th annual summer cabaret series at ArtSpace Falls Church continues with: Jade Jones in “Killin’ Em Softly – A ’70s Soiree” on Friday, July 20, and Saturday, July 21, at 8 p.m., a performance by the folk collective Shenandoah Run on Friday, July 27, at 8 p.m., and Will Stevenson in “Simply Musical,” on Saturday, July 28, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, July 29, at 7 p.m. ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 South Maple Ave. in Falls Church. Tickets are $18 to $22 per show, or $55 for a table for two with wine and $110 for four with wine. Call 703-436-9948 or visit creativecauldron.org.

DC101 KERFUFFLE: FALL OUT BOY

What’s not to love about a multi-artist concert called a kerfuffle? In addition to the suburban Chicago-reared emo/punk headliners, there’s more hard/heavy rock from acts including Rise Against, Awolnation, and AJR. There’s also indie-pop act AJR, EDM/pop artist Robert DeLong, indie act Mt. Joy, and German rockers L.I.F.T. Sunday, July 22. Doors at 12:30 p.m. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md. Tickets are $55 to $95. Call 800-551-SEAT or visit merriweathermusic.com.

JAZZ IN THE GARDEN: DAVE CHAPPELL, INCENDIO

The National Gallery of Art offers free outdoor concerts immediately after work every Friday through late August. Bands offering a range of jazz styles, from swing to Latin to ska, perform amidst the museum’s collection of large-scale sculptural works while patrons enjoy food and drink, including beer, wine, and sangria, as sold by the Pavilion Cafe and outdoor grill. The 2018 series continues with blues guitarist Dave Chappell on July 20, and instrumental world guitarist Incendio on July 27, each performing from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Sculpture Garden, between 7th and 9th Streets NW. Call 202-289-3360 or visit nga.gov.

PAT BENATAR & RICK SPRINGFIELD

With Benatar and Springfield on the same bill, this concert at MGM National Harbor is something of a dream come true for lovers of ’80s-era pop-rock. Expect the whole venue to be shouting along to well-trod pop anthems, everything from “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” to “We Belong,” and “Jessie’s Girl” to “Love Somebody.” Tuesday, July 24, at 8 p.m. The Theater, 7100 Harborview Ave., Oxon Hill, Md., Oxon Hill, Md. Call 844-346-4664 or visit mgmnationalharbor.com.

SIGNATURE THEATRE’S SIZZLIN’ SUMMER NIGHTS SERIES

Signature’s annual cabaret series features mostly musical actors known from productions at the Shirlington complex. Among those performing in the series’ opening weekend: Soloists from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington in the bawdy “It Takes Two” on Thursday, July 19, at 8 p.m.; Rochelle Rice with her jazzy/soul takes on songs of the Great American Songbook with “American Remix” on Friday, July 20, at 7 p.m.; musical theater students from George Mason University in the James Gardiner- and Erin Driscoll-directed cabaret “An Evening of Stephen Sondheim” on Friday, July 20, at 9 p.m.; Washington Capitals anthem singer Bob McDonald in “Best of Bob” Saturday, July 21, at 7 and 9 p.m.; Millennial performers taking on roles they normally wouldn’t get cast to sing in Monumental Theatre Company’s “Flip Flop: A Miscast Cabaret” on Sunday, July 22, at 5 p.m.; Signature star Nova Y. Payton and Mark G. Meadows — both seen in Signature’s Jelly’s Last Jam — in “Hotter than July” on Sunday, July 22, at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, July 25, at 8 p.m.; Awa Sal Seka (Ford’s Theatre’s The Wiz) in “Soul Divas” on Tuesday, July 24, at 8 p.m.; and Helen Hayes Award-winner Erin Driscoll in “Ladies’ Night” on Thursday, July 26, at 8 p.m. Series continues to Aug. 4. The Ark at 4200 Campbell Ave., in Arlington. Tickets are $35 per show, or $175 for an All-Access pass. Call 703-820-9771 or visit sigtheatre.org.

SYLVAN ESSO

Singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn make some of the quirkiest, sharpest pop music around, an electro-acoustic blend of tribal chants and folk melodies often unbridled, unhinged, sometimes even unadorned, held together by spare, naturalistic production with accents from electronic/dance music. The duo has never sounded more riveting or better than on last year’s What Now. Their sophomore set focuses on the dualities of life, love and progress — from the highest highs to the down-and-outs, the fleeting joys and lingering anxieties that come with impermanence. To hear them live — to hear just how powerful Meath’s voice really, truly is — is to fall in love. Thursday, July 26. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. Tickets are $40 to $60. Call 202-888-0020 or visit theanthemdc.com.

THE 9 SONGWRITER SERIES

Folk-rock musician Justin Trawick formed this collaborative a decade ago to help increase performance and collaborative opportunities for fellow local musicians as well as to give audiences an easier way to discover songwriters and bands to love. Next week, the series touches down on the Wharf offering performances by Trawick, Jasmine Gillison, Chris Timbers Band, Laura Love, Justin Shapiro Music, Jeff Madonna, CaSh & Earle, Christian Douglas Music, and the Tula Duo with Gena Photiadis. Thursday, July 26, at 7:30 p.m.Union Stage, 740 Water St. SW. Tickets are $12 to $15. Call 877-987-6487 or visit unionstage.com.

WOLF TRAP OPERA: ARIA JUKEBOX

Soloists from Wolf Trap Opera Company’s 2018 Filene Young Artists program perform popular opera tunes, accompanied by company director Kim Pensinger Witman on piano. Each of the 20 singers list four arias in their jukebox and will perform the selections with the most votes from the audience. The result is a one-of-a-kind concert encompassing a surprising range of styles and composers. Tickets include a wine and cheese reception. Sunday, July 22, at 3 p.m., with free reception and aria voting starting at 2 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $36 to $50. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.

DANCE

MARYLAND YOUTH BALLET: RUMPELSTILTSKIN

Repeat recipient of the Best School award from the leading ballet competition in the U.S., the Youth America Grand Prix, the Maryland Youth Ballet presents its latest production at Wolf Trap’s serene, kids-oriented amphitheater. Rumpelstiltskin tells the classic fairy tale through the mesmerizing dance of an enchanted elf helping a miller’s daughter turn straw into gold — for a price. Friday, July 27, and Saturday, July 28, at 10:30 a.m. Theatre-In-The-Woods at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $10. Call 703-255-1900 or visit wolf-trap.org.

NATIONAL DANCE DAY

The Kennedy Center plays host to this free, all-day celebration launched in 2010 by Nigel Lythgoe, from TV’s So You Think You Can Dance. New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Ashley Bouder emcees the festivities with performances from dance fitness group Kazaxe, traditional Chinese group the Xuejuan Dance Ensemble, the Sultanas Troupe, Velocity Dance, Word Dance Theater, the Silvia Dance Studio, students from CityDance DREAM & CityDance Conservatory, and culminating with two hours of dancing led by the Soukous All Stars from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Bazurto All Stars from Colombia. Also on hand will be Michael Mindlin, the dance supervisor from the national tour of Hamilton, hip-hop dancer Teren Dickson, and tapper Cartier Williams. Meanwhile, Hayley Erbert of Dancing with the Stars will lead patrons in this year’s National Dance Day routine, as choreographed by Emmy Award-winning choreographer Mandy Moore and set to Kylie Minogue’s new country-fied disco ditty “Dancing.” Saturday, July 28, from 2 to 10:30 p.m. Kennedy Center. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

 

COMEDY

DISTRICT OF COMEDY FESTIVAL

The Kennedy Center presents the third annual festival bringing acclaimed stars and rising acts together for a mix of stand-up and other comedic performances. Everything kicks off Thursday, July 19, with a screening of Rob Reiner’s 1984 groundbreaking mockumentary (that indirectly launched the directing career of Christopher Guest), This is Spinal Tap. Harry Shearer will be on hand following the screening to tell behind-the-scenes stories and answer audience questions. Other highlights include Neil Hamburger, Patton Oswalt, Amanda Seales, D.C.’s Underground Comedy Stand-Up Showcase, The Daily Show Correspondents Stand-Up Tour, the competitive stand-up game “On Deck,” hosted by Mike Mulloy, and The New Negroes with Baron Vaughn and Open Mike Eagle. There are several planned Bentzen Ball Podcast sessions, a “Boast Rattle” (the opposite of a comedic roast where the best complimenting comedian wins), and performances featuring The Improvised Shakespeare Company. July 19 to 22, at various venues in the Kennedy Center. Ticket prices vary. For a full list of performances or to purchase tickets, call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

THE SECOND CITY: GENERATION GAP

The full title of the latest show from Chicago’s famed troupe created especially for the Kennedy Center to coincide with the District of Comedy Festival is Generation Gap…Or, How Many Millennials Does It Take to Teach a Baby Boomer to Text Generation X? Expect a satirical crash course spanning miscommunications, careers, dating, and more in a two-act, interactive spin on what the troupe calls “the age-old battle of the ages.” To Aug. 12. Theater Lab. Tickets are $49 to $59. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

VICKI LAWRENCE AND MAMA: A TWO-WOMAN SHOW

While only a senior in high school, Vicki Lawrence had enough gumption to invite — as well as successfully lure — Carol Burnett out to the “Miss Fireball Contest” her local fire department was hosting, in which she performed. From there, she got a job and spent 11 years on The Carol Burnett Show, eventually moving on to her own hit TV series Mama’s Family in the ’80s. Lawrence humorously chronicles her life’s many varied adventures in this stage show. Sunday, July 21, at 1 p.m. Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, 7719 Wisconsin Ave. Tickets are $50 to $65, plus $10 minimum purchase per person. Call 240-330-4500 or visit bethesdabluesjazz.com.

WIT: SUMMER ESCAPE

The Washington Improv Theater is D.C.’s answer to comedy star-making groups such as Chicago’s Second City and L.A.’s Groundlings. Over the next month, the troupe offers a hodgepodge of summer-themed sketches, with each performance featuring different WIT ensembles, including three music-driven exercises: iMusical, presenting audiences with the opportunity to choose-your-own-disaster, resulting in the cast improvising an instant world-ending musical; Heavy Rotation, featuring a cast performing a School of Rock-inspired “improvised rock comedy”; and Karaoke Storytellers with a show that is part-VH1 Storytellers, part-Saturday Night Live audition, and part musical, all built around improvised characters delivering monologues and interpreting a song karaoke-style. To Aug. 5. Source, 1835 14th St. NW. Tickets are $15 in advance, or $18 at the door. Call 202-204-7770 or visit witdc.org.

READINGS

PRESIDENTS, VICE PRESIDENTS, AND THE PURSUIT OF POWER

In her latest book, journalist Kate Anderson Brower examines the lives and roles of 13 modern Vice Presidents, revealing the sometimes cold, sometimes close, always complicated relationships between them and the men who chose them as their running mates. Tuesday, July 24, at noon. The William G. McGowan Theater in the National Archives Museum, Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets NW. NW. Call 202-357-5000 or visit archivesfoundation.org.

FOOD & DRINK

BBQ & GRILLING WEEK PROMOTIONS

All week, select members of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington are celebrating “Flavors of Summer in the City” with two-course menus of smoked, spiced, and grilled dishes priced from $11 to $33. Highlights include America Eats Tavern in Georgetown (3139 M St. NW), the newest restaurant in Jose Andres’s ThinkFoodGroup, which is offering a two-course menu for $33 at dinner; ChiKo in Barrack’s Row (423 8th St. SE), the fast-casual modern Chinese/Korean restaurant from chefs Scott Drewno and Danny Lee, offering two courses at dinner for $22; Right Proper Brewpub (624 T St. NW), with two courses at dinner for $11; two locations of Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company, the original in Glover Park (2418 Wisconsin Ave. NW) and the Arlington offshoot (3471 Washington Blvd.), both offering a two-item special for $11 at both lunch and dinner; and the acclaimed Tavern at Rare Steakhouse (1595 I St. NW), offering two courses at lunch for $22 and $33 for dinner. To Sunday, July 22. For a full list of participants and menus, vist bbqweekdc.com.

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

CORY OBERNDORFER: POP: RECALL

Paintings and sculptures reminiscent of popsicles, ice creams, and other frozen treats from childhood are the focus of a solo exhibition by a nostalgia-steeped pop culture artist who teaches at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design and American University. Oberndorfer’s works are set up in the window displays of the experimental Metro Micro Gallery in Arlington that, among other things, bills itself as “a 24/7 viewing space” — with exhibited works visible at night via the gallery’s interior spotlights. Founded by and adjacent to the studio of visual artist Barbara Januszkiewicz, the gallery further styles itself as a shared space nurturing a community of emerging artists and curators. Now to Aug. 24. Artist Talk and Ice Cream Party on Saturday, July 21, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Metro Micro Gallery, 3409 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Visit metromicrogallery.com.

FABERGE REDISCOVERED

The late heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post has a renowned collection of pieces from the firm of Carl Fabergé, the legendary jeweler to the last court of Russia. A special exhibition at Post’s Hillwood Estate, nestled in a leafy section of Upper Northwest a few blocks from Van Ness, unveils new discoveries relating to the collection of about 90 Fabergé works, including two imperial Easter eggs. Now to Jan. 13. 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested donation is $18. Call 202-686-5807 or visit HillwoodMuseum.org.

FRACTAL WORLDS BY JULIUS HORSTHUIS

The latest installation at D.C.’s unique art-meets-technology gallery ArTecHouse is billed as the first immersive art exhibition bridging the gap between the real and the virtual world. This visual “journey of discovery” explores mind-bending sci-fi worlds and infinite 3D geometric patterns, transporting viewers to another dimension. Horthuis, whose work was featured in the 2016 Oscar-winning film Manchester by the Sea and has been seen in collaborations with American EDM duo Odesza among other musical artists, incorporates both projection and virtual reality elements. Now to Sept. 3. 1238 Maryland Ave. SW. Tickets for timed-entry sessions are $8 to $15, with evening admission for those over 21 years of age, including exhibit-related Augmented Reality Cocktails available for purchase. Visit artechouse.com.

KATIE PUMPHREY: FIVE MORE MINUTES, PART I AND II

Through large-scale paintings and installations, the Baltimore artist explores the tension between calm and chaos — specifically, the anxiety, excitement, panic, and even monotony that comes from just five more minutes of doing something. Pumphrey’s works on the theme are on display in both Georgetown and Alexandria as part of a two-part exhibition at two galleries. Part I ends in a Closing Reception Saturday, July 21, from 5 to 8 p.m. Susan Calloway Fine Arts, 1643 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Call 202-965-4601 or visit callowayart.com. Part II ends with a Closing Reception Sunday, July 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St., Alexandria. Call 703-548-0035 or visit nvfaa.org. For additional details, visit katiepumphrey.com/fivemoreminutes.

MARKING THE INFINITE: CONTEMPORARY WOMEN ARTISTS FROM ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA

The Phillips Collection offers a glimpse into the diverse contemporary art practice of Aboriginal Australia in this special exhibition that showcases the work of nine leading women artists from Down Under. In recent decades women artists have given the Aboriginal art movement a new vitality and dynamism. Steeped in ancient cultural traditions, specific to each artist, the works on display speak to universal contemporary themes as well as the wisdom of indigenous knowledge, asserting both our shared humanity and differences in experiencing and valuing our planet. Now to Sept. 2. The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Tickets are $12, or free for Phillips members, or for those 30 and under via a special summer promotion. Call 202-387-2151 x247 or visit phillipscollection.org.

ONE YEAR: 1968, AMERICAN ODYSSEY

The National Portrait Gallery offers a time capsule of sorts, highlighting 30 portraits that document seminal moments and key influencers in the year of the museum’s public debut. Of course, 1968 was as revolutionary and tumultuous as they come, as Americans across disciplines put forth new ways of thinking that overturned the status quo — in regards to the Vietnam War, which reached a turning point in 1968, and the Civil Rights Act, which was signed into law, to name but two. It was also the year that Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated, and when the Apollo 8 spacecraft completed the first manned orbit of the Moon. Other prominent newsmakers whose portraits grace this one-room exhibition: Arthur Ashe, Joan Didion, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Sidney Poitier. Now to May 2019. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300 or visit npg.si.edu.

REYNERIO TAMAYO: CUBAN SLUGGER

Even Arena Stage has caught baseball fever this year: The Southwest D.C. arts complex currently has on display over 35 baseball-themed pieces of art from one of today’s leading contemporary caricaturists. The Cuban artist Tamayo is particularly known for his mockery of the art establishment as well as politics and sports. In this series of paintings and sculpture focused on baseball — first displayed at Miami’s Kendall Art Center in conjunction with last year’s All-Star Game and reprised by Arena as a toast to Nationals Park having just hosted this year’s event — the artist pays tribute to the history, key figures, and shared passion for the sport in both the U.S. and Cuba. Now to July 29. Mead Center for American Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.

ROOPKOTHA PHOTO EXHIBIT

Vibrant images captured by various photographers, along with historical artifacts and personal memorabilia, tell the story of Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbbub Rabbi Tonoy, two Bangladeshi LGBTQ activists and artists who were savagely murdered in their home two years ago. The Center Arts Gallery in the DC Center for the LGBT Community has set up this powerful installation as part of an ongoing campaign to protest the inaction of the Bangladeshi government to investigate the murders. Opening Reception, including catered food and a talk with Roopkotha’s Rasel Ahmed, is Saturday, July 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW. Call 202-682-2245 or visit thedccenter.org.

BRUNCH

BAR ROUBAIX: SASSY DRAG BRUNCH

Over the past year, the local Hilton brothers have expanded well beyond Marvin and The Brixton and their original U Street base. None of the additions, however, stand out as much as Bar Roubaix in Columbia Heights with its racing bike theme, complete with chains dangling behind the bar and wheels serving as light fixtures. Named after the French city sponsoring one of the world’s oldest and most iconic professional bike races and housed in the former Acre 121 space, Roubaix features a menu of European-inspired bites from Chef Rafael Nunez. And now, Roubaix stands out even more thanks to a drag brunch the third Sunday of each month, organized by Josael Abraham Gutierrez. Sassy Drag Brunch features Desiree Dik as the “master of sassiness” along with her sassy sisters Laronica Vegas and Paula, in addition to special guests. Drink specials for July include $18 Bottomless Mimosas, $7 Screwdrivers, $8 Bloody Mary’s, $9 Margaritas, and $9 Irish Coffees. Sunday, July 22, from noon to 2 p.m. 1400 Irving St. NW. Ste. 109. Tickets are $21 inclusive of show, one entree, and 18-percent gratuity, or $10 for show with no food. Call 202-560-5721 or search “Sassy Drag Brunch” on eventbrite.com.

SUNDAY JAZZ BRUNCH WITH THE KEVIN CORDT TRIO

Long a fixture at Mr. Henry’s, the Kevin Cordt Trio now serenades those enjoying a three-course brunch at Hank’s Pasta Bar. The menu starts with a shareable Antipasti Platter of crostini or charcuterie, followed by entree options including Italian Eggs Benedict with prosciutto and focaccia or handmade Fettuccine Bolognese, and finished with a choice of desserts, plus juice or coffee. Naturally, pitchers of Bloody Mary’s, Blood Orange Bellinis or the Farmer’s Pal Punch are available at an additional charge. The next brunch is Saturday, July 21, with first seating at 11 a.m. Hank’s Pasta Bar, 600 Montgomery St., Alexandria. Tickets are $30 per person, excluding drinks. Call 571-312-4117 or visit hankspastabar.com.

DRAG

GLASS HOUSE: A DRAG VARIETY SHOW

Haus of Stone presents a show featuring Citrine, Kittney Stone, Logan Stone, Vagenesis, and Venus Valhalla. There will also be special guest performances by Ana Latour (Salvadora Dali) and Sigma Fraud. Sunday, July 22. Doors at 6 p.m. Ten Tigers Parlour, 3813 Georgia Ave. NW. No cover. Call 202-506-2080 or visit tentigersdc.com.

METRO/SEXUAL DRAG SHOW

Baltimore’s Metro Gallery hosts a fashion and art drag extravaganza in honor of this weekend’s Artscape, featuring some of the more outrageous performers from the region, including Baltimore’s Ariel Von Quinn, Betty O’Hellno, Sextia N’eight, Washington Heights, D.C.’s Desiree Dik, Jasmine Tea, Philly’s Shea Chanel, and host Baby. New York DJ William Francis will provide the soundtrack. Saturday, July 21. Doors at 9 p.m. 1700 N. Charles St. Baltimore. Tickets are $7 in advance, or $10 day-of show. Call 410-244-0899 or visit themetrogallery.net.

ABOVE AND BEYOND

AMERICA THE GAME SHOW. F*CK YEAH!

Two years ago, Kate Taylor Davis and Jared Davis concocted a variety show that made light of American history in the run-up to July 4th — in 2016, just before the country took a dark, dark turn. As a result, the hit show became darker and more subversive — as well as more popular — in its second year, and added topical games with names including “Extreme Vetting” and “Grab. That. P**sy!” This year’s third iteration has been moved to later in July when more people have a chance to attend and participate. Billed as a “no-holds-barred production that’s too risqué for the boob tube and real-er than ‘fake news,'” the show features Carlos Bustamante aka Carl Buster as host. He’s accompanied by a bevy of “All-American Girls” for a tongue-in-cheek trip across the country filled with trivia, games, satire, and nudity. The latter especially comes into play in a segment called “Naked Drunk History” with the character known as “Drunkle Sam,” whose purpose is “to fill in the gaps in America’s public education.” Aiding in the cause are many of the usual suspects in the talented, offbeat crew long associated with Astro Pop Events (the producer of Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club and Countdown to Yuri’s Night). The team includes Chris Griffin — per his drag alter ego Lucrezia Blozia — and includes Jim Dandy, Jared Davis, Patrick M. Doneghy, Kittie Glitter, Eleni Grove, Callie Pigeon, Candy Del Rio, Cherie Sweetbottom, and Andrew Wodzianski. Saturday, July 21, at 9 p.m. GALA Theatre at Tivoli Square, 3333 14th St. NW. Tickets are $22 in advance. Visit astropopevents.com. Also Friday, July 27, and Saturday, July 28, at 8 p.m. Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave. Baltimore. Call 410-276-1651 or visit creativealliance.org.

ARTSCAPE

Billed as the nation’s largest free arts festival, Artscape attracts more than 350,000 people to Baltimore neighborhoods Bolton Hill and Station North to take in fine/textile art in every medium — from visual to fashion to sculpture, with more than 150 artists represented. There are also multiple stages offering performances of live music from regional and nationally known acts. Maryland restaurants and bars also participate in an event co-produced by the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts and the Baltimore Festival of the Arts, Inc. The event kicks off on Friday, July 20, with Youth Day, offering a variety of youth-focused programming – both performance and visual, indoor and outdoors – with young artists, makers, and performers. Through Sunday, July 23. Mount Royal Avenue and Cathedral Street, Baltimore. Free. Call 410-752-8632 or visit artscape.org.

SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM: SAAM ARCADE

The Smithsonian American Art Museum was one of the first museums in the U.S. to acquire video games as part of its permanent collection, recognizing the compelling performance space, activated by artists and players alike, whose interaction can create a unique artistic as well as educational experience. At its annual SAAM Arcade, participants get the chance to play games, from the analog (card games, pinball machines) to digital classics (Donkey Kong and Pac-Man, available on their original devices). But the centerpiece is the “Indie Showcase” in the museum’s Kogod Courtyard, a display of independent games created by both student and professional developers. Sunday, July 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 8th and F Sts. NW. Free. Call 202-633-1000 or visit americanart.si.edu.

BATALA, THE GOONIES

The Library of Congress and Washington Performing Arts team up for this outdoor series with events every Thursday over the next month. The musical performance series launches Thursday, July 19, at 7 p.m., with Batalá Washington, the all-female Afro-Brazilian percussion band. After the performance, starting at sunset (approximately 8:30 p.m.) comes a screening of 1985’s The Goonies, in which misfits search for a pirate’s bounty. On Thursday, July 26, recording artist and 2017-2018 WPA Artist-in-Residence Chelsey Green will perform prior to a screening of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. The series continues with Cheick Hamala Diabate and Back to the Future on Aug. 2, Trifilio Tango Trio and Superman on Aug. 9, Sarah Marie Hughes & Coy Fish and The Wizard of Oz on Aug. 16, and ending with a concert by the DuPont Brass and VeVe & tha Rebels on Aug. 23. North Lawn of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Tickets, although not required, are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit loc.gov/events.

THE DC WEIRDO SHOW: FUCK PT BARNUM

Held the third Friday of every month, the latest Weirdo Show is a satire of The Greatest Showman, which, while containing some incredibly stirring music and performances and the overall message of personal perseverance and social acceptance of difference, was a whitewashed biography of P.T. Barnum ( portrayed by Hugh Jackman). The 2017 movie musical directed by Michael Gracey and co-written by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon omitted the white supremacy, limitless greed, cultural appropriation, and dishonesty wrought by Barnum that the circus and sideshow industries still harbor to this day. Fuck PT Barnum is a reimagining of a sideshow where the performers — womxn, people of color, queer — talk back to this legacy of exploitation, fraud, and oppression, and speak their truths on their own terms. Hosted by Dr Torcher, the roster includes Martika, Queen Nefertittie, Cherie Nuit, Iris Honeydew, Blaq Milk, Philomena Shakesbare, and Ophelia Zayna Hart. Friday, July 20, at 9 p.m. Bier Baron Tavern, 1523 22nd St. NW. Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. Call 202-293-1887 or visit dcweirdoshow.com.