FILM

CITIZEN KANE

Soon after Landmark’s West End Cinema reopened in a refurbished state in 2017, it launched a new hump-day series. And one of the first Capital Classics films offered was Orson Welles’ 1941 magnum opus, still widely considered one of the greatest films — if not the greatest — ever made. Now the theater offers another run of the Welles classic, in which the director plays a newspaper tycoon who has everything, yet not enough to make him happy. Citizen Kane remains a strange, moving and sometimes funny drama, propelled by the mystery of “rosebud.” Screenings are Wednesday, Jan. 16, 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 $12.50. Call 202-534-1907 or visit landmarktheatres.com.

DESTROYER

Critics are calling Nicole Kidman unrecognizable in this crime thriller, about an LAPD detective forced to return to a gang she previously went undercover in, with disastrous results. While early reviews have hailed Kidman’s performance for upending expectations with a dark, complex, often unlikable character, the film itself has had a more mixed overall reception. Opens Friday, Jan. 11. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. (Rhuaridh Marr)

IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

Tish is an African-American woman determined to clear the name of her husband Fonny, wrongfully accused of rape, before she gives birth to their child. The latest film from Moonlight screenwriter and director Barry Jenkins adapts James Baldwin’s 1974 novel, its themes of racism and injustice still concerningly relevant today. If Beale Street Could Talk stars Kiki Layne as Tish and Stephan James as Fonny. Critics are already heaping praise on the film, which won a Golden Globe for Regina King last Sunday, so don’t be surprised to see it reappear come awards season. Now playing. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. (RM)

JOSEPH PULITZER: VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Over a century ago, a penniless Jewish immigrant became a press baron fighting the dangers that the suppression of news augured for democracy long before our present “fake news” threats to press freedom. Oren Rudavsky’s riveting look at a founding father of modern journalism explores the complicated legacy of a man who fought the good fight, but also busted unions, engaged in some questionable practices, and had fraught family relations. Narrated by Adam Driver and featuring voice work from Liev Schreiber, Rachel Brosnahan, Hugh Dancy, and Lauren Ambrose, the documentary gets a local screening per the Washington Jewish Film Festival, followed by a conversation with Rudavsky. Thursday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema, 7235 Woodmont Ave. Tickets are $13.50 in advance. Call 202-777-3250 or visit wjff.org.

ON THE BASIS OF SEX

Notorious RBG makes her big screen debut. Felicity Jones is a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a brilliant lawyer fighting for equal rights for women, including in arguments before the Supreme Court that she would eventually come to have a seat on. Armie Hammer co-stars as Ginsburg’s husband, Martin, and Emmy-winning director Mimi Leder is at the helm. This is about as close as it gets to perfect Oscar-fodder, but should also hopefully make for compelling viewing — Ginsburg’s incredible life achievements deserve it. Now playing. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. (RM)

RA XTRA: THE HEIRESSES

Descendants of wealthy families in Paraguay, Chela (Ana Brun) and Chiquita (Margarita Irún) have been together for over 30 years. Yet their relationship faces challenges like never before as a result of a worsening financial situation and new realities for each, including Chela’s encounter with a younger woman. Rayceen Pendarvis hosts a screening of Marcelo Martinessi’s drama, presented in Spanish with English subtitles, as part of Reel Affirmations’ monthly series. Friday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. at the HRC Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Tickets are $12, or $25 for VIP seating as well as one complimentary cocktail, beer or wine and popcorn. Call 202-682-2245 or visit thedccenter.org.

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

Landmark’s E Street Cinema presents its monthly run of Richard O’Brien’s camp classic, billed as the longest-running midnight movie in history. Landmark’s showings come with a live shadow cast from the Sonic Transducers, meaning it’s even more interactive than usual. Friday, Jan 10, and Saturday, Jan. 11, at midnight. Landmark’s E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or visit landmarktheatres.com.

STAGE

19: THE MUSICAL

In this still-developing musical, writers/lyricists Jennifer Schwed and Doug Bradshaw tell the story, through jazz and hints of gospel composed and performed by pianist Charlie Barnett, of the fight for women’s right to vote led by suffragists Alice Paul, Ida B. Wells, and Susan B. Anthony. In the week leading up to this year’s Women’s March comes three concert-style performances with receptions and talkbacks about the work, all to generate buzz for next year’s centennial of the 19th Amendment and the developing 2020 One Woman, One Vote Festival, during which a full production of 19: The Musical is being planned. Friday, Jan. 11, and Saturday, Jan. 12, at 8 p.m. 1st Stage, 1524 Spring Hill Rd., McLean. Tickets are $20. Also Friday, Jan. 18, at 6:30 p.m. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Tickets are free but few remain as of presstime. For more details, visit 19themusical.com.

AMERICAN MOOR

Keith Hamilton Cobb’s passionate and poetic exploration of Shakespeare, race, and America examines implicit bias in American theater and culture through the experience and perspective of black men and the metaphor of William Shakespeare’s character Othello. The play focuses on the audition of a seasoned African-American actor (Cobb) for a young white director (Josh Tyson) who presumes to know better than he how to maximize the iconic black character for believability. Weekends to Feb. 3. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Place SE. Tickets are $40 plus applicable charges. A special presentation, including discussion and reception for area teachers in partnership with the Folger Shakespeare Library, is Sunday, Jan. 13, at 3 p.m. Call 202-290-2328 or visit anacostiaplayhouse.org.

KINGS

A comedy about money, power, and American democracy focused on a newly elected congresswoman who refuses to play by the rules of lobbyists or her own party. If ever there were a built-in audience for a show in D.C., Alexandria-native playwright Sarah Burgess’ Kings is it. Marti Lyons directs a Studio Theatre production featuring Nehassaiu deGannes as Rep. Sydney Millsap and Kelly McCrann as Kate, a seasoned lobbyist who, it turns out, isn’t as hardened and jaded as even she thought. Extended to Jan. 13. 14th & P Streets NW. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.

OH, GOD

A psychotherapist gets a visit from a new and desperate patient — God — in a witty and touching work by Anat Gov, billed as the “Wendy Wasserstein of Israel.” Kimberly Schraf is the therapist who must talk the divine one (Mitchell Hébert) off the ledge of despair over the state of humanity in Mosaic Theater’s winter holiday production directed by Michael Bloom that launches the 18th season of the annual Voices From a Changing Middle East Festival. As part of the festival, select performances will be followed by free post-show discussions exploring resonant themes in the work with experts in religion, psychotherapy, and comedy. To Jan. 13. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $20 to $65. Call 202-399-7993 or visit mosaictheater.org.

SOUL REDEEMER

In the style of Dreamgirls and Motown: The Musical, this new work, set in 1979, follows the travails of a former R&B superstar who tries to make a comeback in the hip new genre he loathes: disco. Don Michael Mendoza and La Ti Do Productions presents a world-premiere staged reading of Soul Redeemer, featuring original music and lyrics by Neal Learner and a book by Paul Handy, in the long-running variety show’s home venue in Dupont Circle. Kevin Sockwell directs the reading with Matthew Dohm leading an accompanying musical ensemble. Friday, Jan. 18, and Saturday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. 1727 Connecticut Ave. NW. Tickets are $15. Call 202-328-1640 or visit latidoproductions.com.

VISIONS OF LOVE

Pointless Theatre Company’s latest spectacle blurs the lines between puppetry, theater, dance, music, and the visual arts in a “nostalgic valentine” to Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights. Considered the highest accomplishment of Chaplin’s career and also featuring his first-ever film score, the 1931 silent classic follows the misadventures of The Tramp, who falls in love with The Blind Woman and develops a turbulent friendship with an alcoholic millionaire. Kerry McGee and Sharalys Silva lead a seven-member acting ensemble. Previews begin Friday, Jan. 11. Weekends to Feb. 9. Dance Loft on 14, 4618 14th St. NW, 2nd Floor. Tickets are $32, or $20 in previews. Call 202-621-3670 or visit danceloft14.org.

MUSIC

ARNAUD SUSSMANN, PAUL NEUBAUER, AND DAVID FINCKEL TRIO

A violinist, a violist, and a cellist step into the Barns at Wolf Trap to perform three chamber masterworks written for their combination of stringed instruments: Beethoven’s Opus 9, No. 1 Trio in G Major, Dohnányi’s romantic Serenade in C Major, and Mozart’s quintessential classical Viennese Divertimento in E-flat Major. Friday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $40. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.

AUDRA MCDONALD AND BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL IN LET FREEDOM RING!

“I would hope that we could look back on this period and go ‘Wow, that was a time where we all had lessons to learn and learned them, and were forever changed in the right way from what happened,'” Audra McDonald told Metro Weekly last year. The longtime LGBTQ champion, who is also the most-awarded stage actress in Tony history, returns to the Kennedy Center next weekend along with fellow Broadway superstar Brian Stokes Mitchell to lead this year’s free musical celebration honoring Martin Luther King, Jr’s legacy. Also on the bill is the Let Freedom Ring Choir with music director Rev. Nolan Williams Jr. Monday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Free tickets will be given away two per person on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 4:30 p.m. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

TURANGALÎA-SYMPHONIE

In Sanskrit, “turanga” means movement and rhythm and “lîla” refers to a cosmic game. The composer Messiaen combined the two concepts to form the title of what is now considered one of the most innovative works of the 20th century. Marin Alsop leads the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in a performance of the exotic work, which features a dazzling part for piano, played by Jean-Yves Thibaudet, as well as one for the eerie, sci-fi-sounding instrument called Ondes Martenot, to be played by Nathalie Forget. All in all, the piece is billed as a “mind-blowing” journey of extreme dynamic contrasts and “a lifetime event to hear!” Sunday, Jan. 13, at 3 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $25 to $90. Call 877-276-1444 or visit bsomusic.org.

BOBBY SANABRIA AND THE MULTIVERSE BIG BAND

West Side Story Reimagined, a 2019 Grammy nominee for Best Latin Jazz Album, is a lively, all-new instrumental orchestration of the Leonard Bernstein classic musical based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that is, according to NPR Alt Latino’s Felix Contreras, “what the music for West Side Story should have sounded like, sparkling with the music of El Barrio.” The electrifying percussionist and educator Sanabria will bring the music to life at the Kennedy Center in a performance with his Latin jazz band as part of organization’s The Human Journey collaboration with National Geographic and the National Gallery of Art. Friday, Jan. 18, at 7 and 9 p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are $35 to $40. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

DANTE’ POPE

A few years ago the singing multi-instrumentalist performed as part of a trio with Dom Flemons, a founder of the Grammy-winning black bluegrass Carolina Chocolate Drops. Now Pope kicks off a series of concerts featuring the 2019 class of Artists in Residence at Strathmore, hoping to follow in the footsteps of AIR alumni, including Grammy-nominated Christylez Bacon, The Voice contestant Owen Danoff, and Prince- and Stevie Wonder-collaborator Frédéric Yonnet, to name three of the 80-plus young musicians mentored through the program since 2005. Pope showcases his soulful sound, infused with elements of gospel, jazz, and R&B and incorporating vocals, piano, guitar, and drums, in two concerts this month on Wednesday, Jan. 16, and Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m. The Mansion, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Tickets are $17. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.

DUPONT BRASS

On the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day comes a concert from the current Ensemble-in-Residence of the Mars Urban Arts Initiative, a creative platform for local artists presented by Washington Performing Arts and supported by the Mars candy empire. DuPont Brass, originally formed by Howard University music majors who busked at local Metro stations and now an eight-piece ensemble consisting of brass, a rhythm section and vocalists, will perform selections from the prolific soulful brass group’s two albums released last year: Eclectic Soul and Halftime, the latter ending with “Enjoy Yourself,” a life-affirming anthem calling on everyone “gay or straight” to “enjoy your life” and “protect your joy.” A co-presentation with the Kennedy Center via its Millennium Stage programming. Sunday, Jan. 20, at 6 p.m. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

EDDIE FROM OHIO

Neither the singing percussionist Eddie Hartness nor any other Virginia-bred member of Eddie From Ohio actually has any ties to the Buckeye State. The folk act’s name is simply an obscure tribute to “Ed From Ohio” Crawford, the lead singer/guitarist of ’80s-era alt-rock act Firehose. Since its founding over a quarter century ago, Eddie From Ohio has gone on to tour regularly throughout the U.S. But the Wammie-winning act remains particularly popular in its native region. As of press time, tickets remain only for shows Friday, Jan. 18, and Sunday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $42.50. Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com.

JOHN OATES AND THE GOOD ROAD BAND

John Oates is the slightly less well-known half of Hall & Oates, the ’80s-minted pop/R&B hitmakers touted as the best-selling duo of all time. He will perform songs from throughout his career, including from his most recent roots-focused project, Arkansas, backed by his current band. Adam Ezra opens. Thursday, Jan. 17, and Friday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $42 to $47. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.

KEVIN JANG WITH HUI-CHUAN CHEN

A former Strathmore Artist In Residence and current faculty member of the Washington Conservatory of Music offers a recital accompanied by fellow faculty member Chen, a native of Taiwan. The program, part of an informal one-hour classical concert series to end the work week, features works for violin and piano by Sarasate, Chopin, Kreisler, and Dvořák. Friday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. Westmoreland Congregational Church, 1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda. Tickets are free, donations welcome. Call 301-320-2770 or visit washingtonconservatory.org.

PASSPORT TO THE WORLD 2019: CRYS MATTHEWS & HEATHER MAE, BE STEADWELL

Curated by Lynn Veronneau and Ken Avis of Wammie-winning jazz samba group Veronneau, this annual festival presented by Virginia’s Creative Cauldron celebrates the music and dance of cultures around the world, with performances by artists representing a broad spectrum of genres: folk to Latin, opera to bluegrass. Upcoming concerts in the 2019 series include: the father-and-son-led bluegrass ensemble Ken & Brad Kolodner Trio with Rachel Eddy, on Friday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m.; a showcase of D.C.-area powerhouse female vocalists and social change-minded songwriters Louisa Hall, Crys Matthews, and Heather Mae, on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m.; a “Disco Grass” concert with celebrated queer soul vocalist Be Steadwell and a bluegrass band including Bumper Jackson’s Chris Ousley, on Sunday, Jan. 13, at 6:30 p.m.; the nine-artist folk group Shenandoah Run, on Friday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m.; and Brazilian vocalist “Rose Moraes Sings Jobim,” Saturday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m. The series continues to Feb. 2. ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 South Maple Ave. in Falls Church. Tickets are $18 to $22, or $60 for tables of two with wine, $120 for tables of four with wine. Call 703-436-9948 or visit creativecauldron.org.

THE INSERIES: FROM U STREET TO THE COTTON CLUB

KenYatta Rogers returns to direct this toe-tapping hit first presented in 2009. The cabaret production features music by Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, and more from 1920s and ’30s jazz-age America, performed amidst tales of African Americans from the era woven together by playwright Sybil Williams. And two hours before every show, the In Series has partnered with local historian Timothy Wright for a guided walking tour into the music, mural art, and life along U Street, once known as D.C.’s Black Broadway, that ends with a discounted dinner at Ben’s Chili Bowl. Runs to Jan. 20. Source, 1835 14th St. NW. Tickets $20 to $45, or $15 for the pre-show walking tour. Call 202-204-7763 or visit inseries.org.

UNNAUGURAL CONCERT: CHERYL WHEELER, CATIE CURTIS

On the eve of this year’s Women’s March on Washington comes the third annual anti-Trump UnNaugural concert featuring five artists performing and raising money for five local advocacy nonprofits in an event headlined “Playing It Forward, Voices for Social Justice.” In addition to the veteran queer folk artists Wheeler and Curtis, this year’s lineup includes performances from John Flynn, Elena & Los Fulanos, and Tom Prasada-Rao. The beneficiaries are the Montgomery Housing Partnership, the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, Interfaith Works, Trash-Free Maryland, and UMttr. Friday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center, 7995 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. Tickets are $75, or $250 for VIP granting premier seats, reserved parking, and post-show reception with the performers. Call 301-362-6525 or visit UnNaugural.org.

WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA: AMERICAN OPERA INITIATIVE FESTIVAL

“Catch a glimpse into the future of opera” goes the tagline for this festival, WNO’s commissioning program for contemporary American opera now in its seventh season. This year’s festival includes two different programs featuring four world premiere operas, performed in concert with Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists accompanied by a small chamber orchestra and followed by a Q&A with the artists and creative teams. Program One focuses on Taking Up Serpents, a new hour-long opera from composer Kamala Sankaram and librettist Jerre Dye that spins an engrossing tale about the controversial world of religious snake-handling, and focused on the estranged daughter (performed by Alexandria Shiner) of a fire-and-brimstone preacher who is dangerously bitten by one of his snakes. Performances are Friday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m. Program Two centers around “Three New 20-Minute Operas,” including 75 Miles, with music by Matt Boehler and a libretto by Laura Barati focused on a family in rural Pennsylvania who grapple with faith, beliefs, and economic limitations in the face of an unexpected teen pregnancy; Relapse, with music by Molly Joyce and a libretto by James Kennedy about a woman struggling with her addiction after a serious drug overdose; and Pepito, with music by Nicolas Lell Benavides and libretto by Marella Martin Koch, a tale about a lonely shelter dog and the troubled young married couple eager, maybe a bit too eager, to adopt. Performances are Saturday, Jan. 12, at 7 and 9 p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are $19 to $45 per program. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

DANCE

CONTEMPORARY VIEWPOINTS FESTIVAL

Dance Place offers a curated, mixed-bill showcase of boundary-pushing modern dance from area choreographers. This year’s lineup includes Vinegar Spirit by Britta Joy Peterson, a dual “solo” work about the act of self-discovery and the concept of two becoming one; Victor, described as “group therapy in the eye of a tornado,” by darlingdance and founder Hayley Cutler whose intimate, female-centric works are devised collaboratively with a commitment to authenticity; Of Gods and Monsters, a work from Tariq Darrell+The UNUM Dance Collective that advances a mission to repurpose commentary on the dancing African-American body to find transcendence from oppressive narratives; and Cirque de Nuit, a work from local gay choreographer Robert J. Priore and PrioreDance that takes inspiration from the world of fantasy as well as the sideshow lifestyle. Saturday, Jan. 12, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 13, at 4 p.m. 3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are $30. Call 202-269-1600 or visit danceplace.org.

IDEA: AN EVENING OF INDIAN DANCE

Wolf Trap presents a dazzling showcase by the Arlington-based Indian Dance Educators Association promoting classical and folk dance styles. Expect vibrant costumes, lively music, and elaborate movement featuring professional dancers both local and from India. Saturday, Jan. 19, at 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $25 to $27. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.

KANKOURAN WEST AFRICAN DANCE COMPANY

Kankouran celebrates 35 years with its annual presentation celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, and showcasing the influences that African dance and culture has had on contemporary dance styles. Led by the company’s co-founder and artistic director Assane Konte, the concert features the senior and junior companies of KanKouran as well as the children’s company and the community class. Saturday, Jan. 19, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 20, at 4 p.m. Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are $25 in advance, or $30 at the door. Call 202-269-1600 or visit danceplace.org.

MATTHEW BOURNE’S NEW ADVENTURES: CINDERELLA

The acclaimed British choreographer Matthew Bourne and his iconic and groundbreaking dance-theater company returns to the Kennedy Center with his thrilling new twist on the classic fairy tale, set amidst the horrors of the 1940 London Blitz during World War II. Cinderella features striking designs and costumes by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Olivier Award-winner Neil Austin, video and projection work by Duncan McLean, and Prokofiev’s score captured via a specially commissioned, surround sound recording by Paul Groothuis. Performances begin Tuesday, Jan. 15. Runs to Jan. 20. Opera House. Tickets are $29 to $129. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

STEP AFRIKA! 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., Strathmore presents an annual showcase of the professional dance troupe focused on stepping, the high-energy, percussive style of dance that originated with African-American fraternities and sororities. The program, including a retrospective of works as well as highlighting the company’s deep connections to South Africa, comes in honor of silver anniversaries of both Step Afrika! as well as the historic election of the late South African President Nelson Mandela. The Dem Raider Boyz step squad out of Greenbelt, Md., will also be featured. Sunday, Jan. 20, at 5 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $35 to $75. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.

COMEDY

IMPROBABLE COMEDY: COMEDY AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

A show that President Trump doesn’t want you to see, the Maryland presenter Improbable Comedy has recruited more immigrants and first-generation comics for its second Comedy As A Second Language program. Performers on tap are Pedro Gonzalez, Davine Ker, Simone, and Anna Tirat-Gefen. Saturday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Silver Spring Black Box Theatre, 8641 Colesville Road. Tickets are $16 to $22. Call 301-351-2096 or visit improbablecomedy.com.

JAY PHAROAH

The six-season alum from Saturday Night Live, well known especially for his impressions of President Obama, Jay Z, and Kanye West, has more recently shown his dramatic abilities via Showtime’s White Famous and Steven Soderbergh’s Unsane. He’s currently working on his second stand-up special by trying out and perfecting his material performing at nightclubs and college auditoriums around the country. Friday, Jan. 11. Doors at 8 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $30 for this seated show. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

JOE ZIMMERMAN

This West Virginia native, whose “calming vocalization and inventive writing [is a] thing of magic,” according to BuzzFeed, comes to the area as the first comedy night of 2019 at AMP by Strathmore co-presented by Comedy Zone. Erica Spera, named a 2017 TBS Comic to Watch, opens the show. Thursday, Jan. 17, at 8 p.m. 11810 Grand Park Ave. North Bethesda. Tickets are $14. Call 301-581-5100 or visit ampbystrathmore.com.

JOKES THAT GIVE BACK

Every third Thursday at the comedy club a few blocks from Logan Circle comes a standup show featuring comics from the area and beyond and all geared as a fundraiser for a different charity each month. Comics Gigi Modrich and Andie Basto produce and host the first event in 2019 with the beneficiary Dreams for Kids DC, which provides life-changing activities for children with physical and developmental disabilities. Thursday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. Drafthouse Comedy, 1100 13th St. NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-750-6411 or visit drafthousecomedy.com.

WASHINGTON IMPROV THEATER: ROAD SHOW

D.C.’s leading company for longform improv offers a run of shows at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, each presenting a series of vignettes featuring different ensembles, with plots developed on-the-fly, spurred by audience suggestions. The run also features the debut production from WIT ensemble The Fourth Estate, offering a keen look at the media in the 21st century directed by Kate Symes. Opens Thursday, Jan. 10. Weekends to Jan. 27. 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. Call 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.

READINGS

ARENA CIVIL DIALOGUES: MUST WE BE TRIBAL?

Arena Stage presents this series of discussions for the broader Washington community focusing on topics and questions in today’s headlines. The next dialogue focuses on “the role of community in our personal and collective future” and also serves as a 90th birthday celebration for The George Washington University’s Amitai Etzioni, the series’ curator. Other “Dialogue Starter” panelists this round include the Brookings Institution’s William Galston (author of Anti-Pluralism: The Populist Threat to Liberal Democracy) and Isabel Sawhill (author of One Percent for the Kids: New Policies, Brighter Futures for America’s Children), with Xolela Mangcu, a South African public intellectual and GW sociology professor, serving as moderator. Monday, Jan. 14, starting with a pre-discussion reception at 5 p.m. 1101 6th St. SW. Free, but reservations are required. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.

BARBARA KINNEY: #STILLWITHHER

#StillWithHer: Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Moments That Sparked a Movement contains inspiring shots of the 2016 Democratic candidate for president addressing crowds and meeting with voters as well as affecting private glimpses with daughter Chelsea and husband and former president Bill Clinton. Featuring text by Sandra Sobieraj Westfall, the book is a celebration of the indomitable Clinton as well as a showcase for the more than 25 years that Kinney, an award-winning photojournalist, spent with the Clintons, first as an official White House photographer in the ’90s and then as the official campaign photographer for Hillary’s run in 2016. Saturday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. Politics & Prose at Union Market, 1270 5th St. NE. Call 202-544-4452 or visit politics-prose.com.

JEAN CASE: BE FEARLESS

Be Fearless: Five Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs & Purpose is a hot-off-the-press book by the head of the philanthropic Case Foundation who three decades ago was the marketing director for a startup that grew into the once-mighty Internet empire America Online, or AOL, co-founded by her husband Steve Case. Publisher Simon and Schuster touts Be Fearless as “a call to action for those seeking to live extraordinary lives and bring about transformational change.” Case will read and sign copies of the book as part of a discussion at Sixth and I led by Andrea Mitchell of NBC News. Thursday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. 600 I St. NW. Tickets are $15, or $30 including one book, $40 for two tickets and one book. Call 202-408-3100 or visit sixthandi.org.

SORAYA CHEMALY: RAGE BECOMES HER

Kramerbooks offers an inspiring reading for activists on the eve of this year’s Women’s March. The focus is a new book that heralds the value of personal anger and also rails against the societal and cultural belittlement of the emotion, revealing it as a cunning way of limiting and controlling one’s own power. In Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger, Chemaly, the director of the Women’s Media Center Speech Project, argues that anger, when “approached with conscious intention…is a vital instrument, a radar for injustice and a catalyst for change.” Friday, Jan. 18, at 6:30 p.m. 1517 Connecticut Ave. NW. Call 202-387-1400 or visit kramers.com.

STORY DISTRICT: TOP SHELF 2018

An annual best-of showcase featuring some of the best tales told over the past year at the storytelling organization’s many events around town. Unlike other storytelling organizations, Story District is focused on congenial camaraderie rather than competition — no judged “Story Slams” here. Now in its 10th year at the Lincoln Theatre, Top Shelf is a curated group of eight storytellers, partially winnowed down by a panel of independent judges, all active members of the storytelling community, this year overseen by Derek Hills. The lineup this year features: Katy Barrett, Twain Dooley, Morgan Givens, Joani Peacock, Cody Pomeranz, Rohini Rao, John Tong, and Diana Veiga. Saturday, Jan. 19. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. Tickets are $35 to $45. Call 202-328-6000 or visit thelincolndc.com.

ART & EXHIBITS

BESTUÉ-VIVES: RALF & JEANNETTE

The Washington Project for the Arts has set up this video projection, in an empty storefront a block south from where Town once stood, with the intention of making viewers reflect on chance encounters with strangers on the street as well as on changing social dynamics in the area. The story of a romantic relationship, artists David Bestué and Marc Vives originally presented Ralf & Jeannette as a one-time-only performance in 2010 on a crowded sidewalk in Times Square — from where the seemingly everyday interaction, lasting just over nine minutes, was projected onto a massive overhead digital billboard, with a multi-camera video feed of the event presented nationwide on MTV with subtitles in English. D.C.-based artist and arts manager Marta Pita curated the local reprise. Through Jan. 13. WPA Annex, 1921 8th St. NW, Ground Floor. Call 202-234-7103 or visit wpadc.org.

COMMUNITY POLICING IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL

Organized as part of a citywide commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, this exhibition uses original documents, maps, posters, and other materials to shine a light on a local experiment in community policing. “The Pilot District Project, 1968-1973” was a program with good intentions, an innovative experiment in community policing that had success but also more than its share of failures, and its legacy continues in citizen police reform efforts today. Co-presented by the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. Through Jan. 15. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $10 for admission to all current exhibitions. Call 202-272-2448 or visit nbm.org.

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. In conjunction with the exhibition, Hillwood’s holiday decorations, most notably five Christmas trees, reflect the opulence and splendor of Fabergé through jeweled ornaments, live flowers, and brilliant treasures. To Jan. 13. 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested donation is $18. Call 202-686-5807 or visit HillwoodMuseum.org.

HILL CENTER GALLERIES: REGIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION

Over the years, this exhibition, featuring works in various mediums and subjects, has grown to include over 80 artists from D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. This year’s juror is Caitlin Berry of Hemphill Fine Arts. Artists represented include: Lory Ivey Alexander, Katherine Altom, Fabiola Alvarez Yurcisin, Kasse Andrews-Weller, Kimberley Bursic, Elizabeth Casqueiro, Marilyn Christiano, Kim DiDonato-Murrell, Christopher Fowler, Ric Garcia, Paul Hrusa, JoAnn Lamicella Laboy, Phet Lew, Rashad Muhammad, Khanh Nguyen, Zachary Reid, Judy Searles, Carol Ward, and Acquaetta Williams. Opening Reception is Wednesday, Jan. 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. On display to March 3. Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Call 202-549-4172 or visit HillCenterDC.org.

LONG VIEW GALLERY: NEW YEAR/NEW ARTISTS

New works by Francie Hester, Greg Minah, Frank Campion, and Stefan Breukers are featured as part of the first show of 2019 at the small, private LGBTQ-run gallery. Long View has long been a leading fixture in its trendy part of Shaw as well as a prime example of how art and art-centric spaces can help revitalize and shape neighborhoods. Opening Reception is Thursday, Jan. 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. On display to Feb. 25. 1234 9th St. NW. Call 202-232-4788 or visit longviewgallery.com.

MARK BRADFORD: TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY

The Baltimore Museum of Art showcases the work of the gay African-American artist specifically through an installation of painting, sculpture, and video first presented at the 2017 Venice Biennale. The installations on display in Tomorrow Is Another Day weave a complex, multi-layered narrative incorporating themes and figures from Bradford’s personal life as well as from Greek mythology and the universe. One example is Spoiled Foot, a behemoth collage installation inspired by the story of Hephaestus, the god of artists and makers, that hangs from the ceiling and literally bears down on visitors, pushing them to the periphery of the room. The exhibition also conveys a belief in art’s ability to expose contradictory histories and inspire action in the present day, particularly among those in traditionally marginalized communities — by featuring silk-screened t-shirts and tote bags created by local youth from Baltimore’s Greenmount West Community Center with support and guidance from the Los Angeles-based artist, all available for purchase in a pop-up shop adjacent to the exhibition. To March 3. 10 Art Museum Dr. Baltimore. Call 443-573-1700 or visit artbma.org.

NEW NATURE BY MARPI

Polish-born, San Francisco-based digital artist Mateusz “Marpi” Marcinowski has developed an immersive audiovisual experience featuring a colorful digital menagerie of nature-inspired creatures and plant life that react in real time to users’ gestures and actions. Inspired by early multiplayer online gaming systems such as Super Mario Brothers, Marpi’s New Nature is the latest installation at D.C.’s unique art-meets-technology gallery ArTecHouse. To Jan. 13. 1238 Maryland Ave. SW. Tickets for timed-entry sessions are $8 to $15, with evening admission for those over 21 years of age and including exhibit-related Augmented Reality Cocktails available for purchase. Visit artechouse.com.

NORDIC IMPRESSIONS

The Phillips Collection offers a major survey spanning nearly 200 years and featuring works by 53 artists from Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as the self-governing islands of Åland, Faroe, and Greenland. Without specifying what exactly constitutes a distinctively Nordic artistic approach aside from place of origin/geography, the art in the exhibition retains a certain mystique and focus on themes that hold a special place in Nordic culture: light and darkness, inner life and exterior space, the ties between nature and folklore, and women’s rights and social liberalism. Artists represented range from Golden Age/Romantic era painters Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Helene Schjerfbeck to today’s Eija-Liisa Ahtila and Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir. To Jan. 13. 1600 21st St. NW. Tickets are $10 to $12. Call 202-387-2151 x247 or visit phillipscollection.org.

PICTURES OF THE YEAR: 75 YEARS OF THE WORLD’S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY

The Newseum celebrates one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious photojournalism competitions with a show featuring just a sampling of the more than 40,000 award-winning images in the archives of Pictures of the Year International. Tracing the evolution of photojournalism from World War II to today, the images on display depict the people and events that have defined the times, capturing war and peace, disaster and triumph, and the social and cultural shifts that have shaped the past 75 years. Founded in 1944 at the University of Missouri, POYi recognizes excellence in photojournalism as well as multimedia and visual editing. To Jan. 20. Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $22.95 for general admission. Call 888-NEWSEUM or visit newseum.org.

TORPEDO FACTORY’S 2018 POST-GRAD RESIDENTS

A display of works from the four residents this year at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Through the Post-Grad Residency, housed in Torpedo’s Studio 319, recent college graduates with art degrees are given the opportunity to create and sell work, interact with the public, and build a network outside of the academic setting. The 2018 residents — interdisciplinary artists Lyric Prince and Alexis Gomez, and sculpture/installation artists Sara Roberts and Kelly Johnston — are the featured artists in this latest group exhibition at the Old Town complex’s contemporary Target Gallery. On display through Jan. 21. 105 North Union St. Alexandria. Free. Call 703-838-4565 or visit torpedofactory.org.

ABOVE & BEYOND

CARTOGRAPHY

The Kennedy Center co-commissioned this world premiere production for young audiences that explores how the world is alive with movement and migration. Inspired by young refugees around the world, Cartography fuses map-making, dance, film, and sound sensor technology to explore the tragedy and wonder of lives in motion. From the effects of climate change to war and poverty, the story examines the forces that send youth into unsure waters of their future, and invites audiences to consider their own maps and journeys. Intended for ages 12 and up. Friday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 12, and Sunday, Jan. 13, at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Kennedy Center Family Theater. Tickets are $20. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

ELVIS’ BIRTHDAY FIGHT CLUB

Elvis Presley hosts an underground fight club in what is billed as a comically lowbrow theater event from Astro Pop Events (Countdown to Yuri’s Night, America The Game Show). Now in its ninth year, the production features the King (Jared Davis), accompanied by his sardonic sidekick Kittie Glitter (Jei Spatola), plus “a little more conversation” in the form of hilarious color commentary during seven comical, choreographed matchups full of cartoon-like violence and below-the-belt comedy, as burlesque dancers keep the audience “all shook up” between fights. The cast includes Andrew Wodzianski, Lucrezia Blozia, Carlos Bustamente, DD Cupcakes, Patrick M. Doneghy, Matt Grant, Nona Narcisse, Callie Pigeon, Candy Del RIo, Christian Sullivan, Cherie Sweetbottom, and Stephon Walker. Saturday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 and 10 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 12, at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave. Baltimore. Tickets are $25 to $35. Visit astropopevents.com.

PRETTY BOI DRAG: 3RD ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Former DC King Pretty Rik E has managed to help keep alive the art of drag kings in D.C. with this regular series of shows, over brunch or during nighttime parties, featuring nearly two dozen local performers. For the next event, a Sunday afternoon anniversary party, patrons can win tickets to future shows as well as new “Pretty Boi Swag” including limited-edition anniversary t-shirts available in gold and silver foil print and Pretty Boi Drag shot glasses that grant purchasers’ a special discount on shots at the bar. Sunday, Jan. 20, from 2 to 5 p.m. Bier Baron Tavern, 1523 22nd St. NW. Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door, or $40 for an anniversary package with ticket, t-shirt, and a shot glass. Call 202-293-1887 or visit prettyboidrag.com.