Galleries
1. “Man Ray: African Art and the Modern Lens”: This collection of more than 100 black and white photographs of African art by Man Ray and his Harlem Renaissance contemporaries shows how composition and framing can influence perception of an object.
Where: The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW
When: Through Jan. 10, 2010
Info: $12, $10 for students and seniors 62 and older; phillipscollection.org
2. “William T. Wiley: Trust Us for Just Us”: This collection of bold new watercolors and constructions is a companion piece to the Wiley retrospective on view at the Smithsonian American Art Museum through year’s end.
Where: Marsha Mateyka Gallery, 2012 R St. NW
When: Through Nov. 14
Info: Free; 202-328-0088; marshamateykagallery.com
3. “Summer Island”: The vibrant ecology of Maine’s summer island is the subject of Loudoun County artist Merri Nelson’s intricate line drawings.
Where: The Art League Gallery, The Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria
When: Through Nov. 2
Info: Free; 703-683-1780; theartleague.org
4. “The Art of Power: Royal Armor and Portraits From Imperial Spain”: Drawing on the Spanish Royal Armory in Madrid as well as other European sources, this fascinating show explores how Spain used armor as a visual symbol of its military might from the 15th through the 18th centuries. Only two more weekends remain before the show closes.
Where: National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue Northwest
When: Through Nov. 1
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
5. “Ron Haynie: Playing With Light”: American University alumnus and former professor Ron Haynie returns to demonstrate his mastery of paint as material, light, hue, space, gesture, potential energy and feeling in this extraordinary collection.
Where: The American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW
When: Through Sunday
Info: Free; 202-885-1300; american.edu/cas/katzen/museum
Gatherings
1. “War of the Worlds” and “The Lost World”: L.A. Theatre Works presents Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds” and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Lost World.” For more than two decades, L.A. Theatre Works has presented radio dramas onstage with first-rate casts and live sound effects.
Where: George Mason University, Braddock Road and Route 123, Fairfax
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $18 to $36; 888-945-2468; gmu.edu/cfa
2. “Happy Birthday, George Crumb!”: George Crumb’s reputation as a composer of hauntingly beautiful scores has made him one of the most frequently performed living composers in today’s musical world. Members of Levine School of Music’s faculty will honor this remarkable composer with a performance of his “Makrokosmos,” volume I for amplified piano, “Mundus Canus (A Dog’s World)” for guitar and percussion, and “Vox Balaenae (The Voice of the Whale)” for flute, cello and piano.
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $10; 202-399-7993; atlasarts.org
3. “Fall Festival of Indian Dance”: Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company presents a weekend of dance with guest artists from India in a multi-disciplinary event that combines traditional Indian art forms in a modern context.
Where: Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Info: $25 to $35; 202-247-1292; thelincolntheatre.org
4. “This Land Is Your Land”: Works of James Rieck, Chad Yencer and Jon Bobby Benjamin investigate the American landscape.
Where: Hamiltonian Gallery, 1353 U St. NW
When: Noon to 6 p.m. Thursday to Saturday
Info: 202-332-1116; hamiltoniangallery.com
5. “Tangosutra”: The annual festival features dance lessons and three opportunities to tango the night away. Nine teachers and three DJs.
Where: Trinity College, 125 Michigan Ave. NE
When: 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday; 12:45 p.m. to 4 a.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday
Info: $20 to $100; tangobarrio.com
Music
1. Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks: The infectious beat of Western swing, folk, bluegrass, Gypsy jazz and bossa nova adds up to “Tangled Tales,” the latest album by the witty purveyor of his own unique style.
Where: The Barns at Wolf Trap
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $22; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
2. Soprano Dawn Upshaw: The versatile Grammy-winning soprano makes her Strathmore debut performing a kaleidoscope of songs by American, Argentine, French and Russian composers, accompanied by pianist Gilbert Kalish.
Where: Music Center at Strathmore
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $25 to $74; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org
3. Washington National Opera: Iren? Theorin, P?r Lindskog and Lyubov Petrova star in the seriocomic “Ariadne auf Naxos” by Richard Strauss, sung in German with English super titles.
Where: Kennedy Center Opera House
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 2; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and Nov. 5, 10 and 13; 2 p.m. Nov. 8
Info: $25 to $300; 202-295-2400; dc-opera.org
4. Terence Blanchard: The incomparable New Orleans-based jazz trumpeter, composer, band leader and arranger plays music from his visionary new album, “Choices,” inspired by Herbie Hancock’s philosophy.
Where: Blues Alley
When: 8 and 10 p.m. Thursday to Sunday
Info: $35; 202-337-4141; bluesalley.com
5. David Garrett: German-born Juilliard School graduate and classical violin student of Itzhak Perlman wows with his latest hit, “Smooth Criminal,” and other crossover delights.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday
Info: $29.50; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
Theater
1. “Much Ado About Nothing”: Shakespeare’s brilliant comedy about romance and independence. In the end, love conquers all, but not before lovers Beatrice and Benedick conceal their attraction to one another behind a “merry war” of wit.
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St.
When: Check Web site for performance schedule
Info: $37 to $53; 202-544-7077; folger.edu/theater
2. “Lost in Yonkers”: Neil Simon’s award-winning coming-of-age comedy, in which two brothers are left to fend for themselves in a dysfunctional household with their formidable immigrant grandmother, sweet but simple-minded aunt and a hoodlum of an uncle.
Where: Theater J, Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW
When: 7:30 p.m. most Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Saturday; 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday; noon Oct. 28 and Nov. 4; through Nov. 29
Info: $27.50 to $55; 202-518-9400; washingtondcjcc.org
3. “Ah, Wilderness!”: Eugene O’Neill’s nostalgic comedy turns back the clock to the beginning of the 20th century, reflecting on family and community life in a “large small town.”
Where: TheaterSpace, George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax
When: 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 29-31; 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, Nov. 1
Info: $12; $8 for students, faculty, staff; 703-993-8888; tickets.com
4. “Port Authority”: The area premiere of a play based on Conor McPherson’s book about three generation of Dublin men, their intertwined lives and loves that could have been.
Where: Quotidian Theatre, The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; through Nov. 22
Info: $20 to $25; 301-816-1023; quotidiantheatre.org
5. “Fan of a Single Woman”: Teatro de la Luna continues its 12th International Festival of Hispanic Theatre with a dramatic poem for one voice, a homage to Federico Garcia Lorca, from Grupo TeaTeatro, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Performed by Andrea Julia. In Spanish with simultaneous English translation.
Where: Theater Two, Gunston Arts Center, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington
When: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $25 to $30, festival pass $60 to $150; teatrodelaluna.org
