Galleries
1. Sargent and the Sea: The American expatriate John Singer Sargent was one of the greatest painters of the late 19th century, and it was his early seascapes and coastal scenes that made his reputation. Centered around the Corcoran’s “En Route pur la peche (Setting Out to Fish)” and featuring some 80 works in all, this will be the first show to deeply examine the marine paintings and drawings Sargent made during the first half-decade of his remarkable career. Not to be missed.
Where: The Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St. NW
When: Through Jan. 3, 2010
Info: $10; $8 students, seniors, military; $6 museum members and ages 6 and under; 202-639-1700; corcoran.org
2. 1934: A New Deal for Artists: In 1934, with the nation brought low by the Great Depression, the Roosevelt administration created the first federal initiative to support the arts, employing artists to revive America’s spirit through benign propaganda. This exhibit celebrates the program’s 75th anniversary with 56 works from SAAM’s permanent collection.
Where: The Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets NW
When: Through Jan. 3
Info: Free; 202-633-1000; americanart.si.edu
3. The Tale of Shuten Doji: The exhibit comprises several retellings of the traditional Japanese tale of the hero Minamoto Yorimitsu’s 10th-century triumph over the monster Shuten Doji. These scrolls, screens and fan paintings date from the 17th through 19th centuries.
Where: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Jefferson Drive and 12 Street SW
When: Through Sept. 20
Info: Free; 202-633-4880; asia.si.edu
4. Paul Feinberg: Another Washington: Paul Feinberg gives us a revealing look at the less-seen Washington he’s been documenting with his camera for 35 years.
Where: The American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW
When: Through Oct. 25
Info: Free; 202-885-1300; american.edu/cas/katzen/museum
5. Flora: Growing Inspirations: This juried show of stylized plant-inspired sculptures just happens to be nestled in one of the District’s most beautiful environs. See it before summer is gone.
Where: The United States Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: Through Oct. 12
Info: Free; 703-225-8333; usbg.gov
Gatherings
1. Kennedy Center 2009 Open House Arts Festival: The Kennedy Center Open House presents boulevard entertainers from France, Canada, Australia and the D.C. area as part of the Washington D.C. Street Performance Festival in conjunction with the French-American Cultural Foundation. A smorgasbord of music includes presentations by the National Symphony Orchestra, Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band, Washington National Opera Young Artists, salsa band Bio Ritmo, gospel artist Byron Cage and many more surprises.
Where: Kennedy Center stages and street, 2700 F St. NW
When: Noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 12
Info: Free, tickets may be needed for some events; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
2. Jubilee: African American Celebration: A look at African-American celebrations from Kwanzaa to Mardi Gras.
Where: Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place SE
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; through Sept. 20
Info: Free; 202-633-4820; anacostia.se.edu
3. League of Washington Theatres’ Theatre Week promotion: The LOWT provides special events, free events, pay-what-you-can performances and more.
Where: Venues throughout D.C. See Web site for details.
When: Through Sept. 12
Info: Free or reduced rates; lowt.org
4. Live! On Woodrow Wilson Plaza: From salsa to strings and blues to swing, Live! on Woodrow Wilson Plaza features hot entertainment in a cool cafe atmosphere throughout the summer. The free performances feature world-renowned entertainers in a variety of flavors, such as African dance, Celtic folk songs, jazz violin, hip-hop, Latin swing and pop rock. Chuck Brown’s series finale performance Sept. 25 will be from 5 to 7 p.m.
Where: Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
When: Noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
Info: Free; 202-312-1300; itcdc.com
5. Bradley Chriss: Visions from the End of the World: Bradley Chriss’ small, apocalyptic watercolors are situated at the unlikely interstice between the sentimental and the nightmarish.
Where: Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW
When: Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday or by appointment through Oct. 3; opening reception 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 11.
Info: Free; 202-315-1305; flashpointdc.org
Movies
‘The September Issue’
Documentary
Director: R.J. Cutler
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language
Running Time: 88 minutes
The September 2007 issue of Vogue magazine weighed nearly five pounds and was the single largest issue of a magazine ever published. With unprecedented access, this film tells the story of legendary Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour and her larger-than-life team of editors creating the issue and ruling the world of fashion.
‘Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself’
When Madea, America’s favorite pistol-packing grandma, catches 16-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands and delivers the young delinquents to the only relative they have: their aunt, April.
‘Whiteout’
Carrie Stetko, a lone U.S. marshal in Antarctica, is tracking the continent’s first serial killer. It will plunge her into an even more bizarre mystery and the revelation of secrets long-buried under the endless ice … secrets that someone believes are still worth killing for.
‘Big Fan’
Paul Aufiero, a hard-core New York Giants football fan, struggles to deal with the consequences when he is beaten up by his favorite player.
‘Sorority Row’
It’s graduation time, and a group of sorority sisters are ready to celebrate in style. However, when their house mother interferes and demands the girls to leave the house early, the girls make her the object of a prank — which results in her accidental death.
‘The Beaches of Agnes’
Celebrated filmmaker Agnes Varda (“The Gleaners and I”) turns her camera on herself for this autobiographical documentary.
‘The Baader Meinhof Complex’
Germany in the 1970s: Murderous bomb attacks, the threat of terrorism and the fear of the enemy inside are rocking the very foundations of the still fragile German democracy. Producer and scriptwriter Bernd Eichinger brings Stefan Aust’s standard work on Red Army Faction terrorism to the big screen.
Music
1. Aretha Franklin: The remarkable Queen of Soul, recipient of 20 Grammy Awards and soloist at President Obama’s inauguration performs in concert for her Washington-area fans.
Where: Performing Arts Center, Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, 7885 Georgia Ave.
When: 8 p.m. Sept. 11
Info: $75; 240-567-5775; montgomerycollege.edu/PAC
2. “First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb”: The world premiere of “First You Dream” starring Heidi Blickenstaff, Norm Lewis, James Clow and others celebrates Signature’s 20th anniversary featuring music from 15 of the songwriting team’s musicals and movies.
Where: Signature’s MAX Theater
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to Wednesday, 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday; through Sept. 27
Info: $60 to $65; 703-573-7328; signature-theatre.org
Signature’s Third Annual Music Concert Benefit hosts a preshow reception honoring John Kander at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 10, with the show to follow at 8 p.m. Tickets are $150 to $250. Information at 571-527-1828 or [email protected].
3. “The Barber of Seville”: The Washington National Opera opens the season with Rossini’s melodic farce.
Where: Kennedy Center Opera House, 2700 F St. NW
When: 7 p.m. Sept. 12, 14 and 19; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 to 17; 2 p.m. Sept. 13 and 20
Info: $25 to $600; 202-295-2400; dc-opera.org. Free simulcast at Nationals Park 7 p.m. Sept. 12. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
4. Cathedral Sings!: Singers of all ability are invited to sing along to Verdi’s “Requiem” with members of the Washington National Opera Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists Program conducted by Dr. J. Reilly Lewis and accompanied by organist Scott Detta.
Where: Washington National Cathedral
When: 5:30 p.m. Sept. 13
Info: $11 in advance, $10 at door, tickets include score rental; 202-537-5510; [email protected].
5. Amel Larrieux: The singer/songwriter/keyboardist brings her artsy background to play in R&B blended with jazz, soul, folk, hip-hop and other elements in her own distinctive style.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 and 11
Info: $45; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
Theater
1. “700 Sundays”: Billy Crystal embodies all kinds of crazy characters in his autobiographical one-man show.
Where: National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
When: 8 p.m. Sept. 10 to 11; 3 and 8 p.m. Sept. 12; 3 p.m. Sept. 13; 8 p.m. Sept. 15 to 17
Info: 800-447-7400; nationaltheatre.org
2. “Moonlight”: Harold Pinter’s poetic meditation on family loyalty and the interactions of two generations is at times comic, at times melancholic. As a stern patriarch lies dying, his wife tries to bring two estranged sons to his bedside. Hovering over the actual events of the play is the memory of a dead girl, who haunts everyone’s minds.
Where: Studio Theatre, Metheny Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Info: $42 to $63; 202-332-3300; studio-theatre.org
4. “The Quality of Life”: In this play by Jane Anderson, two very different couples come together to deal with their horrendous life losses, trying to find personal ways to cope with devastation.
Where: Arena Stage, Crystal City
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday (6 p.m. Sept. 27); 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (except Sept. 12); weekday matinees Oct. 7 and 13; through Oct. 18
Info: $25 to $66; 202-488-3300; arenastage.org
5. “A Piece of My Heart”: The 1991 drama considers the harrowing experiences of women who served in the Vietnam War in various roles, from nurse to entertainer.
Where: Gunston Arts Center, Theater II, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington
When: Through Oct. 10
Info: $26 to $32; 703-998-4555; americancentury.org
