Raise your pint glass and pinch anyone who dares not to wear green. St. Patrick’s Day is upon us, and as luck (of the Irish) would have it, it’s on a weekend. We went to the end of the rainbow for these weekend event ideas so you wouldn’t have to, but (most of) the St. Paddy’s Day puns end here. In addition to green beer, you can check out LGBTQ+ events, see a ballet based on a classic fairytale, or attend a classical music rave. Read on and start planning a memorable weekend—or one that’s a little hazy on the details.
FRIDAY, MARCH 17
THEATER: Jean Cocteau and Miles Davis are two artists passing in the night in Needles and Opium. This reimagined version of the 1991 premiere of Canadian playwright and director Robert Lepage’s fictional story about art, love, and addiction remains relevant today. Staged inside a large, suspended cube, this highly visual and physical show connects past with present. (The Kennedy Center, 8 p.m. $19-59)
GREEN FILM: Now in its 25th year, the Environmental Film Festival is back with more than 150 films. Dozens of local venues are hosting screenings and events for the festival, which ends March 26. Tonight you can ponder how long it’s been since you heard real silence, chew on the controversy surrounding GMOs and food, watch Late Night Shorts about pets, snowflakes, and garbage, and more. (Various venues and times, FREE – $20)
NASTY WOMEN: Forum Theatre’s #NastyWomenRep doesn’t officially open until Sunday, but those performances are invite only. See the pair of plays—two D.C. premieres with all-female creative and design teams—before the critics. You can catch a preview of Dry Land by Ruby Rae Spiegel tonight. Set in a high school locker room, the drama finds two teenage girls pulled together by an unwanted pregnancy and an unlikely friendship. Fair warning, this timely play deals with self-induced abortion. (Forum Theatre, 8 p.m. $18)
DANCE: It’s been a cold week in D.C. Lace up your Keds and get your blood pumping at Dance Yourself Clean, an indie-pop dance party. What started as a small party in a Seattle bar has grown into an international touring event featuring music inspired by LCD Soundsystem, CHVRCHES, BØRNS, Miike Snow, Haim, Charli XCX, MØ, Empire of The Sun, Purity Ring, and more. (Black Cat, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $12)
More: St. Patrick’s Day at The Park, St. Patrick’s Day Blarney Bash!
Nufonia Must Fall is a love story, puppet show, film, and concert wrapped into one. (Photo by AJ Korkidakis)
SATURDAY, MARCH 18
DROP A NOTE: Trans lives and safehouses are under attack. Show some love and support to transgender youth by sending them cards with affirming messages. The notes will go to kids and teens at SMYAL in D.C. and Time Out Youth in Charlotte, N.C. (The Lemon Bowl, 3:30-5:30 p.m. FREE, but donations for supplies, Time Out Youth, and SMYAL are appreciated)
LGBTQ+ PARTY: After a good deed well done, treat yourself to a night out with local queer community of party animals QREW. Remember the free-bleeding runner from the 2015 London Marathon? That was Madame Gandhi, who initially made her mark as the former drummer for M.I.A. These days, she and sound designer Alexia Riner pay homage to the female voice through sound. You can catch them and local alternative hip hop band allthebestkids. (Tropicalia, 7:00-10:30 p.m. $15)
CLASSICAL RAVE: Would Igor Stravinsky be more of a traditional glowstick guy or an LED glove fan? Meditate on that important question while you dance to the score that once incited a riot. Halcyon Stage is teaming up with The Experiential Orchestra and conductor James Blachly for the Stravinsky Rave Rite of Spring Dance Party, a classical music rave featuring a full orchestra performance of Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring.” DJ Will Eastman will present sets blending electronic and classical styles, and Washington Ballet dancers Morgann Rose and Darion Flores will perform a world premiere duet set to Bach’s “Sarabande in D minor.” (Dock 5 at Union Market, 8-11 p.m., $40)
PUPPET LOVE: If falling in love were uncomplicated, perhaps they’d call it “drifting in love” or “gliding to a gentle stop in love.” But something almost always crops up. For example, you might be a robot pining for a human woman. Washington Performing Arts presents the D.C. premiere of Nufonia Must Fall, a multi-media performance based on DJ Kid Koala’s 2003 graphic novel of the same title. Directed by K.K. Barrett (the Oscar-nominated production designer of Her), the production features live music by Koala and the Afiara Quartet. Puppeteers act out the love story on miniature stages while live video feeds share the scenes with the audience. (GW Lisner Auditorium, 8 p.m. $25-45)
MUSICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY: If you were to dedicate a song to each year of your life, what would it sound like? Songwriter Stephin Merritt created a personal album of songs—50 in all—each representing a year in his life. This soundtrack to his life is being performed in halves during a two-night engagement. The Magnetic Fields: 50 Song Memoir features more than 100 instruments, ranging from the traditional to newer music makers such as the synthesizer. (The Lincoln Theatre, 8 p.m. $40-55)
More: Get Close to the Angels, St. Patrick’s Day Kindred Spirits Whisky Class
SUNDAY, MARCH 19
GREEN BRUNCH: Soak up last night’s beer with breakfast…and more beer! Taste of DC presents Taste on Wheels: Green Eggs & Kegs edition. At this outdoor brunch, you can grab Irish breakfast-themed grub from more than two-dozen food trucks, each of which will offer a $3 signature “taste” item. What does an Irish arepa or maki roll taste like? You’ll have to come to brunch to find out. Bottomless pours of green beer and mimosas are available, of course. (Yards Park, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $5-30)
MAGIC CARPET RELEVÉ: The genie in Washington Ballet’s Aladdin isn’t like the one you remember from the Disney film. And if you’re expecting a sing-a-long, forget it. This adaptation of the classic fairy tale follows a poor young man on his journey to find a magic lamp and himself. (THEARC, 1 p.m. & 5 p.m., $35-50)
PARTY: Time flies when you’re having fun for free. The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage celebrates 20 years of no-cost entertainment with performances by Scythian, a high-energy band that plays roots music from Celtic, Eastern European, and Appalachian traditions, and Big Sam’s Funky Nation, a New Orleans funk group that is sure to get you on your feet. (The Kennedy Center’s Grand Foyer, 6:00-8:00 p.m. FREE)
