Kevin McAllister as Coalhouse Walker, Jr. in the upcoming Ford’s Theatre production of “Ragtime.” Photo by Scott Suchman.
Whether your idea of a good time is a classical music concert or to wear and try to avoid turning green at drunken early St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the D.C. area has events classy, cultural, and quirky.
FRIDAY, MARCH 10
THEATER: The Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday performances of this Tony-winning musical are sold out. But you can win tickets to opening night of Ragtime. All you have to do is download the TodayTix app and select TodayTix Free Previews with Ford’s Theatre by 10 a.m. Friday. Or you can wait in line for partial view seats and unclaimed lottery tickets. (Ford’s Theatre, 7:30-10:15 p.m. FREE)
SINGING CINEMA: And you thought talking during movies was annoying. Do you have a friend who quietly sings along during musicals? Is that the same friend who recites all the words to a movie while you’re trying to watch it? Those people are the worst, and we hope you’ll tell them we said so. But they are still your friends, and the La La Land Sing-Along might be the perfect outing for those who can’t just keep their mouths shut or full of popcorn like the rest of us. It opens Friday. (Various locations and times, $9-12)
OPERA: Knock date night out with Champion. The opera about closested gay boxer Emile Griffith closes next weekend. There will be a talkback with the artists after Friday night’s show. If you’re 30 or under, you might be able to snag one of the few remaining MyTix seats for a steep discount. (The Kennedy Center, 7:30 p.m., $35-300)
AFRICAN FILM: The 13th annual New African Film Festival opens Thursday, bringing dramas, documentaries, short films and more to downtown Silver Spring. You can see three of the offerings tonight: Kenyan fantasy film Kati Kati, about a woman who wakes up in the middle of nowhere and is told she’s in the afterlife; the U.S. premiere of the documentary New Voices in an Old Flower, which explores Ethiopia’s diverse music scene; and Wùlu, a crime drama out of Mali. (AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, various times, $8-13)
More: VENT!
Photo by Danilo Lewis for ShamrockFest
SATURDAY, MARCH 11
BOTANY: Is it really that bad to stick your finger in a venus fly trap? Which plants have medicinal benefits? How do you keep that orchid from Trader Joe’s alive? You can ask these and other flora-related questions at the United States Botanic Garden Production Facility Open House. This is a rare opportunity to glimpse the public garden’s growing facility, which houses all of the plants not currently on display. Register in advance for one of the open house times to get a tour, meet the folks with the green thumbs, and ask all the questions your community gardening heart desires. (USBG Production Facility, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $5-10)
CONCERT: St. Patrick’s Day isn’t until next weekend, but if people can maintain the Christmas spirit for a solid month, you can drink beer and wear green a week early. ShamrockFest, “the biggest St. Paddy’s Day Party in DC” will feature Irish dancers, carnival rides, musical performances, and more. The lineup includes Celtic-American punk band the Dropkick Murphys, Boston’s Street Dogs, and (for some reason) Coolio. (RFK Stadium, 2-10 p.m., $29.99-110)
BREW-THER MARIO: Chalk it up to demand or 1-up mushrooms, but Flying V’s “clever” parody of Nintendo characters and their lives beyond Rainbow Road has gained extra lives. It’s now extended through next weekend, giving you a few more chances to relive your childhood and reflect more deeply on the mustachioed plumber, helpless princess, and brutish Bowser. Attend the company’s first-ever “FLYING V FLIGHTS” event, a late-night, 21+ performance of Brother Mario that will include a flight of beers and a show-specific drinking game. (The Writer’s Center, 10:30 p.m., $40)
PARTY: Happy 60th birthday, Ghana! Celebrate the legacy, history, and culture of the West African country at Exquisite Ghana Ball III, a formal event with DJ sets and a live performance by hit artist Runtown. It looks like guests had a blast last year. (The Howard Theatre, 11 p.m.-3 a.m. $40-5000)
More: Ben Tufts & Friends present a tribute to Motown & Stax, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Emperor, The Shamrock Crawl
(Photo by Ken and Nyetta)
SUNDAY, MARCH 12
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Before you go back to the weekday grind, go Bach to the Future. If you think everything sounds better on vinyl, just wait until you hear some truly old school sound: the variety produced by period instruments. The Diderot String Quartet will present a program of works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn, including his rarely heard Fugue for String Quartet, Op. 81/4. (Washington National Cathedral, 7:30-9 p.m., $10-$40)
PERSIAN NEW YEAR: Put down the champagne and forget about resolutions. Nowruz, the Persian New Year, marks the beginning of spring. Regardless of whether or not the cherry blossoms think it’s that time of year, come celebrate the seasonal holiday with music, dance, food, and artisanal shopping at the Nowruz Festival. (Tysons Corner Center, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. FREE)
OLD SCHOOL COOL: Your old photos may wind up on the cloud, but others’ find their way to the D.C. Antique Photo & Postcard Show. Now in its 34th year, the event brings together collectors, vendors, and lookie loos. Attendees can look through vintage postcards, antique photographs, daguerreotypes, and other outdated photography techniques. (Holiday Inn Rosslyn, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. $10-35)
CLASSICAL MUSIC: All male vocal ensemble Cappella Pratensis commemorates the 500th anniversary of Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch’s death not with the type of visual art he created, but with the sort of music he heard during his lifetime. The program presents a mix of chants and works by Pierre de la Rue. Let us know if the music provides any insight into Bosch’s unique and highly creative—albeit cluttered—style. (National Gallery of Art, West Building, 3:30 p.m. FREE)
