MONDAY, OCT. 23
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION:Artists Ellsworth Kelly and Roy Lichtenstein were both born 100 years ago, and the National Gallery of Art is celebrating their legacy accordingly. The panel to be held in the East Building Auditorium will discuss how the artists played a crucial role in shaping post-war American art, and will also feature remarks from their spouses. (National Gallery of Art; 1 p.m.; FREE)
EXHIBITION: Today is the last day to see an exhibition of the work of Alfredo Ortíz, a Puerto Rican artist, on view at the Publick Playhouse in Hyattsville. The Hispanic Heritage Month exhibition features Ortíz’s drawings, which depict bohemias and tertulias, art related gatherings, and are influenced by poster art and printmaking. (Publick Playhouse; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; FREE)
MORE:Profs and Pints: Haunted Landscapes of Middle Earth (Penn Social; 6 p.m.; $14.31), ZZZZZZZZZ ii w/ Naoco Wowsugi / MUSE(O)FIRE / Nate Scheible (Rhizome DC; 7 p.m.; $5+), Noname (The Fillmore; 8 p.m.; $35-$50), Tim O’Brien (Arena Stage; 7 p.m.; $45+)
TUESDAY, OCT. 24
HIGH HEEL RACE: A beloved D.C. tradItion, the 17th Street High Heel Race, returns this week for its 36th year. In addition to the much anticipated race, there will be a costume contest and performances by local drag artists (17th Street between P and R streets NW; 6 p.m.; FREE)
THE WIZ: The Tony-Award winning musical is coming to D.C. as part of its first pre-Broadway tour in 20 years. A twist on the Wizard of Oz, the show follows Dorothy as she tries to find her place in a contemporary world, while integrating soul, gospel, rock, and finger-snapping ’70s funk. The Wiz will be playing until Oct. 29. (National Theatre; 8 p.m.; $250+)
SPOOKY TRIVIA: Tuesday is a big day for trivia, and this week the National Portrait Gallery is hosting its own, Halloween-themed, rendition. The questions, which are inspired by the museum collection, will test players’ knowledge of urban legends, superstitions, and other spooky creatures. (National Portrait Gallery; 5 p.m.; FREE)
#METOO & BEYOND: The National Women’s History Museum will be hosting a discussion on empowering narratives of the #MeToo movement and how to push back against patriarchal violence. Actress and humanitarian Ashley Judd will chat with Harvard Law gender violence expert Diane Rosenfeld, National Women’s Law Center CEO Fatima Goss Graves, and TIME Woman of the Year Amanda Nguyen. (Sixth & I; 7 p.m.; FREE for students, $35 for others)
MORE: Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen (International Spy Museum; 6:30 p.m.; FREE), A Middle Eastern Pantry (S. Dillon Ripley Center; 6:45 p.m.; $50), Darcy & Jer (Lincoln Theatre; 6:30 p.m.; $39.50), Small Black (The Atlantis; 6:30 p.m.; $23)
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 25
FALL FESTIVAL: Need a middle of the week pick-me-up? Woodrow Wilson Plaza near the Reagan Building is hosting a free fall festival, complete with a hay bale maze, pumpkin decorating, face painting, music, complimentary hot cider and more. (Woodrow Wilson Plaza; 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; FREE)
FAT HAM: This modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet follows Juicy, a “Black queer Southern kid” whose father’s ghost shows up demanding vengeance. Winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, James Ijames’ play is a certified delight. (Studio Theatre; 7:30 p.m.; $90)
KILL THE RIPPER: If you’re a fan of revisionist histories like Hamilton and Six, this one is for you. Deemed a “feminist victorian revenge play,” Kill the Ripper is the story of women coming together to take down Jack the Ripper. (Capitol Hill Arts Workshop; 7 p.m.; $5+)
MORE: Ragtime (Signature Theatre; 7:30 p.m.; $58+), Jesmyn Ward & Jason Reynolds (Lincoln Theatre; 7 p.m.; $55+), “Of Water Too Are The Grass”Art Exhibition (Studio Gallery; 12:30 p.m.; FREE), Spencer Krug (Songbyrd Music House; 7 p.m.; $28.33)
THURSDAY, OCT. 26
PUMPKIN PALOOZA: NoMa’s annual Halloween celebration is back. The community event will feature 1,000 free pumpkins, food, live music, costume contest, and a showing of the Halloween classic, “Hocus Pocus.” (Alethia Tanner Park; 4 p.m.; FREE)
TERROR IN THE GALLERY: The National Gallery isn’t the only museum open after hours this month. This Thursday, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Museum will be open a few hours later for a viewing of spooky portraits in history and fiction. (DAR Museum; 6 p.m.; $25)
HOWL-WEEN: Dressing up for halloween doesn’t just have to be for humans. The Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington is hosting Howl-ween in Pentagon City featuring a dog costume contest, dog trick-or -treating, and art making. (Metropolitan Park Arlington; 4:30 p.m.; FREE)
SUCH SWEET THUNDER: As part of D.C.’s multi-month Shakespeare Everywhere Festival, The Washington Ballet will be performing Duke Ellington’s Shakespearean Suite Such Sweet Thunder. Choreographed by Silar Farley, the show honors and explores Shakespeare in an original way. (Warner Theatre; 7 p.m.; $55-$94)
MORE: Political Trivia with The New Republic (Blackfinn DC; 6:30 p.m.; FREE), The Inner Loop Ekphrastic Response (IA&A at Hilyer; 6 p.m.; FREE), JFK: The Last Speech with Phylicia Rashad (Kennedy Center; 7 p.m.; $19+), Reception and Book Signing with Malak Mattar (Busboys and Poets Takoma; 6 p.m.; FREE), Superfine Art Fair (Dock 5 at Union Market; 6 p.m.; $22.50)
This post has been updated to reflect the correct time for the fall festival at Woodrow Wilson Plaza. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
