Going Out Guide for Prince George’s County and Southern Maryland, Jan. 26-Feb. 1
By Carrie Donovan,
THU 26
Jose Ballesteros The St. Mary’s College of Maryland professor reads his poetry. 8:15 p.m. St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Daugherty-Palmer Commons, 18952 E. Fisher Rd., St. Mary's City. 240-895-2000. www.smcm.edu. Free.
FRI 27
“Charlotte’s Web” TheatreWorks USA presents a musical version of E.B. White’s story about a pig whose life is saved by a farmer’s daughter and a spider who can write. Part of the Geico Gecko series. Friday at 10:15 a.m. and noon, Saturday at 11 a.m. Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301-277-1710. www.pgparks.com. $6 (seniors and students $5, Saturday only).
“Law and Order: Fairy Tale Unit” College of Southern Maryland Children’s Theatre presents Jonathan Rand’s comedy in which fairy-tale police and district attorneys bring villains to justice. Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. College of Southern Maryland, Fine Arts Center, 8730 Mitchell Rd., La Plata. 301-934-7828. www.csmd.edu/arts. $7, children $5.
Noam Chomsky The linguistics professor and anarchist will deliver one of the University of Maryland’s Dean’s Lectures. 7 p.m. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Gildenhorn Recital Hall, University of Maryland, Route 193 and Stadium Drive, College Park. 301-405-2787. www.claricesmithcenter.umd.edu. Free.
“Bang, Bang, You’re Dead” College of Southern Maryland’s Cause Theatre presents William Mastrosimone’s play about a murderer tormented by his guilt. Not recommended for children. Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m. College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick campus, Flagship Building, Room 119, 115 J.W. Williams Rd., Prince Frederick. 301-934-7828. 443-550-6000. www.csmd.edu/arts. $5.
“Cabaret” John Kander and Fred Ebb’s musical, based on a book by Christopher Isherwood, is set in pre-World War II Berlin, where an American writer woos an English cabaret star. Not recommended for children younger than 13. Opens Friday at 8 p.m., continues Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. Through Feb. 19. Port Tobacco Players, 508 Charles St., La Plata. 301-932-6819. www.ptplayers.com. $17; seniors, military and students $14.
“How I Learned to Drive” A Maryland woman recounts driving and life lessons learned from an abusive uncle in Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Through Feb. 11. Greenbelt Arts Center, 123 Centerway, Greenbelt. 301-441-8770. www.greenbeltartscenter.org. $17; seniors, military and students $14.
“Murder by Misadventure” Bowie Community Theatre performs Edward Taylor’s murder mystery about a writing duo who have grown to hate each other. Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m. Closes Friday. Bowie Playhouse, 16500 White Marsh Park Dr., Bowie. 410-757-5700. 301-858-7245. www.bctheatre.com. $18, seniors and students $13.
SAT 28
Fynesound and Mist Covered Mountains The Celtic Society of Southern Maryland’s Winter Celtic Music Festival features workshops and performances by two Celtic groups, Fynesound from the D.C. area and Mist Covered Mountains from Amherst, Mass. Workshops will be held 2-4 p.m., followed by a concert at 8 p.m. Registration required for workshops. St. Mary’s Ryken High School, Romauld Hall Auditorium, 22600 Camp Calvert Rd., Leonardtown. 301-375-0534. 301-475-2814. www.cssm.org. Workshop and concert $25 each. Discounts available online. Cafe des Artistes and Executive Inn and Suites, both within walking distance, are also offering discounts related to this event.
Appraiser Fair Appraisers will determine values for your fine arts, jewelry, coins, dolls and antiques. The Washington Conservation Guild will also be on hand to give tips on preserving items. Bring only items that can be hand carried. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. St. Clement’s Island Museum, 38370 Point Breeze Rd., Coltons Point. 301-769-2222. www.co.saint-marys.md.us/recreate. Admission: $3, ages 6-18 $1.50, age 5 and younger free. Appraisals: first two items $5 each, $10 for each additional item. There is a two-item limit for fine arts and furniture.
Montpelier history program Hands-on activities teach visitors about the slaves who worked at Montpelier. 1 p.m. Montpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel. 301-377-7817. www.pgparks.com. $5; reservations suggested.
29th annual Choreographers’ Showcase Up-and-coming choreographers from Maryland, Virginia and the District present short dances ranging from 3 to 17 minutes. 3 and 8 p.m. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Dance Theatre, University of Maryland, Route 193 and Stadium Drive, College Park. 301-405-2787. www.claricesmithcenter.umd.edu. $27, seniors $22, students and children $9.
Diane Daly The local jazz singer was a semifinalist in Baltimore’s 2009 Billie Holiday Vocal Competition. 7:30 p.m. Westlawn Inn, 9200 Chesapeake Ave., North Beach. 410-257-0001. www.westlawninn.com. Free; reservations recommended.
“Warm Thoughts: Inspired Quilts to Beautify Your Life” Artworks@7th hosts a quilt show by Gaithersburg artist Lauren Kingsland as its last exhibition at the current space. Kingsland, a professional quilter since 1988, has works in national and international collections. Closes Saturday. ArtWorks@7th, 9128 Bay Ave., North Beach. 410-286-5278. www.artworksat7th.com. Free.
SUN 29
The Boxcars The American Legion bluegrass series continues with a performance by the 2011 International Bluegrass Music Association award winners. Non-perishable food donations will be accepted for the Helping Hands Food Bank in Southern Maryland. Doors open at noon, show at 2 p.m. American Legion Post 238, routes 231 and 381, Hughesville. 301-737-3004. www.americanlegionbluegrass.com. $15.
New Deal dance and art Eye of Isis Dance performs world music and dance 5-6:30 p.m., followed by an art reception for the show of Christine Wilkins’s paintings, Denise Brown’s photography and Angela Ozbun’s jewelry 7-9 p.m. New Deal Cafe, 113 Centerway, Greenbelt. 301-474-5642. www.newdealcafe.com. Free.
MON 30
“Rivers and Memories” Lillian Burwell and E.J. Montgomery have been on the arts scene for decades. Burwell incorporates a 3-D element into her Georgia O’Keeffe-esque paintings, while Montgomery works in abstract prints, sculpture and photography. Opens Monday. Through March 24. Brentwood Arts Exchange at Gateway Arts Center, 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. 301-277-2863. arts.pgparks.com. Free.
Hypnotist Chris Jones Participants may find themselves imitating animals and revisiting childhood actions. Noon-2 p.m. Prince George’s Community College, Student Center room B, 301 Largo Rd., Largo. 301-322-0853. 301-322-0965. Free.
TUE 31
Kankoran West African Dancers The troupe explains the history, terminology and techniques of its music and dance. 10:15 a.m. and noon. Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301-277-1710. www.pgparks.com. $6.
Paul Dresher Ensemble The composer and instrument builder plays and talks about some of his strange handmade instruments. 5:30 p.m. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Gildenhorn Recital Hall, University of Maryland, Route 193 and Stadium Drive, College Park. 301-405-2787. www.claricesmithcenter.umd.edu. Free.
“Imagine a . . .” Works by Abbey Griffin, Mimi Little and Suzanne Shelden take inspiration from the John Lennon song “Imagine.” Images include meals (Little), the wild kingdom and a boat-building father (Griffin), and landscapes (Shelden). Closes Tuesday. Annmarie Garden, 13480 Dowell Rd., Solomons. 410-326-4640. www.annmariegarden.org. $3, seniors and ages 5-11 $2, age 4 and younger free.
WED 01
“A Piece of the Action” Seniors are invited to a screening of this 1977 comedy directed by Sidney Poitier and starring Bill Cosby and Poitier as a pair of criminals. 10 a.m.-noon. Huntington Community Center, 13022 Eighth St., Bowie. 301-464-3725. www.pgparks.com. Free.
— Compiled by Carrie Donovan from staff reports