Sunday, March 2, 2008

Can't Miss

1. AUGUST WILSON'S 20TH CENTURY

[ON STAGE] The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright's crowning glory is presented at the Kennedy Center in five weeks of staged readings. Wilson's 10-part cycle of plays chronicles the African American experience by decade (all but one set in his home town of Pittsburgh). More than 30 stage and screen actors will join artistic director Kenny Leon and six directors to perform the works, which will be presented in chronological order. This week: "Gem of the Ocean" (set in the 1900s) and "Jim Turner's Come and Gone" (1910s).

Opens Tuesday. Through April 6. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, 2700 F St. NW. $65. 202-467-4600 or 800-444-1324.

2. LET'S GET LOST

[MOVIE] Photographer Bruce Weber's 1988 documentary about Chet Baker combines excerpts from Italian B movies, rare performance footage and interviews with the jazz legend and his peers, friends, children and battling ex-wives. Mostly captured during the last year of Baker's life, the black-and-white film garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature.

Opens Friday. Through March 13. Landmark's E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. $7-$9.75. 202-452-7672.

3. TRACY CHEVALIER

[LITERATURE] If 1999's "Girl With a Pearl Earring" whetted your appetite for historical fiction, prepare yourself for another helping. The best-selling author (and D.C. native) comes to town to read, discuss and sign her latest, "Burning Bright," a creative account of two young siblings who befriend the radical poet and painter William Blake in 18th-century London.

Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Barnes & Noble, 4801 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda. Free. 301-986-1851.

4. CADENCE WEAPON

[CONCERT] The Canadian MC's highly anticipated sophomore album, "Afterparty Babies," comes out Tuesday, which doesn't give you much time to catch up on the new tunes before his show at DC9. But even if you aren't familiar with Rollie Pemberton's new work, do yourself the favor of checking out the young hip-hop Renaissance man's clever, witty, danceable electro-rap. With Born Ruffians and US Royalty.

Thursday, doors at 8:30 p.m. DC9, 1940 Ninth St. NW. $10. 202-483-5000.

5. IDEALS & ISMS

[ON STAGE] Dance troupes Inspirit and VTDance team up for two programs that challenge cultural "isms" from an idealistic perspective. Inspirit's four-part piece, "Past Her Rites," explores the identities of the modern professional woman, set to the music of Nina Simone and Mocean Worker. VTDance's solo work "Render and Proceed" focuses on media and humanity through video projections of icons and commercials, images of humanitarianism and live cello accompaniment.

Saturday at 8 p.m., March 9 at 4 p.m. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. $22; seniors, students, artists and teachers $17; children $8. 202-269-1600.

-- Sunday Source staff

DEGAS TO DIEBENKORN: THE PHILLIPS COLLECTS

[EXHIBIT] Set aside a leisurely chunk of time to walk through the Phillips Collection's exhibition and study the 110 works the museum has gathered in the past decade. You'll learn about 20th-century experimental artists who became masters. And there are oddball links, such as the motif of eyeglasses in a 1967 silk screen from Jasper Johns and a 2000 oil by Wayne Thiebaud.

-- Jacqueline Trescott

Through May 25. Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. $12, seniors and students $10. 202-387-2151.

ALICE SMITH

[CONCERT] Alice Smith is usually filed under R&B, but the artist with the big, swooping voice and multiform style doesn't quite fit in that tidy categorical box. Her great major-label debut, "For Lovers, Dreamers & Me," suggests Fiona Apple channeling Nina Simone singing the pop-rock blues. Smith is a knockout live performer, too: a live wire with a serious theatrical streak.

-- J. Freedom du Lac

Wednesday at 8 p.m. Rams Head Tavern, 33 West St., Annapolis. $21. 410-268-4545. March 9 at 8 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. $15. 202-667-7960.

[Concerts]

CHRIS BACON-- Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Whether playing the guitar or the West African djembe drum or taking the mike, Southeast Washington native Christylez Bacon brings a world-music sensibility to his hip-hop performances. Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, Bethesda. $10. 301-581-5100.

JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ-- Wednesday at 8 p.m. The Swedish acoustic performer's star is still rising, which means you probably have to act quickly to secure a seat at this show. Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. $22.50. 202-408-3100 or 202-397-7328.

ALICE SMITH-- See Critics' Choice.

ALL THAT REMAINS-- Thursday, doors at 6:30 p.m. The Massachusetts quintet headlines a heavy-metal lineup that includes Chimaira, Five Finger Death Punch and Light This. 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW. $17. 202-393-0930 or 800-955-5566.

STRIKE ANYWHERE-- Thursday at 8 p.m. The politically minded punk rockers perform with Paint in Black, Riverboat Gamblers and Ratsize. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. $12. 202-667-7960.

CADENCE WEAPON-- See Can't Miss.

SIA-- Friday, doors at 9 p.m. The soulful vocalist supports her new LP, "Some People Have Real Problems." With Har Mar Superstar. 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW. $20. 202-393-0930 or 800-955-5566.

MEN-- Friday at 10 p.m. With Le Tigre on hiatus, don't pass up this chance to catch the DJ project of the electro-punk band's JD Samson and Johanna Fateman. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. $10-$12. 202-667-7960.

JUKEBOX THE GHOST-- Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Quirky, eclectic, wonderful pop from a trio of local indie-rock performers. With the Modern Skirts and Tereu Tereu. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. $10. 202-388-7625.

IN THE FOREST OF FONTAINEBLEAU: PAINTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM COROT TO MONET-- Opens today. Through June 5. More than 100 paintings, pastels and photographs examine the role of the Fontainebleau region in the development of French landscape art. The forest began attracting artists in the mid-19th century and soon became the center of French open-air painting. National Gallery of Art, East Building, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Free. 202-737-4215.

THE FIVE SENSES-- Opens Thursday. Through April 6. The works in this juried all-media show had to incorporate at least two of the five senses: That's touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing for those keeping score at home. Torpedo Factory Art Center, Target Gallery, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. Free. 703-838-4565, Ext. 4.

GREAT AMERICAN PASTIME-- Opens Thursday. Through May 30. Paintings, sculptures and historic photographs that celebrate the start of the 2008 baseball season. Yeah, we can't believe it's almost baseball season either. Carroll Square Gallery, 975 F St. NW. Free. 202-624-8649.

DRAGONS ADRIFT: THE NEW CHINESE LANDSCAPE-- Opens Friday. Through April 19. Recent drawings by Nancy Wolf incorporate surrealism and absurdist modern architecture into classic Chinese-style landscapes. Marsha Mateyka Gallery, 2012 R St. NW. Free. 202-328-0088.

PILGRIM: PATRICK HOLDERFIELD-- Opens Saturday. Through April 12. New drawings by the Seattle-based artist. Project 4, 903 U St. NW. 202-232-4340.

EXPOSED-- Through March 15. The folks at DCist host their annual photography show, which features 47 images from the more than 600 entries that aim to capture the spirit of our community. Civilian Art Projects, 406 Seventh St. NW. 202-347-0022.

DEGAS TO DIEBENKORN: THE PHILLIPS COLLECTS-- See Critics' Choice.

For more events, see the Literary Calendar in today's Book World.

TRACY CHEVALIER-- See Can't Miss.

DIANE MACEACHERN-- Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The environmental writer signs her new book, "Big Green Purse," in which she suggests that women's consumer clout might be the best weapon in the fight against industries that pollute the planet. Borders, 5871 Crossroads Center Way, Falls Church. Free. 703-998-0404.

Films open Friday and are in general release unless otherwise noted. Opening dates subject to change. Checkhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/moviesor Friday's Weekend section for details and complete movie listings.

INGMAR BERGMAN REMEMBERED-- Closes Tuesday. This retrospective of Bergman's work from the 1950s wraps up with screenings of "The Seventh Seal," the director's most iconic film, and "The Virgin Spring," a morality tale that won him the first of his three Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. $6.75-$9.75. 301-495-6720.

THE FILMS OF CHARLES BURNETT-- Closes Wednesday. A retrospective of Burnett's cinematic accomplishments ends with "Bless Their Little Hearts," a look at one family's life in South Central Los Angeles in the 1980s. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. $6.75-$9.75. 301-495-6720.

THE COMPLETE COEN BROTHERS-- Closes Thursday. With their recent Oscar victories, Joel and Ethan Coen have established themselves among the best of contemporary American filmmakers. A screening series of their finest work closes with black-and-white drama "The Man Who Wasn't There" and classic slacker comedy "The Big Lebowski." AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. $6.75-$9.75. 301-495-6720.

DC INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL-- Opens Thursday. Through March 16. Indie cinema buffs, rejoice: The 10th anniversary of the festival showcases more than 100 films and encompasses themed sessions, advocacy forums and a music festival. Director Alex Cox ("Sid and Nancy") will open the festival with a screening of his new movie, "Searchers 2.0." For details, see http://www.dciff.org. George Washington University, Jack Morton Auditorium, 805 21st St. NW. $7-$10.

10,000 B.C.-- This CGI-laden adventure rewinds to prehistoric times, focusing on a young hunter whose lover has been kidnapped by a band of warlords, forcing him to rally a ragtag band of hunters to rescue her. Along the way they encounter saber-toothed tigers, woolly mammoths and, oh yeah, a lost civilization.

LET'S GET LOST-- See Can't Miss.

MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY-- Set in 1939 London, this comedy stars Frances McDormand as a middle-aged governess and Amy Adams as the glamorous American actress and singer in her care. Over the course of 24 hours, the two women flirt with suitors, foil schemes by not-so-ladylike ladies and examine their own lives. Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema, 7235 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda. 301-652-7273. Landmark's E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. 202-452-7672. Both $7-$9.75.

NEW AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL-- Opens Friday. Through March 17. Actor Danny Glover hosts the opening night of this celebration of cinematic accomplishments from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Liberia, South Africa and other countries. Highlights include a retrospective of Senegalese director Ousmane Sembene's work. For titles, dates and showtimes, see http://www.afi.com/silver. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. Free-$9.75. 301-495-6720.

THE BANK JOB-- In September 1971, thieves tunneled into a London bank vault, emptying safe-deposit boxes worth millions of pounds. Nothing was recovered. No one was arrested. The robbery made headlines and then suddenly disappeared from the news. This action flick starring Jason Statham fictionalizes the contents of those boxes, conjuring murder, corruption and a sex scandal with links to the royal family.

AUGUST WILSON'S 20TH CENTURY-- See Can't Miss.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WANDA JUNE-- Opens Friday. Through March 29. American Century Theater presents Kurt Vonnegut's first play, a satirical attack on machismo that features the writer's prototypical oddities, including an Odyssey-inspired couple, Vietnam and a girl killed by an ice-cream truck playing shuffleboard with a Nazi in heaven. Gunston Theater Two, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington. $26-$29, seniors and students $23-$26, children free. 703-998-4555.

SHAKESPEARE'S SONNETS-- Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., March 9 at 7 p.m. CityDance partners with the Shakespeare Theatre Company to interpret the Bard's sonnets through modern dance, mixing the poems with original choreography and new music. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW. $20-$35. 202-547-1122.

IDEALS & ISMS-- See Can't Miss.

THE PRICE-- Opens Saturday. Through April 18. Theater J presents Arthur Miller's Tony Award-nominated drama about two estranged brothers whose dreams and resentments are brought to light after their father's death. Starring Robert Prosky alongside his two sons, Andrew and John Prosky. Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. $15-$50. 800-494-8497.

ALL THAT I WILL EVER BE-- Through March 9. Studio Theatre's 2ndstage and director Serge Seiden take on the latest play by Oscar-winning screenwriter Alan Ball ("American Beauty"), which examines a complicated romance between a white man and a Middle Eastern man in Los Angeles. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. $29. 202-332-3300.

WIZARDS-- Today at 6 p.m. against the New Orleans Hornets. Wednesday at 7 p.m. against the Orlando Magic. Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Charlotte Bobcats. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. $40-$275. 202-397-7328.

CAPITALS-- Monday at 7 p.m. against the Boston Bruins. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. $10-$225. 202-397-7328.