Sunset, a Blanket, a Film, Friends . . .

By Lavanya Ramanathan
Friday, July 11, 2008

For weeks now, a few small, quaint outdoor movie showings across Washington have entertained the scattered crowd or two. But it is only with the kickoff of that mother of all summer-movie events, Screen on the Green, that the season really arrives.

Screen on the Green is first and foremost a scene; given the eclectic lineup, you will want to actually see maybe one or two. But the young-employed-and-somehow-still-broke crowd arrives weekly just the same, lugging blankets and picnic baskets stuffed with brie and sangria for an evening out with friends. The more the better. That is its charm.

On Monday night, the series kicks off with yet another Bond film, 1962's "Dr. No." Later, watch for Robert Redford in "The Candidate" (July 21) and the highlight/closing film, the original "Superman" with Christopher Reeve (Aug. 11). Sunset on Mondays through Aug. 11 (people start staking out spots around 5:30). The Mall between Fourth and Seventh streets NW. 877-262-5866 for rain updates; for a schedule, visit http://cityguide.aol.com/washington/screenonthegreen.

So what's on off the Mall?

· Alexandria's Comcast Outdoor Film Festival. The fifth annual screening series, on a 40-foot screen, is July 18-19, with "Bee Movie" the first night and "Transformers" the second night. Free. Restaurants open at 7 p.m., movies at dusk, about 8:30 p.m. Ben Brenman Park, 5000 Duke St., Alexandria. 703-883-4686.

· Stars on the Avenue returns to downtown Bethesda from July 29 to Aug. 2, with films that range from family-friendly ("The Wizard of Oz") to nerdy-art-kid date fare ("An Inconvenient Truth" and "Annie Hall"). Free. Shows begin at 9 each night. Woodmont Triangle, Norfolk and Auburn avenues, Bethesda. For details, visit http://www.bethesda.org/specialevents/movies/outdoor-movies.htm.

· Aug. 2 marks the start of the area's only nostalgia-tinged drive-in movie series, Starlight Cinema, at a Fairfax County parking lot Saturday nights in August. Bring your family; movies include "Bee Movie" (yes, again), and "Shrek the Third." Go early for music, food and children's activities. Free. 7:30 p.m. Saturdays Aug. 2-30. Trinity Office Building, 5875 Trinity Pkwy., Centreville. 703-324-7469.

· Another biggie is the Comcast Outdoor Film Festival at Strathmore, raising money for the National Institutes of Health children's charities. Held Aug. 15-24, the screenings include, ahem, "Bee Movie," but also the retro spoof "Airplane!" and the classic "Ghostbusters." Free. Field opens at 6:30 p.m., movies start at 8:30. 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. 301-816-6958 or for details, visit http://www.filmfestnih.org.

SAVE THE DATE

ON STAGE "Not the Messiah!" The next "Spamalot"? All signs point to yes. This production at Wolf Trap later this month brings in Monty Pythoner Eric Idle -- who co-wrote the hilarious Broadway musical "Monty Python's Spamalot" -- to stage his latest, a "comic oratorio" blending Handel's Christmastime favorite "Messiah" with a little bit of "Life of Brian." (It doesn't hurt at all that Idle's "Spamalot" co-composer, John Du Prez, returns to help with this one.) The show will feature both Idle and Du Prez, the National Symphony Orchestra as well as a chorus, bagpipers and, so the tale goes, a sheep. Probably some of the most fun you'll have all summer. $35-$55; lawn, $20. July 24 at 8:15 p.m. Wolf Trap, Filene Center, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna. 877-965-3872.

ON STAGE "Jerry Springer: The Opera!" This musical is, yes, another instance of opera-meets-hilarity (and yes, another example of excessive use of the exclamation point). Unlike "Messiah," this Studio Theatre 2nd Stage show will get nearly a month-long run at the downtown theater, where it will follow in the footsteps of last year's "Reefer Madness," which tried to bring something light to the stage at the theater known for weightier endeavors. "Jerry" features the infamous talk-show host as he journeys to Hell to use his skills -- if that's what you call a knack for getting cheating spouses to air their dirty laundry, then beat other guests senseless -- to heal the relationship between the Devil and Jesus. The musical (which has a huge cast, with 34 actors) debuted at the world's biggest fringe festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. $39; students, seniors, military $34 (except Saturday nights). Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., Sundays at 7:30 p.m., July 23-Aug. 17. Studio's Metheny Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. 202-332-3300.

THE DISTRICT

Today

CLOSING The Source Festival The Source Festival has drawn actors and the city's well-known artistic directors, playwrights and dancers over the past three weeks to create 10-minute plays and stage plays in 24 hours, to blend improv and dance and to offer just a wee thing of a script -- a one-act. Now, it's time for the end of the festival, which has re-introduced the newly renovated (and awfully accessible) Source Theatre on 14th Street. Tonight, the lineup of plays: "Murmuring in a Dead Tongue," by J.T. Rogers; "Sunday Night," by Julian Sheppard; and "The Mnemonist," by Julia Cho. $15. Tonight at 8, tomorrow at 2 and 8 p.m., Sunday at 2. Through Sunday. Source, 1835 14th St. NW. http://www.sourcedc.org/sourcefestival or call 866-811-4111.

ON STAGE Hip-Hop Theater Festival Winds Down This festival of theater with an edge ends Saturday, and among its biggest events is today's Words, Beats & Life event, "The Freshest of All Times: B-Boy Jam" at St. Stephen's Church. This inaugural jam will feature local b-boy crews showing off their moves in a competition for cash and prizes. During the day, there will also be a screening of "Planet B-Boy" a 2007 doc about an international b-boy dance competition. Free (no tickets required). 3-10 p.m. 1525 Newton St. NW. 202-724-5613. For a full schedule of events (including an after-party tomorrow with DJ Ali Shaeed Muhammad at Pacific Café in Capitol Hill), visit http://www.hiphoptheaterfest.com/node/23.

Tomorrow

EXHIBIT "Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures From the National Museum, Kabul" The buzz has been building around this show, which features nearly 230 items recovered in Afghanistan -- relics of the old Silk Road trade route, some more than 2,000 years old. The show has been up since May, and new this month is a mini-documentary narrated by Khaled Hosseini and covering the discovery of many of the objects in the presidential palace in 2004. (The 12-minute, abbreviated film is noon-3 p.m. in the East Building Small Auditorium.) Free. Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Through Sept. 7. National Gallery East Building, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-737-4215.

Wednesday

CONCERT DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist Return The famed DJs funk-soul road-show returns. The pair's show is called "DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist Present the Hard Sell" because the concept tour features eight turntables, four mixers and a trove of early rock/funk/soul records that'll get the special treatment that's made DJ Shadow one of the biggest names in the game. The tour came through in January and returns next week to the 9:30 club. $35. 7:30 p.m. 815 V St. NW. 800-955-5566 or 202-393-0930.

MARYLAND

Today

FILM Brat Pack Exploits"Sex and the City" Generation: "Sixteen Candles" was so your movie before you were even old enough to drink a cosmo. How about testing the love of your man by dragging him to see the brainy and somewhat awkward Molly Ringwald (circa 1984) win the hunky man of her dreams after all kinds of trials and tribulations all over again! (Does this plot sound familiar at all?) Tonight, tomorrow and next Thursday at 9:10 p.m. $6-$10. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. 301-495-6720 or http://www.afi.com/silver.

Sunday

THE SCENE Have Fun, Raise Cash for Sonic Circuits Last year, the Sonic Circuits festival of experimental music was bigger than ever, with a closing party at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. But "bigger" costs money. In anticipation of the festival this fall, there's a benefit performance Sunday at Pyramid Atlantic art center in Silver Spring. On the bill are Pinko Communoids (an electroacoustic/ambient act), TL0741 and VLT_BLK (a turntable collaboration). $5. Show at 7 p.m. Pyramid Atlantic, 8230 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. 301-608-9101.

Wednesday

CONCERT The Warped Tour: While Mom's Away, the Kids Can Play This annual blowout of punk and pop-punk bands is a summer mainstay, and since it's on a Wednesday this year, the Merriweather Post show will function like an emo-kid day camp, opening at 11 a.m. and continuing till, you know, curfew and/or when Mom comes to pick you tykes up. The big names include Gym Class Heroes, Be Your Own Pet, Pennywise and Cobra Starship, with dozens of other bands, not to mention tents and promoters of extreme sports. Bring donations for the homeless, and get freebies and the chance to win autographed merchandise. $31. Gates open at 11 a.m. 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 202-397-7328.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Today

FILM "Moonraker" This 1979 James Bond film isn't one of the most memorable in the 007 series (the agent is played here by Roger Moore). But when it screens outdoors tonight at Rosslyn's Gateway Park as part of its "Once Is Never Enough" festival, it will be free and family-friendly. Bring low lawn chairs and blankets. Free. Enter at 7, film at dusk. Fridays through Aug. 22. Gateway Park, Lee Highway and North Lynn Street, Arlington. http://www.rosslynva.org.

CONCERT Justin Jones and the Driving Rain Any of a dozen or so performers may make up this D.C. folk/indie outfit at one of its shows. The sound is generally slow country, and Jones (a 9:30 club bartender for ages) has a deep, weathered voice that belies his age. The band plays Iota tonight with Sarah White and the Pearls. $10. 9:30 p.m. Iota Club & Cafe, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-522-8340.