Strathmore Dishes Up Bacon and Fruit

Today

ON STAGE: "Defending the Caveman" Rob Becker's one-man play, which centers on Man admitting that he has yet to evolve much past his caveman forefathers, continues another week at the Bethesda Theatre. Cody Lyman stars. $37.50-$50. Tonight at 5 and 9 p.m., tomorrow at 2 p.m., various times through Aug. 3. Bethesda Theatre, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 202-397-7328 or http://www.bethesdatheatre.com.

FOR KIDS: "The Neverending Story" If you're looking for a way to entertain your kids this weekend, the adaptation of Michael Ende's book at Imagination Stage offers a winning combination of puppetry, costuming and special effects that critic Celia Wren calls "pithy and fetching." In the tale, a boy is transported to a fantastic land, where he finds himself in the middle of a quest to cure a young empress. $10-$20. For age 6 and older. Tuesday-Friday at 10:30 a.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m., Saturdays (and some Thursdays) at 7 p.m. Through Aug. 10. Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda. 301-280-1660.

Wednesday

FILM: Science in the Cinema: "Canvas" The NIH screenings of films with science themes at the AFI Silver have proved popular, among them last year's foreign Oscar contender "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." Next up is "Canvas," about a family facing the worsening schizophrenia of its matriarch (Marcia Gay Harden). The writer and director, Joseph Greco, has said the 2006 movie is based on his life as the child of a woman with mental illness. A guest expert hosts a discussion after each screening. Free, but tickets are required; they're handed out beginning 30 minutes before the first film of the day. Get there early; screenings are expected to fill capacity. 7 p.m. The series runs through Aug. 13. 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. Visit http://www.afi.com/silver.

Northern Virginia

Today

CONCERT: The A Cappella Festival This outdoor celebration of harmony returns tonight with hosts -- and very funny guys -- the Tone Rangers (whose claim to fame is having been the inspiration for the name of an a cappella act in the Jen Aniston movie "The Break-Up"). This year, they bring in locals Euphonism as well as DoubleShot (from Pittsburgh). If you think a cappella is boring, check out the Tone Rangers' Gregorian-chant version of "Wild Thing" on MySpace -- classic. Free. 8 p.m. Lubber Run Amphitheatre, North Second and Columbus streets. 703-228-1850.

FOR FAMILIES: The Great Zucchini Popular local magic act the Great Zucchini (real name: Eric Knaus) is the king of the kiddie birthday circuit, winning over young fans with plain old silliness. He has a regular gig at the Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse, where you can find him performing for the sippy-cup set this morning. $8. Doors open at 11 a.m.; show at noon. 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. 703-486-2345.

ON STAGE: "Sizzlin' Summer" Cabaret Its regular season wrapped, Signature Theatre fills its ARK Theatre with cabaret performances for a few days. The bar will be open, and patrons can sip cocktails at their tables while they see Nigerian singer Kuku tonight, "Kiss of the Spider Woman" actress Natascia Diaz perform Wednesday, actor Eric Millegan of the television forensics drama "Bones" sing his heart out Thursday and so on, till Aug. 1. $15 each show. Tonight at 7:30 and 9:30, Wednesday-Thursday at 8:30 p.m., various times through Aug. 1. Signature Theatre, ARK Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. 202-397-7328. For a full schedule, visit http://www.sig-online.org.