Emily Cary

Texas tornado Kinky Friedman blows into Birchmere

If you go Kinky Friedman stars in "An Evening of Music and Musing" Where: The Birchmere When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Info: $35; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com Friedman's latest books will be available for purchase after the show. It's not every day a hip, progressive, front-running Democratic candidate for governor bursts into the Birchmere. Kinky Freidman does Wednesday, with an outrageously funny cabaret show bulging with music, satire and nostalgia. The Kinkster is aided and abetted by keyboardist Little Jewford and Lebanese guitarist Washington Ratso, who does triple duty on the keyboard, melodica and occasional kazoo and also serves as Friedman's partner in devising...

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Pianist, singer team up for night of classics at Strathmore

If you go Composer/pianist Michel Legrand and singer Mario Pelchat perform Legrand's hits Where: Music Center at Strathmore When: 7 p.m. Sunday Info: $27 to $70; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org Michel Legrand chuckles when presented with his own musical question, "What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?" The remarkable pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, producer and singer, now aged 77, continues spreading his creative ventures and delectable melodies around the world non-stop. This week he brings popular French-Canadian singer Mario Pelchat to Strathmore for an enchanting evening of his classical songs and the French chanson. Legrand will reign at the piano...

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McBroom set to perform at Wolf Trap

If you go Amanda McBroom Where: The Barns at Wolf Trap When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday Info: $25; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org When Variety pronounced Amanda McBroom "the finest cabaret performer of her generation," it was not news to her avid fans. Now she has capped her reputation with "Chanson," a collection of songs by Jacques Brel, the Belgian singer/songwriter who spent most of his life in France. Her intimate show in the Barns of Wolf Trap will feature selections from the CD and some of her own compositions. Direct from the University of Texas where she had been a drama major, McBroom performed in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. While there, she...

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Shanghai Symphony brings world tour to George Mason

If you go The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Long Yu Where: 8 p.m. Saturday When: George Mason University Center for the Arts Info: $25 to $50; 888-945-2468; gmu.edu/cfa Distinguished Chinese conductor Long Yu returns to Washington in his role as artistic director of the revered Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the first orchestra of its kind in Asia and one of the oldest classical orchestras in the world. The symphony is famous for introducing classical music to the Chinese and Chinese music to the Western world. Most recently, it has reaped honors for its recordings of Zhu Jian-er's symphonies, Tan Dun's multimedia concerto "The Map" and Ang Lee's...

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Sinatra Project captures the classics of 'Ol' Blue Eyes'

If you go Michael Feinstein in The Sinatra Project Where: Music Center at Strathmore When: 7 p.m. Sunday Info: $30 to $65; 202-785-9727; wpas.org Michael Feinstein's The Sinatra Project arrives at the Strathmore on Sunday backed by the requisite big band. This is the latest accomplishment of the multitalented singer/composer who has been celebrating the Great American Songbook for more than three decades. His career began like a Hollywood script when the young man from Columbus, Ohio, ventured to Los Angeles, met Ira Gershwin and became his assistant. After devoting six years to cataloging unpublished Gershwin songs, Feinstein set about preserving the works of Irving...

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'Cosmic Reflection' to premiere at InCite Arts Festival

If you go The InCite Arts Festival presents the world premiere of Nolan Gasser's "Cosmic Reflection" performed by Boston University Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Hoose and narrated by Carey Harrison. Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall When: 8 p.m. Nov. 2 Info: $20; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org Three years ago, composer Nolan Gasser was commissioned by Pierre Schwob, founder of Classical Archives, to write a piece for launching the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope into space. To circumvent bad weather and other potential delays, the fanfare he composed was recorded by the American Brass Quintet and played at the June 2008 launch in tandem with a video...

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Symphony brings 'Spooky Sounds and Scary Tales' to Kennedy Center

If you go Brad Lubman conducts the National Symphony Orchestra in the "Family Concert: Spooky Sounds and Scary Tales," With actress/singer Lynda Carter as narrator Where: 1 and 3 p.m. Nov. 1 When: Kennedy Center Concert Hall Info: $15 to $18; 202-467-4600, kennedy-center.org Children adore scary music, especially when they are in safe surroundings with family at hand. They will be in their element at the National Symphony Orchestra Family Concert as Brad Lubman conducts Spooky Sounds and Scary Tales from the podium and Wonder Woman Lynda Carter narrates Steven Reineke's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." "This is a very effective piece that completely fits the imagery of...

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'Tuna Does Vegas' brings zany adventures to stage

If you go 'Tuna Does Vegas' Where: Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW When: 8 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday; through Nov. 1 Info: $26 to $56; 877-598-8696; livenation.com Nothing that happens in Vegas is destined to stay there, especially when the residents of Tuna, the third-smallest town in Texas, decide to tag along with OKKK disc jockey Arles Struvie and his apple pie-American housewife, Bertha Bumiller, as they renew their vows in a Sin City wedding chapel. Actor/playwrights Joe Sears and Jaston Williams hit the Strip with their entourage of kooky characters and soon scrape up a few more disreputable souls at the glitzy hotels...

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Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women make stop at Wolf Trap on farewell tour

If you go Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women on their farewell tour Where: The Barns at Wolf Trap When: 8 p.m. Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 Info: $25; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org A quarter-century after hitting the road in midlife, Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women have boogied into the hearts of kindred souls with spot-on songs about life's comedies, tragedies and tales of love and loss that touch everyone. The smart and sassy trio from Virginia have resonated from the outset with women worldwide who can relate to their musical laments about hot flashes and growing older. Now they are "Havin' The Last Word" at the Barns of Wolf Trap, the final D.C.-area stop before...

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Soprano brings classic, contemporary favorites to Strathmore

Dawn Upshaw has been called the most versatile soprano of our time, and no wonder. Her luxurious voice soars in dramatic sacred works as easily as it dances on the ceiling in a Rodgers and Hart Broadway classic. Infused with Baroque champagne one moment, a sweet sadness the next, she revels in variety. The winner of four Grammy Awards, she has chosen a program for her Strathmore debut that reflects her affinity for a broad scope of styles. The concert opens with a set by American composer Charles Ives, who kept his day job in insurance in order to write songs that were ahead of his time. Pianist Gilbert Kalish, who frequently accompanies Upshaw, offers "Two Preludes" by Ruth...

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Playing for Change kicks off national tour at Birchmere

If you go Playing for Change kicks off its national tour Where: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 When: The Birchmere Info: $49.50; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com Playing For Change has been called a "global phenomenon" in the way it touches everyone connected with the project and audiences around the world. The award-winning documentary ran on PBS-TV through August, the video of the group's performance of "Stand By Me" attracted more than 20 million views on You Tube, the CD debuted on Billboard's Top 10 chart and the band has appeared on major television news and talk shows. On Tuesday, Playing for Change launches a national tour at The Birchmere. The improbable...

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National Philharmonic performance showcases clarinetist Stoltzman

If you go National Philharmonic presents Richard Stoltzman; conducted by Piotr Gajewski Where: Music Center at Strathmore When: 8 p.m. Oct. 17 Info: $29 to $79, ages 7 to 17 are free; 301-581-5100; nationalphilharmonic.org Clarinetist Richard Stoltzman ignored the experts, followed his own muse and created a glorious sound that reverberated around the world. With more than 50 recordings to his credit and a healthy collection of Grammy Awards, he is equally at home with the classical masters and contemporary pops compositions. A very special National Philharmonic evening showcases his virtuosity in clarinet concertos by Mozart and Aaron Copland, together with Gershwin...

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Virginia Opera presents 'La Boheme' at George Mason

If you go Virginia Opera presents Puccini's "La Boheme" Where: George Mason University's Center for the Arts When: 8 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday Info: $44 to $98; 888-945-2468; gmu.edu/cfa Soprano Veronica Mitina returns to Virginia Opera as Puccini's tragic heroine Mimi in his crowd-pleasing masterpiece, "La Boheme." Last year the Russian-born artist performed her first Tatiana in Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" with the company that is celebrating its 35th season with Artistic Director and Conductor Peter Mark at the helm. "I love Peter Mark and his loyalty to the company," Mitina said. "At a time when many opera companies...

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Pianist O'Riley to let fingers do the flying at Wolf Trap

If you go Christopher O'Riley performs selections from his latest CD, "Out of My Hands" Where: The Barns at Wolf Trap When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday Info: 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org Christopher O'Riley's acrobatic fingers leap with the greatest of ease from a Beethoven concerto to Radiohead and from Charles Ives to Nirvana before flying up and away to a Chopin etude. The pianist renowned for discovering the stars of tomorrow on NPR's "From the Top," delivering new insight into hard rock and plucking young composers from obscurity, comes to the Barns at Wolf Trap for an evening of incomparable variety. His latest CD, "Out of My Hands," will be...

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Chiara String Quartet to play Strathmore, National Gallery of Art shows

If you go The Chaira String Quartet performs two Washington concerts featuring music by Debussy, Beethoven, Prokofiev and Webern. Performance 1: National Gallery of Art; 12:10 p.m. Oct. 14; free, seating on first-come, first-served basis; 202-842-6941; nga.gov/programs/music Performance 2: Strathmore Mansion, Shapiro Music Room; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16; $28; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org Drop into a favorite bar or club, and you may be entertained by the Chiara String Quartet. Nothing pleases the award-winning ensemble more than opportunities to spark enthusiasm among skeptics of chamber music. Equally at home in more formal settings, the artists in residence at Harvard University and...

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Piano virtuoso Misha Dichter performs for Philharmonic opener

If you go Pianist Misha Dichter is soloist for the National Philharmonic season opener Where: 3 p.m. Oct. 4 (a free, pre-concert lecture begins at 2 p.m.) When: Music Center at Strathmore Info: $29 to $79, children ages 7 to 17 are free; 301-581-5100; nationalphilharmonic.org Virtuoso pianist Misha Dichter is guest soloist of the National Philharmonic for its all-Beethoven opening program. Along with his performance of the "Piano Concerto No. 2," the evening will consist of the composer's "Symphony No. 1" and his "Choral Fantasy" featuring the National Philharmonic Chorale and six guest soloists. "Each of the Beethoven concertos is its own wondrous world," Dichter...

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Bwarie gets Valli role -- eventually

If you go Joseph Leo Bwarie is Frankie Avalon in "Jersey Boys" Where: National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW When: Oct. 1 to Dec. 12; daily except Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Info: $51.50 to $221.50; 800-447-7400; telecharge.com Joseph Leo Bwarie began channeling Frankie Valli long before he was tapped for the role in the touring company of "Jersey Boys" that arrives this week at National Theatre. He was appearing as Chachi in the 2006 world premiere of "Happy Days," the musical based on the TV show, when singer/songwriter Carol King hurried backstage. She had just arrived from San Diego and wanted to tell him he'd be perfect as Valli in the workshop production of...

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Australian Chamber Orchestra brings unique show to Kennedy Center

If you go Fortas Chamber Concerts presents the Australian Chamber Orchestra conducted by artistic director/first violinist Richard Tognetti. Where: Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, 2700 F St. NW When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 and 30 Info: $45; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org Richard Tognetti, a violinist/conductor/composer with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, was named Australia's Living Treasure, and no wonder: Since his appointment at age 25, he has led the orchestra for two decades to resounding raves wherever it travels. As the ensemble's first violinist, he finds it more efficient to lead without the podium and other trappings typical conductors employ. He jokes...

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Alexandria native living his dream as part of Cavalia

James Buchanan has soared from stable to star, proof that a hobby can open the door to the world. Thanks to his passion for horses, intense preparation and unexpected opportunities, the 24-year-old Alexandria native is one of the Cavalia headliners. At the age of 2, he adored visiting his grandfather's farm in Maryland and riding the horses. By 8, he was so enthusiastic about horses that he began serious lessons with Tim Majewski at Giles Run Stables on Old Colchester Road in Lorton. While attending Hayfield High School, he thought about being a veterinarian, but the prospect of studying for 10 years did not compare with the joy of riding a favorite mount. When the family moved to...

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Tenor returns to Signature Theatre for 'First You Dream' shows

If you go "First You Dream": The Kander & Ebb Concert Where: Signature's MAX Theatre When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday Info: $60 and $65; signature-theatre.org Nearly a decade after receiving a Helen Hayes Award nomination for his memorable performance in the title role of Stephen Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd," Norm Lewis returns to Signature Theatre for the world premiere of "First You Dream": The Kander and Ebb Concert. The show honors the musicals created by one of Broadway's most versatile songwriting teams. Along with Lewis, the cast of Signature favorites features Heidi Blickenstaff, James...

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'Barber of Seville' kicks off Washington National Opera season

If you go Washington National Opera presents Rossini's comic opera "The Barber of Seville." Where: Kennedy Center Opera House, 2700 F St. NW When: 7 p.m. Sept. 12, 14 and 19; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15-17; 2 p.m. Sept. 13 and 20 Info: $25 to $300; 202-295-2400 "Target Free Opera in the Outfield," free opening night simulcast live to Nationals Park, 7 p.m. Sept. 12. Pre-opera activities begin at 5:30 p.m. Tenor Lawrence Brownlee makes his Washington National Opera debut as Conte Almaviva in the season opener, Rossini's "The Barber of Seville." Two years after his Metropolitan Opera debut in this, his signature role, he is enthusiastic about WNO's...

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Cavalia returns to D.C.

Multimedia equestrian show under the big top starts this week If you go "Cavalia" Where: The White Big Top, South Fern Street and Army Navy Drive, Pentagon City, Arlington When: 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Performances on Sept. 11-13 will benefit the Pentagon Memorial Fund; show runs Sept. 11-27 Info: $45.50 to $98.50, special pricing for children and seniors. Special packages include visit to the Cavalia stables. 866-999-8111; cavalia.net Cavalia, the multimedia equestrian extravaganza, first came to Washington in 2005 with acts exceeding expectations. Now the white big top has returned to Pentagon City for a limited stay with spectacular...

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ParkinSong presents Anat Fort Trio at Ratner Museum

Band is part of show that will raise money for Parkinson's research IF YOU GO: ParkinSong 4 presents the Anat Fort Trio for an evening of music to benefit Parkinson's disease research, 6:30 p.m. Monday * Venue: Ratner Museum, 10001 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda * Tickets: $50 general admission, $100 Music Lover, $150 Inner Circle, $1,000 Patron's Circle at afhu.org/parkinsong * Information: ratnermuseum.com; parkinsong@afhu.org; 202-478-9673 The Anat Fort Trio will offer a unique slant on contemporary jazz at the ParkinSong 4 Evening of Music on Monday at Ratner Museum in Bethesda. The band that divides its time between this country and Israel caught the...

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Class is in session: 'High School Musical' comes to Wolf Trap

If you go Disney's "High School Musical" live onstage Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center When: 8 p.m. Sept. 2 to 4, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sept. 5 and 6 Info: $55 to $80 in-house, $25 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org Wolf Trap tops off its summer season with the Theater of the Stars production of Disney's "High School Musical." The perfect excuse for jocks and nerds alike to throw a back-to-school party is filled with tuneful numbers they know by heart. As the conflict between cliques reaches a satisfying conclusion, the audience inevitably erupts in deafening cheers of joy. "I feel like one of the Beatles every time I walk onstage," says Michael...

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Teena Marie gets 'Up Close and Personal' at Birchmere

If you go Teena Marie in two "Up Close and Personal" evenings Where: The Birchmere, Alexandria When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday Info: $75; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com Teena Marie, "Lady T" to her devoted fans, surpasses herself with "Congo Square," her latest CD with a mystical connection to her past. This weekend, the voice that defines her Motown roots reigns at The Birchmere for two evenings of musical reminiscing and question-and-answer sessions. The Grammy Award-nominated singer, songwriter and producer burst on the R&B scene in 1979 with her debut album, "Wild and Peaceful," followed by "Lady T." Thirteen...

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Asleep at the Wheel brings folksy roots rock to Birchmere

Columbia native touring in wake of duet with country legend Willie Nelson If you go Asleep at the Wheel Where: The Birchmere, Alexandria When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Info: $35; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com Elizabeth McQueen is sitting on top of the world thanks to her folksy blues duo with Willie Nelson. Their rendition of "Sitting on Top of the World" is one of a dozen tracks on "Willie and the Wheel," the latest CD by Ray Benson's Asleep at the Wheel, a surefire guarantee of Western swing longevity. When McQueen came to town in 2006 as a member of the Grammy award-winning ensemble, she was newly married to Wheel drummer David Sanger. The occasion...

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Legendary folk singers honor one of their own at Wolf Trap

Peter, Paul celebrate friendship with Mary as she recovers from cancer If you go Peter and Paul Celebrate Mary and 5 Decades of Friendship Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center When: 8 p.m. Saturday Info: $40 in-house, $22 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org Peter, Paul and Mary were the conscience of their generation, writing and performing songs in the folk idiom to guide people through tumultuous times and instill the concepts of love and peace. Fifty years, five Grammy Awards and 14 albums later, their music and philosophies live on. This week Peter and Paul will appear in concert at Wolf Trap to celebrate their friendship with Mary, who is recuperating from cancer. Noel...

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Program brings Glacier National Park to Wolf Trap

If you go Face of America: Glacier National Park Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center When: 8 p.m. Wednesday Info: $10 to $38; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org Face of America: Glacier National Park is Wolf Trap's newest installment in the highly acclaimed series celebrating America's beautiful and diverse national parks. This world-premiere performance boasts the same kinds of ooh and ah factors that have distinguished the previous shows and thrilled both live and television audiences. Terrence Jones, president and CEO of Wolf Trap, has made it his mission to present the magnificence of our national parks through the eyes of artists native to each area. In anticipation of Glacier...

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A leukemia patient’s story

A portion of the proceeds raised during the Comcast Film Festival Benefiting NIH Children’s Charities supports the three NIH Children’s Charities: » The Children’s Inn, a 55-room facility housing about 1,500 children each year. » The Special Love Camp near Front Royal, Va., which offers outdoor sports year-round to children ages 7 to 17. » The Friends of the Clinical Center, which provides emergency finances for the parents who give up their jobs to stay with a child undergoing treatment. Everyone touched by NIH Children’s Charities has a favorite story. Tim Gallant, who was diagnosed with leukemia at age 6, exemplifies many who have...

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Legendary Smokey Robinson brings soulful songs to Wolf Trap

If you go Smokey Robinson in concert Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center When: 8 p.m. Wednesday Info: $45 in-house, $25 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org How does the legendary composer of more than 4,000 songs top himself? The ever-young Smokey Robinson simply penned more numbers destined for greatness and put them all together in his latest CD, "Time Flies When You're Having Fun,Ó due out later this month. During his Wolf Trap show Wednesday, he will introduce fans to these newest songs and reawaken memories from his vast repertoire of days gone by. "Wolf Trap has always been one of my favorite places,Ó he says. "I played there long before the first...

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Singing legend Johnny Mathis set for Wolf Trap show

If you go Vocal legend Johnny Mathis in concert Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center When: 8 p.m. Aug. 9 Info: $22 lawn, $45 in-house; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org Johnny Mathis treats the Wolf Trap audience to an evening of songs that have been background scores to millions of lives since the release in 1957 of his first recording, "Wonderful, Wonderful." As the strains of his large orchestra penetrate the park, he will walk on stage for the opening number, one he promises will put everyone at ease. The ice broken, he will launch into one number after another bursting with memories. His forever young voice, the perfect foil for the magical tunes blending romance and...

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Japanese piano sensation Hiromi takes stage at Blues Alley

If you go Pianist Hiromi and "Sonicbloom" live in concert Where: Blues Alley When: 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. through Aug. 2 Info: $27.50; 202-337-4141; bluesalley.com She goes by Hiromi, the only identification needed for the Japanese wizard of the keyboard who holds forth at Blues Alley four evenings. Her award-winning gold albums showcase eclectic arrangements and compositions influenced by every musical genre that strikes her fancy. "Beyond Standard," her latest CD, fuses jazz, classical, rock and avant-garde in such familiar compositions as "Clair De Lune," "Caravan," "My Favorite Things" and "I've Got Rhythm." Her...

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'Broadway ROCKS!' at Wolf Trap

National Symphony Orchestra, musical theater veterans bring showtunes to stage If you go Randall Craig Fleisher conducts the NSO in "Broadway ROCKS!", featuring vocalists Christiane Noll, Capathia Jenkins, Hugh Panaro and Rob Evan with City Choir of Washington Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center When: 8:15 p.m. Saturday Info: $20 lawn, $32 to $48 in-house; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org Conductor Randall Craig Fleischer deftly bridges classical music and rock fusion in "Broadway ROCKS!", a program of boundary-breaking hits by such pop-oriented composers as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Elton John. The eclectic numbers will be played by National Symphony...

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Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women bring folk rock to D.C. area

If you go Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women Where: Ram's Head Tavern, Annapolis When: 8 p.m. Friday Info: $25; ramsheadtavern.com Second Show: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; The Birchmere, Alexandria; $25; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com Dave Alvin, Grammy award winner for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 2000, never strays far from his native California in song. His long and sturdy career as a guitarist, singer and songwriter has paired him with the top talents of country, rock, folk, blues and roots rock, but he never hit the road with an all-female band until a set with The Guilty Women at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco opened a new door. The upshot was...

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National Symphony brings 'The Wizard of Oz' outdoors

Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne will narrate the screening at Wolf Trap If you go Turner Classic Movies presents "The Wizard of Oz" hosted by Robert Osborne Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center When: 8:30 p.m. Friday Info: $20 lawn, $32 to $48 in-house; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org Robert Osborne, the omniscient host of Turner Classic Movies, will share some of filmdom's astounding history at Wolf Trap's outdoor screening of MGM's "The Wizard of Oz" to the live score played by the National Symphony Orchestra. "It's a magical and lovely idea to see this movie with family and a real orchestra," he says. "How lucky we are to have...

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NSO @ Wolf Trap Festival has something for everybody

Musical selections range from 'Fantasia' to 'Carmina Burana' If you go Emil de Cou conducts the National Symphony Orchestra in a series of spectacular concerts: "Carmina Burana," (8:15 p.m. Thursday); "The Wizard of Oz," (8:30 p.m. Friday); an evening with guest violinist Sarah Chang (8:15 p.m. July 30); and "Blue Planet" (8:30 p.m. July 31) Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center Info: $20 lawn, $32 to $48 in-house; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org The National Symphony Orchestra's summer Wolf Trap season is under way with crowd-pleasing concerts of popular and classical favorites, from chart-topping country songs by LeAnn Rimes to a multimedia production of Puccini's...

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Theater of the Stars brings '42nd Street' to Wolf Trap

If you go Theater of the Stars presents the Tony and Drama Desk Awards winner '42nd Street' Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center When: 8 p.m. July 17 to 19; 2 p.m. July 18 and 19 Info: $20 lawn, $40 to $70 in-house; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org Tapping into every Broadway cliché that drives young hopefuls to open auditions in quest of fame, "42nd Street" succeeds through sheer zest, infectious music and the incessant tap, tap, tapping of vivacious dancers. The winner of multiple Tony and Drama Desk Awards for both the original 1980 Broadway production and the 2001 revival, it also captured London's prestigious Laurence Olivier and Evening Standard Best Musical...

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LeAnn Rimes brings night of memories to Wolf Trap

If you go LeAnn Rimes and her band with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Emil de Cou Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center When: 8:15 p.m. tonight Info: $25 lawn, $38 to $48 in-house; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org It's hard to believe nearly two decades have passed since eight-year-old LeAnn Rimes appeared on TV's "Star Search." Although she was not a winner, that brief national exposure pegged her as a Patsy Cline sound-alike and propelled her into the limelight. All grown up and glamorous, the singer/songwriter/actress brings her band to Wolf Trap for an evening of memories backed by the National Symphony Orchestra. Along with the hits that have driven her...

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Signature Theatre presents 'A Date With Judy'

Cabaret singer will bring selection of her favorites to stage show If you go Judy Simmons, cabaret chanteuse, in "A Date With Judy" Where: Signature Theatre's Sizzlin' Summer Cabaret When: 7:30 p.m. July 10 Info: $20; 703-573-7328; signature-theatre.org (Other artists appearing in the Summer Cabaret Series through July 24 include Will Gartshore, Stephen Gregory Smith, Peter Lerman, Julia Nixon, Scottish Tony nominee Euan Morton, Colleen McHugh and Emily Skinner.) Signature Theatre continues its 2009 Tony Award reputation for Outstanding Regional Theatre with its Sizzlin' Summer Cabaret Series. Judy Simmons, executive director of the D.C. Cabaret Network,...

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'Color Purple' star has deep connection to her character

If you go LaToya London is Nettie in Oprah Winfrey's presentation of "The Color Purple" Where: The Kennedy Center Opera House, 2700 F St. NW When: Through Aug. 9 Info: $25 to $95; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org LaToya London has earned rave revues since debuting as Nettie in "The Color Purple," the musical based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Excited that Oprah Winfrey's production is moving into the Kennedy Center Opera House for an extended stay into August, she talks about her personal connection with the character. "I especially love the reassurance Nettie gives Celie and the strength she tries to show her sister," she...

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Welsh performer to make first live international broadcast from Folklife Festival

If you go A Night in Wales features The Hennessys, harpist Sian James and fiddler Christine Cooper Where: Strathmore Summer Outdoor Concert Series co-presented with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Info: Free; bring blankets or low beach chairs, but no dogs and come early for dinner on the lawn; 301-581-5100, strathmore.org Wales, the focus of this year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall, sent the tiny country's most beloved cultural ambassadors to represent its music, drama, art and heritage during the celebration that continues through July 5. Foremost among them is Frank Hennessy who will make the first ever live international broadcast...

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Doobie Brothers bring cross-country tour to Wolf Trap

If you go The legendary Doobie Brothers perform the pop vocals and instrumentals that made the ensemble a household name. Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center When: 8 p.m. Thursday Info: $40 in-house, $25 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org When Tom Johnston teamed up with drummer John Hartman in 1969, the singer/guitarist/songwriter could not have envisioned that their modest entrance into the San Jose, Calif., music scene was the promise of a powerhouse ensemble down the road. The subsequent addition of guitarist Patrick Simmons and bass player Dave Shogren completed the first incarnation of the Doobie Brothers, starting a tradition embraced by two generations. Forty years...

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Washington National Opera presents ‘Turandot’

When the Washington National Opera decided to perform Puccini’s “Turandot” for the first time, it called on master director Andrei Serban. The oft-honored professor of theater arts at Columbia University and veteran of the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Mass., has directed operas and dramas in major venues worldwide, but the production of “Turandot” he conceived at London’s Royal Opera House Covent Garden two decades ago remains a favorite. “It’s been playing there a long time and is consistently sold out,” he says. “When I was asked to direct it for WNO, I tried to remember what I did that makes it so popular at...

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Philharmonic brings music of silent film to life

The financial and cultural legacy silent screen star Mary Pickford left for future generations through her Mary Pickford Foundation reaches Montgomery County this week. The gift begins with the premiere of Philip Carli’s musical score for her 1917 film “The Poor Little Rich Girl” to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the actress’ screen debut in May 1909. Hugh Monro Neely, the curator of the Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education, will conduct the National Philharmonic in special presentations Tuesday at the Music Center at Strathmore. The morning show is for students at Strathmore’s partner school, Loiderman Middle School for the Arts, and film students...

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Violinist performs concerto as part of Crosscurrents series

Violinist Leila Josefowicz and British composer Oliver Knussen have been close friends since their first meeting nearly a decade ago. As part of the Kennedy Center’s weeklong Crosscurrents series, she performs his Violin Concerto and he conducts the National Symphony Orchestra, a surefire combination as their past collaborations with major orchestras prove. Josefowicz’s recording of the concerto for Deutsche Gramophone was performed at the London Proms with Knussen at the podium. “This is one of the most dramatic and theatrical concertos ever written,” she says. “He wrote the very colorful and lyrical sections as if the violin is speaking in magnified...

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Young conductor to showcase skills with Domingo in ‘Latin Soul’ show

Alondra de la Parra grew up in Mexico City determined to convey her love of music to the world by conducting orchestras great and small. Her dream came true even before she graduated from the Manhattan School of Music. To spread popular awareness of symphonic music from the New World, she founded the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas in 2004. Already recognized as a major talent, she will conduct Plácido Domingo’s unique concert, “From My Latin Soul,” which precedes the Washington National Opera gala at the Organization of American States. While both were attending a Carnegie Hall concert conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, she introduced herself to him...

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Opera singer presents evening of her favorites

Stephanie Blythe returns to Washington Concert Opera for a rare evening of glorious arias. She will be joined onstage by soprano Nathalie Paulin and in the pit by Maestro Antony Walker, the former chorus master and conductor of the Welsh National Opera now in his seventh season as WCO music director. “Maestro Walker and I put our heads together to plan this program,” she says. “Earlier this season we worked together in Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘Samson et Dalila’ and came up with a wish list that includes some of our favorites. “Nathalie and I met several years ago performing ‘Semele’ with Arizona Opera and became very good friends. She...

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‘Giant’ makes world premiere at Signature

Michael John LaChiusa’s “See What I Wanna See” no sooner closes at Signature Theatre than the world premiere production of his musical epic, “Giant,” opens there. It marks the inauguration of Signature’s American Musical Voice Project, an undertaking that will bring ground-breaking new musicals to fruition. In future seasons, works by Ricky Ian Gordon and Joseph Thalken will be featured. “‘Giant’ came about through my social acquaintance with the grand-niece of Edna Ferber,” LaChiusa says. “She asked if I’d be interested in writing a musical based on the book. Of course I was familiar with both it and the movie....

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National Philharmonic of Russia to perform at George Mason

Five years ago, the conductor and virtuoso violinist Vladimir Spivakov founded the National Philharmonic of Russia. Under his artistic direction and with the backing of President Vladimir Putin and the Ministry of Culture, the orchestra has become the musical symbol of Russia and the nation’s soul. On Friday, their extensive U.S. tour brings Spivakov and the orchestra to George Mason University’s Center for the Arts with an all-Russian program. It opens with Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” Fantasy-Overture, followed by Prokoviev’s “Masks,” “Death of Tybalt,” two other pieces from his “Romeo and Juliet” Suites and...

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