Galleries
1. “Miriam Morsel Nathan: Memory of a time I did not know”: Miriam Morsel Nathan attempts to piece together personal details of distant ancestors she never met, working from photos, documents, and oral histories from family members.
Where: Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery, 1529 16th St. NW
When: Through Dec. 17
Info: Free; washingtondcjcc.org/gallery
2. “Arcimoldo, 1526-1594: Nature and Fantasy”: Giuseppe Arcimboldo painted these 16 composite “heads” made of animal, vegetable, and mineral matter nearly 500 years ago, but they seem eerily (and absurdly) medically plausible. Additional drawings by Leonardo da Vinci and other ahead-of-their times minds complement this fascinating collection, never before exhibited in its entirety on U.S. soil.
Where: National Gallery of Art (East Building). Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: Through Jan. 9
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
3. Susan MacWilliam: The Belfast, Nothern Ireland-based video artist MacWilliam builds upon the tradition of occult photography and other attempts at documenting paranormal phenomenon. This video piece re-creates a 1931 seance wherein a departed French astronomer and spiritualist supposedly attempted to contact the corporeal world by manipulating “teleplasm” to create legible text.
Where: Conner Contemporary Art, 1358-60 Florida Ave. NE
When: Through Oct. 30
Info: Free; 202-588-8750; connercontemporary.com
4. “Nathan Oliveira: Paintings 1990/2010”: Nathan Oliveira’s is well represented in the National Gallery of Art, but this opportunity to take in his most recent work in intimate environs should not be overlooked.
Where: Marsha Mateyka Gallery, 2012 R St. NW
When: Through Nov. 3
Info: Free; 202-328-0088; marshamateykagallery.com
5. “Laurel Hausler: Debutantes & Feral Children”: Laurel Hausler’s paintings are as haunting and hilarious as the name Debutantes & Feral Children suggests.
Where: Morton Fine Art, 1781 Florida Ave. NW
When: Through Oct. 14
Info: Free; 202-390-5110; mortonfineart.com
Music
1. National Symphony Orchestra: The season opening ball concert features maestro Christoph Eschenbach conducting soprano Renee Fleming in R. Strauss’ “Four Last Songs,” Lang Lang performing Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and other works by J. Strauss Jr.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Info: $20 to $125; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org.
2. Hiroshima: The 30th anniversary tour of the legendary creators of the genre that mixes traditional Japanese instruments with American jazz, R&B and Latin flavors performs favorites from their latest album, “Legacy,” a collection of hits from their first decade.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $45; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
3. The Emerson String Quartet: The Smithsonian Institution-based winners of eight Grammy Awards, including two for Best Classical Album, three Gramophone Awards and numerous other honors, open their season of five concerts with works by Haydn, Berg and Schubert.
Where: Baird Auditorium, National History Museum
When: 6 p.m. Sunday
Info: Series tickets: Resident members $240, Senior members $216, general admission, $300; 202-633-3030; residentassociates.org.
4. Magos Herrera: The KC Jazz Club presents the classic jazz vocalist from Mexico City in a program of Latin American melodies and rhythms featuring her unique style of Latin scat, part of Celebrate Mexico 2010.
Where: Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery
When: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $25; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
5. Patty Loveless: The popular country music singer/songwriter, Grand Ole Opry member named CMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 1995 and winner of CMA Album of the Year for 1996, performs songs from her latest release, “Mountain Soul II.”
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Info: $45; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
Also worth noting:
6. Norman Brown: The contemporary urban/jazz guitarist/composer/singer and Grammy Award winner performs music from “Sending My Love,” his latest recording featuring nine of his compositions.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Info: $59.50; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
Theater
1. Joel Grey to star in ARTS by George!: The fifth annual ARTS by George benefit event held by George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. Only one of eight actors to receive both a Tony and Oscar for the same role, Grey will be joined by a 20-piece orchestra to take audiences on a virtual tour of his career.
Where: George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax
When: 8 p.m. Sept. 25
Info: $30 to $60; 888-945-2468; gmu.edu.
2. “The Saint Plays”: Theatre 449, a Washington-based theater collective, presents a six-play cycle by Erik Ehn. The plays — which take place in a mobile home in Albuquerque,N.M., a housing project in Lower Manhattan, a country embroiled in civil war, a university classroom — are poetic and steeped in imagery.
Where: Church Street Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW
When: Through Oct. 10
Info: $22 to $25; factory449.com
3. “Casino Paradise/Trouble in Tahiti”: The In-Series presents a double bill of American opera, cabaret-style. “Trouble in Tahiti” portrays the American Dream gone awry, as the perfect couple in the perfect house in the perfect suburb are unable to communicate with one another. In the sardonic “Casino Paradise” a sleepy seaside town falls prey to an unscrupulous gangster and his casino while his hilariously dysfunctional children worry about their own adjustment problems.
Where: Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday; through Oct. 2
Info: $20 to $39; 202-204-7800; sourcedc.org
4. “Play Nice!”: Called a gothic dream, this play was inspired by Jean Genet’s “The Maids,” which depends heavily on role playing. As “Play Nice!” begins, someone has poisoned the Diamond siblings’ mother. When she returns from the hospital there will be hell to pay as two sisters and their brother try to deal with the Dragon Queen.
Where: Venus Theatre Play Shack, 21 C St., Laurel
When: Through Sept. 26
Info: 202-236-4078; venustheatre.org
5. “Falsettos”: The question of manhood is at hand in this musical with music and lyrics by William Finn, book by James Lapine.
Where: Ganymede Arts, Go Mama Go, 1809 14th St. NW
When: Through Oct. 10
Info: $30; 202-299-0850; theatreindc.com
