BARBER'S BEST BETS: Freeman as Mandela

By JOE BARBER

For the News & Messenger

MOVIES

"Invictus", from actor/director Clint Eastwood, details the true story of former South African president Nelson Mandela's (Morgan Freeman) attempts to bring his racially fractured nation to-gether. He urges the captain of the nation's leading rugby team (Matt Damon) to build a team capa-ble of doing the seemingly impossible -- winning the sport's World Cup championship.

THEATER

The Little Theatre of Alexandria gets in the holiday mood with a touch of plaid. "Plaid Tid-ings" is a Christmas spin-off from the hit musical review, "Forever Plaid." The original show's vocal group, killed in an ill-timed plane crash just as their career was taking off, return for an evening of holiday tunes sung in four part harmony. These ghosts of Christmas Past perform their family friendly show through Dec. 20. Adult audiences can check out the Theatre's late night offering, "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead." This edgy, funny show will be per-formed Friday and Saturday nights at 10 p.m. through the 19th. Call 703-683-0496 for more informa-tion.

The Theatre Alliance has brought back one of Washington's grandest holiday traditions. "Black Nativity," created by the late poet Langston Hughes, tells the Christmas story with fidelity and passion and, in its second act, traces the growth and role of gospel music in the lives of African Americans. Presented in the past at the Kennedy Center, this year's revival takes place at the "H" Street Playhouse in Northwest Washington. This stirring show runs through Jan. 3. For tickets and more, visit www.theatrealliance.com.

Returning to the area for a second consecutive Christmas is a production of C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters." This year's run, once again taking place at the Shakespeare Thea-tre's Landsburgh stage on 7th Street in downtown Washington, begins Dec. 16 and continues through Jan. 3. More information is available at www.ScrewtapeOnStage.com.

The Kennedy Center offers a "monster" of a good time for the holidays with the national tour of "Young Frankenstein." This musical adaptation of the beloved Mel Brooks comedy, opens in the Opera House on Dec. 15 and runs through Jan. 10.

CLUBS & CONCERTS

The State Theatre in Falls Church gets into the spirit of the season on Dec. 10 with its 13th annual Santa Jam, which raises money for charity. Mary Ann Redmond, Tom Principato and Soul Gravy are among the acts who'll take the stage. George Mason University's Center for the Arts presents pianist George Winston and his Winter Show on the 11th and the Canadian Brass' Christmas show on Dec. 12. The Patriot Center brings a bit of New York City to Virginia with the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Two shows a day, including the Rockettes, take place on Dec. 15 and 16.

Alexandria's Birchmere welcomes singer and poet Rickie Lee Jones on the 10th. Bluegrass great Ralph Stanley and his Clinch Mountain Boys take the stage on the 12th and Grammy nominated singer Ledisi is spotlighted on Dec. 15.

Blues Alley in Georgetown welcomes musician and poet Gil Scott-Heron for four nights, from Dec. 10 through 13. The Redd Brothers jazz band does their annual Christmas show at the Alley on the 16th.

Joe Barber can be heard Fridays through Sundays on the WTOP-FM Radio Network. He can be seen regularly on WETA-TV's Around Town and Fridays on Comcast Sports Net's Washington Post Live!