BARBER’S BEST BETS: A little culture and a little country

For the News & Messenger

Theater

The new season kicks into high gear this week with the opening of numerous plays and musicals.

» American Century Theater, based in the Gunston Arts Center in Arlington, starts its 15th season with A Piece of My Heart on Sept. 11. The play looks at the legacy of the Vietnam War through the
eyes of six different women. Heart “pounds out” a steady beat at American Century through Oct. 10.

» Arena Stage’s Crystal City stage presents The Quality of Life. This comedy/drama looks at the evolving relationships among three couples from very different backgrounds. Quality of Life continues
through Oct. 18.

» Signature Theatre, in the Shirlington Village area of Arlington, presents a celebration of one of Broadway’s greatest composing teams.

First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb has a cast of six actor/singers and a 19-piece orchestra performing songs from the team that created Cabaret, Chicago, Curtains and other classic works.
The revue has a limited run through Sept. 27.

As part of Signature’s celebration of its 20th season, if you buy a regular price ticket for Dream at the box office, you can get a second ticket for just $20.

» Billy Crystal has just opened his Tony Award-winning autobiographical show, 700 Sundays, at Washington’s National Theatre. This hilarious and heartbreaking look at the comic’s childhood and
relationship with his father, who died when Billy was 15, ends its brief DC-area run on Sept. 17.

» Closing this weekend: The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s “Free for All” production of Taming of the Shrew at Sidney Harmon Hall in downtown DC (free tickets for all performances at the hall’s box
office two hours before curtain,) on Sept. 12. Closing on Sunday is A Passion for Justice: Clarence Darrow at Olney Theatre Center in Olney, Md.

Rep Stage’s production of Wittenberg also ends on Sunday at the Howard Community College in Columbia, Md.

Still on stage and worth seeing is Dirty Blonde, the musical biography/romantic comedy/drama centered on Mae West, at Signature Theatre. Four stars for that delightful show, best for ages 16 and up.

» Finally, the Washington region’s professional theaters will celebrate the first annual Theatre Week from Sept. 12 to Sept. 18. Discounts, special events and other enticements will be available at
theaters throughout the area. Visit http://www.lowt.org for more information.

Clubs & concerts

» Nissan Pavilion brings down the curtain on its season with a double shot of country from Toby Keith and Trace Adkins on Saturday.

» The Birchmere in Alexandria welcomes vocalist Amel Larrieux for shows tonight and Friday and the Scottish vocal duo The Proclaimers on Sunday.

» Sharply dressed men from all around will be gathering at the 9:30 Club in the District to see ZZ Top on Sept. 14.

» Former MAD TV cast member Aries Spears does a four-night gig at the DC Improv, starting tonight.

» Blues Alley in Georgetown welcomes saxophonist Kenny Garrett for four nights, also starting tonight.

»  Lyle Jennings welcomes special guests Chuck Brown and Mike Brooks to the Warner Theatre’s stage Saturday.

» The same night, the Washington National Opera opens its new season at the Kennedy Center Opera House with The Barber of Seville.

» Veteran rocker Todd Rungren takes the stage at the Music Center at Strathmore Hall for an intimate show on Sept. 10

» The Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis welcomes the reunited Living Colour on Saturday, followed by the Big Bad Voodoo Daddies on Sunday. The Rams Head Live! in Baltimore offers a night of stand-up
comedy, headlined by Janeane Garofalo on Saturday. 

Joe Barber covers the DC area and local entertainment scene for the News & Messenger. His reviews and reports can also be heard Fridays through Sundays on WTOP-FM.