BARBER’S BEST BETS: On stage, screen and in the clubs

By JOE BARBER

For the News & Messenger

ON STAGE

» The Shakespeare Theatre Company has opened a production of Ben Johnson’s “The Alchemist.” This 17th Century satire runs at the Company’s Landsburgh stage in downtown Washington through
Nov. 22.

» Forum Theatre has just opened a production of Tony Kushner’s Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Angels in America.”

This two-play epic on the costs, personal and public, of the early days of the AIDS crisis, is being presented at the Round House Theatre’s “black box” stage in Silver Spring, Md.

For more information, including tickets and directions, visit wwwroundhousetheatre.org.

» Studio Theatre opens the world premiere of “Adding Machine: A Musical” on Oct. 14. The show, a special presentation, looks at the dehumanizing results of mechanization in the workplace through the
eyes and voice of Mr. Zero. His carefully ordered world is rocked when he’s replaced by a machine.

» Finally, closing this weekend are: American Century Theatre’s “A Piece of My Heart” at the Gunston Arts Center in Arlington and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” performed by Synetic Theatre Company
at the Roslyn Spectrum. Both shows close Saturday.

» “Cavalia,” the equestrian performance piece ends its run under the big white tent near the Pentagon, on Sunday.

CLUBS & CONCERTS

» The Patriot Center welcomes original American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson and her current tour Friday, while George Mason University’s Center for the Arts plays host to the delightfully wacky Flying
Karamazov Brothers on Oct. 11.

» The State Theatre in Falls Church gets busy with shows featuring the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on Friday and Everclear on Saturday.

Get Back! The Cast of Beatlemania takes the State’s stage Sunday and Julian Marley performs with special guest Stephen Marley, on Oct. 14.

» The Birchmere in Alexandria presents singer/songwriter Nancy Griffith with special guests for two nights, tonight and Friday. Legendary folk master Tom Paxton is in the spotlight Saturday, while ex-
Byrd Chris Hillman joins with Herb Pedersen when their band plays there on Oct. 14.

» The Barns at Wolf Trap get their fall/winter season into gear with the Amazing Kreskin on Friday and the California Guitar Trio on Saturday.

» Blues Alley in Georgetown presents pianist Monty Alexander from Jamaica for four nights, starting tonight. Local vocalist Beverley Cosham performs Monday.

» The Verizon Center in downtown Washington will “rock and roll all night” with KISS as their 35 Alive anniversary tour brings the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees to the stage Tuesday.

» The 9:30 Club will present the latest rock supergroup, Three Crooked Vultures — featuring Nirvana’s Dave Grohl and Led Zeppelin’s James Paul Jones — on Wednesday.

» The Warner Theatre offers Bruce Hornsby on Friday, a Comedy Central Live! show by comic Mike Birbiglia on Saturday and a brief run of Tyler Perry’s latest play, “Laugh to Keep from Crying,” Oct. 13 -
18.

» The Music Center at Strathmore Hall welcomes the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Superpops ensemble for Hollywood: The Epics on Oct. 8 and the band Gaelic Storm on Sunday.

» The Rams Head Tavern presents the Edgar Winter Band on Sunday and the retro sound of the Squirrel Nut Zippers on Monday.

The Rams Head Live! in Baltimore offers The Wailers, Bob Marley’s original touring band, on Sunday.

ON SCREEN

Playing in theaters now:

» “Capitalism: A Love Story” is Michael Moore’s latest documentary, a fascinating, sometimes infuriating look at the seductive ills of the free enterprise system and the power of democracy. This one has
something for everyone. (Rated R for profanity 3 ½ Stars.)

» “Whip It” is Drew Barrymore’s heartfelt and funny directorial debut, the tale of a small town Texas teen (“Juno’s” Ellen Page) who finds her “true North” when she joins a professional roller derby league.

Spirited and humorous, Page and the ensemble cast, which includes Juliette Lewis, Marcia Gay Harden, Eve and Barrymore, really shine. (Rated PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, drug content and derby
violence. 3 Stars.)

» “The Invention of Lying” is a wildly satiric and often laugh-out-loud comedy about a man (Ricky Gervais) who discovers the power of fibbing while living in a world where absolute honesty reigns. This is a
wickedly clever film in the Monty Python mold — honestly. (Rated PG-13 for profanity, sexuality and drug content, 3 ½ Stars.)

On the Video/DVD front:

The romantic comedy/“road” movie “Away We Go” with Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski and the animated “Monsters Vs. Aliens” should still be at the top of your list.

This week’s pickings are slim, though “My Life in Ruins,” starring “My Big Fat Greek Wedding’s” Nia Vardalos and Richard Dreyfuss and the documentary “Anvil,” about a heavy metal band still hunting for
that big break, are both worth a look.

Joe Barber covers entertainment in the DC area for the news & Messenger and can be heard regularly on WTOP-FM Radio.