The Janus face that represents theatre – the grin of comedy and the grimace of drama – isn't the only game in town when it comes to the emotions in front of the footlights. There's also plenty of hysteria and happiness, tears and trauma, vindication and victory, to sate the most voracious of Washington's theater mavens. If you can feel it, you'll see it on D.C.'s stages.

ADVENTURE THEATRE MTC

Glen Echo Park 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo, Md. 301-634-2270 adventuretheatre-mtc.org

Big, The Musical – Based on the movie and featuring music by David Shire and lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr. Jeff Frank and Michael Bobbit, who also directs, adapted John Weidman's book for "Theatre for Young Audiences'' (9/21-10/28)A Little House Christmas – Based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and directed by Serge Seiden, the narrative takes place during a pre-Christmas when a storm threatens the little house on the prairie (11/17-12/31)Winnie the Pooh – Pooh and Piglet go on a Heffalump hunt, while Rabbit schemes to get rid of Kanga's bathtub. Oh, and Eeyore loses his tail. Directed by Jerry Whiddon (1/19-2/12/13)Three Little Birds – A world-premiere musical, based on a story by Cedella Marley and featuring the music and lyrics of Bob Marley, about three birds who sing songs to Ziggy, a shy Jamaican child who won't leave his room for fear of hurricanes and evil spirits. Directed by Nick Olcott. (3/15-4/14/13)Big Nate – Based on the comic strip by Lincoln Pierce with music by Chris Youstra and lyrics by Youstra and Jason Loewith. Directed by Michael Baron (5/3-6/2/12)Cat In the Hat – Well, you know this incredible story. See it to come to life in this production based on the one created by the National Theatre of Great Britain (6/21-9/2/13)

AMERICAN CENTURY THEATER

Gunston Theater II 2700 South Lang St. Arlington 703-998-4555 americancentury.org

J.B. – Two vendors in a circus take on the roles of Satan and God to examine the meaning of life by observing the travails of J.B., a banker whose life is falling part. Written by Archibald MacLeish. Directed by Rip Claussen (9/14-10/6)The Show-Off – An ambitious and audacious young faker transforms the lives of those around him (1/11-2/2/12)Voodoo Macbeth – A reimagining of Shakespeare's play, adapted by Orson Welles, and using the imagery and traditions of, well, voodoo (3/22-4/13/13)Biography – A woman's acceptance of a hefty fee to write her tell-all memoirs creates problems in this drawing room comedy by S.N. Behrman. Directed by Steven Scott Mazzola (6/7-7/29/13)Summer Musical TBA (7/19-8/17/13)

ARENA STAGE

Mead Center for American Theater 1101 6th St. SW 202-488-3300 arenastage.org

Red Hot Patriot – Kathleen Turner stars in this one-woman show as newspaper columnist Molly Ivins, a dyed-in-the-wool liberal from deep in the heart of Texas. The show weaves personal anecdotes and a humorous look at politics. (Now to 10/28, Kogod)One Night with Janis Joplin – Created, written and directed by Randy Johnson, this musical event features more than a dozen singers and band members and is packed with classic songs that shine the light on Joplin and those who influenced her (9/28-11/4, Kreeger)My Fair Lady – Molly Smith reinterpreted the legendary, beloved Lerner-Loewe musical for the Shaw Festival in Canada. She has reassembled the creative team and brings the show to Arena (11/2-1/6/13, Fichandler)Pullman Porter Blues – A world-premiere production by Cheryl L. West that reveals the true heroes hidden within every man, set in 1937 aboard a train bound from Chicago to New Orleans. Three generations of porters battle each other, racial tensions and an uncertain future. Featuring 14 original and classic blues songs (11/23-1/6/13, Kreeger)Good People – Facing eviction, single mother and mouthy South Boston native Margaret Walsh reunites with an old flame who ''made good,'' hoping that his fortune can somehow improve her own. From Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole) and named the Best Play by the New York Drama Critics' Circle during its Broadway run (2/1-3/10/13, Kreeger)The Grand Parade – Inspired by the multi-layered paintings of Marc Chagall, this production from the Double Edge Theatre is an original world-premiere event that fuses physically daring spectacle with evocative music to create a kaleidoscopic exploration of the 20th century (2/6-2/10/13, Kogod)Metamorphoses – MacArthur ''Genius'' Mary Zimmerman returns with a magical interpretation of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Through lyrical storytelling and stunning imagery, Zimmerman constructs a wondrous world where gods and mortals interact in a giant pool on Arena's in-the-round stage (2/8-3/17/13, Fichandler)Mary T. & Lizzy K. – Writer-director Tazewell Thompson stitches together an insider's look at the unlikely friendship between first lady Mary Todd Lincoln and her talented seamstress, the successful freed slave Elizabeth Keckly. The world-premiere drama is the first commission of Arena Stage's American President's Project (3/15-4/28/13, Kogod)The Mountaintop – Katori Hall's bold reimagining of the last night of the historic life of Martin Luther King Jr. Exhausted from delivering a significant speech, King rests in his room at the Lorraine Motel when an unexpected visit from a feisty, young maid compels him to confront his own humanity and the fate of our nation. Winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Play (3/29-5/12/13, Fichandler)Other Desert Cities – Jon Robin Baitz's drama tells the story of a woman's return home after a six-year absence. When news of her upcoming memoir threatens to revive the most painful chapter of the family's history, old family wounds are opened, childhood memories are tested, and the family learns that some secrets cannot stay buried forever (4/26-5/26/13)

CONSTELLATION THEATRE

1835 14th St. NW 202-204-7741 constellationtheatre.org

Taking Steps – In Alan Acyckbourn's farce six British guests of a former brothel-turned-hotel evade a ghost, capture an intruder and unwittingly bed hop. Directed by Allison Stockman (Now-10/7)Zorro – Yes, that Zorro, the masked avenger who fights crime with a swashbuckling vengeance (1/17-2/17/13)Gilgamesh – Part god, part man, King Gilgamesh goes on an epic quest for immortality. Featuring poetry by the Pulitzer Prize-winning Yusef Komunyakaa (5/2-6/2/13)

DOMINION STAGE

Gunston Theatre One 2700 S. Lang St. Arlington 703-683-0502 dominionstage.org

Spring Awakening – An exhilarating, sexually and angst-driven musical about coming of age in turn-of-the-century Germany (10/5-10/20)Avenue Q – The adult Sesame Street featuring puppets galore (1/11-26/13)Bent – A compelling love story between two men imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp (tba)

FOLGER THEATRE

201 East Capitol St. SE 202-544-7077 folger.edu

Hamlet – This is the first American stop for Hamlet presented by London-based Shakespeare's Globe, marking the company's D.C. debut. Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe, and Globe regular Bill Buckhurst co-direct this raw, elemental production of Shakespeare's classic, stripped down to a furiously fast-paced two and a half hours (Now-9/22)The Conference of Birds – A poignant 12th century Persian fable about the search for the divine. Directed by Aaron Posner (10/23-11/25)Henry V – Robert Richmond directs this production of the Shakespeare classic (1/22-3/3/13)Twelfth Night – Lost lovers and unruly servants conspire in this beloved romantic comedy set. Directed by Robert Richmond (4/30-6/9/13)

FORD'S THEATRE

511 10th St. NW 202-347-4833 fordstheatre.org

Fly – Based on the experiences of the Tuskegee Airmen, Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan's drama is the powerful story of four African-American military pioneers who proved themselves as officers and pilots during World War II (9/21-10/21)A Christmas Carol – Edward Gero returns to play Scrooge in Michael Baron's adaptation of the Dickens classic (11/16-12/30)Our Town – A 75th anniversary production of Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, presenting a timeless commentary on the transience of human existence. Teenagers George and Emily meet, fall in love, marry and suffer the slings and arrows of everyday life. Stephen Rayne directs (1/25-2/24/13)Hello, Dolly! – In Jerry Herman's timeless musical, Horace Vandergelder hires matchmaker Dolly Levi to find him a wife. Dolly soon hatches a plan to woo and win Vandergelder's hand herself. Eric Schaeffer directs this co-production with Signature Theatre (3/15-5/18/13)

FORUM THEATRE

Round House Silver Spring 8641 Coleville Road Silver Spring 240-644-1390 forumtd.org

Holly Down in Heaven – When Holly, a brilliant 15-year-old born-again Christian, becomes pregnant, she banishes herself to the basement and confides only in her dolls – particularly a life-size psychiatrist doll who closely resembles Carol Channing. A world-premiere comedy by Kara Lee Corthron. Directed by Michael Dove (9/27-10/20)Nine Circles – A fierce psychological drama that ventures into the darkest corners of both the war and the mind – in hopes of light on the other side (2/7-3/2/13)Clementine in the Lower 9 – Dan Dietz's drama tells the story of Agamemnon using the aftermath of Katrina as the setting (5/23-6/15/13)

GALA HISPANIC THEATRE

3333 14th St. NW 202-234-7174 galatheatre.org

In Spite of Love – A count and princess have vowed never to fall in love – then they meet each other. One of the most popular comedies to come out of Spain's Golden Age (Now to 10/7)The House of the Spirits – The saga of the Trueba family, tracing the post-colonial social and political upheavals of Chile. A tale of magical realism that speaks to passion, human rights and reconciliation (2/7-3/10/13)DC-7: The Roberto Clemente Story – A musical based on the life of Clemente, who went from barrios of Puerto Rico to a successful run with the Pittsburgh Pirates to a fateful flight to Nicaragua to deliver humanitarian aid (4/18-5/26/13)

KEEGAN THEATRE

Church Street Theatre 1742 Church St. NW 703-892-0202 keegantheatre.com

A Couple of Blaguards – Colin Smith directs this two-man show by literary greats Frank McCourt and Malachy McCourt. Flavored with incidental music from the great Irish tradition, the show follows the trials of the young McCourts in poverty-stricken Limerick, Ireland, through their journey to the U.S. and Brooklyn (9/21-10/14)All My Sons – Arthur Miller's classic story about two very divergent life paths and the collision course they inevitably face (11/3-12/1)An Irish Carol – Mark Reha directs this annual holiday tradition, an homage to the Dickens classic, is told as only the Irish can (12/14-31)Cabaret – Keegan takes on the Kander and Ebb masterpiece (1/26-2/23/13)A Behanding in Spokane – A macabre tale from Martin McDonagh, the show concerns a mysterious stranger on the hunt for his missing appendage (3/16-4/6/13)The Full Monty – The Americanized musical stage version of the 1997 British film, with a book by Terrence McNally and a score by David Yazbeck. The musical follows group of unemployed steelworkers desperately seeking employment. Until they hatch a plan to make money by shedding it all for the ladies (5/4-6/1/13)Rabbit Hole – A dark, absorbing Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about the emotions that befall people after a tragedy (6/22-7/13/13)A Few Good Men – Aaron Sorkin's military court drama about two Marines accused of murder and the Navy lawyer who defends them. Directed by Jeremy Skidmore (8/10-9/7/13)

KENNEDY CENTER

War Horse

2700 F St. NW 202-467-4600 kennedy-center.org

DruidMurphy: Conversations on a Homecoming – In the 1970s a young man, after a 10-year absence, suddenly returns to County Galway from New York. Presented by Tony-winning Druid Theatre Company as part of a three-play cycle of works by renowned Irish dramatist Tom Murphy (10/17-20, Eisenhower)DruidMurphy: A Whistle in the Dark – The uprooted Carney family tries to adapt aggressively to life in an English city in 1960 (10/18-20, Eisenhower)DruidMurphy: Famine – The villagers of Glanconnor face the real prospect of starvation as the second crop of potatoes fails in 1846 (10/19-20, Eisenhower)War Horse – This powerfully moving and imaginative drama about a boy and his bond with a remarkable horse. The Tony Award-winning play features astonishing life-sized puppets that bring to life galloping, charging horses (10/23-11/11, Opera House)Jekyll & Hyde – Constantine Maroulis and Deborah Cox star in this revival of Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse's musical (11/20-25, Opera House)Irving Berlin's White Christmas – Direct from Broadway, the classic holiday movie live onstage (12/11-1/6/13, Opera House)Million Dollar Quartet – This Broadway musical was inspired by the true story of the time Sam Phillips assembled Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for a famed recording session (12/18-1/6/13, Eisenhower)Nordic Cool 2013 – A series of productions from some of the most acclaimed companies in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway. Productions include August, Fanny and Alexander, The Wild Duck, and Metamorphosis (2/20-3/9/13, Various)The Guardsman – A new production of the 1920s Broadway comedy smash that originally starred Lunt and Fontanne as newlywed actors, full of fresh love, tender egos and jealous schemes (5/25-6/23/13, Eisenhower)Anything Goes – Cole Porter's greatest achievement, featuring such memorable tunes as "You're the Top," "I Get a Kick Out of You," and the title song (6/11-7/7/13, Opera House)The Book of Mormon – The Tony-winning musical from the creators of South Park hits the KC, starring Gavin Creel (7/9-8/18/13, Opera House)

METRO STAGE

1201 North Royal St. Alexandria 703-548-9044 metrostage.org

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris – The music of Brel is celebrated in this revue. Directed by Serge Seiden (Now to 10/21)A Broadway Christmas Carol – Michael Sharp directs Kathy Feininger's cross between the Dickens classic and parodies of classic show tunes (11/15-12/23)Ladies Swing the Blues – Set in 1955 in New York City's 52nd Street, four jazz divas gather to pay homage to jazz legend Charlie Parker. A world premiere from Thomas W. Jones II, with original music by William Knowles (1/24-3/17/13)Ghost-Writer – When a novelist dies mid-sentence, his typist continues to take dictation creating concern among the novelist's wife, publisher and the general public. Directed by John Vreeke (4/18-5/26/13)

NATIONAL THEATRE

1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW 202-628-6161 nationaltheatre.org

Les Misérables – The 25th Anniversary Tour makes its way back to town. Here's your chance to see it for the 10th time (11/12-12/30/12)

OLNEY THEATRE CENTER

2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road Olney, Md. 301-924-3400 olneytheatre.org

Over the Tavern – Precocious 12-year-old Rudy believes that we were put on earth ''to have fun.'' He refuses to be force-fed rules and values from anyone, not from his parents and especially not from Sister Clarissa. John Going directs (9/26-10/21, Mainstage)Cinderella – The Rodgers and Hammerstein take on the enchanting fairy tale (11/14-1/6/13, Mainstage)Spring Awakening – The explosive Duncan Sheik musical explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood (2/7-3/10/13, Mainstage)Neville's Island, A Comedy in Thick Fog – Tim Firth's comedy follows four out-of-shape, middle-aged businessmen who succeed in being the first people ever to get shipwrecked on a tiny island just off Britain's Lake District (4/4-28/13, Mainstage)The Submission – Shaleeha G'ntamobi's stirring new play about an alcoholic mother and her cardsharp son trying to get out of the projects has just been accepted into the nation's preeminent theater festival. Trouble is, Shaleeha G'ntamobi doesn't exist, except in the imagination of wannabe white playwright Danny, who created her as a kind of affirmative-action nom-de-plume (5/9-6/9/13, Theatre Lab)Angel Street (''Gaslight'') – Is the handsome Jack Manningham a caring husband – or is he discreetly trying to drive his young wife Bella into insanity under the guise of kindness? Directed by John Going (6/20-7/14/13, Historic Stage)Carnival – The classic musical tells the story of a lonely orphan girl who literally runs away to join the circus. Based on the movie Lili (8/1-9/1/13, Mainstage)Saint Joan and Hamlet – A rotating rep from the BEDLAM theater company of classics by George Bernard Shaw and Shakespeare (9/5-10/27/13, Theatre Lab)Tartuffe, or The Hypocrite – Set in modern Paris, Molière's always relevant classic comedy about a religious hypocrite and the home he invades gets a vibrant makeover and a Euro-pop score (9/26-10/20/13, Mainstage)Once Upon a Mattress – A delightful musical based on the fable of The Princess and the Pea (11/14-12/29/13, Mainstage)

REP STAGE

10901 Little Patuxent Parkway Columbia, Md. 443-518-1500 repstage.org

The Temperamentals – John Marans's play tells the story of two men, Harry Hay and Rudi Gernreich, as they fall in love building The Mattachine Society, the first pre-Stonewall gay-rights organization (Now to 9/16)Mary Rose – A girl disappears only to return mysteriously with no memory of time passed, setting off a heartbreaking and thrilling course of events. Directed by Michael Stebbins (10/31-11/18)Barrymore – Samm-Art Willams's play deals with the coming of age of a young black man from rural North Carolina (2/27-3/17/13)Boeing Boeing – An American architect living in Paris in the swinging '60s juggles relationships with three air hostesses, all employed by Boeing-Boeing airlines (4/17-5/5/13)

ROUND HOUSE THEATRE

4545 East-West Highway Bethesda 240-644-1100 roundhousetheatre.org

Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo – A quick-witted tiger, two homesick American Marines and a troubled Iraqi gardener roam the streets of war-torn Baghdad in search of meaning, redemption and a toilet seat made of gold (Now to 9/30)I Love to Eat – James Still's affectionate portrait of James Beard, America's first foodie. Nick Olcott portrays the culinary maestro (10/17-11/4)Young Robin Hood – King Richard is off on the Crusades and Nottingham is at the mercy of the evil and corrupt sheriff. When his father is falsely accused of a crime and imprisoned, impetuous teenager Robin, already a skilled archer and swordsman, has to devise a rescue (11/28-12/30)Glengarry Glen Ross – David Mamet's searing comedy about a group of desperate Chicago real-estate salesmen willing to engage in any number of unethical, illegal acts – from lies, flattery and threats to bribery, intimidation and burglary – to get a piece of the action (2/6-3/3/13)How to Write a New Book for the Bible – A powerful, beautiful new play taken from Bill Cain's own experiences. A man moves in with his ailing but always funny mother when she becomes too frail to care for herself. Their reunion heals old wounds, opening a heartfelt and humorous new chapter in their relationship (4/10-5/5/13)Becky Shaw – When Suzanna sets up her best friend Max on a blind date with her husband's co-worker Becky Shaw, she sets into motion a series of cataclysmic events that forever change all of their lives (5/29-6/23/13)

SCENA THEATRE

H Street Playhouse 1365 H St. NE 703-683-2824 scenatheatre.org

A Clockwork Orange – A musical adaptation of Anthony Burgess's compelling novel (10/13-11/18)A Child's Christmas in Wales – The classic holiday story by Dylan Thomas (12/1-31)Metamorphosis – Kafka's classic about a man who awakens one day to find himself turned into a dung beetle (1/6-2/10/13)Shining City – Conor McPherson's drama about a man in turmoil after the death of his wife (3/11-4/21/13)Accidental Death of an Anarchist – Dario Fo's daring comedy set amid a fascist police state (5/5-6/16/13)Salome – The Oscar Wilde classic, reworked (7/7-8/18/13)

SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY

Harman Center for the Arts 610 F St. NW

Lansburgh Theatre 450 7th St. NW 202-547-1122 shakespearetheatre.org

The Government Inspector – Nikolai Gogol's satire of provincial bureaucracy concerns a mischievous civil servant who is mistaken for an incognito inspector, sending a small town and its corrupt officials into chaos. Directed by Michael Kahn (Now to 10/28, Lansburgh)Black Watch – A return visit by the National Theatre of Scotland, the Olivier-winning drama reveals what it means to be part of the legendary Scottish regiment, what it means to be part of the war on terror and what it means to make the journey home again (9/19-10/7, Harman Hall)The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart – Another import from the National Theatre of Scotland, the show is performed in an actual pub as the tale unfolds around the audience (11/14-12/9)A Midsummer Night's Dream – Mismatched lovers Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena encounter a supernatural squabble that will alter their destinies forever. Directed by Ethan McSweeny (11/15-12/30, Harman Hall)Les Liasons Dangereuses – John Malkovich directs a new French-language revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses direct from the Théâtre de l'Atelier in Paris (12/6-9, Lansburgh)Hughie – Richard Schiff takes on the title role in Eugene O'Neill's powerfully focused commanding study of Erie Smith, a man whose illusions of a grand lifestyle are wavering after the death of the stranger who quietly validated his larger-than-life confidence (1/31-3/17/13, Lansburgh)Coriolanus – Caius Martius earns the new name of ''Coriolanus'' for his heroic triumphs. However his inflexible self-belief and contempt for popular rule cause him to be condemned as a traitor and sent into exile. Desiring revenge against the Romans who banished him, he launches an assault on his beloved city. David Muse directs (3/28-6/2/13, Harman Hall)Wallenstein – A newly commissioned adaptation and translation of Friedrich Schiller drama. One of Germany's greatest dramatic works, Wallenstein follows the famous general Albrecht von Wallenstein at the height of his influence and power during the Thirty Years' War. Directed by Michael Kahn. In rep with Coriolanus (3/28-6/2/13, Harman Hall)The Winter's Tale – One of Shakespeare's later plays, this compassionate and dazzling saga tells the tale of King Leontes, who is overcome with jealousy when he believes his pregnant wife Hermione and his good friend King Polixenes are lovers. Directed by Rebecca Bayla Taichman (5/9-6/23/13, Lansburgh)

SIGNATURE THEATRE

4200 Campbell Ave. Arlington 703-820-9771 signature-theatre.org

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – Miss Mona's Chicken Ranch brothel comes to life in this rollicking new production of the award-winning musical by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson. Directed by Eric Schaeffer (Now to 10/7, Max)Dying City – A year after his identical twin brother's suspicious death in Iraq, a man shows up unannounced at his sister-in-law's apartment. An emotionally brutal skirmish ensues (10/2-11/25, Ark)Dreamgirls – Matthew Gardiner directs the Tony Award-winning musical that made a star of Jennifer Holiday (11/13-1/6/13, Max)Shakespeare's R&J – A repressive all-male Catholic boarding school bans Romeo and Juliet. Four male students unearth a secret copy and steal into the night to recite the prohibited tale of adolescent passion. Directed by Joe Calarco (2/5-3/3/13, Max)Hello, Dolly! – A co-production with Ford's Theatre (3/15-5/18/13, Ford's Theatre)Crimes of the Heart – Beth Henley's Pulitzer Prize-winning dark comedy about three eccentric sisters who reunite at their granddaddy's Mississippi home when the youngest shoots her husband because she ''didn't like his looks.'' Directed by Aaron Posner (4/2-28/13, Max)Company – Eric Schaeffer directs the Sondheim classic in which a 35-year-old bachelor searches for answers to life on his birthday. Familiar songs include ''Being Alive'' and ''Ladies Who Lunch'' (5/21-6/30/13, Max)

STUDIO THEATRE

1501 14th St. NW 202-332-3300 studiotheatre.org

Invisible Man – An adaptation of Ralph Ellison's 1952 masterpiece, the play follows an anonymous black man as he journeys from the Deep South to a basement in the borderlands of Harlem, from a betrayal at his ivy-covered negro college to a nightmare job in a paint factory in New York City to the story's violent climax at a Harlem race riot. (Running now)Dirt – David Muse directs Holly Twyford in this world premiere by Byrony Lavery (Opens 10/17) Aliens – The dingy back alley of a sleepy Vermont coffeehouse is home to trash bins, weathered patio furniture and two affable slackers. When an awkward teen attempts to evict them from their makeshift perch, KJ and Jasper recruit him as a protégé (Opens 11/14)An Iliad – David Muse directs an adaptation of Homer's epic poem (Opens 12/21)Contractions – The U.S. premiere of British playwright Mike Bartlett's black satire (1/2/13)The Motherfucker with the Hat – Out on parole, Jackie is determined to start anew with his childhood sweetheart Veronica, but her unrelenting coke addiction and the discovery of another man's hat in his living room threaten to derail his progress. Directed by Serge Seiden (Opens 1/30/13)4000 Miles – Tana Hicken stars in this play about a 21-year-old neo-hippie who, following his girlfriend's death, seeks refuge in the Greenwich Village apartment of his 91-year-old leftist grandmother. Directed by Joy Zinoman (Opens 3/20/13)2-2 Tango and Skin Tight – A pair of one acts about coupling, from New Zealand and Canada (Opens 4/24)The Real Thing – Tom Stoppard's classic about a playwright and his complicated relationship with his wife. Directed by David Muse (Opens 5/22/13)Baby Universe: A Puppet Odyssey – A captivating fable about the search for a new planet on which to sustain human life. Inspired by real-life scientific events and theory, the show features 30 puppets, animation, a space-age score and a robot based on Stephen Hawking (Opens 6/26/13)The Rocky Horror Show – Studio's 2ndStage celebrates its 25th anniversary with this 40th anniversary production of the crazed, hip musical (Open 7/10/13)

SYNETIC THEATER

Crystal City Arlington 800-494-8497 synetictheater.org

Jekyll and Hyde – Synetic's version of the classic puts a new spin on the strange case of the charming and sociable Dr. Jekyll and his sinister friend, accused murderer Mr. Hyde. Starring Alex Mills (9/20-10/21)A Trip to the Moon – Natsu Onoda Power directs this story of six astronauts sent to the moon by way of a cannon. On the moon's surface they embark on a haywire adventure, awakened by a moon goddess and pitted against a throng of insect-like ''Selenites.'' Based on the silent film by Georges Méliès (12/6-1/6/13)The Tempest – The latest in the ''Silent Shakespeare Series,'' directed by Paata Tsikurishvilli (2/24-3/24/13)Three Musketeers – D'Artagnan's journey to become a musketeer bounds to life with plenty of romance, intrigue, and animated duels crafted by resident fight choreographer, Ben Cunis (5/9-6/9/13)A Midsummer Night's Dream – A brief revival of one of Synetic's most popular offerings (7/24-8/4/13)

THEATRE J

1529 16th St. NW 202-518-9400 theaterj.org

Body Awareness – It's Body Awareness Week at Shirley College, and the nontraditional Vermont family members Phyllis, Joyce and their possibly autistic son Jared are rocked by a visiting photographer in this comedy by Annie Baker (Now to 9/23)Our Class – An epic spanning two continents and 80 years. Ten Polish classmates grow up, their lives take dramatically unexpected turns as their country is torn apart by invading armies, first Soviet, then German, then Soviet again (10/10-11/4)Woody Sez – A boisterous retelling of the life of troubadour Woody Guthrie blends musical numbers, scenes from Guthrie's life and excerpts from his progressive newspaper column (11/8-12/2)Apples from the Desert – A poignant drama about love and reconciliation, this hit Israeli play follows the young Sephardic Rivka, a religious teenager, who falls for Dooby, a secular kibbutznik, at a dance class in Jerusalem (12/15-1/6/13)Boged: An Enemy of the People – A sudden chemical leak in an Israeli industrial park endangers the region's water supply. The mayor is quick to cover up the scandal, but his brother fights to expose the truth. The family feud quickly turns into a political war with major environmental repercussions. An adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's play (1/12-2/3/13)Race – David Mamet's latest play ruthlessly examines guilt, betrayal and racial posturing as two male lawyers are called to defend a wealthy white client charged with the rape of a black woman (2/6-3/17/13)Andy and the Shadows -– Andy Glickstein is the son of Holocaust refugees who fears he can't get married because he hasn't suffered enough. His family's gathered on the South Side of Chicago to celebrate his engagement to clear-headed Sarah, but party preparations are interrupted as Andy is pulled by memories and pre-adolescent enchantments of his mother's bath-time stories recounting her dramatic escapes from the Nazis. Written by Ari Roth (4/3-28/13)The Hampton Years – Jacqueline E. Lawton's play revolves around the development of great African-American artists John Biggers and Samella Lewis under the tutelage of Austrian Jewish refugee painter and educator, Viktor Lowenfeld (5/29-6/30/13)

WASHINGTON IMPROV THEATER

Source 1835 14th St. NW 202-204-7770 washingtonimprovtheater.com

POTUS Among Us – A hilarious take on the American political system in a fully improvised production, created instantly every show (10/11-11/5)Harold Night – Each Tuesday is a demonstration and experimentation in the world-famous long form technique, Harold (every Tuesday night)Classes throughout the fall (check the website for schedule)

WASHINGTON STAGE GUILD

Undercroft Theatre 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW stageguild.org

Pygmailion – The George Bernard Shaw classic (10/25-11/18)Tryst – Karoline Leach's provocative play about financial gain and true love (1/3-27/13)Inferno – Bill Largess adapted and performs this one-man show about the journey to hell based on the work of Dante (2/21-3/17/13)The Elder Statesman – T.S. Eliot's final play in its first D.C. production (4/25-5/19/13)

WSC AVANT BARD

Artisphere Black Box 1101 Wilson Blvd. Arlington 703-418-4808 wscavantbard.org

Six Characters in Search of an Author – Set during a rehearsal for Luigi Pirandello's The Rules of the Game, the play finds actors and a director interrupted by orphan characters, seeking to have their story told. Tom Prewitt directs (10/10-12/9)Caesar and Dada – A world premiere by Allyson Curren and directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner. An acting troupe rehearsing Julius Caesar seeks to challenge and change the audience's expectations and experiences (5/16-6/7/13)The White Devil – Murder, imprisonment, disguise, feigned madness, elopement, banishment, torture and scheme upon scheme are just a few elements in John Webster's torrid story of love, political corruption and revenge. Directed by Christopher Henley (5/29-7/7/13)

WOOLLY MAMMOTH

641 D St. NW 202-393-3939 woollymammoth.net

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity – A drop-kicking, body-slamming, balls-out theatrical happening set in the larger-than-life world of professional wrestling. Directed by John Vreeke (Now to 9/30)You for Me for You – Two North Korean sisters make a bargain with a smuggler to flee to the United States. When one of the sisters is denied passage because she is too weak to make the treacherous trans-Pacific crossing, the other sister makes a promise to race across time and space to save her (11/5-12/2)The Pajama Men: In the Middle of No One – Albuquerque, N.M., duo The Pajama Men come to Woolly with this delightfully silly comedy thriller about love, alien abduction and the spirit of adventure (12/11-1/6/13)The Convert – Set amid the colonial scramble for Southern Africa in 1895, Danal Gurira's play follows Jekesai, a young girl who escapes a forced marriage in her native village and lands in a Westernized household where Africans are pitted against each other over the arrival of Christianity (2/11-3/10/13)American Utopias – A world premiere of the latest from Mike Daisey, as he explores how we create civic spaces for ourselves in which we act out our dreams of a better world. Daisey travels from Disney World and its theme park perfection, to the drug-fueled anarchic excesses of Burning Man, from the Masonic underpinnings of our nation's Capitol (3/19-4/14/13)Stupid Fucking Bird – Aaron Posner has loosely adapted Chekhov's The Seagull in this contemporary and irreverent riff on the classic play. Directed by Howard Shalwitz (5/27-6/23/13)

Fringe Season 5

Long derided as the inferior art, television has achieved something of a renaissance in recent years, with a glut of incredible, unmissable series making their way into our living rooms. Fall is the testing ground for shows that eventually worm their way into the public consciousness – and, hopefully, our hearts – with new series living or dying on their ability to entertain and captivate their audience, and then hold them through 13 or 24 episodes.

This fall, the major networks are delivering hundreds of new episodes to attempt to capture our viewing hours, but with so much choice, how can you possibly choose what to watch? We’ve sifted through every show, new and returning, to offer you 15 highlights that should be included on everyone’s weekly viewing schedule. You won’t see perennial favorites such as Mad Men or Breaking Bad, as they air over summer, nor midseason replacements such as Smash, but there’s something for everyone in our 15-strong list, so jump in and start experiencing the best of this season’s TV.

The New Normal

Tuesdays, NBC

THE FIRST NEW show of the season on our list is also the most topical. The New Normal is a comedy focused on Bryan (Andrew Rannells) and David (Justin Bartha), a happy Los Angeles couple who begin to yearn for a child. Enter Goldie (Georgia King), a single mother recently moved to L.A., seeking to provide a better upbringing for her daughter. The couple hire her to provide surrogacy for their child, and in return commit to helping her achieve her dreams of becoming a lawyer. Goldie’s homophobic grandmother Jane (Ellen Barkin) follows her to L.A., and naturally becomes involved in the pregnancy.

It’s a fairly by-the-books set-up, with the best lines reserved for Goldie’s grandmother, but what’s here has promise to evolve into something that sits proudly among NBC’s other single-camera comedies (the less said about multi-camera Whitney, the better) and it’s extremely encouraging to see such positive gay characters on network television. Normal is the brainchild of Ryan Murphy, infamous for creating – and then subsequently ruining -– Glee, which he helped turn into a self-indulgent monster. Here’s hoping he fares better with Normal.

The New Normal isn’t the fall’s only gay-themed comedy. CBS premieres Partners on Monday, Sept. 24, at 8:30 p.m., but apart from morbid curiosity, I strongly urge you not to subject yourself to it. Featuring tired, tried-and-true CBS sitcom tropes – laugh track, unsubtle humor, a general feeling that you should be watching something better – it’s based on the lives of its creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, who also created Will and Grace. Don’t expect the same cultural impact here. Instead, watch The New Normal and feel better about yourself.

Saturday Night Live

Saturday, Sept. 15, NBC

SNL ENTERS ITS 38th season with two important factors making it must-see television. First is the departure of several cast members, chief of whom is Kristen Wiig. The writer and star of Bridesmaids decided to leave the show – and in her wake also left an incredible talent hole that will be difficult to fill. Effortless in her myriad characters and impersonations, Wiig’s departure will make for interesting viewing as the show evolves to cope with her absence.

The real reason to tune in, though, is obvious: election season. SNL is at its best when it covers the campaigns – 2008 gave us the infamous Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, a portrayal so accurate and so amusing, it created a public image of Palin that no press release or interview could undo. Head writer Seth Meyers and his team used SNL to provide glaring commentary on the campaign trail each week, and it made for hilarious, insightful viewing. If they can maintain such standards for Romney v. Obama, we’re in for a treat.

Revolution

Monday, Sept. 17, NBC

THIS IS NBC’S attempt at big-budget fantasy drama, with the setting here being a post-apocalyptic future. The world has mysteriously lost power, with all computer-controlled technology inoperative. Set 15 years after the event, Revolution focuses on the Matheson family, whose father believes he has found the cause of the global blackout, and a solution to reactivate the disabled devices. The series follows his family’s struggle to cope in a world without public order, facing the challenges of exposing the cause of the blackout, as well as defending against the powerful militias that have surfaced.

It’s certainly an interesting concept, one NBC is banking on becoming this year’s Lost – though hopefully without the protracted storyline and sense that the writers have no idea what they’re doing. Here’s hoping it matches the relative success of ABC’s mystery drama, and doesn’t follow Heroes and The Event into NBC big-budget obscurity.

Parks and Recreation

Thursday, Sept. 20, NBC

PARKS AND RECREATION is the best comedy on TV. There, we said it. If you haven’t watched it before, go and find it, and absorb the brilliance of Amy Poehler’s post-SNL wunderkind. After a shaky Season 1, it has matured with age, mixing every kind of comedy into one delicious whole. Featuring an excellent ensemble including Rashida Jones, Nick Offerman, Rob Lowe and Adam Scott, Parks has something for everyone, but unfortunately everyone is watching the inferior sitcoms on CBS.

Season 4 gave us Leslie’s tumultuous – and ultimately successful – run for City Council, and as we enter Season 5, expect to see the strain of her new responsibility affecting her relationship with Ben, the Parks Department struggling to cope with her absence, Ron Swanson finding love (she’s not called Tammy, which bodes well), and more of the stuff Parks does so well with every episode. Seriously, just watch it.

Last Resort

Thursday, Sept. 27, ABC

THE SHIELD. THAT’S the pedigree Last Resort brings to the table. Shawn Ryan, creator of the much-loved, much-lauded FX series, brings a show that actually sounds more like a film on first approach. In it, the crew of a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine disobey a direct order to launch missiles at Pakistan. In doing so, they incur the wrath of the U.S. government, who attempt to destroy the vessel and its crew and cover up the incident. The crew survives and makes base on an island, declaring themselves a sovereign, nuclear-capable nation. The series focuses on their struggle to defend themselves against attack, while also trying to prove their innocence and ultimately return home to America. Dramatic stuff, indeed.

While reservations are in place as to how ABC will stretch the story out over (potentially) multiple seasons, the concept alone is worth the investment. With Ryan helming the project, we can expect the same quality that Shield was commended for. At the very least it offers an intriguing insight into what could happen should nuclear war occur – accidentally or otherwise.

Fringe

Friday, Sept. 28, FOX

NEVER BEFORE HAS a show been more aptly named. Earning its status as a cult favorite, Fringe initially performed well in FOX’s lineup, but ratings plummeted. Ironically, as the viewers bled, the show continued to improve, ramping up the exploration of its own universe and diving headfirst into its own mythology, giving fans a weekly serving of weird, mind-bending goodness on which to dine. Fan support has been its backbone, as even a move to FOX’s Friday night death slot has failed to kill the series. Now, though, Fringe viewers are finally free from the “will they?/won’t they?” renewal drama that has plagued them these past few seasons, as the series wraps its five-year run with a final 13 episodes.

Following in the footsteps of last season’s future-set episode, “Letters of Transit,” Fringe will deal with a world controlled by Observers – the series’ bald, menacing mystery men – but it won’t be abandoning that which made the first four seasons so good. This season will attempt to wrap up all the plotlines and character arcs introduced in its run, taking cues from earlier seasons to ensure there’s little left unexplained as the curtain falls. Fans will likely debate what unfolds for years to come, but for the uninitiated, it’s definitely worth dipping your toes in to see what something other than a bog-standard TV drama can look like.

Once Upon A Time

Sunday, Sept. 30, ABC

ONCE UPON A TIME was a genuine surprise when it debuted last fall. The central concept – a group of fairy-tale characters ripped from their world and deposited in ours, with no memory of their previous existence – was one that seemed unlikely to work on network television. But ABC defied critics and delivered a series that, while occasionally more soap than fantasy, provided a wealth of content each week. The show gave us two interwoven timelines, dealing with the interactions in its fantasy setting and the resulting implications in reality, with most of the pleasure derived from seeing each character’s backstory revealed in the flashbacks to their prior life.

With Season 2, we’re faced with the introduction of magic to reality, and the aftermath of each character remembering their true past. Characters confirmed to appear this season include Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Mulan, Sir Lancelot, The Mad Hatter and Captain Hook, while Ruby (Red Riding Hood) and Belle will appear more regularly.

Revenge

Sunday, Sept. 30, ABC

THE DEFINITE GUILTY pleasure of last fall’s new shows, Revenge revels in providing viewers with an experience enshrined in nighttime soaps, but one that also thrives on the strong central performances of its cast – in particular series leads Emily VanCamp and Madeleine Stowe, with both grounding the show in contrast to its outlandish concept. Revenge blew through its first season in a whirlwind of betrayal, murder, lust and… well, revenge, and hopes are high for more of the same this year.

If you haven’t watched the first series, there’s plenty of time to grab the box set, a bottle of wine, and settle in for hours of the best soapy drama currently on TV.

666 Park Avenue

Sunday, Sept. 30, ABC

ABC SEEMS TO be creating a theme for their Sunday night lineup. With the cancellation of most of their daytime soaps, they’ve instead turned their Sunday night primetime shows into high-drama soap reincarnations. Enter 666 Park Avenue to round out the trio, which includes Once Upon A Time and Revenge.

Looking very much like a tame American Horror Story, 666 takes place in a New York City apartment block, whose owner – Terry O’Quinn (Lost) – is the landlord from hell. Literally. With the help of his wife, Vanessa Williams, the two strike deals with the tenants that have dark consequences. We follow a young couple as they move into the building, and gradually come to learn the true nature of its owner and fellow residents – both past and current. It’s fairly camp, but it also looks rather fun, and should nicely round out ABC’s Sunday night lineup.

Homeland

Sunday, Sept. 30, Showtime

HOMELAND GOT EVERYTHING right when it premiered last fall. Anchored by two stunning performances from Claire Danes and Damien Lewis, the drama followed a CIA officer (Danes) who believed a former U.S. Marine (Lewis) held captive by al-Qaida had been turned into a sleeper agent against the United States. Danes, in particular, delivered an incredible portrayal of bipolar Carrie Mathison, who struggles to prove her suspicions that Brody (Lewis) is in fact a sleeper agent.

The first season concluded with Brody running for a seat in Congress, and Mathison receiving shock treatment for her bipolar disorder. The second season picks up six months later and follows Mathison’s recovery from the treatment as she tries to repair her memory and get her life back. Brody, meanwhile, is still running for political office and is finding the campaign trail a tough, paranoid place to be. With the revelations of last season, we can’t wait to see how Homeland’s second season plays out, and hope it avoids the pitfalls of a sophomore slump.

30 Rock

Thursday, Oct. 4, NBC

TINA FEY. ALEC Baldwin. In the running for TV’s greatest on-screen comic duo, the pair have delivered consistent brilliance for six seasons, and as 30 Rock draws into its seventh, and final, season, it will be a sad thing indeed to see the two finally part ways. Their fellow Emmy nominees in the Best Actor/Actress categories may breathe a sigh of relief, but Thursday nights won’t be the same without the surreal, hilarious antics of the TGS staff and crew. While the series has noticeably declined in quality as it has aged, it still manages to best almost every other sitcom on television – no mean feat for a show that was only kept on the air as it was cheaper to make than Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60. Six seasons and 10 Emmys later, it still has viewership figures that would cause heart attacks at CBS, but popularity has never been a concern for Fey and company.

Instead, 30 Rock thrives on providing some of the best scripted comedy of the 21st century, with each episode crammed full of pop culture references and biting satire, all delivered by a cast that are among the strongest in the business – Jane Karakowski, in particular, needs an Emmy for her work as Jenna. Little has been divulged about how the show will wrap things up, but expect plenty more awkward Liz moments to enjoy. Good God, Lemon.

Arrow

Wednesday, Oct. 10, The CW

HAVE YOU EVER watched one of Christopher Nolan’s Batman films and thought “I wish this were a weekly TV series instead?” Enter The CW’s Arrow – based on DC Comics’ Green Arrow – which seems to have eschewed any pretense of supernatural abilities in favor of the Dark Knight’s approach to backstory.

The central character, Oliver Queen, is a rich playboy billionaire who, after a violent shipwreck, is presumed dead. After being found alive he returns home seeking to right his past wrongs and fix the ailing Starling City, by creating the alter ego Green Arrow.

The CW is clearly looking to replace its decade-long Smallville, but if they can pull off the same dark magic that made the Dark Knight films so good, they could be on to a winner. It doesn’t hurt that Queen is played by the very handsome Stephen Amell (Queer as Folk). Arrow could pander to the CW’s young demographic and offer a superficial glimpse into the world of the Green Arrow, but it is definitely one to watch if it can manage a deeper exploration of its central character’s motives across its full season – something no two-and-a-half-hour movie can compete with.

Nashville

Wednesday, Oct. 10, ABC

CONNIE BRITTON. THAT’S all the reason you need to tune in to Nashville this October. Britton cemented her place as a fantastic actress in Friday Night Lights, and then compounded that in last year’s American Horror Story, proving she was more than capable of headlining a show regardless of subject matter. Nashville takes her somewhere completely different, here playing a fading country star who finds herself forced by her record label to tour with an immature, up-and-coming crossover singer (Hayden Panetierre). Featuring an original soundtrack of country music, the show runs in a similar vein to Glee and Smash, though thankfully with closer similarities to the latter than the former. Written by Callie Khouri, Academy Award-winning writer of Thelma and Louise, Nashville should make an interesting addition to ABC’s lineup, but, really, we’re in it just for more Britton. And you should be, too.

The Walking Dead

Sunday, Oct. 14, AMC

AMC’S SURPRISE HIT is not for the squeamish or the nervous. If you can stomach a show that deals with the survivors of a zombie apocalypse, however, you’re in for a treat. At times a personal drama, at times outright horror, it is also a show about dealing with life in the absence of order. Beloved by its fans, it has proven a critical and commercial success for AMC.

Season 3 will take even more inspiration from the comic book source material, and will deal with the fallout from Rick’s revelation at the end of the last season, as well as the group’s immediate danger at the prison they have found themselves in. It will also introduce “The Governor,” leader of the settlement at Woodbury, who is more than a little insane. If you’ve been infected (get it?) by The Walking Dead’s charm, be sure to tune in this October.

American Horror Story: Asylum

Wednesday, Oct. 17, FX

RYAN MURPHY’S SECOND show on this list was one of the biggest on cable when it debuted last fall. The tale of a family who move into a mansion, only for its former residents and creepy neighbors to haunt and stalk them, drew in critics and viewers alike. Featuring a strong cast, it centered on the theme of infidelity, and made for a guilty, thrilling pleasure. Sex, murder, a ghost in a rubber suit – the first season had it all.

All of that, though, is irrelevant, as series two is an entirely new concept, albeit with some familiar faces returning as different characters. This time around, the setting is an insane asylum in 1964, with Jessica Lange as its head nurse. The central theme will be sanity, and the show’s characters will deal with real-life horrors – which means no ghosts on murderous rampages this time around. (But there are, reportedly, mutations and aliens.) The list of confirmed stars is impressive, with Lange, Sarah Paulson, Zachary Quinto, James Cromwell, Adam Levine, Chloë Sevigny and Joseph Fiennes all confirmed to appear. If you missed the first season, we strongly recommend you watch it. Regardless, you should be able to commit yourself to Asylum with little effort.

When it comes to music, that savage beast inside you will have plenty of chances for soothing this fall. Or, if you'd rather have it riled up, rocking out or dancing in your seat, you've got plenty of chances to do that, too. Whether it's Madonna, Justin Bieber – oh, stop it, you know you're going – or one of the hundreds of small but stellar artists coming to Washington, all your angles are covered.

2012 SONIC CIRCUITS

dc-soniccircuits.org

This year's annual three-day Sonic Circuits Festival of Experimental Music takes place later this month at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, but that's just the biggest part of what has become an ongoing concert and event series year-round. Full schedule for the fall: Open Circuits & District of Noise Vol. 5 Release Party (9/21, Pyramid Atlantic)Lorelei, Tone and Blue Sausage Infant (9/23, Mansion)11th Annual Festival – Artists scheduled to perform this year include Northern Machine, Fast Forty, Sansyou, Keith Sinzinger's Fast Forty, Mia Zabelka & Lydia Lunch, the Dutch/French ''electroacoustic'' quartet Diktat, Scant, Jeff Carey, Apocalypse Trio, Lost Civilizations Experimental Music Project, Musique Noir, Scott M. Phillips's Gum Yummy, the contemporary/jazz/rock DC Improvisers Collective, the STYLUS!BLACK!FACTORY! collaborative and Richard Chartier's Pinkcourtesyphone. The festival actually kicks off with screenings of several films, either experimental in nature or subject, and all focused on either music or at least the key element of sound (9/28-30, Atlas)Paul Roth, Zeitlos, Cactus Truck, Steve Moore (10/27, Pyramid Atlantic)Pyramid Atlantic Benefit Show (11/24, Pyramid Atlantic)

9:30 CLUB

815 V St. NW 202-265-0930 930.com

The Feelies (9/14)The Silent Critics, Aaron Crawford and the Badcards & Practically Einstein (9/15)Bloc Party (9/16-17)Ben Howard (9/18)Glen Hansard – Composer of this year's Tony-winning musical Once offers a concert of his whiny wailing solo tunes (9/19)Grizzly Bear – You think the popularity of Bon Iver is hard to explain, try this gay-fronted Brooklyn band, recent Colbert Report darlings (9/20-21)Ed Sheeran – VH1 ''You Oughta Know'' series (9/22)Papadosio (9/22)Stars – Great Montreal electro-pop band that you really oughta know (9/23)The Gossip – It's an out and out crime if you don't already know this lesbian-fronted band, huge in the U.K. (9/24)Brother Ali w/Blank Tape Beloved – Mourning in America Tour (9/26)Allen Stone (9/27)The Afghan Whigs (9/28)Crystal Castles (9/29-30)Jovanotti – Yup, the '90s Italian rapper is still rhyming (10/1)Two Door Cinema Club (10/2-3)The Walkmen w/The War on Drugs (10/4)Leftover Salmon (10/6)Public Image Ltd (10/8)Matt and Kim (10/8-9)Calexico (10/11)Jens Lekman (10/12)Silversun Pickups (10/12)Ryan Bingham (10/13)Passion Pit (10/14-16)Beach House (10/17)Divine Fits (10/18)Ben Kweller (10/19)The Pietasters – I dare you to bring them a cake (10/20)Cat Power – Chan Marshall is meowing louder now more than ever with her new album (10/22)Kimbra – Her own jazzy-pop tunes are almost as delectable as the hit she made with Gotye (10/23)Miike Snow – Not a man with a misspelled first name, but a Swedish electro-pop band, including dance producers Bloodshy & Avant (10/24)Sharon Van Etten (10/25)Major Lazer – The up and coming dance producer/remixer, now too big for U Street Music Hall (10/25)Old 97's 'Too Far to Care' Tour: Salim Nourallah, Rhett Miller (10/28)Nouvelle Vague – A French cover band, mais oui (10/28)Grouplove – An American pop/rock band that was a lovely underground sensation just a year ago, but is now clearly on the verge of a major breakthrough (10/29-30)Freelance Whales (10/31)Dr. Dog (11/2)The Royal Family Ball featuring Soulive & Lettuce (11/3)Social Distortion (11/6-7)Motion City Soundtrack w/Jukebox the Ghost (11/8)Ani DiFranco – The storied DIY indie-rocker returns (11/10)Taking Back Sunday (11/11)Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (11/13)Yeasayer (11/14-15)G. Love and Special Sauce – The secret sauce in this Philadelphia hip-hop/classic R&B group is love – of the blues (11/16)Dan Deacon – The Baltimore experimental knob-twister, the toast of NPR (11/17)Lights (11/18)Caspa (11/20)Citizen Cope (11/21, 11/23)Dark Star Orchestra (11/30)The Gaslight Anthem (12/2-3)The Faint – The once promising neo-electro band tries to rekindle the magic a decade later, playing Danse Macabre in its entirety (12/5)Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (12/6-8)Nada Surf (12/11)

THE ALDEN

McLean Community Center 1234 Ingleside Ave. Mclean, Va. 703-790-0123 aldentheatre.org

Ball In The House – Five-member all-vocal band in the style of Boyz II Men and Take 6 offers a harmonized blend of classic R&B, hip-hop and gospel (12/15)

ARTISPHERE

1101 Wilson Blvd. Arlington 703-875-1100 artisphere.com

Arpas de America: Latin American Harp Festival – Teatro de la Luna presents this popular annual festival, this year featuring René Devia of Colombia, Julio González of Mexico and Lorenzo González and Julie Crystal Peña of Paraguay (9/14-15)Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chas, Triage (9/15)The Mambo Legends Orchestra – Former musicians of the Tito Puente Orchestra have formed this outfit, which performs in Artisphere's Ballroom as part of a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration of Puente's legacy (9/22)Pepe Gonzalez – After-Work Jazz + Mixer Thursdays presents a concert of this self-taught bassist, ''one of the most respected jazz bass players in the Washington area,'' according to The Washington Post (9/27)Origem – After-Work Jazz + Mixer Thursdays (10/4)Forro in the Dark, Alma Tropicalia – A Brazilian-steeped party, with bands from New York and D.C. performing as part of Artisphere's 2nd Anniversary Celebration (10/6)Yvonne Johnson – After-Work Jazz + Mixer Thursdays presents a concert by this ''funky jazz'' singing keyboardist (10/11)Joel Savoy, Jesse Lege: The Cajun Country Revival – A super-group of American roots musicians (10/17)Hilton 'Tre' Felton Trio – After-Work Jazz + Mixer Thursdays (10/18)Lyle Link – After-Work Jazz + Mixer Thursdays (10/25)

ATLAS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

1333 H St. NE 202-399-7993 atlasarts.org

Steve Coleman Quartet – Saxophonist has helped develop a new kind of jazz sound traced back to the patterns of hip-hop and post-'80s music (9/26)Gary Smulyan w/Mark Masters' Ellington Saxophone Encounters – Performing stunning arrangements of Duke Ellington's timeless music (10/10)Ben Williams and Sound Effect – Revivalist has hailed band leader and D.C. native ''the baddest new bassist on the block'' (10/17)Washington Savoyards: The Rocky Horror Show (10/19-11/4)Alan Blackman Trio w/Donny McCaslin – Baltimore-based pianist and composer (10/24)Rebecca Martin w/Larry Grenadier – Folk/jazz singer and jazz bassist (11/7) Joel Harrison String Choir – D.C. native leads the ensemble in ''Music of Paul Motian'' (11/28)John Hollenback Large Ensemble (12/6)Mary Halvorson Quintet (12/12)Jerseyband – Horn-driven metal that the band calls ''lungcore'' (1/23/13)Carol Morgan Quartet (2/13/13)Shakers 'n' Bakers – Dedicated to the exploration of ''Vision Songs'' received by women of the Shaker religious sect during ecstatic spiritual trances (3/13/13)Amy K. Bormet's Washington Women in Jazz Festival (3/27/13)MODATT (4/24/13)Luciana Souza Duo – One of jazz's leading singers teams up with compatriot Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo (5/11/13)Darcy James Argue's Secret Society – Swing era-style 18-piece big band (5/18/13)

BARNS AT WOLF TRAP

1635 Trap Road Vienna 877-WOLFTRAP wolftrap.org

Carlos Nunez (10/4)Glen Phillips, Grant-Lee Phillips – Alt-rock journeymen with soul-searching guitar tunes (11/5)Chad & Jeremy – British Invasion redux, of a sort (11/6)Ben Taylor w/Grace Weber (10/10)The Greencards (11/17)Susan Werner (10/18)Battlefield Band (10/19)Amanda McBroom – Cabaret singer (10/20)Lucy Kaplansky (10/26)Jonathan Edwards (11/3)Tim O'Brien (11/8)Chaise Lounge – Local jazz jam band, informed by the Swing era, continues to tour in support of its album released last spring, Insomnia (11/9)Julie Murphy Wells – The lead singer of Eddie from Ohio is not, in fact, named Eddie, nor even a man (11/10)Karla Bonoff w/Steve Forbert (11/14-15)Howard Levy w/Chris Siebold (11/16)The Grandsons (11/23)John Eaton: The Music of George Gershwin and Harold Arlen – Jazz pianist returns for another season of three concerts in which he plays and interprets pop and jazz standards (11/24)Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul – Care to see who The New York Times has called ''the Jimi Hendrix of the violin''? (11/30)Big Sam's Funky Nation – Big band funk rooted in New Orleans jazz (12/1)Schooner Fare (12/6-7)Ari Hest – Poignant and heartfelt songs from this acoustically inclined folk-rocker (1/5/13)Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound – Soulful party rockers (1/12/13)The Persuasions – Feel-good R&B harmonies from the original a cappella sensations (2/1/13)Southside Johnny & The Poor Fools (2/9/13)Red Molly, The Steel Wheels (2/14/13)John Eaton: A Salute to the One-Hit Wonders of American Popular Music – Period only covers the beginnings of American pop, until the '40s (2/16/13)Buskin & Batteau (3/2/13)Tom Paxton – 1960s-era folk guitarist sings classic ballads and story-songs (3/14/13)The Iguanas (3/29/13)John Eaton – Bassist Tommy Cecil joins for a ''Juke Joint Jam Session'' (3/30/13)Holly Near – Social activist brings folk songs of justice and hope (4/11/13)Paula Cole – ''I don't wanna wait for our lives to be over,'' she cries (4/19/13)John McCutcheon (4/25/13)

THE BIRCHMERE

3701 Mount Vernon Ave. Alexandria 703-549-7500 birchmere.com

Don McLean – He drove his Chevy to the levee – and the levee wasn't dry (9/15)Eric Hutchinson (9/17)Ramin Karimloo (9/18)Todd Snider (9/19)Phil Perry (9/20)John HiattThe Combo (9/21-23)Ray Manzarek & Robby Krieger of The Doors – Can they light fire without Jim Morrison? (9/24)Anthony David w/Antoine Dunn (9/25)Kathy Mattea (9/26)Stephen Wade (9/27)The BoDeans (9/28)Joe Sample (9/29)Asleep At The Wheel (9/30)Los Lobos – And the wolves howled, ''La Bomba'' (10/1)Keiko Matsui (10/2)Eliane Elias & Jacqui Naylor – Sweet and sultry vocal jazz, times two (10/3)Jorma Kaukonen (10/4)The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman – Smooth jazz (10/5)David Cassidy – The former Partridge Family star and more recently Celebrity Apprentice contestant (10/6)The Whispers (10/7)Tift Merritt – Joni Mitchell-influenced North Carolina native performs with her band (10/8)Jars of Clay (10/9)Vivian Green – R&B artist's ''Emotional Rollercoaster'' is still a singular attraction (10/10)Robert Glasper Experiment (10/11)Dar Williams & Loudon Wainwright III – Rufus and Martha's father returns to the area after performing with Mary Chapin Carpenter at Wolf Trap this summer (10/12-13)Tower of Power (10/15)Alfie Boe – British classical crossover artist (10/16)Christmas Rocks! Extravaganza (10/17-18)Herman's Hermits featuring Peter Noone (10/19)Ramsey Lewis Electric Band (10/21)Brand New Heavies featuring N'Dea Davenport – The return of an original neo-soul ensemble (10/22)Aimee Mann – She's a Charmer all right (10/24-25)Tom Paxton – 75th Birthday Celebration (10/27)Laurie Anderson (10/29)Banjo Summit: A Gathering of 5-String Masters – Bela Fleck is the headliner here (10/3)Delbert McClinton (11/1)Oleta Adams – '90s-era R&B hitmaker don't care how you get there, just get there if you can (11/2)Al Stewart w/Rachael Sage (11/3)Jake Shimabukuro (11/4)Acoustic Alchemy (11/9)Stephanie Mills (11/10)Michael Franks (11/16)Sam Bush & Del McCoury (11/18)The Seldom Scene & Dry Branch Fire Squad (11/23-24)Will Downing (11/29-30)Chris Smither w/Andy Friedman (12/1)Blood, Sweat & Tears (12/2)A Peter White Christmas feat. Mindi Abair & Rick Braun (12/6)1964 The Tribute (12/7)J.D. Crowe & The New South (12/8)Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (12/11)Judy Collins Christmas (12/12)Candy Dulfer (12/16)Carbon Leaf – Holiday show (12/2)Pieces of a Dream (12/21)Christine Lavin & Uncle Bonsai (12/23)Tribute to John Denver feat. Ted Vigil w/Steve Weisberg (12/27)16th Annual Hank Williams Tribute w/Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer and More (12/28)Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (12/29)The Seldom Scene, The Hot Seats, Tim Finch & Eastman String Band (12/31)Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder (1/11-1/12/13)War (1/17/13)Marshall Crenshaw w/The Bottle Rockets (1/18/13)Cheryl Wheeler & John Gorka (1/19/13)Iris Dement (1/21/13)Steep Canyon Rangers (1/25/13)The Association (1/26/13)Jesse Cook (1/28/13)Alfie Boe (2/5-2/6/13)Tab Benoit (2/3/13)

BLACK CAT

1811 14th St. NW 202-667-4490 blackcatdc.com

Dragonette – The enormously gay appealing Canadian trio says hello again to D.C. (9/15)Right Round w/DJ lil'e: The popular '80s alt-pop dance night (9/15)Heavy Times (9/16)Firewater (9/17)Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby (9/18)Dry The River (9/19)Make-Up (9/20)Tycho, The Album Leaf (9/21)Depeche Mode Dance Party w/DJs Steve EP, Killa K and Krasty McNasty (9/22)Kicks w/DJs Kim and Sara – A night of rock, punk, power pop (9/22)Wye Oak w/Callers (9/23)Twin Shadow (9/24)Antibalas – The great Afro-pop band, which provided the muscle behind the musical Fela! (9/25)The Wallflowers (9/26)The Corn Tucker Band (9/26)St. Vitus (9/27)Ra Ra Rasputin (9/28)Party Lights w/DJs Mad Squirrel & Rob J. – A night of '60s girl groups, soul and garage (9/28)Crocodiles (9/29)On & On w/DJ Autorock and Danny Harris -- A night of funky house, hip-hop, electrofunk and disco (9/29)Polica (10/2)The Soft Pack (10/3)Plume Giant (10/4)The Raveonettes – The Danish hard-rockers return (10/6)Moon/Bounce Dancing Affair – A high-energy dance night of hip-hop, house, '90s pop and ''not-so-guilty pleasures'' (10/6)Frightened Rabbit (10/7)Lord Huron (10/7)Melvins Lite (10/8)Menomena (10/90Dinosaur Feathers (10/10)Sloan (10/11)Swans (10/12) The North Country (10/13)Disco In The Dark w/Resident DJs Mr Bonkerz, William Devon & Remote Ctrl (10/13)Tilly and the Wall (10/14)Mike Watt + The Missingmen (10/15)Electric Guest – Another pop band you really oughta know, this time from the U.K. (10/16) Twerps (10/17) Off! (10/18)The 9: Songwriter Series – A local collaborative founded by Justin Trawick as a means to pool resources, fans and talent to play larger, better shows. And look, it's working… (10/19)Father John Misty (10/20)Lagwagon (10/21)Laura Stevenson & The Cans (10/22)King Tuff (10/23)The Sea and Cake (10/24)Dinosaur Jr. (10/25)AC Newman w/The Mynabirds (10/26)Yellow Ostrich (10/27)Heartless Bastards (10/30)Electric Six – Expect an earsplitting loud night (10/31)Quiet Company (11/1)RNDM – A super-group featuring Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam, Joseph Arthur and Richard Stuverud (11/3)Maserati (11/4)Lost In The Trees – Led by classically trained composer Ari Picker, this North Carolina collective returns six months after its last stop at Black Cat to leave more listeners transfixed, you might even say lost (11/5)The Whigs (11/7)The Asteroids Galaxy Tour (11/90The Soft Moon (11/9)Mixtape – DJs Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer are still mixing it up, now going on five years (11/10)Pinback (11/11)Cult of Youth (11/12)Spoonboy (11/13)Horse Feathers (11/15)The Helio Sequence (11/16)David Bazan Band (11/17)Supersuckers (11/24)Japandroids (12/7)Benjamin Francis Leftwich (12/15)

BLACK FOX LOUNGE

1723 Connecticut Ave. NW blackfoxlounge.com

Gay Men's Chorus of Washington – GMCW hosts an open-mike night once a month at Black Fox (9/13, 10/11)Special Agent Galactica – The sometimes-singing local drag queen, the alter ego of Jeffrey Johnson, hosts a biweekly show (9/14)Peter Fields, Tara Hofmann and Claude Arthur (9/14)The Academy of Washington – A night of drag in the lounge (9/16) ^ Bill Held – A show every Sunday night (9/16)David Lighton Ensemble (9/16)Bill "Magic" Lavender Bey – A monthly show (9/18) Jeron White Trio – A biweekly Wednesday night show (9/19)Aviva and the Flying Penguins (9/20)Kevin Robinson – A biweekly Thursday night show (9/20)CaShandra J Ensemble – A biweekly Friday night show (9/21)Ensul Jazz Trio (9/21)Aaron Myers & The Black Fox Lounge Jazz Ensemble – A biweekly Friday night show (9/21)Joe Vetter Jazz Duet (9/24)Ethan Foote Jazz Ensemble (9/26)Spill (9/27)Butch Warren Jazz Ensemble (9/27, 10/25)Robbie Wancowicz Jazz Ensemble (9/28)Dave Mosick Jazz Duet (10/2)Bare! (10/3)The Aughts (10/4)Jamell Thomas (10/8-9)Eve Lesov (10/21)Marc Ganancias, Ann Brandstadter and Lone Wolf (10/25)Projeck GP Jazz Ensemble (10/31)

BLUES ALLEY

1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW 703-549-7500 bluesalley.com

Amina Figarova Sextet (9/17)Joe Lovano (9/18-20)Roy Ayers (9/21-23)Eric Felton Quintet feat. Randy Brecker (9/24)Bruno Nasta (9/25) Susan Jones (9/26)Fred Hersch Trio (9/27)Mark O'Connor (9/28-30)J.D. Experience (10/1)Steve Williams & Jazz Nation (10/2)Chris Mihn Doky & The Nomads (10/3)Rachelle Ferrell (10/4-7)Roy Hargrove (10/9-14)Tommy Cecil-Bill Mays – A bass/piano combo offers a CD Release Party for Sondheim Duos (10/16)Miles Stiebel (10/17)Paul Pieper (10/18)David Benoit (10/19-21)Shirley Jones (10/22)Henry Butler – The New Orleans piano legend (10/24)Side FX & Kim Cameron (10/25)Najee (10/26-28)Miriamm (10/29)Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet (10/30)Roberta Gambarini (11/1-4)SNughie (11/5)Benny Sharoni (11/7)Walter Beasley (11/9-11)Dave Douglas Quintet (11/3)Leni Stern (11/14)Tuck & Patti (11/15-18)Antoine Dunn – Soul singer drops by Blues Alley for a solo show a couple months after opening for Anthony David at the Birchmere (11/20)Kojo The Original Blackbyrds (11/21)Alex Bugnon (11/23-25)Collaboration (11/26)Jonathan Butler (11/29-12/2)Marion Meadows (12/7-9)

BOHEMIAN CAVERNS

2001 11TH ST. NW 202-299-0800 bohemiancaverns.com

Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra – Esteemed big band performs every Monday night Brent Birckhead – A show from the Caverns' artist in residence (9/18, 9/25)Sachal Vasandani (9/21-22)John Coltrane Birthday Anniversary Tribute Parts I and II – Two different tribute shows in one night (9/23)Elijah Jamal Balbed – A CD Release Party in honor of 22-year-old D.C. saxophone player's debut disc (9/27)Supernova (9/28-29)Blacknotes – A monthly show by an ensemble that combines ''progressive poetry, soulful singing, sweet keyboarding and African drumming'' (9/30)Chelsey Green and the Green Project (10/4)Jacques Schwarz-Bart (10/5-6)Joe Morris Trio (10/7)Lou Donaldson (10/19-20)Don Byron Quartet (10/21)Nicholas Payton XXX fet. Lenny White (11/2-3)Chad Carter (11/4)Vinx (11/11)Jonathan Batiste Quartet (11/16-17)Odean Pope Trio (11/23)Sonny Fortune (11/24)Larry Brown Quintet (11/29)Marc Cary Focus Trio feat. Brian Settles (11/30-12/1)Todd Marcus (12/16)Kenneth Whalum III (1/11-12/13)

CLARICE SMITH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

University of Maryland College Park 301-405-ARTS claricesmithcenter.umd.edu

SJ Jazz Collective – This eight-piece all-star collective, which includes David Sanchez, Avishal Cohen and Miguel Zenon, spends a week in residence at UMD as it prepares a world premiere, The Music of Chick Corea and New Compositions (10/12)ETHEL with Todd Rundgren – Contemporary string quartet with a rock bent teams up with one-time pop hitmaker for a '70s-inspired program (10/28)UMD Jazz Ensemble, UMD Jazz Lab Band, University Jazz Band – ''Big Band Pre-Halloween Scream'' is said to be an annual favorite at Clarice Smith Center (10/29)UMD Chamber Jazz (11/7-8)The Jazz Professors – UMD faculty artists, trumpeter Chris Gekker and saxophonist Chris Vadala offer recitals featuring music by traditional composers influenced by jazz, from David Heinick to Aaron Copland, as well as straightforward jazz pieces by Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck and Thelonius Monk (11/18)UMD Jazz Ensemble, UMD Lab Jazz Band, University Jazz Band – Winter Big Band Showcase (12/5)Nolan Williams Jr., Shirley Murdock, John Stoddart and Voices of Inspiration – ''Christmas Gift! A Celebration of African-American Holiday Traditions through Music and Spoken Word'' (12/14-15)Laurie Anderson and Kronos Quartet – Musical mavericks join forces for a world premiere piece commissioned by the Clarice Smith Center (2/1-2/13)Branford Marsalis – Jazz legend performs with his quartet to help open a new exhibit at the David C. Driskell Center highlighting African-American artists inspired by jazz (2/15/13)New York Festival of Song – Jacques Brel and Charles Trenet Revisited (2/21/13) Brad Mehldau and Chris Thile – Jazz pianist and Nickel Creek's alt-bluegrass mandolinist and singer team up for a tour-de-force concert (4/12/13)The Ninety Miles Project – Vibraphonist Stefon Harris, trumpeter Nicholas Payton and saxophonist David Sanchez will perform music created by the Cuban and American jazz musicians brought together for this project (4/26/13)

DAR CONSTITUTION HALL

1776 D St. NW 202-628-1776 dar.org/conthall

Anthony Hamilton, Estelle – Back to Love Tour, and it never sounded lovelier (9/15)Robin Thicke (10/6)Dispatch – Boston-area jam band that has re-emerged from yet another hiatus, brought to the area by IMP (10/11)John Legend (10/22)The Script (11/7)Heart – Shawn Colvin opens (11/13)Ray LaMontagne (11/16)Aretha Franklin (11/17)

FILLMORE SILVER SPRING

8656 Colesville Road Silver Spring 301-960-999 fillmoresilverspring.com

TYGA (9/19)Minus The Bear (9/25)LongLiveA$AP (9/26)B'z – Japanese rock duo (9/28)Rahsaan Patterson & Kindred Family Soul feat. Black Alley – Gay soul singer also known as ''The Kid'' from the '80s TV show Kids Incorporated, starring with Fergie and Mario Lopez (9/29)Down (9/30)Wolfgang Gartner – A rising electronic dance music star (10/2)Switchfoot (10/3)Prince Royce (10/4)Sean Paul – The white Jamaican ''Baby Boy'' reggae/rapper (10/5)Waka Flocka Flame (10/6)Jake Owen – CMT on Tour 2012 (10/11)Lecrae – Christian hip-hopper and ministry leader (10/12)The Temper Trap (10/13)Primus 3D (10/15)Mystikal – Shake that ass, show this '90s-hitmaking New Orleans rapper what you're working with (10/18)Say Anything – …but make it nice (10/21)Alanis Morissette – You oughtta know that she's here, to remind you of your youth (10/23)Trey Anastasio Band (10/24)The Static w/Crash Boom Bang (10/26)Yonder Mountain String Band (10/27)Squarepusher (10/29)Umphrey's McGee (10/31)Metalocalypse: Dethklok (11/2)Gov't Mule (11/3)Theory of a Deadman (11/7)The Slumerican Tour – feat. Yelawolf (11/10)Mimosa (11/14)Timeflies present The ONE NIGHT tour (11/16)Delta Spirit (11/24)Sum 41 (11/27)HARD presents Boys Noize Live (11/28)Sara Evens and Guest Eden's Edge – WMZQ Christmas Show (12/14)The Roots – Recruiting the house band for Jimmy Fallon's show – and neo-soul hitmakers on their own – Fillmore ends 2012 with a bang, all right (12/31)

THE HAMILTON

600 14th St. NW 202-787-1000 thehamiltondc.com

Art Sherrod Jr. w/Miki Howard (9/14)Danielia Cotton (9/15)Gospel Brunch: Howard Gospel Choir – The Hamilton's weekly event offers two hour-long shows as patrons eat – but no sermon (9/16)The Devil Makes Three (9/19)Larry Carlton Jazz Trio (9/21)The Wood Brothers (9/22)Gospel Brunch: Queen Esther Marrow (9/23)The Bad Plus – A jazz trio from that hot bed of jazz, Minnesota, who return to D.C. just a few months after their debut at the Howard (9/23)Lindsey Stirling (9/25)Flow Tribe (9/26)Perpetual Groove (9/27)Red Baraat (9/28)Allen Toussaint w/Shemekia Copeland – One of the most influential figures in New Orleans R&B performs with an aspiring queen of the blues. Sounds pretty sweet (9/29)Allen Toussaint (9/30)Donovan (10/6)Michael Martin Murphey (10/9)Perfume Genius (10/12)Jackopierce (10/13)Gospel Brunch: Howard Gospel Choir (10/14)Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet (10/14)The Be Good Tanyas (10/16)Mavis Staples (10/17)Vintage Trouble (10/18)Blues Traveler (10/19)John Oates Blues Band – Is he the Maneater? Where's Daryl? Well, he won't be at this (concert) Hall. Ha-ha (10/20)Capitol Blues Night – Featuring Ironing Board Sam, Captain Luke, Cool John Ferguson, Sol and Big Ron Hunter (10/24)Escort – An all-live-instrument, large disco band? You've just gotta hear and see them (10/25)Joe Taylor Group (10/26)The New Orleans Suspects (10/27)Bernie Worrell Orchestra (11/1)Tim Reynolds and TR3 (11/3)Bonerama (11/4)Alice Smith – D.C.-raised neo-soul singer will be sure to stir the crowd into a frenzy (11/8)Roomful of Blues (11/9)LIVE's Ed Kowalczyk – Does he still sound as good as he did two decades ago? (11/10)BandHouse Gigs Presents: A Tribute to The Band's Last Waltz (11/11)Joe Krown Trio (11/13)Matt Wertz (11/15)Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra (11/16)Mudcat (11/17)Gospel Brunch: Howard Gospel Choir (11/18)Ryan Montbleau Band (11/23)Paul Reed Smith's Hamilton Band (11/24)Delfeayo Marsalis – Yep, there's still another Marsalis horn-player bopping around (11/28)Billy Joe Shaver (11/29)Aaron Freeman (11/30)Spyro Gyra (12/1)Gospel Brunch: Howard Gospel Choir (12/2)Julian Lage (12/3)Wheeler Brothers (12/13)Jane Siberry (12/14)The Nighthawks (12/21)Yellow Dubmarine – Dub as in copy, as in cover: This covers band performs the Beatles' hits (12/28)Start Making Sense (12/29)Little Feat New Year's Run (12/30-31)

THE HOWARD THEATRE

620 T St. NW 202-588-5595 thehowardtheatre.com

Kendrick Lamar (9/14)Sunday Gospel Brunch with the Harlem Gospel Choir – Featuring an all-you-can-eat Southern buffet every SundayWind Me Up, Chuck Mondays: The Chuck Brown Band with George Clinton – The funk master helps kick off a new Howard Theatre endearing legacy series devoted to those who inspired or where inspired by the Godfather of Go-Go (9/17, 10/1, 10/15)Big K.R.I.T. w/Slim Thug (9/18)Marcus Miller (9/19)Leon Russell (9/22)Arrested Development – The ''20th Anniversary Tour'' of ''Tennessee'' and all that (9/23)Morbid Angel + Dark Funeral, Grave & VadimVon (9/24)Remembering Whitney: The Harlem Gospel Choir Sings Whitney Houston (9/25)Miguel – The Kaliedescope Dream Tour (9/26)Mark Kozelek (9/27)Eric Johnson Electric Band (9/28)Kix (9/29)Larry Graham & Graham Central Station (9/30)Ryan Leslie feat. J. Holiday (10/2)Renaissance (10/3)Peaches – The crass Canadian rapper/singer, and onetime roommate of Feist, is not performing per se, just DJ'ing – but no doubt she'll help you fuck the pain away anyway (10/4)Gianmarco (10/5)Mint Condition (10/6)Easy Star All-Stars + The Aggrolites (10/7)Emeli Sandé – Scottish singer should be the next big thing (10/8)LeAnn Rimes (10/9)A Drag Salute to the Divas – Shi-queeta-Lee returns to the Howard, ''back by popular demand,'' with a drag divas tribute show (10/10)Hit Week - DC: Subsonica & Negrita (10/11)The Manzarek Rogers Band - Ray Manzarek (of the Doors) + Roy Rogers (10/12)The White Panda (10/12)Los Lonely Boys (10/13)Meshell Ndegeocello – The bisexual, iconoclastic R&B/jazz singer-songwriter, a D.C. native, who helped spark the neo-soul movement, returns to the Howard, this time for a dedication to Nina Simone (10/14)GZA (10/16)Jonny Lang w/Ryan Shaw (10/17-18)The Jacksons – The Unity Tour, without, of course, little Michael (10/19)Staff Benda Bilili (10/21)Psychedelic Furs + The Lemonheads – feat. Juliana Hatfield (10/22)Epica (10/23)Orquesta Aragon (10/24)Buddy Guy (10/25-26)Dru Hill (10/26)Bettye LaVette (10/27)Barrington Levy (10/27) The Maine + Mayday Parade (10/28)Buika (10/29)The Tubes (10/30)The Meter Men (11/2)Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers (11/3)Ivan Nevill's Dumpstaphunk + Anders Osborne (11/4)Cassandra Wilson (11/7)Falling in Reverse (11/8)Paul Banks (11/9)David Choi + Clara C (11/10)Kaki King w/Lady Lamb the Beekeeper – The lesbian folk guitar hero makes her debut at the Howard (11/16)Bobby V (11/16)B.B. King – Giving thanks to this blues legend (11/24-25)Maxi Priest (11/28)Enrique Bunbury (11/29)Pentatonix (12/5)Richard Marx – Wherever you go, he'd like to be right here waiting (12/8)The Ellis Marsalis Quartet – Oh yes, still another Marsalis – but actually, this is papa Marsalis, sire of those six sons we keep hearing from (12/9)Ronnie Spector's Christmas Party – Be my little (Santa) baby, she just may sing (12/15)

THE IN SERIES

202-204-7763 inseries.org

Prelude: Songs We Love – Featuring Washington Ballet Studio Co. performers as well as nine singers and pianist Fran Conlon, in a mixed program of opera, cabaret, dance and zarzuela (9/29-10/1, GALA)Pocket Opera Double Bill: Love & Witchcraft – Purcell's Dido & Aeneas with De Falla's El Amor Brujo in a haunting and haunted production starring local performer Anamer Castrello, whose golden husky voice is wonderfully haunting all its own (11/10-26, Source)Mozart's A Clemenza Di Tito – Mozart's last grand opera, with glorious music and a story about political intrigue, ambition and leadership, adapted into English by Charlotte Stoudt (1/26-2/3/13, Atlas)Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill – A musical voyage from Three Penny Opera and Seven Deadly Sins to Weill's prophetic Broadway musicals of the 1940's, Knickerbocker Holiday to Lost In The Stars (2/23-3/10/13, Source)Cabaret Latino! – This season of the In Series is commended to you, more often than not, by the Puerto Rican mezzo-soprano Anamer Castrello, who stars in a third show, this time with Peruvian baritone José Sacin and Mexican/Cuban pianist, creating a Latino hit parade (4/13-21/13, Source)Pocket Opera Double Bill: Love & Money – Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale and Puccini's Gianni Schicchi offer characters from Dante's Inferno and Russian folk tales, all exposing human folly (6/15-23/13, Atlas)

IOTA CAFE

2832 Wilson Blvd. Arlington 703-522-8340 iotaclubandcafe.com

The Silos (9/15) The 9 Songwriters Series – Justin Trawick's collaborative touring ensemble, which includes Andy Zipf, Tom O'Connor, Owen Danoff, Allison Bruno, Zachary J., Adam Bruno, Nita Chawla, Sara Slowinski (9/17, 10/30)Victoria Vox (9/18)The Old Ceremony (9/20)Bahamas (9/21)Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers (9/22)Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers w/Brandon Butler (9/23)Michelle Shocked (9/24)Amy Vachal (9/25)Tall Heights (9/27)At Sea (9/28)Emmet Swimming (9/29)Jill Andrews (9/30)William Topley (10/1)Neil Halstead (10/2)Bob Log III (10/4)Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys (10/5)The Fleshtones (10/6)Holly Golightly (10/7)The Walking Sticks (10/8)Marah and Blue Mountain (10/9)Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (10/11)Juniper Lane (10/12)Deathfix – Rich Morel's new hard-charging four-piece rock band with Brendan Canty, best known as the drummer of Fugazi (10/13) Leagues (10/14)Chris Staples (10/16)Julian Velard (10/18)No Second Troy and The Reserves (10/19)Moonalice (10/20)Kopecky Family Band (10/21)Franz Nicolay of Hold Steady (10/23)Bronze Radio Return (10/25)Peasant (10/26)Rebecca Loebe (10/28)Tim Easton w/Patrick Sweany (11/5)Black Prairie (11/9)

JAMMIN JAVA

227 Maple Ave. E. Vienna 703-255-3747 jamminjava.com

Kris Delmhorst (9/14)The Blackjacks (9/14)Jammin Java's Songwriters Circle: A Tribute to Johnny Cash – Anthony Fiacco, Todd Wright and Michael Pearsall induct Michael Clem of Eddie from Ohio into this Circle while paying tribute to the Man in Black (9/16)Sandbox Kings + Sonic Nights (9/17)Matthew Perryman Jones (9/18)Alan Evans Trio (9/19)Street Corner Symphony (9/20)Rocknoceros Happy Family Hour (9/21)SUPER bob (9/21)The Fabulous Mary Ann Redmond Band (9/22)Nayas + Dub City Renegades (9/22)Rockraiser: Fight the Bear (9/23)A Night of Worship w/Aaron Gillespie (9/25)Adrianne Gonzalez + Garrison Starr + Maia Sharp – These three singer-songwriters team up as a band, playing each of their solo material and then some (9/26)Flux 180 (9/27)Brendan James (9/29)Sixpence None The Richer (9/30)Alex Culbreth & The Dead Country Stars (10/1)Joe Robinson (10/2)Casey Crescenzo of The Dear Hunter – Offering a special intimate evening (10/3)Peter Mulvey – The 6th Annual Bicyle Tour (10/4)Carsie Blanton + Seth Walker (10/5)Unity: 311 Tribute (10/5)Drivin' N' Cryin' – A rockin' N' shockin' band (10/7)The American Songwriter Coffeehouse Tour (10/8)The Kin + Find Vienna (10/9)Bell X1 (10/10)The Early November (10/11)Graham Colton (10/12)FunkMnkyz (10/12)Red Wanting Blue (10/13)Jon McLaughlin (10/14)Jim White (10/16)John Jorgenson Trio (10/17)Antje Duvekot + Phil Roy (10/18)Caroline Herring (10/19)Honor By August (10/19)Half Brother + Grand Revival (10/20)Norman Rockwell (10/20)Rosi Golan (10/21)JJAMZ (10/22)Michael McDermott + Whitehorse (10/23)Joseph Vincent (10/25)Margot & The Nuclear So and So's (10/25)TheRuinCity (10/26)The Halloween Java Jam feat. Moogatu (10/26)Pat Sommers' Rock Shop (10/27)Jesse Ruben + Chris Ayer (10/29)Zombie Prom (10/30) Susanna Hoffs – Yes, the former Bangles singer is still burning bright (10/31)Noah Gunderson + David Ramirez (11/1)Tony Lucca – You just know this incredibly hot – talented too – finalist from last season's The Voice will put on a good show (11/3)Trixie Whitley (11/4)The Milk Carton Kids (11/5)Griffin House (11/7)Unknown Hinson (11/8)Gary Louris – From the Jayhawks (11/9)Charlie Hunter Duo (11/10)Alex Goot (11/11)Michael Tolcher (11/13)Derek Webb (11/14)Truth & Salvage Co + Tim Brantley – Music 4 Vets Tour (11/15)Ellis Paul (11/16)Lucy Wainwright Roche – The underrated Wainwright, who offers a sweeter, more straightforward sound than either of her siblings Rufus or Martha (11/17)Tom Russell (11/18)Stomp Status (11/23)Heather Mae + TheyCallMePiano + Amanda Lee (11/24)Feed God Cabbage (11/24)Natalie York + Lexie Hayden (11/25)Tracy Grammer (11/30)Set It Off + Sparks The Rescue (12/1)The Souljazz Orchestra (12/1)Tyrone Wells (12/5)Tyler Ward (12/9)The Dangerous Summer (12/11)Will Hoge (12/12)

JOSEPH MEYERHOFF SYMPHONY HALL

1212 Cathedral St. Baltimore 410-783-8000 ticketmaster.com

DRUMLine Live! (10/27)Barbara Cook (11/3)Linda Eder – Broadway and cabaret star vocalist toasts fellow ''Songbirds,'' from Lena Horn to Etta James to Barbra Streisand to Judy Garland (11/8)Canadian Tenors (11/23-25)Vienna Boys' Choir (12/8)

KENNEDY CENTER

2700 F St. NW 202-467-4600 kennedy-center.org

Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drums Competition Finals & All-Star Gala Concert (9/23)KC Jazz Club: Mulgrew Miller Trio – The Los Angeles Times praises this group's ''exceptional harmonic diversity'' (10/5)KC Jazz Club: Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio – Jonathan Kreisberg and Jamire Williams are part of this trio led by a master of the Hammon B-3 organ (10/6) Barbara Cook's Spotlight: Maureen McGovern – Cook rightly kicks off a new cabaret season at the Kennedy Center by shining her reverential spotlight on ''The Morning After'' singer-songwriter, who has been overlooked too often in her career, which also spans Broadway (Little Women, Threepenny Opera) (10/12)Supersized Jazz Club: Medeski Martin & Wood – A genre-defying band, essentially a cross between a jazz ensemble and a jam band (10/13)KC Jazz Club: Anat Cohen Quartet – Israeli clarinetist presents her specialized take on jazz incorporating classical, Brazilian choro and Argentine tango (10/19)KC Jazz Club: The Heath Brothers – Legendary saxophonist Jimmy and ace hard bop drummer Albert ''Tootie'' bring brotherly love to their innovative cross-genre playing (10/20)KC Jazz Club: Jason Moran & The Bandwagon with Bill Frisell & Alicia Hall Moran – Jazz guitarist and talented mezzo-soprano and jazz vocalist join the band led by the Kennedy Center's artistic advisor for jazz (10/26)Kurt Elling – Jazz vocalist and Grammy winner returns to the Kennedy Center in ''1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project'' (10/27)Patina Miller – Tony Award nominee (Sister Act) returns to the Kennedy Center after last spring's First You Dream: The Music of Kander and Ebb, this time for a cabaret (11/2) KC Jazz Club: Lionel Loueke Trio – A Benin-native guitarist and collaborator with Herbie Hancock and Esperanza Spalding presents an elegant mixture of Afro-pop and jazz (11/2)KC Jazz Club: Roseanna Vitro and The Randy Newman Project (11/3)Election Night Jam with Jason Moran & The Bandwagon (11/6)David Alan Grier & Jason Moran – A stand-up comic as well as first-rate singer teams up with Kennedy Center Jazz Artistic Advisor and his band for a night of laughs and music (11/11)Barbara Cook's Spotlight: Linda Lavin – One of the stars of the Kennedy Center's production of Follies last year returns for a night of cabaret (11/16)KC Jazz Club: Alfredo Rodriguez Trio -- Cuban jazz pianist performs as part of the Kennedy Center's Discovery Artist series (11/16)KC Jazz Club: Carl Allen-Rodney Whitaker Project – Drummer and bassist who lead a quintet creating what the Detroit Free Press calls ''a 21st Century version of soul-jazz'' (11/17)Danilo Perez Trio – Panamanian pianist returns to the Kennedy Center with his trio (11/30)Barbara Cook's Spotlight: Judy Kuhn – Kennedy Center favorite, known for her turns in the Sondheim Celebration and Kennedy Center Honors, returns for cabaret (12/7)KC Jazz Club: Christie Dashiell Quartet – Vocalist and Betty Carter Jazz Ahead alum returns to the Kennedy Center after performing on NBC's reality show The Sing-Off as part of Howard University's jazz/pop a cappella group Afro Blue (12/7)NPR's A Jazz Piano Christmas – A Kennedy Center holiday tradition, featuring top jazz pianists Jason Moran, Geri Allen, Taylor Eigsti and NEA jazz master Ellis Marsalis, performing their favorite holiday songs (12/8)KC Jazz Club: Nnenna Freelon – Multiple Grammy nominee and frequent Billboard Jazz chart-topper (12/14)Anthony Braxton, Diamond Curtain Wall Quartet w/Jason Moran (12/15)A Jazz New Year's Eve: Freddy Cole & the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band (12/31)Barbara Cook's Spotlight: Terri White – Another star from the Kennedy Center's 2011 revival of Follies offers a night of cabaret (1/25/13)Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Septet (1/26/13)Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Christian McBride, Benny Green, Lewis Nash, Ambrose Akinmusire (2/1/13)KC Jazz Club: Kris Bowers – Winner of the 2011 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition Award (2/2/13)KC Jazz Club: Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts (2/8/13)KC Jazz Club: Jason Moran & The Bandwagon (2/9/13)Olli Hirvonen Quartet – Finnish guitarist performs as part of the Nordic Cool 2013 festival (2/22/13)Yggdrasil – Danish composer and pianist Kristian Blak founded this group, performing as part of Nordic Cool 2013 (3/1/13)Torn Gustavsen Ensemble – A solid fixture on the Norwegian jazz scene for many years, coming to the Kennedy Center for Nordic Cool 2013 (3/3/13)Caroline Henderson – Danish vocalist appears for Nordic Cool 2013 (3/7/13)Sunna Gunnlaugs Trio – Icelandic pianist and her trio performs for Nordic Cool 2013 (3/8/13)Jacob Anderskov – Nordic Cool 2013 (3/9/13)Jack DeJohnette: 70th Birthday Tour – NEA jazz master and Grammy-winning drummer is joined by a number of his friends for this birthday bash (3/16/13)Charles Lloyd Birthday Celebration – Saxophonist appears for a star-studded party, including Jason Moran (3/22/13)Fats Waller Dance Party with Meshell N'degeocello and Jason Moran (4/5/13) Soulive – Brothers Neal and Alan Evans and guitarist Eric Krasno are said to be the future of funk (4/6/13)KC Jazz Club: Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet – The youngest son of the indelible Marsalis family (4/12/13) The New Orleans Bingo! Show – A curious spectacle, a thrilling phenomenon and one of the very finest entertainments on the theatrical stage today (4/13/13)KC Jazz Club: Frank Wess Quintet (4/26/13)Kenny Barron & Dave Holland (4/27/13)KC Jazz Club: Fred Hersch & Julian Lage (4/27/13)Barbara Cook's Spotlight: Adam Pascal – Roger Davis from Rent drops by the Kennedy Center for a night of sure-to-be-rocking cabaret (5/10/13)Bobby McFerrin -– Don't worry… (5/13/13)18th Annual Mary Lou Williams Women In Jazz Festival (5/16-18/13)

LISNER AUDITORIUM AT GWU

730 21st St. NW 202-994-6800 lisner.org

Clannad – Legendary family band, celebrating its 40th year together, features haunting songs and mesmerizing vocals (10/13)Celtic Thunder – Ensemble of six soloists continues to explore the diversity of its Irish and Celtic roots in Voyage (10/14)Acoustic Africa – Third installment of International Music Network's exhilarating journey focuses on the richness of the African traditions of the voice and the song; this iteration features two artists from Ivory Coast, vocalist and dancer Dobet Gnahore and bassist and vocalist Manou Gallo, plus Cameroonian singer Kareyce Fotso, all directed by African-influenced American guitarist Leni Stern and supported by an all-star band (11/1)

LYRIC OPERA HOUSE

140 West Mount Royal Ave. Baltimore 410-547-SEAT lyricoperahouse.com

David Gray (9/30)Regina Spektor – The spunky Russian-American will still sound unusual from the cheap seats, no doubt (10/2)Celtic Thunder (10/12)Journey – Don't stop believing – even if you're sick of it (10/14)Brandi Carlile – The lesbian country-rocker returns to the area in a concert presented by IMP (11/1)The Australian Pink Floyd Show (11/13)The Moody Blues (12/1)The Smokey Robinson (1/18/13)

MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION

10475 Little Patuxent Parkway Columbia, Md. 800-551-SEAT merriweathermusic.com

Bon Iver w/Anais Mitchell – This year's Grammy Award winner as Best New Artist headlines a show with an ambitious folk-popper who deserves to win the award herself (9/15)WPOC Sunday in the Country – Eric Church, Thompson Square, David Nail, Justin Moore, Jana Kramer and Craig Campbell (9/16)Florence + The Machine – The dog days are over, this fat (as in voiced) lady done sang (9/19)Gotye w/Missy Higgins – Somebody that you now know, with a lesbian opening act from Australia you oughta know (9/30)Animal Collective – Baltimore-rooted band so many seem to love (10/2)Virgin Mobile FreeFest – Jack White, Skrillex, M83 and ZZ Top are just some of the less-than-exciting headliners, but there are plenty others to catch your ear, from Santigold to Alabama Shakes to Ben Folds Five – and we've only just scratched the surface (10/6)

PATRIOT CENTER

George Mason University 4500 Patriot Circle Fairfax 703-993-3000 patriotcenter.com

Wale – D.C.'s long-simmering homegrown rap phenom (9/20)Vicente Fernandez (9/28)Peter Gabriel – Back to Front Tour, in which the British pop-rocker plays his biggest album So in its entirety (10/14)Eric Church – Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour, chug-chug-chug (10/26)Smashing Pumpkins – The Oceania Tour (11/3)Chicago & Kansas – The two AOR artists are on an American Freedom Festival, which must be why there's no Foreigner on the bill (12/10)Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Still crazy after all these years (11/30)Wiz Khalifa (12/6)Green Day (1/21/13)

RAM'S HEAD CENTER STAGE

Maryland Live! Casino 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, No. 7777 Hanover, Md. 800-522-4700 marylandlivecasino.com

Doc Hollywood (9/15)Big House Band (9/16)3AM Tokyo (9/19)Foghat (9/20)Joe Bachman and the Crew (9/21)Rollerblades (9/22)Rew Smith (9/23)Peterbuilt (9/26)Patty Smith and Scandal (9/27)Mr. Echo (9/28)Burnt Sienna (9/29)Kristen and the Noise (9/30)Farmer's Daughter (10/3)Diamond Rio (10/4)Dean Crawford (10/10)Spin Doctors – The band still has a pocketful of kryptonite, with little miss fans that can't be wrong (10/11)Richie Fields (10/17)Sheena Easton – She'll strut with her sugar walls to the newest casino around (10/18)The Hit Girls (10/19)Still Counting (10/20)Mr. Greengenes (10/26)Jumper (10/27)Never Never (10/28)Mini Kiss (10/31)

RAM'S HEAD LIVE

20 Market Place Baltimore 410-244-1131 ramsheadlive.com

Polaris (9/15)Circa Survive (9/16)Kix (9/22)All American Rejects and Boys Like Girls (9/23)Devin Townsend Band and Katatonia (9/24)Switchfoot (9/26)Needtobreathe (9/27)Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls (9/28)Casey Cares Foundation's 10th Annual Rock & Roll Bash (9/29)30H!3 and Sammy Adams (10/2)Godspeed You! Black Emperor (10/3)The Dismemberment Plan (10/5)Mutemath (10/6)Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (10/8)The Expendables and Iration (10/10)Silversun Pickups (10/11)My Darkest Days (10/12)Gungor (10/13)Ryan Bingham (10/14)Rebelution (10/18)Wanda Jackson – The rockabilly queen and onetime girlfriend to Elvis Presley is a hoot and a half (10/19)Indigo Girls – The lesbian folk legends aren't stopping in D.C. this fall, but for some you Baltimore's closer to fine anyway (10/20)State Radio (10/25)Deftones (10/26)Papadosio (10/27)The XX – If you wonder where all the hipstsers are this Saturday night, just know they're in Baltimore for a change (10/30)Jam Project (11/3)Eric Hutchinson (11/4)Justin Townes Earle (11/13)Yellowcard (11/15)Dance Gavin Dance (11/20)The Bass Invaders Tour (11/21)All Time Low (11/23)Say Chance (12/22)Dark Star Orchestra – The Grateful Dead has never died, according to this group that works to relive the concert experience for Dead Heads (12/28)Get The Led Out (1/5/13)

RAM'S HEAD ON STAGE

33 West St. Annapolis 410-268-4545 ramsheadonstage.com

Art Sherrod Jr. w/Howard Hewett (9/15)The Kingston Trio (9/16)Steve Earle (9/17)Blue Sky Riders feat. Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr (9/18)Adrianne Gonzalez, Garrison Starr and Maia Sharp – A super-group of female singer/songwriters, who will perform each of their repertoires as a band (9/19)Marcus Miller (9/20)Euge Groove (9/21)Satisfaction – A tribute band to, naturally, the Rolling Stones (9/22)Anthony David (9/23)ZZ Ward (9/24)BoDeans (9/26-27)Joe Sample Trio (9/28)Darrell Scott (9/29)Joe Robinson (9/30)Shemekia Copeland (9/30)Sixpence None the Richer (10/2)Keiko Matsui (10/3)The Rippingtons feat. Russ Freeman (10/4)Jorma Kaukonen (10/5)Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone (10/6)Sonny Landreth (10/7)Eric Mongrain (10/8)Ben Taylor (10/9)Los Lonely Boys (10/10-11)Robert Glasper (10/12)Earl Klugh (10/13)Medeski Martin & Wood (10/14)Jimmy Thacker (10/15)Rodney Crowell (10/16)Tinariwen (10/17)Tower of Power (10/18-19)Livingston Taylor (10/20)Priddy Music Academy's Battle of the Bands (10/20)Blues Traveler – This jam band is still getting the run-around, in part because of its '90s hit by that name (10/21)Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (10/22-23)Phil Vassar (10/24)Jackie Greene (10/25)Janis Ian – The lesbian folk pioneer returns to the area (10/26)Paul Revere & The Raiders (10/27)Bettye LaVette – R&B legend marks her 50th anniversary in the music business, and she's Thankful N' Thoughtful, as her new album's title puts it (10/28)Tristan Prettyman (10/28)ASIA (10/30)The Tubes (10/31)Al Stewart (11/1)Delbert McClinton (11/2)Oleta Adams (11/3)Tim O'Brien – One of the spearheads of contemporary bluegrass (11/7)Suzy Bogguss (11/8) Jonathan Edwards (11/9)Acostic Alchemy (11/10)Gary Louris of The Jayhawks (11/10)Ed Kolwalczyk – Former lead singer of '90s hitmakers Live, these days he alone is working to make lightning crash, you might say (11/11)Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group (11/12)Matt Wertz (11/14)Tom Rush (11/16)Michael Franks (11/17)Don Felder of The Eagles (11/18)Stephanie Mills (11/23-24)Steep Canyon Rangers (11/29)Blood, Sweat & Tears (11/30)Big Band Christmas (12/1)Maysa (12/2)Peter Mayer Group (12/5)Will Hoge (12/6)An Annapolis Christmas (12/10-11)Loudon Wainwright III (12/13)The Rovers (12/14)Bronze Radio Return & Wheeler Brothers (12/15) Hard Travelers (12/15) Rita Coolidge – Two-time Grammy-winning singer/songwriter behind hits you probably know and love, including ''(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher'' (12/16)Candy Dulfer (12/17)Carbon Leaf: Holiday Show (12/18-19)Los Lobos (12/20Christine Lavin & Uncle Bonsai (12/21)Pieces of a Dream (12/22)Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes (12/28)East Bay Soul (12/29)Seldom Scene – A more urban approach to bluegrass than your average (12/3)Bruce In The USA – A tribute to the Boss (1/11/13) Voyage – Another tribute, this time to Journey featuring singer Hugo, said to be a dead ringer for Steve Perry (1/19/13)Little River Band (1/22/13)eddie from ohio (1/25-26/13) The Association (1/27/13)Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. (2/6/13)Chris Smither (2/9/13) Tab Benoit (2/11-12/13)The Smithereens (2/15/13)Judy Collins – They don't get much more legendary than this (2/16/13)Roy Clark (2/23/13)Johnny Winter Band (3/1-2/13)

RED PALACE

1210 H St. NE 202-399-3201 redpalacedc.com

DJ Philip Goyette (9/15)Dangerously Delicious Pies Rock and Roll Anniversary Party: Vival Le Vox, Glenmont Popes and Joe Buck (9/15)The Spring Standards – Delaware Valley-bred, Brooklyn-based folk/poppers (9/20)Blood Red Shoes (9/21)Frontier Ruckus w/Chamberlin – Sound is self-described as the Avett Brothers meets Neil Young and jams with Bon Iver (9/22)Cate Le Bon (9/23)Craft Spells (9/25)Dance for the Dying (9/29)Food Will Win The War – Another Brooklyn-based pop/folk ensemble with a cute name (10/2)The Dig (10/3)The Octopus Project (10/4)Willis Earl Beal (10/6)Holcombe Waller (10/8)Ben Miller Band (10/11)Smoking Popes (10/12)Army Navy (10/15)Deap Vally – A female rock 'n' roll duo (10/16) Julian Velaru (10/17)Generationals (10/20)Com Truise (10/21)Teammate (10/24)Woods (11/2)The Wooden Sky (11/7)Snowmine (11/8)The Fresh & Onlys (11/9)Tamaryn (11/11)

SIGNATURE THEATRE

4200 Campbell Ave. Arlington 703-820-9771 signature-theatre.org

Holiday Follies – Holiday favorites sung by special guest performers (12/11-23)Euan Morton – Tony Award nominee and star of Signature's Chess is back with a new solo cabaret act (1/9-12/13)Nova Y. Payton – Helen Hayes Award winner for Signature's Hairspray, Payton nearly always steals any show she's in, so you just know her cabaret will be amazing (3/13-16/13)The Lost Songs of Broadway: 1970s – Showcasing forgotten songs from Broadway (5/29-6/1/13)

SIXTH & I HISTORIC SYNAGOGUE

600 I St. NW 202-408-3100 sixthandi.org

Dirty Three w/Magik Markers (9/23)Beth Orton w/Sam Amidon – Onetime electro-pop chanteuse is now firmly a quiet folkie (9/27)First Aid Kit (10/2)Bajofondo (10/9)Jerry Douglas (10/23)Xavier Rudd (10/30)Ben Gibbard – The Death Cab for Cutie/Postal Service front man tries killing with cuteness on his own (11/8)The Magnetic Fields -– The only boy I ever loved was Stephin in drag, or something like that. Anyway, the quirky band is back! (11/17-18)

THE STATE THEATRE

220 North Washington St. Falls Church 703-237-0300 thestatetheatre.com

The Machine Performs Pink Floyd (9/22)The Legwarmers – Billed as ''D.C.'s Biggest '80s Retro Dance Party'' (9/28-29)Blondie – Get yourself to Falls Church to see Debbie Harry and her band, with a heart of glass that's still beating after all these decades (10/1)Almost Queen – A tribute to Freddie Mercury and company (10/5)Indigenous (10/7)Bruce Foxton from The Jam (10/10)The English Beat and Paul Collins (10/12)Jarabe De Palo (10/13)Soul Rebels (10/18)The Soft Parade – A tribute to the Doors (10/19)The Waiting – Another tribute band, this time to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (11/1) JD McPherson -– Americana/Blues/Rock (11/4)The Chris Robinson Brotherhood – A rock concert that doubles as a ''2012 Election Poll Watch Party'' (11/6)Groundation – Funk/Reggae (11/8)The Victor Wooten Band and the Jimmy Herring Band (11/9)AER (11/16)Lez Zeppelin – Another tribute band, this time an all-girls tribute to Led Zeppelin (11/17)The Nighthawks (11/23)Men Without Hats – Are you ready to do the safety dance again? Ssss, Aaaa… (11/29)

STRATHMORE

David Byrne & St. Vincent

5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda 301-581-5100 strathmore.org

Joe Jackson and the Bigger Band (9/15)Eric Scott – D.C. native, who has performed with James Brown, B.B. King, Ray Charles and Jimmy Buffett, performs with his band (9/19, Mansion)Metric – Appealing Canadian electronic-rock stars hit Strathmore in a performance presented by the 9:30 Club's IMP and in support of its new album Synthetica (9/21, Music Center)Frédéric Yonnet, Urban Jazz Harmonicist – Former Strathmore artist in residence and sideman for stars including Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, India.Arie and Prince elevates the harmonica to a stylishly modern instrument (9/27, Mansion)Pat McGee Band – Virginia native McGee performs with his acoustic jam-rock sextet (9/28, Music Center)David Byrne & St. Vincent – Talking Heads mastermind teams up with an indie-rock darling to create an idiosyncratic, brass meets electronica album Love This Giant, which the two perform at Strathmore courtesy of IMP (9/30, Music Center)Loide – Contemporary jazz meets the rhythmic melodies of Africa (10/3, Mansion)Patti LuPone w/The Four Play String Quartet – Before the Broadway superstar returns to the Great White Way in a non-singing role (David Mamet's The Anarchist) she offers a cabaret of long songs by the usual Broadway suspects as well as contemporary songwriters such as Randy Newman, Judy Collins, even Cyndi Lauper (10/5-6, Music Center)Kevin Dudley w/Ralph Gordon & Rickie Simpkins – Former front man and guitarist with the Atomic Hillbillies leads this trio offering raw, roots beauty of Americana music (10/17, Mansion)Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britian – No, it's not a joke, though there are a lot of yuk-yuks in a performance of this all-singing, all-strumming uke orchestra, which reinterprets pieces from all genres of music, from Beethoven to The Who to Isaac Hayes, and even includes a strum-along for those concertgoers who bring a uke with them (10/20, Music Center)Songwriters Association of Washington: Best of SAW Showcase (10/24, Mansion)Strathmore Cabaret featuring the Chaise Lounge Band – Members of the 2012 class of Strathmore artists in residence also perform cabaret as part of this dinner and drinks fundraiser with onstage auction, emceed by Charlie Barnett (10/26, Music Center)Casey Driessen – Fiddler, regularly on tour with Béla Fleck and The Flecktones, offers an intimate evening of unconventional music, with he alone with his fiddle and pedal board to create digital loops and effects (10/26, Mansion)Strathmore Family Sings: Woody Guthrie Sing-Along – In a year marking the late folk legend's 100th birthday, Cathy Fink and Joe Uehlein lead a celebration with a selection of classics, including ''This Land Is Your Land'' (10/28, Education Wing)Melissa Etheridge – Rock's most celebrated lesbian offers a concert in the acoustically rich Music Center in support of her new album 4th Street Feeling, which is almost as good and fiery as her earliest albums and a real return to form (11/2, Music Center) Keb' Mo' – Multiple Grammy winner has made advancing and preserving the blues genre his life's work, and returns to Strathmore after kicking off last season (11/3, Music Center)Rita: My Joys – Iranian-born pop singer and actress is one of the most famous female singers in Israel and an underground sensation in Iran (11/13, Music Center)Tia Fuller Quartet – A member of Beyoncé's all-female band performs jazz saxophone with her own group (11/15, Mansion)Classic Albums Live: Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon – Top musicians re-create the album that was on the Billboard charts longer than any other in history, in a reprise of last season's presentation of The Beatles' Abbey Road (11/23, Music Center)Charlie Barnett with Owen Danoff & Deborah Bond – Guitarist is joined by two fans and Strathmore Artists in Residence, a singer-songwriter and a progressive soul artist (11/28, Mansion)Julia Nixon: Songs of Burt Bacharach – Helen Hayes Award winner performs the cool, breezy music of one of America's most successful composers (11/30, Mansion)The Brian Setzer Orchestra: Christmas Rocks Extravaganza – Billed as ''the most exciting annual rockin' Christmas event on the planet'' (12/4, Music Center)George Winston – Pianist performs selections from his seasonally themed recordings – plus Guaraldi's Peanuts pieces (12/5, Music Center)Natalie MacMaster: Christmas in Cape Breton – Impeccable Canadian fiddler performs traditional Scottish and Irish holiday tunes invoking the traditions of her native Cape Breton (12/6, Music Center)Morrissey – The mopey one offers a concert in between studio albums, courtesy of IMP (12/7, Music Center)Charm City Klezmer Band – Michael S. Raitzyk's family band celebrates the Festival of Lights with a jubilant, jazzy twist (12/12, Mansion)Mark O'Connor: An Appalachian Christmas – A wondrous mixture of Christmas carols and traditional American music encompassing the spirit of the holiday in artist's native American region (12/13, Music Center)Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra – Last year's holiday performances of D.C.'s 17-piece big band at Strathmore sold out quickly, so don't dilly-dally (12/16, Mansion)Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis – The top-selling Christmas music artist in history combines classical compositions with rock instrumentation in a manner that is often cheesy, even a bit blasphemous – and the very definition of a guilty pleasure (12/16, Mansion)A Fiddler's Feast – Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas, Dirk Powell, Jay Ungar and Molly Mason all perform as part of a string feast (1/11/13, Music Center)Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright – These three great singers pay tribute to their female forebears, chiefly Miriam Makeba, Abbey Lincoln and Odetta in ''Sing the Truth'' (1/22/13, Music Center) Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Grammy Award-winning South African troupe returns to Strathmore in a show that's sure to sell out, if past is prologue (1/25/13, Music Center)Aaron Weinstein Trio – Extraordinary young jazz violinist is also a born entertainer (2/7/13, Mansion)DRUMline Live! – Show-style marching bands from the college football field to the stage (3/1/13, Music Center)Neil Berg's 101 Years of Broadway – A cast of five Broadway stars recreates moments form the greatest musicals of the century (3/24/13, Music Center)Julie Fowlis: Music of the Scottish Isles – Gaellic singer could become the next global breakout star, if her song from Pixar's new animated epic Brave catches on (4/15/13, Mansion)VOCA PEOPLE – Jimmy Fallon has called this off-Broadway show, which mixes flawlessly sung a cappella harmonies with amazing beat-box simulations of every kind of instrument, ''the coolest show ever'' (4/18/13, Music Center)2013 Spring Gala w/Michael Feinstein – The ambassador of the Great American Songbook performs Gershwin standards in a program based on his recent book The Gershwins and Me, about his early apprenticeship with Ira Gershwin (4/20/13, Music Center)Chelsey Green – Violinist and former Strathmore artist in residence crosses genres, from classical to jazz to hip-hop, creating a new groove (5/2/13, Mansion)

VERIZON CENTER

601 F St. NW 202-628-3200 verizoncenter.com

Madonna (9/23-24)Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin and Israel Houghton – Radio One's The Spirit of Praise Celebration with ''The King's Men'' (10/6)Justin Bieber – Stay far away from Chinatown tonight if you don't like hearing screams and squeals – and then there are the boy's girl fans (11/5)The Who (11/13)Bob Dylan and his Band w/Mark Knopfler – The 9:30 Club's parent presenters IMP offers this stadium tour with the folk god and Dire Straits co-founder (11/20)Lady Gaga – Mama Monster is expected to release a new album, dubbed ARTPOP, early next year, but for sure she'll return to the Verizon Center on another world tour, this one named after last year's Born This Way (2/25/13)Rihanna (4/29/13)One Direction (6/23/13)

WARNER THEATRE

513 13th St. NW 202-397-SEAT warnertheatre.com

Marsha Ambrosius – Former Floetry member is doing the flow solo these days (9/21)Gilberto Santa Rosa and Tito Puente Jr. – A concert in honor of Latino and Hispanic veterans during Hispanic Heritage Month with these two salsa greats (10/15)David Bisbal – Hunky Spanish pop singer (10/19)

WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY

202-833-9800 wpas.org

Yemen Blues – A multinational ensemble blending traditional Yemenite and West African melodies, blues, jazz and funk (11/13, Sixth & I)Chucho Valdés Quartet – Jazz legend and Afro-Cuban pianist (12/6, Sixth & I)Brooklyn Rider – Performing commissioned works by Bill Frisell, Padma Newsome and Ethan Iverson, among others (1/26/13, Sixth & I)Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra w/Wynton Marsalis (1/29/13, Kennedy Center)Suzanne Vega – WPAS invites the '80s pop-folk hitmaker to return after last year's sold-out show; get your tickets now (3/2/13, Sixth & I)Gretchen Parlato (3/9/13, Sixth & I)Kodo Drummers of Japan – A heart-pounding performance of this group of 24 masters of the ancient taiko-drumming tradition (3/16/13, DAR Constitution Hall)Hugh Masekela – South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer and singer makes his WPAS debut (4/12/13, Lisner)Ute Lemper – The star German cabaret artist returns with a program titled ''Last Tango in Berlin,'' featuring songs by Weill, Piazzola, Piaf, Brel and more (5/18/13, Sixth & I)

For additional, expanded listings, please visit the 2012 Fall Arts Preview at metroweekly.com.

In a city with an abundance of live stage productions and pop concert productions, it's easy to take for granted just how good Washington has it as a cultural center. It's a point made even clearer this fall as we look ahead to a slate of classical performances that's enough to tickle the ear – and heart – of the most die-hard classicist. With performances ranging from clarinet capers at the Artisphere to cabaret with the Gay Men's Chorus to Gershwin at the Kennedy Center, this season's classical music offers more than enough to please even the newest of fans.

ARTISPHERE

1101 Wilson Blvd. Arlington 703-875-1100 artisphere.com

UrbanArias: Photo-Op – A 60-minute opera by Conrad Cummings (composer of Positions 1956 at last season's UrbanArias) and James Siena about the absurdity of modern presidential politics (9/14-15) National Chamber Ensemble benefit: A Late Summer Musical Romance – The ensemble offers a preview of its sixth season with this fundraiser, showcasing what it means by redefining ''chamber music'' by including everything from jazz to gospel into the standard repertoire (9/29) National Chamber Ensemble: Night At the Palace II – The stage of Artisphere's Spectrum Theatre is transformed once again into a Russian-style palace after last year's success in this program in collaboration with the Russian Chamber Art Society and featuring pianist Vera Danchenko-Stern and singers performing Russian instrumental and vocal music (11/3) National Chamber Ensemble: Annual Holiday Concert – Violinist Rimma Sushanskaya, whom The Washington Post has called ''one of the greatest violinists alive today,'' joins to play Bach in a holiday program featuring other international guest artists plus a carols sing-along (12/16) National Chamber Ensemble: Clarinet Capers w/Julian Milkis – The only student of Benny Goodman is both a chamber musician and jazz clarinetist and joins the ensemble to play his unique interpretations of works by Mozart, Arutiunian, Gershwin and more (1/12/13) National Chamber Ensemble: The Art of the African-American Spiritual – Soprano Aundi Marie Moore, an alumnus of the Washington National Opera's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, joins to explore African-American music (3/23/13) National Chamber Ensemble: The Three B's - Bach, Beethoven and Brahms – Pianist Carlos Rodriguez joins for a performance of three masterpieces from the German greats (6/1/13)

ATLAS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

1333 H St. NE 202-399-7993 atlasarts.org

Tim Brady – President of the Canadian New Music Network performs his own music as well as new works he commissions from other classical composers to create new works for his chosen instrument, the electric guitar (9/22) PRISM Saxophone Quartet – One of America's foremost chamber ensembles, presenting the saxophone as a serious concert instrument (10/12) Great Noise Ensemble – One of the most important and adventurous ensembles in D.C.'s new music scene and an artist-in-residence at the Atlas, where the group performs three times this season (10/19) Capital City Symphony – Pianist Ryo Kaneko performs with the orchestra Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 (10/21) Newspeak Ensemble – An eight-piece ensemble (11/2) Capital City Symphony – Annual family concert and ''Instrument Petting Zoo'' (11/18) Sō Percussion – Brooklyn-based quartet is an ''experimental powerhouse,'' according to the Village Voice (11/30) Cornelius Dufallo – Composer and violinist is a member of the world-renowned amplified string quartet ETHEL (1/12/13) Pictures on Silence – A harp and saxophone chamber duo performs from an ever-expanding repertoire of new works and adaptations of existing music (2/1/13) Roomful of Teeth – Vocal octet re-imagines singing in the 21st century (3/18/13) International Contemporary Ensemble – A double bill featuring two new ambitious cycles of music from internationally known Phyllis Chen and Carla Kihlstedt (4/11/13) Capital City Symphony – Highlights from Puccini's La Boheme factor into this program of ''Opera! Scenes and Songs'' (4/14/13) Maya Beiser & Michael Harrison – ''The post-modern diva'' and ''the American maverick'' captivate audiences worldwide with their cello and piano playing (5/10/13) Great Noise Ensemble (5/17/13) Capital City Symphony – Cellist Brannon Cho joins in a Season Finale concert of Dvorak's Cello Concerto, plus Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky (5/19/13)

BACH SINFONIA

Cultural Arts Center at Silver Spring Montgomery College Silver Spring 301-362-6525 bachsinfonia.org

Handel's Fireworks & England's Next Generation – Handel's beloved Music for the Royal Fireworks is performed on period instruments alongside sparkling music by late-baroque British composers William Boyce, Charles Avison and Capel Bond (10/21) Annual Chamber Performance: Repast Baroque – An intimate and virtuoso chamber music program for violin, viola da gamba and theorbo (2/3/13) Most Beloved Bach – A program of Bach's masterworks for the full ensemble, including the Orchestra Suite No. 2, the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and the Concerto for Two Violins (4/7/13) Nuevo Mundo Barroco – Compositions used in liturgical services and civic occasions in Mexico and South America factor into this ''New World Baroque'' program timed for Cinco de Mayo (5/5/13)

BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

410-783-8000 bsomusic.org

Gala Celebration Concert w/Renée Fleming (9/15) American Classics and Gil Shaham – Violinist joins for a program that includes Barber's Violin Concerto, Copland's Third Symphony and Bernstein's On the Waterfront: Symphonic Suite (9/20-22) Bernstein's ''Kaddish'' – The Washington Chorus and screen and stage actress Claire Bloom (The King's Speech) join for a performance of Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No. 3, dedicated to the memory of his friend, President John F. Kennedy (9/28-30) Beethoven's Mighty Eroica – German conductor Markus Stenz makes his BSO debut leading Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, and is joined by his compatriot violinist Kolja Blacher performing Schumann's lyrical and rarely heard Violin Concerto (10/4, 10/6) BSO SuperPops: The Golden Age of Black & White – Jack Everly kicks off his 10th SuperPops season with favorite television themes of the '50s (10/11-14) Tchaikovksy's Fourth Symphony – Audience-favorite conductor Juanjo Mena leads Tchaikovsky's passionate symphony in a program that also includes Italian pianist Benedetto Lupo playing Bartok's Piano Concerto No. 3, composed in the final months of his life (9/19-21) Mozart & Brahms – Led by conductor Cornelius Meister, Brahms's Double Concerto for Violin and Cello features BSO concertmaster Jonathan Carney and principal cellist Dariusz Skoraczewski, while the program also includes Mozart's Symphony No. 35 (10/26-28) Wizards and Wands (Music for Youth) (10/31-11/1, 11/3) Beethoven's Fifth – While the headline piece features probably the best-known opening four notes in all of classical music, the program also includes the East Coast premiere of American composer Christopher Rouse's Prokofiev-inspired Symphony No. 3 (11/8, 11/11) Off The Cuff: Beethoven's Fifth Symphony – Maestra Alsop explains why this piece still captures the imagination (11/9-10) Lyrical Dvořák & Brahms – Alsop and the BSO has become known for performances and recordings of this Czech master, this time around offering his Eighth Symphony on a bill that includes Brahms's Piano Concert No. 2 featuring Russian pianist Denis Kozhukhin (11/15-17) Elgar Cello Concerto – Cellist Sol Gabetta performs Elgar's impassioned piece composed in the shadow of World War I (11/29-12/1) Handel's Messiah – In a 30th anniversary, Edward Polochick leads the BSO and the Concert Artists of Baltimore Symphonic Chorale while playing the harpsichord in Handel's beloved oratorio (12/7) Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker – The Baltimore School for the Arts performs with the BSO this holiday Family Series concert (12/8) BSO SuperPops: Holiday Pops – The Baltimore Choral Arts Society joins the BSO and other special guests for a celebration of carols and holiday favorites (12/12-16) Alexander Nevsky – Alsop leads the BSO, Baltimore Choral Arts Society and mezzo-soprano Irina Tchistjakova in Sergei Prokofiev's score to accompany Sergei Eisenstein's film (1/11-13/13) Ravishing Rachmaninoff – Pianist Garrick Ohlsson joins Alsop to perform Rachmaninoff's tour de force, the Third Piano Concerto, as part of an all-Rachmaninoff program (1/17-20/13) Off The Cuff: Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto (1/18-19/13) BSO SuperPops: Hairspray w/John Waters – The famous gay director and Baltimore native son serves as narrator in a 25th anniversary of the release of the original film, plus the BSO performing tunes from the Tony-winning musical (1/24-27/13) Pictures at an Exhibition – Yan Pascal Tortelier returns to lead the BSO in Mussorgsky's piece, arranged by Ravel (1/31-2/2/13) Stephen Hough Plays Liszt (2/7-9/13) Wagner's Walküre – Kicking off a series of Wagner performances in honor of the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth, Alsop leads the BSO in a performance of Act 1 of Die Walküre featuring soprano Heidi Melton, tenor Brandon Jovanovich and bass-baritone Eric Owens (2/15-17/13) BSO SuperPops: The Best of Broadway w/Ashley Brown (2/21-24/13) Mozart's Requiem – Ignat Solzhenitsyn leads the combined forces of the BSO and the Baltimore Choral Arts Society in this giant piece of classical music (2/28/13, 3/2-3/13) Musical Roots: From Africa to America (3/1-2/13) Mahler's Titan (3/7-9/13) Saint-Saens's Thundering Organ Symphony – Technically, it's the Symphony No. 3, but how often does a symphony use an organ in two of its four sections? (3/14/13, 3/17/13) Off The Cuff: Saint-Saen's Organ Symphony (3/15/13) Trpceski Plays Rachmaninoff (3/22-24/13) Disney's Fantasia (4/5-6/13) Bond and Beyond: 50 Years of 007 (4/11-14/13) Wagner's The Ring: An Orchestral Adventure – Alsop leads the BSO to perform a condensed version of Wagner's four-cycle opera by contemporary Dutch composer and arranger Henk de Vlieger (4/18/13, 4/21/13) Off The Cuff: Wagner: A Composer Fit for a King – Writer/director Didi Balle has created a semi-staged play relating the complicated relationship between the composer and his benefactor, King Ludwig II (4/19/13) Midori – Violin prodigy is all grown up and still inspiring acclaim (4/25-27/13) Time for Three (5/2/13, 5/4/13) Chaplin's Masterpiece: Modern Times – BSO performs Chaplin's own score for his 1936 silent film, a brilliant, biting satire on the mechanical age (5/10-12/13) Romeo & Juliet – Carlos Kalmar conducts selections from Prokofiev's impassioned ballet (5/23-25/13) BSO SuperPops: The Magic of Motown (5/30-6/2/13) Carmina Burana – Alsop leads the BSO in a collaboration of this masterpiece with Morgan Stage University Choir and Peabody Children's Chorus (6/6-9/13) West Side Story – Music & The Movie – Alsop conducts the BSO in a performance of Leonard Bernstein's 10-time Oscar-winning score accompanying the movie version of the great musical (6/13-16/13)

BARNS AT WOLF TRAP

1635 Trap Road Vienna 877-WOLFTRAP wolftrap.org

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center – Founder's Day celebration (10/12) Ingrid Fliter (11/2) JACK Quartet & Derek Bermel – An eclectic evening of classic repertoire mixed with a world-premiere Wolf Trap commission (1/11/13) Steven Isserlis & Kirill Gerstein – Award-winning soloists playing Liszt and Brahms (1/25/13) Parker String Quartet (3/1/13) Chatham Baroque (3/15/13) Peter Kolkay w/Alexandra Nguyen and Deirdre Chadwick (4/5/13)

CLARICE SMITH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

University of Maryland College Park 301-405-ARTS claricesmithcenter.umd.edu

Aeolus Quartet: Berg and Schubert – Aeolus, considered one of the nation's finest young string quartets, kicks off its year as UMD's Graduate Fellowship String Quartet (9/16) Anthony de Mare's Liaisons: Re-imagining Sondheim from the Piano – 36 of the world's foremost contemporary composers re-imagine a Stephen Sondheim song of their choosing and scored for solo piano, a multi-year project undertaken with Sondheim's blessing (9/21) Trio Cantare: Latin Rhythms – Performing works by revolutionary Latin composers, including Astor Piazzolla and Heitor Villa-Lobos, this trio consists of soprano Carmen Baithrop and flutist Kathleen Trahan, both UMD School of Music faculty members, along with UMD alumna flutist Camille Delaney-McNeil (9/22) U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus – UMD Chamber Singers join for an all-Stravinsky program capped off by A Soldier's Tale (9/24) Eliza Garth: Celebrating the John Cage Centennial – Pianist offers a performance of Cage's masterpiece for prepared piano Sonatas and Interludes (10/4) UMD Symphony Orchestra – Violinist Nicholas Montopoli opens the orchestra's season with a performance of Ravel's exotic and colorful showpiece Tzigane (10/5) UMD Wind Orchestra – Celebrating American composer Joseph Schwantner's 70th birthday with a performance of his recent work for wind orchestra Recoil (10/7) Delores Ziegler – UMD School of Music's Distinguished Scholar offers a recital about the curious operatic convention of having mezzo-sopranos such as herself take on the role of young men, when they're not villains, wise women or seductresses (10/15) UMD Choral Activities: Bach Cantata 1 – An informal performance of Bach's cantata 211, known as ''The Coffee Cantata'' (10/18) UMD Wind Ensemble (10/25) Martinez-Urioste-Brey Trio – An all-star trio that only formed last year and is already making its mark in the classical world (11/1) UMD Wind Orchestra and Graffito – Traditional wind group pairs up with a ''Radiohead meets Kronos Quartet'' rock group to add modern twists to classical compositions (11/2) UMD Symphony Orchestra – UMD faculty pianist Mayron Tsong joins for a performance of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1 (11/4) 11th Annual High School Choir Invitational – Talented choirs from Maryland and Virginia gather for a day of workshops culminating in an evening performance with the UMD Chamber Singers and UMD Chorale (11/7) TRIOS – UMD faculty artists, violinist David Salness, cellist Evelyn Elsing and pianist Mayron Tsong join for a performance of compositions by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff and Dvorak (11/10) 2012 UMD Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition – Annual competition of students vying to perform as a featured soloist with the orchestra, with both the preliminaries and the final round open to the public (11/11, 11/16) UMD Women's Chorus and the UMD Men's Chorus – Fall Showcase (11/11) Chamber Music Showcase (11/12-13) Shanghai Quartet – Chinese ensemble melds the delicacy of Eastern music with the emotional breadth of the Western repertoire (11/15) Maryland Opera Studio: The Magic Flute – This year's annual piano opera focuses on Mozart's classic (11/16, 11/18-20) UMD Chamber Singers – Masterworks from 20th century France (11/18) UMD Percussion Ensemble (12/3) UMD Wind Orchestra – ''Music from Bach's iPod'' asserts that Pergolesi, Kirchner, Britten and Dahl are contemporary variations on Bach (12/6) UMD Gamelan Saraswati and UMD Koto Ensemble (12/7) 11th Annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols – UMD women's and men's choruses encourage audience participation in this program, inspired by a world-famous Christmas Eve tradition of the U.K.'s King's College (12/7) Kaleidoscope of Bands – UMD Wind Ensemble, University Band, Community Band team up for this annual event (12/7) UMD Symphony Orchestra (12/8) UMD Chamber Singers – Students and faculty join together for a performance of Bach's Magnificat (12/9) UMD Korean Percussion Ensemble (12/11) Maryland Opera Studio – A reading of Lee Hoiby's last opera Romeo and Juliet (2/15/13) Benjamin Pasternack – Pianist explores the ''American roots,'' chiefly black and Native-American, of compositions by Dvorak, Busoni and Bernstein (2/26/13) PostClassical Ensemble – Dvorak and America grows from a book by this experimental ensemble's Joseph Horowitz (3/1/13) eighth blackbird – Chicago-based sextet is said to combine the finesse of a string quartet with the energy of a rock band and the boldness of a storefront theater company (3/8/13) UMD Symphony Orchestra – Lighting and stage designer Doug Fitch joins the orchestra in a multimedia spectacle with Britten's Les Illuminations at the center (3/9/13) UMD Wind Orchestra – The Poetry of Joseph Schwantner focuses on three pieces of a trilogy in honor of the American composer's 70th birthday (3/10/13) Wu Man – Chinese-born musician is the world's premier virtuoso on the pipa, the traditional, four-stringed Chinese lute (3/28/13) Windscape Quintet (4/4/13) Maryland Opera Studio: La Boheme (4/13-21/13) Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Gabriel Kahane – American composer and singer-songwriter Kahane, who inhabits a classical-pop world alongside sometime-collaborators Sufjan Stevens and Rufus Wainwright, is the first composer-in-residence for this orchestra, which is a former artist-in-residence at UMD (4/20/13) Aeolus String Quartet and SIREN Woodwind Quintet (4/28/13) UMD Concert Choir, UMD Symphony Orchestra (5/3/13) Annual Pops Concert – UMD Wind Ensemble, University Band, Community Band team up for this 37th annual audience favorite (5/4/13) UMD Wind Orchestra with Members of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (5/5/13)

CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY

202-244-3669 choralarts.org

La Musica Latina – From sentimental ballades to swinging salsa and rumba favorites, the sizzle and fiery spice of Latin American music is brought to life in this song-filled fiesta led by the Choral Arts Society's former associate music director Joseph Holt (10/21, Lisner) A Family Christmas – The society and orchestra perform a production of Catherine Flye's theatrical concert featuring Santa, Frosty and Rudolph (12/16, Kennedy Center) An Enchanted Christmas – Beloved carols, popular holiday standards and favorite sing-alongs are the stars in this annual holiday favorite, this year led by the society's new artistic director Scott Tucker (12/17, 12/24, Kennedy Center) Brass, Brahms and Britten – An elegant evening of works designed for brass, organ and chorus (4/14/13, National Presbyterian Church) Broadway's Show-Stoppers with Brian Stokes Mitchell – The cociety and orchestra offer a ''wall of sound'' in a Mother's Day performance of Broadway's greatest hits led by Tony Award-winning star of Man of La Mancha and Ragtime as well as recent Glee guest in this co-presentation with WPAS (5/12/13, Kennedy Center)

THE CITY CHOIR OF WASHINGTON

202-495-1613 thecitychoirofwashington.org

Handel: Coronation Anthems – Director Robert Shafer leads the choir in a performance of the anthems composed by Handel for the coronation of King George II (10/28, National Presbyterian Church) The Holly and the Ivy: British Music for Christmas – The Select Vocal Ensemble from Leesburg, Va.'s Tuscarora High School are partners in song for this year's annual concert, which includes sing-alongs (12/16, National Presbyterian Church) Diamond Jubilee: A Coronation Anniversary Concert – A concert celebrating the musical pageantry of a coronation, capped by the world-premiere performance of Sir John Tavener's Three Hymns of George Herbert, composed in honor of the Diamond Jubilee of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (4/21/13, Washington National Cathedral)

D.C.'S DIFFERENT DRUMMERS

202-269-4868 dcdd.org

DCDD Does Drag (10/27, Omega Nightclub) Fall Concert: American Salute -- The Capital Pride Symphonic Band and Capital Pride Wind Ensemble kick off the full season with a patriotic salute after the election (11/17, Columbia Heights Educational Campus) Maryland Music Educators Performance (2/23/13, Baltimore Convention Center) Spring Concert: Space Odyssey -- The symphonic band and the wind ensemble blast off for spring (3/23/13, CHEC)

DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Georgetown University 3700 O St. NW 202-687-ARTS performingarts.georgetown.edu

Friday Music Series – Acclaimed artists in various genres perform free concerts on select Fridays at 1:15 p.m. (9/21-12/7) Modern Musick – Period-instrument ensemble, led by John Moran and Risa Browder, is in residence at Georgetown this academic year and will perform four times (10/12, 12/4, 2/1/13, 3/26/13) The DC A Cappella Festival (DCAF) – Annual concert co-hosted by two of GU's most charismatic groups: the co-ed Phantoms and the all-female GraceNotes (11/3, 11/10) Future of Music Summit 2012 (11/15-17) Georgetown University Chamber Singers – A choral concert featuring Monteverdi's Magnificat (11/14) World Percussion Ensemble (11/18) GU Wind Ensemble: Fall Concert (12/2) GU Orchestra: Fall Concert (12/2) GU Concert Choir – A choral concert including Vivaldi's Gloria (12/3) GU Jazz: Fall Concert (12/4) Messiah Sing-Along – Hosted by Georgetown University Concert Choir (12/4) World Percussion Ensemble (4/21/13) GU Jazz: Spring Concert (4/22/13) GU Wind Ensemble: Spring Concert (4/23/13) GU Concert Choir (4/24/13) GU Orchestra: Spring Concert (4/25/13)

FAIRFAX SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

703-563-1990 fairfaxsymphony.org

Jeffrey Biegel plays Ellen Taafe Zwilich – Christopher Zimmerman and the symphony opens the season with an all-American concert including Adams, Bernstein, Gershwin and Pulitzer Prize-winner Zwilich, who composed the new Shadows for pianist Biegel (9/22) Benjamin Bellman – Violinist joins the FSO guest conducted by Kenneth Woods in an all-Beethoven program (11/17) James Dick – Here's to the FSO not scheduling The Nutcracker or Messiah or some milquetoast program of tired sing-along songs, but offering ''a break from the holiday madness'' with a performance by this pianist of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 (12/8) Christina Jennings plays Jonathon Leshnoff – Zimmerman leads the FSO in the Virginia premiere of Baltimore-native's Flute Concerto featuring flutist in a program that includes Mozart – The Magic Flute, naturally – Ives and Brahms (1/19/13) Strauss vs. Strauss – Zimmerman leads the FSO in a unique, entertaining concert contrasting the music of the two Strausses, Johann and Richard (3/16/13) Joni Henson and Brennen Guillory – Zimmerman ensures the season ends with a bang in a concert featuring a guest soprano and a guest tenor in a program of Verdi and – you guessed it – Wagner, both of whom would have turned 200 this season (5/11/13)

FOLGER CONSORT

Folger Elizabethan Theatre 201 East Capitol St. SE 202-544-7077 folger.edu

London: Music from the City of Shakespeare – The consort's season focused on early music from specific European cities naturally kicks off in the roots of Shakespeare, with a focus on the Bard's neighbor Thomas Morley as well as William Byrd (9/28-30) Florence: Christmas Music of the Trecento – Vocal ensemble Trio Eos and multi-instrumentalist Chrsta Patton perform, along with period strings and winds, vernacular ceremonial songs called ''laudes'' and popularized in 14th century Tuscany (12/14-23) Paris: Music for the City of Light – The singers and instrumentalists of Louis XIV's chapelle royale on the outskirts of Paris performed music by Lully, Charpentier, Couperin and others (1/11-1/12/13, Washington National Cathedral) Dublin: Celtic and Art Music – Music, rich in bagpipe, harp and fiddle, by William Lawes, Turlough O'Carolan and others (3/15-3/17/13) Vienna: Music for Maximilian – At the turn of the 16th century the imperial court in Vienna amassed the largest musical establishment in Europe (4/12-14/13)

GAY MEN'S CHORUS OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

202-293-1548 gmcw.org

Home Cooked Cabaret: Showmen and Showstoppers – Before its new season kicks into high-pitch comes this cocktail fundraiser and hosted dinner parties in private homes (11/3, starting at Town Danceboutigue) Winter Nights – The Chorus, as always, kicks off its new season with a colorful, bright and G-A-Y array of warm winter songs and fun (11/30-12/1, Lisner Auditorium) My Big Fat Gay Wedding – A real onstage wedding will take place during this ode to love and marriage equality, complete with party favors and cake in the lobby (2/16/13, Lisner) Xanadu – Douglas Carter Beane's book, based on the 1980 film about creating a roller disco, was plenty campy and gay already, but just wait until the chorus gets hold of it! (3/15-17/13, Lisner) Side by Side – The chorus's two stellar vocal ensembles, Rock Creek Singers and Potomac Fever, share the spotlight in a wide-ranging, genre-hopping program (4/20/13, Church of the Epiphany) Seven – A sexy and satirical show filled with campy production numbers and songs exploring, exploiting – even celebrating – those pesky, deadly sins (6/1-2/13, Lisner)

KENNEDY CENTER

Lang Lang

(Photo by Detlef Schneider)

202-467-4600 kennedy-center.org

Stephanie Blythe – Vocal Arts DC kicks off its season presenting concerts at the Kennedy Center with a performance by this mezzo-soprano in an American program (9/14) The Sphinx Virtuosi w/The Catalyst Quartet and Elena Urioste – A program of music of the Americas by laureates and top alumni of the acclaimed Sphinx Competition for Young Black and Latino String Players, part of the Fortas Chamber Music series (10/10) The Kennedy Center Chamber Players – Sonatas by Bach and Mendelssohn, plus Mendelssohn's Trio in D Minor are on the bill (10/14) New York Festival of Song: Mr. Gershwin Goes to Washington – Vocal Arts DC presents Laurence Maslon's original, semi-staged musical theater work featuring political satire hits by the Gershwins and starring the festival's Steven Blier, accompanist Joseph Thalken and a cast that includes Marc Kudisch and Anne-Carolyn Bird (10/22) Amernet String Quartet w/James Tocco – Virtuoso pianist joins this quartet for a performance of Franck's monumental Piano Quintet in a Fortas Chamber Music program that also features Haydn and Beethoven (10/26) Opera Lafayette: L'Invitation au Voyage – Program incorporates a painting by Watteau, the poetry of Baudelaire and songs by late 19th century French composers (10/30) Christine Brewer – Soprano returns for a program presented by Vocal Arts DC (10/31) Midori in Recital: 30th Anniversary Concert – Pianist Ozgur Aydin accompanies famed violinist in an anniversary concert featuring Beethoven Sonatas (11/1) Saul Lilienstein's What to Listen for in Music: Beethoven's Missa Solemnis – Musicologist focuses on Beethoven's setting in modern time of the Catholic Mass on a weekend when the NSO performs the piece (11/3) Lang Lang – World-renowned Chinese pianist kicks off a week in residency with the NSO and the Kennedy Center with a special recital (11/4) Russell Braun – Vocal Arts DC welcomes the return of this rich, powerful baritone (11/7) Igudesman and Joo – A Little Nightmare Music offers comedy about classical music in the tradition of Victor Borge and Dudley Moore by violinist Aleksey Igudesman and pianist Hyung-ki Joo, a duo that is quickly becoming a worldwide sensation (11/8) Ariel Quartet/Orion Weiss – Pro Musica Hebraica presents this concert titled ''Between Two Worlds: Jewish Voices in Modern European Music'' (11/11) Kennedy Center Concert Hall Organ Debut – NSO organist William Neil and the National Symphony Orchestra unveil the new organ with a free concert (11/27) Anonymous 4 – Beloved a cappella group offers the staged concert love fail, a collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang and partly based on tales of medieval author Marie de France (11/28) Young Concert Artists: miXt – Three award-winning soloists join forces to play a program of chamber music (12/4) From Psalm to Lamentation: A Concert of Cantorial Masterpieces – Pro Musica Hebraica presents this program (12/6) The Kennedy Center Chamber Players – Works by Bach, Franck, Milhaud and Bartok factor into this program (12/9) Vinson Cole – Distinguished American tenor returns to the Kennedy Center in a Vocal Arts DC recital (12/12) Fine Arts Quartet – A Fortas Chamber Music concert featuring Haydn, Zimbalist and Schubert (1/13/13) Toby Spence – Perhaps Britain's foremost tenor, thrilling in opera and recital, appears in a Vocal Arts DC program accompanied by pianist Graham Johnson (1/16/13) Opera Lafayette: Lalla Roukh – Opera Lafayette and Kalanidhi Dance collaborate on an elaborate production of Felicien David's 150-year-old masterpiece (1/26/13) Velt Hertenstein w/Pei-Yao Wang – Young Concert Artists presents the Washington debut of German violist with piano accompaniment (2/5/13) Misha Dichter w/The Harlem Quartet – Piano quintets by Schumann and Shostakovich as well as Chick Corea's jazzy, Latin-inspired Adventures of Hippocrates are part of this Fortas Chamber Music concert (2/6/13) Royal Stockholm Philharmonic – Sakari Oramo leads the orchestra as it performs the opening concert in the Kennedy Center's Nordic Cool 2013 festival (2/19/13) Annie Sofie von Otter – Grammy-nominated Swedish mezzo-soprano performs in recital with compatriot pianist Bengt Forsberg as part of the Kennedy Center's Nordic Cool 2013 festival (3/4/13) Juho Pohjonen – Finnish pianist plays works by Grieg, Nielsen and Mozart in his Fortas Chamber Music series debut, part of the Nordic Cool 2013 festival (3/12/13) Trio con Brio Copenhagen – Danish trio performs Ravel, Mendelssohn and Sorensen as part of the Nordic Cool 2013 festival (3/14/13) The Kennedy Center Chamber Players -- Nielsen, Prokofiev and Mozart factor into this program (3/17/13) Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio – The Kennedy Center's chamber ensemble-in-residence makes its annual appearance with a brand-new piano composition by Stanley Silverman, along with Brahms and Beethoven (4/29/13) Andrew Tyson – Young Concert Artists presents this 25-year-old pianist in his Washington recital debut (4/30/13) Opera Lafayette: Actéon – Choreographer Sean Curran's semi-staged production of Charpentier's opera features a cast of seven vocalists and a chamber ensemble (5/1-2/13) Apollo Ensemble – Pro Musica Hebraica presents this group in a program titled ''Jewish Baroque Treasures from Italy and Amsterdam'' (5/13/13) Dawn Upshaw with Crash Ensemble – Acclaimed soprano and Dublin's new music company perform a program including Dennehy's multimedia song cycle based on poetry of William Butler Yeats (5/14/13) Yvonne Caruthers's Politics, Propaganda, Prokofiev: The Intriguing Saga of Alexander Nevsky -- NSO cellist examines the score for Sergei Eisenstein's 1938 Russian propaganda film (6/1/13)

NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC

Music Center at Strathmore 5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda 301-493-9283 nationalphilharmonic.org

Beethoven: The Power of Three – Pianist Orli Shaham kicks off the Philharmonic's season as part of an all-Beethoven program, led by the orchestra's Piotr Gajewski (10/13-14) Prokofiev: Beyond Peter and the Wolf – Pianist Brian Ganz performs Prokofiev's thrilling Piano Concerto No. 3, part of a program of three Prokofiev pieces, but not Peter and the Wolf (11/10) Handel's Messiah (12/8) A Festive Evening with the Washington Symphonic Brass – Victoria Gau conducts the brass group and chorale in a spirited annual yuletide celebration (12/18) Handel's Messiah (12/8, 12/22-23) Mozart and the Voice of the Viola – Victoria Chiang helps showcase the rich sound of the viola in this concert along with violinist Stefan Jackiw (1/5-6/13) Brian Ganz Chopin Project – The third Chopin recital at Strathmore by D.C.-based pianist, part of his quest to perform all of the composer's works over the next decade (1/19/13) Lutosawski 100th Anniversary: Remembering Rostropovich – Cellist Dariusz Skoraczewski commemorates 20th century Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski's Cello Concerto written for Rostropovich (1/26-27/13) Philharmonic of Many Colors – Soprano Danielle Talamantes joins the orchestra and chorale in a performance of Poulenc's Gloria, in a program that also includes Ravel's Bolero and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade (2/9/13) The American Virtuoso Violin – Violinist Elena Urioste performs works for violin by American composers, from Russell Peck to Steven Gerber to Leonard Bernstein (3/2/13) Bach: Sleepers Awake! – An all-Bach program, from two Brandenburg Concertos to his Cantata No. 140, which gives this program its title (4/6/13) Denyce Graves: The Melodies of Brahms – Superstar mezzo-soprano performs as the soloist in Brahms's Alto Rhapsody, part of an all-Brahms program (5/4-5/13) Wagner 200th Anniversary Celebration – Gajewski leads the orchestra in selections from each of Wagner's 10 best-known operas (6/1/13) Carmina Burana – Soprano Audrey Luna, tenor Robert Baker and baritone Leon Williams join the orchestra and chorale, led by Stan Engebretson, in a performance of Carl Orff's rousing masterpiece (6/8-9/13)

NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Kennedy Center Concert Hall 202-467-4600 kennedy-center.org

Kelley O'Connor sings Lieberson – Christoph Escehnbach conducts the NSO in a romantic program starring this mezzo-soprano and also featuring Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet (10/4-6) Nathalie Stutzmann sings Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder – ''I have done nothing better,'' Richard Wagner said about this lieder, performed by acclaimed contralto in a program that also includes a symphony by Wagner devotee Anton Bruckner (10/11-13) NSO Pops: Roberta Flack – Steven Reineke kicks off the NSO Pops season with a concert featuring the Grammy-winning, ''Killing Me Softly'' singer-songwriter, who got her start performing at Capitol Hill's gay bar Mr. Henry's (10/25-27) Beethoven's Missa Solemnis – Maestro Eschenbach leads the NSO and a star lineup of vocal talent in a performance of Beethoven's setting of the Catholic Mass, part of the orchestra's final year of a three-year exploration of Beethoven's works (11/1-3) Lang Lang plays Beethoven – Superstar Chinese pianist takes the stage with his friend and mentor Eschenbach for a three-performance series of Beethoven concerti as part of a week in residency (11/8-10) Sergyey Khachatryan plays Tchaikovsky – Maestro Vasily Petrenko makes his NSO debut along with young violinist in a performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto (11/15-17) NSO Pops (11/23-24) Jonathan Biss plays Mozart – Conductor Juraj Valcuha returns three years after impressive debut alongside young pianist in a program that also includes Ravel (11/29-12/1) Yuja Wang play Chopin – Conductor Hans Graf leads NSO and provocative piano prodigy in performances of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 (12/6-8) NSO Pops: Happy Holidays – Randall Craig Fleischer conducts the Pops in a program of ho-ho-ho holiday classics (12/13-16) Handel's Messiah – The epic masterpiece is performed each year with a fresh perspective by the NSO and acclaimed guest artists (12/20-23) Tzimon Barto plays Bartok – Pianist returns to play with NSO and its conductor Eschenbach after an acclaimed performance last year in a performance of Bartok's Piano Concerto No. 2 (1/17-19/13) Dan Zhu plays Mozart – Violinist makes his NSO debut in a performance of Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5, as Eschenbach conducts the NSO in a program that also includes Beethoven and Bartok (1/24-26/13) Renaud Capucon – An exciting young violinist plays Mendelssohn with the NSO as led by Christoph von Dohnanyi (2/21-23/13) Pekka Kuusisto plays Lindberg -- The NSO's Eschenbach conducts praised violinist in a performance of Lindberg's Violin Concerto on a program that includes works by Sibelius and Saariaho (2/28-3/2/13) Anne Sofie von Otter and Music of Mahler, Schubert & Mozart – Mezzo-soprano joins with other guest vocalists and the University of Maryland Concert Choir in a program of Schubert lieder and Mozart's Requiem (3/7-9/13) NSO Pops: The Chieftains – Acclaimed Irish artists bring their Grammy-winning music just in time for St. Patrick's Day (3/14-16/13) Arabella Steinbacher plays Beethoven – Violinist continues the NSO's seasonal Beethoven exploration with the master's Violin Concerto (3/28-30/13) Emanuel Ax plays Chopin – Hugh Wolff conducts the NSO and this pianist in a performance of Chopin's Piano Concert No. 2 (4/4-6/13) NSO Pops: Chris Botti – American jazz trumpeter offers a wide-ranging repertoire of pop, jazz and classical (4/18-20/13) Andreas Haefliger plays Beethoven -– More Beethoven, this time his Piano Concerto No. 1 in a program led by young and exciting Amsterdam-born conductor Jaap van Zweden (4/25-27/13) Beyond the Score: Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 – Half concert, half multimedia educational experience, led by conductor van Zweden (4/26/13) Alisa Wellerstein plays Elgar – Eschenbach conducts the NSO in a performance of Elgar's Cello Concerto (5/2-4/13) Music of Schnittke & Shostakovich – Eschenbach offers a preview of the NSO's Carnegie Hall program Spring for Music: A Tribute to Slava (5/3/13) NSO Pops: The Musical Journey of Stephen Schwartz – Reineke leads the Pops and the Washington Chorus in a tribute to the 10th anniversary of Wicked and the 65th birthday of its composer with a concert performance of Schwartz's songs (5/16-18/13) Jeremy Denk plays Ravel – Composer John Adams returns to the NSO to conduct his City Noir as well as Ravel as performed by celebrated pianist (5/30-6/1/13) Augustin Hadelich & Nadezhda Serdyuk – Violinist makes his much-anticipated NSO debut performing Dvorak's Violin Concerto conducted by another young star, Jakub Hrusa, and also featuring the Washington Chorus (6/6- 8/13) David Hardy plays Dutilleux – NSO principal cellist performs in a program led by dynamic young British conductor Matthew Halls (6/13-15/13) Jean-Yves Thibaudet plays MacMillan & Saint-Saens – Star pianist plays two programs with the NSO led by Krzysztof Urbanski (6/20-22/13)

STRATHMORE

5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda 301-581-5100 strathmore.org

Samis Ahmad – North Indian classical vocalist branches out to incorporate Indian devotional songs and global fusion sounds from South Africa and the West (10/10, Mansion) Duo Amaral – Jerusalem-born Mia Pomerantz-Amaral and husband Jorge Amaral are winning international acclaim for their classical guitar work (10/12, Mansion) Guido's Ear – New York-based early music ensemble focuses on repertoire of the late Renaissance and early baroque period, when instrumental music emerged from the shadow of vocal music and came into its own (10/18, Mansion) Dali Quartet – Extraordinary young ensemble represents the best of two worlds: classical music and training, and Latin music and upbringing (10/28, Mansion) Nathan Pacheco – Classical crossover singing sensation, an American singer/songwriter with Brazilian roots, a Yanni connection and the Disney seal of approval (11/11, Music Center) Jennifer Koh: Bach and Beyond – Violinist examines in two separate concerts the essential influences of Bach on composers through the centuries (11/14 and 2/28/13, Mansion) 18th Street Singers Christmas in Concert – D.C. choral group heads to the 'burbs for a seasonal concert of festive favorites (12/19, Mansion) George Li – The Boston Phoenix has called this budding star pianist ''as virtuosic as Lang Lang'' (1/12/13, Mansion) Carpe Diem Quartet – Vibrant young quartet aims to transform the chamber music experience for its audiences by exploring lost or rarely heard music (1/17/13, Mansion) China National Symphony – World-class orchestra offers a program including works of Chinese composers Xia Guan, Chengzong Yin/Zhuang Liu, plus Beethoven (2/1/13, Music Center) Aviv Quartet (2/21/13, Mansion) Mattias Jacobsson – Classical Guitar magazine calls Jacobbson ''a future force in the guitar world,'' and he makes his Strathmore debut in a performance of Bach's Lute Suites (3/21/13, Mansion) Kristin Lee – 25-year-old violinist has already won many plaudits (4/4/13, Mansion) Cameron Carpenter – ''Not Your Grandma's Organist,'' The Wall Street Journal has proclaimed about this classical crossover artist (4/12/13, Music Center) Maurizio Pollini – The New York Times says this pianist's playing is ''powerful and precise'' (4/14/13, Music Center) Marian Anderson String Quartet – Quartet offers what the Los Angeles Times calls a ''big sound and bold theatricality'' (4/25/13, Mansion) Mak Grgic – Prize-winning 24-year-old Slovenian guitarist performs Bach, Ravel, Debussy and Brahms in transcriptions for guitar (5/9/13, Mansion) Kathleen Battle w/Cyrus Chestnut and the Heritage Signature Chorale – ''Underground Railroad'' explores the music that expressed the suffering and salvation of enslaved Africans as they found their way to freedom (5/18/13, Music Center)

WASHINGTON BACH CONSORT

National Presbyterian Church 4101 Nebraska Ave. NW 202-429-2121 bachconsort.org

Kings and Commoners – The consort kicks off a season celebrating its 35th season with a concert of music for the political season by Bach, Blow, Boyce, Gibbons and Handel (9/23) The Virtuoso Bach – Guest soprano Elizabeth Futral of the Metropolitan Opera joins consort soloists in an all-Bach program (11/4) Great Glad Tidings – A program of Bach cantatas for the holiday season (12/1) Bach for All Seasons – Organ favorites performed by the consort's director and founder J. Reilly Lewis and vocal music from the liturgical calendar (2/17/13) Honor and Remembrance – Choral and orchestral music by Schutz and Bach (3/10/13) The B Minor Mass – The monumental Mass in B Minor that Bach worked on throughout his life (4/28/13)

THE WASHINGTON CHORUS

202-342-6221 thewashingtonchorus.org

In addition to performances with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the famed Washington Chorus offers: The Essential Bernstein – The fourth season of this popular and unique series focuses on gay American legend, offering choral masterpieces from Candide (''Glitter and Be Gay,'' ''Make Our Garden Grow'') and West Side Story (''Somewhere,'' ''Maria''), among others (11/18, Kennedy Center) A Candlelight Christmas – Maryland's Marriotts Ridge High School Madigral Singers perform with the chorus in this Washington-area favorite holiday concert, complete with sing-alongs and taking full advantage of the theatrical lighting and acoustic possibilities of performing in the area's two principal concert halls (12/15, 12/22, Kennedy Center; 12/20-21, Strathmore) Elijah – The Children's Chorus of Washington joins the Chorus and soloists in Mendelssohn's masterpiece, one of the greatest choral works of all time (2/24/13, Kennedy Center) Comin' Up Shoutin' – Singer/songwriter and recording artist Melanie DeMore leads a concert exploring the rich sounds of the African-American heritage (5/19/13, National Presbyterian Church) New Music for a New Age – This year's edition of the award-winning series presents the works of Tarik O'Reagan (6/30/13, National Presbyterian Church)

WASHINGTON CONCERT OPERA

Lisner Auditorium The George Washington University 730 21st St. NW 202-364-5826 concertopera.org

La Sonnambula – Bellini's delightful, extraordinarily difficult bel canto opera centers on a love that unravels after a woman takes a walk in her sleep and provokes concern from a distrustful lover and a jealous friend; Eglise Gutierrez and René Barbera star in a concert version of this rarely heard opera (9/16, Lisner Auditorium) Maria Stuarda – The concert opera's Antony Walker conducts sopranos Brenda Harris and Georgia Jarman in Donizetti's vocal battle royal between England's dueling queens (4/7/13)

WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA

Kennedy Center Opera House 202-295-2400 dc-opera.org

Anna Bolena – The golden age of Italian bel canto opera shines with dark reflections in Donizetti's moving retelling of Anne Boleyn's tragedy starring Sondra Radvanovsky (9/15-10/6) Don Giovanni – Regarded as one of the greatest operas ever composed, Mozart weaves the tale of the legendary rake Don Juan into a comically lighthearted, but deadly serious, musical masterpiece (9/20-10/13) Celebrity Concert Series: Nathan Gunn – Ted Sperling conducts the WNO Orchestra in a concert featuring this baritone making his WNO debut (9/23) Opera in The Outfield Simulcast of Don Giovanni – A free, live broadcast of the WNO's current production, sponsored by M&M's (9/29, Nationals Park) In Recital: Angela Meade – Rising star makes her WNO debut with a ''diva program'' of arias offering a special preview of her spring 2013 performance in Norma (11/10) American Opera Initiative: Three 20-Minute Operas (11/19) Holiday Family Opera: Hansel and Gretel – Engelbert Humperdinck's captivating fairytale opera is brought to life for the holiday season (12/21-23) Manon Lescaut – Patricia Racette takes on the role of the first tragic heroine in a long list of Puccini favorites in what The Baltimore Sun calls an ''impassioned, sensual production'' by John Pascoe (3/2-23/13) Norma -- Angela Meade plays the Druid priestess secretly carrying on a love affair with the enemy's leader in the midst of the Gallic-Roman wars, who then exacts revenge when her lover's affections shift (3/9-24/13) Celebrity Concert Series: Diana Damrau – Possessing what The New York Times calls a ''lustrous, agile coloratura soprano voice, and charisma galore,'' opera star makes her WNO debut in an evening of dazzling music featuring WNO Orchestra conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson (4/8/13) Show Boat – A spectacular new opera production of this pioneering musical, one that the Chicago Tribune raves is a ''joyous, beautifully mounted entertainment [that] should keep rolling along for a long while to come'' (5/4-26/13)

WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY

202-833-9800 wpas.org

Richard Goode – Pianist, whom the San Francisco Chronicle calls ''among the post persuasive Beethoven interpreters,'' comes to town as part of WPAS's Piano Masters Series for, naturally, a program of Beethoven's last three piano sonatas (10/11, Kennedy Center) Inon Barnatan – Britten's Peter Grimes Fantasy is among the selections this pianist offers at this performance, the kickoff to WPAS's Hayes Piano Series, named after its founder Patrick Hayes and his wife to highlight emerging pianists (10/13, Kennedy Center) What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow – This year's series kicks off with pianist Brian Ganz performing two mazurkas and a Polonaise from the Polish-born French master Chopin after Kapilow's discussion (10/14, National Museum of Natural History) Paul Huang w/Jessica Osborne – Violinist and pianist kicks off WPAS's new Virtuoso Series focused on up-and-coming artists in a performance including Beethoven, Saint-Saens and Ravel (10/25, Kennedy Center) András Schiff – Pianist performs Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II as part of WPAS's Celebrity Series (10/30, Strathmore) Joshua Bell – Pianist Sam Haywood accompanies this Celebrity Series violinist in a performance of Schubert, Strauss, Dvorák and Prokofiev (11/1, Strathmore) Lukáš Vondrácek – Pianist performs Haydn, Rachmaninoff, Brahms and Prokofiev as part of WPAS's Hayes Piano Series (12/1, Kennedy Center) Yo-Yo Ma – The classical music superstar performs selected solo cello suits by Bach (12/3, Kennedy Center) Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela – The famous former youth orchestra led by Gustavo Dudamel (12/4, Kennedy Center) What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow – Musicians from the Curtis Institute of Music perform Dvorák as part of this discussion co-presented by Smithsonian Associates (12/9, National Museum of Natural History) Daniil Trifonov – Pianist performs Scriabin's Sonata No. 2 in G-Sharp Minor as part of a program in the Hayes Piano Series (1/19/13, Kennedy Center) Vilde Frang – Mozart, Fauré, Brahms and Prokofiev factor into a concert by this virtuoso violinist, a protégé of Anne-Sophie Mutter, accompanied by pianist Michail Lifits (1/27/13, Kennedy Center) Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg w/New Century Chamber Orchestra – Violinist performs Mendelssohn, Bach, Villa-Lobos and R. Strauss with this orchestra as part of WPAS's Celebrity Series (1/30/13, Strathmore) Angela Hewitt – this piano master, called ''the preeminent Bach pianist of our time'' by the U.K.'s The Guardian, performs pieces by Bach, Debussy and Ravel (2/8/13, Kennedy Center) WPAS Men, Women and Children of the Gospel Choirs and the Choral Arts Society of Washington – These choruses join forces, 300 singers in all, to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. in Living the Dream … Singing the Dream, this year held a month after King's national birthday observance due to Inauguration Day (2/10/13, Kennedy Center) Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra – Mariss Jansons leads the famous Dutch orchestra, ranked as the best by Gramophone, along with Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos (2/12/13, Kennedy Center) Hilary Hahn – Pianist Valentina Lisitsa accompanies this star violinist (2/16/13, Kennedy Center) Simone Dinnerstein – Celebrity pianist performs the music that first brought her international success, Bach's The Goldberg Variations (2/24/13, Strathmore) What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow – Peabody Chamber Orchestra performs Mozart's ''Jupiter'' symphony as part of this discussion co-presented by Smithsonian Associates and Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Institute of Music (3/10/13, National Museum of Natural History) Anne-Sophie Mutter – Pianist Lambert Orkis accompanies the celebrity violinist in a performance that includes the D.C. debut of Previn's Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano (3/13/13, Strathmore) Sir James Galway and Lady Jeanne Galway – Star husband-and-wife flute duo perform select Irish folk tunes and dances in honor of St. Patrick's Day, accompanied by pianist Michael McHale and a string trio (3/17/13, Kennedy Center) Dmitri Hvorostovksy – In partnership with the Choral Arts Society, WPAS presents a performance by this Russian opera baritone accompanied by pianist Ivari Ilja, focused on songs and arias by Rachmaninoff and others (3/20/13, Kennedy Center) San Francisco Symphony – Michael Tilson Thomas directs the orchestra in his much-lauded interpretation of Mahler's Symphony No. 9 (3/23/13, Kennedy Center) Amit Peled – Peabody Conservatory faculty member and cellist returns after a 2011 sold-out show, this time accompanied by pianist Alon Goldstein, in a program featuring Beethoven, Brahms and Chopin (3/24/13, Kennedy Center) What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow – Musicians from the Curtis Institute of Music team up again with Kapilow, this time to perform Schuman's Piano Quintet in E-flat Major as part of another discussion co-presented by Smithsonian Associates (4/7/13, National Museum of Natural History) Dresden Staatskapelle -– Celebrity orchestra, under new music director Christian Thielemann, offers an all-Brahms program with violinist Lisa Batiashvili (4/16/13, Strathmore) Evgeny Kissin – Star pianist performs Schubert's Impromptu pieces as well as sonatas by Hadyn and Beethoven and Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-sharp minor (4/24/13, Kennedy Center) Rafal Blechacz – Polish piano master performs Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Szymanowski (4/27/13, Kennedy Center) Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition Winner (4/28/13, Kennedy Center) The Philadelphia Orchestra – Violinist Hilary Hahn joins the orchestra led by its new director Yannick Nézet-Séguin to perform Korngold's Violin Concerto (5/1/13, Kennedy Center) Carducci String Quartet (5/4/13, Kennedy Center) Shai Wosner – Pianist performs a mostly Schubert program part of the WPAS's Hayes Piano Series (5/11/13, Kennedy Center) Markus Groh – In addition to Beethoven, Liszt and Wagner, this Hayes Piano Series guest offers the 2004 piece by Osvaldo Golijov, Levante for piano solo (6/1/13, Kennedy Center)

For more classical music listings, visit metroweekly.com/fallarts

When it comes to museums, D.C. is a big name. The name Smithsonian, for instance, is iconic. Certainly it lives up to that name this season with a range of offerings, from China's Ai Weiwei at the Hirshhorn to the Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello: Paradox of Liberty exhibit at the National Museum of American History. This season, however, big is being counterbalanced by tiny. From the International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature at the Mansion at Strathmore in North Bethesda, to 5x5(x5), featuring works that fit in a space of five square inches, at Alexandria's Torpedo Factory, this may be the fall of small.

1708 GALLERY

319 West Broad St. Richmond 804-643-1708 1708gallery.org Crest – A multimedia show of seven artists, all with ties to Virginia Commonwealth University, specifically interested in touch as found in varying types of impression (Now-10/6) New Faces 2012 – A multimedia glimpse of some of the fresh-faced talent enrolled in the BFA program at VCU (Now-December, Linden Row Inn, 100 E. Franklin St., Richmond) The New Obsolete by Invisible – Equal parts music performance, video and visual art, with closed captioning provided by a live typist, this two-night performance series features the ''Selectric Piano'' (10/12-13) Soren Huttel: Space time colour eclectic – Installation features abstract sculptural colored light elements, both found and handmade, which will serve as the only light in the gallery for spooky effect (10/19-12/8) InLight Richmond 2012 – A one-night, public exhibition of light-based art installations taking place along downtown Richmond's revitalizing Broad Street corridor, a mix of visual, performance and interactive art this year curated by Melissa Ho of D.C.'s Hirshhorn Museum (11/2) Eric McMaster – Multimedia installation featuring a small-scale hockey rink and photos and videos of hockey teams in action (1/4-2/15/13)

AMERICAN VISIONARY ART MUSEUM

800 Key Highway Baltimore 410-244-1900 avam.org

The Art of Storytelling: Lies, Enchantment, Humor & Truth – The museum's 18th, yearlong exhibition explores the power of stories to inspire and enchant, spread lies or to inform through visual narratives created by 30-plus artists, working in all manner of media, from sculpture to film to diorama and even embroidery (10/6-9/1/13) Gretchen Feldman: Love Letter to Earth (1934-2008) – Retrospective of more than 40 vivid paintings by late abstract artist focused on theme of ''Perfect Unions'' (Now-Jan)

ARTHUR M. SACKLER GALLERY

1050 Independence Ave. SW 202-633-4800 asia.si.edu

Nomads and Networks: The Ancient Art and Culture of Kazakhstan – The first U.S. exhibition to present a comprehensive overview of the country's ancient nomadic culture, with objects drawn from the Central Asian nation's major museums (Now-11/25) Shadow Sites: Recent Work by Jananne al-Ani – a new body of video work examining enduring representations of the Middle Eastern landscape (Now-1/27/13) Perspectives: Ai Weiwei – In conjunction with a Hirshhorn survey on the famous Chinese artist, the Sackler presents the artist's 2005 monumental installation, ''Fragments,'' offering a wry commentary on the bewildering state of a rapidly changing society (Now-4/7/13) Roads of Arabia: Archaeology and History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – A look at the largely unknown ancient past of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, drawing on recently discovered archaeological finds never before seen in the U.S., from elegant alabaster bowls and fragile glassware to heavy gold earrings and Hellenistic bronze statues (11/17-2/24/13) Yoga: The Art of Transformation – The world's first exhibition about yoga's visual history, featuring sculptures, paintings, photographs, books and films from 25 museums and private collections around the world, all exploring how the discipline's meanings have changed over time (Fall 2013)

ARTISPHERE

1101 Wilson Blvd. Arlington 703-875-1100 artisphere.com

Beth Baldwin – Artisphere's current artist-in-residence creates unique animals and houses from recycled materials in full view of the public, in a studio off Artisphere's main entrance lobby (Now-11/11) Julia Christensen – Ohio-based artist and writer has created original art for one of two in-operation Arlington County buses, part of Artisphere's ''Art on the ART Bus'' program (Now-11/30) Jenny Sidhu Mullins – Local artist has created original art for the other in-operation Arlington County bus, part of Artisphere's ''Art on the ART Bus'' program (Now-11/30) Pattee Hipschen: Rural Beauty, A Visual Diary of the American Landscape – Exhibit of brightly colored paintings and bold monotype prints capturing the artist's travels through the Midwest landscape (Now-10/27) Beyond The Parking Lot: The Change and Re-assessment of Our Modern Landscape – Inspired by Joni Mitchell's ''Big Yellow Taxi,'' exhibition explores the present and future of parking lots, and deeper issues of how modern society adapts and uses the land, and to what effect (Now-11/4) Jassie Rios + Renee Van Der Stelt: Drawing the Found Line – Artists collaborate to produce a series of site-generated drawings (Now-11/4)

THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART

10 Art Museum Drive Baltimore 443-573-1700 artbma.org

Matisse's Dancers – Spanning three decades of the great French artist's career, this exhibition features more than 30 dance-themed prints, drawings and sculptures, including a rarely shown series of 11 transfer lithographs, published after Matisse's death (11/14-2/24/13) Contemporary Art Wing Reopening – Rediscover favorite artworks by Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg and others and discover powerful new acquisitions, including a site-specific sculptural work by Sarah Oppenheimer in BMA's transformed contemporary art space, which also sees the debut of two new exhibitions, one featuring large-scale color photographs by South African artist Zwelethu Mthethwa, the other featuring artist collaborative Allora & Calzadilla's video work, A Man Screaming Is Not a Dancing Bear (11/18/12)

CIVILIAN ART PROJECTS

1019 7th St. NW 202-607-3804 civilianartprojects.com

Dan Tague – Independence in the Age of Decadence – New Orleans-based artist's work addresses disparity in contemporary American society (9/14-10/20) Frank DiPerna – Found Images presents never-before exhibited work photographed over the last five years in the U.S. and abroad (9/14-10/20)

CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART

500 17th St. NW 202-639-1700 corcoran.org

Charlotte Dumas: Anime – Noted globetrotting animal photographer presents a newly commissioned series of portraits centered on the majestic burial horses of Arlington National Cemetery (Now-10/28) Ivan Sigal: White Road – American photographer traveled through Central Asia from 1998 through 2005, recording the unsettled lives of Eurasians in provincial towns and cities (11/3-1/27/13) Enoc Perez: Utopia – Lushly figured paintings of modernist buildings at once exploit and question the seductions of architecture as well as painting itself (11/12-2/10/13) Taryn Simon: A Living Man Declared Dead and Other Chapters I-XVIII – Artist traveled the world researching and recording bloodlines and their related stories (11/10-2/24/13) Cosmo Couture – The International Interior Design Association's yearly fundraiser showcases garments designed by local interior design and architecture firms using innovative architectural materials, this year centered on Raymond Saunders's ''Red Star'' painting (9/26-10/14) On The Campaign Trail – Exhibition features campaign photography from The Washington Post, design work by Corcoran students and election-inspired paintings by the homeless men and women of Miriam's Kitchen (10/17-11/4)

FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY

201 East Capitol St. SE 202-544-7077 folger.edu

Open City: London, 1500-1700 – As London went from being simply the capital of England to the heart of a world empire, the shift altered residents' sense of community, particularly as it relates to church, theater and market (Now-9/30) Very Like A Whale – Explores the interplay between the real world and the world of the Renaissance imagination, put together by the Library's Michael Witmore and artist Rosamond Purcell (10/16-1/6/13)

GALLERY PLAN B

1530 14th St. NW 202-234-2711 galleryplanb.com

Paintings by Sheep Jones (Now-10/14) Paintings by Gary Fisher and Anne Manley (10/17-11/18) 2012 Year-End Group Show (11/23-12/24) Paintings by Ted Milligan (Jan/Feb 2013) Works by Marilee H. Shapiro: ''A Centennial Celebration'' (Feb/March 2013) Paintings by Kevin H. Adams (April/May 2013) Works by Karen Hubacher (May/June 2013)

HIRSHHORN MUSEUM & SCULPTURE GARDEN

700 Independence Ave. SW 202-633-1000 hirshhorn.si.edu

Ai Weiwei: Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads – Chinese artist's monumental outdoor installation showcases the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac (Now-2/24/13) Ai Weiwei: According to What? – Major survey of China's most controversial contemporary artist, who designed the Bird's Nest Stadium for the Beijing Olympics, includes examples from sculpture, photography and video (10/7-Feb 2013) Black Box: Jeroen Eisinga (Now-Oct) Directions: Antonio Rovaldi (Now-Nov) Dark Matters (Now-Jan 2013)

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

10 First St. SE 202-707-8000 loc.gov/events

Books That Shaped America – Intended to spark a national conversation on books and their importance in advance of the National Book Festival; from Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine, to Frederick Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe, to Alfred Kinsey and Ayn Rand, to Betty Friedan and Randy Shilts (Now-9/29) The Musical Worlds of Victor Herbert – Exhibition focuses on the work of the Irish-American composer and activist, best known for his century-old Babes in Toyland (Now-1/26/13) Down to Earth: Herblock and Photographers Observe the Environment – 15 cartoons and 17 photographs highlight the late four-time Pultizer Prize winner's longstanding support for protecting the environment (9/22-3/23/13) The Civil War in America – To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Library presents more than 175 unique items, many never before on public view, from the library's unparalleled Civil War collections (11/12-5/23/13)

LONG VIEW GALLERY

1234 9th St. NW 202-232-4788 longviewgallery.com

Sondra N. Arkin – Pattern Transformation (Now-9/23) Cheryl Wassenaar – Syntax (9/27-10/28) Color Schooled – A show featuring artists whose work is heavily influenced by the Washington Color School (11/1-12/2)

MANSION AT STRATHMORE

First Floor Galleries and Gudelsky Gallery Suite 5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda 301-581-5100 strathmore.org

Skin – The art of body modification, through tattoos, henna and body painting, is explored in this exhibition, which also looks at the historical and cultural significance of epidermal decor (9/15-11/3) Grayscale – The connection of grayscale images to the past and their meaning in the present is explored in this photography exhibition (11/17-12/29) International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature – Intricately detailed works of art, painstakingly produced in miniature, on popular display (11/17-12/29) 22nd Annual Strathmore Artists Juried Exhibition – Featuring works by area artists, from painters to sculptors to photographers to mixed-media artists (1/7-2/9/13) Pulse: Art and Medicine – Exhibition looks at illness, wellness and health through the eyes of the visual artist (2/16-4/13/13) Drawing for Art – Every ticketholder on the closing day of this exhibition leaves with a work of art, per a drawing (4/18-4/28/13) Creative Crafts Council 29th Biennial (5/4-6/13/13) World on a String – Exhibition focuses on the art of the puppet show and the effect of puppetry on contemporary visual art (6/22-8/17/13)

NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

600 Independence Ave. SW 202-633-2214 airandspace.si.edu

Time and Navigation – Revolutions in timekeeping over three centuries have influenced how we find our way (Opens March 2013)

NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM

401 F St. NW 202-272-2448 nbm.org

Kevin Roche: Architecture as Environment – An exhibition of third-generation modernist whose architecture captures the spirit of the post-industrial age (Now-12/2) House & Home – A long-term exhibition surveys houses both familiar and surprising, through past and present – including a same-sex couple – challenging ideas about what it means to live at home in America (Now-5/1/17) Detroit Is No Dry Bones – Photographer Camilo José Vergara documents not only the city's storied decline, but also how its residents have survived (9/30-2/18/13) Detroit Disassembled – Photographer Andrew Moore reveals the tragic beauty of Detroit through images of abandoned and overgrown architecture (9/30-2/18/13) PLAY WORK BUILD – An immersive, hands-on installation featuring molded foam blocks of all shapes and sizes and an original virtual block play experience (Opens 11/18) Palaces for the People: Guastavino and America's Great Public Spaces – Rafael Guastavino Sr. was arguably one of the most influential architectural craftsmen working in America a century ago, designing tiles in New York's City Hall Subway Station and in the Baird Auditorium of the National Museum of Natural History, among other venues (3/16-9/2/13)

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

3rd Street and Constitution Avenue NW 202-737-4215 nga.gov

George Bellows – The National Gallery offers the first comprehensive exhibition in more than three decades of this artist, hailed as one of the greatest artists America had yet produced when he died in 1925 (Now-10/8) Elegance and Refinement: The Still-Life Paintings of Willem van Aelst – Few artists were more skilled at depicting luscious fruits and spoils of the hunt than this 17th century Dutch painter, the most technically brilliant still-life painter of his time (Now-10/14) Shock of the News – From Picasso to Man Ray to Robert Rauschenberg to Laurie Anderson, artists over the past century have engaged in a vibrant and multifaceted relationship with the printed news by co-opting, mimicking, defusing, memorializing and rewriting newspapers (9/23-1/27/13) Imperial Augsburg: Renaissance Prints and Drawings, 1475-1540 (9/30-12/31) The Serial Portrait: Photography and Identity in the Last One Hundred Years – Featuring 153 works by 20 artists who photographed the same subjects over the course of days, months or years in attempts to capture the complexity of human beings (9/30-12/31) Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective – The first major exhibition since the artist's death in 1997, featuring more than 100 of his greatest paintings, plus related drawings and sculptures (10/14-1/13/13) Modern Lab: The Box as Form, Structure and Container (10/10-6/10/13) In The Library: Announcements from the Vertical Files (1/7-4/26/13) Color, Line, Light: French Drawings, Watercolors and Pastels from Delacroix to Signac (1/27-5/26/13) Faking It: Manipulated Photography before Photoshop – Photography is, and always has been, a medium of fabricated truths and artful lies as documented by the first major exhibition devoted to the history of manipulated photographs before the digital age (2/17-5/5/13) Pre-Raphaelites: Victorian Art and Design, 1848-1900 (2/17-5/19/13)

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MUSEUM

1145 17th St. NW 202-857-7700 nationalgeographic.com

Wicked Weather: Photographs from National Geographic – Stunning images from around the world documenting drought, lightning storms, hurricanes and tsunamis (Now-10/23) 1001 Inventions: Discover the Golden Age of Muslim Civilization – A thousand years of advances in science and technology, between the 7th and 17th centuries, have had a huge but hidden impact on the modern world (Now-2/3/13) Desert Air: Photographs by George Steinmetz – One of National Geographic's top expedition photographers captures the otherworldly beauty of ''extreme deserts'' (Now-1/27/13)

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY

1400 Constitution Ave. NW 202-633-1000 americanhistory.si.edu

Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello: Paradox of Liberty – The man who drafted the Declaration of Independence and called slavery an ''abominable crime'' was also a lifelong slaveholder, as documented by the slave families who lived at Jefferson's gorgeous hillside home (Now-10/14) Not Lost in Translation: The Life of Clotilde Arias – Exhibit offers a window in key moments in the past century of American history, all through the lens of this Peruvian immigrant who translated the American national anthem into its official Spanish version (Opens 9/27)

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW 202-633-1000 mnh.si.edu

Against All Odds: Rescue at the Chilean Mine – More than two months after Chile's San José mine collapsed in the fall of 2010, the world watched agape as rescued miners emerged one by one looking healthy and joyous. This exhibition pays tribute to the work of those who rescued them (Now-9/30) 2011 Nature's Best Photography Awards – Exhibition celebrates the work of nature photographers, specifically recipients of the Windland Smith Rice International Awards (Now-April 2013) Titanoboa: Monster Snake – Documenting one of the greatest discoveries since the T-Rex: fossils from a Colombian coal mine of a snake 48 feet long and weighing in at 2,500 pounds (Now-1/6/13) Portraits of Planet Ocean: The Photography of Brian Skerry – Amazing underwater photographs from some of the most beautiful, diverse and threatened environments on the planet (Opens Feb 2013)

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN

4th Street and Independence Avenue SW 202-633-1000 nmai.si.edu

A Song for the Horse Nation – Presenting the epic story of the horse's influence on American Indian tribes beginning with the return of horses to the Western Hemisphere by Christopher Columbus to the present day (Now-1/7/13) Arctic Journeys/Ancient Memories: The Sculpture of Abraham Anghik Ruben – Inuvialuit artist portrays journeys of exploration, migration and displacement in his sculptures of Norse adventurers and Inuit whale hunters (10/4-1/2/13)

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

8th and F Streets NW 202-633-1000 npg.si.edu

1812: A Nation Emerges – Exhibit documents key Americans who influenced the outcome of the War of 1812, transforming and unifying the country (Now-1/27/13) One Life: Amelia Earhart – portraits of the aviator in all artistic media, with a focus on her role in breaking barriers for women (Now-5/27/13) A Will of Their Own: Judith Sargent Murray and Women of Achievement in the Early Republic – Portraits of eight prominent American women of the late 18th century (Now-9/2/13) Poetic Likeness: Modern American Poets – A survey of poetry in America and its impact on society (10/12-4/28/13) Portraiture Now: Drawing on the Edge – The sixth exhibition in a series explores the boundaries that once defined drawing and portraiture (11/16-8/18/13)

THE OLD PRINT GALLERY

1220 31st St. NW 202-965-1818 oldprintgallery.com

Water – A group show featuring prints by local, national and international contemporary artists (Now-9/14) Su-Li Hung & Richard Sloat: 40 Years Together in Art – A creative and romantic partnership is celebrated with a retrospective of each artist's work (9/21-10/10)

THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION

1600 21st St. NW 202-387-2151 phillipscollection.org

Duncan Phillips and Washington Collections in the 1920s – Selected correspondence, manuscripts, photographs and books reveal the relationships between the Collection's founder and other local museums and private collections (Now-12/30) Intersections: Sandra Cinto – One Day, After the Rain is composed of intricate ink and acrylic drawings on canvas that cover the café walls (Now-12/30/13) Per Kirkeby: Paintings and Sculpture – One of Europe's most celebrated living artists (10/6-1/6/13) Picturing the Sublime: Photographs from the Joseph and Charlotte Lichtenberg Collection – From Ansel Adams to Francis Frith to Edward Burtynsky, 11 photographs documenting how artists use the camera to capture the natural world (10/11-1/13/13) Intersections: Xavier Veilhan – (IN)balance is the first major presentation of mixed-media artist's work in the U.S. (11/3-2/10/13)

PROJECT 4 GALLERY

1353 U St. NW No. 302 202-232-4340 project4gallery.com

Jill Townsley: Toil (Now-10/13)

RED DOOR GALLERY

1607 West Main St. Richmond 804-358-0211 reddoorgalleryrichmond.com

Christopher Stephens – Sycamore Musings offers a collection of Shenandoah Valley paintings (Now-10/27) Peter Batchelder (11/2-12/31)

SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM

8th and F Streets NW 202-633-7970 americanart.si.edu The Art of Video Games – One of the first exhibitions to explore the 40-year evolution of videogames as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies (Now-9/30) Inventing a Better Mousetrap: Patent Models from the Rothschild Collection – Featuring 32 models illustrating the wide variety of 19th century patented inventions submitted by inventors from across the U.S. (Now-11/3/13) 40 under 40: Craft Futures - Featuring 40 artists born since 1972, when the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery opened (Now-2/3/13) The Civil War and American Art – Exploring the impact of the Civil War and its aftermath on the visual arts in America using some of the finest artworks made during this period (11/16-4/28/13) Nam June Paik: Art and Process – Unprecedented view into the Korea-born artist, whose innovative, media-based artwork was grounded in the practices of avant-garde music and performance art (12/14-8/11/13)

THE TEXTILE MUSEUM

2320 S St. NW 202-667-0441 textilemuseum.org

Dragons, Nagas and Creatures of the Deep – This exhibition presents a global selection of textiles depicting dragons and related fantastical creatures of legend in recognition of 2012 as the East Asian calendar's Year of the Dragon (Now-1/6/13) The Sultan's Garden: The Blossoming of Ottoman Art – Exhibition unveils the influence of Ottoman floral style – including the fact that development of the design identity can be attributed to a single artist working in Istanbul – and traces its continuing impact through the textile arts (9/21-3/10/13) Out of Southeast Asia: Art That Sustains – Historic textile artworks from the museum's collection plus the work of four contemporary artists and designers demonstrate how contemporary artists are preserving the traditional arts even as they interpret them in new and innovative ways (April-Oct 2013)

TORPEDO FACTORY

105 N. Union St. Alexandria 703-838-4565 torpedofactory.org

Fractured/Reconnected: exhibition of monotypes by Judith Coady – Coady displays a striking series of colorful geometric monotypes reflecting her study of how form can be deconstructed and then re-formed in a new way (Now-10/31, Studio 325) 25: Target Gallery Celebrate 25 Years – An all-media exhibition with the theme of world events from the past 25 years (Now-9/30, Target Gallery) Color Sphere (10/3-11/5, Art League Gallery) Homage: Past Influences – A juried exhibit that invites artists to submit work that pays respect or dedication to past influences (10/6-28, Target Gallery) Art on the Rocks – A creative cocktail competition that features art-inspired creations by several local mixologists (10/24, Art League Gallery) Upheaval – A juried photography exhibition that explores the theme of upheaval, whether in our own lives or throughout the world (11/3-12/2, Target Gallery) 5x5(x5) – An all-media small works juried exhibition that includes work that fits within the parameters of 5 inches in all dimensions (12/8-1/6/13, Target Gallery)

TOUCHSTONE GALLERY

901 New York Ave. NW 202-347-2787 touchstonegallery.com

Color Grids by Charlie Dale and Seen/Unseen by Rosemary Luckett – Dale presents a new series of geometric abstract paintings while Luckett's solo exhibition includes monotypes and sculptural works (Now-9/30)

VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

428 North Boulevard Richmond 804-358-4901 vahistorical.org

For the Love of Beauty: The Collections of Lora and Claiborne Robins – Presenting 19th century Hudson River School landscape paintings and colonial furniture from the late Richmond philanthropist couple (Now-12/30) An Artist's Story: Civil War Drawings by Edwin Forbes – Forbes's drawings for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper would do much to shape public perceptions of the American Civil War (Now-1/7/13) End of an Era: The Photography of Jack Jeffers – Exhibition displays prints of people and landscapes from the Appalachian region of western Virginia taken by award-winning photographer before he moved to Wyoming (Now-1/28/13)

VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

200 North Boulevard Richmond 804-340-1400 vmfa.state.va.us

Visions of France: Three Postwar Photographers – Robert Doisneau, Edouard Boubat and Joel Meyerowitz are three artists who helped establish Paris's reputation as the ''cradle of street photography'' (Now-10/28) Diana Al-Hadid: Trace of a Fictional Third – Sculpture artist makes complex structures that seem in a state of flux, suggesting both incompletion and decay (Now-11/25) Indian Silver for the Raj – Featuring a magnificent collection of colonial Indian silver recently acquired by the museum (Now-2/3/13) Gesture: Judith Godwin and Abstract Expressionism – Virginia-born abstract painter was one of the first women to gain acceptance in the larger, national art world (Now-1/27/13) Chihuly at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts – Internationally renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly offers many iconic works plus site-specific installations (10/20-2/10/13) Fine Arts & Flowers – Members from more than 75 garden clubs across the state interpret masterworks in the museum's collection with floral arrangements throughout the galleries (10/24-28)

THE WALTERS ART MUSEUM

600 North Charles St. Baltimore 410-547-9000 thewalters.org

African Presence: Student Response – In advance of the Walters's major exhibit on African influence in Renaissance Europe, area middle and high school students were encouraged to create artwork on the subject (9/15-2/3/13) Revealing the African Presence in Renaissance Europe – Groundbreaking exhibition explores the wealth of European art revealing the hidden presence of Africans in Renaissance society and the many roles they played (10/14-1/21/13) Diadem and Dagger: Jewish Silversmiths of Yemen – Approximately 25 beautiful silver pieces created by Yemeni-Jewish craftsmen (10/27-1/21/13) The Ben Exra Synagogue and the Walters-Yeshiva University Ark Door – Focus of this show is on an intricately decorated and inscribed wood panel believed to come from Cairo (3/2/13-5/26/13) New Eyes on America: The Genius of Richard Caton Woodville – Early 19th century painter of iconic works of American genre (3/10/13-6/2/13)

WASHINGTON PRINTMAKERS GALLERY

Pyramid Atlantic Art Center 8230 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring 301-273-3660 washingtonprintmakers.com

Blurring The Lines – A special exhibition of mixed-media prints by member artists (Now-9/30) Deron DeCesare – Old World and New: Apart, though still a part includes prints inspired by a recent trip to Italy (10/3-28) Both Sides of the Brain – A group exhibition exploring the concept of duality within personality (10/3-28) Before and After the Derecho – Many of Yolanda Frederikse's prints made specifically for a solo exhibition were damaged or destroyed along with her studio by the June derecho, and this exhibition will reflect that reality (10/31-11/25) Carol E.S. MacDonald – Line - Structure - Pattern explores the role of process, repetition and the essential elements found in our daily lives and the natural world through knitting (10/31-11/25)

Whether you're a longtime movement enthusiast or curious newcomer, the metro area's exploding dance scene is bound to have something – very many things – up its collective sleeve to tempt you in these coming weeks and months. The Washington Ballet offers a spooky Halloween thrill with Dracula, for example, or join Jane Franklin Dance, catering to the kiddie set with The Acoustic Rooster and its barnyard characters Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald. Washington's dance pros – and visiting artists from far and wide – guarantee a dazzling season to satisfy every conceivable taste.

THE ALDEN

McLean Community Center 1234 Ingleside Ave. Mclean, Va. 703-790-0123 aldentheatre.org

New York Stage Originals' Tap Kids – Eight of the nation's most talented young tap dancers celebrate American youth culture (1/26/13) Christopher K. Morgan & Artists – D.C.-based contemporary dance company, led by gay namesake, is The Alden's resident dance company (4/12-4/13/13)

CITYDANCE

CityDance Studio Theater at Strathmore 5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda 202-347-3909 citydance.net

Christopher K. Morgan & Artists – The resident professional dance company at Strathmore performs Spiraling in a program that also includes guest performances by the Dance Exchange and CityDance Conservatory (10/27-28) Hubbard Street 2 & CityDance Conservatory Dancers – Signature repertory from both groups, plus new works by CityDance's 2012-13 choreographer-in-residence and pieces by Brazilian choreographers Janice Botelho and Alex Neoral (11/2-3) Erica Rebollar/Rebollar Dance – CityDance, in partnership with CulturalDC's Mead Theatre Lab Program, presents the piece Space Junk, exploring the dialogue of the body as it negotiates inner and outer space (12/1-2)

CLARICE SMITH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

University of Maryland College Park 301-405-ARTS claricesmithcenter.umd.edu

Lucky Plush Productions - The Better Half – A dance-theater hybrid based on and poking fun at the film Gaslight, about a villainous husband who tries to drive his wife insane (10/4-5) Shared Graduate Thesis Concert: Shannon Dooling and Xuejuan Feng (10/18-19) Maryland Dance Ensemble (11/30-12/1) Dance Exchange – Straight to the Source, Part 1 & 2 features Dance Exchange's Cassie Meador and Sarah Levitt collaborating with participants to create movement, text and song drawn from personal stories, current events and physical explorations (12/10-11) 30th Choreographers' Showcase 2013 (1/26/13) Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and SITI Company – Leaders of these two famous companies team up for the first time, deconstructing Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring (2/8-9/13) Shared Graduate Dance Concert – Program of works by first- and second-year graduate students (2/21-22/13) Shared Graduate Thesis Concert: Graham Brown and Kwame Opare (3/14-15/13) Nora Chipaumire - Miriam – Renowned choreographer and dancer creates her first character-driven work exploring the struggles women can face in pursuing their dreams and their own measures of beauty (4/4-6/13) Maryland Dance Ensemble – Springing from Fantasy (4/18-21/13)

DANCE PLACE

3225 8th St. NE 202-269-1600 danceplace.org

EDGEWORKS Dance Theater – Helanius J. Wilkins, founder of this all-male company, performs solo in /CLOSE/R, exploring notions of what is uncomfortable (9/15-16) Nan Jombang – A family of artists from Indonesia blending performing arts traditions of drumming, dance and martial arts with spirituality and contemporary movement (9/22-23) Nathan Andary & Tzveta Kassabova – Andary performs a provocative piece combining live and virtual dance while Kassabova, one of Dance Magazine's ''Top 25 to Watch'' for 2012, offers a mixed program of favorite solos and newly crafted experiments (10/6-7) Eric Hampton…With Us, Again – Some of D.C.'s most prominent dance companies perform works by this late local choreographer, including Bowen McCauley Dance, Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh, DanceSmith, Karen Reedy Dance and Maryland Youth Ballet (10/13-14) Dance Place's Fall Gala (10/20) Da Originalz Hip-Hop Battle (10/27) DancEthos – Company performs works of talented local choreographers, including Vladimir Angelov, Christopher K. Morgan, Erica Rebollar, Katerina Rodgaard and DancEthos directors Tiffany Haughn and Carolyn Kamrath (11/10-11) Vincent E. Thomas/VTDance – Shadows is this choreographer's most stunning and ambitious work to date, a combination of animation, film and humor in collaboration with Phil Davis, Sujan Shrestha and comedian Sampson (11/17-18) 16th Annual Youth Festival (12/1-2) Human Landscape Dance & Code f.a.d. – American Gods juxtaposes mythology against modern-day fashion designers (12/9-10) Fieldwork for Mixed Disciplines Fall Showing (12/12) Coyaba Dance Theater's Kwanzaa Celebration (12/14-16) Deep Vision Dance Company & withhart.dance.projects (1/12-13/13) KanKouran West African Dance Company – Annual performance honoring Martin Luther King Jr. (1/18-19/13) Stephanie Miracle – Investigating the intersections between ordinary, physical realities and imagined, spiritual or supernatural landscapes (1/26-27/13) LEVYdance with Sidra Bell Dance New York – A special 10th year celebration of the San Francisco company in collaboration with New York's Sidra Bell (2/2-3/13) Step It Up DC – Dance Place Step Team offers dance workshops for the whole family followed by an informal performance (2/8/13) Brian Sanders' JUNK (2/9-10/13, Atlas) Idan Cohen Dance Company – The Israeli choreographer presents an ecstatic work set to Mozart's solo piano sonatas (2/23-24/13) Lionel Popkin – Ruth Doesn't Live Here Anymore questions the cultural idea of ''oriental'' dance (3/2-3/13) ClancyWorks Dance Company – Company is particularly notable for its dynamic partnering work and its ability to combine physically demanding, powerful movement with the sensitive portrayal of cultural nuances and personal emotions (3/9-3/10/13) Dance Exchange (3/16-17/13) TAKE Dance – New York company's Salaryman takes audiences through a day in the life of overworked Japanese executives (3/23-24/13) Kyle Abraham/Abraham.in.Motion – New work inspired by the 1991 film Boyz N The Hood from ''the best and brightest creative talent to emerge in New York City in the age of Obama,'' according to Out Magazine (4/6-7/13) Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company – Local company premieres a reconstruction of Anna Sokolow's iconic Magritte Magritte along with a new work by gay namesake Singh (4/13-14/13) Karen Sherman – Minneapolis-based artist Sherman offers One with Others, which uses choreography both desperate and delicate, grappling with desire, communication, humiliation and destiny (4/20-21/13) REVISION Dance Company – Just Be explores the raw emotions and personal experiences of working with people with disabilities (4/27-28/13) Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble – Colorado dance ensemble that draws from the African-American experience (5/4-5/13) Arachne Aerial Arts & In-Flight Theater – Two area companies at the forefront of aerial performance join forces to create a bold new piece on the myth of Demeter and Persephone (5/10-11/13) Christopher K. Morgan & Artists and skybetter and associates – Two contemporary dance companies perform the joint work commissioned by the Kennedy Center's Local Commissioning Dance Project in addition to works by each company (5/18-19/13) DanceAfrica DC 2013 – The 26th annual festival celebrating the dance and music of the African Diaspora (6/1-2/13) Peter DiMuro/Public Displays of Motion – Celebrated local dance educator leads a band of dancers and choreographers creating multi-genre dances to the preludes of Rachmaninoff in Future Preludes (6/22-23/13) alight dance theater (6/29-30/13) New Releases Choreographers' Showcase – Intended as a lab for choreographers to create dances through improvisation and shared critique (7/20-21/13) Choreographers Collaboration Project (7/27-28/13) Glade Dance Collective & UpRooted Dance (8/3-4/13) The Energizers Summer Camp Concert (8/8-9/13)

DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Georgetown University 3700 O St. NW 202-687-ARTS performingarts.georgetown.edu

Black Movements Dance Theatre: Fall Performance (11/9-10) Georgetown University Dance Company: Fall Performance – A high-energy, pre-professional repertory dance ensemble (11/16-17) Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Georgetown and Ritmo Y Sabor – The annual winter performance celebrates the coming Christmas season with dances from across Mexico (12/6) Black Movements Dance Theatre: Spring Performance (2/15-16/13) Georgetown University Dance Company (2/22-23/13) Groove Theory: One Move, One Groove – 4th annual program from Georgetown's only coed hip-hop team (3/15/13) Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Georgetown and Ritmo Y Sabor – 5th annual spring showcase (4/18/13) Once Wild: Isadora in Russia, a Word Dance Theater co-production – New play brings to life the choreography of Isadora Duncan from her time in Russia nearly a century ago (5/3-5/4/13)

GALA HISPANIC THEATRE

3333 14th St. NW 202-234-7174 galatheatre.org

Teatro Linea de Sombra's Amarillo – Powerful dance-theater show focuses on a man who vanishes from the U.S.-Mexico border (11/2-3) Flamenco Fest: Fuego Flamenco VIII – The 8th annual festival includes the U.S. debut of Karen Lugo from Madrid (11/16-18); Spanish Dance Society's family Flamenco demonstrations (11/24); and the world premiere of Flamenco/Flamenca, by Washington's Edwin Aparicio and his Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company (11/30-12/2)

JANE FRANKLIN DANCE

703-933-1111 janefranklin.com

Fall Preview – A sampling of moves for the coming year set to music for guitar, cello, mandolin by Mark Sylvester, who'll perform with cellist Natalie Spehar (9/22, The Athenaeum, Alexandria) The Big Meow – Adapted from the book by Elizabeth Spires (9/29, Kaleidoscope for Kids at Durant Center, Alexandria; also 2/9/13 and 4/20/13, Theatre on the Run) The Obstinate Pen – Adapted from the book by Frank Dormer, a humorous story about a pen with a mind of its own, especially meant for children (10/27, Theatre on the Run, Arlington) Forty+ or Minus (10/27, 2/2/13, 4/20/13 Theatre on the Run) The Acoustic Rooster – Another book adaptation, this time featuring its author Kwame Alexander, in a tale about a jazz-loving rooster who goes up against Mules Davis's cool duo and Ella Finchgerald's singing group in a barnyard talent show (2/2/13, 4/13/13, Theatre on the Run) Dance Sampler – Jane Franklin Dance organizes a second annual adjudicated showcase of selected dance works by six different choreographers (3/23/13, Woolly Mammoth)

JOE'S MOVEMENT EMPORIUM

3309 Bunker Hill Road Mount Rainier, Md. 301-699-1819 joesmovement.org

Dance Box Theater – We Are Here, featuring a score by Stephen Clapp, is performed by Clapp and Laura Schandelmeier with guest dance artists Brooke Kidd and Wakili McNeill (9/13-16) Deviated Theatre – siGHt, first created for the Kennedy Center, is dubbed a ''dance opera'' and focused on a ghost-seeing young girl and her unbelieving parents (9/19-10/7) NonaLeeDance Theatre – Nuclear Quest: Journey to the Core (11/17-18) 24 Hour Dance Project – Jane Franklin Dance presents this showcase of choreographers, dancers and musicians given only 24 hours to create, rehearse and perform new works (12/2) Youth Class Showcase (12/8) Arachne Aerial Arts – Aerial works-in-progress featuring the company's students and other regional aerial artists (12/16)

KENNEDY CENTER

2700 F St. NW 202-467-4600 kennedy-center.org

Company | E – Local company performs on the Millennium Stage as part of the Kennedy Center's Local Commissioning Dance Project (9/20-21) Sivam Inc. featuring Priyadarsini Govind and T.M. Krishna – Saayujva offers Bharatanatyam dances and Carnatic vocals (9/23) 7th Annual Korean Art & Soul: Master Park Jai Hee and Master Kook Soo Ho – Dance professor at Cheongji University and Didim Dance Company director perform classical Korean dances as part of this multi-artistic celebration of artists from the Republic of Korea, presented by the Korean American Cultural Arts Foundation (9/29) Women from Africa: Voices of Strength – A multi-genre, mixed repertory program celebrating the diversity and talent of contemporary African choreographers, featuring Kettly Noel from Haiti/Mali, Nelisiwe Xaba from South Africa, Nadia Beugré from the Ivory Coast, Maria Helena Pinto from Mozambique and Bouchra Ouizguen from Morocco (10/4-5) Christopher K. Morgan & Artists with Sydney Skybetter & Associates – Local company performs on the Millennium Stage as part of the Kennedy Center's Local Commissioning Dance Project (10/5-6) Bayanihan - The National Folk Dance Company of the Philippines – Philippinescape offers five dance suits portraying different aspects of life, history and culture (11/3-4) The Suzanne Farrell Ballet – Kennedy Center's resident ballet presents two mixed programs featuring four company premieres by Balanchine (11/7-11) Lar Lubovitch Dance Company – Internationally renowned New York-based company makes its Kennedy Center debut with what Dance Magazine refers to as ''soothing and reviving'' choreography (11/29-30) JUBA! Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance – Co-presented by the Chicago Human Rhythm Project (12/7) Shen Yun Performing Arts – The world's premier classical Chinese dance and music companies return to the Kennedy Center in a co-presentation by the Falun Dafa Association of Washington, D.C. (1/29-2/3/13) Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – America's cultural ambassador to the world returns to the Kennedy Center for its annual engagement featuring new works and enduring classics (2/5-10/13) Nordic Cool 2013: Iceland Dance Company – Contemporary dance company offers a mixed-repertory program as part of the Kennedy Center's Nordic Cool 2013 series of programming (2/27/13) Nordic Cool 2013: Danish Dance Theatre – One of the foremost Scandinavian contemporary dance companies makes its Kennedy Center debut with a piece revolving around a cinema noir universe (3/1-2/13) Nordic Cool 2013: Carte Blanche – The Norwegian National Company of Contemporary Dance (3/6-7/13) Nordic Cool 2013: Tero Saarinen Company – Finish company focused on promoting a humane worldview and basic human values through dance makes its Kennedy Center debut (3/12/13) Nordic Cool 2013: The Goteborg Ballet – The largest modern dance company in the Nordic region, combining classical ballet and contemporary dance (3/15-16/13) Malavika Sarukkai – Significant player in the Indian classical dance style Bharatanatyam (3/29-30/13) Monica Bill Barnes & Company – ''One of the wittiest young choreographers around,'' according to the Village Voice (5/8-9/13) Shen Wei Dance Arts – Undivided Divided is a site-specific piece featuring dancers interacting with multimedia, including video and sculpture (5/23-25/13)

MARYLAND COUNCIL FOR DANCE'S STATE DANCE FESTIVAL

Queen Anne County High School on the Eastern Shore Centreville, Md. 800-422-1782 ext. 7237 marylanddance.org/festival.html

Various dance practitioners lead workshops and perform at this 40th annual festival, featuring all styles of dance, from ballet to tap to hip-hop to Pilates (10/12-14)

NEXT REFLEX DANCE COLLECTIVE

703-927-0073 nextreflexdc.com

Dance On Site Festival – Various choreographers present site-specific work in select locations every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (11/3-4, outside D.C.'s Chinatown) en Route! a Touring Dance Project 2013 (1/26/13, Lorton Workhouse Arts Center in Fairfax; 3/23/13, Dogtown Dance Theater in Richmond; 4/19/13, Baltimore Theater Project) Happenings at The Harman – Next Reflex offers a performance as part of the weekly Wednesday lunchtime schedule inside the Shakespeare Theatre Company complex (2/20/13, Sidney Harman Hall)

STRATHMORE

5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda 301-581-5100 strathmore.org

Ballet Folklorico de México – The internationally renowned company offers a survey of Mexican dance, from pre-Colombian times to present-day, all, according to the New York Times, in ''a captivating spectacle … the gorgeous costumes and breathtaking formations keep coming, dance after dance'' (10/3, Music Center) Tap Dogs – Olivier Award-winning Australian choreographer Dein Perry's creation, part theater, part rock concert and set on a construction site in a steelworks town, is, as Time Out New York puts it, ''a high-voltage hell of a good time'' (11/24, Music Center) Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker – Now in its 20th year of touring North America, this cast of 40 astounding dancers relate the classic Christmas story with unique Russian zest (12/16, Music Center) Flamenco Vivo/Carlo Santana – La Pasion Flamenca returns to Strathmore as a Valentine's Day gift (2/14/13, Music Center) Cirque Ziva – New troupe created by the artistic director of the fabled Golden Dragon Acrobats offering gravity-defying acrobatics with sleek, colorful costumes and evocative lighting (3/7/13, Music Center)

VELOCITY DC DANCE FESTIVAL

Harman Hall 610 F St. NW 202-547-1122ShakespeareTheatre.org

A special partnership between Dance/MetroDC, the Washington Performing Arts Society and host organization the Shakespeare Theatre Company, this festival returns for four days of world-class dance presented in a fast-paced gala format of movement and music, hip-hop and spoken word. ''RAMP!-to-Velocity'' precedes each evening program and offers a taste of works in progress or from dance newcomers, including CityDance Conservatory, alight dance theater, American University Dance Company, Flamenco Aparicio and Pastora Flamenco. Also this year each program launches with a site-specific event by either UpRooted Dance Theater or Jane Franklin Dance. Main Stage performances, many of which repeat across the four days of the festival, feature the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Christopher K. Morgan & Artists, Step Afrika!, EDGEWORKS Dance Theater, Xuejuan Feng, Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, CityDance presents Rasta Thomas' Bad Boys of Dance, Company|E and the Washington Ballet (10/18-21)

THE WASHINGTON BALLET

''Dracula'' at Washington Ballet

(Photo by Steve Vaccariello)

202-362-3606washingtonballet.org

Dracula – Michael Pink's chilling production of the classic kicks off the ballet's season over Halloween (10/24-11/4, Kennedy Center) The Nutcracker – The company's Septime Webre offers his own twist on the family favorite, setting it in D.C. with George Washington as the titular figure and King George III as the Rat King (11/24-25, THEARC; 11/29-12/23, Warner Theatre) L'Amour (Love, Baby) – Three stories about the many aspects of love in a world premiere production (2/13-17/13, Harman Hall) Stars & Stripes – Balanchine's exuberantly patriotic piece that lends this program its name is part of a tour-de-force showcase of classical and contemporary dance (2/21-24/13, Harman Hall) Cinderella – Webre's adaptation of the classic tale, set to Prokofiev's score (3/20-24/13, Kennedy Center) Hemingway: The Sun Also Rises Cinderella – Webre offers another world premiere classical adaptation following on his success with last season's The Great Gatsby (5/8-12/13, Kennedy Center) Peter and The Wolf – The Washington Ballet Studio Company performs this piece based on the popular Russian children's story and set to Prokofiev's world-famous score (5/18-19/13, THE ARC)

WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY

202-833-9800wpas.org

Company | E – Paul Gordon Emerson's world dance company offers NEXT:SPAIN (11/16-17, Lansburgh Theater) Ron K. Brown/Evidence – Brooklyn-based choreographer fuses African with contemporary movement and spoken word, and dances, according to The New York Times, ''as if there were no tomorrow'' (2/1/13, Lisner Auditorium)

You’ve had your summer fling with superheroes in form-fitting pants and 3D explosions that made your eyeballs spin. Time to settle in for the serious season, from P.T. Anderson’s possible masterpiece The Master to the Wachowski siblings’ visually stunning triumph or disaster (depends on who you ask) Cloud Atlas, to Peter Jackson’s “Why make one film when you can make three?” approach to The Hobbit. But no worries: If you can’t quit the summer mindset, James Bond is just around the corner.

SEPTEMBER

FINDING NEMO 3D – The first rule of Pixar: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. (9/14) ARBITRAGE – After a bad investment and a car accident, a Wall Street fat cat (Richard Gere) cooks his mistress and kills the books. Wait, that doesn't sound right. Sorry, I don't understand finance. (Or murder.) Brit Marling and Tim Roth co-star. (9/14)

RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION – This franchise is still happening? Paul W.S. Anderson is worse than a zombie apocalypse. (9/14)

THE MASTER – Five years after There Will Be Blood, P.T. Anderson returns with a brutal post-World War II epic – loosely sketched around the life of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard – starring Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman. As with all of Anderson's work, its abrasive brilliance will make you squirm. (9/21)

HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE – A heartbreaking, brilliant documentary about civil rights activism at the height of the AIDS crisis. Award-winning journalist David France, who makes his directorial debut, masterfully tells this difficult, important chapter of queer history. Everyone should see this film. (9/21)

DREDD 3D – Whoever is responsible for this Judge Dredd remake deserves punishment so much worse than our criminal justice system can offer. (9/21)

END OF WATCH – Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña play Los Angeles cops marked for death by a drug cartel. One reason to be excited about this movie: The director wrote Training Day. One reason not to be: The director wrote S.W.A.T. (9/21)

LIBERAL ARTS – How I Met Your Mother drip Josh Radnor directs, writes and stars in a romantic comedy about a college girl (Elizabeth Olsen) who crushes on a thirtysomething visiting his alma mater. (The ladies just love dead-end guys who have midlife crises a decade too early!) Fortunately, character actors extraordinaire Allison Janney and Richard Jenkins are lurking around campus to prevent Liberal Arts from being a bore. (9/21)

TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE – Justin Timberlake is a worse co-star than Clint Eastwood's empty chair. (9/21)

HEAD GAMES – Director Steve James (Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters) investigates the consequences of head-related injuries in American sports in this incisive documentary. James has a knack for storytelling, so it’ll be fascinating to see how he handles a science-based narrative. (9/21)

HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET – Why is Jennifer Lawrence turning up in so many cheap horror movies? You’re so much better than this, honey. (9/21)

LOOPER – A mafia hit man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) tasked with killing people from the future has to hunt down an unlikely target – himself. Directed by Rian Johnson (Brick, The Brothers Bloom), this will be the best sci-fi film of the season. (9/28)

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER – Stephen Chbosky's twee coming-of-age story about a sexually confused Pittsburgh teen finally gets the Hollywood treatment. Sucks to be you, Holden Caulfield! Logan Lerman and Emma Watson star. (9/28)

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA – I was ready to write off this animated children’s movie about a five-star monster resort — and then I learned that Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack) directed it. Tartakovsky has a flair for the weird and wacky, so this might not be entirely dreadful. Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg and Selena Gomez star. (9/28)

WON’T BACK DOWN – Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a poor mother who fights to fix her child’s broken inner-city school. Viola Davis co-stars. (9/28)

OCTOBER

PITCH PERFECT – When the Mayans predicted the end of the world, they foresaw this a cappella-themed comedy. The one bright spot? It’s helmed by Jason Moore, the director of Avenue Q. (10/5)

TAKEN 2 – Liam Neeson (still) has a very particular set of skills. Skills that (still) make him a nightmare for nameless Eastern European thugs. He will (still) find them, and he will (still) kill them. (10/5)

V/H/S – A found-footage omnibus that opened to surprising reviews at Sundance, will this six-headed beast of a horror movie be enough to topple Paranormal Activity as the reigning king of scary movies? (10/5)

THE PAPERBOY – The Paperboy is a pulpy, sensational crime drama with all the flair that won director Lee Daniels accolades for Precious, but who cares about that? Nicole Kidman pees on that twink from High School Musical! (10/5)

SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS – What happens when Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell and Tom Waits make a movie about dog snatchers with In Bruges director Martin McDonagh? I haven't the faintest idea, but it sounds incredible. (10/12)

ARGO – Based on the true story of how the CIA smuggled American hostages out of Iran in 1979 under the guise of a fake film shoot, Argo looks like awards-season catnip – and it's the latest chapter in Ben Affleck's quiet transformation into a decent director. Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman co-star. (10/12)

ATLAS SHRUGGED: PART II – Even Paul Ryan wouldn't see this likely abomination. (10/12)

KILLING THEM SOFTLY – After a pair of dopey amateur crooks robs a mob-protected poker game in New Orleans, a professional enforcer (Brad Pitt) is sent to track them down. The last time director Andrew Dominik collaborated with Pitt, the result was The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. This time around, the Dominik-Pitt pairing looks to be a little sharper, a lot funnier and mercifully faster paced. (10/19)

3, 2, 1... FRANKIE GO BOOM – This is easily the worst film title of 2012. I'm not even sure what it's about – the trailer isn't much help – but the god-awful name deserves attention. Are we sure it isn't just the catchphrase for a new CBS sitcom? (10/19)

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 – All of this has happened before, and as long as this movie cracks $100 million all of this will happen again. Stay tuned for Paranormal Activity 5 next year. (10/19)

ALEX CROSS – What's the odder casting decision: Tyler Perry as a crime-fighting super cop, or Matthew Fox as a sadistic mass murderer? I'd have to see this dull adaptation of a James Patterson series to find out, so I guess I'll never know. (10/19)

CLOUD ATLAS – When book snobs talk about a novel being "unfilmable," they're almost definitely talking about David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas. If the Wachowskis can keep Mitchell's many plates spinning – and mimic the poignant intimacy that made his novel so brilliant – this will be their masterpiece. (10/26)

ROOM 237 – Heeeeere's Stanley! This documentary, presented in nine segments, spellbindingly dissects the themes and motifs of The Shining. Interpreting one of the most baffling horror movies ever made is no small feat – theories about Kubrick's intent range from allegories about the Holocaust to proof that the moon landing was faked – but whatever the reading, Room 237 will stick with fans forever. And ever, and ever…. (10/26)

THE SESSIONS – Nobody ever won an Oscar for being subtle, so here comes John Hawkes playing a polio-afflicted man in an iron lung who hires a "sex surrogate" (Helen Hunt) to lose his virginity. An infirm man paying to get laid — such a fitting analogy for this bald-faced award bait. (10/26)

NOVEMBER

FLIGHT – For the first time in 12 years, Robert Zemeckis is making a live-action movie – and it looks like a doozy. Denzel Washington stars as a pilot who's put under the tabloid microscope after a miracle emergency landing. Zemeckis is at his best when he burrows into the psyche of a man at the center of tragedy, so all signs point to Flight as his return to glory. (11/2)

WRECK-IT RALPH – The dirty little secret of children's movies? Pixar's not the only studio doing great work anymore. For those who don't realize it yet, Disney's charming story about an arcade villain (John C. Reilly) who decides to become a hero will be a delightful shock. (11/2)

THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS – RZA's love affair with kung-fu movies has reached its natural end with this ultra-violent, absurdly sexy martial-arts spectacular. Even if it turns out to be a terrible film, at least the soundtrack will be good – Kanye West, The Black Keys, Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah and (of course) RZA all contributed original songs. (11/2)

LINCOLN – Daniel Day-Lewis. Starring in an Abraham Lincoln biography. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Need I say more? (11/9)

SKYFALL – Daniel Craig was once described to me as "a man with the body of a Greek god and the face of a Polish carpenter." Now, that doesn't have much to do with the new James Bond film – directed by Sam Mendes, in case you were wondering – but if you've bothered to read this much, you deserve a reward. (11/9)

ANNA KARENINA – Joe Wright and Keira Knightley, the duo behind Pride & Prejudice and Atonement, dive into another period romance with this vivid adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's brilliant 1877 novel. Jude Law and Aaron Taylor-Johnson co-star. (11/16)

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN-PART 2 – Nope. (11/18)

LIFE OF PI – After a shipwreck, an Indian boy wakes up on a boat with a Bengal tiger. Ang Lee directs this adaptation of a Yann Martel's elegantly spiritual novel, which totally sounds like an acid trip to anybody who hasn't read it. (11/21)

RED DAWN – The original Red Dawn was a hilariously jingoistic war film about a Soviet invasion of the United States. Nonetheless, it revealed stark prejudices that existed within American culture during the waning days of the Cold War. (Also, did I mention it was hilarious?) In this remake, North Korean soldiers invade the Pacific Northwest because … they hate our freedom? Whatever. These colors don't run! U-S-A! U-S-A! (11/21)

THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK – David O. Russell (I Heart Huckabees, The Fighter) directs this romantic comedy about a mentally ill man (Bradley Cooper) who moves in with his parents, meets a girl (Jennifer Lawrence), and tries to rebuild his life. Robert De Niro and Chris Tucker co-star. (11/21)

RUST AND BONE – In any language, in any film, Marion Cotillard is magnificent. This French-Belgian drama, directed by Jacques Audiard, could very well be Cotillard at her best. She plays a double amputee who strikes up a friendship with an unemployed boxer (Matthias Schoenaerts). Don't put too much stock in the outrageous premise, though, because Audiard is all about restraint. (11/23)

DECEMBER

HYDE PARK ON HUDSON – Oh, Bill Murray. Sweet, sweet Bill Murray. Why are you slumming for an Oscar? What possessed you to play Franklin Delano Roosevelt in a glib retelling of King George IV's 1939 visit to the United States? You sure look like you had fun rolling around in front of the camera, but this is beneath you. Oh, well. At least it isn't Ghostbusters 3. (12/7)

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY – Tolkien fans, rejoice! Peter Jackson returns to Middle-earth in the first of what will be three prequels to his Lord of the Rings trilogy. Martin Freeman stars as Bilbo Baggins, Ian McKellen reprises Gandalf, and a handful of familiar faces also appear. (12/14)

LES MISÉRABLES – Tom Hooper (The King's Speech) directs a star-studded adaptation of the famous Broadway musical. No joke, it's chock-full of celebrity: Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried and Sacha Baron Cohen. (12/14)

ZERO DARK THIRTY – Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) sets her eyes on the CIA's hunt for Osama bin Laden, putting a Hollywood sheen on the famous Abbottabad raid. Expect an intense film accompanied by insufferable protests. Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton and Mark Strong star. (12/19)

AMOUR – Michael Haneke's latest looks like an absolute heartbreaker. In it, a retired man struggles to maintain a loving relationship after his wife suffers a debilitating stroke. Haneke is a bleak, disturbing provocateur and a damn good filmmaker, so Amour will be a grim beauty. (12/19)

MONSTERS, INC. 3D – Something to ponder: Are Pixar movies actually better when they’re in 3D? (12/19)

JACK REACHER – Okay, I lied before. This is the worst film title of 2012. I can't even type it without laughing. Sorry, I have the mind of a 13-year-old boy. (12/21)

THIS IS 40 – Three things we know about this (sort of) sequel to Knocked Up: Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann will be adorable, Melissa McCarthy will steal almost every scene, and with Judd Apatow in the director’s chair, it will be an hour too long. (12/21)

ON THE ROAD – It's the season of adaptation, huh? Jack Kerouac's beat novel gets the star treatment and, luckily, it's in the capable hands of Walter Salles, the Brazilian director behind The Motorcycle Diaries. Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart and Garrett Hedlund star. (12/21)

THE IMPOSSIBLE – Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts star in the true story of a vacationing family that survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Sure, more than 230,000 people died in one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history, but let's not think about that. There's a heartwarming story of love's power to endure here, people! (12/21)

DJANGO UNCHAINED – Quentin Tarantino's racial injustice revenge tour continues in the Deep South, where Jamie Foxx plays a freed slave hired by a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) to hunt down a gang of ruthless killers. This spaghetti western-inspired "southern," as Tarantino has called it, looks to be every bit as violent, stylized and cartoonishly fun as Inglourious Basterds. (12/25)

NO RELEASE DATE SET, BUT WORTH WATCHING FOR

WUTHERING HEIGHTS – Emily Brontë's 1847 romance is brought, once again, to the big screen. There's one wrinkle, though: For the first time, Heathcliff (James Howson) is black.

STORIES WE TELL – This is an odd, wonderful sort of documentary. Filmmaker Sarah Polley turns the camera on herself and her family – namely, the complicated marriage from which her family sprouted. Polley's insistence on making her private life so public invigorates the portrait of her family, which has helped make Stories We Tell a darling of the festival circuit.

THE ICEMAN – Michael Shannon stars as Richard Kuklinski, a notorious Mafia hit man who killed more than 100 men between 1948 and 1986 while raising his family in suburban New Jersey. Ray Liotta, Winona Ryder and Chris Evans co-star.

MUD – Matthew McConaughey's year of reinvention closes out with Mud, a Mark Twain-inspired coming-of-age drama from Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), where two boys stumble upon a fugitive and vow to help him escape the bounty hunters hot on his trail. If Stand By Me were made for an art-house crowd, it'd look like this.

THE COMPANY YOU KEEP – Robert Redford stars and directs this political thriller about a former Weather Underground militant who cleans up and raises a family, until a reporter exposes his true identity. Is this what passes as thrilling for Baby Boomers? Shia LaBeouf, Julie Christie and Brendan Gleeson co-star.

A semi-satirical distillation of the mercenary world of professional wrestling as recounted by a particularly ambivalent member of its fraternity, Kristoffer Diaz's The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity is part indictment, part feverish dream. A blend of identity-angst, notes on the less-than-perfect melting pot and plenty of comment on what it is to be/think American – at least the kind that watches wrestling – Chad is a clever theatrical take on familiar themes.

Narrating with wit and intensity, Mace is the veteran wrestler destined always to be the villainous foil and fodder for the star attraction. Though he seems half-proud of his unsung but essential role, the rest of him bemoans his obligation to a sleazy and bigoted boss, known as EKO, and the posturing current champion, Chad Deity. He describes the end of this uneasy peace, which arrives when he persuades EKO to give his charismatic friend, VP, a chance to wrestle. Before long, Mace and VP find themselves alternately pummeled and carried aloft by a force far greater than any human opponent: the insatiable demands of the market.

''Chad Deity'' at Woolly Mammoth

(Photo by Stan Barouh)

Delivering a sustained and powerful performance, Jose Joaquin Perez captures all that is genuine and vulnerable in Mace – even if one continues to wonder how he could be surprised by the mores of his chosen profession. Angry, undermined but ever canny, he is a man torn between honor (to his roots and his personal creed) and the well-honed survival instinct of the economically challenged.

Perez keeps this tension bright and immediate even when Diaz, as he occasionally does, hangs on for more than he needs to. As the finale arrives, Perez ignites with a credible fury even if his emotionally urgent delivery makes capturing every word a challenge. Perez shows us with skill what Diaz delivers well: a complex man whose anger both fuels and betrays him.

But, again, the tale of an underdog whose moral outrage ends up feeding versus shaming the machine he reviles is hardly new. What Diaz brings is not so much the revelation of such realities, but rather the unique prism of the wrestling world and an original and well-drawn underdog. Mace is not a cliché; his inner life – which grows directly from a childhood that speaks of innocence and happiness -- is palpable. Diaz captures this with clarity, Perez delivers it with credibility and designer Jared Mezzocchi suggests it, via projection, with poignancy.

As VP, Mace's buddy, Adi Hanash seems a tad out of his comfort zone in channeling this neighborhood ''player'' and some of his patter is lost in his speed of delivery but much is carried by his natural presence. Unfortunately, Diaz' crystalline vision of Mace doesn't extend to VP who seems written more as means to an end than a dimensional character. Though he is sold on his easy charm and verbosity, Diaz quickly reduces VP to a distracting reticence that is broken only by his rather strange out-bursts while in character as a wrestler. By the time he rebels against EKO's aggressively non-PC business agenda, it feels empty of impact.

As the main attraction, Shawn T. Andrew has plenty of fun with his Chad Deity and just about manages the mild eccentricities Diaz writes into this happily co-opted professional. But, like VP, he feels somewhat neglected, despite the warmth and magnetism given him by Andrew. Even with Mace's fevered recitation on Chad and his prowess, little is given of what drives this man outside the ring. Thus, Diaz keeps his energy for the larger themes and Mace, but he does so at the expense of a coloring that might have brought more poignancy and originality to the piece.

Arriving and departing like an arbitrary force of nature – at least in Mace's imagination – EKO serves as promoter, MC and economic visionary. Wearing his rings with restrained flair, Michael Russotto gives his man memorable authority but the necessary smarm feels just a tiny bit more like the knowingness of the educated than the confidence of a hood in a suit. It's a subtle difference that makes EKO ever so slightly less convincing; EKO can be in on his own jokes, but not those of Diaz.

Bringing the skill-set of the professional wrestler, James Long as various outlandish opponents, shows himself an accomplished physical comic and all-around scene-stealer. Fascinating to watch, he channels the reason even theater-going snobs might occasionally (if covertly) linger over the inanities of WWE: the chance to see near-naked amply-muscled men in acts of animal grace. And with three other actor/wrestlers appearing in various states of bare-chestedness and spandex, it's a play as visual as it is visceral.

''If there's one thing that drives me crazy,'' says Michael Kerker, ''it's when people say there really aren't any great young musical theater writers [today]. Nothing could be further from the truth. There's just a whole generation of new talent.''

Kerker, head of the musical theater division at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), helps showcase that new generation every year at the Kennedy Center. Each program in Kerker's ''Broadway Today and Tomorrow'' series features a different composer or composing team, who recruit performers to highlight songs in their repertoire, cabaret-style.

Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair

(Photo by courtesy Kennedy Center)

This year's free, three-night series focuses on four artists and kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 19, with the team of Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair, whose musical comedy Murder for Two was an unprecedented hit at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. John Bucchino highlights his work, which already includes a stint on Broadway – 2008's A Catered Affair with Harvey Fierstein – on Saturday, Sept. 22. And then Sunday, Sept. 23, the focus is on budding composer Daniel Maté. The Tony-winning actress Victoria Clark is actually working to turn Maté's songs into a revue-style show, according to Kerker.

Certainly audiences from the series' first three seasons have gotten a preview of coming attractions. Kerker calls out several previously featured composers about to make their Broadway debuts: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, whose adaptation of A Christmas Story will have a limited run this fall; Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, whose First Date is expected in the spring of next year; and Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, whose adaptation of the film Ever After, to be directed by Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes) is planning a pre-Broadway run next year.

Kerker lauds these composers as knowing how to write a true melody – even a true rhyme. ''I don't know where your feelings lie,'' he adds, ''but for me, I want only true rhymes in the theater. I don't want anyone rhyming 'home' and 'alone.'''

You can leave that for pop music, thank you very much.

Broadway Today and Tomorrow runs Wednesday, Sept. 19, Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

Craig Ramsay is not just a pretty face. He's also a pretty body. And a song-and-dance man, former hockey player, health a fitness superstar – to the point of being a brand – and even a genuine contortionist. But what the heck is that good for?

''Ask Brandon,'' Ramsay answers, referring to his partner, beauty guru Brandon Liberati. ''Date six – I sealed the deal.''

Craig Ramsay

(Photo by By Tauseef)

Obviously, Ramsay has a cheeky sense of humor. He also has passion, particularly for his current career as a ''fitness expert and transformational coach.''

Ramsay's focus is on helping others overcome ego, as he might put it, and develop a mind-body-spirit connection. Don't think that means he's discovered some tortured discipline of deprivation. There was a time, as a fitness model, when the rule was no, no, no – plus a few more reps for dessert. Ramsay still has a knockout body, but he's learned to savor some indulgences.

''I'm enjoying life,'' says the 35-year-old Canadian who now calls Los Angeles home. ''Pumpkin-spice latte at Starbucks? Perfect – if they have unsweetened almond milk.''

A naughtier indulgence is hitting the ''gayest'' slot machines – the ones themed for Sex and the City, Wizard of Oz or similar – with Liberati and bruised cosmos. After all, his mom did work in an Ontario casino, so Ramsay is familiar with games of chance. His mother also influenced him in a more serious way. Her fibromyalgia prompted him to develop a special stretching regimen to ease her symptoms, basing her workout in a hot tub, warming her muscles to prevent injury. It's the sort of empathy he's now applying to his greater fitness/wellness community, whether he's assisting them on six packs or positive outlooks. After all, Ramsay not only built his body, he's also overcome insecurities, like the ones that kept him from baring all for New York's annual ''Broadway Bares'' benefit. He participated, but fully clothed.

''I was part of the crew!'' admits the bashful backstage hand. ''I was too shy.'' '

Craig Ramsay attends JR.'s ''Showtunes, Songs & Singalongs,'' Monday evening, Sept. 17, 1519 17th St. NW. He will sign his book, Anatomy of Stretching, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 7 to 8 p.m., at Books-A-Million, 11 Dupont Circle. Wednesday, Sept. 19, Ramsay will participate in a talk and reception, 7 to 8:15 p.m., at Epic Yoga, 1323 Connecticut Ave. NW.

Let's just get this out of the way: Leslye Headland's Bachelorette is not a Bridesmaids rip-off. Yes, both films revolve around women misbehaving at weddings, but the similarities stop there. One is a jaded, bracingly honest comedy that lets women get mean. The other shows a girl pooping in the street. Where Bridesmaids has screwball shtick, Bachelorette has a pessimist's bite.

And yet, there's a short, straight line between the two comedies. Headland's debut film has gotten a ton of attention thanks to Bridesmaids (and its $288 million box-office haul.) With that attention, though, come expectations. If Bachelorette is supposed to be Bridesmaids gone bad, as it was unfortunately dubbed, it needed to be edgier. The ladies needed be shit-talking bitches, slinging barbs and snorting coke with a degree of self-aware disdain that bordered on the masochistic. How do I know this? Because I've seen those characters. Leslye Headland wrote them way back in 2007, when Bachelorette first emerged as a scathing, off-Broadway character study about vice and gluttony. However, where Headland's play chose to sharpen rough edges, her film buffs and glosses.

Bachelorette

Bachelorette is every bit as funny on screen as it was onstage, but it's nowhere near as blistering as its reputation suggests. Despite the cursing and screwing and varieties of abuse, the film isn't abrasive. It's a palatable rebellion.

That's not to say it isn't mean, though. When we first meet Regen (Kirsten Dunst), Gena (Lizzy Caplan), and Katie (Isla Fisher), they're gossiping about Becky (Rebel Wilson), a soon-to-be-married friend. It's wretched talk with sparse room for humor; they reflexively belittle her weight, gawk about her handsome, wealthy fiancé, and snicker to themselves about her high school nickname, "Pig Face." None of them seem like particularly good people -- and that's before Regen and Katie, both in a coked-up fervor, tear Becky's dress the night before her wedding.

From there, the ladies of Bachelorette show inklings of humanity. The narrative revolves around mending the dress, of course, but not before each character's flaws are mined for intimacy. Regen's stone-cold attitude saves the day when panic erupts before the wedding. Gena, an emotionally defensive drug addict, confronts the traumatic roots of her self-destruction. And Katie, the dim-witted prom queen, meets a shy boy who isn't looking for a one-night stand. Thankfully, though, these aren't life-altering changes. When the credits roll -- after, I should add, an unfortunately saccharine ending -- Regen is still uptight, Gena is still guarded, and Katie is still a ditz. They're different, but they're not fixed.

Did I mention Bachelorette is funny? Because it's very, very funny. Headland's dialogue has a fantastically dry wit that runs throughout the film, whether she's riffing on oral sex ("Why are you gonna spend any time fucking me? You just came all over my face."), hook-ups ("I'm giving you what you want so let's get this over with.") or eating disorders ("Why would you do that to yourself?" "...I wanted to be beautiful.") Amazingly, that's not even her niftiest trick. While Bachelorette is busy showcasing blood, vomit, sex and drugs, Headland's script carefully weaves a story about friends who treat each other like shit and love each other like family.

It's telling that Bachelorette opens with a sample of Sleigh Bells' ''Infinity Guitars'' -- the song is used precisely the same way to introduce an early episode of Lena Dunham's Girls. Headland and Dunham, it seems, are concerned with the same question: What makes a "good" friendship? I certainly don't know the answer, but together, these characters weather bulimia, suicide, abortion and drug overdose. What's a little bitchiness between friends after that?

Facing a passionate and at times boisterous crowd of District residents and activists Sept. 9, seven incumbent D.C. City Council members were grilled over their records and positions on a variety of issues, including economic development, corporate influence in local elections, home foreclosures, gentrification, hate crimes and the ability of businesses to obtain liquor licenses.

Seated onstage at Busboys and Poets in the U Street corridor Sunday evening as part of a ''DC Public Forum,'' the brainchild of local gay activist Nick McCoy, the councilmembers answered questions from McCoy, audience members and representatives from organizations co-sponsoring the event, such as the Washington Informer, WPFW 89.3 FM, the Washington Blade and DC Mic Check. McCoy said the intent of the forum was to inform residents of what the incumbent councilmembers have done, their records, and give them a chance to justify why District residents should re-elect them.

Nick McCoy

(Photo by Todd Franson)

All but one of the panelists – Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells (D) – will face voters in just two months. Councilmember Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) – serving as Council chairman following the resignation of former Chairman Kwame Brown (D) – is running to fill the remaining two years of Brown's term as chairman. Meanwhile, Councilmembers Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), Michael Brown (I-At Large), Vincent Orange (D-At Large) and Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7) will all appear on November's ballot for re-election. Councilmember Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), also up for re-election, was invited but did not respond to the organizers' invitation.

Washington's two gay councilmembers, David Catania (I-At Large) and Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), were not invited to speak, with organizers giving priority to those councilmembers on the November ballot.

Although organizers said they also invited Mayor Vincent Gray (D) to attend and justify his work on behalf of District residents, the forum essentially served as a preview of the 2014 mayoral race as most of the panelists, except for Alexander, have been rumored to be interested in running for higher office.

When McCoy asked the panelists if they had ever made a mistake on a vote and, if so, how they corrected it, most said they had ''struggled'' with particular votes but did not admit to making mistakes. Mendelson responded he had made mistakes, but wouldn't admit what they were.

But Mendelson expanded on his answer, explaining that taking unpopular stances on various issues was a mark of leadership that is required of political officeholders. Referencing Barry, a former four-term mayor and longtime councilmember, but not by name, Mendelson used the example of marriage equality as something that was in the best interest of the District, but may not have been popular among certain constituencies. When marriage equality passed the Council in 2009, Alexander and Barry were the only two who opposed the measure.

''When we had marriage equality before us in the Council, we voted 11-2 in favor of marriage equality,'' Mendelson said. ''I was proud of my position on that, and what the Council did. But there were a couple of members who voted no. And at least one of them voted no, saying that's where his constituency was. I didn't think that was a leadership position. I think a leadership position was to disagree, and to do what was in the best interests of the city.''

Blade reporter Lou Chibbaro Jr. asked the panelists what could be done to prevent hate crimes against the LGBT community and whether they would be willing to go into schools and speak out against anti-LGBT violence, since many recent crimes with an anti-LGBT bias have been committed by youths in their teens or early 20s. All the panelists said they would be willing to do so, and many mentioned the recently passed anti-bullying legislation that is intended to protect students from bullying in schools, at school-related functions and in the District's libraries and recreation centers.

''We can do a lot more with our schools, with our young people, to really show that we're a culture and we're a place that doesn't just embrace diversity, but protects diversity,'' Wells said.

''Hate and bullying come from lack of education, or a lack of understanding of people who are different from them,'' Michael Brown said. ''Until young folks understand that there are other folks who aren't like them, who listen to different music – and it's okay – we're going have these particular kind of incidents.''

Brown also linked anti-LGBT violence to gentrification, telling the audience that as long as the economy isn't growing fast enough and longtime residents feel they are being forced out of the District, ''we have a lot of angry people out there, and when we have angry people, that's when conflict can occur.''

Things are looking up for Democrats, whose national convention presented strong speeches by Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. Rep. John Lewis condemned the Republican assault on voting rights. Zach Wahls talked about his two moms. Sandra Fluke defended women's reproductive rights. Sister Simone Campbell of Nuns on the Bus criticized the Romney/Ryan budget plan. Former Rep. Gabby Giffords brought the hall to tears simply by leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

But let's look past the highlight reel to savor some not-ready-for-prime-time moments.

Rep. Barney Frank called the Log Cabin Republicans Uncle Toms. They responded by calling him a partisan hack (as if they have a problem with that). Frank and Log Cabin have been sniping at each other like a divorced couple for decades. Log Cabin accused Frank of "trying to silence us." Several LGBT leaders disavowed Frank's insult, but Stonewall Democrats suggested that Log Cabin shut down. I got no answer when I asked Log Cabin why they equated criticism with censorship. As to Stonewall giving unsolicited advice, well, I advise against it.

The Log Cabiners defended their relevance, noting that they got GOP votes in the House to repeal ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' and got the Republican Senate leader in Albany to allow a vote on New York's marriage-equality bill. I sympathize. Though a Democrat, I made small donations to the four Republican state senators who provided crucial votes for that bill. (One of the four, Mark Grisanti, has been targeted with an anti-gay flier bearing homoerotic photos.) Back in 1994 I even wrote policy papers for Republican Carol Schwartz during her run for D.C. mayor – though, let's be fair, she was running against noted crackhead Marion Barry.

Mr. Barry was part of this year's D.C. delegation to the DNC, where he tweeted complaints against the party for not letting D.C. Delegate to Congress Eleanor Holmes Norton speak, and for relegating the delegation to nosebleed seats. I tweeted back, "I'm sure we all agree that the best way to get DC's concerns taken seriously is for @marionbarryjr to attend #DNC2012 and gripe about it." As for recent scandals involving D.C. officials, no state has been denied representation in Congress after similar or worse scandals; but there is the law, and then there is politics. The cause of voting rights for D.C. is hard enough when we're not a source of embarrassment.

Since I mentioned gay Republicans, I should note that the homocon provocateurs at GOProud slammed Log Cabin for publicly involving itself in the Republican platform debate. GOProud spent its time throwing a party.

Speaking of platforms, the Democrats went off-message with a platform fight over boilerplate passages on God and Jerusalem. American pols have postured for decades over making Jerusalem the capital of Israel, which is nothing but troll bait, but some on the left thought it vital to pick that fight in the middle of a high-stakes election.

As to the Democrats initially leaving "God" out of the platform, it's a wonder a sinkhole did not form under Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena and swallow up the entire wicked assembly. God's name was restored, to a chorus of boos. Pat Robertson called the Democrats "the party of gays, godlessness and whatever else" (Godiva Chocolate would have ended that phrase better). Gary Bauer said God wouldn't want to be in such a platform. Whenever I watch Bauer speak, I expect an alien to burst out of his face. (Question for religious bullies: How is faith upheld by having politicians invoke God's name like they're hawking soap?)

The DNC ended on a sour note as Cardinal Timothy Dolan's closing prayer took shots at gay marriage and abortion. Unfazed, the delegates scattered across the land to elect their candidates.

Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist. He can be reached at rrosendall@starpower.net.

Someone has been disposing of issues of Metro Weekly in bulk and vandalizing the magazine's distribution boxes by filling them with everything from rotting food to what seems to be human and animal waste in an ongoing series of attacks in three D.C. neighborhoods popular with LGBT businesses and residents.

The latest incident occurred yesterday, Sept. 13, just hours after Metro Weekly hit stands with its latest issue, when distribution drivers found fecal matter inside some distribution boxes.

Copies of Metro Weekly thrown in trash by vandal

(Photo by David Uy)

Sean Bugg, co-publisher of Metro Weekly, confirmed that some boxes, which serve as a major distribution point for the free-of-charge weekly magazine, have been vandalized or completely emptied of magazines since as far back as February.

Bugg said someone has been targeting specific boxes, primarily those located around Dupont Circle and Connecticut Avenue NW, the 17th Street NW corridor, and the area on P Street between 15th and 14th Streets NW. Sometimes all the issues in a box are simply removed, often to nearby garbage cans. Other times, they have been filled with garbage, such as banana peels and foul-smelling substances, including masticated food and fecal matter, seemingly both animal and human.

''It's really horrible for our readers in those neighborhoods to have those boxes vandalized in such a grotesque way,'' Bugg said.

Bugg said he doesn't know of anything beyond his magazine's audience that might motivate a vandal to commit such acts.

''We don't have provocative covers,'' Bugg said. ''But if someone has anti-gay animus, any cover will be provocative.''

Bugg said he and his co-publisher, Randy Shulman, have reported the incidents to the Metropolitan Police Department's (MPD) Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU) and are working with them to identify whoever is responsible for the destruction. Bugg also said that based on available information – including some eyewitness accounts from Metro Weekly distribution drivers – the repeated acts should be considered deliberate, targeted and likely to continue.

Lynne Brown, the publisher of the free gay newspaper The Washington Blade, said she, too, has been receiving reports of her publication being thrown away and damage to some newspaper boxes.

Brown told Metro Weekly that she's also personally observed individuals throwing out copies of the Blade, and that some of the paper's distribution boxes have been damaged or vandalized. Brown, like Metro Weekly, has also alerted the GLLU about the vandalism to her company's property and the destroyed newspapers.

''If you make it hard for people to find the paper, they don't read it,'' she said.

David Uy, webmaster for Metro Weekly's online site and one of its distribution drivers, said he has been attempting to identify a culprit, going so far as managing to capture video surveillance of a man disposing of large numbers of Metro Weekly issues.

Garbage placed in Metro Weekly street box by vandal

(Photo by David Uy)

According to Uy, the man can be observed nearly every night at the Cosi Restaurant at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and R Street NW, between 12:15 to 12:45 a.m.

Uy said he's not yet been able to observe this man or someone else committing the acts of extreme vandalism, but that such incidents occur at least once a week.

After throwing issues away, the man Uy spotted usually walks to the corner of Florida and Massachusetts Avenues NW and enters the basement entryway of 2205 Massachusetts Ave. NW. The building at that address is the headquarters of the National Society of Daughters of the American Colonists (NSADAC), a secretive, exclusive society of women descended from the original land-owning colonists who settled America and were involved in its founding as a nation.

Uy told Metro Weekly that he could not tell if the man was going inside the headquarters of NSADAC or whether he was ''camping out under the stairs, like a troll.''

A man identifying himself as being associated with NSADAC responded to a Metro Weekly request for comment, calling back from a blocked number. He said the organization had informed police and would keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. When asked if there was a basement apartment or entryway below the NSADAC building, the man said he was ''unable to comment on any activity that goes on at headquarters.''

In the video shot by Uy, the man recorded disposing of stacks of Metro Weekly issues appears to be a middle-age white man, wearing a backpack and a shoulder bag. He's seen carrying copies of what looks to be magazines or newspapers, walking to the basement entryway of 2205 Massachusetts Ave. NW, then moving out of view.

In a Sept. 13 email sent to Sgt. Carlos Mejia of the MPD's Special Liaison Division, which includes the GLLU, Uy described the man as being about 5 feet and 6 inches tall, in his late 30s, with short, dark hair, a ''swarthy skin tone,'' usually dressed in green with a dark-green coat and a large green backpack.

''The severity of the behavior has escalated,'' Uy wrote to Mejia. ''The waste material he places in our distribution boxes is filthy, disgusting and repulsive. It smells horrible, attracts flies and rodents, and is difficult to remove. Lately, it includes the dumping of large amounts of human feces, which is certainly a health hazard, as well. The boxes have been removed, washed, sterilized and replaced, only to find the same horrible material in them again and again. It is not only unbelievably unpleasant, but it costs us a lot of money as well to deal with.''

A spokesman for MPD was unable to confirm an investigation report number or offer any other details.

For now, Bugg said Metro Weekly distribution drivers will continue to keep an eye on the boxes. But Bugg said that if anyone in the District sees a person doing something strange to Metro Weekly's boxes, they should notify the magazine.

''It's not just an attack on us, it's an attack on an LGBT-owned business,'' Bugg said. ''And I think it's an attack on our readers as much as an attack on our business.''

''The more I look at this, I believe this is a hate crime toward our readers,'' he continued. ''I can print as many issues as I want. I can put more issues out if I want, and I will. But it's just unbelievable in this day and age that somebody would be engaging in this kind of nasty, disgusting, reprehensible attack.''

Bugg said he hopes that people passing through the area, local business owners and residents will step up and help find whoever is responsible.

''I want to be clear: I consider this a hate crime, even though it's not the same as physically attacking someone and beating them up'' Bugg said. ''I've been in D.C. a long time, and I've been called 'faggot' walking down the street, and this is much worse.''

Bugg said the vandalism goes beyond a hateful and disgusting attack on the magazine and its readers, but on the neighborhoods where the incidents are taking place.

''It's hazardous to people's health,'' he said. ''I would really encourage our readers and any business people in our neighborhoods, never to approach someone [who is vandalizing a box] but to let the police or us know. This is not the kind of stuff we want in our neighborhood.''

To contact Metro Weekly, call 202-638-6830 or email editor@MetroWeekly.com. To report an incident to the GLLU, call 202-506-0714.

Self-confidence can be good, but overconfidence and an inflated ego are likely to drive away Dan. The 24-year-old Minnesota native values loyalty, friendliness and emotional support in a potential partner, and seeks to give it in return. ''In love, I express my emotions through actions,'' he says. ''Taking care of someone is how I love them.'' Dan moved to the District in May to attend Gallaudet University, where he is earning a certificate of deaf interpretation (CDI). Though deaf, he enjoys engaging his other senses of sight and smell, dabbling in photography, art and cooking in his spare time. When he goes out on the town, you'll likely catch him in Northeast's H Street corridor, where he likes to frequent the Rock N Roll Hotel, the H Street Country Club and Biergarten Haus.

What's on your nightstand?I don't have one. I keep my valuables under my bed.

Coverboy: Dan

(Photo by Julian Vankim)

What's under your bed?A digital camera, condoms, lubes, a few boxes and books.

What are your television favorites?90210, True Blood, The Secret Circle, The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars.

What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?Rugrats and Power Rangers.  

What superhero would you be?

Nightcrawler, because he's so sexy and amazing. He can teleport anywhere, has night vision, can stick to walls, blend into the shadows.

Who's your greatest influence?My friends. They've helped me through a lot with my life, given me great advice.

What's your greatest fear?Death.

Pick three people, living or dead, who you think would make the most fascinating dinner guests imaginable.Phoebe Tonkin, Barack Obama and Tyra Banks.

Coverboy: Dan

(Photo by Julian Vankim)

What would you serve?I am a vegetarian, so I'd serve veggie foods.

How would you describe your dream guy?I like a guy who has a sense of humor, is very open-minded, has nice abs and respects me.

Define good in bed.Someone who likes to try to do new positions and knows how to make me feel satisfied.

Who should star in a movie about your life?Zac Efron. He's really hot and a talented actor.

Who was your first celebrity crush?Mary-Kate Olsen.

Who gets on your nerves?People who don't know how to drive and think a lot of themselves.

If your home was burning, what's the first thing you'd grab while leaving?My external hard-disk drive and valuable stuff.

Coverboy: Dan

(Photo by Julian Vankim)

What's your biggest turn-on?Gorgeous eyes. Knows how to make me laugh. Easy to converse with.

What's your biggest turn-off?Bad breath and cocky attitudes.

What's something you've always wanted to do but haven't yet tried?Skydiving!

What's something you've tried that you never want to do again?Don't remember.

Boxers, briefs or other?Briefs.

What's your favorite website?Justjaredjr.com

What's the most unusual place you've had sex?The shower. I didn't really like it.

What's your favorite retail store?Urban Outfitters.

What's the most you'll spend on a haircut?$40.

What about on shoes?$100.

Coverboy: Dan

(Photo by Julian Vankim)

What's your favorite food to splurge with?Tacos.

What's your favorite season?Summer.

What kind of animal would you be?Leopard.

What kind of plant would you be?Rose.

What kind of car would you be?BMW.

What are you most grateful for?My family.

What's something you want more of?Meet new people, and hopefully, one day, meeting a new guy.

State your life philosophy in 10 words or less.Don't give up on yourself.

Immigration Equality, the national organization working toward equality for LGBT and HIV-positive people under U.S. immigration law, with offices in New York and D.C., honored longtime D.C. activist Barrett L. Brick with the organization's Global Vision Award at their annual Capital Reception, held Sept. 13.

''I'm really touched that so many people think what I've been doing these past years is worthy of recognition,'' says Brick, known locally for a number of community involvements, particularly with the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. (GLAA), where he served three terms as president, from 2006 to 2009.

''Barrett, whose husband is South African, is one of the most recognized, and revered, LGBT advocates in the D.C. community,'' Immigration Equality stated in release announcing the award. ''He is also a longtime supporter of Immigration Equality and a consistent voice in speaking out on behalf of LGBT immigrant families.''

Barrett Brick

Ward Morrison/File photo

That sense of global activism, such as serving as the executive director of the World Congress of Gay and Lesbian Jewish Organizations, predates his own personal experience with such issues that followed meeting the man he would marry, Antonio Ruffini, at the 1999 World Science Fiction Convention in Melbourne, Australia.

Brick used that meeting as launching point for his Sept. 13 speech, telling those gathered at the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams furniture store on 14th Street NW for the soiree, ''Many people think of science fiction as a straight male universe, but, like all things that seem on the surface to be ultra masculine, it is pretty gay. … But science fiction, at its best, is not about aliens or space battles. Good science fiction peers into our very lives and souls and examines who we are as a society and who we want to be.''

Brick says that Immigration Equality is helping to take society in a direction he appreciates, particularly with the organization's lawsuit challenging the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, thereby barring Americans from sponsoring foreign same-sex spouses for immigration visas, a right routinely enjoyed by Americans sponsoring foreign spouses of the opposite-sex.

Beyond the worlds of sci-fi, right here on Earth, today, Brick says he and Ruffini manage to see each other about three times a year, whether in D.C. or Johannesburg, where Ruffini lives. Having married in South Africa in 2009, where marriage equality is law, Brick says he could apply for residency in that country as the legal spouse of a citizen. At the moment, however, Brick says both he and Ruffini are dealing with medical issues that have them focused on the present rather than the future.

Despite the legal complications that remain, however, Brick and Ruffini's marriage outweighs the obstacles. While those obstacles remain, Brick offers commonsense advice for anyone who may find himself in a situation similar to the one Brick did in 1999: ''Follow your heart, but be aware of the all the legal ramifications.''

The D.C. Office of Human Rights officially unveiled its first-in-the-nation government-sponsored transgender ad campaign Sept. 13 before a packed room at a local bar, Mova.

The campaign – developed through collaboration with transgender advocates, focus groups and LGBT organizations such as Transgender Health Empowerment, the DC Trans Coalition and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force – features five variations. Two of the ads feature transgender women, two feature transgender men, and the fifth features a person who identifies as ''genderqueer.''

This Transgender and Gender Identity Respect Campaign ad featuring Consuella will appear on bus shelters across DC in the fall and winter of 2012

(Photo by DC Office of Human Rights)

Each ad, intended to familiarize District residents with the transgender community and emphasize things they have in common with other community members, features one transgender person and a quote from that person about what they love to do or like about living in the District.

The crowd at the launch event included an array of local LGBT activists, particularly those who have worked closely with the transgender community, such as representatives of the DC Trans Coalition, Transgender Health Empowerment and local community center Casa Ruby. Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) was in attendance, as was Mayor Vincent Gray (D), who addressed the crowd prior to the official unveiling.

''You can't imagine how good it feels to do the right thing,'' Gray told the cheering crowd gathered inside the bar. ''And, frankly, the right thing doesn't always get done. … I know there was skepticism, I understand why people were skeptical, because how many times have you heard promises that never were fulfilled? Where there were good discussions in the room, and then people got amnesia when they walked out the door?''

In his speech, Gray spoke of his administration's efforts usher three groups of transgender individuals through the Project Empowerment program, designed to help marginalized populations secure gainful, long-term employment. The relative success rate of the program, including high completion rates for transgender participants. The administration's commitment to transgender participation in that program helped pave the way for the new city-sponsored ad campaign.

''We know that an ad campaign is not the cure-all or the panacea, but it is a step in the right direction,'' Gray told the audience. ''It is saying we are going to step out; we are going to be in the forefront; we are going to send the message that people who are transgender have as much a place in the District of Columbia as anybody else.''

The Office of Human Rights hopes the campaign will increase awareness and understanding of gender non-conforming people in the District, as well as prevent discrimination against transgender people, OHR Director Gustavo Velasquez said.

Velasquez told Metro Weekly he hopes that the campaign will be far-reaching, particularly with the help of social media, where observers will be asked to share the campaign ads with friends. The campaign has its own Twitter hash tag, ''#transrespect,'' and will rely primarily on social media due to a scarcity of cash.

''We don't have right now the kind of funding that would allow us to do commercial advertising,'' Velasquez said. ''We are utilizing the resources at our disposal that are free or semi-free. We are approaching the Department of Transportation to do some billboards, some space in the transit authority. We are hoping that by partnering with national groups, like GLAAD, that they can help, especially in the area of social media, reach as many people as possible.''

Velasquez said he understands some might consider the ads controversial, but believes they will have a positive impact.

''We want to make sure that the message is about equality, about inclusion of the transgender in everything everyone else does in this city,'' he said. ''If that's the message, then people who are not transgender will be able to perceive that message in a way that will assist the transgender community when instances of discrimination happen.''

Wesley, one of the campaign's participants, who asked that his last name not be used, said he chose to participate in the campaign because of its historic nature as the first such government-sponsored campaign focusing on transgender rights. A friend, Lisa Mottet, from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, was working with the city on the campaign and suggested that he take part.

Wesley said he understands that there could be possible ramifications for choosing to come out as transgender, explaining that most of his coworkers are unaware of his gender identity, but does not expect much negative pushback.

''We all know there's been some violence against trans people, and I know there was some concern,'' he said. ''I was initially nervous, but [participating in the campaign] felt more natural than I expected it to.''

''The most nerve-racking part is seeing a giant picture of yourself in public, rather than the actual message or topic of the ad,'' Wesley said. ''But I'm not nervous anymore.''

September is clearly the go-to month for the discerning multinational company wishing to bestow its latest and greatest gadgetry upon the world. Not only did we have IFA, and all the myriad product launches that brought, but Apple and Nokia have recently held conferences to launch new iterations of their halo devices, ensuring the hearts and minds – and wallets -- of their loyal customers remain firmly within reach.

It's fall, and with the fruit ripening on the trees we have entered that special time of year – yes, it's time for Apple to present its newest iPhone to a fanbase so religiously devoted, the Catholic Church must surely be studying their PR department. After the relatively underwhelming launch of last year's 4S, a phone many were certain would be a radical redesign from the industrial beauty of the 4, Apple saw fit to continue the disappointing trend with this year's second-most-talked-about phone – after Samsung's Galaxy S3 – the iPhone 5.

iPhone 5

That's not to say that the iPhone doesn't get a lot of things right. The screen has finally been upgraded, inching closer in size to its smartphone contemporaries, stretching to 4 inches from its previous 3.5 – a size Steve Jobs once described as the ''sweet spot," but which has become almost comically undersized in light of Apple's rivals with whom 4.8 inches is the new norm. An increase in resolution to match the new height brings the iPhone closer to a 16:9 aspect ratio, which will finally help remove the black bars ubiquitous when watching properly formatted media on the device. Around the elongated display, Apple has flexed its manufacturing muscle, bringing a much-needed refresh. Gone is the glass back, replaced instead with brushed aluminum and two glass bands to aid reception. At the front, the new 720p Facetime camera has been centered above a display that boasts in-cell technology, reducing the air between layers and allowing for less glare and faster response times. That display is rumored to be coated in Gorilla Glass, which should remove the screen cracking worries of old.

The new, slender iPhone -- which is just 7.6mm, making it one of the world's thinnest devices – has been put on a strict diet, shedding 20 percent of the 4S's weight to clock in at 3.9 ounces. Apple hasn't removed anything, though, instead cramming a new, more powerful A6 processor inside, complete with better power management and a claimed performance that's two-times better than last year's model. Tied to that is 1GB RAM, which should help the upcoming iOS 6 run as beautifully as the somewhat tired-looking OS can, and storage is the usual 16, 32 or 64GB.

The camera remains the same at 8MP, matching the Galaxy S3 and HTC One X, but Apple has endowed it with additional software features to make those low-res Instagram photos of your cat look even better, including a faster shutter, a new panoramic mode that stiches together a 28MP photo, 1080p video capture and speed increases across the board. Your improved snaps can be uploaded through built-in LTE that runs on Verizon, Sprint and AT&T, or uploaded to your PC via Apple's new Lightning connector, which replaces the old 30-pin adaptor with a marginally faster connection that renders all previous Apple accessories obsolete without the optional $29 adapter. Well, this is capitalism, after all -- you didn't expect it for free, did you?

The new iPhone does an excellent job of playing catch-up with the best of the Android bunch, bringing a much-needed increase in screen size without sacrificing ergonomics, and boosting features such as the speed of the device, the camera, and number of times you can tweet about your fascinating life before the battery cuts out. What Apple failed to do, though, was give the iPhone arguably the most important addition it needed – it doesn't wow. Gone are the days of old when a new iPhone would leave competitors scrambling to match its features. Now, with the latest Android handsets consistently setting the benchmark, the iPhone is left somewhat in the shade. That's not to detract from what is arguably one of the best hardware and software combos in the market, but no longer does the iPhone rule the smartphone roost the way it did when it revitalized the sector in 2007. And so we're left with a device that, while still great, no longer can be held up to the world as the pinnacle of gadgetry. Rather, we have a great looking phone that is just that. Another phone.

Nokia Lumia 920

NOKIA IS A NAME ubiquitous in most other parts of the world – its native Europe, especially – but one that still lacks impact in the American market. That is all set to change with their latest announcement. The Lumia 920 is coming, people, and it's time to start taking notice.

The company's Lumia handsets run Microsoft's Windows Phone software, an OS that has failed to gain foothold in a market dominated by Android and iOS. This in itself is a travesty, as Windows Phone has arguably the greatest aesthetic of the three, and features one of the smoothest, most intuitive UIs you'll see on any device. From Microsoft – go figure. It spawned the Metro UI that is the hallmark of upcoming Windows 8, and has influenced the dashboard design of the 360, but still consumers are being driven towards the latest Androids and iPhones.

The Lumia 920 aims to reverse this trend, and is doing so in a big way. One of the first handsets announced with the updated Windows Phone 8, it brings with it a raft of improvements over its predecessor, the Lumia 900, as well as a handful of new innovations to the smartphone market – ones that a fruity rival would do well to take note of.

The design of the 920 is its major selling point. With its Lumia handsets, Nokia has one of the handsomest smartphone ranges of any. This is aided in part by the Finnish company's bravado in selecting a color palette – the traditional black, stark white and grey are complemented and contrasted by neon yellow and bright red hues, which give the device a bold, prominent appearance that will help it stand out on the increasingly crowded smartphone shelves. (All Nokia needs is for the gorgeous cyan of the 900 to be a color option, as it was such a refreshing and pleasing change from the norm.)

If retina-searing colors aren't your style, perhaps a retina-searing screen is in order? Nokia has endowed the 920 with a 4.5-inch, Puremotion HD+ display. In layman's terms, that's a 1280x786 resolution IPS LCD screen, claimed to be 25 percent brighter than the next best smartphone display, with a refresh rate of 60Hz, a polarization filter, Gorilla Glass 2 ensuring it survives the worst you can throw at it (or when you throw it), and such a high level of sensitivity that Nokia claims users can operate the screen with long fingernails, or while wearing gloves – which anyone who's ever tried to use a smartphone in winter will attest is a handy thing indeed.

With an 8.7MP Carl Zeiss lens, capable of 1080p recording, and a dual LED flash, the 920's camera is the first smartphone to feature Optical Image Stabilization. Essentially, it has a floating lens that reduces and removes the blur and shake associated with hand movement while taking still images and videos. A feature normally reserved for digital SLRs, Nokia has demonstrated the tech in motion and it works as well as they claim. The camera also allows 5- to 10-times more light into the sensor than its competitors, ensuring great low-light pics, and Nokia is backing up their specs with the statement that it's the best camera currently available on a smartphone – though Sony's 13mp Exmor sensor may have something to say about that.

Other features include wireless charging utilizing the Qi standard, embedded NFC technology, 4G LTE, and a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 ensuring that Windows Phone 8 flies on the device when it launches. Paired with 1GB of RAM and a 2000mAh battery, the 920 should remain fast and functional all day long. Available in 32GB, the 920 is expected to launch later this year, following the official announcement of Windows Phone 8 from Microsoft in the coming months.

Nokia deserves for the Lumia 920 to be a hit. It's a phone that eschews the hard industrial look of the iPhone 5, and ignores the black and white metal and plastic Galaxy, RAZR and One devices, instead offering a design that is as fun as it is beautiful. The company has provided real innovation, not mere incremental upgrades, and perhaps even outmaneuvered Cupertino in being the device that best gives that elusive ''wow'' factor. Whether it can deliver the goods upon launch remains to be seen, but this bold, beautiful phone demands your attention – and, I reckon, warrants it.

Read more of Rhuaridh Marr's technology writing at our blog, Technocrat.

A sold-out gala honoring veterans, servicemembers and activists in the ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' repeal effort was held Tuesday evening, Sept. 18, with 1,100 attendees boarding New York City's Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, housed largely in the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier.

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), OutServe and the Interbank Roundtable Committee sponsored the event, billed as ''Celebrating Our Heroes.''

Barbara Walters of ABC News served as emcee for the evening, which featured the former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen.

Advocates and activists in the nearly two-decades-long effort to lift the ban on out gay service in the armed forces uniformly praise Mullen for his role in ending the discriminatory policy, pointing to his testimony before the Senate Armed Service Committee, Feb. 2, 2010, as pivotal.

''Mr. Chairman, speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do,'' he testified.

''For me, personally, it comes down to integrity – theirs as individuals, and ours as an institution,'' Mullen explained.

Aboard the Intrepid Mullen told the gathering, ''It's actually pretty easy to stand up for what you believe in.''

''It's pretty easy to stand up and represent the values you have held close for your entire life and be fortunate enough to be in a leadership position where that value actually crosses over in a time and a place and in a way where you as a leader can really make a difference,'' he said.

Mullen's wife, Deborah, also attended the event.

In her remarks, emcee Walters, co-host and executive producer of the ABC's daytime show The View, termed Mullen a personal ''hero.''

''You have fought for something that is right — the end of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy,'' Walters said, looking out over the crowd, which included any number of attendees in military dress.

''So tonight is about history. Tonight is also honoring each and every one of you who has served our nation. Tonight, for the first time in American history, you have the chance to stand before this leader, an admiral, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the man who helped you on this journey, and we all simply say, thank you, sir,'' said Walters.

''Celebrating Our Heroes'' was also a very successful fundraiser, bringing in $700,000, with proceeds to benefit wounded war veterans.

The celebration drew representatives from corporate America, entertainment and the press and elected officials. Among those attending included lesbian New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn; gay MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts; Randy Jones of The Village People; and Elizabeth Birch, former president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT organization.

''We are pausing to mark and celebrate a moment in history,'' said Birch. ''The fact that we got Adm. Mullen to come represents the strongest symbol that we are bringing together established society and our community in a way that we couldn't have imagined 30 years ago.''

''The most powerful industrial military complex in the history of the world has said 'Yes,''' added Birch. ''That makes everything else inevitable. Everything else is inevitable.''

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The repeal of ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' ushered in a new era of acceptance in the armed forces for thousands of Americans. For almost two decades, the ban on out gay servicemembers was an issue fueling the LGBT-rights movement. With President Barack Obama's signature – following a Pentagon working group, surveys, and approval from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the secretary of defense – the ban became a thing of the past.

But for some members of the military, the fight for acceptance is long from over. Although 2011's repeal of ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' opened the door for gay, lesbian and bisexual servicemembers, transgender Americans must continue life in the closet in order to serve their country.

Despite the repeal of DADT, a medical regulatory ban remains in place for those who identity as transgender. Not only is evidence of transition therapy grounds for disqualification for potential recruits, so is openly identifying as transgender, which the Pentagon considers a psychiatric condition.

Transgender veterans who transition after leaving the armed forces face other obstacles as well. Upon discharge from the military, servicemembers receive a DD-214 form with their full name. Some transgender veterans who seek to change the name on the form, which is used to secure veteran benefits, are not always able to do so.

The Department of Veterans Affairs issued a directive in June 2011 providing health care for some transgender medical needs, such as hormone treatments, but the VA does not provide sex-reassignment surgery.

''There's a lot of education that needs to be done among the public about what it means to be a transgender American, which SLDN along with our allies are working on,'' Zeke Stokes, communications director for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, told Metro Weekly. ''But it's not something that's going to happen quickly.''

While the end of DADT was only made possible by a shift in the political climate and balance of power in Washington, Stokes says the time does not seem right for advancing for transgender equality in the military.

''The make up of this Congress doesn't lead us to believe there would be any successful congressional action,'' Stokes said.

Transgender people have faced an uphill battle educating straight and gay people alike about gender identity. Having successfully repealed DADT, many activists have shifted their focus to marriage-equality battles playing out on the state level and in the courts. Securing rights for transgender servicemembers has not been the call to arms that repeal of DADT was.

In many instances, the ''T'' in LGBT is left undefined and undiscussed, even among the gay community. In a video statement delivered during an event at the Pentagon honoring Pride month in June, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta thanked only gay and lesbian servicemembers for their service to their country.

''Before the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' you faithfully served your country with professionalism and courage,'' Panetta said. ''And just like your fellow servicemembers, you put your country before yourself. And now, after repeal, you can be proud of serving your country and be proud of who you are when in uniform.''

Although Panetta said he remains ''committed to removing as many barriers as possible to make America's military a model of equal opportunity,'' there are no plans in the foreseeable future to alter military medical regulations to allow transgender Americans to serve their country openly.

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