Theatre Week
Things to do the week of Oct. 7-10, 2024
We've gathered up some things to do across the nation's capital, including museum exhibits, concerts, only-in-DC events and much more. Don't miss our things to do this weekend and things to do this month as well.
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Monday
Theatre Week
Celebrate the theatre season in the Washington, DC region with a weeks-long promotion from TheatreWashington which includes $20, $40 and $60 tickets to highly anticipated productions at venues all over the DMV area. There are musicals, dramas, comedies, theatre for young audiences and much more. In addition to discounted tickets, Theatre Week also includes special events (most of which are free) designed to entertain, educate and inspire, including the free Kickoff Fest. Plan your stay: Book a hotel today.
The ‘70s Lens: Reimagining Documentary Photography
Across a wondrous collection of roughly 100 works by more than 80 artists, the National Gallery of Art gives visitors a chance to explore the dramatic shift in documentary photography that played out during the turmoil-filled decade of the 1970s. As Americans faced the Watergate scandal, inflation, energy crises and a host of other developments, documentary photographers shifted their collective perspective, leading to brilliant images that depict vibrant communities, suburban sprawl, conceptual art, nature and much more.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Twilight Zone: Hidden Wonders of the Ocean
ARTECHOUSE and the Woods Holde Oceanographic Institution have collaborated to highlight an awe-inspiring nightly migration of ocean twilight zone creatures and their intricate connections to the planet’s health, including their contributions to the regulation of the earth’s climate. The groundbreaking exhibition offers a 24-minute cinematic journey with immersive 270-degree projections that span from floor to wall, complemented by six interactive installations and six XR activations.
Tickets
ARTECHOUSE, 1238 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20002
Tuesday
OSGEMEOS: Endless Story
Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo are the identical twin brothers that comprise OSGEMEOS, which is Portuguese for “the twins.” The Hirshhorn Museum presents the first U.S. survey and the largest American exhibition of work by the duo to date. In total, the full-floor exhibit features roughly 1,000 artworks, photos and archival materials that detail OSGEMEOS’ unique artistic voice that combines heritage, urban art, graffiti and magical elements.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue & 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20560
Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment
Discover the origins of one of the most important art movements in history thanks to a new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. The museum is replicating a legendary exhibit from Paris in 1874 that helped bring about the dawn of Impressionism. In the display, you will be able to view beloved paintings by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissaro and many more.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Aerosmith
With a string of hits that stretches across decades – “Dream On,” “Sweet Emotion,” “Walk This Way,” “I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing,” “Crazy” and many, many more – Aerosmith has become the best-selling American hard rock band of all-time. The legendary group’s farewell tour thankfully touches down at DC’s Capital One Arena. The Black Crowes will serve as the opener.
7 p.m. | Tickets
Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Wednesday
Spirit & Strength: Modern Art from Haiti
The world’s first Black republic flourished with creativity in the mid-1900s thanks to seminal painters like Hector Hyppolite, Rigaud Benoît and Philomé Obin. Their images and depictions of Haitian daily life, religious traditions and history influenced generations of artists. The National Gallery of Art’s exhibit offers the first chance to see 21 works by Haitian artists as well as contemporary pieces that build on their illuminative legacy.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Mister Lincoln
Scott Bakula (pictured above) comes to the stage at Ford's Theatre to portray one of the most iconic men in history. Written by Herbert Mitgang and directed by José Carrasquillo, Mister Lincoln unpacks the sixteenth president's life and tenure in a witty one-man show. Learn about one of the most revered figures in U.S. history inside the theatre where he was fatally shot in 1865.
Tickets
Ford's Theatre, 511 10th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Assimilation, cultural identity and the pursuit of the American dream are all front-and-center in this fascinating production that was nominated for five Tony Awards. Set in Harlem at a bustling hair braiding salon, the play zooms in on the lives of six women (and others) to present a spellbinding portrait of the African immigrant experience in the U.S.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Thursday
National Gallery Nights: Día de los Muertos Celebration
Experience the cultural fusion of Mexican and Indigenous traditions in the National Gallery of Art's celebration of Día de los Muertos. The 4th Street Plaza will host a performance by East Los Angeles’s Las Cafeteras, who use Afro-Mexican rhythms to create magical and unforgettable songs. Over in the East Building, you can dance to the sounds of DJ Pedro Night and explore folk arts and craft techniques. Plus, discover works by Latinx artists in the galleries as the museum honors Hispanic Heritage month.
6-9 p.m. | Register
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
The Lemon Twigs
Looking like they were transported to 2024 from 1974, The Lemon Twigs build on their distinctive look with a retro sound specific to their brotherly synergy. Michael and Brian D’Addario have been releasing music since their teens, so their chops are much more honed than you’d expect from two guys in their mid-20s. DC’s newest music venue, The Atlantis, welcomes the buzzworthy duo.
6:30 p.m. | Tickets
The Atlantis, 2047 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Cole Taylor as Romeo and Caro Reyes Rivera as Juliet © SHAN Wallace
Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare’s timeless story of star-crossed lovers is also a story of the politics of warring families and the violence that consumes them. When all the systems meant to protect and guide a pair of young lovers—familial, religious, and governmental—fail them, can they find a way to safeguard their future despite the chaos around them?
Tickets
Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
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