EVENT CATEGORIES

ART

Dec. 2 to 13
Moods – Young Austrian Photography
The works of the six Austrian artists selected for this exhibition examine the perception and manipulation of our daily surroundings, providing a cross section of young, enterprising artists shaping the country’s contemporary photography scene.
Embassy of Austria

Tue., Dec. 3, 6 p.m.
A ‘Munch’ Christmas Tree
Will it be a “scream” Christmas tree? We don’t know, but the famous Norwegian artist Edward Munch is set to play a key role at the annual Norwegian Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Union Station this year to mark the 150th anniversary of Munch.
Union Station

Dec. 3 to 17
Seeing With Spiral Eyes: An Artist’s Journey through South and Central America
Photos and abstract paintings inspired by the artist Madeline Lynch’s recent travels through Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica and Mexico re-imagine organic forms and iconic symbols — pulled from ancient myths, religions and folklore — to evoke a meditative state infused with the healing energy of bright colors and recurring designs.
El Mueso Fondo del Sol

Through Dec. 8
Different Distances: Fashion Photography Goes Art
Five artists — whose images are a game of balance between art and fashion photography, rooted in cultural history as well as personal experiences — overcome the difference between the intimate and the distant to create atmospheres that bewitch us.
House of Sweden

Through Dec. 8
The Third Room
Children enter a playroom that serves as a set on which they will be the leading characters in a theater piece of their own interpretation. Through headphones, they are instructed to find things in the room, to quiet a talking suitcase, and to fly through space. Exactly how they do this is completely up to them.
House of Sweden

Through Dec. 8
United Stockholms of America
Using figures and facts, design and photography by Charlie Bennet, “United Stockholms of America” tells the story of the migration of 1.3 million Swedes who left their home for a better future in the Promised Land.
House of Sweden

Dec. 14 to May 4
In Focus: Ara Güler’s Anatolia
Ara Güler, the “Eye of Istanbul,” is famous for his iconic snapshots of the city in the 1950s and ’60s, but with an archive of more than 800,000 photographs, Güler’s body of work contains far more than these emblematic images — as seen in this exhibition of never-before-shown works by the legendary photographer.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Through Dec. 20
Camus in a Digital Age
Scannable QR codes create a virtual bridge between physical media and digital content, connecting gallery displays with online videos, photographs, newspaper and audio archives that explore the life of Albert Camus, a French Nobel Prize-winning author, journalist and philosopher. The exhibit is part of “Celebrating 100 Years of Albert Camus,” a series of events that includes author talks, a panel discussion and mixed-media performance; for information, visit www.francedc.org.
Alliance Française of Washington, D.C.

Through Dec. 20
Fabriano 1264: 750 Years of Western Papermaking
The first 750 years of the city of Fabriano’s tradition of papermaking will be celebrated in D.C. as part of “2013: The Year of Italian Culture in the United States.” Papermaking is a still flourishing tradition that began in the 13th century and has made this historic town in the Marche region known throughout the world as the City of Paper. Viewings are by appointment; for information, visit www.iicwashington.esteri.it.
Italian Cultural Institute

Dec. 20 to April 27
Workt by Hand: Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts
Over time, quilts have been revered as nostalgic emblems of the past, dismissed as women’s work, and hailed as examples of American ingenuity. This exhibition breaks new ground by examining quilts through the lens of contemporary feminist theory.
National Museum of Women in the Arts

Through Dec. 31
S.O.S. Spanish Office Showroom
As part of the SPAIN arts & culture program (www.spainculture.us), “S.O.S. Spanish Office Showroom” presents the most avant-garde pieces of Spanish design conceived for modern working environments, highlighting how the creativity of contemporary Spanish designers adapts to any office space and how Spanish design companies are successfully competing in international markets, such as the United States.
Former Spanish Residence

Through Jan. 5
Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris
The first retrospective exhibition in the United States, and the only scholarly catalogue on the renowned 19th-century French photographer Charles Marville (1813-79), presents recent groundbreaking discoveries informing his art and biography, including the versatility of his photographic talents and his true identity, background and family life.
National Gallery of Art

Through Jan. 5
A Democracy of Images: Photographs from the Smithsonian American Art Museum
More than 100 photographs selected from the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s permanent collection celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the museum’s photography collection, examine photography’s evolution in the United States from a documentary medium to a full-fledged artistic genre, and showcase the numerous ways in which it has captured the American experience.
American Art Museum

Through Jan. 5
Earth Matters: Land as Material and Metaphor in the Arts of Africa
Some 100 exceptional works of art from the late 18th to 21st centuries come together for the first major exhibition and scholarly endeavor to comprehensively examine the rich relationship between African artists and the land upon which they live, work and frame their days.
National Museum of African Art

Through Jan. 5
Northern Mannerist Prints from the Kainen Collection
Some 50 works embody the sophisticated imagery, extraordinary stylization and virtuoso technique of the printmaking industry that flourished in the northern Netherlands and at the imperial court of Prague in the late 16th century.
National Gallery of Art

Through Jan. 5
Wanderer: Travel Prints by Ellen Day Hale
A selection of prints, drawings and original printing plates demonstrates Ellen Day Hale ‘s passion for travel and her mastery of printmaking.
National Museum of Women in the Arts

Through Jan. 5
Yes, No, Maybe: Artists Working at Crown Point Press
Featuring 125 working proofs and edition prints produced between 1972 and 2010 at Crown Point Press in San Francisco, one of the most influential printmaking studios of the last half century, “Yes, No, Maybe” goes beyond celebrating the flash of inspiration to examine the artistic process as a sequence of decisions.
National Gallery of Art

Through Jan. 12
Living Artfully: At Home with Marjorie Merriweather Post
From the glamour of Palm Beach, to the rustic whimsy of the Adirondacks, to the distinguished social scene of Washington, D.C., heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post brought to her multiple residences a flawless style of living and entertaining that was made possible only through the gracious management of loyal staff.
Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens

Through Jan. 12
Pakistani Voices: A Conversation with The Migration Series
In April 2013, the Phillips partnered with the State Department to conduct a series of workshops in Pakistan focusing on art and social change. This exhibition features 29 works by emerging Pakistani artists and 20 works by students and orphans who worked together to create visual narratives about identity, personal struggle and Pakistani history.
The Phillips Collection

Through Jan. 24
GOLS for Development
This digital and photographic exhibit narrates the impact of sport as a vehicle for social transparency, taking as an example the life of Pelé, the king of soccer, in parallel with several sports development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Inter-American Development Bank Cultural Center

Through Jan. 25
A Night at the Opera
The grandeur of opera — its unforgettable music, stellar performers, and lavish scenery and costumes — has transfixed audiences for more than 400 years. This 50-item display will feature manuscripts, printed scores, librettos, photographs, correspondence and set designs dating from the late 18th century through the beginning of the 20th century.
Library of Congress James Madison Building

Through Jan. 26
Van Gogh Repetitions
In the first Vincent van Gogh (1853-90) exhibition in D.C. in 15 years, the Phillips Collection takes a fresh look at the van Gogh’s artistic process, venturing beneath the surface of some of his best-known paintings to examine how and why he repeated certain compositions during his 10-year career.
The Phillips Collection

Through Jan. 26
Yoga: The Art of Transformation
Through masterpieces of Indian sculpture and painting, “Yoga” — the first exhibit to present this leitmotif of Indian visual culture — explores yoga’s goals; its Hindu as well as Buddhist, Jain and Sufi manifestations; its means of transforming body and consciousness; and its profound philosophical foundations.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Through Jan. 31
Icons of the Desert
This exhibition of early indigenous Australian paintings from Papunya, from the private collection of John and Barbara Wilkerson, took more than 10 years of development in close consultation with the aboriginal community and descendants of the artists.
Embassy of Australia Art Gallery

Through Jan. 31
Portraits of Power: Works by Alejandro Almaraz of Argentina
Since 2006, the Organization of American States’s Art Museum of the Americas has aimed to promote OAS values of social progress and cultural exchange through the visual arts. Continuing along this path, Alejandro Almaraz’s examinations of popular authority figures encourage conversation on vital OAS interests such as democracy and good governance.
Art Museum of the Americas

Through Jan. 31
Linger On! (Verweile doch)
Capturing fleeting moments in time, these diverse works by six artists present extraordinary encounters with contemporary art, ranging from documentary photography that enhances reality via the deft use of framing and lighting to precisely staged productions.
Goethe-Institut

Through Jan. 31
Portraits of Power: Works by Alejandro Almaraz of Argentina
Since 2006, the Organization of American States’s Art Museum of the Americas has aimed to promote OAS values of social progress and cultural exchange through the visual arts. Continuing along this path, Alejandro Almaraz’s examinations of popular authority figures encourage conversation on vital OAS interests such as democracy and good governance.
Art Museum of the Americas

Through Feb. 9
Lines, Marks, and Drawings: Through the Lens of Roger Ballen
This exhibit considers the 40-year-plus career of Roger Ballen, one of the more recognized photographic artists working today, through a new approach: an examination of line and drawing in his photographs.
National Museum of African Art

Through Feb. 14
Illuminating Opportunity: A Photography Exhibit for Social Good
This photography exhibit by Trees, Water and People explores the organization’s solar energy program in Honduras through the eyes of photographer Darren Mahuron. Viewings are by appointment only; for information, call (202) 370-4618 or (202) 370-0151.
Organization of American States

Through March 2
Heaven and Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections
In the first exhibition devoted to Byzantine art at the National Gallery, some 170 rare and important works, drawn exclusively from Greek collections, offer a fascinating glimpse of the soul and splendor of the mysterious Byzantine Empire.
National Gallery of Art

Through March 2
Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art
Nearly 100 works in all media by 72 leading modern and contemporary artists present the rich and varied contributions of Latino artists in the United States since the mid-20th century, when the concept of a collective Latino identity began to emerge.
Smithsonian American Art Museum

Through March 9
Alex Prager: Face in the Crowd
Los Angeles artist Alex Prager’s first solo museum exhibition in the United States debuts her latest series — elaborately staged crowd scenes, both poignant and revelatory — alongside earlier photographs and video works.
Corcoran Gallery of Art

Through March 15
Man at the Crossroads: Diego Rivera’s Mural at Rockefeller Center
This exposition centers around the mural that Mexican artist Diego Rivera painted in New York City, reconstructing its history with unedited material, including reproduced letters, telegrams, contracts, sketches, and documents, following Rivera’s commission, subsequent tension and conflict, and finally, the mural’s destruction.
Mexican Cultural Institute

Through May 26
Damage Control: Art and Destruction Since 1950
The first in-depth exploration of the theme of destruction in international contemporary visual culture, this groundbreaking exhibition includes works by a diverse range of international artists working in painting, sculpture, photography, film, installation and performance.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Through June 8, 2014
Perspectives: Rina Banerjee
Born in India and based in New York City, artist Rina Banerjee draws on her background as a scientist and her experience as an immigrant in her richly textured works that complicate the role of objects as representations of cultures and invite viewers to share her fascination in materials.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Through July 13
Dancing the Dream
From the late 19th century to today, dance has captured this nation’s culture in motion, as seen in photos that showcase generations of performers, choreographers and impresarios.
National Portrait Gallery

Through Aug. 24
Africa ReViewed: The Photographic Legacy of Eliot Elisofon
“Africa ReViewed” showcases the African photography of celebrated Life magazine photographer Eliot Elisofon and explores the intricate relationships between his photographic archives and art collection at the National Museum of African Art. Elisofon’s images had a huge impact in framing America’s perceptions of Africa and its diverse cultures during the 20th century.
National Museum of African Art

DANCE

Dec. 5 and 6
Ballet Hispanico
Ballet Hispanico returns to the Kennedy Center with a dazzling mixed repertory program to include the D.C. premiere of “Sortijas” by Cayetano Soto, one of the most dynamic and groundbreaking Spanish choreographers of his generation. Tickets are $22 to $60.
Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater

Dec. 5 to 29
The Nutcracker
The Washington Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” transports you back in time to historic D.C. with George Washington as the heroic Nutcracker, accompanied by glorious music, swirling snowflakes, and magnificent sets and costumes. Tickets are $32 to $112. (Immediately after the Dec. 15 matinee performance, the Washington Ballet (TWB) hosts the 34th annual Nutcracker Tea Party at the Willard InterContinental Hotel. For information, visit www.washingtonballet.org.)
Warner Theatre

DISCUSSIONS

Thu., Dec. 13, 5-7 p.m.
LADO Open House
The LADO International Institute holds an open house at its D.C. location for prospective students and teachers to learn more about its English language classes. For information, visit www.lado.edu/english/.
LADO DC Center

GALAS

Mon., Dec. 16, 7 p.m.
Choral Arts 33rd Annual Holiday Concert and Gala
The Choral Arts Society of Washington’s 33rd annual Holiday Concert and Gala begins with the show “An Enchanted Christmas,” followed by a black-tie reception, dinner and dancing on the Roof Terrace, with Italian Ambassador and Mrs. Claudio Bisogniero serving as honorary patrons in honor of “2013: The Year of Italian Culture in the United States.” For ticket information, visit www.choralarts.org.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

MUSIC

Mon., Dec. 2, 8 p.m.
Kazakhstan Gala Concert
Società Italiana della Musica da Camera (the Italian Society for Chamber Music) presents the Eurasian Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Aidar Torebaev and with guest violinist Aiman Mussakhajayeva, in a gala concert for Kazakhstan. Tickets are $20 to $50.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

Dec. 5 to 7
Holiday Songfest Inc.: Irving Berlin Hits
Gorgeous choral music and carols with the Thomas Circle Singers starts at 7:15 p.m., followed by wonderful singers, including Broadway star Klea Blackhurst, in this all Irving Berlin repertoire. During the concert, champagne and hors d’oeuvres are served, followed by a buffet prepared by the embassy chef. Tickets are $140 (Dec. 5) or $150 (Dec. 6 and 7); for information, visit www.embassyseries.org.
Embassy of Luxembourg

Fri., Dec. 6, 8 p.m.
Christmas in Ireland: An Nollaig in Éirinn
Hailing from County Waterford, Danú performs traditional Irish music of the season in a very special holiday treat for young and old alike. Tickets are $34 to $50.
George Mason University Hylton Performing Arts Center

Dec. 7 to 15
The 31st Annual Christmas Revels
The Washington Revels’ celebration of the Winter Solstice harkens back to ancient Thrace, with music, dance and drama from Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey, including a swirl of beautiful costumes, haunting Slavonic harmonies, and fiery instrumentals and folk dances. Tickets are $18 to $50.
GW Lisner Auditorium

Tue., Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Ismäel Margain – Eunic Concert Series
An award-winning French pianist since the age of 7, Ismaël Margain, now 21, brings a vibrancy and enthusiasm to a repertoire that features pieces from Mozart, Ravel, Rachmaninov and his personal favorite, Schubert. Tickets are $15; for information, visit www.acfdc.org.
Embassy of Austria

Wed., Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Duo Drechsler & Martin Tiefenbacher
Duo Ulrich Drechsler & Martin Tiefenbacher perform their album “Beyond Words,” featuring intimate instrumentation that consists of bass clarinet, piano and drums. Admission is free but tickets are required; for information, visit www.acfdc.org.
Embassy of Austria

Thu., Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.
miXt
Formed in 2011, miXt is a versatile, dynamic chamber group comprised of award-winning soloists from the Young Concert Artists roster who perform in a variety of configurations. Tickets are $160, including buffet dinner and wine; for information, visit www.embassyseries.org.
Spanish Residence

Fri., Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Christmas in Vienna
Burnett Thompson, the great American composer and pianist, presents his work “Christmas in Vienna” to ring in the holiday season. Admission is free but tickets are required; for information, visit www.acfdc.org.
Embassy of Austria

Fri., Dec. 13, 8 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 15, 4 p.m.
Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna
The spirit of the Christmas season comes to life when the angelic voices the Vienna Boys Choir performs a program of classical and popular music that includes traditional Christmas carols, Gregorian chants, songs from around the world and popular holiday favorites. Tickets are $25 to $50.
George Mason University Center for the Arts (Dec. 13)
Hylton Performing Arts Center (Dec. 15)

Dec. 13 to 22
Christmas in New Spain: Early Music of Mexico and Peru
The Folger Consort presents exuberant music by 16th- and 17th-century Latin American and Spanish composers for the Christmas season and lively rhythms of early baroque dances. Tickets are $50.
Folger Shakespeare Library

Sun., Dec. 15, 4 p.m.
Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano: Fiesta Navidad
This Grammy Award-winning Mexican mariachi ensemble offers a lively concert featuring traditional Mexican and American carols such as “Feliz Navidad,” “Jingle Bells” and much more. Tickets are $25 to $50.
George Mason University Center for the Arts

Dec. 15 to 22
The Washington Chorus: A Candlelight Christmas
Celebrate the splendor of the season with the Washington Chorus’s beloved holiday event and an annual favorite with Kennedy Center audiences. Tickets are $15 to $70.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

Dec. 16 to 24
The Choral Arts Society of Washington: An Enchanted Christmas
This year, Choral Arts collaborates with the Italian Embassy to promise a concert mixed with Yuletide classics, Italian carols, and the always popular sing-along. Tickets are $15 to $75.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

Dec. 19 to 22
National Symphony Orchestra: Handel’s Messiah
Get in the holiday spirit with Handel’s epic masterpiece, performed each year with a fresh perspective by the National Symphony Orchestra and acclaimed guest artists. Tickets are $10 to $85.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall

Sat., Dec. 21, 8 p.m.
Eileen Ivers: An Irish Christmas – An Nollaig
Irish-American fiddler Eileen Ivers, backed by her band Immigrant Soul, is a nine-time All-Ireland fiddle champion who is known for her high-energy performances that mix traditional and original music, spirited step-dancing and dramatic storytelling. Tickets are $25 to $50.
George Mason University Center for the Arts

THEATER

Through Dec. 1
Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare’s timeless story of young, passionate love set against a sea of hate is retold by three-time Helen Hayes Award-winning director Aaron Posner. Tickets are $40 to $72.
Folger Shakespeare Library

Dec. 5 to 22
Man in a Case
Interweaving video, music and dance, this production is adapted from two short stories of humor and despair by Anton Chekhov and features celebrated performer Mikhail Baryshnikov and veteran members of Big Dance Theater. Tickets are $45 to $105.
The Shakespeare Lansburgh Theatre

Fri., Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Anticodes
This multimedia dance theater production is based on Václav Havel’s collection of experimental poetry of the same name and uses projection and sound to turn the stage into a real-time visual and aural reflection of the dancers’ movements. Admission is free but tickets are required; a pre-show discussion about Havel and Czech theater starts at 7:30 p.m.
Georgetown University David Performing Arts Center

Through Dec. 8
Pride in the Falls of Autrey Mill
The Falls of Autrey Mill is the most desired zipcode in town. From the outside, the flawless neighborhood glitters with elegant roman column porches and exquisitely manicured lawns. However, demons lurk behind the designer window treatments when one seemingly perfect family disintegrates from the inside out. Please call for ticket information.
Signature Theatre

Dec. 11 to Jan. 5
Edgar & Annabel
From one of Britain’s most promising young playwrights, this dark and cheeky look at what the future might hold features undercover agents, surveillance algorithms, and explosive karaoke. Tickets are $30 to $35.
Studio Theatre

Dec. 14 to 22
The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me
Most everyone knows the story of the Nativity, but probably not from the donkey’s point of view! Washington National Opera Artistic Director Francesca Zambello brings this award-winning children’s book to vibrant life in this heartwarming, world premiere holiday family opera. Tickets are $39 to $59.
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater

Through Dec. 15
Protest
In this play written in 1978 by famed Czech human rights activist Vaclav Havel, we meet a dissident on his way home from prison and a person involved in a campaign to protest the government. One character is the protesting artist who suffered for his beliefs, the other a compromising and compromised playwright. But in this unique interpretation by Ambassador Theater, the two male characters have counter female egos, emphasizing their universality. Tickets are $20 to $40; for information, visit www.aticc.org (for mature audiences).
Mead Theater Lab at Flashpoint

Dec. 17 to Jan. 5
Elf the Musical
Buddy the orphan leaves the North Pole to find his true identity in this modern Christmas classic that will make everyone embrace their inner elf. Tickets are $25 to $150.
Kennedy Center Opera House

Through Dec. 29
The Apple Family Plays
“That Hopey Changey Thing” and “Sweet and Sad” will play in rotating repertory under the banner “The Apple Family Plays,” which follow a family’s story over two tumultuous years in America’s history. Tickets are $39 to $85.
Studio Theatre

Through Jan. 5
A Christmas Carol
Ford’s Theatre has delighted Washington audiences with “A Christmas Carol” for more than 30 years. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Please call for ticket information.
Ford’s Theatre

Through Jan. 5
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
This fun musical farce based on the classic plays of ancient Roman playwright Plautus tells the bawdy story of Pseudolus, a slave in ancient Rome, who goes to great lengths to gain his freedom by securing a courtesan for his young master, Hero. Tickets are $20 to $110.
Shakespeare Theatre Sidney Harman Hall

Through Jan. 5
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Broadway and Arena Stage favorite Kenny Leon returns to direct Malcolm-Jamal Warner (in his Arena Stage debut) in a new adaptation of the beloved film “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” Please call for ticket information.
Arena Stage