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Oktoberfest
A German tradtion enjoyed around the world.
Every time a tankard or mug of beer is raised at an Oktoberfest, it's in foamy remembrance of a long-ago royal wedding.
When Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and his fiancé, Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, married in October 1810, King Max Joseph threw a party that made all 20th century royal weddings look so Motel 8 by comparison. All the citizens of Munich were invited to a festival, parades, and horse races. Everyone had so much fun, they decided to make it an annual event.
195 years later, Munich still rocks each fall with an Oktoberfest that attracts more than a million revelers.
Throughout Germany, Europe, and the United States, Oktoberfest is celebrated in towns large and small. The Irish honor their heritage on St. Patrick's Day; the Germans need a couple of weeks to do it properly.
In Munich, it's a time to drink specially brewed Oktoberfest beer from the town's six major breweries and sample the wurst (sausage) German cooks prepare, while attending concerts, dancing, and generally having a good time.
But Oktoberfest is a misnomer.
The pragmatic fest organizers soon moved it up several weeks. The Munich 16-day Oktoberfests begin in mid-September and end the first weekend in October. It's one thing to "chill" with a frosty beer mug, it's another to do it in a snowbank. Icy alpine winds and snowstorms are not unheard of in Bavaria in mid-October.
Many of the first Oktoberfest's events have disappeared or evolved. An agricultural fair was added the next year; pub owners and performers joined the fun in 1818. Brewmasters began tapping special Oktoberfest bier-beer-in 1872, a reddish-amber Marzen beer similar to the brew served at the crown prince's nuptials. The horse races ended in 1937; the parade of 7,000 people in lederhosen and dirndls started in 1887.
In the United States, Milwaukee's Oktoberfest observes its 150th anniversary September 10-25. Cinncinnati, with its Oktoberfest Zinnzinnati on tap September 17-18, vies with Munich for the title of the world's largest Oktoberfest.
The Ohioans probably need a lake full of Tums when their event ends. In addition to thousands of gallons of beer, the crowds chow through nearly 90,000 mettwurst, more than 80,000 bratwurst, 64,000 sauerkraut balls, 6,000 jumbo pickles, and 3,600 pounds of sauerkraut. That's just for starters!
Closer to this area, Newark, Delaware, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, both host Oktoberfest events September 16-18. Reading, Pennsylvania, has its festival on September 18, and one in Berks County, Pennsylvania, is scheduled for September 30 through October 2. Germantown, Maryland, holds its 22nd annual observance on October 1 at the Ridge Road Park; the Frederick Fairgrounds is the site for revels on October 1-2. Richmond, Virginia, winds up the season with its Oktoberfest at the Richmond International Raceway Complex on October 29-30.
Maryland Oktoberfest Celebrations
Ocean City beckons with its salty seaside version of Oktoberfest on October 7-9 at the Ocean City Convention Center, Friday and Saturday 11:30-10 p.m. and Sunday 11:30-4 p.m. For more information call 4140-524-7020 or visit their website at www.oceanpromotions.info/oktoberfest.html.
The Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium is the location for the Maryland Brewer's Oktoberfest, October 15 and 16, sponsored by 13 Maryland-based breweries. The organizers promise traditional oompah bands, a Miss Oktoberfest contest, Baltimore's Best Beer Belly contest, beer gardens, Bavarian costumes, and authentic German cuisine. Check out the website, www.mdoktoberfest.com, for more details or call 410-769-8223 x1000.
In Baltimore the 36th Annual Oktoberfest features traditional German harvest celebrations, oompah music, dancing, biers, wine garden, and German crafts at the 5th Regiment Armory from noon on Saturday October 8 to 1:00 p.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday noon to 7 p.m. For more information visit their website at www.md-germans.org or call 410-276-4949.
In Edgewater, at 1143 Central Avenue (Rt. 214), the Old Stein Inn, operated by Michael and Beth Selinger, serves "traditional German food with a Maryland flair" year-round. For three weekends, beginning in late September, it recreates the mood of the Munich Oktoberfest with special events, accordion, and Bavarian band music, and its beautiful Biergarten. The inn's Biergarten schedule begins in late July and continues through October. For more information or reservations, call 410-798-6807 or visit the website www.oldstein-inn.com.
In West Annapolis you can celebrate Oktoberfest with art, crafts, live music, German food, and refreshments on Sunday, October 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the shopping area. Call 410-268-2662 for more information.
The West Street First Sunday Arts Festival and West Street Market will also be celebrating Oktoberfest on October 2, from noon to 5:00 p.m. on the block of West Street located between Church Circle and Calvert Street in Annapolis. Call 410-295-6663 for more information.
Orchestras Abound
Annapolis has long been a city of music. Festivals bring thousands to the city to enjoy great jazz and blues. Downtown bars are packed solid Fridays and Saturdays as crowds sing along with their favorite songs. But search beyond these venues for another side of the city's passion for music. For there are nights when school auditoriums and other halls fill with concertgoers and Beethoven and Brahms fill the night air.
Shine your shoes and put on a tie; the following orchestras present live concerts in and around Annapolis in the coming months.
Annapolis Symphony Orchestra
www.annapolissymphony.org
410.269.1132
Annapolis's fully professional orchestra is 45 years in the making. Anywhere from forty to seventy musicians will be led this season by Spaniard José-Luis Novo, a professional violinist and experienced conductor who is new to the orchestra this year.
The orchestra mainly plays classical symphony pieces, as they will November 18 and 19 when they team up with pianist Orion Weiss to play selections from Tchaikovsky and Verdi. The group is capable of non-traditional concerts as well, such as the October 30 performance of The Arabian Nights, when two stories from far-off lands will be performed by "Tales n' Scales."
Annapolis Wind Symphony
www.annapoliswindsymphony.org
410.533.8058
Established in 1999, the Annapolis Wind Symphony Orchestra is "a consortium of professional musicians dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and performance of the finest in classical symphonic band music." Marc Boensel, conductor, has worked on both coasts for nearly 20 years, conducting bands, choirs, and orchestras.
The season begins with a concert on November 13 in Shady Side, with Mozart Serenade. All proceeds from shows are donated to charities in Maryland.
Anne Arundel Community College Orchestra
www.aacc.edu
410.777.2457
More than fifty musicians participate in the 25-year-old orchestra program at one of the country's top community colleges. An integral part of the college's music program, the AACC orchestra is made up of students, faculty, staff, and members of the community. Douglas Byerly, an associate professor and chair of music at the college, conducts the orchestra, which performs anything from classical to modern orchestral pieces.
PIRATES! their next show, takes place October 21 and 22 at the Pascal Performing Arts Center on the AACC campus. It will feature music from Bellini's Il Pirata and The Pirates of Penzance.
Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra
www.cysorchestra.org
410.263.2664
Native Frenchman Julien Benichou is currently the music director and conductor for this volunteer group. Students come from all over the state to study or to compete in many of the organization's competitions. Concerts are also held to showcase the cultivated talent of these young music pupils.
As of press time this local children's orchestra is auditioning for the 270 or so seats in its various wind, flute, and string ensembles. October 29th they will perform The Planets by Holst at the annual Kinderconcert, a free event geared to elementary school age children. December 10th they will be performing a Mozart Requiem with the Queen Anne's Chorale at the Heritage Baptist Church. December 19th is the Annual Holiday Concert with the string Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Concert Orchestra performing at Maryland Hall. For more details and listings of upcoming performances refer to their website.
The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra
www.londontownesymphony.org
301.367.4018
The newest group on the Annapolis scene, this orchestra is entering its third season. Founded in 2003 by Kathy Solano and Gabriel Di Marco, the independent group comprises forty musicians. Professional freelancers, music teachers, retired military players, and gifted students are all part of this eclectic mix of performers. "We're just happy that we're playing, having people come to the concerts, and that we're growing," says Di Marco, the group's treasurer.
Their next performance is at Southern High School on January 13th. They will play selections from Brahms, Schumann, and Respighi with guest conductor Shawn Eugene Burke-Storer.
United States Navy Band
www.navyband.navy.mil
202.433.2525
No list of Annapolis orchestras is complete without a mention of the Navy's own. Four officers and 172 enlisted musicians belong to more than seven ensembles that present anything from country to choral concerts. Annapolitan Captain Ralph M. Gambone leads the Navy Band, the group's largest ensemble. Officially designated in 1925 by an act of Congress, this is an act not to miss.
The Navy Band plays October 1 at the College of Southern Maryland. Two ensemble groups from the band will play October 2 and 9 in Rockville and Temple Hills, Maryland, respectively. The "Sea Chanters," a seventeen-voice chorus, sings October 23 in Springfield, Virginia.
Washington Symphonic Brass
www.wsbrass.com
301.858.1499
We finish our list with a group of musicians who travel the area performing great brass ensembles from all periods. Milton Stevens, principal trombonist of the National Symphony Orchestra, conducts this group of professional musicians. Supported by Maryland State Arts Council and the Cultural Arts Foundation of Anne Arundel County, this group has strong ties to the area and regularly plays in Annapolis as well as in Washington and Virginia.
The 2005-2006 season began in September and picks up again February 22 at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, where the orchestra will play the best of its 13-year-run and selections from its newly pressed CD.
-Conal Darcy
Museums and Galleries: Can't Miss Exhibits
Paint Annapolis 2005
Through October 21
Maryland Hall for Creative Arts, Annapolis
410.263.5544
A juried selection exhibits the work of 25 plein air painters who participated in the September Paint Annapolis event in September. The canvasses capture the light and landscapes we love, offering perspectives unknown. In the Chaney Gallery at Maryland Hall.
Monet's London: Artists' Reflections on the Thames, 1859-1914
October 2 through December 31
Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore
410.396.7100
The exhibit will take you on a journey along the Thames River through London, covering a broad range of modern styles including, impressionism, pointillism, and fauvism. The highlights, of course, are the works by Monet, but at 125 paintings overall (Monet plus his contemporaries), the exhibit is worth a look, maybe even two.
In Response to Place
Through November 1
Academy Art Museum, Easton
410.822.2787
The Nature Conservancy has loaned the AAM the work of 12 renowned photographers, including Annie Leibovitz and William Wegman. The exhibit features landscape photography, portraiture, and photojournalism celebrating the natural world. Thoreau would be proud.
Spy Treasures of Hollywood: Highlights from the Danny Biederman Spy-Fi Collection
October 7 through Spring 2006
International Spy Museum, D.C.
202.EYE.SPYU
Dr. No and James Bond, Dr. Evil and Austin Powers-find them all as all at the International Spy Museum this fall through spring. The cream of the spy movie crop, a selection of 35 props and wardrobe items from a collection of more than 4,000, will be featured in this special exhibit. Included: Dr. No's tarantula, Bond's Walther PPK handgun, Maxwell Smart's shoe phone, and Sidney Bristow's bracelet/weapon. Catch it if you can.
Warhol Legacy: Selections from the Andy Warhol Museum
Through February 20, 2006
Corcoran Gallery of Art
202.639.1700
More than 150 of the most treasured works of art from the Andy Warhol Museum, located in Pittsburgh, will give audiences a rare opportunity to experience, Warhol's impressive catalog firsthand. This exhibition comprises paintings, photographs, drawings, sculptures, works on paper, and films from a career that challenged the traditional distinctions between popular culture and fine art.
The Live Wire: Concert Previews
The When, Who, Where, and What You'll Dig
by j.s. houck
10/2 Foreigner at Rams Head Live!, Baltimore
410.244.1131
When they first hit the charts in '77, little did Foreigner know that they were on their way to classic rock stardom. The sextet has seen a few lineup changes since then, the latest being ready to revisit the past and present to you the future; hear your favorite hits and then some.
10/3 Busta Rhymes at Rams Head Live!
410.244.1131
October is a very solid month for Rams Head Live! Bringing in one of the most enduring rappers of the past decade helps. Busta Rhymes defines bold, aggressive rap, while avoiding the gansta trap-his style being more ragga and rasta inspired.
10/5 Beck at the Patriot Center, Fairfax
410.547.SEAT
Well, the man is a musical genius. That's about the best way to lay it down. Beck writes some serious compositions that range from somber to party-hard subject matter. His performances are altogether rocking, hip, edgy, and hi-fi swings into his mind. A great catch.
10/5 Lucinda Williams at Rams Head Live!
410.244.1131
Their music is out there. While a touch difficult to define, the music goes something like this: glósóli, međ blóđnasir, sćglópur, svo hljótt. Those would be a few track titles off their upcoming September 12 release-in Icelandic. That's right, this four-member outfit is from Iceland-like I said out there-and their music is very atmospheric, featuring sweeping arrangements that combine keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums.
10/9 Nickel Creek at the 9:30 Club, D.C.
800.955.5566
This southern Californian trio is acoustically tuned, so their songs are apt to take on super charged personalities when performed live. It's a mixing bowl of various genres whose beater is bluegrass. Nickel Creek's stock is steadily rising with no end in sight. Nickel Creek will also perform on 10/11 at Rams Head Live!
10/10 Foo Fighters and Weezer at the Patriot Center
410.547.SEAT
Well, the man is a musical genius. That's about the best way to lay it down. Beck writes some serious compositions that range from somber to party-hard subject matter. His performances are altogether rocking, hip, edgy, and hi-fi swings into his mind. A great catch.
10/11 John Scofield at the State Theatre, Falls Church
410.547.SEAT
Don't let Scofield's reputation as one of the preeminent jazz guitarists fool you, he'll scream through his six-string as well. His style, while rooted in the jazz aesthetic, has no boundaries; rock, reggae and trance could be visited, but this go-round, he tours in support of his latest release, John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles. Your expectations should run high.
10/20 Junior Brown at The Barns, Wolf Trap, Vienna
800.955.5566
Where's the heart of rock 'n' roll? For Junior Brown it's in country. This axe man is so apt at performing both guitar and pedal steel, that he invented an instrument that combines both-the guit-steel. For a rockin' honky-tonk time, pay Brown a visit.
10/25-27 Little Feat at Rams Head OnStage
410.244.1131
Feat don't fail me now! Little Feat makes its annual pilgrimage to its home away from Californ-i-a home. The southern-fried blues-based band has had at it for over three decades now and they're showing no signs of letting up. Get in on these sure-to-be sellouts if you can.
10/26 Yonder Mountain String Band at Rams Head Live!
410.244.1131
Yonder is what's happening in the bluegrass scene. They tour hard and perform hard, winning their audiences over. They've got their chops down, licking away bluegrass standards, while kicking the Newgrass scene with a revved-up style that jams.
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Gear for Your Ears: CD Reviews
New Comes and Goes
Oranger
Eenie Meenie Records
The headstrong start to Oranger's fourth album boasts of things to come. It's a one-two punch as the punk-pop lead track "Crooked in the Weird of the Catacombs" ends in an abnormal drum 'n' strum lilt that immediately transitions into the marching rock of the title track "New Comes and Goes." The value here? Oranger offers bit of punk enthusiasm that's benefited greatly from the free-form San Francisco scene (think slightly psychedelic) from which they hail. Each of the 13 tracks is a swift little packet of riff-raff rock melody, save for the obligatory piano ballad at track 10, "Flying Pretend." You'll immediately wonder if the five-piece has been listening to too much Pavement or the Cars, maybe Neil Young. And you're half right. Oranger once toured with Pavement as an opening act and the influence shows: flip-flop chord vamps, rudimentary drumming, catchy choruses, and those vocals-very clean and focused, yet with a yearning edge that seems to constantly beg, "Won't you join me . . . please?" Thanks very much Oranger, I'm getting there.
The Invisible Invasion
The Coral
Deltasonic/Columbia Records
Think '60s Brit-pop hand in hand with an electric psychedelic flair, but with clarity of tone and ringing vibrancy that's technologically 2005. Happy splashes of organ meet filthy scat guitar riffs-it's an odd mix that harks back to the likes of the Animals, the 13th Floor Elevators, or the Doors (you'll recognize immediately on track 1, "She Sings The Morning"). This young U.K. septet borrows heavily, very heavily, from the baby-boomer rockers of their homeland. At four tracks in, "The Operator" is borderline infringement of Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine" with only a slighter faster tempo and different lyrics. But this is forgivable. After all, the Coral delivers a very groovy album, if not wholly original. Bygones be back, baby.
--j.s. houck
Set Free
American Analog Set
Arts & Crafts
It's rare to find a companion these days; however, American Analog Set has made it easy for an outsider to feel oddly nurtured, if only for a few moments. Effortlessly relational, the five-member Texas band's latest indie-rock release, Set Free, has resulted in a refined blend of everything that drew their loyal fans in the first place: small, articulate vocals; bright fillers of electric piano; unassuming percussion; and weighty guitar chords that plateau in low repetitive hums. It's a 12-track story of everything endearing and forward, a feeling of looking from the outside, in. Every song uniformly whispers in careful ballads that seem to accentuate the instrumentation, as in "Immaculate Heart 1" (and 2), and the beautifully produced "She's Half." And if there was any album that was kind, this one would be in the hands of those broken hearted and recovering-going great lengths to make them smile. And smile they do. Spotlight track: "She's Half."
--Kimi Raspa
If Songs Could Be Held
Rosie Thomas
Sub Pop Records
Loveliness, love, and everything we scribble down privately when we think no one is looking, is what Rosie Thomas shares with the world once again-except this time her words stem from a fictional, rather than personal, perspective with her third album, If Songs Could Be Held. She returns with complete love-knit balladry full of rich subtle elegance, appropriately narrated in a gamut of piano hues that could probably charm a fading soul back to life. "Pretty Dress" poses a kind of surrender to hope and self-worth, with lofty sung verses and luminous choruses, while "Death Came and Got Me" aptly resounds with vocal layering, creating a strikingly sober affect-one of many brilliant tracks on the album. A gentle breeze from start to finish, the album reflects Rosie's mastery at translating life with unabated tenderness that seems to consistently draw the most unlikely of attention. Spotlight track: "Death Came and Got Me."
--Kimi Raspa
Thanks to: Sheila Breen, Tag Team Media; Joan Hiller, Sub Pop Records; and Maggie Wang, Columbia Records.
The Quick Six: Q & A with Actor/Musician Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels will make you laugh. Never mind his ludicrously funny role in 1994's Dumb & Dumber as Harry Dunne, who many quote as one of his most comedic characters on screen. The man's a natural; he's got the gift of comedy, which ironically is serious business for him. This truth also reveals itself in his music-yes music. This fall, Daniels takes to the road to perform his one-man acoustic brand of life's trials and tribulations, with its many pratfalls. He's long been a performer on the music stage, his annual 2 weeks of Christmas-time benefit shows at the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan (which he founded) serving as the proving ground for upcoming tours. You can catch the light 'n' insightful side of Daniels this October 10 at Rams Head OnStage in Annapolis (410.268.4545). He recently wrapped up filming of a comedy, R.V., co-starring Robin Williams, which is slated for a March 2006 release, and we caught up with him.
What's Up? Annapolis: Jeff, many of our readers are familiar with your film career, but not your music. Could you talk about your influences and schooling?
Jeff Daniels: I've been playing since the early '70s. Self taught, though everywhere I go I have some Stefan Grossman instructional DVD or Dave Van Ronk tab book I'm slogging through. As for songwriting, I've always admired Christine Lavin, Steve Goodman, John Prine, Loudon Wainwright, and Keb Mo, to name a few. Recently, I even had a guitar lesson from Keb, which is like studying at the feet of the master. I've also enjoyed studying the various Delta blues players and even made the pilgrimage to Clarksdale, Mississippi, to stand at the "Crossroads." Unlike Robert Johnson's, however, my guitar playing didn't instantly improve so, I went back to the tab books.
WUA: You'll be performing at Rams Head OnStage in Annapolis, a fabulous intimate venue. How did this tour come to be and why?
JD: Late this summer I was supposed to do 6 weeks throughout the Midwest and over to the East Coast. I got a film (R.V.) that I couldn't pass up, so the tour went away. Still, I enjoy playing and Rams Head came up as one of the great venues, so we came back to them and they were nice enough to welcome me back.
WUA: What can audiences expect from a Jeff Daniels performance, in terms of stage setup, music genres, etc.?
JD: I'm pretty simple. A guitar and . . . well, me. Lots of original stuff, many songs and stories about Hollywood, recreational vehicles, road rage, Clint Eastwood, and sex. Y'know, your standard fare. The show changes every night, depending on the crowd. I'm very big on making sure the audience gets entertained, as well as, maybe, takes a thing or two away from the show. Make 'em laugh, make 'em cry.
WUA: The sense of humor in many of your songs; is that Jeff being Jeff?
JD: Humor is a great way to connect with an audience. The best gig for a stage actor is being in a comedy that works. You hear the people laugh and you feed off that. Same with singing and playing. Again, people like Chris Lavin, Steve Goodman, Randy Newman, and Arlo Guthrie made it okay for me as a songwriter to chase that. Throw in a few songs about Hollywood and you've got me being me in various keys.
WUA: Are there any future projects, music wise, on your horizon?
JD: We've had a lot of success with this first CD (jeffdaniels.com, CD Baby, and iTunes) and we easily have another 20 songs recorded live ready to go. I'm constantly writing new stuff and have several I'm going to pull out at Rams Head. We record every show, so I imagine we'll add a few live performances from this show. Also, Chris Lavin is putting out a CD called One Meat Ball. She asked songwriters to send her an original tune having to do with a favorite recipe. I'm sending her something called "Tomato Puddin'." It's actually a side dish that my family serves every Thanksgiving. Honest. I'll be playing that at Rams Head so we have a live version. We'll also be doing a studio version with a band. This will also be the fifth consecutive year where I do my ten shows over 2 weeks at the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan, around Christmas and New Year's. Lots of new material will be unveiled and recorded live. Other than that, I'm just going to find sporadic nights around the country where I can play in between film jobs. I have great respect for those who do this for a living. Because I don't, it allows me to enjoy myself and have fun with it. Hopefully, that's reflected in the show.
WUA: A final question, perhaps a touch off subject; your favorite or proudest moment on the silver screen?
JD: You mean aside from sitting on a toilet in Dumb & Dumber? Let's see. Several favorite moments. Chamberlain screaming, "Bayonets!" in Gettysburg. Moon-walking like the white man I am in Something Wild. The scene on the porch with Mia Farrow in Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo, where I talk about being a Hollywood star. That one stands out because Woody had encouraged me to ad lib and, as we were shooting, I could see him out of the corner of my eye cracking up. For an actor, making Woody Allen laugh is a great achievement.
--j.s. houck
October On Stage
Always...Patsy Cline is the true story of Patsy Cline's friendship to Louise Seger. The play focuses on the fateful evening at Houston's Esquire Ballroom when Seger hears of Cline's death in a plane crash. At Chesapeake Arts Center, Brooklyn Park. October 7-23. $16-18. 410-636-6597.
Anatomy of a Murder. The audience becomes the jury in Elihu Winer's play, based on an actual murder case in 1952. At Bowie Playhouse at White Marsh Park, Bowie. October 14-29. $8-12. 301-805-0219.
Born Yesterday. It's 1945 in a posh Washington hotel room and a junkyard king, his girlfriend, and a has-been lawyer scheme to bribe a crooked senator to pass a shady law and make them filthy rich. The complication: A young, idealistic reporter is hired to "smarten up" the junkyard king's girlfriend and turn her into a lady. But while he teaches her a thing or two about politics, she schools him in matters of the heart, and a battle of wits ensues threatening to topple the entire scandal. At Arena Stage, Washington, D.C. October 1 through November 6. $41-60. 202-488-3300.
Evita brings to life the dynamic, larger-than-life persona of Eva Peron, wife of former Argentine dictator, Juan Peron. Blessed with charisma, Eva Peron captivated a nation by championing the working class. At the Hippodrome, inside the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, Baltimore. October 25 through November 6. $24-64. Call for tickets. 410-547-SEAT.
Fool For Love is a story of ill-fated lovers who confront their past in a sexually-charged human drama. At the Bay Theatre, 275 W. St., Annapolis. October 7 through November 12. $17-22. 410-268-1333.
Jane Eyre is a musical that tells the story of the powerful devotion between a young governess and her employer, Edward Fairfax Rochester. It is a lavish Victorian banquet of emotions, passion, faith and forgiveness, and the eternal healing power of an all-consuming love. At Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, College Park. October 13-22. $16-20. 301-405-ARTS.
King Lear. When King Lear decided to divide his kingdom according to which daughter loves him best, maybe he should have come up with a better way to judge their feelings. It's a gut-wrenching dissection of two troubled families, a harrowing study of the terrors of aging, and a poetic rumination on love and loyalty. At Centerstage, Baltimore. September 23 through November 6. $10-65. Call for tickets. 410-332-0033.
Leading Ladies. Leo and Jack are two down-on-their-luck Shakespearean actors touring the Elk Lodge circuit with their abbreviated presentations of Shakespeare. Penniless and desperate, they concoct a wild plot to swindle a dying woman by posing as her long lost relatives. There's just one catch: the relatives are women. At Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C. October 1-23. $25-48. 202-347-4833. Call for tickets.
Othello. Written at the height of Shakespeare's creativity, Othello explores the tragedy of a love destroyed by jealousy. Provoked by the treacherous Iago's lies, Othello begins to mistrust his loyal bride, Desdemona. As his suspicions rise, Othello collapses under the weight of his self-doubt, eventually destroying his once-happy marriage. At the Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, DC. October 11-30. $12.75-68. 202-547-1122.
Passion Play, a cycle is comprised of three plays in Elizabethan England, Nazi Germany and post-Vietnam America. Each community of actors finds itself facing unexpected tests of faith and courage as their parts in the Passion seep into their daily lives. At Arena Stage, Washington, D.C. October 1-16. $41-60. 202-488-3300.
Romeo & Juliet. Young love, feuding families, fierce battles, and, of course, that famous balcony scene. The tragic story of the titular "star-crossed lovers" is one of the most famous tales ever told in the English language. At St. Mary's Outreach Center, Baltimore. October 7-30. $15-25. 410-366-8596.
Shear Madness, now in its 18th year at the Kennedy Center, is Washington's hilarious whodunit that lets the audience solve the crime. At the Kennedy Center Theater Lab, Washington, D.C. Ongoing production. $34-45. 800-444-1324.
T Bone 'N Weasel is a comedy that follows the two antics of two ex-convicts as they travel the back roads of North Carolina in a decrepit Buick in a story of race, friendship, and loyalty. At the Rep Stage at Howard Community College, Columbia. October 1-9. $16-21. 410-772-4900.
The Last Five Years. Cathy Hiatt and Jamie Wellerstein, two young artists seeking fame and true love, tell their versions of the classic boy-meets-girl tale, from enchantment to disappointment, and back again. At Everyman Theatre, Baltimore. October 1-16. $28. Call for tickets. 410-752-2208.
The Tale of the Allergist's Wife. After the death of her therapist, and with no life purpose except caring for her continually constipated (and potty-mouthed) mother, Marjorie has withdrawn and is sinking into depression. Salvation seemingly offers itself in the sudden re-appearance of Lee, a long-lost childhood friend. Entranced, Marjorie succumbs to experiencing all types of adventures, but eventually Lee's gale-force personality turns the whole family upside down, leaving damage in its wake. At Colonial Players, 108 E. St., Annapolis. October 14 through November 12. $10-15. 410-268-7373.
The Violet Hour. Two tantalizing manuscripts vie for publication in 1919 while a mysterious machine spews out pages of history from the future. A publisher must decide which book will be his first financial gamble-and if he can "reconstruct" destiny by sheer will. At Rep Stage, Columbia. October 28 through November 20. $10-21. Call for tickets. 410-772-4900.
Urinetown. A terrible water shortage has crippled the sewer system of a Gotham-like town in this wonderfully imaginative, hilarious dark comedy. The government outlaws private toilets and any residents who refuse to pay for the privilege to go to the bathroom is sent to Urinetown, a mysterious place where people go but never return. At the Signature Theatre, VA. Through October 9. $31-55. 703-820-7771.