Theater and Dance

THEATER

The Altruists

• A play that shows that some people will do anything for a cause. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Through June 19. Catalyst Theater Company at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE. $15-$25. 800/494-8497.

The Blue Room

• An ultra-modern take on the classic “La Ronde,” which sees humor, romance, sex, isolation and hypocrisy all take center stage. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. June 1-July 11. Signature Theatre, 3806 S. Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington. $22-$36. 703/218-6500.

Children of Eden

• A musical look into family relationships, beginning with Adam and Eve. 7:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Through June 6. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. $29-$45. 202/347-4833.

The Cripple of Inishmaan

• An offbeat, quirky comedy full of eccentric characters and unexpected twists written by one of Ireland’s most celebrated young playwrights. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Through June 27. Studio Theatre, 14th and P streets NW. $25-$45. 202/332-3300.

D.C.’s Neutrino Video Project

• The Washington Improv Theater creates a 30-minute film on the streets of Adams Morgan right before the eyes of the audience. 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $10. District of Columbia Arts Center, 2438 18th St. NW.

Grease

• One of Broadway’s longest-running musicals comes to D.C and shows what it was like in high school during the 1950s. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. June 1-6. Warner Theatre, 13th and E streets NW. $26.50-$64. 202/783-4000.

Jesus Hopped the ’A’ Train

• A prison drama about life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the existence of God. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Through May 30. Round House Theatre Silver Spring, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. $10-$39. 240/644-1100.

Mahalia

• A musical biography of the queen of gospel, Mahalia Jackson. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday. Through June 11. Metro Stage, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria. $32-$38. 800/494-8497.

Mamma Mia

• Twenty-two of ABBA’s greatest hits woven into a love story set in the Greek islands. 8 p.m. Tuesday- Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Through May 30. Hippodrome Theatre, 12 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore. $ 30-$75. 800/551-7328.

The Master and Margarita

• An adaptation of one of Russia’s greatest literary works, starring the devil, disguised as a professor, wreaking havoc in Stalinist Moscow. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Through June 20. Synetic Theater at the Rosslyn Spectrum, 1611 N. Kent St., Arlington. $25-$32. 202/462-5364.

A Monday Night With Bess and Tess

• Two longtime friends take on racial stereotypes that exist today in this world-premiere play. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. June 1-27. The African Continuum Theatre Company, 1365 H St. NE. $20-$28. 800/494-8497.

Necessary Targets

• Two American women travel to Bosnia to counsel a group of Bosnian refugee women only to discover their own lives are not what they seem. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Through June 27. Olney Theatre Center for the Arts, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney. $15-$36. 301/924-3400.

Of a Sunday Morning

• A world-premiere play where one woman’s spiritual quest for truth in the future is hindered by a priority of national security. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Through June 13. Charter Theater Company, 916 G Street, NW. Pay what you can at door; $20 to $25 in advance. 202/333-7009.

Orpheus Descending

• The Tennessee Williams play has been described as tragic and heartbreaking, as well as inspiring and luscious. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Through June 22. Arena Stage, Kreeger Theater, 1101 Sixth St. SW. $40-$53. 202/488-3300.

Passing the Love of Women

• A pair of Talmudic scholars love studying more than they love the prospect of marriage and love each other more than they love studying. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday,Thursday; 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Through June 6. Theatre J at the D.C. Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW. $18-$39. 800/494-8497.

Shear Madness

• The long-running whodunit comedy continues indefinitely. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 9 p.m. Friday, 6 and 9 p.m. Saturday, 3:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Kennedy Center Theater Lab, F Street and New Hampshire Avenue NW. $34. 202/467-4600.

The Shoemaker’s Prodigious Wife

• Federico Garcia Lorca’s comic play, “a violent farce in two acts,” sees a flirtatious young woman drive her older husband away only to have him return in disguise to test her true feelings. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. Through June 13. Stanislavsky Theater Studio at the Church Street Theater, 1742 Church St. NW. $31-$36. 800/494-8497.

A Streetcar Named Desire

• Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about a Southern belle driven to madness by her brother-in-law. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Sunday. Through May 30. The Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater, F Street and New Hampshire Avenue NW. $25-$75. 202/467-4600.

The World Goes Round

• A musical revue featuring the much-loved songs of one of the American Musical Theatre’s greatest writing duos, John Kander and Fred Ebb. 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. June 2-July 3. Round House Theatre, East-West Highway and Waverly Street, Bethesda. $10-$39. 240/644-1100.

STAGE

Ballston Common Mall

Old Vic Arena, 4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703/294-LAFF

• Comedy Sportz D.C.; teams of comedians battle each other in competitive improv comedy sketches. 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 7:30 and 10 p.m. Saturday. $8-$12.

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202/432-SEAT.

• The Capitol Steps, musical and political satire troupe. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $31.50.

The Stage Door Restaurant and Bar

1324 King St., Alexandria. 703/798-1064.

• Under the Beltway improvisational comedy. 8:30-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $7.

DINNER THEATER

Cats

• Broadway’s longest-running musical, based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T.S. Eliot. 8:15 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sunday; 7:15 p.m. Sunday. Buffet served two hours before curtain. Through Aug. 8. Toby’s Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Road, Columbia, Md. $22.50-$43. 410/730-8311.

Crazy for You

• The George and Ira Gershwin musical comedy, set in the 1930s. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday. Through June 27. West End Dinner Theatre, 4615 Duke St., Alexandria. $24-$39. 703/370-2500.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

• The musical biblical saga with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1 p.m. weekday matinees, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Through July 10. Chesapeake Music Hall, the Dinner Theater of Annapolis, 339 Busch’s Frontage Road No. 101, Annapolis. $32-$35. 410-626-7515.

Murder Upon Request

• The interactive comedy-mystery group performs different plays at two locations: “A Deadly Private Party” at Alfio’s La Trattoria, 4515 Willard Ave., Chevy Chase, and “Just Killing Time” at the Arlington Hilton, 950 N. Stafford St., Arlington. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday. $55. Both run indefinitely. 703/379-8108

Cotton Candy Club

• Blair Mansion Mysteries performance. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. May 28-29, June 4-5, 11. Blair Mansion Inn Restaurant, 7711 Eastern Ave., Silver Spring. $39.95. 301/588-6646.

LOCAL THEATER

Beyond Glory

• Actor Stephen Lang enters into the personae of seven American soldiers and sailors who have received the nation’s highest military award, the Medal of Honor. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Through May 31. $30-$35. The Women in Military Service for America Memorial Theater, Memorial Drive, Arlington. 202/772-1165.

Volkov Theatre

• The Russian theatre troupe performs three shows in three nights — “Even a Wise Man Stumbles,” “The Coriscan Fury” and “The General Inspector.” 8 p.m. May 27-29. $10-$15. American University’s Harold and Sylvia Greenberg Theatre, 4200 Wisconsin Ave., NW. 202/885-2587.

DANCE

Dance Place

3225 Eighth St. NE. 202/269-1600.

• Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre. 8 p.m. May 28, 29. $6-$18.

• Dance Africa DC 2004, Festival of Dance and Music. Times vary. June 7-13. $11-$25.

Joy of Motion Dance Center

Jack Guidone Theater, 5207 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202/362-3042.

• In Concert ’04. 8 p.m. June 5. $10-$14.

Kennedy Center

Opera House, F Street and New Hampshire Avenue NW. 202/467-4600.

• Dance Theatre of Harlem. 7:30 p.m. June 8-11; 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. June 12; 1:30 p.m. June 13. $27-$82.

SOCIAL DANCING

Adelphi Mill Recreation Center

8402 Riggs Road, Adelphi. 301/699-1477.

• Square Roots square-dance teaching club presents a series of dance lessons. 8 p.m. Monday. $32.

Avalon Studio

15 Mellor Ave., Catonsville, Md. 410/869-9771.

• Swing dancing second and fourth Saturdays. Beginners’ workshop 8-9 p.m., dancing 9 p.m.-midnight. $10.

• Swing dancing 8:30-10:30 p.m. Thursday. $5.

Dance Factory

954 N. Monroe St., Arlington. 703/528-9770.

• Beginning to advanced ballroom, Latin and swing classes. 7-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Four weeks. $49.

• Ballroom, Latin, swing combo dances. 7-10:30 p.m. Friday. $9-$10; admission includes lesson.

• Country-and-Western dance every second Saturday. 8:30 p.m. lesson, 9 p.m.-midnight dance. $8-$9.

• Contemporary ballroom dances and practice parties 9 p.m.-midnight Saturday. $9-$10.

• Social ballroom dancing. One-hour lesson, 6:30 p.m. $2 (lesson only). 7:30-10:30 p.m. dance. Sunday. $9.

Dance Studio Lioudmila

18 Roth St., Alexandria. 703/751-8868.

• Tea dance. 2-4:30 p.m. Friday. $7.

• Dance party. 7-11:30 p.m. Saturday. $10.

Friday Night Swing Dance Club

Several locations. Free refreshments. No smoking, no alcohol, no partners necessary. Dance workshops at 8 p.m. 410/583-7337. $12 admission; $10 for members.

Glen Echo Park

Bumper Car Pavilion, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. 301/492-6282.

• Folk dance. 7:30-8:30 p.m. beginners’ lesson, 8:30-11:30 p.m. dance Friday. $7. 202/546-2228.

• Swing dance. 8-9 p.m. beginners’ workshop, 9 p.m.-midnight dance. Saturday. $12. 301/299-8729.

• La Salle Dance Orchestra plays waltz, tango, fox trot and Latin. 3-3:30 p.m. beginners’ lesson, 3:30-6 p.m. dance Sunday. $7. 703/978-0375.

• Folk dance. 7:30-10:30 p.m. Sunday. $9. 202/546-2228.

Hollywood Ballroom

2126 Industrial Parkway, Silver Spring. 301/622-5494.

• Singles dance party. 8 p.m. lesson, 9 p.m. dance. Friday. $10-$15.

• Social ballroom dancing. 8 p.m. Wednesday, 9 p.m. Saturday. $10-$15.

• Contemporary ballroom dancing. 7 p.m. lesson, 8 p.m. dance. Sunday. $10-$15.

Irish ceili and set dancing

• Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann: Ceili. 8 p.m. second Saturday (September-June). John C. Wood Center, 3730 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Bogwanderers Ceili Band. $6-$12. 703/521-4340.

• Greater Washington Ceili Club: Ceili. 5-9 p.m. last Sunday of month (September-June). Cherry Hill Park Conference Center, 9800 Cherry Hill Road (north of I-495), College Park. $12 adults, $8 seniors and students, $5 ages 11-15, $30 family maximum. Band members vary. 301/294-3568.

Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia

8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax. 703/982-0937.

• Israeli dancing with Ethan Halpern. 8-10 p.m. Tuesday. $4-$6.

National Institutes of Health

Fitness Center, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda. 301/942-2831.

• Scottish country dances. Instruction for beginners and social dancing at 8 p.m. every Monday. $3.

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202/432-SEAT.

• Doc Scantlin and his Imperial Palms Orchestra present “Swizzle,” a 1930s Big Band supper club. 7 p.m. May 27. $18-$65.

The Shark Club

4915 Elmo St., Bethesda. 301/718-4030.

• Swing dance with Tommy Barrick and Friends. Swing lesson during band break. 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. every Tuesday. $7 singles, $10 couples.