Theater & Dance

Alice in Underwear

• A bitter and abusive Manhattan theater critic lands an exclusive interview with a star and finds out that things are not always what they seem. 8 p.m. Monday, Thursday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Through July 30. Natural Theatricals at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria. $19-$22. 703/739-9338.

All the Great Books (Abridged)

• Three actors combine 83 of the best books in history into a 98-minute comedic play. 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, July 29-30. The Reduced Shakespeare Company Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, F Street and New Hampshire Avenue Northwest. $40. 202/467-4600.

The Arabian Night

• A play that follows the interweaving fantasies, crossed paths and conflicting desires of five persons trapped in an apartment tower on the hottest night in history. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Through July 30. Rorschach Theatre at Calvary Methodist Church, 1459 Columbia Road NW. $12-$18. 202/452-5538.

Assassins

• Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning musical that looks at the lives, loves and lunacy of nine American assassins and would-be assassins. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Through July 30. Signature Theatre, 3806 S. Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington. $31-$55. 703/820-9771.

The Complete History of America (Abridged)

• The RSC covers 600 years of history in 6,000 seconds. 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Through July 28. The Reduced Shakespeare Company at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, F Street and New Hampshire Avenue Northwest. $40-$45. 202/467-4600.

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead

• An unauthorized parody of the “Peanuts” comic strip. 8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Through Aug. 6. Studio Theatre Secondstage, 1501 14th St. NW. $25. 202/332-3300.

Ellington: The Life & Work of the Duke

• An evening of pop-jazz songs from the legendary Duke Ellington. 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday; 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Through Aug. 6. Metrostage, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria. $30-$35. 800/494-8497.

An Enemy of the People

• In Ibsen’s classic drama, Dr. Stockman discovers high contamination levels in his hometown’s water supply and everyone pressures him to keep quiet. Running in repertory as part of the Potomac Theatre Project. 7:45 p.m. Tuesday; 8:15 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 2:15 and 8:15 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 7:45 p.m. Sunday. Through Aug. 27. Olney Theatre Center for the Arts, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney. $34-$44. 301/924-3400.

Love’s Labor’s Lost

• Four noblemen renounce the world’s pleasures for the world of academia, only to fall helplessly in love. 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Through July 30. The Shakespeare Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW. $14-$71. 202/547-1122.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

• The story of a mental ward in the early 1960s — based on the novel by Ken Kesey. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Through Aug. 6. Firebelly Productions at Theatre on the Run, 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington. $5-$15. 703/908-8520.

Picasso at the Lapin Agile

• A comedic look at a chance meeting between the young and undiscovered versions of Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Through Aug. 19. The Keegan Theatre at Clark Street Playhouse, 601 S. Clark St., Arlington. $20-$25. 703/527-6000.

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 Northwest. $34. 202/467-4600.

3 Mo’ Divas

• Three female musical stars perform music created specifically for the female voice. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday; 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday. Through Aug. 13. Kreeger Theatre, Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St., SW. $60-$75. 202/488-3300.

STAGE

The Capitol Steps

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202/397-SEAT.

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

Comedy Sportz D.C.

Ballston Common Mall

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

• Teams of comedians battle each other in competitive improvisational comedy sketches. 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 7:30 and 10 p.m. Saturday. $8-$12.

Under the Beltway

Stage Door Restaurant and Bar, 1324 King St., Alexandria. 703/798-1064.

• Improvisational comedy. 8:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. $7.

DINNER THEATER

Buddy — The Buddy Holly Story

• A musical featuring 20 of Buddy Holly’s greatest hits. Through Sept. 3. 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday; 12:30 and 8:15 p.m. Wednesday; 12:30 and 7:15 p.m. Sunday. $27.50-$46. Toby’s Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Road, Columbia, Md. 301/596-6161.

Murder Upon Request

• The Interactive Comedy-Mystery group performs 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, Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday. $55. Both run indefinitely. 703/379-8108.

A Murderous Matrimony

• Blair Mansion Mysteries performance. 7:30 p.m. July 29. Blair Mansion Inn Restaurant, 7711 Eastern Ave., Silver Spring. $52.95. 301/588-6646.

The Night That Disco Died

• Blair Mansion Mysteries performance. 7:30 p.m. July 28. Blair Mansion Inn Restaurant, 7711 Eastern Ave., Silver Spring. $52.95. 301/588-6646.

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. Mondays. $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. www.dancefactory.com.

• Beginning to advanced ballroom, Latin and swing classes. 7-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Four weeks. $59.

• Ballroom, Latin, swing combo dances. 7-10:30 p.m. Friday. $10-$11; admission includes lessons.

• Country and swing dance every second Saturday. 8:30 p.m. lesson, 9 p.m.-midnight dance. $10.

• Contemporary ballroom dances and practice parties. Saturday nights. $9-$10. Call for times.

• Social ballroom dancing. 7-10 p.m. Sunday. $9.

Dance Studio Lioudmila

18 Roth St., Alexandria. Private lessons and group classes, beginning to advanced ballroom, Latin and swing; no partners necessary. 703/751-8868.

• Tea dance, includes lesson and refreshments. 1-3:15 p.m. Fridays. $9.

• Dance party. 7:30-8:30 p.m. group class, 8:30-11 p.m. dance party. Saturdays. $12.

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.

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.

Cherry Hill Park Conference Center, 9800 Cherry Hill Road (north of Interstate 495), College Park. $12 adults, $8 seniors and students, $5 ages 11-15, $30 family maximum. Band members vary. 301/294-3568.

• Bogwanderers Ceili Band. $6-$12. 703/521-4340.

• Greater Washington Ceili Club: Ceili. 5-9 p.m. last Sunday of month (September-June).

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.

Knights of Columbus Hall

6111 Columbian Way (state Route 3), Bowie.

• LA Singles Friday Dance. Large wood dance floor accommodates up to 300 singles. Music is top-40s and old favorites. Suits or dressy casual. 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. every Friday. $9. 410/721-6666 or 410-674-3737

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.

DANCE

Dance Place

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

• Gravity Optional. 8 p.m. July 29, 7 p.m. July 30. $7-$20.

George Washington University

Lisner Auditorium, 21st and H Streets Northwest. 202/397-SEAT.

• I Tango: The Best of Argentina. 6 p.m. July 30. $28-$48.

Joy of Motion Dance Center

Jack Guidone Theater, 5207 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202/276-2599.

• Jazz Dance: An American Original. 8 p.m. July 29, 7 p.m. July 30. $12-$15.