24 arts and entertainment events to savor this winter

Music

Jan. 16: BSO: Kings of Soul

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs hits from Motown greats and soul legends including Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Otis Redding, The Temptations and Smokey Robinson. Byron Stripling will conduct the orchestra and vocalists Chester Gregory, Michael Lynche and Darren Lorenzo in concert at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. strathmore.org

Jan. 17: The JoGo Project

Prepare to get funked up at this tribute to the legendary band Parliament Funkadelic at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. Led by saxophonist and former Strathmore artist-in-residence Elijah Jamal Balbed, the JoGo Project, a Washington, D.C., jazz and go-go group, puts its spin on the groovy and psychedelic sounds of George Clinton’s P-Funk collective. blackrockcenter.org 

Jan. 24: Chrisette Michele

The R&B singer won a Grammy Award in 2009 for her song “Be OK,” which features rapper will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas. She performs at the Bethesda Theater as part of her Home Tour. bethesdatheater.com

Feb. 3: Yo-Yo Ma

Washington Performing Arts presents the famous cellist in an intimate solo concert featuring Bach suites and music by contemporary composers at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. strathmore.org

Feb. 7: Sun Ra Arkestra

Blending big-band swing and free jazz since the 1950s, the Afro-futurism pioneers perform at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. Expect the kind of singing, dancing and pageantry that carries on founder Sun Ra’s legacy of positivity through music. blackrockcenter.org 

Feb. 13: Niko Moon

The country-pop singer-songwriter who has penned songs for Zac Brown, Rascal Flatts and Morgan Wallen scored a hit with his solo debut single, “Good Time.” His latest record, American Palm, released in July, is a concept album about seaside getaways and beach trips. Catch the tropical vacation vibes at his concert at The Fillmore Silver Spring. fillmoresilverspring.com

Feb. 25: Rent in Concert

A live cast and band perform songs from the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical Rent at The Music Center at Strathmore. Loosely based on the Puccini opera La Bohème, the show is about a group of artists living in New York City’s East Village in the 1990s. Come early for a preshow dialogue about LGBTQ+ community-building. strathmore.org

Feb. 27: Earlybirds Club

This dance party aimed at the middle-aged crowd, featuring music from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, runs from 6-10 p.m. so revelers can get their groove on and still be in bed before midnight. The roving event—it’s hit clubs in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Seattle, among other places—comes to The Fillmore Silver Spring. fillmoresilverspring.com

Feb. 28: BSO: The Rite of Spring

Theater/Variety

Jan. 17, Feb. 21: The Magic Duel Comedy Show

Part magic show, part comedy duo and part reality contest, this show pits magicians Mark Phillips and Meadow Perry against each other in a competition to win the audience’s favor using illusions, jokes and plenty of snark. The show at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda is appropriate for all ages. themagicduel.com

Feb. 7-March 1: The Enchanted Mermaid

Baltimore’s Beale Street Puppets brings its show to The Puppet Co.’s stage in Glen Echo Park. The show features traditional Japanese Bunraku-style puppets (typically about half the size of a person, with moveable heads and arms, and flowing fabric covering the “body” or frame) and elaborate sets. Based on a short story by Walter de la Mare, the play tells the tale of a man who tries to rescue a maiden who has been transformed into a mermaid. The show is appropriate for all ages. thepuppetco.org

Feb. 8-March 8: Little Miss Perfect

Writer and performer Joriah Kwamé’s song “Little Miss Perfect” went viral on the internet after he submitted it to a musical theater competition in 2019. Since then, he has turned the song into a new musical. It tells the story of high school senior Noelle, who’s dealing with the pressure of living up to high expectations as a Black student at a mostly white school and trying to earn a scholarship to Howard University. The show at Olney Theatre Center features pop music, hip-hop and show tunes. If it were a movie, it would be rated PG-13. olneytheatre.org

Feb. 11-March 15: Nothing Up My Sleeve

Illusionist Dendy regales audiences with magic tricks and the story of how he became a magician in this world premiere one-man show at Bethesda’s Round House Theatre. The show is recommended for age 10 and older. roundhousetheater.org

Feb. 13-March 29: Freckleface Strawberry the Musical

In this musical based on the children’s book by actress Julianne Moore, the titular character Freckleface wishes she could remove her freckles. With the help of her classmates, she learns that it’s people’s differences that make them special. The show at Adventure Theatre MTC in Glen Echo is appropriate for all ages but best enjoyed by school-age children. adventuretheatre-mtc.org

Feb. 14-March 7: Havana Hop

Paige Hernandez, a playwright, performer and choreographer who grew up in Baltimore, based this one-woman show at Imagination Stage in Bethesda on her childhood. It follows a young dancer, Yelia, who wants to be a star but struggles with stage fright. While visiting her grandmother in Cuba, Yelia learns about her cultural roots and gains confidence. The family-friendly show, recommended for ages 5 to 10, features hip-hop, salsa dancing and audience participation. imaginationstage.org

Feb. 28: Play in a Day 

Six local theater companies participate in this annual event that challenges them to write, produce and perform an original play in 24 hours. Playwrights and directors convene on Feb. 27 and receive an assigned prop and theme they must incorporate into their 10-minute play. They work through the night to draft and rehearse their show. See the results when they perform at Imagination Stage the next day. Participating companies include Adventure Theatre MTC, Imagination Stage and Olney Theatre Center. bethesda.org

Dance

Jan. 18, Feb. 15: Sarau de Samba

Dancers and musicians present a showcase of samba, the traditional Brazilian genre of music and dance, from classic rhythms to modern carnival beats. Attendees are invited to join in and sing, dance and play instruments. The monthly event is held in the Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom Back Room and is open to all ages and skill levels. The session starts with a beginner dance lesson. It’s presented by Glen Echo Park in partnership with EducArte, an organization that seeks to connect community members through Brazilian performing arts. glenechopark.org

Jan. 19: Metropolitan Ballet Theatre: A Day of Service

See how dancers from the Metropolitan Ballet Theatre (MBT) interpret the words of Martin Luther King Jr. in this contemporary ballet performance at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg. The 45-minute performance includes an optional interactive portion for young dancers in the audience. The MBT is a dance school with studios in Gaithersburg and Clarksburg. ci.ovationtix.com/36017/production/1250913

Feb. 22: Tango After Dark

Expect glamour and passion at this performance celebrating Argentinian tango at The Music Center at Strathmore. The show features eight dancers—including world tango champions German Cornejo and Gisela Galeassi—two vocalists and a live band. strathmore.org

Feb. 14: Black History Month Family Day

Play traditional African music, test your knowledge of historical African American figures, and share what freedom means to you at this free family-friendly event at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park in Sandy Spring. Story times will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Recommended for age 6 and older. montgomeryparks.org

Feb. 14: Cupid’s Chase 5K

You might meet the love of your life while also raising money for a good cause at this 5K in Wheaton Regional Park. The race raises funds for Community Options, a nonprofit that supports housing and employment for people with disabilities. Runners who are looking to meet potential dates can choose a white race shirt that says “available,” while those who are already spoken for can wear a red “unavailable” shirt. bikesignup.com/race/md/silverspring/cupidschase5ksilverspring

Feb. 15: History Hour: Jubilee Voices Black History Month Concert

Part of the Washington Revels cultural arts group, Jubilee Voices preserves African American traditions through programs that include a cappella music, drama, spoken word and dance. The ensemble will perform at the Josiah Henson Museum and Park in North Bethesda. Purchase tickets online or on-site. The museum will also be open for self-guided tours. Parking is available at Wall Local Park a few blocks away. montgomeryparks.org

Art

Jan. 9-Jan. 31: Blair G. Ewing Art Show

Bethesda’s Gallery B exhibits large- and small-scale prints by students and alumni of the Blair G. Ewing Center, a Montgomery County Public Schools alternative education center designed to serve students with different learning and social-emotional needs. Art teacher John Charles crafted the school’s visual arts program to allow students to express their creativity and emotions. bethesda.org

Feb. 4-25: Thresholds: A Global Journey Through Architecture

Photographer Jenny Nordstrom blurs the lines between photography and painting in her pictures depicting colorful doors, arches and architectural details from Morocco to Mexico to Scotland. Her artwork will be on exhibit at the Invited Artists Gallery at Artists & Makers Studios in Rockville. An opening reception is planned for Feb. 6. artistsandmakersstudios.com 

This appears in the January/February 2026 issue of Bethesda Magazine.