“Alice in Underwear” opens at Natural Theatricals. Performances begin July 13 and run through July 30 at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive. Visit www.naturaltheatricals.com or call 703-739-5895. Purchase tickets online or by calling 703-739-9338; $19 before the show, or at the amphitheatre for $22 the day of the show.
MetroStage presents Ellington, the Life and Music of the Duke, a cabaret about jazz legend Duke Ellington. Written by David Scully, directed by David Hunter Koch and featuring Jimi Ray Malary as Ellington. Show runs July 14 through Aug. 6, Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $35, call 800-494-8497. 1201 N. Royal St.
“USA,” by Paul Shyrre and John Dos Passos, will be at the American Century Theater and Gunston Theater Two through July 15. An ambitious stage version of the epic trilogy of novels by John Dos Passos that paint the portrait of the U.S. between 1900 and 1930. The play mixes historical figures (Isadora Duncan, Rudolph Valentino and the Wright Brothers) with fictional ones to explore America’s exhilaration, contradictions and obsessions. Call 703-553-8782 or visit http://americancentury.org.
Classika Theatre presents an original family production of “Galactika” through July 16 on Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. The production is a joint effort of Classika-Synetic Theatre artistic team and NASA scientists to offer an entertaining way to learn about galaxy, stars and astronomy, in general. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Production takes place at Classika Theatre located in the Village at Shirlington at 4041 S. 28th St. in Arlington. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 703-824-6200 or online at www.classika.org.
“Assassins,” by Stephen Sondheim runs from through July 30. This 2004 Tony Award-winning show gives a captivating look at the lives and lunacy of nine infamous assassins, from John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald. With music ranging from folk to ragtime to big, Broadway ballads, it is one of Sondheim’s most inventive and exquisitely scored shows. At the Signature Theatre. Call 703-820-9771 or visit http://www.signature-theatre.org.
The United Community Ministries will be having a Benefit Performance, when the Little Theatre of Alexandria performs “Into The Woods” by Steven Sondheim on Tuesday, Aug. 1. This enchanting and uplifting musical cleverly weaves the stories of well known fairy tale characters. A funny complex musical that examines within the microcosm of fairy tales the complexities of what it is to be human. The show starts at 8 p.m.; tickets are $25 and include a reception at 7 p.m. and dessert during intermission. For more information or to purchase tickets call Gale Curcio at 703-768-7106 ext. 327.
“The Barber of Seville” will be at Lubber Run Ampitheatre through Aug. 7. The show is a 45-minute one-act version of Rossini’s masterpiece, suitable for the whole family. Adapted by the Lyric Opera of Chicago and sung in English the show is presented by the Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia at 8 p.m. Free. Call 703-528-1433 or visit www.novaopera.org for specific dates.
The Little Mermaid will be at Synetic Theater, 4041 S. 28th St., Arlington from through Aug. 20 on Saturday and Sundat at noon. For ages 4 and up. Tickets are $12 in advance. Call 703-824-6200 or visit www.classika.org.
The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association is proud to sponsor the Athenaeum School of Ballet, a new ballet school opening in September, at The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. The Athenaeum School of Ballet began as the Alexandria Ballet in 1991 and has been a tradition in the heart of Old Town for 15 years. The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association created The Athenaeum School of Ballet to focus on pre-ballet students and to broaden its outreach programs in dance.
Starting this September, the Athenaeum School of Ballet will offer pre-ballet instruction for children ages three through seven. Class times are approximately 50 minutes and class times take place 3-6 p.m., Monday-Thursday, 3-5 p.m. Fridays, and 9-11 a.m. on Saturdays. Registration for fall classes, available at http://www.nvfaa.org/class_schedule.pdf, is underway now. Contact The Athenaeum at 703-548-0035.
The pre-ballet program syllabus is Tempo, Level, Energy and Shapes by Lisa Michaels and includes creative movement, music awareness, elements of choreography and relationship to others.
Children’s classes meet once a week.
The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association presents The Nutcracker Highlights every winter, in the traditional and charming setting of the historic Athenaeum building in Old Town.