The Best Shows to See This Fall

D.C. is a great arts city, even if it doesn't always get the shine it deserves. And once you start paying attention, the variety of options can be a little overwhelming. We chatted with City Paper’s arts editor Sarah Marloff about the best productions coming to town this fall.

Music:

Grounded (Oct. 28 - Nov. 13):

This entirely new opera at the Kennedy Center is written by the two-time Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori. It’s a psychological thriller that follows Jess, an F-16 pilot who unexpectedly becomes pregnant and is grounded by the military. She re-enlists and is assigned to fight remotely using drones.

Comedy:

Sabrina Wu (Nov. 17-19):

Sabrina was named a 2022 Just for Laughs New Face of Comedy and was the lead in the raunchy comedy “Joy Ride”. They are performing five shows at DC Improv and are not to be missed. Their break-down of gender, race, and Gen-Xisms will have you crying laughing.

Museum:

Simone Leigh Exhibit (Nov. 3 - Mar. 3):

The first comprehensive survey of Simone Leigh’s work — this exhibit at the Hirshhorn spans two decades and explores layered questions of Black femme subjectivity. Visitors can expect diverse media, including ceramic, bronze, and video.

Theater:

Fat Ham (Oct. 25 - Dec. 23):

James Ijames’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play that reimagines Hamlet as a Black queer kid. It grapples with themes of self-discovery and the pains of attempting to fit in. The show just completed its Tony-nominated Broadway run this July and is coming to the District!