With a plethora of heady musicals and dark dramas filling area stages, the need for a lighter and livelier night at the theater is apparent. Theater J understands this, and begins performances of Neil Simon’s classic play about a young baseball lover the same week the Nationals begin their 2017 season. Brighton Beach Memoirs, one of Simon’s most comedic and most personal plays, follows the exploits of Eugene Morris Jerome, a nearly-15-year-old coming of age in Depression-era Brooklyn. Read more >>> The play runs April 5 to May 7 at Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. $27–$57. (202) 518-9400. theaterj.org. (Caroline Jones)
EAT THIS
After four years in business, South American steakhouse Del Campo is revamping its menu, and some of the new dishes have very little to do with steak. The street noodles are served with burnt bok choy and dressed with a sambal made from Peruvian and Chilean chilies ($9). The lamb sweetbread dumplings include panca pepper miso, calamari, and ponzu ($10). For a group, try the lamb mixed grill with burnt fava beans and smoked yogurt ($36). Del Campo, 777 I St. NW. (202) 289-7377. delcampodc.com. (Laura Hayes)
OH AND ALSO
In honor of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, a group of close to 30 percussionists from Japan’s Tamagawa University and Taiko Group performs at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. at 2700 F St. NW. Free.
Get funky and move your feet at Gypsy Sally’s, where local brass band Black Masala will play a lively set guaranteed to get the audience dancing. 8:30 p.m. at 3401 K St. NW. $8–$10.
Jazz bassist Marcus Miller, who has collaborated with greats like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Luther Vandross, brings his smooths sounds to the Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. at 3701 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. $69.50.
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