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9
saturday
Plenty of folks have tried out impersonations of Nat King Cole. Tim Meadows has done an impression of the legendary singer in an SNL sketch, Dave Chappelle mimicked him in a bit about adult movies, and there are countless Nat King Cole look-alikes available for appearances at private parties, fundraisers, and corporate events. The thing all of these imitations seem to have in common, however, is that they are all about either comedy or kitsch. In the stage show King of Cool: the Life and Music of Nat King Cole, actor/singer Jimi Ray Malary plays the crooner, but never plays him for cheap laughs. Malary, who has also portrayed jazz great Duke Ellington, presents Cole’s legacy in the form of a musical tribute, complete with an instrumental trio, and is able to fully embody his character in an imitation that brims with flattery. Malary does Cole at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. at MetroStage, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria; see City List for a complete schedule. $35. (703) 548-9044. (Sarah Godfrey)