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T H U R S D A Y

Comedian Ellen DeGeneres is a master—make that mistress—of misdirection. Setting up delightfully loopy scenarios (how she was raised by Indians, for example), she takes audiences down whimsically absurd roads that seem to be leading to an obvious joke. Then, with an almost muttered aside, she blindsides you with an even loopier gag and everyone’s off following another comedic red herring. No props or wacky hats in her act, just pleasant rewards for paying attention. With a sitcom in the works, this may be the last chance you’ll get to have her pull the wool over your eyes in person, which she will be doing at 8 p.m. at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St. NW. $18. (202) 994-7313. (Dave Nuttycombe)