The funeral of Marion Barry was plenty theatrical, with characters including the Rev. Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan, and the Rev. Willie Wilson shepherding the Mayor-for-Life’s spirit into the afterlife. But the ever-dramatic Barry inspired another staged tribute in his lifetime: local historian John Muller’s play Mayor for Life: The Untold Story. Originally presented as part of the Kennedy Center’s Page to Stage Festival in 2007, actor Elliot C. Moffitt and director Renee L. Charlow reunite with Muller to perform the one-man play twice more, this time at the Anacostia Playhouse. Read more >>> The play shows at 6:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. at Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Place SE. Pay what you can. (202) 290-2328. anacostiaplayhouse.com. (Caroline Jones)
EAT THIS
Rose’s Luxury, Jack Rose Dining Saloon, and Compass Rose will go head-to-head in a “War of the Roses” cocktail competition tonight at Compass Rose at 7 p.m. Jack Rose/Dram & Grain bartender Trevor Frye, Rose’s Luxury’s Owen Thomson, and Compass Rose’s Jack Caminos will all make holiday drinks using rose as an ingredient. For $20, guests will be able to sample each of the cocktails and vote for the best one. (A panel of judges, including me, will also pick a winner.) All of the proceeds will be split between between St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and local women’s shelter N Street Village. Tickets are available at the door. Compass Rose, 1346 T St. NW. (202) 506-4765. compassrosedc.com. (Jessica Sidman)
OH AND ALSO
British soul singer Estelle, best known for “American Boy,” her 2008 collaboration with Kanye West, plays a solo show at the Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. at 620 T St. NW. $25–$60.
Over the past several weeks, Forum Theatre has invited local artists to respond to recent events surrounding racism and police brutality in New York and Ferguson. See the results tonight when they present (Re)Acts: #BlackLivesMatter. Find more details on Facebook. 8 p.m. at 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Pay what you can.
Comedian Mark Normand performs a free set at the Kennedy Center’s Theater Lab with opening act Rahmein Mostafavi. 6 p.m. at 2700 F St. NW. Free.
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Photo by Darrow Montgomery