Director Aaron Posner says he was drawn to Romeo and Juliet “because of sex and violence, just like everybody else.” Evergreen themes those are indeed, but when his version of the tragedy opens tonight at the Folger Elizabethan Theatre, it may feel especially contemporary: Rehearsals were interrupted by the Navy Yard shooting in September and the Capitol Hill lockdown last week. With this version, Posner’s going for simple and “low-concept”; there’s a small cast and no epic sword fights or, thankfully, hip-hop interludes. Read more >>> The play runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 1 at the Folger Elizabethan Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. $30–$72. (202) 544-4600. folger.edu. (Sarah Kaplan)

EAT THIS

Ripple in Cleveland Park is hosting an Oktoberfest-style beer dinner tonight at 7 p.m. The $65 five-course menu from chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley includes dishes like scallop schnitzel with fennel, grapefruit, and trout roe; pumpernickel pasta with lamb pastrami, apples, and mustard; and sweet potato cheesecake with bourbon marshmallow fluff and walnut cinnamon brittle. Beer pairings all come from Maine’s Allagash Brewing Company, whose brand ambassador Suzy Woods will be on hand to describe the brews. Reserve a seat by contacting David Delaphaine at david@rippledc.com or (202) 244-7995. Ripple, 3417 Connecticut Ave. NW. rippledc.com. (Jessica Sidman)

OH AND ALSO

Comedy Bang! Bang! isn’t just a clever send-up of talk shows; it’s a space for Hollywood’s funniest people, free of stand-up and sitcom conventions, to indulge in their most surreal whims. Host Scott Aukerman (recently interviewed on Arts Desk) deftly facilitates the organized chaos, bringing out the best in his collaborators and making each episode an unpredictable event in itself. Read more in our Fall Arts Guide. 10 p.m. at 815 V St. NW. $25. (Dan Singer)

Atlanta funk duo Deep Cotton performs tonight at Liv Nightclub. 8 p.m. at 2001 11th St. NW. $15.

Psychedelic pop songwriter Jacco Gardner plays the Black Cat Backstage with The Beginner’s Mynd, a local guy we recently featured in our One Track Mind column. 8 p.m. at 1811 14th St. NW. $12.

DJ Pete Rock and vocalist C.L. Smooth reunite for a performance at the Howard Theatre. Hip-hop duo Camp Lo also performs. 8 p.m. at 620 T St. NW. $27.50.

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