ONGOING: Shareholders questioning CEOs' salaries, uncomfortable fat cats, whistle-blowers who fight tooth and nail for the last laugh — nothing says "2009" like a play from 1953. Howard Teichmann and George S. Kaufman's "The Solid Gold Cadillac" is an instructive farce about corporate malfeasance and one humble woman (played by Nancy Robinette, left) who isn't going to take it anymore. Get current at Studio Theatre through Jan. 10.
» Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW; through Jan. 10, $56-$63; 202-332-3300. (Dupont Circle)
THIS WEEKEND: Dance is hard on the body and takes a good deal of mental effort. CityDance Ensemble makes explicit the stress, strenuousness and strength involved in the art form with "Crush," a night of mixed repertoire including "Wishes of the Sailor," based on artistic director Paul Gordon Emerson and dancer Kathryn Pilkington's work with Iraqi refugees in the Middle East, and pieces by Meisha Bosma and Christopher K. Morgan.
» Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda; Fri. and Sat., Dec. 4 and 5, 8 p.m., $20; 301-581-5100. (Grosvenor-Strathmore)
SATURDAY: 'Tis the season for red and green — again. But you can make the pattern a bit different this year, with red and green (and blue and brown and yellow) tartans at the Scottish Christmas Walk, an Alexandria tradition in which every single Scottish person within walking distance parades, plaid-covered, through Old Town, accompanied by bagpipes. And you thought you'd never wear that plaid scarf your grandma knitted you!
Though the walk is held on Saturday, there's plenty of celebrating to do on Friday, too: you can sample some Scottish delicacies and get Christmas shopping done at the Scottish market.
» Old Town Alexandria; Fri. and Sat., Dec. 4 and 5, parade is free but some other events have admission fees; 703-548-0111. (King Street)
Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post
THIS WEEKEND: It's nearly impossible to choose a favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie, but "North by Northwest" has got to top most people's lists.
It's the story of a man mistaken for a secret agent, who has to flee some bad guys and ... you guys, there's a chase across Mount Rushmore. Add Cary Grant to the excellent screenplay, and you've got the one of the most stylish thrillers ever made. It's showing at AFI this weekend, and next Tuesday.
» AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring; Fri., Sat. and Tue., Dec. 4, 5 and 8; 301-495-6700. (Silver Spring)
Photo courtesy MGM/Photofest
ONGOING: Thanksgiving probably dulled your taste for dysfunctional families — but the characters in the Pulitzer Prize-winning "August: Osage County" will make you feel better about the weirdos you got stuck with.
It's the story of a family that has to gather suddenly to deal with all their old demons — and some current ones, including a pill-popping mom. See, worse than your family already?
Oh, really? Huh. Um. Well. Sorry.
» Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW; through Dec. 20, $25-$80; 202-467-4600. (Foggy Bottom)
Photo by Robert J. Saferstein
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