This weekend, catch a musical on a limited run in the District before shaking off your woes with the “Waka Waka” singer, Shakira. Finally, let your geek flag fly at a three-day anime convention.
Friday
The Color Purple at the Kennedy Center
Start your weekend with a performance of “The Color Purple.” The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel turned Tony Award-winning musical is set in the early 1900s south and tells a captivating coming-of-age story about young black women. The Kennedy Center’s month-long run of the show features the North American tour cast and a Grammy Award-winning score of jazz, blues, gospel and ragtime music. Even if you’ve experienced this story of before, this musical re-imagining deserves a second look.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $79.
Saturday
Shakira at Capital One Arena
Attend a long-awaited performance from the queen of Latin pop. Shakira’s El Dorado World Tour was postponed in November as she recovered from vocal cord issues, but she will finally take the stage Saturday night. Fans ready to see the Colombian pop star will be taken through her repertoire of old and new tunes – including Spanish tracks like “Chantaje” and “La Tortura,” and radio hits like “Whenever, Wherever” and “Hips Don’t Lie.” Get ready to party at this fiery celebration of Latin pop.
Capital One Arena, 601 F St. NW. 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $70.
Sunday
Otakon at Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Get dressed up in your best cosplay for Otakon, an annual three-day convention that celebrates anime and manga. The event runs Friday through Sunday and is the longest-running anime convention in the country. Super-fans and casual attendees can check out costume contests, panels on Japanese drumming, live action role-playing and an entire hall dedicated to video games – with booths from major companies like Nintendo and Microsoft. If you need somewhere to relax during the event, snag a pass to the convention’s Maid Cafe or kick back with a comic from the Manga Library which boasts thousands of volumes for your reading pleasure. The abbreviated Sunday schedule concludes at 4 p.m., so be sure to arrive early and catch must-see events before the closing ceremony.
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $40.
