Friday, March 28

Come split your sides tonight in Arlington with comic Doug Benson, who has been featured on many shows including “Best Week Ever” and “Last Comic Standing.” One of the creators and original performers of the “Marijuana-Logues,” Benson has already seen much success in his young career, including the making his own documentary Super High Me, which chronicles his 30 days of non-stop pot smoking. His show is sure to be the highlight of your week.

Doug Benson will be performing tonight at the Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse at 9:45 p.m. Tickets are $20. For more information call (703) 486-2345. Metro: Pentagon City (Blue and Orange lines).

Saturday, March 29

Opera’s pretty boring, right? Wrong. In their own words, the members of East Village Opera Company argue that in today’s pop culture, opera needs a bit of “irreverence” with rock influence in order for opera to be fully appreciated. A five-piece band, a string quartet and two vocalists comprise this opera rock band that hopes to make opera cool again. See this 11-person group perform some of opera’s greatest hits such as “O Mio Babbino Caro” from “Gianni Schicchi” and “La Donna e Mobile” from “Rigoletto” with a rock and roll flair tonight.

The East Village Opera Company will be performing tonight at the Lisner Auditorium on the George Washington University campus at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $20. For more information call (202) 397-7328. Metro: GWU/Foggy Bottom (Orange and Blue lines).

Sunday, March 30

Yearning for a break from midterms? Want to return to your childhood? Let the nostalgia hit you as you watch trapeze swingers flying above you, lions jumping through hoops of fire and the ring master smiling in the center ring. That’s right! The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is in town, so do not miss it before it leaves for the next city. Unless, of course, you’re scared of the clowns.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is at the Verizon Center today at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $14. For more information visit www.verizoncenter.com. Metro: Gallery Place/China Town (Red, Yellow, and Green lines).

Monday, March 31

Get rid of your case of the Monday blues! Blow off Lauinger for the night and cheer yourself up by listening to some electro-pop with your friends. Take advantage of the city during the springtime and head down, rain or shine, to see The LK, an eccentric Swedish band with pick-me-up beats at the Black Cat.

The LK will be performing tonight at the Black Cat at 9 p.m. Tickets are $8. For more information call (202) 667-7960 or visit www.blackcatdc.com. Metro: U St./African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo (Green line).

Tuesday, April 1

Do not miss your last chance to check out the Stephen Colbert Portrait! It’s fitting that the last day the hilarious, and now infamous, portrait of the talk show host will be on display is April Fool’s Day. Be sure to stop by the bathrooms at the National Portrait Gallery, where the portrait is hanging, to see it before it skips town. While you’re there, check out the collection of portraits of the U.S. Presidents.

The Stephen Colbert Portrait (among other portraits) is hanging in the National Portrait Gallery. The Gallery is open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information visit www.npg.si.edu. Metro: Gallery Place/China Town (Red, Yellow, and Green lines).

Wednesday, April 2

If the only ballet you have ever seen is “The Nutcracker,” you are truly missing out on a whole world of beautiful performances. Catch the opening-night performance of Trey McIntyre’s “High Lonesome” that will be performed by the Washington Ballet Company. As McIntyre is the resident choreographer, this show will be world-class ballet at its finest, so don’t miss out! It also features songs by modern rock god Beck — definitely not the ballet from your childhood.

The Washington Ballet Company will be performing “High Lonesome” tonight at the Sidney Harman Hall at 7:30 p.m. For more information visit www.washingtonballet.org. Metro: Gallery Place/China Town (Red, Yellow, and Green lines).

Thursday, April 3

Passion, tragedy and comedy: You never thought classic opera could be so entertaining. Follow the rise and fall of a court jester in “Rigoletto,” one of the most frequently performed operas in North America. The three-act opera will be a great introduction to this musical and theatrical expression of drama and music.

“Rigoletto” will be performed tonight at the Kennedy Center at 7:30 p.m. For tonight only, tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the show at the discounted price of $25. For more information visit www.kennedy-center.org. Metro: Foggy Bottom/GWU (Blue and Orange lines).