Staff picks for March 24

The Top Five
Stand-up comedy
On Friday, Chad Beadle will host a show of comics from BET, Comedy Central, Martin Lawrence’s 1st Amendment, Def Jam and Last Comic Standing. Live DJ and after party. 7 p.m. doors open; 9 p.m. show. Next Dimensions, 132 Old National Pike, south of Funkstown. $12 in advance; $15 at the door, VIP passes available. Call 240-367-5052 or go to www.makemelaughchad.com.

Jeans and black leather
On Friday, Washington County Playhouse will open “Grease.” 6 p.m. dinner, followed by show, Fridays and Saturdays through Friday, April 22. No show on Friday, April 8; matinee at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 10. Washington County Playhouse, 44 N. Potomac St., rear, downtown Hagerstown. Tickets cost $25 to $38.50. Call 301-739-7469.

Ballet love story
Western Maryland City Ballet Company and the City Ballet School will present “Giselle,” a ballet about a young peasant girl attracted to a stranger who turns out to be a prince in disguise. 3 p.m. Sunday at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., downtown Hagerstown. Tickets cost $25 to $45. Call 301-790-3500 or go to www.mdtheatre.org.

Teen Idol
Teen singers will compete for a grand prize of $1,000 and a second prize of $500. 7 p.m. Saturday at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., downtown Hagerstown. $10; $7, students; free for children ages 6 and younger. Call 301-739-3250, ext. 126.

Dinner theater mystery
A Sunday afternoon murder-mystery dinner theater. 12:30 p.m. doors open, 1 p.m. show. Applause Caterers at The Academy Theatre Banquet & Conference Center, 58 E. Washington St., Hagerstown. Tickets cost $40 or $45. Reservations suggested. Call 301-797-5755.


Top Five Free
Arts fair
A showcase of local artistic talent from artists of all ages. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Hancock Community Center, 126 W. High St., Hancock. Call 301-678-5719 or email hancockmd.artscouncil@gmail.com.

Robo Fest
ShepRobo Fest robotics competition features divisions for fire fighting and mech warfare. Competition begins at 1 p.m. Saturday; fire fighting continues at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, March 27. Shepherd University’s Butcher Center, off W.Va. 45, Shepherdstown. Free and open to all. Register early. Limited seating. For information, call 304-876-5017 or email skim@shepherd.edu.

Friends and enemies
Smithsburg branch of Washington County Free Library will show “The Social Network,” a dramatized version of the creation of Facebook. Rated PG-13. 7 p.m. Friday at Smithsburg Library, 66 W. Water St., Smithsburg. Registration required. Call 301-824-7722 to sign up.

Kite fun fly
Everyone is invited to come and fly a kite Saturday in the field behind the museum house. Bill Flohr will lead a kite-making workshop from 11 a.m. to noon; there is a $1 fee for materials. Kite flying from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Renfrew Museum and Park, 1010 E. Main St., Waynesboro, Pa. There is no charge for kite flying. Parking is available in Renfrew’s lower lot off Welty Road. Call 717-762-0373.

Honors recital
A group of Hood College student musicians will perform, featuring guitar and piano performances, music history, original compositions and vocal performance. 2:30 p.m. Sunday at The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, City Park, Hagerstown. Free. Call 301-739-5727 or go to www.wcmfa.org.