Students of the Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria and Lorton, Va. will debut their first, student-directed, produced performance on Fri., Jan., 16 at 7:30 p.m., Sat., Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Atlas Performing Arts Theatre at 1333 H Street., NE, in Washington, D.C. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online at www.metropolitanarts.org.

The Last Five Years is a live production of Jason Robert Brown's masterpiece, which was recently rated one of the top five musicals of this decade. It premiered at Chicago's Northlight Theatre in 2001 and was then produced Off-Broadway in March 2002. The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hyatt, a struggling actress.

Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria and Lorton, Va. will present their pint-sized, 30-minute version of the Nutcracker for younger audiences, along with a breakfast on Sun., Dec. 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Embassy Suites in Old Town Alexandria, Va. Tickets are $38 for children, 10 and younger,  and $48 for adults. Go to www.metropolitanarts.org for tickets.

Broadway Dance Center of New York City is the epicenter of elite dance training; some of their veteran dance staff are visiting Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) along with international dance teachers from New Zealand, Japan and Brazil. Classes are taught at the MSA Alexandria studio at 5775 Barclay Drive, and include master dance classes in street jazz, Broadway jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, rhythm tap, ballet, and Broadway tap on Sat., Sept. 20, from 3:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. and Sun., Sept. 21 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. For registration and class fees, go to www.metrpolitanarts.org.

“We’re honored to have such well-trained instructors from all over the world visit our studio, each with their own dance expertise, they share their skill and experience with our students from a real-world perspective,” said Melissa Dobbs, president of Metropolitan School of the Arts in Lorton and Alexandria, Va.