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The Montgomery Playhouse initiates a new season with its production of Paul Rudnick's "I Hate Hamlet," opening Friday and running through Oct. 5, in the Rosborough Center, Asbury Methodist Village, 409 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg. Comedy arises via the verbal sparring between a young TV actor offered the role of the prince in the Shakespearean tragedy and the ghost of John Barrymore, the greatest Hamlet of his time. Shows start at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $16, $14 for senior citizens and students. Call 301-977-5751 or visit www.montgomeryplayhouse.org.

Music of the spheres

Holst's orchestral masterpiece "The Planets" sets the other-worldly theme of the BSO at Strathmore's first concert of the season at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Music Center, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. The program also features Br¸nnhilde's Immolation Scene from Wagner's "Gˆtterd‰m-merung" (Twilight of the Gods), with the Women of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society, and Michael Daugherty's "UFO," with percussionist Evelyn Glennie, for whom it was written. Tickets range from $25 to $84. Call 877-BS0-1444 or visit www.BSOmusic.org.

Artistic tastes

Family Arts Day will take place Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at American Dance Institute, 1570 East Jefferson St., Rockville. Among the free activities will be classes in jazz, ballet, salsa, flamenco, Pilates and Kendo sword fighting; dance performances, and interactive presentations. "The goal," says artistic director Pamela Bjerknes, "is to bring the community together through the arts."Call 301-984-3003 or visit www.americandance.org.

Vocal virtuosos

Opera International, an Organization of Chinese Women program, will present an Operatic Vocal Gala Concert of Bel Canto arias and duets by Bellini and Donizetti at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Performers will include director/pianist Kelly Kuo, tenor Barry Banks, mezzo-soprano Guang Yang, soprano Barbara Quintiliani, baritone Chen-ye Yuan and coloratura soprano Jessica Swink. Tickets range from $35 to $55. Call 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.

"Growing-up Green" is the theme for the annual Children's Day on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. Participants will be able to measure their "ecological footprint" and learn how to reduce, reuse and recycle; make "green" crafts and see displays including live bee hives and pollinators and worm bins and composting, and hear the story of Dr. Seuss' "Lorax." Passports highlighting the day's activities and times will be available at the information desk. Call 301-962-1400 or visit www.brooksidegardens.org.