You'll find gizmos, gadgets, thingamajigs and whatchamacallits on display at "What Is It?" the current exhibit at Montpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Road in South Laurel. A self-guided tour lets you take a guess at figuring out the uses of some familiar, and not-so-familiar, items from the past and present. The family-oriented exhibit runs through Nov. 30, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Call 301-317-7817.

Here are some other opportunities to step out and experience the arts and history in Laurel:

Exhibits

Laurel Museum —“Shake, Rattle ‘n’ Roll: Laurel in the 1950s, A Community in Transition,” 817 Main St. Open Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m., and Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Groups Monday through Friday by appointment. 301-725-7975. www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org.

Montpelier Arts Center — 9652 Muirkirk Road, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. Main Gallery: Paper, an exhibition of works on paper by artists who live or work in Prince George’s County, through Nov. 29. Resident Artists Gallery: Connections, Linda Bernard, Ceramics and Roslyn Logsdon, Fiber, through Nov. 29. Library Gallery: Paintings by Traudis Kennedy, through Dec. 26. 301-377-7800.

John Hollingsworth Art Gallery — National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. Susie McCardle’s artwork of wildlife and nature in charcoal and acrylics on display during November. Open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily except closed on federal holidays. patuxent.fws.gov. 301-497-5763.

Concerts

“Elijah” — Saturday, Nov. 21, 8 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of Saint Andrew, 15300 New Hampshire Ave. in Silver Spring. In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the composer Felix Mendelssohn’s birth, the Central Maryland Chorale presentation, under the baton of artistic director, Monica Otal, accompanied by the Montgomery Philharmonic Orchestra, features soloists Robert Cantrell, bass-baritone, Debra Lawrence, soprano, Amy Reiff, mezzo-soprano and Issachah Savage, tenor. Tickets $15 general admission, $10 students and seniors. www.centralmarylandchorale.com, 301-317-9646.

Central Maryland Chorale — Invites enthusiastic, dedicated singers, who can follow music from a score, to join; no audition required. Rehearsals underway, every Monday, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Laurel Presbyterian Church, 7610 Old Sandy Spring Road. Artistic director is Monica Otal; assistant director and accompanist is Dr. Theodore Guerrant. Scheduled concerts: November, “Elijah,” the stirring oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn; May, music of the Americas. 301-317-9646, or www.centralmarylandchorale.com.

Voix de Femmes — Rehearsals are held in Laurel on Thursdays from 7:30-9 p.m. Women’s chamber choir’s 2009-2010 concert season schedule: Dec. 6, “A Ceremony of Carols,” by Benjamin Britten, “Mass No 6,” by Gyorgy Orban and other seasonal pieces; Feb. 21, music of Hildegard Von Bingen; spring concert to be announced. Annick Kanter at 301-520-8921 or annickkanter@gmail.com.   

Montpelier fall jazz series — Final concert, Steve Abshire Quartet, Friday, Nov. 13, 8 p.m., Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road. Guitarist is featured on Montpelier’s latest CD. $20, $18 for seniors and Montpelier members. 301-377-7800.

To Dream Tour — A night of music and dance, Sat., Nov. 14, 7 p.m., Meade High School, 1100 Clark Road, Fort Meade. Performance by the Air Force’s premier entertainment showcase, Tops in Blue, all active duty service members. Current and classic pop, R&B, country western songs and new music and dance productions. Fort Meade access procedures, www.ftmeade.army.mil. 

Jam session

Laurel jam session — First and third Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Phelps Senior Citizens Center, 701 Montgomery St. Under the coordination of local musician Bob Bowman, interested experienced and novice musicians are invited to sit in for an open jam. Music includes folk, bluegrass, Celtic, jazz, ragtime, polka and traditional. Children must be supervised.         

Theater

Call for young directors and playwrights — Ages 14 to 18 years of age, submit resumes and one act plays for the Laurel Mill Young Playwrights One Act Festival to be held Jan. 22-24 at Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main St. One acts and resumes must be received by Nov. 15 by e-mail to maureencrogers@gmail.com. Auditions in late November. 301-452-2557.

“Charlotte’s Web” — Performances run weekends through Nov. 22,  with Friday and Saturday evening at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.,  Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main St. Adapted by Joseph Robinette, based on the book by E.B. White, directed and produced by Patti and Stu Knazik, this play is about friendship. Tickets $13 for general admission, $10 for students (a8 and under) and seniors (65 and over). Reservations, 301-617-9906 and press 2. www.laurelmillplayhouse.org.

“That Holiday Spirit” — Runs Dec. 4 through 19, Fridays 7 p.m., Saturdays 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays 2 p.m.; winter break: Thu., Dec 24, 2 p.m. and Dec. 27-30, 2 and 7 p.m., Young Artists Theatre, Cherry Tree Center, Rout 29 at Route 216. Musical about mischievous Halloween characters that wander into the wrong holiday. Appropriate for all ages, 3 to adult. Reservations required, contactus@yatheatre.com. Special arrangements for Scouts groups and birthday parties. 301-604-2844. www.yatheatre.com. 

Musical director needed — “Uh Oh Here Comes Christmas,” a play with music, not a musical, runs from Dec. 4 through Dec. 20. Stipend available; not necessary to be at all rehearsals, will work with your schedule. Maureen Rogers, maureencrogers@gmail.com, 301-452-2557.

“Helen of Sparta” — Performances run through Nov. 22, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. at 8 p.m. at the Venus Theatre, 21 C. St. Part of the Retro-Classic series, the play written by Jacob M. Appel, is a comedic retelling of Homer’s “Illiad” from the point of view of the kidnapped Helen of Troy. 866-811-4111. www.venustheatre.org.

History

Tours — 18th-century Georgian Montpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Road. Guided tours on Sundays at noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m.; drop-in, self-guided tours Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Group tours of 10 or more by appointment. $3 adults, $2 seniors and groups of 10 or more, $1 ages 6-18, free ages 5 and under. 301-377-7817, montpelier.mansion@pgparks.com.

Historical reproduction kitchen — Montpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Road. Learn about the skilled workers –– enslaved, free and indentured –– who enabled plantations like Montpelier to prosper. No reservations required. Sponsored by Friends of Montpelier and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. 301-953-1376. www.pgparks.com.

History tours — Snow Hill Manor, late-Georgian plantation house built in 1755, 13301 Laurel-Bowie Road. Tours Tuesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 301-725-6037. snowhill.manor@pgparks.com.

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