If Charlie Sheen expects to make it from an L.A. courtroom to his performance in Washington D.C. on time tonight -- dude better get his ass in gear ... because he'll need EVERY SECOND!!! 


Charlie is scheduled to take the stage at DAR Constitution Hall in D.C. at 8:00 PM EST for his "My Violent Torpedo of Truth" tour ... but he's currently in L.A. dealing with his child custody case.

Assuming Charlie has a private jet on standby ... and factoring in that the average commercial flight from L.A. to D.C. is about 4-and-a-half hours ... and the 3-hour time change ... Charlie would have to be wheels up by NOON to give himself a realistic shot.

Sources at the DAR tell us at this point staffers have not been told the show has been cancelled ... and they are proceeding as scheduled.

Will Charlie make it??? STAY TUNED!!

UPDATE 10:47 AM PST: Charlie was just seen leaving the courtroom ... and should be heading to his car any moment.