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JANUARY 28, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Randy Shulman

JANUARY 28, 2016


Volume 22 / Issue 38

ART DIRECTOR
Todd Franson
MANAGING EDITOR
Rhuaridh Marr
SENIOR EDITOR
John Riley
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Doug Rule
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS
Scott G. Brooks, Christopher Cunetto
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Gordon Ashenhurst, Sean Bugg, Connor J. Hogan,
Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield
WEBMASTER
David Uy
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Julian Vankim

NEWS

Primary Picks

European Holdout

10

Bathroom Politics

11

by John Riley

by Rhuaridh Marr

by John Riley

Community Calendar


FEATURES
14
Dream Role
Interview by Doug Rule




20

Wig Night Out

OUT ON THE TOWN





22

Winter R estaurant Week

by John Riley

SALES & MARKETING


PUBLISHER
Randy Shulman
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
Rivendell Media Co.
212-242-6863
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
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PATRON SAINT
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COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
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JANUARY 28, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

by Doug Rule

STAGE

29

Sweat at A rena Stage

GAMES


31

The Witness

FILM

33

Oscar's A nimated Shorts

NIGHTLIFE



37

Mixtape at The Black Cat

SCENE


44

Larry's Lounge

46

Last Word

by Kate Wingfield

by Rhuaridh Marr

by Rhuaridh Marr

photography by Ward Morrison

photography by Ward Morrison

METROWEEKLY.COM

JANUARY 28, 2016

GAGE SKIDMORE

LGBT

News

Now online at MetroWeekly.com

Watch: Snowzilla storm D.C. in time-lapse


Georgia bill would provide LGBT protections

Sanders and Clinton

Primary Picks

LGBT Democrats are divided over a presidential candidate, but many consider
Clinton the strongest general election contender
by John Riley

HEN IT COMES TO PRESIDENTIAL POLItics, Kelsey Phipps is torn.


I have, for the first time in my adult and
political life, come to understand what it feels
like to not want to vote, the 36-year-old Washington attorney
says of the Democratic primary. Because you feel like you
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JANUARY 28, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

know the person you want to vote for is not going to win and
that would be Bernie and I dont want President Trump, but
Hillary isnt the progressive I would want.
Phipps is drawn to the political positions espoused by Bernie
Sanders. She feels that both current President Barack Obama
and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have not been

METROWEEKLY.COM

JANUARY 28, 2016

LGBTNews
sufficiently progressive throughout their careers. But despite
identifying more with Sanders on policy, Phipps is plagued by
questions of whether the Vermont senator and self-described
Democratic socialist can actually win a general election in a
country where the term socialist still invokes memories of the
Cold War.
I feel stuck. I have been a Bernie supporter from the very
beginning, except I know he wont win, she says. And theres
too much at stake to not win. Four SCOTUS seats, the entire
Supreme Court for the rest of my adult life, is in the balance.
We have to win. And the candidate who can win on our side is
Hillary.
That said, Phipps says that when she was working as a Hill
staffer, Clinton impressed her with her hard work and depth of
knowledge on various issues, including LGBT issues.
Theres no candidate in this race who can match Hillary on
LGBT issues, says Phipps.
Phipps dilemma of choosing whom to support in the primary is a snapshot of an ongoing debate within Democratic politics, particularly among LGBT circles. Support for Sanders, who
was once considered a long shot to defeat frontrunner Clinton,
has followed an upward trajectory. He is increasing his share
of Democratic voters in national polls although he still trails
her by more than 20 points and is either ahead or statistically
tied with her in the crucial early voting states of Iowa and New
Hampshire.
As a result of Sanders emergence as a legitimate challenger,
supporters of the two candidates and, to a lesser extent, those
of Gov. Martin OMalley often find themselves waged in wars
of words, arguing over their preferred candidates positions on
various issues. Or, in some cases, who has held the true progressive position longer.
Thats why supporters of Sanders, in particular, were furious
when the Human Rights Campaign officially endorsed Clintons
candidacy for the Oval Office. Almost immediately, Sanders
supporters began attacking the organization for what they felt
was a snub of their anointed candidate. They launched an online
petition on Change.org, gathering the signatures of almost
10,000 people, calling upon HRC to revoke the endorsement.
Video clips of Hillary Clinton, during her tenure as senator from
New York, speaking of marriage as being an institution between
a man and a woman, went viral and were shared on social media.
Outraged progressives flooded HRCs Facebook page with comments arguing that Sanders record on LGBT rights is superior
to Clintons, citing his vote against the Defense of Marriage Act,
his opposition to the militarys Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy,
and even his marching in a Gay Pride parade in Vermont well
before it was politically acceptable to do so.
One of those people is Caleb Laieski, a 21-year-old LGBT
advocate who lives in Alexandria. HRCs endorsement of
Clinton is both suspicious and ridiculous, Laieski says. The
funny part of this story is Sen. Sanders has received a perfect
score from the Human Rights Campaign, but they just nominated Hillary Clinton, who was against gay marriage until 2013.
Sanders supporter Travis Reyes, a 36-year-old teacher from
Alexandria, echoes the sentiment, saying he familiarized himself with Sanders record on LGBT rights by watching video
clips of the senator. While Reyes says its HRCs right to endorse
whomever they choose, he believes Sanders would have been
the better choice.
He hasnt evolved like Hillary, Reyes says. Hes been
continuously supportive of our community.
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JANUARY 28, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

In endorsing Clinton, HRC cited the importance of maintaining the progress on LGBT rights made by the Obama administration, particularly with respect to marriage equality. But the
organizations president, Chad Griffin, also emphasized the
importance of pushing for comprehensive nondiscrimination
legislation, fighting against anti-transgender violence, against
LGBT youth homelessness and in favor of greater HIV/AIDS
prevention measures all issues that Clinton has emphasized
along the campaign trail, and, most notably, in a speech before
HRC supporters in Washington last October.
In response to follow-up questions about the groups
endorsement of Clinton, an HRC spokesman appeared to take a
position similar to that put forth by Phipps, invoking the potential risks posed to the LGBT community if a Republican were to
win the presidency.
Everything weve gained and everything we are still fighting
for is at risk in this election, HRCs Brandon Lorenz said in a
statement. Not only is every leading Republican presidential
candidate fighting to revoke, repeal and overturn the progress
weve made, theyre pledging to block our efforts to expand
equality.... Hillary Clinton has not only a strong record of championing LGBT equality as a U.S. Senator, shes done more than
any other Secretary of State to advance LGBT equality around
the globe. She has also put forward a more robust plan advancing LGBT equality than any other presidential candidate has
ever laid out. And she is the strongest contender to beat any of
the Republican candidates running on an anti-LGBT platform
in November.
Lorenz did note, however, that HRC considers Sanders a
friend to both the organization and to LGBT equality, saying the
organization appreciates his consistent voting record during
his congressional career.
Lifelong Democrat Christopher Schaffer says all three of the
major Democratic candidates Clinton, Sanders and OMalley
hold almost identical views when it comes to LGBT rights. So
it wasnt policy differences that led him to cast his early absentee primary vote for Clinton. Rather, the Annandale resident
was won over by Clintons campaign trail promises to strengthen the Democratic Party at the state and local levels.
We, as a community, are not going to get ENDA passed, are
not going to see our rights advanced, as long as we have a GOPcontrolled Congress, explains Schaffer, who serves as chairman of the Democratic Party in the Braddock District of Fairfax
County but was not speaking in an official capacity. And she
has been talking about building up the party and taking back the
Congress. And the only way were taking back the Congress is if
we start taking back the state legislatures. So shes been talking
about supporting the local parties, taking back the state legislatures so we can redraw the lines, so we can take back the House
of Representatives.
As for criticisms of Clintons evolution on the issue of marriage equality, Schaffer looks at Virginia Attorney General Mark
Herring as an example of how a person can genuinely change
their stance on an issue. As a state senator, Herring voted for
Virginias constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in 2006, but
in the years following, has changed his positions on marriage
equality. He has been quite aggressive about advancing LGBT
rights, particularly since being elected Attorney General.
I believe people can change, says Schaffer. And if Mark
Herring can change, and be one of our strongest supporters in
Virginia, theres no reason to doubt Hillarys sincerity that she
can be an ally for us as president. l

European Holdout
Italy prepares to debate same-sex civil unions, potentially ending its LGBT anomaly in Western Europe
by Rhuaridh Marr

HERES SOMETHING OF AN ANOMALY IN WESTern Europe. Often regarded as a bastion of LGBT rights
indeed, theyre enshrined in the European Unions
governing principles every Western European nation, from
Britain to Portugal to Germany, recognizes same-sex relationships. Except for one: Italy.
Yes, the land of the Romans, wine, good coffee and meticulously dressed men is the last holdout in offering legal recognition to cohabiting same-sex couples. While thirteen of the
worlds nineteen countries to offer same-sex marriage are in
Europe, Italy remains steadfastly opposed to even basic recognition. The reason? Pretty simple the Catholic Church retains
a tight grip on Italian society and politics, affecting the debate
at every level.
Now, though, that could all change.
A piece of legislation currently rests in Italys senate that
would legalize same-sex civil unions in the country. Senators
will start debating the legislation today, January 28, with
Italys left of center government pushing for the change. Prime
Minister Matteo Renzi has endorsed the legislation, but its fate
remains uncertain, as a similar measure introduced in 2007
failed without ever reaching a vote and successive governments
have thus far refrained from tackling the issue.
However, this time popular opinion is very much on the side
of same-sex Italians. Last weekend, thousands gathered in cities across the country to protest the lack of legal recognition.
AFP reported 7,000 in Turin, 5,000 in Milan and thousands
more in Rome and Bologna. Carrying signs that read Wake up
Italy. Its time to be civilized, the protesters demanded that
Italys politicians pass the legislation.
We hope it will pass, but we dont know, Fabrizio Marrazzo,
a top gay rights activist with Arcigay told The Guardian. We
hope the politicians see that this is not a law just for LGBT
people, but for all Italians, for civil rights in Italy.
The legislation would not only grant couples the right to
enter into civil unions, it would also grant the ability to take a
partners name, extend parental rights, and allow adoption by
a same-sex person of their partners child. Its that latter factor
that has drawn most ire from the Catholic Church, who oppose
same-sex adoption. That opposition, as well as opposition to the
use of surrogates to start families, will carry through to counter
protests on January 30, when family day will be staged by a
number of Catholic groups. Opposing the leader of his party,
Italys interior minister Angelino Alfano told reporters earlier
this month that same-sex couples who use surrogates should be
treated like sex offenders.
We want wombs for rent to become a universal crime.
And that it is punished with prison. Just as happens for sexual
crimes, he said.
Its a debate exemplified by a proposed amendment to the
civil union bill by senators, which would force same-sex couples
to prove that they had not used overseas couples to have their
children. Punishment would include up to two years in prison
METROWEEKLY.COM

JANUARY 28, 2016

LGBTNews
and a fine of up to 1 million ($1.1 million).
However, despite concerns that there arent enough moderate or liberal senators to pass the legislation, Italy may have
no choice after it received a dressing down from the European
Court of Human Rights. That court ruled last summer that
Italy was violating human rights laws by failing to offer adequate legal protections to same-sex couples. The court argued
that Italy had failed to provide for the core needs relevant to
a couple in a stable committed relationship and that existing
protections were not sufficiently reliable.
This week, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
a body separate from the European Union also urged Italy
to pass the legislation. Thorbjorn Jagland tweeted that Italy
must pass the legislation to bring it in line with other member
states. I encourage Italy to ensure legal recognition for same
sex couples as per [European Court of Human Rights] as in
majority of [Council of Europe] states, he wrote.
While Catholic groups have sponsored protests against the
legislation, Pope Francis has yet to directly comment on it.
Instead, he stated his support for traditional marriages last week,
telling members of the Vatican court that there can be no confusion between the family God wants and any other type of union.
The family, founded on indissoluble matrimony that unites
and allows procreation, is part of Gods dream and that of his
Church for the salvation of humanity, he said.
The Vatican will play a key role in the debate, something the
author of the proposed legislation is keenly aware of. Senator
Monica Cirinna told The Guardian that the Democratic Party
was currently in a state of high fever as they prepare for the
vote, as a number of the partys senators maintain strong bonds
with the church.
There has always been a clash between the non-religious
and the Catholic members of the party, Cirinna said. The
great dome [of St. Peters Basilica] sometimes casts a shadow.
The divide between party members played out in last weekends
protests, with ministers joining those in the streets to call for the
legislation to be passed. Italys agriculture minister, Maurizio, was
among those demonstrating and spoke with Reuters.
This law on civil unions needs approving now, he told
Reuters. We are the only European country not to have one,
and there is no more time to be lost.
We dont have more time, Marrazzo agreed. In other
parts of Europe they did this 10 years ago. l

Bathroom Politics

An upcoming decision on a Virginia high schools transgender restroom policy could set a precedent
by John Riley

FEEL HUMILIATED AND DYSPHORIC EVERY TIME


Im forced to use a separate restroom facility just so I
can carry out a basic function of human life, says Gavin
Grimm, a junior at Gloucester High School in Virginia.
Grimm, a transgender male, is the plaintiff in a case challenging a Gloucester County School Board policy that forces
him to go to the bathroom in either the girls restroom or in an
alternative private facility like a single-stall restroom.
When Grimm first came out as transgender at the beginning of his sophomore year in 2014, he and his mother notified
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JANUARY 28, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

school administrators, who tried to accommodate his needs.


For nearly two months, Grimm was permitted to use the boys
restroom, and did so without incident. But a group of concerned parents and community members, egged on by socially
conservative and anti-LGBT organizations and outside interest
groups, threatened to oust the members of the school board if
they did not prohibit Grimm and other transgender students
from using the bathroom that corresponds to only their biological sex at birth. The school board ultimately caved to the mobs
demands, voting 6-1 to approve such a policy.
At the school board meetings last year...I was talked about
as if I wasnt even a person, Grimm recalls. I was spoken
about as if I was some sort of creature on a pedestal for everyone to mock and make their comments about, as if my rights
to privacy and equal treatment arent the same as everybody
elses. The mere thought that my anatomy could be considered
appropriate for public conversation...was not only humiliating,
but dehumanizing.
In response to the boards decision, the American Civil
Liberties Union brought suit on behalf of Grimm, arguing that
the Gloucester County restroom policy violates Title IX prohibitions on sex discrimination and equal protection under the
Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Grimms legal
team also asked for an injunction that would allow him to use
the boys restroom for the rest of his junior year.
But last July, U.S. District Judge Robert Doumar rejected
the request for an injunction and threw out Grimms claims of
discrimination under Title IX. Doumar has not yet ruled on the
part of the lawsuit dealing with equal protection. In response,
Grimms legal team appealed the decision to the 4th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals. On Wednesday, the Fourth Circuit
heard oral arguments in the case, and is expected to issue a
decision sometime in the next few months.
If the court adopts the Department of Educations interpretation that Title IX applies to transgender students, then students
like Grimm should be allowed to use the bathroom that corresponds to their correct gender identity. Such a decision would
also preempt any anti-trans state laws, such as one proposed by
Del. Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg) that would fine students and
administrators who allow students to use restrooms other than
those designated for their biological sex at birth.
Matters like identity and self-consciousness are something
that most kids grapple with at this age, and its very difficult,
Grimm says. And its also very difficult when youre already
dealing with these things...when you find yourself the subject
of public commentary and ridicule at the hands of adults in
your community.
Grimm adds that forcing him to use the girls restroom will
not necessarily end the controversy or achieve the desired
result sought by the school board members and anti-LGBT
conservatives.
I looked physically male for a long time before I [transitioned], Grimm says. I was using the female restroom for
a period of time when I appeared, by all accounts, as male. I
would be told to get out of the girls room. Theyd ask me to
leave, or express discomfort. Even once, a girl walked in and
walked back out thinking it was the boys room.
Now that Ive been on hormone replacement therapy for
an extended time, my voice is lower. I have facial hair, he says.
Theres no part of me thats congruent with being in a girls
restroom, and I certainly would think that could cause some
discomfort and confusion. l

LGBTCommunityCalendar
DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for

Metro Weeklys Community Calendar highlights important events in the D.C.-area


LGBT community, from alternative social events to volunteer opportunities.
Event information should be sent by email to calendar@MetroWeekly.com.
Deadline for inclusion is noon of the Friday before Thursdays publication.
Questions about the calendar may be directed to the
Metro Weekly office at 202-638-6830 or
the calendar email address.

LGBT community, family and friends.


6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-theHill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria.
All welcome. For more info, visit dignitynova.org.

GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses


critical languages and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellies, 900 U St. NW.
RVSP preferred. brendandarcy@
gmail.com.
IDENTITY offers free and confidential

HIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676


New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walkins 12-3 p.m. For appointments other
hours, call 301-422-2398.

THURSDAY, JAN. 28

FRIDAY, JAN. 29

SATURDAY, JAN. 30

The DC Anti-Violence Project (DC


AVP), the group dedicated to combating anti-LGBT violence and hate
crimes and providing support to
victims of violence, holds its monthly
meeting at The DC Center. 7-8:30 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.

GAY DISTRICT, a group for GBTQQI


men between the ages of 18-35, meets
on the first and third Fridays of each
month. 8:30-9:30 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more information,
visit gaydistrict.org.

CHRYSALIS arts & culture group

WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)

practice session at Takoma Aquatic


Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9
p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and les-

bian square-dancing group features


mainstream through advanced square
dancing at the National City Christian
Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30
p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517,
dclambdasquares.org.
The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern
Virginia social group meets for happy
hour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810
Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor
bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com.

IDENTITY offers free and confiden-

tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,


414 East Diamond Ave., and in
Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire
Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m.
For appointments other hours, call
Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or
Takoma Park, 301-422-2398.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for


youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155
or testing@smyal.org.

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics

Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m.,


3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group is
independent of UHU. 202-446-1100.

WOMENS LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women,
13-21, interested in leadership development. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth
Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163,
catherine.chu@smyal.org.

LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for


adults in Montgomery County offers
a safe space to explore coming out
and issues of identity. 10-11:30 a.m.
16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512,
Gaithersburg, Md. For more information, visit thedccenter.org

views Metropolitan Operas production of Puccinis opera Turandot at


the Gallery Place Regal Theater.
Tickets $25. Meet at 12:30 in upper
lobby by the concessions stand.
Refreshments follow. Craig, 202-4620535. craighowell1@verizon.net.

Join The DC Center for an LGBT


ASL CLASS for those interested in

learning how to communicate in sign


language. 1-3 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.

SOCIAL ANXIETY WORKSHOP,

hosted by licensed social worker


Larry Cohen, is designed to educate
members of the LGBT community
about various forms of social anxiety
and ways to overcome it. Registration
required. 7-9 p.m. Near Tenleytown
Metro Station (exact location provided upon registration). For more
information, call 202-244-0903 or
visit socialanxietyhelp.com.

WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice
session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr.
SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment


needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.
202-638-0750.

PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-

affirming social group for ages 11-24.


4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW.
Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, laycdc.org.

SMYALS REC NIGHT provides


a social atmosphere for GLBT and
questioning youth, featuring dance
parties, vogue nights, movies and
games. More info, catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6
p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for
youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,
410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@smyal.org.

CHRYSALIS arts & culture group

visits Baltimore to see the Walters Art


Gallery and the Baltimore Museum of
Art. Start with brunch at Gertrudes
inside BMA. Carpool at 9:30 a.m. from
Forest Glen Metro Station. For more
info, Craig, 202-462-0535. craighowell1@verizon.net.

WEEKLY EVENTS
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS
MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH

celebrates Low Mass at 8:30 a.m., High


Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral Ave.
NW. 202-232-4244, allsoulsdc.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707 or andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

BET MISHPACHAH, founded by

members of the LGBT community,


holds Saturday morning Shabbat
services, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush
luncheon. Services in DCJCC
Community Room, 1529 16th St. NW.
betmish.org.

BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including others interested in Brazilian culture, meets. For location/time, email
braziliangaygroup@yahoo.com.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice
session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr.,
SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/

walking/social club welcomes all


levels for exercise in a fun and supportive environment, socializing
afterward. Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & P
Streets NW, for a walk; or 10 a.m. for
fun run. dcfrontrunners.org.

DC SENTINELS basketball team

SUNDAY, JAN. 31

meets at Turkey Thicket Recreation


Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4
p.m. For players of all levels, gay or
straight. teamdcbasketball.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice


session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr.,
SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic
Mass for the LGBT community. 6
p.m., St. Margarets Church, 1820
Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome.
Sign interpreted. For more info, visit
dignitynova.org.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED


CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes all
to 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G St. NW.
firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317.

HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST


welcomes GLBT community for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130 Old Telegraph
Road, Alexandria. hopeucc.org.

HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT


GROUP for gay men living in the DC

metro area. This group will be meeting once a month. For information on
location and time, email to not.the.
only.one.dc@gmail.com.
Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL

TEMPLE UNITED CHURCH OF


CHRIST for an inclusive, loving and

progressive faith community every


Sunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW,
near R in Shaw/Logan neighborhood.
lincolntemple.org.

METROWEEKLY.COM

JANUARY 28, 2016

11

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

services at 11 a.m., led by Rev. Onetta


Brooks. Childrens Sunday School, 11
a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax.
703-691-0930, mccnova.com.

NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN


CHURCH, inclusive church with

GLBT fellowship, offers gospel worship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional worship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW.
202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.

ST. STEPHEN AND THE


INCARNATION, an interracial,

multi-ethnic Christian Community


offers services in English, 8 a.m. and
10:30 a.m., and in Spanish at 5:15 p.m.
1525 Newton St. NW. 202-232-0900,
saintstephensdc.org.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING

invites LGBTQ families and individuals of all creeds and cultures to join
the church. Services 9:15 and 11:15
a.m. 10309 New Hampshire Ave.
uucss.org.

MONDAY, FEB. 1
The DC Center hosts a VOLUNTEER
NIGHT for community members
to lend a hand with various duties,
including cleaning, keeping safe-sex
kit inventory, and sorting through
book donations. Pizza provided.
6:30-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for


youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,
410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or testing@smyal.org.

THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee DropIn for the Senior LGBT Community.
10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202682-2245, thedccenter.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay
mens evening affinity group. 3636
Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATER
POLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m.

Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van


Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at
least basic swimming ability always
welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, secretary@wetskins.org, wetskins.org.

WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH

HIV/AIDS Support Group for newly


diagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m.
Registration required. 202-939-7671,
hivsupport@whitman-walker.org.

TUESDAY, FEB. 2
WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)

HIV Testing at WHITMANWALKER HEALTH. At the Elizabeth


Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th
St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max
Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave.
SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY


(K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St.,

Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV


testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
703-823-4401.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers


free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
METROWEEKLY.COM

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly dinner

GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at


Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. NW.
getequal.wdc@gmail.com.

JANUARY 28, 2016

5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200,


Arlington. Appointments: 703-7894467.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio


Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison
Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.

12

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.

in Dupont/Logan Circle area, 6:30 p.m.


afwash@aol.com, afwashington.net.

practice session at Takoma Aquatic


Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9
p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social club serving greater D.C.s


LGBT community and allies hosts an
evening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org.

THE GAY MENS HEALTH


COLLABORATIVE offers free HIV

testing and STI screening and treatment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m.
Rainbow Tuesday LGBT Clinic,
Alexandria Health Department, 4480
King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571-2149617. james.leslie@inova.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker


Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor
Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,
9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE


DC CENTER hosts Packing Party,
where volunteers assemble safe-sex
kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m.,
Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court
NW. thedccenter.org.

IDENTITY offers free and confiden-

THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL


BRIDGE CLUB meets for Social

Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity Center,


721 8th St SE (across from Marine
Barracks). No reservations and partner needed. All welcome. 301-3451571.

WEEKLY EVENTS

tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,


414 East Diamond Ave., and in
Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire
Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m.
For appointments other hours, call
Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978 or
Takoma Park at 301-422-2398.

AD LIB, a group for freestyle conversation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,


Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome.
For more information, call Fausto
Fernandez, 703-732-5174.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY


(K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St.,

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV


testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
703-823-4401.

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio


Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment


needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.
202-638-0750.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS

LGBT focused meeting every


Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. Georges
Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave.,
Arlington, just steps from Virginia
Square Metro. For more info. call
Dick, 703-521-1999. Handicapped
accessible. Newcomers welcome.
liveandletliveoa@gmail.com.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5


p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for
youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,
410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@smyal.org.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ
YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL,
410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy
Chu, 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@
smyal.org.

US HELPING US hosts a support


group for black gay men 40 and older.
7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202446-1100.
Whitman-Walker Healths GAY

MENS HEALTH AND WELLNESS/


STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701

14th St. NW. Patients are seen on


walk-in basis. No-cost screening for
HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis and herpes testing
available for fee. whitman-walker.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds

practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison


Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.

HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH

offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.


and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.
Washington St., Alexandria. 703-5491450, historicchristchurch.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker


Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor
Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,
9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.
IDENTITY offers free and confiden-

tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414


East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m.
For appointments other hours, call
Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978.

JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-

gram for job entrants and seekers,


meets at The DC Center. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. 6-7:30 p.m. For more
info, www.centercareers.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3

11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite


200, Arlington. Appointments: 703789-4467.

BOOKMEN DC, an informal mens


gay-literature group, discusses
Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage
of the Flesh by John Lahr. 7:30
p.m. Cleveland Park Library, 3310
Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome.
bookmendc.blogspot.com.

PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social


club for mature gay men, hosts
weekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,
Windows Bar above Dupont Italian
Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl, 703573-8316. l

METROWEEKLY.COM

JANUARY 28, 2016

13

Dream Role

Holly Twyford has helped shape D.C.s theater scene by taking on gender-bending roles,
including Bottom in A Midsummer Nights Dream
Interview by Doug Rule // Photography by James Kegley and Teresa Wood

Im not your traditional Bottom.

14

JANUARY 28, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

But for all its fanciful magic and faeries, Midsummer is


not childrens theater, and it broaches some very adult topics,
albeit in whimsically Shakespearean way. Posner wanted to
cast Twyford in role that she could bring unique perspective to.
Hence, Bottom, masterfully upending one of the plays central
narratives by turning it into a rich play on gender.
Gender is such an interesting question in the world these
days, says Posner, whose wife, Erin Weaver, also bends gender
by taking on the role of the mischievous Puck. Gender fluidity,
gender complexity gender is not thought of in the same way
as it was 400 years ago. Yet Shakespeares plays are so rich and
have so many complexities, its right for us to find new qualities,
new energies whether thats in gender, in race, in age anything that will keep it fresh.
Casting Twyford as Bottom, Posner says, has allowed [all]
the actors to find new aspects in relationships that Ive never
seen in a production of Midsummer before.
To that we say, Bottoms up!

METRO WEEKLY: Bottom, Puck and even most of the acting troupe

known as the Mechanicals are female in this production. How does


that impact the play?
HOLLY TWYFORD: It doesnt make a difference to the story. It
makes a difference in how we approach the story though.
Obviously it gives very different colors and nuances to those
characters that we have normally seen played by guys. But as far
as Puck goes, Pucks a fairy! Puck should be played by anybody,
though it is also traditionally male.
MW: What can audiences expect from a female Bottom?
TWYFORD: Think about Bottom. Traditionally, Bottom is played
by a big, older man. That is the iconic Bottom that everybody
knows. So, for me, not a big man, to step into that and not totally
take it in a different direction, I think, would have been just a
silly idea for me to try to say, Oh yeah, sure, I can use all the
same humor that a man would use. So it was important for me
and Aaron certainly agreed that we make it something very
different and go to the core of who Bottom really is. Were trying

JAMES KEGLEY

Holly Twyford laughs as she says this.


Its not what you think. Then again, with Twyford it seldom
is, as she has never been one for tradition. The popular D.C.
actor bucked convention in 2012 when director Aaron Posner
cast her as the servant Tranio traditionally a male part in
The Taming of the Shrew at The Folger Theatre. Now, Twyford is
back in another role typically portrayed by a man: the buffoonish
laborer, Bottom, whose head is famously swapped for that of a
donkeys in A Midsummer Nights Dream.
Challenging convention not only pushes Twyford as an
performer, it offers audiences a refreshing take on a well-trod
classic. Aaron is more willing to take a chance on something
different than most directors, says Twyford.
Posner is quick to return the praise.
Shes one of the best, most honest, most engaging actors
around, he says. I find her compelling in virtually everything
Ive seen her do.... She always finds in every character the truth,
the humanity, humor and complexity, whether its a traditionally
female role or male role or even an animal. Which shes played
a number of times....
Twyford thrives on taking chances, on doing things differently. Though initially dissuaded from the floodlights by Boston
Universitys theater department, she hit the stage running after
returning to her native Washington, earning the first of 17 Helen
Hayes Award nominations with her debut professional production in 1993, Bryony Laverys Her Aching Heart.
There are remarkably few similarities in the type of roles the
versatile actor has taken on a range as wide as the classic heroine in Folgers 1997 production of Romeo and Juliet, and Diane,
the uber-modern, acerbic lesbian Hollywood powerbroker in
Signatures 2009 production of The Little Dog Laughed two of
four roles that have garnered her Helen Hayes Awards.
But even with awards and productions and dalliances
with directing its when Twyford is at home that her real
full-time work commences. She lives with her wife Saskia
Mooney in northwest D.C., and the couple are raising an
8-year-old daughter, Helena, the reason for Twyfords expansion into childrens theater.

JAMES KEGLEY

to be true to the spirit of Bottom.


MW: In the play, Titania is put under a spell and falls for Bottom.
Have you considered the impact that will have for both characters
in terms of sexuality?
TWYFORD: You could interpret that in different ways, I think.
Whats interesting is, it never really bothered Aaron and I very
much, but when we got the rest of the cast together, people were
starting to say, Well, okay, wait a minute, if Bottoms a woman,
this means XYZ. And if Puck is a woman, this means ABC. In
this day and age of questions about gender, people were really
focused on it. At one point we were saying, Lets get back to the
reality of this play. Titania is a fairy! Oberon is a fairy, Puck is a
fairy. Whos to say that a fairy wouldnt be attracted to a donkey?
Why do we have to say, if Bottom is a woman, and Titania is a
woman... Its really an interesting discussion.
MW: Also in a twist from tradition, the Mechanicals arent just
played primarily by women, theyre portrayed as good and experienced performers, not unrehearsed amateurs.
TWYFORD: Yes, thats what were shooting for. I dont know that

California. Shes got this theater company, and shes played all
of the great Shakespearean roles Richard III, Hamlet, Shylock.
She just said, Fuck it! And she plays them as men she goes
full drag. It speaks to the heart of what it is to be an actor.
Because an actor really should be, as they said to us in school,
transformational. And that is rarely the case. And its not just
in California. Theres Taffety Punk here, with their riot grrrl
female productions. And its the same sort of thing. It doesnt
matter theyre just telling a story, theyre just actors. And
thats really what it should be about.
MW: With the citywide Womens Voices Theater Festival last year,
theres been increasing attention to women especially the lack of
womens perspectives in theater. Have you noticed a change in
attitudes in your two decades on stage?
TWYFORD: Has it gotten better? Thats a difficult question for me
to answer because I dont know how aware I was when I first got
here. As a young actress at that time, nobody was talking in those
terms. You only talked in terms of what the next job was, and
where the work was. You didnt think about the fact that it was
harder for a woman because there
are less roles, that there are fewer
female playwrights writing female
roles, and that there are many, many
more women than men competing
for those roles. I dont think I recognized that in the early days. So I
think it must be better, just because
I think people have figured out that
they dont have a choice. I mean it
has to get better. Just as it has to
get better for actors of color, and
artists of color. The status quo cannot continue, because we need more
women writing plays, we need more
actors of color up on the stage we
need that. If we want to truly serve not only this community, but
any community, we need to reflect our audiences. Thats why
people come to the theater. They want to see at least some part
of themselves up on stage. So I think its incredibly important.
MW: And thats why, as a separate but related example, this years
slate of Oscar nominations is so disturbing. Have you been following the controversy?
TWYFORD: You mean about how white the nominees are? I
havent, really. Ive seen a couple things about it, but I dont
know what the latest is.
MW: Theres also LGBT-related nominations. Carol, for instance,
garnered nods for its two leads but failed to be nominated for Best
Picture or Director. Have you seen it?
TWYFORD: I have not, but Im re-reading [Patricia Highsmiths]
The Price of Salt in preparation. I read it years and years ago.
What about The Danish Girl was it nominated for anything?
MW: Not really two acting awards, plus production and costume
design.
TWYFORD: Interesting. The Martian, it was really well done. Matt
Damon is incredibly appealing, and interesting to watch, and it
was a neat story with a happy ending. And just not as complicated as Carol or The Danish Girl.
Thats the other thing thats interesting about TV and film
they really are quite straight. Im sure that theyre straight and
not narrow, but in some senses there is still this feeling of the
outsider. And maybe thats me and my generation. I mean, its
fascinating now to meet younger people in the gay community
who went to prom with a same-sex partner. That just is totally

Im not going to go out of


my way to say, Hey, by the way,

Helena has two moms.

Do you have a problem with that? Im


going to assume that they dont.
its ever been done that way. Aaron said, I think it could be
really cool if you were actually as great of an actor as you thought
you were. Because Bottom is so confident about her ability. So
an interesting twist would be, what if, in fact, Bottom is actually
really good? Who knows what the audiences are going to say
about that? I couldnt stop thinking about it, because I think its
so interesting.
Theres still humor: Bottom doesnt come across as the most
intelligent person, and there are some fabulous malapropisms.
But to make Bottom really good at what she is passionate about
is delightful and interesting.
MW: Youve performed a lot of Shakespeare over the years. Do you
still enjoy it?
TWYFORD: I do, I do. I love it. And I havent done it in a while,
and everytime Im about to do it, I get nervous and think, Do I
understand what Im saying? But its so much fun to play with.
The beauty of Shakespeare is that there are so many different
ways to tell his stories.
There are not very many roles for women in Shakespeare, so
I would venture to say that there are probably guys who have
done a lot more of the canon because there are just so many more
roles. And so when Aaron and I talked about Bottom, I had this
huge fear so I had to jump in. Because, when is that going to
happen again, that somebody is going to offer me that?
MW: Posner has now offered you two such gender-bending role.
Can you see it becoming a more readily accepted trend?
TWYFORD: Lets be honest most of the best Shakespeare
roles are for men. Theres this great actress Lisa Wolpe out in
16

JANUARY 28, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

TERESA WOOD

beyond my frame of reference, outside of the struggle. They


grew up with a gay/lesbian club at their high school, and that
was totally cool. That was not the way it was when I was there.
So it might very well be just my residual struggle. But I think that
it is also reflected in Hollywood as a whole it is not conducive
to out gay people unless you are, I suppose, some designer or
something like that. And even then youre still on the fringes.
I mean, they did Brokeback Mountain with two straight
actors, because all the gay actors in Hollywood were paranoid.
And the straight actors are, Yeah, whatever. When I go to the
awards ceremony, Ill have my wife on my arm. And its still
very much like that, I would say. I dont know, maybe thats
because theyre afraid of middle America, who are the people
that are going to the movies.
MW: You dont face anything like that in the local theater scene,
do you?
TWYFORD: I dont, no. I was out from the beginning.
MW: Was coming out a struggle for you?
TWYFORD: Yeah, it was. Its not what my parents were hoping
for or planning on. So that was difficult for them. Although they
ultimately came out the other side with flying colors. My father
died recently, but he adored my wife Saskia, as does my mother.
It truly was my dad never said it out loud, but my mother did
a question of, We want you to be happy. And this doesnt seem
like something thats going to make you happy. Because that
was not something that they could comprehend. And nor could
I, frankly. I remember trying to be anything but, thinking this is
going to be really difficult.
But kids now, they dont have to worry about that. Now that
Im on the other side of the auditioning table, and directing
shows now on occasion, I see these young people come in, and I
know exactly what theyre path is going to be. And I think, Im

Holly Twyford (as Bottom) and Caroline Stefanie Clay as Titania

so glad that you are not going to have the struggle that I had.
Because youre in a metropolitan area, and youre in theater.
Youre going to hopefully have an easier life and have a lot of role
models. Thats heartening to me.
MW: Have you and Saskia faced any challenges or discrimination
as two women raising a daughter?
TWYFORD: Helena is only eight. We had already come a long
way by 2007. Saskia and I worry about it periodically, in terms
of, if theres a new friend at school and theres a play date, do
we have to say, Hey, by the way, just so you know... It is this
question that we have sometimes. I think, well, Im not going
to go out of my way to say, Hey, by the way, Helena has two
moms. Do you have a problem with that? Im going to assume
that they dont thats my new m.o. for how I deal with a play
date. And so far, even people about whom, Oh, youre going to
have a problem with this, because I know that you go to church
every Sunday, or you do XYZ it hasnt happened. Is this
person going to accept the birthday party invitation? And they
have. So thats been nice to witness.
MW: And Helena doesnt ask or struggle with questions about her
family?
TWYFORD: You know kids talk about that stuff all the time.
At first kids, they dont give a shit! Oh, you like purple too?
Awesome! I like purple! They dont care about any of that
other stuff. Thats whats so sad, is that all of that stuff is
learned all of that fear, and all of that ignorance is just
learned, and passed on. The comments that she would get
in, maybe kindergarten or first grade, would be, No way!
You have two moms? I have a mom and a dad! Oh, I have
a grandma. It was, Cool! This is how youre different from
me. Theres no judgment, theres no, this is better than that.
There are even kids who, I would hear from their moms occaMETROWEEKLY.COM

JANUARY 28, 2016

17

JAMES KEGLEY

sionally, they would say, I wish I had two moms! [Laughs.]


MW: You directed a show the world premiere of Norman Allens
A Lump of Coal for Christmas at Adventure Theatre-MTC over
the holidays. Did your interest and involvement in youth theater
develop because of Helena?
TWYFORD: The first childrens show that I did was at Adventure
If You Give A Pig A Pancake. Michael Bobbitt and I met and
were chatting once, and he said, You should come do a show
with us. And at the time Helena was, gosh, not quite four. You
know she had never been able to see a show that I had done. And
Michael sold me on it: She can come see it, and blah-blah-blah.
Itll be so much fun! And so I did it. And Helena saw it six times.
Childrens theater doesnt get as much respect as it deserves.
But, in fact, a great deal goes into it. I dont know if youve heard,
but the Washington Post has a new policy not to review childrens shows, or at least TYA [Theater for Young Audiences]
shows at Adventure and Imagination Stage. And this is exactly
the kind of disrespect that childrens theater has had for a long
time. These are the next generations of audiences, who are going
to keep the big theaters alive.
The reason I like theater is that my parents took me when I
was little. And everybody I know who is a huge theatergoer, has
gone since they were very small. Its a huge thing. Im confident
now that Helena is going to want to go, because she goes to see
shows at Imagination and Adventure and even at the Folger, if
its Shakespeare. You cant express how important it is that these
theaters continue the work that theyre doing and that theyre
18

JANUARY 28, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

respected for that work. Otherwise, the audience is just going to


age out. It will be a serious problem. I know that theres a campaign underway to get the Washington Post to reverse its policy.
MW: They had reviewed Adventure shows in the past?
TWYFORD: Yeah. They didnt come to Lump of Coal. Thats where
we figured it out.
I mean, I dont think their first string [chief theater critic]
was going to do it, but they sent someone there. And they go if
the Kennedy Center is doing a TYA show, or if theres a touring
TYA show through the National. But as far as Imagination and
Adventure, they decided to not do that anymore. Its a shame.
MW: Do you plan to do more TYA productions?
TWYFORD: I do, absolutely. I could be making this up, but I feel
like there maybe was an unspoken prejudice against childrens
theater by actors as well, and by artists. Oh, I dont want to do
that a show for a bunch of kids. The writings not very good.
All of these excuses, and I feel like thats changing. And the case
in point would be Lump of Coal. I was able to get five-time-Helen
Hayes Award Winner Erin Weaver to play my Lump of Coal,
and she rocked it. To get somebody of that caliber to go and do a
show every morning, and three shows on Saturday and three on
Sunday, or however many it was thats pretty amazing.
MW: Do you have a favorite role among all that youve played in
your professional career so far?
TWYFORD: Its such a hard question because so often the roles are
connected to the production, which is connected to the people,
and depending on what the experience was and also, I guess,

whatever role youre sort of in at the time is, and should be, kind
of your favorite role. Ive been so lucky, I really have. I loved
playing Juliet, I loved playing Evelyn in The Shape of Things.
Ive loved so many of the roles that Ive done, the Shakespeare
women, theyre so fun to take a bite out of Beatrice in Much
Ado and certainly Viola in Twelfth Night. Its hard to say. They
were all really fun.
Lately, Ive been thinking a lot about the role that I just
played at Olney Theatre, in this play called Bad Dog. It was not
a particularly fun role, in some ways, but it was so full. It was
one of those things, I read the play and
fell in love with it the second I read it
and immediately knew that I had to do
it. And that doesnt happen very often.
But I literally turned the last page and
I thought, Oh shit! I have to drive an
hour [each way, every day] to get to
Olney now. Because I have to do this
play. Again, it was a great group of
people. A bunch of incredibly talented
women, not to mention the playwright,
who was just amazing. So yeah, Ive
been very, very fortunate, I really have.
MW: Since you brought up Bad Dog, I
wanted to ask you how you approached
the role of Molly, a relapsed alcoholic
in full-bore self-destructive mode with her family. You managed to make her sympathetic, even likeable not to mention
witty.
TWYFORD: Well, it was Jennifer Hoppe-Houses first play, and
its beautiful. And I had to play that role. And shes pretty open
about it it sort of has autobiographical aspects to it. And
she was on set for a while, and we became friends. She was an
invaluable resource, of course, when it came to a lot of the addiction stuff. It was incredibly special in so many ways.
MW: So you didnt necessarily draw on any personal experience
with alcoholism or addiction?
TWYFORD: I had some people say, Well, youre not an addict.
You dont have an issue like that. How can you relate to that?
I think that there are many, many forms of addiction. And there
are things that come out of addiction that a lot of people can
relate to, and I certainly could. And so I brought what I brought
to the table. I was thrilled when I had folks who really did deal
with some of that stuff come up and say, You just did my life.
That meant a lot.
MW: Do you have a least favorite role?
TWYFORD: Not that I would want to name. I dont think so. One
came to mind, but even thinking about it now, she taught me
something. That is not to be ignored that that aspect of even
playing a role that is either not fun or not as fulfilling, they do
all teach you something. Or they should. And thats definitely
worth a lot.
MW: Do you ever worry youll run out of challenges that inspire
you?
TWYFORD: When I start getting complacent, and when I start not
being a little scared of what Im doing, then I think thats the
time to stop. But Im not quite there yet.
This is all that I do. I dont know how to do anything else,
frankly. I mean, I used to tend bar, I waited tables. I did a lot of
little odd jobs like that. But I really have no marketable skills.
MW: Well, it helps that youre so good at this.
TWYFORD: It does but I also have been very lucky. I think that
when I first got here I didnt have a degree in theater, I have a

degree in whats called theater studies. I was cut from the acting
program at Boston University, and I ended up going into a different program, called theater studies. So it was a little bit of a blow
to the psyche. There perhaps would have been more opportunities had I gone that other way [to New York], but I didnt. I made
my own way here, and when I got here, I remember meeting a lot
of people who were saying, Yeah, Im going to work here, and
put that on my resume. And then Im going to go to New York.
And I did not. And I never really wanted to. And I stayed, and
just kept working. And kept going at it. I think thats been a huge

The status quo cannot continue, because

we need more women writing


plays, we need more actors of
color up on the stage we need that

if we want to truly serve this community.


thing I mean, there are people who have left and come back.
And Ive built a home here, which Im really thrilled about. And
I love this community.
MW: And the D.C. theater community has certainly grown up with
you.
TWYFORD: Oh my god! Absolutely! Again, the people who said,
Im going to do this and this and then Im going to go away.
And now people say, Hey, lets make D.C. a destination. Now
there are people who graduate from whatever program and they
say, lets go to D.C. and start working. Or lets go to D.C. and
start a theater company. Its now a destination for theater artists, and thats incredibly exciting and its been so fun to watch
that happen.
MW: Since you mentioned it, would you ever start a theater company of your own?
TWYFORD: I dont know if I could do that. I dont know if I could.
There are too many things to think about. And I think my family
is too important to me.
MW: Do you think Helena might grow up to become an actor?
TWYFORD: I do not. I think shes going to be a visual artist. She
will get up at six in the morning, and just start drawing, and
shell draw for a couple of hours. She loves it. If theres a lull
somewhere cause sometimes I bring her to rehearsals shell
pull out the pad and the markers. Shell watch rehearsals sometimes, but shell just be drawing away.
MW: How is it being a mother?
TWYFORD: Its hard. I was just having this conversation with a
young person actually. I was discussing it with another mother
and saying, Yeah, its difficult being away, and blah-blah-blah.
And this gal says, Well, thats why I dont think I want a child.
And I said, But, what youre getting out of it just so far outweighs all the logistical stuff and all the worries. Shes great.
Shes just been nothing but a joy in our lives. l
A Midsummer Nights Dream runs to March 6 at Folger Theatre,
201 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $35 to $75. Call 202-544-7077
or visit folger.edu.
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JANUARY 28, 2016

19

Hair~Raising
Wig Night Out lets bar patrons display their most creative hairdos while raising money for LGBT scholars
by John Riley // Photographs of Wig Night Out 2013 at JR.s by Ward Morrison

Jacobson (R)

HE HIGHER THE HAIR, THE CLOSER TO GOD.


Thats the rule of the annual fundraising event,
Wig Night Out. Each year, D.C.s gay bar-goers don
wigs and hairpieces complete with bows, hats and various
other accoutrement and venture out with friends for a night of
frivolity. Each years, the wigs are more decorative, more ornate,
more flamboyant.
The wigs were hitting the ceilings thats why we had to
take it out of Ditos Bar and couldnt have it downstairs at Cobalt
anymore, says Jack Jacobson, whos been involved with the
event since 2010.
Wig Night Out began in 2009 when ten friends wore wigs
20

JANUARY 28, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

Perruzza

to Ditos Bar at Floriana before hitting up other local establishments. One interested patron asked if the wigs were part of a
fundraiser, which sparked the idea. Now in its seventh year, Wig
Night Out raises money for Point Foundation, which provides
financial scholarships and support for LGBT students. This
years fundraiser will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30 at JR.s, starting at 9 p.m.
Over the past six years, the event has raised more than
$37,000, and has sparked spin-offs in Chicago and New York.
Its the easiest fundraiser Ive ever thrown, says Jacobson,
who serves as the chair of Point Foundations trustees for the
D.C. area. Its literally as easy or as fantastic as you want to

make it. Some folks grab whatever they can find


in the back of their closets, some will buy special
wigs that are made by wigmasters. About four
years ago, I had an extra large 50s-style bouffant.
That was my favorite. I nicknamed it my Doris
wig. And halfway through the event I traded my
mom for her wig. She had a beehive.
For Jacobson, the event evolved into a family outing, something he never could have envisioned growing up in a conservative South
Dakota household.
When I was in college, my mother found
out I was gay and threatened to withdraw the
financial and emotional support I needed to get

During the buffet lunch that followed, I was standing next to him and said,
See? It wasnt that bad. You did really well. And he said, No, it wasnt that bad
at all. What was tough for me was to be in a room where, for the first time in my
life, everyone wanted me to succeed.
Valencia is grateful to events like Wig Night Out, as the money raised is essential to supporting Point Foundations mission of cultivating future LGBT leaders.
We are investing in young people who are going to be our doctors, our educators, our politicians, in every aspect of our lives, he says. If you have people
committed to diversity, then you start to change and move the needle when it
comes to inclusiveness.
Dave Perruzza, general manager of JR.s, says the lighthearted atmosphere
of Wig Night Out is what makes it so enjoyable. Its more effective than other
charity fundraisers because participants are getting something in exchange for
their donations: a fun, memorable time.
I cant wait for it, he says. I love this event.
Wig Night Out allows Perruzza to indulge his creative side as he cobbles
together a different look each year. One year, he and several others took advantage of a sale on styrofoam wigs at Target. Last year, he and his friends decided to

Dito (L)

through college, he says. Now, almost 20 years later, both she


and my dad support Point Foundation, and two years ago, the
three of us wore wigs and worked the door together.
Jorge Valencia, Point Foundations executive director, say it
recently received 2,200 applications from LGBT scholars, vying
for up to twenty-five slots. On average, each Point Foundation
scholar receives about $25,000 per year.
Every time I have an opportunity to sit with the scholars,
Im still shocked to hear the amount of obstacles and challenges that young people have because of who they are, Valencia
says, recalling the story of one young finalist who appeared
very nervous and struggled to make eye contact during his
final interview.

go in male wigs as opposed to female wigs, with Perruzza wearing


a wig made of real hair something hell likely repeat this year.
I kind of like the boy wigs, he laughs. They give me hair
that I dont have anymore. Its a good way to make my receding
hairline disappear. l
The 7th annual Wig Night Out is Saturday, Jan. 30, from 9 to 11
p.m. at JR.s, 1519 17th St. NW. Suggested donation is $10, with
all proceeds going to the Point Foundation. Visit facebook.com/
wignightout.
For more information on the Point Foundation, visit
pointfoundation.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM

JANUARY 28, 2016

21

JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 4, 2016

Compiled by Doug Rule

SPOTLIGHT

BEACON BAR & GRILL

ALVIN AILEY
AMERICAN DANCE THEATER

Expanded Eating
Several restaurants go beyond the basics with
Winter Restaurant Week promotions

n case it slipped your notice, D.C.s Winter Restaurant Week officially started this past
Monday. If, like everyone else, youve been too preoccupied trying to survive Storm
Jonas, weve compiled some of the best deals available from area restaurants.
An added bonus, due to the delayed start to the week, the Restaurant Association of
Metropolitan Washington has officially extended the promotion to run until Wednesday, Feb.
3. So youve still got time and more than 250 restaurants to choose from, offering at minimum three course meals for $22 over lunch or $35 over dinner.
In addition, this years program also introduces a partnership with the UBEREATS app,
through which a handful of restaurants among them DBGB, ROSA MEXICANO and RIGGSBY
are offering an exclusive entree, priced between $12 and $15, to be delivered select weekdays
over lunch.
A few establishments deserve special recognition this year. Foremost among these is the
BEACON BAR & GRILL (pictured) near Scott Circle, which is working to ensure a festive environment by throwing in a glass of wine with lunch or unlimited champagne by the glass with
dinner. And they will also have half-priced bottles of wine, too.
SUSHI TARO on 17th Street offers a $35 four-course dinner menu that on its own is enough
cold soba and sashimi to start, angus beef sukiyaki or grilled black cod as a warm second, and
three sushi options for a main course, plus mochi ice cream. But for a few dollars more you can
add grilled yellowtail or an additional sushi roll and $52 total also grants you a three-drink
sake/beer pairing.
On Capitol Hill, CAFE BERLINs lunch menu provides a choice between potato pancakes or
Bavarian potato soup as a starter, braised brisket, a fish burger, or Kalbsleber (pan fried
calves liver) for an entree and a house made cake or tart for dessert.
Finally, in addition to plenty of pasta and antipasti options at lunch and a hearty fourcourse dinner, Mike Isabellas GRAFFIATO across from the Verizon Center is the rare restaurant
to offer a Restaurant Week Brunch menu, with three courses at $22. Pick from various egg
and pasta dishes, a few salad and veggie antipasti, and sweets, including Nutella Waffle and
French Toast. Doug Rule
Winter Restaurant Week runs through Wednesday, Feb. 3. For a full list and to book reservations and chances to win getaway and restaurant prizes visit RWDMV.com.

The vaunted American dance company returns to the Kennedy Center


for its annual week of performances.
This years program includes three
new works: Awakening, by the companys artistic director Robert Battle
and set to a symphonic score by John
Mackey, Exodus by hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris and set to
house dance music, and Open Door
by Ronald K. Brown fusing African
and modern dance and set to recordings by Arturo OFarrill & the Afro
Latin Jazz Orchestra. Also on the bill
are new productions of works by the
companys former artistic director
Judith Jamison as well as a couple
from its late namesake. All five mixedrepertory programs conclude with
Revelations, the masterpiece by Ailey,
who died of AIDS-related complications in 1989. Performances begin
Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. Runs to
Feb. 7. Kennedy Center Opera House.
Tickets are $49 to $199. Call 202-4674600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

DANCE PLACES 35TH


ANNIVERSARY SHOW: REUNION

Dance Place celebrates 35 years of


serving a leading showcase of
modern dance by welcoming back
prominent artists long associated with
the venue for an evening concert of
live performance and choreography
videos. Cathy Paine, Jan Van Dyke,
Deborah Riley, Carla Perlo, Lesa
McLaughlin, Jefferson James, Eric
Hampton and Helen Hayes are featured, followed by a Q&A with the
choreographers and a reception.
Saturday, Jan. 30, at 8 p.m. Dance
Place, 3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are $30
in advance, or $35 at the door. Call
202-269-1600 or visit danceplace.org.

EQUUS

Peter Shaffers Tony-winning tale


about a troubled teenagers dangerous obsession with horses is the latest
show to get the Constellation Theatre
Company treatment. Amber McGinnis
Jackson directs the production with
a cast including Michael Kramer,
Kathleen Akerley, Michael Tolaydo,
Laureen E. Smith and Ryan Tumulty.
To Feb. 14. Source Theatre, 1835 14th
St. NW. Tickets are $35 to $45. Call
202-204-7741 or visit constellationtheatre.org.

ESCORT

Escort isnt your typical band. A full22

JANUARY 28, 2016

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JANUARY 28, 2016

23

fledged disco orchestra, it features


a roster of 17 musicians and singers performing original, funky, oldschool-style dance music, co-written
and produced by Eugene Cho and Dan
Balis. The two met last decade while
DJing in New York. A lot of the house
records were sampling old disco
records, Cho told Metro Weekly a few
years ago. We started to think, Why
dont we make our own records that
are in that spirit? A couple of years
into the project, Parisian-born Adeline
Michele signed on to be the bands
lead singer, carrying out, as Cho puts
it, the strong disco tradition of the
diva. Adeline is definitely up there as
an amazing diva. And its true: Both
live and on record but especially
on the bands strong new sophomore
set Animal Nature Michele has the
voice and the charisma to play the
role. D.C.s own pop act Coup Sauvage
& The Snips opens. Saturday, Jan. 30.
Doors at 9 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th
St. NW. Tickets are $15. Call 202-6674490 or visit blackcatdc.com.

GMCWS ROCK CREEK SINGERS,


POTOMAC FEVER

The Barns at Wolf Trap presents a


special concert showcasing the Gay
Mens Chorus of Washingtons two
select vocal ensembles, the 14-voice
close-harmony a cappella group
Potomac Fever and the 34-singer
eclectic chamber ensemble Rock
Creek Singers. Saturday, Jan. 30, at
7:30 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap,
1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are
$45. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit
wolftrap.org.

KRISTIN CHENOWETH

A Broadway powerhouse, the fourfoot-eleven Chenoweth made her


Great White Way debut nearly two
decades ago in Kander and Ebbs
Steel Pier. From Youre a Good Man,
Charlie Brown to Wicked to On the
Twentieth Century, Chenoweths star
shines brightest when shes on stage.
But shes a nimble performer whose
career has successfully traversed
every medium, including TV and film.
Her favorite, however, is performing
concerts, such as the Coming Home
Tour which stops at Strathmore
next weekend. I like concert work,
because I love the aspect of a live
audience and I get to sing songs that
maybe I wouldnt normally get to
do, Chenoweth told Metro Weekly
last year. Friday, Jan. 29, at 8 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Tickets are $58 to $155. Call 301-5815100 or visit strathmore.org.

MEL BROOKS

Back in the Saddle Again is the title


of a Kennedy Center program that
includes a screening of Blazing Saddles
and behind-the-scenes stories from
the career and life of this comedian
and 2009 Kennedy Center Honoree,
who will engage in an audience-led
Q&A. Saturday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets

24

JANUARY 28, 2016

are $75 to $150. Call 202-467-4600 or


visit kennedy-center.org.

MONSTERS OF THE
VILLA DIODATI

Virginias emerging theater company Creative Cauldron presents


the world premiere of yet another
musical by writer Stephen Gregory
Smith and composer Matt Conner,
the local theater actor husbands who
collaborated on the lyrics. Monsters
of the Villa Diodati delves into a
Lake Geneva writers retreat from
two centuries ago, hosted by Lord
Byron (Sam Ludwig), which inspired
Mary Shelley (Caitlin Shea) and John
Polidori (David Landstrom) to write
the Gothic classics Frankenstein and
The Vampyre, respectively. This is
the second installment in Creative
Cauldrons five-year commissioning
project Bold New Works for Intimate
Stages, after last years The Turn of
the Screw, also written by Smith and
Conner. Opens in previews Thursday,
Jan. 28, at 8 p.m. Premiere Gala is
Saturday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m. To Feb.
21. ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 South
Maple Ave. Falls Church. Tickets are
$26. Call 703-436-9948 or visit creativecauldron.org.

WEST SIDE STORY

HHHHH
Leave it to Signature Theatre to
stage a production that reinvigorates this classic musical, giving it
more relevance and resonance than
ever before. The all-star collaboration between Leonard Bernstein,
Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents
and Jerome Robbins is widely considered one of the greatest musicals ever
made. Unlike other Signature reinventions of classics, director Matthew
Gardiner didnt pare down the calledfor 30-member cast, which is further
bolstered by a standard 17-member
orchestra, led by Jon Kalbfleisch. The
result is the largest show Signature
has ever produced. Its also one of
the most stimulating shows youve
yet seen in Shirlington, aided by
Gardiners choice to present it on a
thrust stage, with the audience on
three sides in the Max Theatre. The
production engages you in a way that
standard proscenium productions of
West Side Story cant. If this doesnt
become your favorite production of
West Side Story, I would love to know
where you saw it staged better. Closes
Sunday, Jan. 31. Signature Theatre,
4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington.
Tickets are $40 to $95. Call 703-8209771 or visit signature-theatre.org.
(Doug Rule)

FILM
CAROL

HHHHH
Carol, the sixth feature from Todd
Haynes, has the feel of a career pinnacle, as though every other film in
his canon was building to this masterpiece. Based on the novel The Price of

METROWEEKLY.COM

Salt by Patricia Highsmith, the movie


is the lesbian equivalent of Ang Lees
Brokeback Mountain. But Carol is
arguably more emotionally satisfying
than Lees film, in part because of
the way Highsmith, herself a closeted lesbian, crafted the story of a
young shopgirl (Rooney Mara) who
falls in love with an older woman
(Cate Blanchett) and embarks on a
journey of self-discovery. Despite the
lack of a suspense-driven narrative, it
effortlessly evokes the spirit of Alfred
Hitchcock; Carol could be a distant
cousin to Vertigo. And, unlike so many
films these days, Carol takes its time,
with Haynes resolutely refusing to
hurry things along. Some in the audience might find the approach dull.
Its not. Its captivating, absorbing,
all-encompassing. Its the way movies used to be made, an instant-born
classic, with Blanchett and Mara giving the kinds of performances that
Oscars are made for. Now playing.
Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
(Randy Shulman)

FIFTY SHADES OF BLACK

A parody of Fifty Shades of Grey,


this comedy is directed by Michael
Tiddes and written by Rick Alvarez
and Marlon Wayans, who also stars,
with a supporting cast including Mike
Epps, Fred Willard and Jane Seymour
yes, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Opens Friday, Jan. 29. Area theaters.
Visit fandango.com.

JERUSALEM 3D

Benedict Cumberbatch narrates a film


offering the first-ever large format
aerial footage of the Old City and
throughout the Holy Land including
sites ranging from the Western Wall
to the Dome of the Rock to the Sea of
Galilee. This 3D film also offers eyeopening personal stories and remarkable historical perspective. Showtimes
Saturdays and Sundays to March 31.
National Geographic Museum, 1145
17th St. NW. Tickets are $7. Call 202857-7588 or visit ngmuseum.org.

KUNG FU PANDA 3

Did this franchise really need a third


film? The story of Jack Blacks tubby,
martial arts-wielding panda has been
well-trodden by this point. Whats
that? The second film made $650 million? Ah, okay. So this time around, we
get a tale in which Pos long-lost father
(Breaking Bads Bryan Cranston) suddenly reappears, as the bears travel
to a secret panda paradise. Opens
Friday, Jan. 29. Area theaters. Visit
fandango.com.

OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT


FILMS 2015: ANIMATED,
LIVE ACTION

Once again Landmark Theatres, in


partnership with ShortsHD, offers
two feature-length programs of the
short films nominated at the upcoming Academy Awards: a program
with the animated shorts, featuring
films from Chile, Russia, the U.K. and
two from the U.S., including Pixar
Animations Sanjays Super Team; and

a program of live action shorts, including films from Germany, Ireland and
the U.S., plus two set in the West
Bank and Kosovo. Starts Friday, Jan.
29. Landmarks E Street Cinema, 555
11th St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or visit
landmarktheatres.com.

STAR WARS:
THE FORCE AWAKENS

HHHHH
The seventh film in a series that has
spanned four decades and spawned
a near limitless number of spin-offs,
merchandise and uber fans, The Force
Awakens isnt original theres too
much history for that to be possible.
But it works on several levels. And
for the most part, the screenplay by
Lawrence Kasdan, Michael Arndt
and J.J. Abrams, who directs, hits the
right notes, with the grand, operatic
overtones the series has long been
known for. For its various foibles and
the awkward transition between old
characters and new, theres something undoubtedly exciting about
this new trilogy of films. This is Star
Wars returned, reformed, revitalized
for a new generation. Every time you
laugh at a reference, every time you
see a familiar face, every time John
Williams glorious score swells, you
cant help but get sucked in by it all.
Now playing. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. (Rhuaridh Marr)

THE DANISH GIRL

HHHHH
Fashioning the tale of transgender
pioneer Lili Elbe into a mainstreamfriendly love story may seem like
shrewd packaging by a Hollywood
marketing department, but the result
is a film that succeeds above all else
because that central love story is so
well crafted. David Ebershoffs eponymous novel loosely depicted Elbes
life, but Tom Hoopers The Danish
Girl sticks closer to the facts. It follows Einar Wegener, a Danish painter,
who slowly comes to realize that he is
transgender after modeling womens
clothes for his wife Gerda. From there,
Lili is born, with the film following the
couple as they navigate Lilis exploration of her new gender identity and
Gerda deals with her love for Lili and
the loss of her husband. The Danish
Girl is a flattering, beautifully captured,
captivatingly performed retelling of
the marriage between a trans pioneer
and her wife and one sure to do
well this awards season. Now playing. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
(Rhuaridh Marr)

THE FINEST HOURS

The most daring rescue mission in the


history of the Coast Guard is retold
on screen in Craig Gillespies actionthriller starring Chris Pine, Casey
Affleck, Ben Foster and Eric Bana.
Opens Friday, Jan. 29. Area theaters.
Visit fandango.com.

STAGE
A GENTLEMANS GUIDE
TO LOVE & MURDER

HHHHH
On the surface, theres nothing fundamentally wrong with A Gentlemans
Guide to Love & Murder. The book
by Robert L. Freedman is straightforward, while his lyrics, penned with
Lutvak, are cleverly wrought. Director
Dark Tresnjaks staging is brisk,
whimsical, and occasionally borders
on the sublime, as with a scene that
pays homage to door-slamming farce.
And the performances are just about
as perfect as you could hope for. Yet
the evening washes over you like a
tidal wave of meh. The real problem
is Steven Lutvaks score. Its not just
underwhelming, its unmemorable. At
times it comes off like a bastard spawn
of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen
Sondheim, but really its just aping
Gilbert & Sullivan. Lutvak reaches
beyond his grasp and comes up empty
handed. Closes this Saturday, Jan. 30.
Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater.
Tickets are $64 to $229. Call 202467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
(Randy Shulman)

A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM

Right now, Washingtonians can take


in two very different productions
of this hearty Shakespeare comedy.
Folger Theatre offers a more traditional approach, one that is sure to
delight in the hands of Aaron Posner.

Holly Twyford is Bottom and Erin


Weaver is Puck as part of a large cast
that also includes Megan Graves, Eric
Hissom, Caroline Stefanie Clay, Adam
Wesley Brown and Desmond Bing.
To March 6. Folger Theatre, 201 East
Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $35 to $75.
Call 202-544-7077 or visit folger.edu.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM

Naturally, envelope-pushing company


WSC Avant Bard offers the quirkier of
the two concurrently running local productions of this winsome Shakespeare
classic. Indonesian-inspired shadow
puppets designed by Alex Vernon
are the focal point of this production,
directed by Randy Baker of Rorschach
Theatre, and are accompanied by an
actor-generated percussion orchestra. Daven Ralson is Puck and Zach
Brewster-Geisz is Bottom in this wild
reimagining of the famous tale of fairies. To Feb. 7. Gunston Arts Center,
2700 South Lang St. Arlington. Tickets
are $20. Call 703-418-4808 or visit
wscavantbard.org.

AS YOU LIKE IT

In a new staging of the Bards crossdressing, escapist romantic comedy,


Wendy Goldberg decided to present an all-female ensemble. This
400-year-old play is the most gender-bending play in Shakespeares
canon, she tells Metro Weekly. It
is an invitation to explore gender and
identity, and the fluidity of gender.
Her all-female approach to the production by Center Stage is the inverse

of that from Shakespeares day, when


all characters, male and female, were
played by men and boys. Even today,
its far more common to see an allmale production of Shakespeare. To
Feb. 14. Towson Universitys Center
for the Arts, 1 Fine Arts Dr., Towson,
Md. Tickets are $10 to $59. Call 410986-4000 or visit centerstage.org.

BACK TO METHUSELAH

Washington Stage Guild concludes a


multi-year cycle of George Bernard
Shaws visionary classic with part
3, subtitled As Far As Thought
Can Reach. Bill Largess directs the
show, one of the first works of science fiction ever put on stage. Opens
Thursday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m. To
Feb. 21. Undercroft Theatre of Mount
Vernon United Methodist Church,
900 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Tickets
are $40 to $50. Call 240-582-0050 or
visit stageguild.org.

BAD JEWS

Already the best-selling play in its history after last years constantly extended run, Studio Theatre has reprised
Joshua Harmons acerbic dramedy
Bad Jews for another go and once
again, it keeps extending the run due
to popular demand. Serge Seiden once
again directs, this year featuring a
cast including Laura Lapidus, Rowan
Vickers, Noah Averbach-Katz and
Maggie Wilder. Closes Sunday, Jan.
31. Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets
NW. Tickets are $44 to $88. Call 202332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.

BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY

Yet another boisterous and unflinchingly dark comedy from Stephen Adly
Guirgis, whose play The Motherfucker
with the Hat received much critical
praise at Studio Theatre a few years
ago. Between Riverside and Crazy was
the winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for
Drama and is focused on an ex-cop who
is facing eviction, battling City Hall and
struggling over the recent death of his
wife. To Feb. 28. Studio Theatre, 14th
& P Streets NW. Call 202-332-3300 or
visit studiotheatre.org.

CHOCOLATE COVERED ANTS

The Anacostia Playhouse partners


with Marylands Restoration Stage for
the world premiere of Steven A. Butler,
Jr.s intense drama about being black
and male in modern-day America.
Courtney Baker-Oliver directs the production featuring Suli Myrie, David
Lamont Wilson, Clermon Acklin,
Tillmon Figgs, Wilma Lynn Horton,
Kandace Foreman, Christopher Ezell,
Marquis Fair and Charles W. Harris
Jr. To Feb. 7. Anacostia Playhouse,
2020 Shannon Place SE. Tickets are
$35 to $50. Call 202-714-0646 or visit
restorationstageinc.com.

FATHER COMES HOME


FROM THE WARS

Round House Theatre offers a production of this explosively powerful Civil


War-era drama from Suzan-Lori Parks
(Topdog/Underdog), which follows a
slave from Texas to the Confederate
battlefield. Timothy Douglas directs

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JANUARY 28, 2016

25

this Greek tragedy-inspired trilogy with a cast including Ian Anthony


Coleman, KenYatta Rogers, Craig
Wallace, JaBen Early and A. Stori
Ayers. To Feb. 21. Round House
Theatre, 4545 East-West Highway,
Bethesda. Tickets are $50 to $60. Call
240-644-1100 or visit roundhousetheatre.org.

FIRST CITIZEN

Billed as a contemporary response


to Shakespeares Coriolanus, the
female-focused, Shakespeare-stirring
company Taffety Punk presents
a workshop reading of new work
through its Punk Generator project.
Anna Lathrop and Katherine Clair
have put together a show that subverts Shakespeares work, by foregoing the powerful and looking at the
same whirlwind of political events
that shook the foundation of Rome
through the eyes of commonfolk.
Kelsey Mesa directs this new take on
the old story of the powerful military
leader. Saturday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m.
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th
St. SE. Call 202-355-9441 or visit taffetypunk.com.

GEORGIE: THE LIFE AND DEATH


OF GEORGE ROSE

Helen Hayes Award-winning actor


Ed Dixon (Signature Theatres Sunset
Boulevard) wrote and stars in this
tribute to his friend and mentor, a
Tony Award-winning character actor
(My Fair Lady) who was a bon vivant
with a flair for the dramatic and the
eccentric. Eric Schaeffer directs the
Signature Theatre production of this
human tale about art, personal connections and the struggles of life and
death. To Feb. 7. Signature Theatre,
4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington.
Tickets are $25 to $45. Call 703-8209771 or visit signature-theatre.org.

I SHALL NOT HATE

Gassan Abbas, one of Israels leading


Palestinian actors, performs this memoir-based story adapted by the Israeli
director Shay Pitovsky. Performed in
Hebrew and Arabic with English surtitles, this is the second of five productions part of the four-month Voices
from a Changing Middle East Festival,
the provocative series that eventually
became too hot for original presenter
Theater J and has now been revived
by ousted Theater J director Ari Roth
at his new company. To Feb. 14. Atlas
Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St.
NE. Tickets are $20 to $40. Call 202399-7993 or visit mosaictheater.org.

MEDIEVAL STORY LAND

Red Knight Productions, another company nurtured by Capital Fringe, offers


a fast-paced comedy adventure that
parodies the fantasy genre for adults
and children alike. Written by Red
Knights Scott Courlander, Medieval
Story Land is described as a blend of
Lord of the Rings, Forrest Gump and
Monty Python, and features 12 actors
playing over 40 different characters.
Expect furious swordplay, a gripping
plot and sketch comedy irreverence.
26

JANUARY 28, 2016

Following the show is a free performance of Stephen Meads one-manshow Victorian Story Time. To Feb.
3. Port City Playhouse, 1819 North
Quaker Lane. Alexandria. Tickets are
$!8 to $20. Call 703-838-2880 or visit
redknightproductions.com.

PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE

Now that Bright Star has wrapped its


pre-Broadway Kennedy Center run,
Keegan Theatre offers a production of
another work by comedian/composer
Steve Martin which previously ran Off
Broadway. Picasso at the Lapin Agile
is a slightly absurd look at the famous
Spanish painters life and that of
Albert Einsteins too before they
changed the world through their work.
Chris Stezin directs a cast including Matthew Keenan, Bradley Foster
Smith, Allison Leigh Corke, Kevin
Adams, Michael Innocenti, Sherri S.
Herren and Jessica Power. To Feb. 13.
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW.
Tickets are $40. Call 703-892-0202 or
visit keegantheatre.com.

SANCTUARY (AMERICAN PSALM)

OBIE winner Caridad Svich has written an epic poem for the stage exploring how we live and find spaces of
sanctuary in our lives, no matter our
station. John Moletress of force/
collision ensemble directs Jocelyn
Kuritsky and himself in the piece,
featuring songs by Svich and Broken
Chord. Performances are Thursday,
Jan. 28, through Saturday, Jan. 30, at
8 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m.
Kogod Cradle in the Mead Center for
American Theater, 1101 6th St. SW.
Tickets are $51 to $66. Call 202-4883300 or visit arenastage.org.

SHAKE LOOSE

A full-length revue celebrating 15


years of Metro Stages homegrown
musical writing team, Thomas
W. Jones II, William Knowles and
William Hubbard, whose output celebrates the music born from gospel
as created or popularized by AfricanAmerican icons. Lori Williams,
Anthony Manough, Roz White and
Rayshun Lamarr perform in this
musical night of blues, moods and
icons. To March 6. MetroStage, 1201
North Royal St., Alexandria. Tickets
are $55 to $60. Call 800-494-8497 or
visit metrostage.org.

STONE TAPE PARTY

D.C.-based, female-driven theater


company Nu Sass Productions offers
Danny Rovins play, which won Best
Comedy and Best Show Overall at
Capital Fringe 2014. Angela Kay
Pirko directs an all-female cast in
a quick-witted tribute to the postcollege struggles from hedonism
to misanthropy of the Millennial
Generation. Briana Manente leads a
cast also including Ariana Almajan,
Jill Tighe and Casey Leffue. To Feb.
7. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333
H St. NE. Tickets are $20 to $30. Call
202-399-7993 or visit nusass.com.

METROWEEKLY.COM

THE CRITIC/THE REAL


INSPECTOR HOUND

Michael Kahn directs this double bill


of one-act comedies about behind-thescenes life in the theater. An ensemble
cast takes on multiple characters
bringing to life Jeffrey Hatchers fresh
take on Richard Brinsley Sheridans
18th-century romp The Critic and
Tom Stoppards absurdist tour-defarce The Real Inspector Hound. To
Feb. 14. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th
St. NW. Call 202-547-1122 or visit
shakespearetheatre.org.

THE GLASS MENAGERIE

The Southern-fried family drama that


made Tennessee Williams famous
gets examined anew in a production
directed by Mark Ramont, the former programming director at Fords
Theatre. Surprisingly, the show marks
the first Williams play presented at
Fords. Madeleine Potter, Tom Story,
Jenna Sokolowski and Thomas
Keegan star in this iconic memory
play. To Feb. 21. Fords Theatre, 511
10th St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $52.
Call 800-982-2787 or visit fordstheatre.org.

THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG

Twenty-two years after its Broadway


debut and 10 years after its awardwinning playwrights untimely
death, Theater J presents The Sisters
Rosensweig by Wendy Wasserstein.
Kasi Campbell directs this heartfelt
comedy about three very different siblings, reunited for one remarkable,
revealing weekend, and portrayed
by the sharp team of Susan Lynskey,
Susan Rome and Kimberly Schraf.
Josh Adams, Edward Christian,
Michael Russotto, James Whalen and
Caroline Wolfson round out the cast.
To Feb. 21. The Aaron and Cecile
Goldman Theater, Washington, D.C.s
Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th
St. NW. Call 202-777-3210 or visit
theaterj.org.

COMMUNITY STAGE
OUR TOWN

Baltimores Vagabond Theatre, a community theater, offers a production


of Thornton Wilders Pulitzer Prizewinning drama about small-town family life that features three pairs of
real-life family members, including
the casting of son and father Will
and Chip Meister, and daughter and
father Ryan and Brian Gunning. And
then theres the two people running
the show: Eric C. Stein as director and
his wife Angela Stein as stage manager. Weekends to Feb. 7. Vagabond
Theatre, 806 S. Broadway, Baltimore.
Tickets are $12. Call 410-563-9135 or
visit vagabondplayers.org.

MUSIC
ANDREW WATTS WITH
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA

One of the most celebrated living pianists and a graduate of Baltimores


Peabody Institute, Andrew Watts
returns as a guest soloist with the
BSO to perform Mozarts witty
and poignant Piano Concerto No. 9
Jeunehomme. Mario Venzago conducts the BSO in a program that also
includes Schumanns sunlit Symphony
No. 4 and selections from Glucks
Armide. Thursday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Also Friday, Feb. 5, and Saturday,
Feb. 6, at 8 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff
Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St.,
Baltimore. Tickets are $10 to $99. Call
410-783-8000 or visit bsomusic.org.

ANGELA WINBUSH

R&B singer Angela Winbush started


her career as a backup singer for Stevie
Wonder before forming the duo Ren
and ngela. She produces all of her
own material as well as for others,
including the Isley Brothers, Janet
Jackson and Stephanie Mills. Friday,
Jan. 29, through Sunday, Jan. 31, at
8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Blues Alley, 1073
Wisconsin Ave. NW. Tickets are $45 to
$50, plus $12 minimum purchase. Call
202-337-4141 or visit bluesalley.com.

ARLO GUTHRIE:
ALICES RESTAURANT 50TH
ANNIVERSARY TOUR

Alices Restaurant is a much-loved but


rarely performed live epic, but the son
of folks founding father is currently
on a tour doing the honors with backing musicians Abe Guthrie, Terry A
La Berry, Bobby Sweet and Darren
Todd. Guthrie will also perform other
songs in his repertoire, and his youngest daughter Sarah Lee will open the
celebration. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 8
p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Tickets are $38 to $68. Call 301-5815100 or visit strathmore.org.

BRIAN WILSONS PET SOUNDS


50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

The 50th anniversary album-touting


tour concept sure is hot right now,
and another boomer legend will join
in on the festivities later in the year.
Beach Boy Brian Wilson will be joined
by former bandmates Al Jardine and
Blondie Chaplin to sing through his
iconic album Pet Sounds as well as
other hits and fan favorites from his
repertoire. Tickets on sale Friday, Jan.
29, for concert Tuesday, Sept. 20. Music
Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman
Lane, North Bethesda. Call 301-5815100 or visit brianwilson.com.

BROOKLYN RIDER,
GABRIEL KAHANE

Washington Performing Arts presents


the annual concert at Sixth and I by
this classical string quartet, whose

music works to expand the boundaries


of the genre by incorporating elements
from world music and folk. Joining
Yo-Yo Mas Silk Road Ensemble really
opened up our ears and eyes to the
world, violinist and lead composer
Colin Jacobsen explained to Metro
Weekly last year. This year Brooklyn
Rider performs with another boundary-pushing artist, fellow Brooklynite
and classical/indie folk composer and
performer Gabriel Kahane. Saturday,
Feb. 6, at 8 p.m. Sixth & I Historic
Synagogue. 600 I St. NW. Tickets are
$35. Call 202-408-3100 or visit washingtonperformingarts.org.

GREENSKY BLUEGRASS,
HORSESHOES & HAND
GRENADES

CHRISTYLEZ BACON,
JEAN-FRANCIS VARRE

LEVINE PRESENTS:
CELEBRATING 40!

After a year of cross-cultural, collaborative international concerts from


India to Ireland, Grammy-nominated
progressive hip-hop artist Christylez
Bacon and songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jean-Francis Varre team up
for another exploration of the sounds
of their native D.C., from hip-hop
to go-go to the music of Senegalese
immigrants. Bacons nine-piece hiphop orchestra and Varres Senegalese
ensemble will perform. Saturday, Jan.
30, at 8 p.m., preceded by African
dance presentation at 7 p.m. Atlas
Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St.
NE. Tickets are $25. Call 202-3997993 or visit atlasarts.org.

A five-piece bluegrass/rock band


from Kalamazoo, Mich., Greensky
Bluegrass tours in support of 2014s If
Sorrows Swim. Also on the bill at this
show presented by All Good is another
five-piece bluegrass-based band from
the Midwest, this one a newer ensemble with a more memorable name:
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, from
Stevens Point, Wisc. Thursday, Feb.
4. Doors at 7 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815 V St.
NW. Tickets are $23. Call 202-2650930 or visit 930.com.

Now in its 40th year, the Levine


School of Music celebrates by presenting a concert of two monumental
piano trios, Beethovens Archduke
Trio and Schumanns Piano Trio No.
3 in G Minor both written when
the composers were forty. This
Levine Presents concert features
violinist Fedor Ouspensky, cellist
Igor Zubkovsky and pianist Anna
Ouspenskaya and is presented in partnership with Stone Room Concerts.
Saturday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. Falls
Church Episcopal, 115 E. Fairfax St.
Falls Church. Tickets are $15 online or
$20 at the door. Call 703-241-0003 or
visit levinemusic.org.

OPERA LAFAYETTE

LUPE FIASCO

A socially conscious hip-hop artist


somewhat in the mold of his fellow
Chicago native Common, Lupe Fiasco
first rose to fame a decade ago championed by another Chicago rapper.
But Fiascos style is more cerebral and
studious, as well as jazzier and a bit
trippier than Kanye Wests, though
Fiasco also isnt above stoking political controversy. He tours with the
Boy Illinois, Billy Blue and ZVerse in
support of new album Tetsuo & Youth
but heres hoping hell indulge the
crowd with some of his recent pop/rap
collaborations with Ed Sheeran (Old
School Love) and Jennifer Hudson
(Remission, with Common), to say
nothing of the older Grammy-winning
work with Jill Scott (Daydreamin).
Sunday, Feb. 7. Doors at 7 p.m. 9:30
Club, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $40.
Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

MUSE, X AMBASSADORS

The three-piece English electronic/


rock band Muse put on a good live
show and strive to stand out from the
crowd whens the last time you saw
a concert in-the-round at the Verizon
Center? And they couldnt have picked
a better opening act than the upstate
New York quartet X Ambassadors
with its emotional, bluesy, syncopated chants (Renegades, Hang On,
Nervous) that should get everyone in
the right mood. Monday, Feb. 1, at 6:30
p.m. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW.
Tickets are $57.50 to $77.50. Call 202628-3200 or visit verizoncenter.com.

Bernard Deletre directs a production


by this local French-focused opera
company of Emmanuel Chabriers Une
Education Manquee (An Incomplete
Education), a charming 19th-century
opera-comique about adolescent
love. Opera Lafayettes artistic director Ryan Brown conducts the show,
which incorporates additional songs
by Chabrier and Offenbach. Tuesday,
Feb. 2, and Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 7
p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.
Tickets are $50 to $110. Call 202-4674600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

RICHARD THOMPSON

Just a few months ago the man who virtually invented the concept of British
folk rock as founder of the group
Fairport Convention charmed fans
with a performance at Constitution
Hall also featuring Irish singer-songwriter and Tony-winning composer
Glen Hansard (Once). Now, one of
Rolling Stones Top 20 Guitarists of
All Time returns with even more fan
appeal. At Wolf Trap next week, hell
perform an All Request Show three
of them, to be exact based on audience picks of songs from his numerous
albums, including new solo set Still.
Tuesday, Feb. 2, and Wednesday, Feb.
3, and Thursday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m. The
Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road,
Vienna. Tickets are $60 to $75. Call
877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.

SHENZHEN POP MUSIC SHOW

As part of events ringing in the Chinese

METROWEEKLY.COM

JANUARY 28, 2016

27

New Year, the Kennedy Center presents a free concert featuring some of
Chinas youngest pop stars, including
the band Jam You, singers Tsinger,
Majia Jiado and Ray M, and rapper
Too Phat. Friday, Feb. 5, at 6 p.m.
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.
Tickets are free. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.

SOLAS

The Washington Post has called this


quintet, which got its start playing in
Irish bars in New York, one of the
worlds finest Celtic-folk ensembles,
with music ranging from innovative original songs to Irish classics.
Having first performed as a group at
Georgetown University, Solas marks
its 20th anniversary this year with
a tour featuring founding members
Seamus Egan and Winifred Horan.
Friday, Feb. 5, and Saturday, Feb. 6, at
8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635
Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $25
to $28. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit
wolftrap.org.

DANCE
AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE

Alexei Ratmanskys monumental new


staging of The Sleeping Beauty gets its
D.C. premiere during American Ballet
Theatres annual engagement at the
Kennedy Center. Featuring the original choreography by Marius Petipa
with additions by Ratmansky, all set
to Tchaikovskys famous score, a New
York Times critic called this new staging, with sets and costumes by Tony
Award winner Richard Hudson, a
triumph and the finest reconstruction Ive ever seen of a dance work.
The Kennedy Center Opera House
Orchestra accompanies a cast of
more than 250 performers telling the
beloved fairy tale of princess Aurora,
awakened from a sleeping curse by
a princes kiss. Remaining performances Thursday, Jan. 28, through
Friday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., Saturday,
Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and
Sunday, Jan. 31, at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 31. Kennedy Center Opera House.
Tickets are $49 to $299. Call 202-4674600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

JOE GOODE
PERFORMANCE GROUP

The Resilience Project aims to explore


how humans deal with trauma, using
storytelling and performance as a way
of finding universality and strength in
the face of adversity. The company
interviews returning veterans from
Iraq/Afghanistan about their recovery or ongoing process of adjustment,
with the resulting staged work consisting almost verbatim of their stories and accounts. Friday, Feb. 5, and
Saturday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m. American
Dance Institute, 1501 East Jefferson
St. Rockville. Tickets are $30. Call 301984-3003 or visit americandance.org.

28

JANUARY 28, 2016

COMEDY
CAMERON ESPOSITO

Having been called the future of


comedy by Jay Leno, the 34-yearold queer comic, known from stints
on Chelsea Lately, Drunk History and
the Ask A Lesbian video series on
BuzzFeed, debuts at the Kennedy
Center in a free performance as part of
the venues comedy series. The show
features an opening set from Rhea
Butcher who is also Espositos fiance. Friday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. Kennedy
Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are
free, distributed in the States Gallery
starting at approximately 5:30 p.m.
the day-of. Call 202-467-4600 or visit
kennedy-center.org.

WASHINGTON IMPROV THEATER:


ROAD SHOW!

D.C.s leading company for longform


improv such as that popularized
by the Upright Citizens Brigade and
Second City offers a Wintry Mix,
a series of vignettes featuring different
ensembles, with each plot developed
on-the-fly, spurred by a single audience suggestion. To Feb. 13. District of
Columbia Arts Center (DCAC), 2438
18th St. NW. Tickets are $12 in advance,
or $15 at the door. Call 202-462-7833 or
visit washingtonimprov.org.

READING
AWKWARD [GAY] SEX...AND
THE CITY

Comedians from New York relive


their most awkward sex/dating/relationship moments on stage at this
raunchy storytelling event, which
returns to D.C. at the Black Cat.
Previously an all-female show, gay
comedian and Towleroad columnist
Bobby Hankinson has been added to
the roster and will share his awkward
tales of growing up gay in the suburbs
in the pre-Glee, Grindr and It Gets
Better days you know, the turn of
the millennium. Friday, Jan. 29. Doors
at 9 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW.
Tickets are $12 in advance, or $15 dayof-show. Call 202-667-4490 or visit
blackcatdc.com.

GALLERIES
A COLLECTORS VISION:
WASHINGTONIANA COLLECTION

In addition to incorporating the


Textile Museum, the recently opened
George Washington University
Museum also houses the Albert H.
Small Washingtoniana Collection.
The exhibition A Collectors Vision
serves as a perfect introduction to
the collection, featuring maps and
prints, rare letters, photographs and
drawings documenting the history
of Washington, D.C. and donated by
Small in 2011. Ongoing. The George
Washington University Museum, 701
21st St. NW. Call 202-994-5200 or
visit museum.gwu.edu.

METROWEEKLY.COM

COLBY CALDWELL: HOW TO


SURVIVE YOUR OWN DEATH

Logan Circles Hemphill Fine


Arts presents an exhibition by this
Asheville, N.C.-based Corcoran
Gallery of Art alum, based on a series
of accidentally corrupted images
that have taken on a new life of their
own as a result. Through March 5.
Hemphill Fine Arts, 1515 14th St. NW.
Call 202-234-5601 or visit hemphillfinearts.com.

EYE POP: THE CELEBRITY GAZE

Many never publicly displayed portraits of 53 luminaries at the top in


their fields is the focus of this exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, Katy Perry,
Sonia Sotomayor, Michelle Obama,
Serena Williams and Kobe Bryant are
among the works, ranging from drawings to sculpture, paintings to video
portraits, and all recent additions to
the museums collection. Through
July 10. National Portrait Gallery, 8th
and F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300
or visit npg.si.edu.

PATHMAKERS: WOMEN IN ART,


CRAFT AND DESIGN

The National Museum of Women in


the Arts presents an exhibition illuminating the vital contributions that
women made to post-war, mid-20th
century visual culture and their use of
craft materials to explore concepts of
modernism. Although painting, sculpture and architecture were dominated
by men a half-century ago, women
had considerable impact in the fields
of textiles, ceramics and metals. Ruth
Asawa, Sheila Hicks and Eva Zeisel
are just a few of the women from
the era celebrated in this exhibition,
organized by New Yorks Museum of
Arts and Design, which also shines
the light on some pathmaking contemporary female artists and designers,
including Anne Wilson, Vivian Beer
and Hella Jongerius. Through Feb.
28. National Museum of Women in
the Arts, 1250 New York Ave NW.
Admission is $10. Call 202-783-5000
or visit nmwa.org.

PEARLS ON A STRING

Subtitled Artists, Patrons and Poets at


the Great Islamic Courts, Baltimores
Walters Art Museum presents its first
major exhibition of Islamic art, with
a focus on the cultures of historic
India, Iran and Turkey. The result is
a sweeping selection of works including manuscripts, paintings, sculpture,
textiles, decorated ceramics and
metalwork. Through Jan. 31. Walters
Art Museum, 600 North Charles St.
Baltimore. Call 410-547-9000 or visit
thewalters.org.

ABOVE AND BEYOND


AVENUE BURLY Q

Being wrong never felt so right, goes


the tagline to this ragtag group of
quirky performers assembled by new
theater/burlesque/circus production
company the Round World. Expect

sexualized puppets, a ventriloquist/


dummy act and drag/burlesque acts
including Bella La Blanc, Charlie
Artful, sideshow act Jim Dandy, Lola
Rose and Lucrezia Blozia. Defenders
of Playtime/Homeless Childrens
Playtime Project, serving children living in temporary housing programs,
will earn 10 percent of the proceeds.
Sunday, Jan. 31, at 8 p.m. Bier Baron
Tavern, 1523 22nd St. NW. Tickets are
$12 in advance, or $15 at the door. Call
202-293-1887 or visit inlovewithbier.
com.

F*CK BRUNCH! DRAG LUNCH

You can find drag queens serving and


sashaying at brunches around town,
but theres only one place to find drag
kings on a Sunday afternoon and
they dont do brunch. (Or they dont
call it brunch, anyway.) Drag king
entity Pretty Boi Drag, led by Chris
Jay and former DC King Pretty Rik
E, presents a lunch show at Dupont
Circles Bier Baron Tavern, which
includes exclusive beermosas and
items from the venues new menu, plus
tunes from DJ Deedub and of course
an interactive show with performances
by kings including Namii and Jasfer.
Sunday, Jan. 31, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Bier Baron Tavern, 1523 22nd St. NW.
Tickets are $15 for the show, or $25 for
the lunch and show. Call 202-293-1887
or visit prettyboidrag.com.

LA-TI-DO

Regie Cabico and Don Mike Mendozas


La-Ti-Do variety show is neither karaoke nor cabaret. The show features
higher-quality singing than most karaoke, often from local musical theater
actors performing on their night off.
Cabico and co-host Mendoza also
select storytellers who offer spokenword poetry and comedy. Held at
Bistro Bistro in Dupont Circle, La-TiDo celebrates the showtunes of Disney
on Monday, Feb. 1, at 8 p.m. Bistro
Bistro, 1727 Connecticut Ave. NW.
Tickets are $15, or only $10 if you eat
dinner at the restaurant beforehand.
Call 202-328-1640 or visit latidodc.
wix.com/latidodc.

WASHINGTON BALLET, INSERIES:


BIZETS CARMEN IN HAVANA

The Washington Ballet and the


InSeries team up to infuse Bizets operatic classic with dance the rhythms
of Cuba. Septime Webre and David
Palmer lead dancers from the ballets
studio company in sensual choreography set to Bizets iconic score,
peppered with the music of Buena
Vista Social Club, rendered live by
Carlos C. Rodriguez on piano and Ivan
Navas and Gary Sosias on percussion.
Anamer Castrello is Carmen, with a
supporting cast of singers including
Peter Burroughs, Alex Alburqueue,
Randa Rouweyha, Erin Passmore and
Elliot Matheny. Friday, Feb. 5, and
Saturday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m., and Sunday,
Feb. 7, at 4 p.m. Lang Theatre at the
Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H
St. NE. Tickets are $46. Call 202-2047763 or visit inseries.org. l

stage

Economy of Lives
Sweat bears witness to the
new-normals of our faceless
global economy
by KATE WINGFIELD

C. STANLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

NE OF THE MOST INTRIGUING ASPECTS OF


contemporary theater is how closely many plays
and their productions hue to the tenor of real life,
whether it be through dialogue, situations, pacing
or set design. In doing so, they are finding relatable, intimate
ways to uncover meaning in the places the 21st century has
landed us societally, psychologically, existentially. But like
an algebraic equation, each production must find its balance
between this quest for realism and deeper goals. If there are no
insights into the warp and weft of human experience, then it is
little more than artful mimicry.
Lynn Nottages Sweat (HHHHH) embraces this balancing
act and largely gets it right. Set in a small community in which a
group of machine workers find themselves caught between their
union and their employer, Nottage bears witness to the new-nor-

mals of our faceless global economy. Policies may be set at distant, Olympian heights but they touch every aspect of daily life,
from what we pay for milk to whether we can get a mortgage or
keep a job. It is a new order, one that doesnt account for ruinous
payday loans, fatal gaps in resumes, or human frailties. It is not
just God that is dead, Nottage tells us, it is self-determination,
not just for nation-states but for people.
These are far-reaching themes, but Nottage brings them
seamlessly into the lives of her compelling characters via evenings in the local tavern (given fine detail by John Lee Beattys
sets), references in the TV news playing over the bar, and projections signaling the passage of time. With her superb ear, Nottage
strikes a gratifying balance between realistic dialogue and the
arrival of deeper contemplations through finely-constructed
monologues. With director Kate Whoriskeys equally sensitive hand, it almost never sounds contrived and the intimacy is
almost always palpable.
Of course it must be said that Nottages primary plot-driver
is the rather hackneyed one of a promising young AfricanAmerican (Chris) being dragged into an unoriginal kind of
trouble by his ignorant white buddy (Jason). And, yes, there are
some moments that veer briefly into sitcom territory with their
predictable humor and aw-shucks pathos. These are here, no
doubt, to broaden the plays appeal. But thankfully, Nottage does
not let them dumb it down, especially when it comes to issues of
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29

race amid these complex relationships.


The components are very much in place. But what breathes
not just life, but fire, into this production is Johanna Days portrayal of Tracey, one of the workers standing at the crossroads
of all this change. As white-townie as it gets, Tracey has the
swagger of a territory marked in generations but the smarts to
see (even if she will never admit it) that it is no longer enough.
Values have shifted and it is her very identity, once her source of
pride, that now makes her profoundly vulnerable. Day embodies this womans contradictions with extraordinary capacity,
moving between Traceys whip-fast wit and her ready (and
near-bottomless) well of anger, her alley-cat bravery and the
self-sabotage that threatens herself and everything she loves. It
is a beautifully drawn portrait, beautifully rendered.
At the other end of Nottages character spectrum is another
rich and absorbing performance, this one from Tramell Tillman
as Chris. With extraordinary credibility, Tillman captures this
mans nervous intelligence, the careful way he navigates a world
that he knows could, and might just, consume him. Exuding his
vulnerabilities, but also his immense charm, Tillman has us rooting for Chris, which Nottage needs if she is to tell her tale with
true emotional power and integrity.
Another anchor here is Jack Willis in the role of bartender
Stan, a man keenly aware of the forces at play before him night
after night as the locals try to come to terms with the uncertainty
in their lives. Stan is drawn broadly enough to allow clich, but
Willis imbues him with just the right quotient of personal competence and cynicism for Nottages kind of stalwart; hes happy
to tend the fire, but if it gets out of control, he will get out of the
way if he can.
Kimberly Scott as Cynthia, mother to Chris, provides a

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JANUARY 28, 2016

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strong counterpoint to Days Tracey, a close and longtime


friend. But despite being a powerful presence and drawing
credible emotion from Cynthia, Scott cant quite surmount
a slight lack of precision in Nottages rendering. How this
African-American woman made her way into the sociallyclosed shop of the white townies is given short-shrift and it
weakens the impact of the rising tensions relating, not just
to race, but to friendship. Nottage also provides too little to
explain Cynthias unexpected views on God. These are intriguing complexities and they deserved more.
As Chris father, Brucie, a man kicked to the curb by life and
struggling to maintain his sense of self, Kevin Kenerly is another
memorable presence. Fluid and expressive, he offers the kind of
command that begs for a Shakespearean monologue. But it does
make for a slight disconnect: He really doesnt sound like a regular Joe who has been driven to stealing from his wife or getting
high to escape his despair.
There is a similar incongruence in Stephen Michael Spencers
portrayal of Jason, Traceys son, though for different reasons.
Life with Tracey has, without doubt, been one of sharp rebukes,
demeaning one-liners, withheld affections and a narrow outlook.
Though Spencer delivers the inevitable emotional confusion
of this young man, he tends to gild the lily and it dampens the
effect. Less is always more, even with a big personality.
Still, none of these issues diminish the greater experience
here: an up-close-and-personal look at survival in twenty-first
century America. l
Sweat runs to Feb. 21 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth Street, SW,
Washington. Tickets are $65 to $118. Call 202-488-3300 or visit
arenastage.org.

games

Attention Seeker
The Witness demands your respect, your
patience and your intelligence but
the rewards are definitely worth it
by RHUARIDH MARR

BOUT AN HOUR INTO THE WITNESS, I FINALly got it. It wasnt a sudden revelation, but rather
a slow creep. As I worked my way through a particularly puzzling set of puzzles, the games everpresent sunshine dappling the landscape around me, the silence
of the moment as I stared at the board in front of me, I realized
that I had been entirely absorbed by its world.
The Witness (HHHHH) is a labor of love, seven years in
the making, and the latest title from developer Jonathan Blow,
whose 2008 game Braid was a masterpiece of brain-crushing,
time-bending, wonderfully-scripted 2D puzzling. The Witness
takes Blows penchant for ingenious puzzles and turns it into
something else. I say this without any trace of insult: The Witness
is perhaps the greatest example of a smartphone game and its
only available on PS4 and PC.
Let me explain that. Its centered around a very simple concept. Players interact with boards and screens containing line
puzzles the goal is to move from one side of the puzzle to the
other, following the line from a circular entry point to a rounded
exit point. Its almost painfully simple its easy to imagine
users tracing their fingers across such puzzles on their smartphone screens. And, just like the smartphone genres greatest
hits (no, Candy Crush, that doesnt include you), The Witness
builds on that core concept to keep its puzzles ever-changing,
ever more challenging and almost mind-crushingly infuriating
at some points.

After its initial simplicity, The Witness introduces shapes, colors, pickups, mirror lines, and other ideas to compound on the initial idea. After a certain amount of time, youll no longer be simply
tracing from one side of a board to the other. Youll be forced into
puzzles that demand every brain cell to successfully navigate.
What transforms it into something worthy of a home on your
console or computer is that the puzzling is entirely free-form.
The Witness opens in a dark tunnel. Youre offered no context,
no hints, not even a start screen. As you walk towards the end,
youre presented with one of only two prompts in the entire
game, telling you how to complete the first line puzzle. Complete
it and youll exit into the main setting of The Witness: an island.
Youll then work through a few arbitrary line puzzles in an
overgrown courtyard, before a gate unlocks and youre allowed
to explore. After the second prompt how to run thats it.
The Witness will leave you completely alone from this point on.
Thats both daunting and impressive.
The main hook of The Witness is a desire to uncover the
mysteries of its existence. Theres no story, per se, no narration,
no cutscenes. It doesnt guide players to uncover certain areas,
or complete specific puzzles. Indeed, theres nothing here to
hook someone in a traditional sense. Instead, The Witness
forces players to pique their own curiosity. Its island setting
is rife with unanswered questions: an abandoned village, an
Egyptian-style temple, a medieval castle, a crashed ship. What
caused their decay? Why is there no one else here? What is the
purpose of the statues that dot its landscape, like people frozen
in time? And just why are there puzzles absolutely everywhere?
These are questions youll have to figure out at your own pace.
The beauty of The Witness is that you can uncover as much or as
little as possible. Blow estimates that there are over 700 puzzles
in his game, but not all of them are as obvious as those situated
on the displays dotted around the games various landmarks
yes, even the very land in some instances can be a puzzle.
If you want to complete the story the main quest, of sorts
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31

youll be completing specific sets of puzzles, each of which


cause a laser to be fired at the islands main landmark, a looming
mountain. Atop that mountain is your ultimate goal, but how you
get there and if you get there at all depends on your own
explorative nature, capacity for puzzle-solving, and engagement
with The Witness.
Its entirely possible that many will be turned away by its
hands-off approach. With no guides and no obvious fast travel
system (it exists, but like everything, youll have to find it), some
may vacate The Witness after theyve wandered around for a bit
and tried a few puzzles. I wasnt one of them. I was completely
consumed by it.
I was also utterly enraged by it. Some of the puzzles youll
encounter are almost ludicrously complex. Its here that exploration is key, as finding new puzzle areas will teach you the skills
you need to complete puzzles youve previously encountered.
The only problem is that the games total lack of guidance means
that its sometimes hard not only to find where certain puzzle
areas start, but also whether youve learned the technique its
trying to teach you correctly. Several times I was roadblocked
and ended up quitting the game in a rage. Other times, I would
back off, wander around, come back and get it first time.
Whats remarkable is that I was more than willing to break
my own immersion to complete a puzzle. Not only did I find
myself taking notes while playing marking out puzzles,
secret areas, and other things Id uncovered I was also taking photos of solutions to apply them to another. One rather
engrossing puzzle involves four mazes that the player must
first walk through, then use to complete a puzzle. In addition,
youll have to remember the solution to every maze for a later
puzzle. The satisfaction of finishing it successfully created

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JANUARY 28, 2016

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one of several standout moments during my time with The


Witness.
However, theres a fine balance between a puzzle being hard
and a puzzle being so obtuse as to be off-putting. The Witness
doesnt always get it right. Sometimes the solution isnt so much
unclear as it is entirely opaque. But when you finally work it out,
the sensation of accomplishment is intoxicating. Thats where
the hook lies in The Witness: these incremental moments of
success, the joy of not only learning a new technique that can
be used on other puzzles, but of successfully clearing another of
the islands areas.
Whats even more remarkable is that this $30 download-only
game can offer dozens of hours of gameplay for the truly dedicated. Uncovering everything this small world has to offer, completing every puzzle and finding every secret, will take you up to
100 hours. Thats a staggering amount of content for the price.
Whether the content actually appeals to you or not is entirely
subjective. The Witness isnt a perfect game; its enraging, occasionally misguided, startlingly obtuse at times, and possibly too
independent for its own good. What it is, though, is a fascinating,
challenging, intoxicating, mysterious, often haunting example of
what a puzzle game can be. This is a mystery adventure where
puzzling is both incidental and absolutely necessary. Its a game
that marries the best examples of mobile gaming simple hook,
easy navigation with traditional games open world, gorgeous visuals, stunningly simple sound design to create something new, something exciting, something wonderful.
The Witness certainly isnt for everyone, but everyone should
certainly wander into its desolate, difficult, delicate world. l
The Witness is $30 and available for download on PC and PS4.

film

Bear Story

Short List
This years animated short films
display a wide range of emotions, but
theres one clear winner for the Oscar
by RHUARIDH MARR

TS A RARE THING INDEED WHEN PIXAR HAS ARGUably the weakest film in an animated category, but such
is the strength of this years nominees for Best Animated
Short Film that even a good effort from the animating powerhouse isnt going to be enough to take home a statue. Dealing
with a variety of issues family, death, friendship, religion, the
brutality of man the 2016 contenders are proof that we dont
need 90 minutes and millions of dollars to evoke emotion from
an audience. Expensive digital artwork isnt necessary to convey
a sense of place. From stick figures to pencil shading, lavish 3D
modeling to subtle animation, these are the five contenders for
this years Animated Short.

BEAR STORY

2014
11 minutes
Chiles entry, directed and co-written by Gabriel Osorio Vargas,
is a multi-layered meditation on the destructive force and brutality of man, told from the perspective of a bear. We watch as
he carefully crafts the models of a diorama, walking through
his empty home, glancing at photos of a family thats nowhere
to be found. Venturing into town, he sets up the diorama box
and a nearby child runs to view it. What follows is a gorgeouslyanimated sequence, complete with scale models, cogs, wheels,
metallic figures and scrolling backgrounds, as the bear tells
his story, where humanity is the villain, tearing into apartment
buildings and ripping animals from their homes to be carted off
to join the circus. Vargas film is a critique of the circus trade,
of human exploitation of animals, of loss, humiliation, and ultimately hope. A somewhat ambiguous ending leaves the viewer
questioning whether the happy ending depicted so wondrously
in the diorama reflects reality, but that only enhances the charm
of an otherwise spellbinding short.
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JANUARY 28, 2016

33

SANJAYS SUPER TEAM

PROLOGUE

2015
6 minutes
Prologue takes hand drawn animation back to something primal, something primitive, but also something captivating to behold. The British short, directed by Richard
Williams and produced by his wife, Imogen Sutton, depicts a battle between four
warriors in ancient Greece, two Athenian, two Spartan. Using pencil shading on an
off-white background, the animation is both simple and rich, granting the fierce fight
between the men an ethereal quality, but also a ghastly one we see horrors and
imperfections in the mens faces that would have been erased in the cleanliness of
3D animation, which would also have robbed the film of its impact. Its not a flawless
technique, as perspective is easily lost in some scenes due to the lack of additional
animation or cue points on the plain background, but it is perhaps the perfect way
to capture the action that follows, as the battle descends into bloody madness, gruesomely depicted in swathes of red pencil. Williams film isnt long, but its style and
raw quality eschews the strive for perfection of more modern animated fare. In both
tale and technique, this is a period piece, but that only makes it all the more compelling to watch.

Sanjays Super Team


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JANUARY 28, 2016

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2015
7 minutes
Pixars latest short is sweet, beautifully
animated and makes the most of its short
runtime. Unfortunately, in this years field
of nominees, its also just not well, Pixar
enough to stand out. Directed by Sanjay
Patel, its a mostly true story about a
boy and a father, with the former happy to
watch his superhero cartoons and the latter
trying in vain to inspire the boy to follow in
his religious footsteps. Sanjay is engrossed
in Super Team, a fictional triad of superheroes, while his father would rather he pray
with him. After having his toy removed
and forced to sit in front of a cabinet containing three Hindu gods, Sanjay accidentally extinguishes the shrines oil lamp and
is transported into a world where Hindu
gods Vishnu, Durga, and Hanuman are the
superheroes. What follows is a sequence
that shows why Pixars are masters of
their craft: the animation is magnificent to
behold, with eye-popping colors, crisp textures and incredible depth. Whats missing, however, is soul. Sure, it has a typically
Disney saccharine ending, and the film
should be lauded for giving focus to a family that isnt white or Christian. However,
the end result just isnt memorable enough
to warrant taking home the Oscar this year.
Surrounded by less established competition, Pixar has come up surprisingly short.
WE CANT LIVE WITHOUT COSMOS

2015
16 minutes
Dont let We Cant Live Without Cosmos
slightly ropey animation fool you. This
Russian entry from director Konstantin
Bronzit and producer Alexander Boyarsky
has depth beyond its rudimentary animation style. Indeed, it lulls viewers into a
false sense of security, as it depicts two
friends working their way through cosmonaut training in a remote, snowy base. Their
relationship is depicted as being the closest
of friends, from sharing a room to pushing
each other to go harder at their training
to daydreaming together about exploring
space. But partway through, Cosmos transforms from a buddy movie into something
darker, something deeper. It strips away
the lightheartedness though not the light
comedy that runs throughout in favor of
a glimpse into depression, into loss, into a
grief so pronounced that a person doesnt
know how to carry on living. Its a fascinating transition, with an ending firmly
rooted in fantasy but bursting with heart.
We Cant Live Without Cosmos is proof
that rough animation neednt detract from

a well-told story. Indeed, it would be my


favorite of this years contenders were it
not for the last film in the category.
WORLD OF TOMORROW

2015
17 minutes
World of Tomorrow is a masterpiece.
American filmmaker Don Hertzfeldt has
produced something rooted in science
fiction, but with all of the best traits of
the genre: ruminations on humanity, the
future, the impact of technology in our
lives, armageddon, love, family, and more.
With an achingly simple premise and an
even simpler animation style stick figures on a digital background it conveys a
message that is more powerful than almost
every other film from 2015. It opens on a
little girl, Emily, who runs towards a ringing communicator. On screen is a clone of
Emily, speaking to her from 227 years in
the future she wants to use time-travel
to bring Emily to meet her. What follows
is an amusing, dark, sad, uplifting, horrifying, intelligent monologue of sorts on
the human condition, as clone Emily tells
young Emily about the world she inhabits.
Cloning is an accepted way to extend
ones life, with an adult being impregnated
with their clone and then passing their
memories on. But its only for the wealthy
the poor can opt to have their face
preserved and stretched across a crude
robot to keep family members company.
Time travel exists, used for looking at past
events and traveling to past eras, but its
dangerous unless precisely calculated,
humans can be transported into space,
into the ground, or hundreds of thousands
of years into the past. The internet has
transformed into the Outernet, a neural
network existing in our physical world,
with people lost to its excesses never to be
seen again. As clone Emily walks through
her memories of life with young Emily,
she speaks in an almost robotic monotone
of love, loneliness, emotional immaturity,
family, her desires, her dreams, her memories, her very existence as a person.
What makes Hertzfeldts films so effective is that, as clone Emily narrates horrible, terrible situations that humanity has
managed to cause a clone is born without a brain and installed, in a stasis tube,
to grow old and die in a museum as an
art exhibit young Emily couldnt care
less. She giddily comments on insignificant
things, lost to wonderment as she changes the color of the Outranet by shouting
Green! Blue! Brown! I dont know any
more colors. After clone Emily reveals
that Earth will soon be destroyed by an

We Cant Live Without Cosmos

World of Tomorrow

asteroid and the lower classes have used discount time travel to try and escape, resulting in millions being transported into orbit above earth, young Emily looks up to see
their burning bodies falling as shooting stars. Ill count them! she giggles. Its one
of countless scenes in World of Tomorrow that contrast the horror of this dystopian
future with the childlike wonder of young Emily these technologies are fascinating
and fantastic to a child, but to adult viewers of the film theyre monstrous. That World
of Tomorrow can convey so much weight and have so much pathos while also being
darkly funny is testament to Hertzfeldts script. If he doesnt take home the Oscar on
February 28, theres something seriously wrong with the Academy, as no other film
here can come close to matching the excellence of what has been produced here. l
The Oscar Nominated Shorts: Animated & Live Action open Friday, January 29, exclusively at the Landmark E Street Cinemas, 555 11th St. NW. The 91-minute Animated
Shorts program (HHHHH) features five additional films that were not nominated for
an Oscar and were not reviewed here. Check back next week for a rundown of the Best
Live Action Short Films.
The Academy Awards will take place on February 28. They will air on ABC and stream
live on Oscar.com.
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JANUARY 28, 2016

35

NIGHT

LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 01.28.16

9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection
Music videos featuring
DJ Wess
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite,
$4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Open Day for Stonewall
Darts, 6-10pm $3 Rail
Drinks, 10pm-midnight,
$5 Red Bull, Gatorade
and Frozen Virgin Drinks
Locker Room Thursday
Nights DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Ripped
Hot Body Contest at
midnight, hosted by Miss
Kristina Kelly and BaNaka
$200 Cash Prize Doors
open 10pm, 18+ $5
Cover under 21 and free
with college ID
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm

GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk

METROWEEKLY.COM

37

scene
MIXTAPE at
The Black Cat
Saturday, January 9
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!

Photography by
Ward Morrison

JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Throwback
Thursday featuring rock/
pop retro hits
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
9pm Cover 21+

FRI., 01.29.16

9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
5-9pm Friday Night
Videos with resident DJ
Shea Van Horn VJ
Expanded craft beer selection No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
All You Can Drink Happy
Hour $15 Rail and
Domestic, $21 Call
& Imports, 6-9pm
Guys Night Out Free
Belvedere Vodka, 11pmMidnight, $6 Belvedere
Vodka Drinks all night
DJ MadScience upstairs
DJ Keenan Orr downstairs
$10 cover 10pm-1am, $5
after 1am 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com

DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night long The Boys
of HUMP, 9pm-2am
Featuring VJ Tre and
Friday Night Videos
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm $2 Skyy Highballs
and $2 Drafts, 10pmmidnight Retro Friday
$5 Coronas, $8 Vodka Red
Bulls, 9pm-close
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
DJ Matt Bailer Videos,
Dancing Beat the Clock
Happy Hour $2 (5-6pm),
$3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm)
Buckets of Beer $15

NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover
TOWN
DC Bear Crue Happy
Hour, 6-11pm $3 Rail,
$3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles
Free Pizza, 7pm No
cover before 9:30pm
21+ Drag Show starts at
10:30pm Hosted by Lena
Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee,
Riley Knoxx and BaNaka
DJ Wess upstairs, DJs
BacK2bACk downstairs
GoGo Boys after 11pm
Doors open at 10pm For
those 21 and over, $10
For those 18-20, $15 18+
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
before 10pm Cover after
10pm (entry through Town)
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,

5-10pm Beer and wine


only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers,
hosted by LaTroya Nicole
Ladies of Ziegfelds,
9pm Rotating Hosts
DJ in Secrets VJ Tre in
Ziegfelds Cover 21+
SAT., 01.30.16

9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm $5 Absolut
& Titos, $3 Miller Lite
after 9pm Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover Music videos
featuring various DJs
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Drag Yourself to Brunch
at Level One, 11am-2pm
and 2-4pm Featuring
Kristina Kelly and the
Ladies of Illusion
Bottomless Mimosas and
Bloody Marys Happy
Hour: $3 Miller Lite, $4
Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
NYC Takes Over DC Dance
Party, 10pm-close Drink

METROWEEKLY.COM

specials all night Doors


open 10pm $7 cover
before midnight, $10 cover
after 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 4-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 8pm
Happy Hour, 8-10pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Drag Queen Broadway
Brunch, 10am-3pm
Starring Freddies
Broadway Babes Crazy
Hour, 4-7pm Freddies
Follies Drag Show,
8-10pm, hosted by Miss
Destiny B. Childs No
Cover
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long

JANUARY 28, 2016

39

JR.S
$4 Coors, $5 Vodka
Highballs, $7 Vodka Red
Bulls
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Guest DJs Zing Zang
Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer,
House Rail Drinks and
Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm
Buckets of Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm No Cover
TOWN
CTRL: Totes Tokyo Dance
Party, 11pm-close Music
and video downstairs by
DJ Wess Drag Show
starts at 10:30pm
Hosted by Lena Lett and
featuring Miss Tatianna,
Shi-Queeta-Lee, Riley
Knoxx and BaNaka
Doors open 10pm $12
Cover 21+
TOWN PATIO
Open 10pm (entry through
Town) $12 Cover

40

JANUARY 28, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 2pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
2-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion with host Ella
Fitzgerald Doors at 9
p.m., first show at 11:30
p.m. % DJs Doors open
8pm Cover 21+
SUN., 01.31.16

9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
$4 Stoli, Stoli flavors
and Miller Lite all day
Homowood Karaoke,
hosted by Robert Bise,
10pm-close 21+

DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 2-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 12pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call
Buffet, 2-7pm Like on
Facebook for menu options
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts all day and night
No Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
10am-3pm Crazy Hour,
4-7pm Karaoke, 8pm1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Mamas Trailer Park
Karaoke downstairs,
9:30pm-close
JR.S
Sunday Funday Liquid
Brunch Doors open at
1pm $2 Coors Lights and
$3 Skyy (all flavors), all
day and night

NELLIES SPORTS BAR


Drag Brunch, hosted by
Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am3pm $20 Brunch Buffet
House Rail Drinks, Zing
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
Beer and Mimosas, $4,
11am-close Buckets of
Beer, $15

TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 2pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
2-10pm Beer and wine
only $4

COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Monday Nights A Drag,
hosted by Kristina Kelly
Doors open at 10pm
$3 Skyy Cocktails, $8 Skyy
and Red Bull $8 Long
Islands No Cover, 18+

NUMBER NINE
Pop Goes the World with
Wes Della Volla at 9:30pm
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on
any drink, 3-9pm No
Cover

ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
9pm Cover 21+

DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com

ROCK HARD SUNDAYS


@THE HOUSE
NIGHTCLUB
3530 Georgia Ave. NW
Diverse group of all male,
all nude dancers Doors
open 8pm Shows all
night until close, starting
at 8:30pm $5 Domestic
Beer, $6 Imports
$10 cover For Table
Reservations, 202-4876646 rockharddc.com
TOWN
Flip Out DC League Flip
Cup games, 4pm Doors
open 3:30pm 21+

MON., 02.01.16

9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Small Plates, $4 Stella
Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis

DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$1 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts Free Pool all
day and night Men in
DC Eagle T-Shirts get
Happy Hour, 8pm-close
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm

GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long
Michaels Open Mic
Night Karaoke, 9:30pmclose
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm Showtunes Songs
& Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ James $3 Draft
Pints, 8pm-midnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Texas Holdem
Poker, 8pm Dart Boards
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4

TUES., 02.02.16

9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
SIN Service Industry
Night $1 Rail Drinks
all night
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com

GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Birdie La Cage Show,
10:30pm Underground
(Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock),
9pm-close DJ Wes
Della Volla 2-for-1, 5pmmidnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Karaoke and
Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
Safe Word: A Gay Spelling
Bee, 8-11pm Prizes to
the top three spellers
After 9pm, $3 Absolut,
Bulleit & Stella

FREDDIES BEACH BAR


Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm

METROWEEKLY.COM

JANUARY 28, 2016

41

TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
WED., 02.03.16

9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Wednesday Night
Karaoke, hosted by Miss
India Larelle Houston,
10pm-close $4 Stoli and
Stoli Flavors and Miller
Lite No Cover 21+

42

JANUARY 28, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
Burgers Drag Bingo
Night, hosted by Ms.
Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm
Bingo prizes Karaoke,
10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Buy 1, Get 1 Free, 4-9pm
Trivia with MC Jay Ray,
8pm The Feud: Drag
Trivia, hosted by BaNaka,
10-11pm, with a $200
prize $2 JR.s Drafts and
$4 Vodka ($2 with College
ID or JR.s Team Shirt)

NELLIES SPORTS BAR


SmartAss Trivia Night,
8pm and 9pm Prizes
include bar tabs and tickets to shows at the 9:30
Club $15 Buckets of
Beer for SmartAss Teams
only Bring a new team
members and each get a
free $10 Dinner
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Night, 10-11pm,
12-12:30am Military
Night, no cover with
military ID DJ Don T. in
Secrets 9pm Cover
21+ l

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE

43

scene
Larrys Lounge
Saturday, January 9
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!

Photography by
Ward Morrison

44

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE

METROWEEKLY.COM

JANUARY 28, 2016

45

No openly gay man has ever won the Oscar;


I wonder if that is prejudice or chance.

IAN MCKELLEN, to The Guardian, weighing in on the current controversy surrounding accusations of bigotry at the Academy.
McKellen, who has never won an Oscar, noted how clever it was that Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Sean Penn, all
straight actors, won for portraying gay men. What about giving me one for playing a straight man? he said.

We have been alerted to


a growing number of insults and violent acts against
queer refugees,
including cases of rape.
MARCEL DE GROOT, manager of an LGBT counselling center in Berlin, Germany, to NBC News. Several LGBT centers in
Germany are creating special shelters for LGBT refugees and migrants.

is the first symptom of a widespread ignorance of homosexuality, a distorted vision, sometimes fantasy. I
Homophobia
wanted the viewer to confront the gentleness, the simplicity of these images...and keep only the essentials:
love, nothing but love.
French artist OLIVIER CIAPPA, explaining his project The Imaginary Couples, in which he photographed straight celebrities
intimately posing as same-sex couples. Participants included Eva Longoria and Lara Fabian.

Tolerance equals peace.


Theres nothing gay about that. Thats just true.

MICHAEL, who claims a hostile work environment forced him to resign from a student teacher internship at an Arkansas

high school. The trouble started, he alleges, when he put up a poster with a rainbow on it and the slogan,
Tolerance Equals Peace.

I wanted to mine the religious lore and mythology of the Mormon Church to empower a homosexual hero to show that
a gay character is every bit as worthy in the eyes of God
as any heterosexual one.
BRIAN ANDERSEN, whose comic book Stripling Warrior features a gay Mormon superhero as its central character,
in an interview with the Huffington Post.

46

JANUARY 28, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

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