CONTENTS

JULY 19, 2018 Volume 25 Issue 12

16 KEEPING IT SEMI-PRIVATE
Grammy-winner Shelby Lynne has a lot to say on many topics.
Just don’t inquire too much about her personal life.

By Randy Shulman

MAGIC TO DO!
Monumental Theatre puts a decidedly Millennial spin
on the classic Stephen Schwartz musical, Pippin.

By Doug Rule
Photography by Todd Franson
24
33 MONEY PIT
Dark Money offers a small-scale but effective look at the way
outside spending is influencing America’s democracy.

SPOTLIGHT: CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON p.7

By Rhuaridh Marr

OUT ON THE TOWN p.11 SOLO BARING: CAPITAL FRINGE p.12

KEEPING IT SEMI-PRIVATE: SHELBY LYNNE p.16 THE FEED p.19
COMMUNITY: SCRUM FUN p.21 COVER STORY: MAGIC TO DO! p.24
FILM: DARK MONEY p.33 FILM: MAMMA MIA p.34
STAGE: PIPPIN AND THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ p.35 NIGHTLIFE p.36
SCENE: FREDDIE’S FOLLIES p.37 CLUBLIFE: TWO DECADES OF DUPLEX p.39
SCENE: FURBALL p.44 LAST WORD p.46

Real LGBTQ News and Entertainment since 1994

Editorial Editor-in-Chief Randy Shulman Art Director Todd Franson Online Editor at metroweekly.com Rhuaridh Marr Senior Editor John Riley
Contributing Editors André Hereford, Doug Rule Senior Photographers Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim Contributing Illustrator Scott G. Brooks
Contributing Writers Sean Maunier, Troy Petenbrink, Bailey Vogt, Kate Wingfield Webmaster David Uy Production Assistant Julian Vankim
Sales & Marketing Publisher Randy Shulman National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 Distribution Manager Dennis Havrilla
Patron Saint Irene Ryan Cover Photography Todd Franson

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© 2018 Jansi LLC.

4 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 Spotlight
Creature from the Black Lagoon
C
REATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON is
thought of as the last of the classic Universal
monster films,” says Todd Hitchcock, director of
programming for the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center.
“It’s twenty years after Dracula and Frankenstein, but because
it was such a sensational film, the ‘Gill Man’ has been placed
in the pantheon with the others from the ’30s.”
Hitchcock notes that because the film is “a fan favorite,
it never went away as a repertory item.” The AFI Silver will
screen Creature on Saturday, July 21, in 3D, as part of the the-
ater’s occasional series celebrating monster movies of yore.
The film’s iconic monster was the inspiration for
Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning The Shape of Water,
although the ’50s version is significantly less articulated. And
to see it in 3D is a rare opportunity. “Anyone who hasn’t seen
Creature in 3D or saw it in 3D in a drive-in setting with the
red/blue glasses, will be very impressed,” says Hitchcock.
Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3D screens on Saturday, July 21, at 7:30 p.m. at the AFI Silver,
8633 Colesville Road, a short walk from the Silver Spring Metro. Tickets are $15. Visit silver.afi.com.
The screening will be hosted by Count Gore de Vol,
whose “Creature Feature” and “Saturday Chiller Theater”
were mainstays on WDCA Channel 20 from 1973 to 1987. A
creation of Dick Dyszel, who also portrayed Bozo the Clown
for the UHF station, the Count has hosted his own weekly
horror movie show online since 1998 (countgore.com).
“We usually run some kind of interactive trivia contest
related to the film we’re showing,” says Dyszel of his AFI
appearances. “And there’s a plethora of interesting, fasci-
nating bits about the making of Creature and how audiences
reacted to it.”
“It’s easy to say the special effects are terrible, that they’re
silly, not convincing, campy,” adds Hitchcock. “But I think
some of these movies have an eerie quality, and are convinc-
ingly frightening, especially when you’re younger, if that’s
the age at which you first see them. They can make a big
impression.” —Randy Shulman
JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 7
 Spotlight
MARKING THE INFINITE
The Phillips Collection offers a glimpse into the diverse contemporary art
practice of Aboriginal Australia in this special exhibition that showcases
the work of nine leading women artists from Down Under. In recent
decades women artists have given the Aboriginal art movement a new
vitality and dynamism. Steeped in ancient cultural traditions, specific to
each artist, the works on display speak to universal contemporary themes
as well as the wisdom of indigenous knowledge, asserting both our shared
humanity and differences in experiencing and valuing our planet. Now
to Sept. 2. The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Tickets are $12, or
free for Phillips members, or for those 30 and under via a special summer
promotion. Call 202-387-2151 x247 or visit phillipscollection.org.

CREATIVE CAULDRON CABARET

The 9th annual summer cabaret series at ArtSpace
Falls Church continues with: Jade Jones in “Killin’
Em Softly - A ’70s Soiree” on Friday, July 20, and
Saturday, July 21, at 8 p.m., a performance by the
folk collective Shenandoah Run on Friday, July 27,
at 8 p.m., and Will Stevenson in “Simply Musical,”
on Saturday, July 28, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, July 29,
at 7 p.m. ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 South Maple
Ave. in Falls Church. Tickets are $18 to $22 per
show, or $55 for a table for two with wine and $110
for four with wine. Call 703-436-9948 or visit cre-
ativecauldron.org.

H.M.S. PINAFORE
& THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
The Hypocrites and the House Theatre of Chicago, two
innovative theaters in the Windy City, have teamed up
to stage two of Gilbert & Sullivan’s best-loved comic
operettas in rotating rep at Olney Theatre. Celebrated
for being immersive and family friendly, the productions
are presented promenade style, with some seats on stage
with the actors. These silly tales of scurvy pirates, mod-
ern Major-Generals, and star-crossed lovers were both
directed by Sean Graney, who co-adapted The Pirates
of Penzance with Kevin O’Donnell, and H.M.S. Pinafore
with Andra Velis Simon and Matt Kahler. In previews.
To Aug. 21. Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, 2001 Olney-
Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. Tickets are $30 to $64
each. Call 301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.org.

8 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 Spotlight
MEAN GIRLS
The Bethesda Urban Partnership continues
the 14th annual Bethesda Outdoor Movies
series with a screening of Tina Fey’s hilari-
ous 2004 film, directed by Mark Waters and
starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams,
Amanda Seyfried, and Amy Poehler. A limit-
ed number of seats will be provided, though
attendees are encouraged to arrive early and
bring their own lawn chairs. So fetch. Friday,
July 27, at 9 p.m. The corner of Norfolk and
Auburn Avenues in Bethesda’s Woodmont
Triangle. Free. Call 301-215-6660 or visit
bethesda.org.

PAT BENATAR
& RICK SPRINGFIELD
With Benatar and Springfield
on the same bill, this concert
at MGM National Harbor is
something of a dream come true
for lovers of ’80s-era pop-rock.
Expect the whole venue to be
shouting along to well-trod pop
anthems, everything from “Hit
Me With Your Best Shot” to “We
Belong,” and “Jessie’s Girl” to
“Love Somebody.” Tuesday, July
24, at 8 p.m. The Theater, 7100
Harborview Ave., Oxon Hill,
Md., Oxon Hill, Md. Call 844-
346-4664 or visit mgmnational-
harbor.com.

METRO/SEXUAL
DRAG SHOW
Baltimore’s Metro Gallery hosts a fash-
ion and art drag extravaganza in honor of
this weekend’s Artscape, featuring some
of the more outrageous performers from
the region, including Baltimore’s Ariel
Von Quinn, Betty O’Hellno, Sextia N’eight,
Washington Heights, D.C.’s Desiree Dik,
Jasmine Tea, Philly’s Shea Chanel, and
host Baby. New York DJ William Francis
will provide the soundtrack. Saturday, July
21. Doors at 9 p.m. 1700 N. Charles St.
Baltimore. Tickets are $7 in advance, or
$10 day-of show. Call 410-244-0899 or visit
themetrogallery.net.

JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 9

 Out On The Town

AMERICA THE GAME SHOW. F*CK YEAH!

Two years ago, Kate Taylor Davis and Jared Davis concocted a variety show that made light of American history in the
run-up to July 4th — in 2016, just before the country took a dark, dark turn. As a result, the hit show became darker and
more subversive — as well as more popular — in its second year, and added topical games with names including “Extreme
Vetting” and “Grab. That. P**sy!” This year’s third iteration has been moved to later in July when more people have a
chance to attend and participate. Billed as a “no-holds-barred production that’s too risqué for the boob tube and real-er
than ‘fake news,’” the show features Carlos Bustamante aka Carl Buster as host. He’s accompanied by a bevy of “All-
American Girls” for a tongue-in-cheek trip across the country filled with trivia, games, satire, and nudity. The latter espe-
cially comes into play in a segment called “Naked Drunk History” with the character known as “Drunkle Sam,” whose
purpose is “to fill in the gaps in America’s public education.” Aiding in the cause are many of the usual suspects in the tal-
ented, offbeat crew long associated with Astro Pop Events (the producer of Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club and Countdown to
Yuri’s Night). The team includes Chris Griffin — per his drag alter ego Lucrezia Blozia — and includes Jim Dandy, Jared
Davis, Patrick M. Doneghy, Kittie Glitter, Eleni Grove, Callie Pigeon, Candy Del Rio, Cherie Sweetbottom, and Andrew
Wodzianski. Saturday, July 21, at 9 p.m. GALA Theatre at Tivoli Square, 3333 14th St. NW. Tickets are $22 in advance.
Visit astropopevents.com. Also Friday, July 27, and Saturday, July 28, at 8 p.m. Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134
Eastern Ave. Baltimore. Call 410-276-1651 or visit creativealliance.org.

Compiled by Doug Rule
FILM
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
Considered one of the best films
featuring slapstick kings the Marx
Brothers, Sam Wood’s 1935 “pande-
monium of hilarity” returns to the
big screen as part of Landmark’s
West End Cinema Capital Classics
series. Wednesday, July 25, at 1:30,
4:30, and 7:30 p.m., 2301 M St. NW.
Happy hour from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10 to $12.50. Call 202-
534-1907 or visit landmarktheatres.
com.
DON’T WORRY, HE WON’T GET
FAR ON FOOT
Gus Van Sant has a mixed track
record, but this comedy-drama
based on John Callahan’s mem-
oir is apparently worth watching.
Joaquin Phoenix plays Callahan, a
heavy drinker who became a quad-
riplegic after a night of drinking
led to a devastating car accident.
The film follows his recovery, from
giving up drinking to discovering
his gift for edgy, irreverent editorial
cartoons. Opens Friday, July 20.
Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
(Rhuaridh Marr)
FOOTLOOSE
Georgetown Sunset Cinema pres-
ents Herbert Ross’ 1984 drama
that introduced the world to Kevin
Bacon, who landed the role after
Tom Cruise passed to film All The
Right Moves instead. John Lithgow
portrays a minister in a small
Midwestern town where dancing
and rock music has been banned
— until Bacon moves to town and
cuts everybody loose. The screening
takes place in a grassy knoll along
the banks of the Potomac River,
with the panoramic Key Bridge
as backdrop. Vendors include
Muncheez and Stella’s PopKern
and Maracas Ice Pops. Everyone
is encouraged to bring a blanket,
food and water or soft drinks —
just no chairs or alcohol. Tuesday,
July 24, at the intersection of Water
Street and Cecil Place NW. The
area opens at 6:30 p.m., and the
screening starts at sunset, around
8:30 p.m. Call 202-298-9222 or visit
georgetowndc.com/sunset-cinema.
SAMSON & DELILAH
The Phillips Collection presents a
screening of indigenous Australian
director Warwick Thornton’s
2009 “survival love story.” Samson
& Delilah is set in an isolated
Aboriginal community near Alice
Springs in the Central Australian
desert. Presented in conjunction
with the special exhibition Marking
The Infinite (see separate entry
under Galleries), the film screens
as part of a series also featuring
Rabbit-Proof Fence and Ten Canoes.
Thursday, July 26, at 6 p.m. The

JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 11

 While the former standup comic is quick to crack wise about
his mom, he confesses that Dangerous When Wet is more about
catharsis, for both him and the audience.
“The story is about my alcoholism,” he says. “It’s about my
coming of age in a small Texan town with my extremely ador-
ing and sometimes smothering, suffocating Mama Jean, and
then becoming an alcoholic. It’s about coming to New York and
fulfilling my fantasy of living the glamorous life, and how that
nearly kills me. There’s no nudity. But there’s a lot of sex stories
that are not gratuitous. Because sexuality is part of the story I’m
telling, linked in with my alcohol and drug abuse. So I get down
and gritty with that.”
Of course, every Fringe soloist plots their own approach to
telling soul-baring stories drawn from real life. Elan Zafir’s The
Unaccompanied Minor focuses with unflinching honesty on the
Robards challenges of being a single dad. It’s far from a serious drama,
however.

SOLO BARING
Capital Fringe’s soloists turn grown-up life-lessons
into confessional comedy. By André Hereford
“I have a real sense of play when I do it, so I’m not going
through some kind of a cathartic experience,” Zafir says. “I’m
just taking you along this journey.”
The D.C.-based performer, recently seen in Mosaic Theater’s
Paper Dolls and The Vagrant Trilogy, admits that flying solo
poses its own challenges.
“It’s terrifying,” he says. “Unlike being in an ensemble, where

O
NE-PERSON PLAYS ARE A TOUGH GIG, EVEN IF
the performer isn’t delving into their own polyamorous
past, alcoholism, or divorce. Yet several solo performers
will dare to cross the lines of bold comedy and intimate confes-
sion at the 2018 Capital Fringe Festival.
Kate Robards, who premiered her first solo play, Mandarin
Orange, at Capital Fringe in 2014, returns with the semi-auto-
biographical PolySHAMory, about her misadventures in multi-
ple loving. “I don’t think of it as [being] the only one up there
because I have audience members that I interact with,” she says.
“And people give you energy. It’s a really beautiful thing, where
people will make a face and you get to respond and make a face
back. It’s a living, breathing, moment-to-moment experience.
Plus, I’m playing all of these characters, so they’re kind of with
me as well.”
Jamie Brickhouse, performing Dangerous When Wet: Booze,
Sex & My Mother, based on his own comic memoir, similarly
brings multiple characters with him onstage, namely his larger-
than-life mother. “She was like a small-town Texan Elizabeth
Taylor with a split personality of Auntie Mame and Mama Rose,”
says Brickhouse.
I feel like you get into a boat together and you’re like, ‘Well, here
we are,’ when things start to go sideways in a solo show, there’s
just no one to turn to. There’s no one there to feed you a line if
you get in trouble.”
A performer has control over shaping a compelling narrative.
What they can’t control is how their version of the truth, once
it’s rippled beyond the stage, will impact any of the real-life
loved ones they’re depicting.
“It’s mostly dealing with shame of other people,” says Kate
Robards. “As an artist you have to get over that, and to make art
that reaches people [they] want the truth, they don’t want you to
be fluffy and go at things with kid gloves. So you can be respect-
ful of people while being really honest.” l
The Unaccompanied Minor runs July 21, 27, and 28 at Christ
United Methodist Church, 900 4th St, SW. PolySHAMory runs
July 21, 25, 27, and 28 and Dangerous When Wet runs July 19,
21, and 24, both at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 555 Water
St, SW.St. Tickets are $17. For more on these and the remaining
shows in Fringe’s final two weekends, call 866-811-4111, or visit
capitalfringe.org.

Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St.
NW. Tickets are $15, or $5 for
Phillips members, including admis-
sion to the special exhibition. In
addition, admission to exhibitions
is free for those 30 and under until
Sept. 2 as part of a special summer
promotion at the Phillips. Call 202-
387-2151 x247 or visit phillipscol-
lection.org.
STAGE
ON THE TOWN
Three sailors romp around New
York in 1944. Olney Theatre
Company revives this early musical
that features an exuberant score
by Leonard Bernstein. The origi-
nal show grew out of a ballet that
Jerome Robbins had worked on
with Bernstein, further developed
by the writing and lyricist team of
Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
Olney’s starry cast includes Evan
Casey, Rhett Guter, Sam Ludwig,
Donna Migliaccio, Tracy Lynn
Olivera, Bobby Smith, and Rachel
Zampelli, with Robbins-inspired
choreography by Tara Jeanne
Vallee. The company’s artistic
director Jason Loewith helms the
show. To July 29. Mainstage, 2001
Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney,
Md. Call 301-924-3400 or visit
olneytheatre.org.
THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE
(AND OTHER SONGS)
COMMUNITY
Virginia’s Hub Theatre presents
Marc Acito’s play with songs about
STAGE
the unlikely yet real-life rela-
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
tionship between singer Marian
Maryland’s Port Tobacco Players
Anderson and Albert Einstein. The
presents a non-professional pro-
two titanic figures on a quest to
duction of this musical based on
unlock life’s mysteries. To July 29.
the DreamWorks blockbuster star-
The John Swayze Theatre in the
ring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom
New School of Northern Virginia,
9431 Silver King Court, Fairfax.
Hanks. Terrence McNally teamed
up with the musical minds behind
Visit thehubtheatre.org.
Hairspray — Marc Shaiman and
Scott Wittman — for a tale, set in
the jazzy, swinging ‘’60s, following
the real-life adventures of charm-
ing con artist Frank Abagnale Jr.
and the FBI agent, Carl Hanratty,
who pursues him in a cross-coun-

12 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 roles they normally wouldn’t get
cast to sing in Monumental Theatre
Company’s “Flip Flop: A Miscast
Cabaret” on Sunday, July 22, at 5
p.m.; Signature star Nova Y. Payton
and Mark G. Meadows — both seen
in Signature’s Jelly’s Last Jam — in
“Hotter than July” on Sunday, July
22, at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, July
25, at 8 p.m.; Awa Sal Seka (Ford’s
Theatre’s The Wiz) in “Soul Divas”
on Tuesday, July 24, at 8 p.m.;
and Helen Hayes Award-winner
Erin Driscoll in “Ladies’ Night” on
Thursday, July 26, at 8 p.m. Series
continues to Aug. 4. The Ark at
4200 Campbell Ave., in Arlington.
Tickets are $35 per show, or $175
for an All-Access pass. Call 703-
820-9771 or visit sigtheatre.org.

SYLVAN ESSO
Singer Amelia Meath and produc-
er Nick Sanborn make some of
the quirkiest, sharpest pop music
around, an electro-acoustic blend
of tribal chants and folk melodies
often unbridled, unhinged, some-
times even unadorned, held togeth-
CHERRY GROVE STORIES er by spare, naturalistic production
with accents from electronic/dance
Reel Affirmations presents Michael Fisher’s documentary about the history of a pristine music. The duo has never sounded
beachfront hamlet on Fire Island which became a safe haven for gays in the mid-20th more riveting or better than on last
century. Cherry Grove Stories offers an oral history of the enclave bolstered by inter- year’s What Now. Their sophomore
set focuses on the dualities of life,
views with Cherry Grove residents, as well as news and archival footage. Friday, July 20, love and progress — from the high-
at 7 p.m. Preceded by a Cocktails and Cinema Open Bar Happy Hour starting at 6 p.m. est highs to the down-and-outs, the
with music by DJ Honey. HRC Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW. General fleeting joys and lingering anxieties
Admission is $12, or $25 including VIP seating, complimentary cocktail or drink, and that come with impermanence. To
hear them live — to hear just how
movie candy or popcorn; VIP Xtra Pass for all five monthly screenings from July through powerful Meath’s voice really, truly
December is $100. Call 800-777-4723 or visit thedccenter.org/reelaffirmations. is — is to fall in love. Thursday, July
26. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The Anthem,
901 Wharf St. SW. Tickets are $40
to $60. Call 202-888-0020 or visit
try chase. Weekends to Aug. 5. 508 regularly throughout the region and indie-pop act AJR, EDM/pop art- theanthemdc.com.
Charles St., La Plata, Md. Tickets returns to a preferred venue The ist Robert DeLong, indie act Mt.
are $15 to $18. Call 301-932-6819 or Hamilton next weekend. Saturday, Joy, and German rockers L.I.F.T.
visit ptplayers.com. July 28. Doors at 7 p.m. 600 14th Sunday, July 22. Doors at 12:30 p.m. COMEDY
St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $25. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475
JUDY AND THE GENERAL Call 202-787-1000 or visit theham- Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, DISTRICT OF COMEDY FESTIVAL
Baltimore’s Spotlighters Theatre iltondc.com. Md. Tickets are $55 to $95. Call The Kennedy Center presents
presents the world premiere of a 800-551-SEAT or visit merriweath- the third annual festival bringing
new musical comedy by Rosemary CHRIS URQUIAGA ermusic.com. acclaimed stars and rising acts
Frisino Toohey based on the Book A native of Silver Spring, this bud- together for a mix of stand-up
of Judith. One of only a handful ding Latin pop singer-songwrit- SIGNATURE THEATRE’S SIZZLIN’ and other comedic performances.
of strong female characters in the er was selected as an Artist-in- SUMMER NIGHTS SERIES Everything kicks off Thursday, July
Bible, Judith is the heroine in a clas- Residence at Strathmore two years Signature’s annual cabaret series 19, with a screening of Rob Reiner’s
sic tale of good vs. evil, ingeniously ago. At the top of 2017, Urquiaga features mostly musical actors 1984 groundbreaking mockumen-
using her feminine wiles to outwit released Complete, an album of orig- known from productions at the tary (that indirectly launched the
the powerful general Holofernes inal pop tunes in English, Spanish, Shirlington complex. Among those directing career of Christopher
to save her people from destruc- and Portuguese — many of which performing in the series’ opening Guest), This is Spinal Tap. Harry
tion. To July 29. 817 St. Paul St., he’s expected to perform in a con- weekend: Soloists from the Gay Shearer will be on hand following
Baltimore. Tickets are $18 to $22. cert next week titled “Pop & Latin Men’s Chorus of Washington in the the screening to tell behind-the-
Call 410-752-1225 or visit spotlight- Songs by Chris Urquiaga.” Friday, bawdy “It Takes Two” on Thursday, scenes stories and answer audience
ers.org. July 20. Doors at 7 p.m. Dupont July 19, at 8 p.m.; Rochelle Rice questions. Other highlights include
Underground, 1500 19th St. NW. with her jazzy/soul takes on songs Neil Hamburger, Patton Oswalt,
Amanda Seales, D.C.’s Underground
MUSIC Tickets are $15. Visit dupontunder- of the Great American Songbook
ground.org. with “American Remix” on Friday, Comedy Stand-Up Showcase, The
July 20, at 7 p.m.; musical the- Daily Show Correspondents Stand-
CHOPTEETH DC101 KERFUFFLE: ater students from George Mason Up Tour, the competitive stand-up
The Washington Post has referred FALL OUT BOY University in the James Gardiner- game “On Deck,” hosted by Mike
to this 12-piece band as “a storm- What’s not to love about a and Erin Driscoll-directed cabaret Mulloy, and The New Negroes with
ing powerhouse of big-band African multi-artist concert called a ker- “An Evening of Stephen Sondheim” Baron Vaughn and Open Mike
funk...smart, tight and relentless- fuffle? In addition to the suburban on Friday, July 20, at 9 p.m.; Eagle. There are several planned
ly driving.” Chopteeth has already Chicago-reared emo/punk headlin- Washington Capitals anthem singer Bentzen Ball Podcast sessions,
won a number of Washington Area ers, there’s more hard/heavy rock Bob McDonald in “Best of Bob” a “Boast Rattle” (the opposite of
Music Association Awards, includ- from acts including Rise Against, Saturday, July 21, at 7 and 9 p.m.; a comedic roast where the best
ing Artist of the Year in 2008. The Awolnation, and AJR. There’s also Millennial performers taking on complimenting comedian wins),
Afrobeat-driven group performs and performances featuring The

14 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

Capital Fringe Festival 2018
 Improvised Shakespeare Company.
July 19 to 22, at various venues in
the Kennedy Center. Ticket prices
vary. For a full list of performances
or to purchase tickets, call 202-467-
4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

THE SECOND CITY:

GENERATION GAP
The full title of the latest show
from Chicago’s famed troupe cre-
ated especially for the Kennedy
Center to coincide with the District
of Comedy Festival is Generation
Gap...Or, How Many Millennials
Does It Take to Teach a Baby Boomer
to Text Generation X? Expect a
satirical crash course spanning mis-
COURTESY OF THE BIRCHMERE

communications, careers, dating,

and more in a two-act, interactive
spin on what the troupe calls “the
age-old battle of the ages.” To Aug.
12. Theater Lab. Tickets are $49
to $59. Call 202-467-4600 or visit
kennedy-center.org.

WIT: SUMMER ESCAPE

The Washington Improv Theater is
D.C.’s answer to comedy star-mak-

KEEPING IT SEMI-PRIVATE
ing groups such as Chicago’s Second
City and L.A.’s Groundlings. Over
the next month, the troupe offers
a hodgepodge of summer-themed
sketches, with each performance
Grammy-winner Shelby Lynne has a lot to say on many topics. Just don’t featuring different WIT ensem-
inquire too much about her personal life. bles, including three music-driv-
en exercises: iMusical, presenting

I
audiences with the opportuni-
T’S VERY DIFFICULT TO PLAY NEW MUSIC FOR PEOPLE,” SAYS SHELBY LYNNE. ty to choose-your-own-disaster,
“People aren’t conditioned to hearing new things. They know what they know about you, and resulting in the cast improvising
an instant world-ending musi-
that’s what they want to hear. Everybody in the world that’s ever made music will tell you that.” cal; Heavy Rotation, featuring a
So, should you happen to be in the audience when the Grammy-winning artist appears at The cast performing a School of Rock-
Birchmere on Wednesday, July 25, don’t be disappointed if she doesn’t play much off Here I Am, inspired “improvised rock come-
dy”; and Karaoke Storytellers with
the soundtrack to a film directed by queer filmmaker Cynthia Mort and starring Lynne, who has a show that is part-VH1 Storytellers,
done acting stints in True Blood and portrayed Johnny Cash’s mother, Carrie, in Walk the Line. part-Saturday Night Live audition,
Lynne calls the independently funded Here I Am “a fictional movie about very true things. It’s and part musical, all built around
about an older, successful singer that has come to a point in her life where she’s making decisions improvised characters delivering
monologues and interpreting a song
about who she is and what she is. It’s about faith and love and choices and art and dance and angels karaoke-style. To Aug. 5. Source,
and music.” 1835 14th St. NW. Tickets are $15
The older sister of country artist Allison Moorer, with whom she collaborated with on the intox- in advance, or $18 at the door. Call
202-204-7770 or visit witdc.org.
icating 2017 assortment of covers, Not Dark Yet, Lynne has long kept her private life under wraps.
In recent years, she’s opened up a bit more — if begrudgingly — in interviews with Rolling Stone
Country and, more revealingly, Huffington Post. READINGS
“I’ve always been really careful about talking about my private life,” she says, “because I don’t PRESIDENTS, VICE PRESIDENTS,
like reading somebody else’s interpretation about my life from a phone interview where we don’t AND THE PURSUIT OF POWER
know each other. I’m not hiding anything. I’m just not announcing anything.” In her latest book, journalist Kate
Anderson Brower examines the
Still, the lithe, earthy singer concedes, “I’m proud of who I am. There’s a song in my set called lives and roles of 13 modern Vice
‘Down Here.’ It’s about growing up a gay child in the South. It’s difficult to grow up a gay child in Presidents, revealing the some-
the South. For me it was.... I’ve always been really ruffled by people who try to get me to wave a times cold, sometimes close, always
banner for anything, because I’m waving it by living.” complicated relationships between
them and the men who chose them
Get Lynne on the subject of the Trump administration, however, and she’s downright forthright. as their running mates. Tuesday,
“I’m sick over it,” she says, forcefully. “I can’t believe that this is what we’ve become. It’s just like July 24, at noon. The William G.
a bad, bad, bad novel. As an American, red-blooded, flag-waving, bonafide Dixie dyke, I’m appalled. McGowan Theater in the National
Archives Museum, Constitution
As an American who votes and who cares about my community and my country’s community, it’s Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets
just hideous what’s happening. We all need to figure out ways to come together — and mean it. I get NW. NW. Call 202-357-5000 or
really fuckin’ passionate about it because I’ve always been a flag-waving patriot.” —Randy Shulman visit archivesfoundation.org.

Shelby Lynne appears at The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. in Alexandria, on Wednesday,
July 25, at 7:30 p.m. General admission. Tickets are $35. Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com.

Here I Am will be available in August on Lynne’s website, shelbylynne.com.

16 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY


FOOD & DRINK
BBQ & GRILLING WEEK
PROMOTIONS
All week, select members of
the Restaurant Association of
Metropolitan Washington are cele-
brating “Flavors of Summer in the
City” with two-course menus of
smoked, spiced, and grilled dishes
priced from $11 to $33. Highlights
include America Eats Tavern in
Georgetown (3139 M St. NW), the
newest restaurant in Jose Andres’s
ThinkFoodGroup, which is offering
a two-course menu for $33 at dinner;
ChiKo in Barrack’s Row (423 8th St.
SE), the fast-casual modern Chinese/
Capital Fringe Festival 2018
Korean restaurant from chefs Scott
Drewno and Danny Lee, offering
two courses at dinner for $22; Right
Proper Brewpub (624 T St. NW),
with two courses at dinner for $11;
two locations of Rocklands Barbeque
and Grilling Company, the original
in Glover Park (2418 Wisconsin Ave.
NW) and the Arlington offshoot
(3471 Washington Blvd.), both offer-
ing a two-item special for $11 at both
lunch and dinner; and the acclaimed
Tavern at Rare Steakhouse (1595
I St. NW), offering two courses at
lunch for $22 and $33 for dinner. To
Sunday, July 22. For a full list of par-
ticipants and menus, vist bbqweek-
dc.com.
MUSEUMS 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested
donation is $18. Call 202-686-5807
& GALLERIES or visit HillwoodMuseum.org.
FRACTAL WORLDS
FABERGE REDISCOVERED
BY JULIUS HORSTHUIS
The late heiress Marjorie
The latest installation at D.C.’s
Merriweather Post has a renowned
unique art-meets-technology gal-
collection of pieces from the firm of
lery ArTecHouse is billed as the
Carl Fabergé, the legendary jeweler
first immersive art exhibition
to the last court of Russia. A spe-
bridging the gap between the real
cial exhibition at Post’s Hillwood
and the virtual world. This visu-
Estate, nestled in a leafy section of
al “journey of discovery” explores
Upper Northwest a few blocks from
mind-bending sci-fi worlds and
Van Ness, unveils new discoveries
infinite 3D geometric patterns,
relating to the collection of about 90
transporting viewers to another
Fabergé works, including two impe-
dimension. Horthuis, whose work
rial Easter eggs. Now to Jan. 13.
was featured in the 2016 Oscar-
JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 17
SAAM ARCADE, PHOTO BY DANIEL SCHWARTZ COURTESY OF THE SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM

Sunday, July 22. Doors at 6 p.m. Ten

Tigers Parlour, 3813 Georgia Ave.
NW. No cover. Call 202-506-2080
or visit tentigersdc.com.

ABOVE
AND BEYOND
BATALA, THE GOONIES
The Library of Congress and
Washington Performing Arts team
up for this outdoor series with
events every Thursday over the next
month. The musical performance
series launches Thursday, July 19,
at 7 p.m., with Batalá Washington,
the all-female Afro-Brazilian per-
cussion band. After the perfor-
mance, starting at sunset (approx-
imately 8:30 p.m.) comes a screen-
ing of 1985’s The Goonies, in which
misfits search for a pirate’s bounty.
On Thursday, July 26, recording
artist and 2017-2018 WPA Artist-in-
Residence Chelsey Green will per-
form prior to a screening of E.T. The
Extra-Terrestrial. The series con-
tinues with Cheick Hamala Diabate
and Back to the Future on Aug. 2,
Trifilio Tango Trio and Superman
SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM: SAAM ARCADE on Aug. 9, Sarah Marie Hughes &
The Smithsonian American Art Museum was one of the first museums in the U.S. to Coy Fish and The Wizard of Oz on
Aug. 16, and ending with a concert
acquire video games as part of its permanent collection, recognizing the compelling perfor- by the DuPont Brass and VeVe &
mance space, activated by artists and players alike, whose interaction can create a unique tha Rebels on Aug. 23. North Lawn
artistic as well as educational experience. At its annual SAAM Arcade, participants get the of the Thomas Jefferson Building,
10 First St. SE. Tickets, although
chance to play games, from the analog (card games, pinball machines) to digital classics
not required, are available on a first-
(Donkey Kong and Pac-Man, available on their original devices). But the centerpiece is come, first-served basis. Visit loc.
the “Indie Showcase” in the museum’s Kogod Courtyard, a display of independent games gov/events.
created by both student and professional developers. Sunday, July 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 7
THE DC WEIRDO SHOW:
p.m. 8th and F Sts. NW. Free. Call 202-633-1000 or visit americanart.si.edu. FUCK PT BARNUM
Held the third Friday of every
month, the latest Weirdo Show is
winning film Manchester by the Sea Sunday, July 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. ROOPKOTHA PHOTO EXHIBIT a satire of The Greatest Showman,
and has been seen in collaborations The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St., Vibrant images captured by various which, while containing some
with American EDM duo Odesza Alexandria. Call 703-548-0035 photographers, along with historical incredibly stirring music and per-
among other musical artists, incor- or visit nvfaa.org. For additional artifacts and personal memorabil- formances and the overall mes-
porates both projection and virtual details, visit katiepumphrey.com/ ia, tell the story of Xulhaz Mannan sage of personal perseverance and
reality elements. Now to Sept. 3. fivemoreminutes. and Mahbbub Rabbi Tonoy, two social acceptance of difference,
1238 Maryland Ave. SW. Tickets Bangladeshi LGBTQ activists and was a whitewashed biography of
for timed-entry sessions are $8 to REYNERIO TAMAYO: artists who were savagely murdered P.T. Barnum ( portrayed by Hugh
$15, with evening admission for CUBAN SLUGGER in their home two years ago. The Jackman). The 2017 movie musi-
those over 21 years of age, including Even Arena Stage has caught base- Center Arts Gallery in the DC Center cal directed by Michael Gracey and
exhibit-related Augmented Reality ball fever this year: The Southwest for the LGBT Community has set co-written by Jenny Bicks and Bill
Cocktails available for purchase. D.C. arts complex currently has on up this powerful installation as part Condon omitted the white suprem-
Visit artechouse.com. display over 35 baseball-themed of an ongoing campaign to protest acy, limitless greed, cultural appro-
pieces of art from one of today’s the inaction of the Bangladeshi priation, and dishonesty wrought
KATIE PUMPHREY: FIVE MORE leading contemporary caricatur- government to investigate the by Barnum that the circus and
MINUTES, PART I AND II ists. The Cuban artist Tamayo is murders. Opening Reception, sideshow industries still harbor
Through large-scale paintings and particularly known for his mockery including catered food and a talk to this day. Fuck PT Barnum is a
installations, the Baltimore artist of the art establishment as well as with Roopkotha’s Rasel Ahmed, is reimagining of a sideshow where
explores the tension between calm politics and sports. In this series of Saturday, July 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. the performers — womxn, people
and chaos — specifically, the anx- paintings and sculpture focused on 2000 14th St. NW. Call 202-682- of color, queer — talk back to this
iety, excitement, panic, and even baseball — first displayed at Miami’s 2245 or visit thedccenter.org. legacy of exploitation, fraud, and
monotony that comes from just five Kendall Art Center in conjunction oppression, and speak their truths
more minutes of doing something. with last year’s All-Star Game and
Pumphrey’s works on the theme reprised by Arena as a toast to DRAG on their own terms. Hosted by
Dr Torcher, the roster includes
are on display in both Georgetown Nationals Park having just hosted Martika, Queen Nefertittie, Cherie
and Alexandria as part of a two- this year’s event — the artist pays GLASS HOUSE: Nuit, Iris Honeydew, Blaq Milk,
part exhibition at two galleries. tribute to the history, key figures, A DRAG VARIETY SHOW Philomena Shakesbare, and Ophelia
Part I ends in a Closing Reception and shared passion for the sport Haus of Stone presents a show
Zayna Hart. Friday, July 20, at 9
Saturday, July 21, from 5 to 8 p.m. in both the U.S. and Cuba. Now to featuring Citrine, Kittney Stone,
p.m. Bier Baron Tavern, 1523 22nd
Susan Calloway Fine Arts, 1643 July 29. Mead Center for American Logan Stone, Vagenesis, and Venus
St. NW. Tickets are $15 in advance,
Wisconsin Ave. NW. Call 202-965- Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Call 202- Valhalla. There will also be special
or $20 at the door. Call 202-293-
4601 or visit callowayart.com. Part 488-3300 or visit arenastage.org. guest performances by Ana Latour
1887 or visit dcweirdoshow.com. l
II ends with a Closing Reception (Salvadora Dali) and Sigma Fraud.

18 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 theFeed

RIGHTFUL TERMINATION
CVS fires an employee, who also happens to be a Log Cabin chapter president,
after he calls police on a black customer. By Bailey Vogt

A
LOG CABIN REPUB- any practices that discriminate
licans chapter pres- against any customer and we
ident has been fired are committed to maintaining
from CVS Pharmacy after a welcoming and diverse envi-
a video of him calling police ronment in our stores. We have
on a black woman for using firm non-discrimination poli-
a “fraudulent” coupon went cies in place to help ensure that
viral. all customers are treated with
Camilla Hudson said that respect and dignity. Profiling or
when she tried to use a coupon any other type of discriminatory
at a North Broadway CVS in behavior is strictly prohibited.”
Chicago on Friday, July 13, Morry Matson is president of the
Matson, a manager at the store, Illinois chapter of the Log Cabin
and a second manager claimed Republicans, which aims to
it was “fraudulent.” Hudson told advance LGBTQ rights from
CAMILLA HUDSON - FACEBOOK

news outlets that she insisted to within the Republican Party.

Matson that she had received the
coupon in the mail. The situation
escalated until Matson attempt-
ed to kick her out of the store,
and then called police when she
refused to leave.
In a video Hudson posted to Facebook, Matson calls
police for what she says is the second time. Visibly shaken,
Matson describes Hudson as African-American to the per-
son on the other end, to which she responds, “No, I’m not
African-American, I’m black. Black isn’t a bad word.” Three
officers arrived on scene, but Hudson said they did not take
any action. She also mentioned that Matson didn’t start
shaking during their interaction until he called the police
for a second time.
CVS Health released a statement apologizing to Hudson
and saying Matson and another employee were fired as a
result of the incident.
“We sincerely apologize to Ms. Hudson for her expe-
rience in one of our stores,” CVS’ spokesperson Mike
DeAngelis said, adding, “CVS Health does not tolerate
Matson’s contact info has been
removed from the Log Cabin
website, and the chapter web-
site for Illinois is not accessible
Matson as of press time.
At the time of the incident,
Matson was running for Chicago City Council in the city’s
48th Ward. According to his campaign website, Matson
believes in “Restoring Law and Order.”
“Welcome to Chicago where ‘No Lives Matter,’” Citizens
for Matson reads. “Living here is like living in a real-life
ultra-violent video game. City Hall Democrats say the cops
get the blame. Parents should be able to send their children
off to school without fear of them getting caught between
gangland crossfire along the way.”
Matson has since withdrawn from the 48th Ward race,
citing health problems stemming from a brain seizure he
apparently suffered earlier this year which required surgery,
according to Chicago’s ABC 7. Log Cabin Republicans have
yet to comment on Matson’s firing or his position in the
organization. l

FEAR FACTOR
Bill introduced in Congress to ban use of gay and trans panic defenses. By John Riley

T
WO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE INTRO-
duced legislation to exclude the use of “gay panic” or
“trans panic” defenses for defendants charged with
violent crimes. Defendants may try to use the “gay panic” or
“trans panic” defense by arguing that their violent actions
were justified because their knowledge of the victim’s sexual
orientation or gender identity created reasonable fear for
their safety or wellbeing. Such defenses have been utilized
in many high-profile hate crimes or murders of members of
the LGBTQ community, including Matthew Shepard, Gwen
Araujo, and Angie Zapata.
The Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act, intro-
duced by U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and U.S. Rep. Joe
Kennedy III (D-Mass.), would prohibit defense lawyers

JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 19

 theFeed
from using a victim’s LGBTQ identity as justification for a
crime or to argue for lesser sentences on the premise that
there were extenuating circumstances that motivated their
clients to lash out violently.
“Sexual orientation or gender identity cannot ever excuse
violence, and our courtrooms should not be used as cham-
bers of hate,” Markey said in a statement. “Gay and trans
panic legal defenses reflect an irrational fear and bigotry
toward the LGBTQ community and corrode the legitimacy
of federal prosecutions. These defenses must be prohibited
to ensure that all Americans are treated with dignity and
humanity in our justice system.”
“Murdering or assaulting anyone because of their sexual
orientation or gender identity is not a defense, it is a hate
crime,” Kennedy added in a statement of his own. “Legal
loopholes written into our laws that seek to justify violent
attacks against our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender
neighbors should never have existed in the first place.”
The Senate version of the legislation has been co-spon-
sored by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal
(D-Conn.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.),
and Tim Kaine (D-Va.). The House version is co-spon-
sored by U.S. Reps. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), Raul Grijalva
(D-Ariz.), Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), David N. Cicilline (D-R.I.),
and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). Both bills are
expected to gain more cosponsors in the coming weeks.
Some states have already passed laws to limit the use of
gay and trans panic defenses, with California and Illinois
banning the practice altogether. Similar legislation has
20 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
been introduced in New Jersey, Washington State, Rhode
Island, New York, Georgia, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and
the District of Columbia. Such bans have been endorsed
by the American Bar Association, the National LGBT Bar
Association, the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Equality
California, and the American Unity Fund.
“The LGBT Bar has been working to end gay and trans
‘panic’ defenses for over a decade and is hopeful that the Gay
and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2018 will bring
an end to these heinous defenses,” D’Arcy Kemnitz, the
executive director of the National LGBT Bar Association,
said in a statement.
“Gay and trans ‘panic’ defenses have long stood as a
symbol of dangerous and outdated thinking. An individual’s
sexual orientation or gender identity/expression should
never justify a violent attack or murder. To say otherwise
sends a message to the LGBT community that their lives are
inherently less valued. The continued allowance of these
defenses is a failure of the justice system.”
The American Bar Association also praised the introduc-
tion of the legislation, calling the use of such defenses “rem-
nants of a by-gone era” when anti-LGBTQ discrimination
was tolerated and even accepted.
“Gay and trans ‘panic’ defenses deprive LGBT Americans
of the blessing of liberty because they enshrine in law the
idea that murder is a justifiable response to a life lived free-
ly,” the American Unity Fund said in a statement. “This is a
dishonor to LGBT people’s right to life and an egregious blot
on the American justice system.”l
 Community
THURSDAY, July 19
The DC Center holds a meet-
ing of its POLY DISCUSSION
GROUP, for people interested
in polyamory, non-monogamy
or other non-traditional rela-
tionships. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. Visit thedc-
center.org.

Weekly Events

ANDROMEDA
TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH
offers free HIV testing and HIV
services (by appointment). 9
a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center,
1400 Decatur St. NW. To
arrange an appointment, call
202-291-4707, or visit androm-
edatransculturalhealth.org.
KEVIN COMBES

DC AQUATICS CLUB practice

session at Takoma Aquatic
Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more infor-
Bingham Cup 2018 mation, visit swimdcac.org.

SCRUM FUN
DC FRONT RUNNERS run-
ning/walking/social club
welcomes runners of all ability
levels for exercise in a fun and
Thinking about trying out a new sport? Rugby may be your supportive environment, with
socializing afterward. Route
golden ticket to fun and friendships. distance is 3-6 miles. Meet at
7 p.m. at 23rd & P Streets NW.

T
For more information, visit
HE WAY TO LEARN RUGBY IS TO JUST GO OUT AND DO IT,” SAYS dcfrontrunners.org.
Kevin Combes. “Learn from your mistakes.” The president of Washington DC LAMBDA SQUARES, D.C.’s
Scandals Rugby Football Club, Combes thinks “ideally, everyone should gay and lesbian square-dancing
want to come out and play rugby. We’ve been really focused on being super-in- group, features mainstream
through advanced square
clusive, not just in terms of sexuality, but body type, athletic ability, race, different
dancing at the National City
levels of masculinity.” Christian Church. Please dress
Michael Arnone, the Scandals recruiting chair, says that playing rugby might casually. 7-9:30 p.m. 5 Thomas
seem intimidating at first, but practices are arranged to walk newcomers through Circle NW. 202-930-1058,
dclambdasquares.org.
its finer points. The team also holds a “Rugby 101” session twice a year, a part-in-
teractive clinic, part-informational session next held on Sunday, Aug. 5. DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
“We try to introduce people to the sport in a low-stress, very casual setting,” practice. The team is always
looking for new members.
says Arnone. Adds Combes, “You don’t have to worry about getting injured —
All welcome. 7-9 p.m. Harry
we’re not going to put you into a tackle until we’ve taught you how to do it safely.” Thomas Recreation Center,
Because the team doesn’t have a set season, newcomers can join at any time, 1743 Lincoln Rd. NE. For more
and are encouraged to show up at the team’s weekly practices on Tuesday or information, visit scandalsrfc.
org or dcscandals@gmail.com.
Thursday. A full membership is about $240 per year, but the team generally
doesn’t ask people to pay until they have played a few games and decided it’s right THE DULLES TRIANGLES
for them. Then there’s the social aspect to consider. Northern Virginia social
group meets for happy hour at
“If you’re thinking about joining rugby, you should be someone who’s looking
Sheraton in Reston. All wel-
to have fun and make really strong friendships,” says Combes. “The team is abso- come. 7-9 p.m. 11810 Sunrise
lutely like a family. My teammates are some of my best friends, they’re almost my Valley Drive, second-floor bar.
entire life in D.C. It’s not an activity you just go to three times a week. It’s gonna For more information, visit
dullestriangles.com.
be your core group of friends.” —John Riley
HIV TESTING at Whitman-
Walker Health. 9 a.m.-12:30
The Washington Scandals Rugby Football Club’s “Rugby 101” is Sunday, Aug. 5, p.m. and from 2-5 p.m. at 1525
from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Harry Thomas Recreation Center Fields, 1743 Lincoln Rd. 14th St. NW, and 9 a.m-12
NE. A “Third Half” social event will occur immediately afterward from 4 to 8 p.m. p.m. and 2-5 p.m. at the Max
at Uproar, 639 Florida Ave. NW. Weekly practices are Tuesdays and Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr.
Ave. SE. For an appointment
Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at Thomas Recreation Center. call 202-745-7000 or visit whit-
For more information, visit scandalsrfc.org. man-walker.org.

JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 21

 IDENTITY offers free and confi-
dential HIV testing at two separate
locations. Walk-ins accepted from
2-6 p.m., by appointment for all
other hours. 414 East Diamond
Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. or 7676
New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411,
Takoma Park, Md. To set up an
appointment or for more informa-
tion, call Gaithersburg, 301-300-
9978, or Takoma Park, 301-422-
2398.
METROHEALTH CENTER
offers free, rapid HIV testing.
Appointment needed. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. To arrange an
appointment, call 202-638-0750.
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 or testing@smyal.org.
STI TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2-3
p.m. at both 1525 14th St. NW and
the Max Robinson Center, 2301
Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE.
Testing is intended for those with-
out symptoms. For an appointment
call 202-745-7000 or visit whit-
man-walker.org.
US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics
Anonymous Meeting. The group
is independent of UHU. 6:30-7:30
p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. For
more information, call 202-446-
1100.
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ
women, 13-21, interested in lead-
ership development. 5-6:30 p.m.
SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th St.
SE. For more information, call 202-
567-3163, or email catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
FRIDAY, July 20
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 gaydis-
trict.org.
Join The DC Center for its TRANS
AND GENDERQUEER GAME
NIGHT, featuring board and card
games and a chance to socialize
with other people from across the
LGBTQ spectrum. All welcome. 7-9
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
Visit thedccenter.org.
One week left to register for
a FREE SOCIAL ANXIETY
EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP, to
be held on Friday, July 27. Are you
shy? Unassertive? Self-conscious?
Easily embarrassed? Closeted?
Anxious about coming out or being
out? Socially withdrawn, avoidant,
or isolated? Fearful of speaking in
22 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
groups? Have performance anxi-
ety? Stage fright? Difficulty meeting
people or forming relationships?
Sexual anxiety? Pee shy? Learn
what social anxiety is, what causes
and maintains it, its special effects
on LGBT people, and the cogni-
tive-behavioral therapy approach
to overcoming it. NO ONE WILL
BE REQUIRED TO SPEAK OR
INTERACT AT THE WORKSHOP.
Pre-registration required; space
is limited. Meet in an office near
Tenleytown Metro in Northwest
D.C. To register, visit socialanxi-
etyhelp.com or call Larry Cohen,
LICSW, at 202-244-0903.
SATURDAY, July 21
ADVENTURING outdoors group
hosts a strenuous hike in central
Shenandoah National Park, to a
historic cabin and spot on moun-
tain stream suitable for wading or
splashing, followed by blackberry
ice cream and other treats at near-
by Skyland resort. Bring plenty
of beverages, lunch, sturdy boots,
sunscreen, bug spray, swimsuit
and towel, about $25 for fees, and
whatever you want to splurge on
ice cream. Carpool at 9 a.m. from
East Falls Church Metro Kiss
& Ride lot. Return around dark.
Contact Craig, 202-462-0535 or
visit adventuring.org.
KHUSH DC, a support group
for LGBTQ South Asians, hosts
a monthly meeting at The DC
Center. 1:30-3 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more informa-
tion, visit facebook.com/khushdc.
The DC Center hosts a month-
ly LGBT ASYLEES SUPPORT
MEETING AND DINNER for LGBT
refugees and asylum seekers. 5-7
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more information, visit thedc-
center.org.
The DC Center holds a meeting of
its LGBTQ PEOPLE OF COLOR
SUPPORT GROUP, facilitated by
Dakia Davis. 1-3 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more informa-
tion, visit thedccenter.org.
SUNDAY, July 22
ADVENTURING outdoors group
hosts a summer picnic in Rock
Creek Park, in the picnic grove
across from historic Peirce Mill.
Bring your own soft drinks (no
alcohol), a side dish to share, and
$10 for admission. Adventuring
will supply burgers, hot dogs, con-
diments, paper goods, and ice. 10
a.m.-2 p.m. Intersection of Beach
Drive NW and Tilden Street NW.
For more info, contact Jessica, 703-
314-8159‬ or visit adventuring.org.
MONDAY, July 23
Weekly Events
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a
practice session at Dunbar Aquatic
Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 101 N St. NW.
For more information, visit swim-
dcac.org.
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 or testing@smyal.org.
STI TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at both 1525
14th St. NW and the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 Martin Luther King,
Jr. Ave. SE. Testing is intended for
those without symptoms. For an
appointment call 202-745-7000 or
visit whitman-walker.org.
The DC Center hosts COFFEE
DROP-IN FOR THE SENIOR LGBT
COMMUNITY. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000
14th St. NW. For more information,
call 202-682-2245 or visit thedc-
center.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay
men’s evening affinity group for
GBT black men. Light refreshments
provided. 7-9 p.m. 3636 Georgia
Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
p.m. Newcomers with at least basic
swimming ability always welcome.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more informa-
tion, contact Tom, 703-299-0504
or secretary@wetskins.org, or visit
wetskins.org.
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH
HIV/AIDS SUPPORT GROUP
for newly diagnosed individuals,
meets 7 p.m. Registration required.
202-939-7671, hivsupport@whit-
man-walker.org.
TUESDAY, July 24
GENDERQUEER DC, a support and
discussion group for people who
identify outside the gender binary,
meets at The DC Center on the
fourth Tuesday of every month.
7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
105. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
Weekly Events
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
walking/social club welcomes
runners of all ability levels for
exercise in a fun and supportive
environment, with socializing
afterward. Route distance is 3-6
miles. Meet at 7 p.m. at Union
Station. For more information,
visit dcfrontrunners.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds prac-
tice. The team is always looking
for new members. All welcome.
7-9 p.m. Harry Thomas Recreation
Center, 1743 Lincoln Rd. NE. For
more information, visit scandalsrfc.
org or dcscandals@gmail.com.
THE GAY MEN’S 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 571-214-9617.
james.leslie@inova.org.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
holds an LGBT-focused meet-
ing every Tuesday, 7 p.m. at St.
George’s Episcopal Church, 915
Oakland Ave., Arlington, just steps
from Virginia Square Metro. For
more info. call Dick, 703-521-
1999. Handicapped accessible.
Newcomers welcome. liveandletli-
veoa@gmail.com.
STI TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at both 1525
14th St. NW and the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 Martin Luther King,
Jr. Ave. SE. Testing is intended for
those without symptoms. For an
appointment call 202-745-7000 or
visit whitman-walker.org.
Support group for LGBTQ youth
ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL. 5-6:30
p.m. 410 7th St. SE. For more
information, contact Cathy Chu,
202-567-3163, or catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
Whitman-Walker Health holds its
weekly GAY MEN’S HEALTH AND
WELLNESS/STD CLINIC. Patients
are seen on walk-in basis. No-cost
screening for HIV, syphilis, gon-
orrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis
and herpes testing available for fee.
Testing starts at 6 p.m, but should
arrive early to ensure a spot. 1525
14th St. NW. For more information,
visit whitman-walker.org.
WEDNESDAY, July 25
The DC Center hosts a monthly
meeting of its HEALTH WORKING
GROUP, a volunteer-driven
LGBTQ health outreach, education,
and advocacy initiative that meets
on the fourth Wednesday of the
month. 6:30-8 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more informa-
tion, visit thedccenter.org.
The TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL
BRIDGE CLUB meets for Social
Bridge at the Dignity Center, across
from the Marine Barracks. No
partner needed. 7:30 p.m. 721 8th
St. SE. Call 301-345-1571 for more
information. l
JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 23
Monumental Theatre puts a decidedly Millennial spin
on the classic Stephen Schwartz musical, Pippin.
By Doug Rule • Photography by Todd Franson
Set: James Raymond - Stage Lighting: Jason Brinke
Magic to D
S
OLOMON PARKER IS PULLING OUT ALL
the stops as the Leading Player in Monumental
Theatre’s Pippin.
“There’s nothing that he’s not willing to
try, and he works his butt off in this show,”
director Rebecca Wahls says. “He’s running
around, and he’s singing all of these songs in
the key that the female Leading Player sang them in the reviv-
al — because he can and because it sounds incredible — while
doing this insanely intense aerobic activity. It’s crazy. It’s
breathtaking.”
But the 23-year-old Parker isn’t the only one giving his all
in the production. The show’s other lead, Tiziano D’Affuso, is
“equally breathtaking” as Pippin, says Wahls. “When I set out
to cast this play, I didn’t have people in mind already. During
auditions we saw tons of different types of people for the role,
but Tiziano just is Pippin. I can’t imagine someone else.”
There’s a palpable feeling of possibility and youthful ener-
gy to the whole production — and that’s very much by design.
Monumental Theatre, after all, is a Millennial-run outfit — and
the recipient of the 2018 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding
Emerging Theatre Company. In many ways, Monumental’s
Pippin was conceived as a showcase of outstanding emerging
theater artists. No one in the cast, for instance, is over the age
of 27.
“It’s the first chance for a lot of people,” Wahls says, herself
included: Pippin marks the first musical the 25-year-old has had
the chance to direct outside of Capital Fringe and her small,
fledgling theater collective Who What Where.
It helps that Pippin is an exuberant story at its heart, about a
young man on a search of self-discovery. “It’s so, so relatable,”
the 25-year-old D’Affuso says. “I think all of us at some point
in our lives have felt like we don’t belong or we were searching
for our purpose, and...what we’re meant to do in this world.” A
supporting player in recent productions at Keegan Theatre and
1st Stage, D’Affuso is thrilled with the chance to play “someone
who pretty much never leaves the stage.”
24 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
Unlike the recent Tony-winning revival, Monumental’s
Pippin is not set in the circus, and the Leading Player is not a
ringmaster. “The challenge that I set for myself was figuring out
to make the story feel as if it is genuinely from Pippin’s perspec-
tive,” Wahls says. “For that to work, what I realized is that the
Leading Player himself must be of Pippin.”
That is, the Leading Player is effectively the id to Pippin’s
ego. He pushes the prince to pursue his passions for personal
pleasure and power. “I’m giving life to that person we all have in
our head, who is just telling us to go for it and go for it and go for
it, whether it be bad, or it be good,” Parker says of his approach
to portraying the character.
A Leading Player who is far more than just the show’s narra-
tor “adds a whole series of layers to our relationship that people
are not used to seeing,” says D’Affuso. “I think it’s much more
interesting.” It helps that D’Affuso and Parker, both openly gay,
work so beautifully together in the roles. “They’re such different
humans that create this one complete whole, which is what’s so
fascinating about them,” Wahls says. “The energy between them
is just electric.”
Stephen Schwartz’s score, composed in an early-1970s pop
style, features several standout numbers — “Magic To Do,”
“Corner of the Sky,” “No Time At All” — but also “songs that
are challenging to the contemporary ear,” says Wahls. In the
Monumental production, numbers that sound somewhat dated,
such as “War is a Science,” have been freshened up visually by
adding hip-hop and “contemporary dance” moves, all overseen
by choreographer Ahmad Maaty — with Bob Fosse’s stunning
original choreography as the foundation. “One of [Maaty’s] big
inspirations is Britney Spears,” D’Affuso says, “and the way he
blends Fosse with Spears is remarkable. I’ve never seen anything
like it. That’s why the choreography to me is one of the coolest
parts of the show, because it’s so refreshing, it’s so different.”
“The things Ahmad has gotten the cast to do are just beau-
tiful, out of this world,” Wahls says, citing Maaty’s work in her
favorite number from the show, “Glory,” “an epic three-part
Continues on page 31
Do!
“We don’t need all the
fancy hydraulics that
Broadway uses. We
have this raw talent.”
—Tiziano D’Affuso

Tiziano D’Affuso as Pippin

26 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 “I’m giving life to
that person we all
have in our head,
who is just telling
us to go for it.”
—Solomon Parker

Solomon Parker as the Leading Player

JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 27

Chani Wereley as Catherine
Kaitlin Kemp as Berthe

JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 29

 Justin Sumblin as Lewis,
Rachel Barlaam as Fastrada,
and DeCarlo Raspberry as Charles
30
30 JULY
JULY19,
19,2018
2018 •• METROWEEKLY
METROWEEKLY

Continued from page 24
song about Pippin going to war.” Ending in a “wild pantomimed
battle,” Maaty has “the actors leaping out practically into the
audience.... It’s visceral and it’s in your face.”
The production is further heightened by its staging in a thrust
configuration, with the audience on three sides of the action —
all brought to life by a cast of eleven. “We don’t need all the fancy
pyrotechnics and all the fancy hydraulics that Broadway uses,”
D’Affuso asserts. “We have this raw talent. These people are just
incredible, and I’m so honored to be onstage with them because
Clockwise from center: D’Affuso, Wereley,
Steven Labovitch (Theo), Barlaam, Sumblin,
Raspberry, Lawrence Hailes (Ensemble),
Melrose Pyne (Ensemble), Kemp, Parker,
and Allie O’Donnell (Ensemble).
they’re just amazing.”
After a recent performance, Wahls says, “I noticed that peo-
ple afterwards, it looked like they were breathing easier than
they were when they walked in. And that’s what musical theater
should be, right? It makes you think, but also makes you feel
good.” l
Pippin runs to July 30 at the Ainslie Arts Center in Episcopal High
School, 3900 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria. Tickets are $30 to $40.
Call 703-933-3000 or visit monumentaltheatre.org.
JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 31
 Movies

Money Pit
states, including the battle to retain cam-
paign financing laws in the midst of attacks
by dark money groups and the politicians
they support. It can be frequently over-
whelming — information comes thick and
Dark Money offers a small-scale but effective look at the way outside fast, and the timeline, though occasionally
spending is influencing America’s democracy. By Rhuaridh Marr noted by year, jumps around through var-

D
ious court decisions, political races, poli-
ARK MONEY (HHHHH) IS AN INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE HORROR FILM. ticians, state actors, and the various sham
It uses one of the genre’s simplest tools to tell its tale: a creeping, ever-present organizations established to influence elec-
insidiousness, that gradually infects the entire narrative. Its story comes not tions. Keeping track of everything requires
in massive blows, but in small drips throughout its 98-minute runtime, as we meet an constant attention, and the film lacks — and
ever-expanding cast of characters fighting against a growing and malicious evil. And needs — a core narrator.
what makes this all the more effective is that Dark Money isn’t a horror film at all — it’s We’re offered a pseudo guide in John
a documentary about corporate influence on American democracy. S. Adams, an investigative reporter for-
If that sounds needlessly overblown, it shouldn’t. Anyone who has been awake merly of the Great Falls Tribune, who
and coherent for the past ten years will have witnessed the gradual undermining of revels in uncovering the murkier aspects
America’s electoral systems. Outside influence, secret spending, paid-for politicians, of Montana politics. In the absence of
lobbying, gerrymandering, and the political stranglehold by a Republican party that graphics or animations to describe the
has long since abandoned its own principles in favor of seeking ever more power has technical information being fed to us, we
turned America, once a beacon of freedom and hope, into constant daily fodder for have Adams drawing on a whiteboard,
editorial cartoonists and late night hosts. In its own intriguing, albeit limited, way, visually connecting the dots between dark
director Kimberly Reed is trying to shine a light — however small — into but one aspect money and the politicians who utilize it.
of the various ways American society is crumbling: untraceable and undisclosed money Reed instead tries to balance her
influencing both America’s elections and its elected officials. film by showing all sides to the story, an
Rather than set her documentary in the obvious epicenter of so-called dark money’s attempt to prove that campaign finance
influence, Washington, D.C., Reed (Prodigal Sons) instead takes viewers to Montana, the is an issue that affects us all — and it’s
sparsely populated northwestern state that has become a surprising leader in the battle effective, with a mix of Democrats and
against undisclosed campaign spending. It’s a small-scale way to give some context to Republicans detailing the various ways
the story, starting with Montana’s efforts to combat corporations that ravaged its natural outside spending can turn the tides of a
resources during the Industrial Revolution, which led to strict limits on its elected offi- campaign. Take Debra Bonogofsky, a GOP
cials and their campaign finances. Those limits were then undermined by the Supreme candidate for the Montana Legislature.
Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010, which removed government restrictions on Dark money poured into her primary
corporations and organizations funding communications during elections. opponent’s campaign, leading to fliers that
Filmed over the course of three election cycles, Reed’s film tries to give a compre- attacked Bonogofsky’s views on abortion
hensive overview of the various ways dark money has influenced Montana and other and other issues just weeks before the

JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 33

election, ultimately killing her political aspirations. The same
story repeats several times — nondescript interest groups,
typically conservative Republican-leaning, blanket a district to
smear a candidate’s image, or to force a sitting politician to adopt
a position preferable to the anonymous backers who are financ-
ing the effort. And they often, though not always, get their way.
There’s also a core case which Dark Money tracks, that of for-
mer Montana Senate Majority Leader Art Wittich, a Republican
who utilized dark money to operate his election campaigns. We
follow the case as it slowly unfolds, including Wittich’s unsuc-
cessful attempt to fight against a new law that would require all
donations to be declared and traceable, and ultimately culminat-
ing in a successful trial against him, which finds him guilty of
breaching campaign finance law.
The effectiveness of Dark Money’s narrative is that Wittich’s
case could almost be the sign of things to come, that this sin-
gle case in Montana will have repercussions nationwide. Like
the best horror, Reed quickly reminds us that the good guys
never truly win. Instead, we end with former Federal Election
Commissioner Ann Ravel submitting her resignation to Donald
Trump in 2017, urging him to fight for campaign finance reform
and to limit undisclosed spending on American elections — a
year later, nothing has happened.
Reed’s film then issues a dire warning about the internet and
unregulated campaigning, before closing on a montage of the
various efforts against undisclosed spending. After watching
Dark Money, that fight seems all the more worthy — and much
less certain to be successful. l

Dark Money opens Friday, July 21 at Landmark’s E Street Cinema, 555 11th Street NW. Kimberly Reed will appear for Q&As following
the showings on Friday, July 21, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 23, at 1:30 p.m.
For tickets and more information visit landmarktheatres.com.

“Dancing Queen,” save the day by ensur-

ing Sophie’s mountains of food and rivers
of alcohol won’t go to waste. There’s a lot
of pointless hand-wringing as to whether
or not “My Three Dads” or Grandma Ruby
(Cher) will bother to come, but at least
mom’s old pals are there — Rosie (Julie
Walters, the film’s only minor miracle)
and Tanya (Christine Baranski), who gets
to utter side-splitting howlers like “Be still
my beating vagina.”
Perhaps realizing he needed a second
sheet of paper for his plot, director Ol
Parker trades in his frequent flashbacks
miles so we can learn exactly how young
Donna (Lily James, who, admittedly, has
a lovely smile and an even lovelier voice)
was swept off her feet by Harry, Bill, and

S.O.S.
Sam, allowing all three to participate in
a new carnival game called “Hit the egg!
Win a baby girl!” I can’t fault Mamma
Mia on its sex-positive message. I just
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is the kind of dreadful excursion that wish someone had had the sense to use a
gives all movie musicals a bad name. By Randy Shulman condom.

S
Once again, ABBA’s songs are forcibly
EQUELS ARE RARELY BETTER THAN THE ORIGINALS. SINCE THE BAR wedged into the story, creating moments
was already at ground level for the 2008 jukebox musical Mamma Mia!, the only that are patently absurd. Obviously, musi-
place left to go was subterranean. Within minutes, Mamma Mia! Here We Go cals don’t have to adhere to reality, but
Again (HHHHH) aims for the sewage system, where it gleefully cavorts for nearly two Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again goes way
stupefying hours. too far. The biggest doozie is “Waterloo,”
Astonishingly, there’s even less of a storyline in this Mamma Mia than in the first. which is so embarrassing to watch, you’re
In that outing, you’ll recall, winsome Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) was on a quest to ferret better off staring at your popcorn. By the
out the true identity of her father — was it Harry (Colin Firth), Sam (Pierce Brosnan), time Cher erupts into “Fernando,” any
or Bill (Stellan Skarsgård) who impregnated the free-spirited Donna (Meryl Streep) hope for redemption is lost. It’s topped by
all those years ago? (So much time could have been saved had Sophie dropped a few a climax where a spectral Streep finally
bucks on 23andMe.) Ultimately, it was determined that all three would serve as dearest re-enters the picture for three inglori-
daddy, setting the stage for an eventual sitcom comeback for Paul Reiser. ous minutes, in what amounts to a very
The new movie picks up a year later. Donna is dead, presumably the victim of having expensive walk-on. At one point, Streep
had to watch the first film. Sophie has renovated the hotel in her honor, and is planning smiles knowingly at the camera, as if to
a big grand opening. A storm threatens to derail the festivities, and all the guests cancel. say “Joke’s on you. Where’s my million
But what’s this? Boatloads of Greek fishermen, who all happen to know the words to dollars?” l

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is rated PG-13 and opens Friday, July 20, at far too many area theaters. Visit Fandango.com.

34 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

RJ PAVEL
Stage

Fantasy Lands
in pushing Pippin into his big finale.
D’Affuso, more convincing singing
Schwartz’s soulful score than dancing to
it, gives a compelling performance that
captures the scope of emotion present-
Monumental’s Pippin serves up selfies and sass, while Synetic’s Oz ed in Pippin’s rocky coming-of-age. From
struggles to make it over the rainbow. By André Hereford brash, naïve scion of power comically

F
marching into “War Is a Science,” to the
OR MONUMENTAL THEATRE’S UPDATED TAKE ON THE TONY-WINNING wiser man who emerges, following a brief
musical Pippin (HHHHH), director Rebecca Wahls mingles merriment with segue into wanton sexuality, as a poten-
elements of millennial culture. Toying with Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. tial lover to the humble widow Catherine
Hirson’s fictional history of the son of Charlemagne, the production leans heavily (Chani Wereley), D’Affuso’s Pippin charts
on keeping things current. In fact, it leans to the point of nearly tipping over the an extraordinary journey.
brink, with copious selfie snapping and references to social media and “fake news.” And D’Affuso’s subtle performance
Thankfully, both director and cast eventually bring home the title character’s odyssey proves the key to making Wahl’s con-
across an empire and towards his version of living a fulfilling life. And the marriage of temporary take click. Well-supported by
medieval with up-to-the-minute makes more sense. comic turns from Barlaam as Pip’s evil
Muddying the waters at first are visuals which don’t render the most decisive vision stepmom Catherine and Justin Sumblin as
of fanciful anachronism. Scenic designer James Raymond’s set periodically appears her bumbling son Lewis, D’Affuso leads an
to get in the way of itself and the actors, and the lighting often diminishes more than intriguing quest that connects the histori-
it adds. Kateri Kuhn’s costumes, so fresh and crisp on Tiziano D’Affuso and Solomon cal epic to a current age of young people
Parker, as Pippin and the Leading Player respectively, don’t nail right now, or way back eager to march into wars they didn’t create
when, to much cohesive effect on the supporting cast. and might not know how to fight.
Yet, D’Affuso and Parker do generate a cohesive partnership guiding the troupe of In search of something completely ful-
players that’s telling this woeful tale of the prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Though filling, this Pippin ultimately must decide
the tale may be woeful, laced with brutality and betrayal plotted by King Charles between chasing the glory of likes and
(DeCarlo Raspberry) and his wife Fastrada (Rachel Barlaam), the musical numbers are clicks, or merely relishing the adoration of
as vibrant and sensual as a Bob Fosse daydream. his family, in their little corner of the sky.
Wahl’s ensemble and Ahmad Maaty’s choreography ooze the teasing spirit and
crotch-thrusting chorus lines of the indelible 1972 Broadway original. Although, as SYNETIC THEATER’S MOSTLY word-
fun as the vigorous dance breaks are for the audience, and for as much fun as the per- less adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of
formers seem to be having, occasionally the groovy interludes don’t just shake up, but Oz ( ) conjures an otherworldly
actually derail the narrative flow. atmosphere for L. Frank Baum’s fantasy
Good that Parker provides such a strong presence to keep things on track. And, of an innocent girl’s odyssey through a
among the ensemble, none captures that Fosse spirit and those recognizably slinky strange, unfamiliar land. Director Ryan
moves as sharply as his Leading Player, who still might stray too close to the dark side Sellers and choreographer Tori Bertocci,

JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 35

 a town where everyone views the world through emer-
ald-tinted lenses cues up clever jokes and good lighting.
However, lost in the craft and choreography is much
of a message. Even the standard “There’s no place like
home” sentiments don’t come across with a passion
that might define this iteration of the oft-told tale.
Whitworth’s Dorothy pops — again, visually —
but the performer doesn’t find a persuasive voice for
whatever’s driving the wandering Kansan. Sellers and
Bertocci struggle to do the same for Dorothy’s three
road buddies and little dog Toto (Jacob Yeh) — the
script emphasizes Scarecrow (Dallas Tolentino) as
the trembling voice of her companions in Oz, to the
BRITTANY DILLIBERTO

production’s detriment. The Tin Man (Philip Fletcher)

who co-adapted the text, create several striking visual moments
thanks to effective scenery and costumes and evocative move-
ment. Take Dorothy (Emily Whitworth) and her friends’ prome-
nade through the infamous field of poisonous poppies. Staged as
a revamp of “El Tango de Roxanne” from Moulin Rouge, it takes
on some fascinating undertones. And revealing Emerald City as
seems a faint accessory to the story, while the Lion (Lee
Liebeskind) feels muzzled, although Liebeskind does
invest his purring portrayal with personality.
The one character and performance that transmits
the magnetism of a seeker on a mission is the Wizard himself.
Robert Bowen Smith’s squirrelly, steampunk Wizard of Oz
wants the hell out of this wacky, witch-filled purgatory, and he’ll
take advantage of innocent Dorothy and her friends if he must.
The actor’s a delight, and the story seems to want to go the Wiz’s
way, but, alas, it floats off instead after Dorothy. l

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz runs until August 12 at Davis Performing Arts Center, Georgetown University.
Tickets are $20 to $45. Call 866.811.4111, or visit synetictheater.org.

Pippin runs until July 30 at Ainslie Arts Center, Episcopal High School campus, 3900 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria.
Tickets are $40. Visit monumentaltheatre.org.

36 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

NightLife
Photography by
Ward Morrison

JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 37


DrinksDragDJsEtc...
Thursday,
July 19
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
BALTIMORE EAGLE
Doors open at 3pm •
Happy Hour, 3-9pm, all
liquors, beers and wines up
to 50% off • $5 Pitchers
of Miller Lite all night long
• $3 Well Drinks in Nest
until 11pm, $3 in Tavern all
day, $5 Miller Lite Pitchers
• Thrifty Minett Drag
Show, hosted by Whimsy
Thrift and Anita Minett,
8-9:30pm, in the Nest • $5
Cover • Underwear Night
38 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
Scene
Freddie’s Follies at Freddie’s Beach Bar - Saturday, July 14
Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene
Underwear Drink Free, TRADE BALTIMORE EAGLE NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
12-12:30am • DJs Doors open 5pm • Huge Doors open at 2pm • Open 3pm • Beat the
BacK2bACk Happy Hour: Any drink Bears & Bellies Friday Clock Happy Hour — $2
normally served in a cock- Bear Night • $10 Cover • (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), $4
in the Code Bar, 9pm-2am
• For men in underwear in
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR tail glass served in a huge Pay an extra $5, and get 5 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Beer,
Code Bar, all well drinks
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
glass for the same price,
5-10pm • Beer and wine
free well drinks • Tommy
Gunn’s Fully Loaded: Male
$15 • Weekend Kickoff
Dance Party, with Nellie’s
$2, 9pm-12am • Best
$4 (7-8pm) • $15 Buckets only $4 Burlesque Revue in the DJs spinning bubbly pop
Underwear Contest at
of Beer all night • Sports Nest, 10pm • $10 at door music all night
Midnight • Code enforced
Leagues Night ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS • Elyx Vodka and Any Red
in Code Bar after 9pm •
All male, nude dancers • Bull Flavor for $7 all day NUMBER NINE
Release Dance Party in
NUMBER NINE Open Dancers Audition • long • thebaltimoreeagle. Open 5pm • Happy Hour:
the Nest, featuring DJs
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Urban House Music by DJ com 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
Thommy Davis and Jerry
drink, 5-9pm • No Cover Tim-e • 9pm • Cover 21+ • No Cover • Friday Night
Haley, 10pm-2am • Free
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Piano with Chris, 7:30pm
admission to the Tavern •
PITCHERS Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Admission to the Nest is
2317 18th St. NW Karaoke, 9pm PITCHERS
free until 10:30pm • After
10:30pm, $5 Cover for
Doors open, 5pm-2am •
facebook.com/PitchersDC
Friday, GREEN LANTERN
2317 18th St. NW
Doors open, 5pm-3am •
21 and up, $10 Cover for
18-20 • thebaltimoreea-
July 20 Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $3 facebook.com/PitchersDC
SHAW’S TAVERN Rail and Domestic • Free
gle.com
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3 9 1/2 Pizza, 7-9pm • $5 Svedka, SHAW’S TAVERN
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, Open at 5pm • Happy all flavors, all night long Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, • Rough House, featuring Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas 5-9pm • Friday Night DJ Lemz and The Barber $5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Karaoke, 9pm
and Select Appetizers Videos, 9:30pm • Rotating Streisand, 9pm-3am • Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
• All-You-Can-Eat Ribs, DJs • Expanded craft beer Hosted by Jane Saw and and Select Appetizers •
GREEN LANTERN
$24.95, 5-10pm • $4 selection • No Cover Salvadora Dali • $5 Cover Comedy Show, Second
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Heineken and Corona (includes clothes check) Floor, 7pm
• Shirtless Thursday,
all night
10-11pm • Men in

TRADE
Doors open 5pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm •
Guest dancers • Rotating
DJs • Kristina Kelly’s Diva
Fev-ah Drag Show • Doors
at 9pm, Shows at 11:30pm
and 1:45am • DJ Don T. in
Ziegfeld’s • Cover 21+
Saturday,
July 21
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 2-9pm • $5 Absolut
and $5 Bulleit Bourbon,
9pm-close • Expanded
craft beer selection •
No Cover
BALTIMORE EAGLE
Doors open at noon •
Happy Hour, 3-9pm •
King and Queen’s Drag
Ball, 6pm • Hosted by the
First Royal Drag Family
of Maryland • Proceeds
benefit the Baltimore Eagle
Charitable Fund • Show
starts at 7pm • Tickets
are $10 on the website,
$15 at the door • Leather
and Fetish Saturdays,
Code Bar, 8pm-2am •
Code enforced after 9pm
in the Code Bar • Bear
Bait: The Bear Bash of the
Summer, 9pm • Featuring
DJ Amadeo Barcelona •
Wet Underwear Contest
and More • Divas of the
’80s, ’90s and 2000s Retro
Dance Party in the Nest,
10pm-2am • Featuring
DJ Vince Christopher and
Kuhmeleon • $5 Cover •
Drink Specials in the Nest
• Long Island Leather
Saturdays — $5 Long
Islands all day • thebalti-
moreeagle.com
WARD MORRISON / FILE PHOTO
TWO DECADES OF DUPLEX
An Adams Morgan mainstay celebrates 20 years of good food,
drinks, and high spirits.
W
HEN THEY PURCHASED THE 18TH & U DUPLEX DINER FOUR
years ago, Mark Hunker and Jeff McCracken could have turned the
popular restaurant/bar into an offshoot of Jam Bistro, the trendy
restaurant they run in Rehoboth Beach. But Duplex, which has has thrived
for 20 years at 2004 18th Street NW, held too much of an emotional sway.
“We would never screw with Duplex,” Hunker says. “I learned how to
drink vodka in that place. I met and married my husband there — I literally
got married on those two steps down to the dining room. That place is
absolutely where I grew up. I’d sooner burn it down than change it.” (He’s
quick to douse any pyro concerns, adding dryly, “I have a 12-year-old in
private school. So, no.”)
The fact that Duplex Diner remains virtually unchanged from the way
Eric Hirshfield conceived of it two decades ago is cause for celebration any
day, but especially on Friday, July 20. “Not only is it the 20th anniversary
party,” Hunker says, “but it’s the actual date of creation of Duplex Diner.”
DJ Chord will be on hand to provide music for an evening set to include
“surprise guests, drink specials, maybe a drag queen or two dropping from
the ceiling.”
Over the past few years, Duplex has subtly enhanced its menu with
healthier fare. “[General manager] Kelly Laczko has been really good at
keeping her finger on the pulse with some of the dietary trends,” says
McCracken. The menu includes expanded fish and vegetarian fare. Still, the
classic standby Chicken Sandwich remains a favorite of McCracken’s — so
much so it’s now on the menu at Jam. As for Hunker, the Zoodles and the
Watermelon Radish Summer Salad are his current favorites. “But I’m not
gonna lie,” he says. “I still eat my share of tater tots and chicken fingers.
A lot.” —Doug Rule
Duplex Diner’s 20th Anniversary party is Friday, July 20, at 10 p.m.,
followed by the Breakfast Club ’80s Party, with DJs Khelan and Adam,
on Saturday, July 21. No cover. Duplex Diner is located at
2004 18th Street NW. For more details, visit duplexdiner.com.
JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 39
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Saturday Breakfast Buffet,
10am-3pm • $14.99 with
one glass of champagne
or coffee, soda or juice •
Additional champagne $2
per glass • World Tavern
Poker Tournament, 1-3pm
• Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Freddie’s Follies Drag
Show, hosted by Miss
Destiny B. Childs, 8-10pm
• Karaoke, 10pm-close
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5
Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long • The Bear
Cave: Retro to Electro
Music, 9pm-close •
Featuring DJ Popperz •
No Cover
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted
by Chanel Devereaux,
10:30am-12:30pm and
1-3pm • Tickets on sale
at nelliessportsbar.com
• House Rail Drinks, Zing
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
Beer and Mimosas, $4,
11am-3am • Buckets of
Beer, $15 • Guest DJs
40 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
NUMBER NINE
Doors open 2pm • Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
2-9pm • $5 Absolut and $5
Bulleit Bourbon, 9pm-close
• THIRSTY, featuring DJ
Chord Bezerra, 9:30pm
PITCHERS
2317 18th St. NW
Doors open, 12pm-3am •
facebook.com/PitchersDC
SHAW’S TAVERN
Brunch with $15
Bottomless Mimosas,
10am-3pm • Happy Hour,
5-7pm • $3 Miller Lite,
$4 Blue Moon, $5 House
Wines, $5 Rail Drinks •
Half-Priced Pizzas and
Select Appetizers
TRADE
Doors open 2pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
2-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
Dance Party, 9pm • Guest
dancers • Music by DJ
Steve Henderson • Ladies
of Illusion Drag Show,
featuring Ella Fitzgerald
• Doors at 9pm, Shows
at 11:30pm and 1:45am •
Cover 21+
Sunday, FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
PITCHERS
2317 18th St. NW
Monday,
July 22 10am-3pm • $24.99 with Doors open, 12pm-2am July 23
four glasses of champagne • $4 Smirnoff, includes
9 1/2 or mimosas, 1 Bloody flavored, $4 Coors Light or 9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Mary, or coffee, soda or $4 Miller Lites, 2-9pm Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 2-9pm • $5 Absolut juice • Crazy Hour, 4-8pm drink, 5-9pm • Multiple
and $5 Bulleit Bourbon, • Karaoke, 9pm-close SHAW’S TAVERN TVs showing movies,
9pm-close • Multiple TVs Brunch with Bottomless shows, sports • Expanded
showing movies, shows, GREEN LANTERN Mimosas, 10am-3pm • craft beer selection •
sports • Expanded craft Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Happy Hour, 5-7pm • $3 No Cover
beer selection • No Cover Karaoke with Kevin down- Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
stairs, 9:30pm-close $5 House Wines, $5 Rail BALTIMORE EAGLE
BALTIMORE EAGLE Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas Doors open at 3pm •
Doors open at noon • NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR and Select Appetizers Happy Hour, 3-9pm, all
Lizzie Beaumont and Drag Brunch, hosted • Dinner-n-Drag: Pride liquors, beers and wines up
Betty Whitecastle present by Chanel Devereaux, Edition, with Miss Kristina to 50% off • Micro Brew
Queens Who Brunch, 10:30am-12:30pm and Kelly, 7pm • For reserva- Draft/Bottle Mondays —
12-2pm • $34 per person 1-3pm • Tickets on sale tions, email shawsdinner- $4 all day • SIN: Service
includes All You Can at nelliessportsbar.com dragshow@gmail.com Industry Night, 11pm-2am
Eat • Free pitcher of • House Rail Drinks, Zing • First Well Drink or
Mimosas per 4 admissions Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie TRADE Domestic Beer Free • 10%
• Reservations highly Beer and Mimosas, $4, Doors open 2pm • Huge off your Food Order all day
suggested and can be 11am-1am • Buckets of Happy Hour: Any drink • thebaltimoreeagle.com
made online beforehand Beer, $15 • Guest DJs normally served in a cock-
• Sunday Fun-Day, 4-9pm tail glass served in a huge FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
• Release Dance Party, NUMBER NINE glass for the same price, Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
featuring DJ Jerry Haley, Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on 2-10pm • Beer and wine Singles Night • Half-Priced
5-10pm • From 2-8pm, any drink, 2-9pm • $5 only $4 Pasta Dishes • Poker Night
buy a cup for $5 and fill Absolut and $5 Bulleit — 7pm and 9pm games •
it with any Absolut Flavor Bourbon, 9pm-close • Pop Karaoke, 9pm
and Mixer for $3 each time Goes the World with Wes
(excluding energy drink Della Volla at 9:30pm • GREEN LANTERN
mixers) • thebaltimoreea- No Cover Happy Hour, 4-9pm •
gle.com $3 rail cocktails and
domestic beers all night
long • Singing with the
Sisters: Open Mic Karaoke
Night with the Sisters
of Perpetual Indulgence,
9:30pm-close
JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 41
 NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of
Beer, $15 • Half-Priced
Burgers • Paint Nite, 7pm
• PokerFace Poker, 8pm •
Dart Boards • Ping Pong
Madness, featuring 2 Ping-
Pong Tables
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm • No Cover
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers •
Shaw ’Nuff Trivia, with
Jeremy, 7:30pm
TRADE
Doors open 5pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4
42 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
Tuesday, GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4pm-9pm
July 24 • $3 rail cocktails and
domestic beers all night
9 1/2 long
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm • Multiple NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
TVs showing movies, Beat the Clock Happy Hour
shows, sports • Expanded — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
craft beer selection • $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of
No Cover Beer $15 • Drag Bingo
BALTIMORE EAGLE
with Sasha Adams and
Brooklyn Heights, 7-9pm •
Doors open at 3pm • Karaoke, 9pm-close
Happy Hour, 3-9pm, all
liquors, beers and wines NUMBER NINE
up to 50% off • Fibbage Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
Tuesdays, 8pm • Free to drink, 5-9pm • No Cover
play on your smartphone
• $6 Any Flavor Martinis PITCHERS
and $7 Manhattans (call 2317 18th St. NW
liquors) • thebaltimoreea- Doors open, 5pm-2am •
gle.com facebook.com/PitchersDC
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR SHAW’S TAVERN
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Taco Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Tuesday • Poker Night — Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
7pm and 9pm games • $5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Karaoke, 9pm Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers •
Half-Priced Burgers and
Pizzas all night with $5
House Wines and $5 Sam
Adams
TRADE
Doors open 5pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4
Wednesday,
July 25
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
BALTIMORE EAGLE
Doors open at 3pm •
Happy Hour, 3-9pm, all
liquors, beers and wines
up to 50% off • Domestic
Bottles are $3 all day •
Team Trivia, 8-10pm •
thebaltimoreeagle.com
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • $6
Burgers • Beach Blanket
Drag Bingo Night, hosted
by Ms. Regina Jozet
Adams, 8pm • Bingo prizes
• Karaoke, 10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4pm-9pm •
Bear Yoga with Greg Leo,
6:30-7:30pm • $10 per
class • $3 rail cocktails
and domestic beers all
night long
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
SmartAss Trivia Night,
8-10pm • Prizes include
bar tabs and tickets to
shows at the 9:30 Club •
$15 Buckets of Beer for
SmartAss Teams only •
Absolutely Snatched Drag
Show, hosted by Brooklyn
Heights, 9pm • Tickets
available at nelliessports-
bar.com
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm • No Cover
PITCHERS
2317 18th St. NW
Doors open, 5pm-2am •
facebook.com/PitchersDC
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers •
Paint Nite, Second Floor,
7pm • Piano Bar and
Karaoke with Jill, 8pm
TRADE
Doors open 5pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4 l
 Scene
Furball at the DC Eagle - Saturday, July 14
Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

44 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 45
 LastWord.
People say the queerest things

“This ‘B’ is going to bombard us with real vileness in our society if they get what they want because
it’s not about bisexuality, it’s about bestiality.”
— Fox News pundit and conservative author STAR PARKER, arguing that the B in LGBTQ stands for bestiality. Speaking on evangel-
ical radio show Vocal Point, Parker argued that the LGBTQ community has ignored dealing with the “B” in LGBTQ because of its
true meaning, and that “there is an agenda and we do know that there have been discussions about bestiality in their closed doors.
I’m just saying don’t be surprised if we find out that that ‘B’ is not what they said publicly.”

“I serve with over a dozen closeted members,

”
whom I would never identify to anybody else.

— Pennsylvania State Rep. BRIAN SIMS, in an interview with The Advocate. He added that when he joined the legislature, may of
the closeted members “were co-sponsors of anti-LGBT bills.” Discussing misogyny in the gay community, Sims also said, “Some of
the most intense misogyny I see towards women comes from gay men…. I would think that living a life where others marginalize
you would teach you how to combat marginalization and how to recognize it. Oftentimes,
it teaches people how to be good at it themselves.”

“A gay Asian with AIDS who hates America

and fireworks lives here!
”
—A sign held by Trump supporter MATT SHERMAN outside the home of a man in Orlando, Florida. According to Orlando Weekly,
Sherman picketed outside his neighbor’s home after they got into a dispute on the NextDoor app. The reverse of his sign read “A
butt hurt Trump hater lives here, who’s the keyboard warrior now?” The homeowner, who hasn’t been identified,
apparently had anti-Trump signs in his yard.

“Bisexual persons are more prone than lesbian or gay persons

to experience intimate partner violence.”
— Part of the findings of a new United Nations report, which details the “shocking rates” of intimate partner violence, domestic
violence, rape, violence, and sexual assault in the LGBTQ community. Bisexual women reported much higher rates of rape and
physical violence than bisexual men, while transgender and gender nonconforming people, especially persons of color, are par-
ticularly at risk of violence, rape and other forms of abuse.

“Act like a fucking man, get hit like one....

Gay pride ass bitch!
”
— An unidentified man, captured on video by lesbian couple Trudy and Wendy Dragoon in Portland, Oregon. The Dragoons
encountered the man while trying to locate the owner of a lost dog. He then started spewing homophobic abuse at the women,
including saying “I should be so embarrassed of a fucking lesbian on my property? Look at you, you fucking embarrass America!”

46 JULY 19, 2018 • METROWEEKLY