Scott G Brooks Issue Small

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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Randy Shulman
FEBRUARY 26, 2015

Volume 21 / Issue 42
ART DIRECTOR
Todd Franson
POLITICAL EDITOR
Justin Snow
NEWS & BUSINESS EDITOR
John Riley
NEWS
SUPPORTING TRANS TROOPS

by Justin Snow
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Rhuaridh Marr
SURROGACY STRUGGLE
by John Riley
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Doug Rule
12
ABOUT FACE
by Justin Snow
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim
13
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR
Scott G. Brooks
DELAYED NUPTIALS
by Rhuaridh marr
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Christian Gerard, Troy Petenbrink,
Kate Wingfield
14
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
WEBMASTER
David Uy
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Julian Vankim
FEATURE
18
THE INAPPROPRIATE NATURE

SCOTT G. BROOKS
OF
Interview by Doug Rule
SALES & MARKETING

PUBLISHER
Randy Shulman
OUT ON THE TOWN
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

Rivendell Media Co.
212-242-6863
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KATE EASTWOOD NORRIS

by Doug Rule
BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETING

Christopher Cunetto
Cunetto Creative
26
ATLAS INTERSECTIONS FESTIVAL

by Doug Rule
SCENE
31
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Dennis Havrilla
GLAMOUR, GLITTER & GOLD:

THE DC CENTERS 10TH ANNUAL
OSCAR GALA AT TOWN
photography by Ward Morrison
PATRON SAINT
Smokey Bear
STAGE
33
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

by Kate Wingfield
ON THE COVER
Perfect Shade by
Scott G. Brooks
GAMES
35
by Rhuaridh Marr
NIGHTLIFE
39
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Carter
Supporting Trans Troops

The Obama administration is open to transgender military service
by Justin Snow
EW LIFE HAS BEEN

injected into the effort to
overturn the militarys longstanding ban on open transgender service after the Obama administration expressed support for allowing
transgender Americans to serve.
In the Obama administrations most
declarative statement on the issue yet,
White House press secretary Josh Earnest
told reporters Monday that President
Barack Obama agrees with sentiments
expressed a day earlier by Secretary of
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
Defense Ashton Carter that all qualified

Americans who are transgender should be
allowed to serve in the military.
During remarks to troops in Kandahar,
Afghanistan, Carter was asked his
thoughts about transgender Americans
serving in an austere environment like
Kandahar and said he approaches the
issue of transgender service from a fundamental starting point.
Its not something Ive studied a lot
since I became secretary of defense. But I
come at this kind of question from a fundamental starting point, which is that we
want to make our conditions and experience of service as attractive as possible to
our best people in our country, Carter
said. And Im very open-minded about

otherwise about what their personal lives
and proclivities are, provided they can do
what we need them to do for us. Thats
the important criteria. Are they going
to be excellent service members? And I
dont think anything but their suitability
for service should preclude them.
Carters statement marked the first
time the newly sworn-in defense secretary has addressed the issue of transgender service.
Earnest said Monday that Obama
holds the same views as Carter. The
president agrees with the sentiment that
all Americans who are qualified to serve
should be able to serve, Earnest said.
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
LGBTNews
And for that reason, we here at the
White House welcome the comments
from the secretary of defense. But in
terms of additional steps the Department
of Defense will take to address this matter, Id refer you to the secretarys office.
Asked what those next steps may
be, Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Cmdr.
Nate Christensen told Metro Weekly no
specific review of the militarys transgender ban is on-going. Well let the
Secretarys comments stand for themselves, Christensen added.
Carters remarks come less than a
week into his tenure as defense secretary. Carter, who formerly served as
deputy secretary of defense, was nominated by President Barack Obama to
replace outgoing Defense Secretary
Chuck Hagel in December and confirmed
by the Senate 95-5 earlier this month.
Although Hagel, a Vietnam veteran and
the first former enlisted combat soldier
to serve as defense secretary, voiced his
support for a review of the militarys
longstanding ban on open transgender
service a review the White House also
signaled their support for Hagel never
ordered such a review before departing
the Pentagon.
Carter was asked the question about
transgender military service by Navy Lt.
Cmdr. Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, a physician
who also runs the program for LGBTI

health at Vanderbilt University Medical
Center. Ehrenfeld said in an email he has
cared for transgender patients, including
a transgender servicemember during this
deployment.
As you know, the current military
restrictions force transgender servicemembers to hide who they really are. This
can cause undue stress and can prevent
them from getting the care they need, and
ultimately serving to their fullest capacity, Ehrenfeld said in an email. During
his visit, I was delighted to be able to ask
Secretary Carter his opinion on the matter. I agree wholeheartedly with what he
said which is that we ought to pursue
any opportunity we have to remove discrimination. Its clear to me, that removing the prohibition against transgender
service would be a step in that direction.
According to the LGBT military group
SPARTA, among those in the audience
during Carters remarks was a transgender servicemember who holds an enlisted rank and must hide their identity.
I wanted to tell him Im one of those
people serving in silence, the servicemember said in a statement. I love my
job, Im supported and respected by the
people I serve with, and I want to make
the military a career. But until the regs
are updated, just speaking up for myself
Surrogacy Struggle
Gestational surrogacy agreements may face opposition in

Maryland General Assembly
by John Riley
DVOCATES FOR GESTATIONAL surrogacy ran into

into a brick wall of legislators
last week.
Attempts to convince Maryland lawmakers to pass a bill setting forth standards for gestational carrier agreements
were met with a lack of understanding of
the bill, or questions aimed at derailing
the measure in order to curry favor with
socially conservative groups who oppose
the concept of surrogacy in any form.
The House version of the Collaborative
Reproduction Act both attempt to set
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
forth guidelines for who can be a gestational carrier, meaning a person who
carries a pregnancy to term but who
is not genetically or biologically related to the child being born. Both bills
define requirements for who can serve
as a gestational carrier, and put in place
a number of safeguards, including mental health screenings for the carrier, her
partner or spouse, and the intended parents, and a provision requiring each party
to get separate legal representation that
will represent their best interests.
There are no guidelines governing gestational surrogacy under current
Maryland law, although the practice was
implicitly approved by the courts in a
could end it all.

With Hagel gone, focus has now
turned to Carter to order a review of
the medical regulatory ban that prohibits
transgender service. An estimated 15,500
transgender personnel currently serve in
the armed forces.
Carters comments and the affirmation of that view by the White House
has provided many advocates with hope
that action will at last be taken on the
militarys transgender ban. The Human
Rights Campaign, American Military
Partner Association, Palm Center and
SPARTA were universal in their praise of
Carter, but also their insistence that it is
up to him to turn words into actions.
To those familiar with how the
military chain of command works, the
Commander-in-Chiefs intent could not
be clearer: President Obama has done
more to ensure transgender Americans
are treated fairly and with respect than
all those whove previously held the
office combined, said Allyson Robinson,
a former Army captain and director of
policy for SPARTA, in a statement. Good
subordinate leaders take their commanders intent and execute they get the job
done. Thats what SPARTAs transgender
members, their commanders, and their
families are looking to Secretary Carter
to do now. l
2003 case where the Maryland Court of
Appeals overruled a lower court decision
refusing to allow a gestational carrier to
remove her name as the mother from a
birth certificate. Maryland still presumes
that the gestational carrier is the mother,
but that presumption can be rebutted.
The measures were heard in the House
of Delegates Judiciary Committee on Feb.
12 and the Senate Judicial Proceedings
Committee on Feb. 18. Throughout the
House hearing, advocates for collaborative reproduction including lawyers who work with gestational carriers, reproductive specialists and mental
health professionals testified on behalf
of the bill, educating lawmakers about
the technical aspects of the topic. Several
delegates repeatedly expressed concerns
over the possible exploitation of gestational carriers under such agreements,
but Dumais repeatedly reiterated that
such exploitation would be prevented by
setting up standards and model framework for agreements between intended parents and gestational surrogates.
Because Maryland lacks any statute gov-
marketplace
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
LGBTNews
erning the matter, lawyers and medical professionals who work
with gestational carriers have no binding legal requirements
placed on them, although many adhere to best practices and
professional standards as set forth by groups like the American
Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Advocates pointed out that even if the bill were not to pass,
gestational surrogacy has been and will continue to be
practiced.
The issue is not whether or not collaborative reproduction
exists, but the most appropriate legal framework and whether
best practice will be used to structure the process, said Dr.
Joyce McDowell, who explained the type of mental health
screening that all parties to collaborative reproduction must
undergo.
The biggest sticking points in the deliberations over collaborative reproduction are several amendments added to a
similar bill last year. One such amendment was so burdensome
and egregious, it prompted Dumais to pull the bill. That amendment would have required a court to approve a gestational carrier agreement beforehand, which Dumais objected to because
approving such a provision would have made Maryland the only
state to require a court to approve a contract prior to the parties entering into it. Other amendments attached to last years
Senate bill deal with provisions on abortion or liabilities.
As the House hearing progressed, it became obvious that
some delegates were opposed to the bill, concocting a variety of
scenarios where something could go wrong or where there was
a disagreement between the intended parents and the gestational carrier, even though both House and Senate versions set up
provisions that require all parties to undergo mental screening
and meet prior to any implantation of a fertilized egg to discuss
what the expectations of those involved are. Delegates who
have previously sided with the Catholic Conference in their
opposition to social issues such as abortion and marriage equality raised a myriad of objections, peppering witnesses speaking
in favor of collaborative reproduction with questions ranging
from issues like determining parentage to which party would
bear the medical costs associated with the pregnancy, even raising the specter that insurance companies might one day refuse
to cover such procedures.
Opponents frequently sought to conflate the issue of gestational surrogacy with traditional surrogacy, where the carrier
has a biological link to the child, or with egg donation. Some
even seemed unfamiliar with the concept of surrogacy in general. Still others objected to a provision in the bill that would list
the intended parents as the childs parents on the birth certifi-
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
cate. At one point, Delegates Susan McComas (R-Harford Co.)

and Geraldine Valentino-Smith (D-Prince Georges Co.) even
alleged that Shady Grove Fertility Center, one of the leaders in
gestational surrogacy was coercing or trying to lure women with
the promise of money for serving as a gestational carrier on its
website, something later proven to be false by freshman Del.
Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard Co.).
Conservative-leaning members also raised the issue of abortion or selective reduction, which can sometimes happen when
a woman is implanted with one or two eggs via in vitro fertilization. Although lawyers and medical professionals who work
with gestational carriers noted that a match would not be made
if the carrier and intended parents did not agree on what to do
in a variety of scenarios, other witnesses, including the Catholic
Conference and Maryland Right to Life, insisted that the law, as
written, has too many loopholes that can lead to the exploitation of women serving as gestational carriers. Andrea Garvey,
testifying on behalf of the Maryland Catholic Conference, even
alleged that the bill would do nothing to prevent child trafficking or the targeting of financially vulnerable young women to
serve as gestational surrogates, leading to a heated exchange
with Dumais, particularly after she accused Dumais of being
unwilling to listen to their concerns. Garvey insisted that several
amendments, including the ones passed by the Senate last year,
be added to the bill.
The Senate hearing, by contrast, was more low-key. Since
the committee had previously voted to pass similar bills during
the past three legislative sessions, there were fewer witnesses
and many fewer questions asked by senators. At that hearing,
supporters of the measure did note that, despite claims from the
Catholic Conference that they did not outright oppose the bill,
the Vatican has generally opposed any and all forms of assisted
reproduction such as in vitro fertilization, the only method by
which gestational surrogacy may occur.
Even though gestational surrogacy is commonly practiced
in the state of Maryland, getting lawmakers to pass legislation
could be an uphill battle. The goal of advocates is to pass a bill
that hasnt been significantly altered by compromise amendments so as to be unsalvageable, as was the case with last years
Senate bill. The trick will be for those supporting collaborative
reproduction to convince lawmakers that the bill will implement the necessary safeguards to protect all parties involved,
rather than unleashing a Pandoras box of social ills.
Jennifer Fairfax, an attorney specializing in reproductive
law testified in favor of the House bill and took a much brighter
view of the hearings.
I was actually pleased that the delegates were asking questions, and trying to figure out what is going on with the bill, she
says. I think it also informed us, as supporters of the bill, what
theyre looking for and what friendly amendments we can make
to get support for the bill. The hearing, at least to me, demonstrated that we need to get more information to the General
Assembly. We need to show that this is all about protecting
children born through gestational surrogacy.
Fairfax also noted that the bills length, breadth and its very
scientific and highly detailed terminology, as well as the fact
that it delves into a niche area of law that is not familiar to
most people, could have added to some confusion on the part
of lawmakers.
This is creating an entire new law, from soup to nuts, she
says. Its a good bill. Its meant to protect kids, and Im really
optimistic that the legislature will pass it this year. l
marketplace
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
11
GAGE SKIDMORE
LGBTNews
About Face
Schlapp
ACU Chairman Matt Schlapp welcomes gay conservatives to CPAC

by Justin Snow
HEN THE CONSERvative Political Action

Conference convenes
later this week, Matt
Schlapp has a message for gay conservatives: You are welcome here.
To be absolutely crystal clear, if you
are a conservative who is gay, you should
come to CPAC you are welcome to
come to CPAC, says Schlapp. Yes, you
are going to encounter people who disagree with you. My goal is for you to be
respected and for them to be respected
and for us all to think about not only the
things that we have differences on, but
the things we agree on. We ought to be
talking about that as well.
Schlapp was elected chairman of the
American Conservative Union in June,
and, during an exclusive interview at the
ACUs offices in downtown Washington,
promised to break from the past and
repair the organizations strained relationship with gay conservatives.
We have taken rather historic steps
to make it very clear that CPAC is welcoming of all kinds of conservatives,
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
including conservatives who are gay, he

says. We have gay speakers on the main
stage and the break out [panels]. We have
made an intentional effort to make it very
clear to people that that is part of what
CPAC is going to be about. And thats
important to me.
On Monday, the ACU announced that
Gregory T. Angelo, the executive director
of Log Cabin Republicans, would appear
on a panel addressing Vladimir Putins
threatening actions toward Europe, as
well as his tragic human rights record.
The announcement came days after
Angelo accused the ACU of excluding
the LGBT Republican group as sponsors
of the annual conference an assertion
Schlapp denies.
CPAC, which will be held from Feb.
25 to 28 at the Gaylord National Resort &
Convention Center at National Harbor,
Md., has become an obligatory pit stop
for Republican presidential candidates.
But the conference has a messy history
with gay conservatives, who have had
no official presence at CPAC for several years. The now defunct GOProud
participated in CPAC in 2010 and 2011
to the protests of social conservatives,
but was kicked out of the conference in
2012 after GOProud co-founder Chris

Barron labeled conservative attorney
Cleta Mitchell a nasty bigot, blaming
her for the Heritage Foundations decision to remove itself from the conference
over GOProuds participation. Despite an
apology from Barron, GOProud was not
invited back.
Both the ACU and Log Cabin
Republicans blamed last weeks dispute on confusion and miscommunication between the two organizations, and
Schlapp doubled-down on his promise
to make CPAC more inclusive going forward.
This is purposeful I want to do
this, Schlapp says of giving an interview
to an LGBT media outlet. We want
to reach out to every legitimate media
outlet and tell our story, tell them what
were about. People are going to agree
with us on some things, disagree with us
on other things. Were going to respect
each other and have the conversation.
According to Schlapp, for the conservative movement to be successful politically, its message must reach all kinds of
people.
Specifically on social issues, weve
got a huge contingent of libertarians, he
LGBTNews
says. A lot of young people as well who
are more libertarian-minded. Theyre
part of our coalition. Theyre awful
important to us being successful politically. We are not going to succeed politically if its about subtraction and division
of our numbers. Its got to be about addition and multiplication.
Schlapp is the first chairman of the
ACU to be born after the organizations
founding in 1964. Born in Ohio, the
47-year-old grew up in Texas, New Jersey
and Kansas. He attended the University
of Notre Dame in Indiana and graduate
school at Wichita State University. While
at Notre Dame, he helped found a conservative magazine called Dialogue with the
help of his roommate that he says infuriated the administration an experience
that appears to have spurred his vocal
support for open debate.
They took that first magazine, which
I had to raise $2,000 from people all over
the country [to produce], and they threw
it in the dumpsters all over campus,
Schlapp recalls. I got up early to see if
people were reading this magazine I put
my whole heart into, and I saw some guy
throwing it in the dumpster. I tell you,
my heart just sank. I was like, This is
outrageous. This is not just. Why would
someone be so scared to hear someones
thoughts that they would literally throw
it away? I went through that dumpster and wiped off every magazine. I put
them back in those bins. And from that
moment on they did not throw the next
copy away because I think they felt completely foolish. Here I am, a student who
is doing nothing but putting his thoughts
down on paper.
After opening a small business after
college with his mother, Schlapp went
to work on Capitol Hill and befriended a
fellow congressional staffer named Ken
Mehlman, who later recruited Schlapp
to work on George W. Bushs 2000 presidential campaign. That led to Schlapp
becoming an advisor during Bushs first
term. After running Bushs 2004 reelection campaign and serving as chairman
of the Republican National Committee,
Mehlman came out as gay in 2010.
Schlapp is Catholic. He believes marriage should only be between a man and
a woman. When asked about an anticipated ruling from the Supreme Court
striking down state bans on same-sex
marriage, he draws parallels to the issue
of abortion and expresses hope that a
political consensus can be reached that
does not divide the country.
We had people that founded America

came to America because they had
strongly held religious views that are
enshrined in our First Amendment. I
dont want to do anything to ever change
that religious zone for those people who
have those strongly held beliefs, he says.
By the same token, we have to figure
out, in light of what the court is going to
do and where the American people are
on this issue, how we handle those folks
who have strongly held religious beliefs
with people that believe strongly in gay
marriage and believe thats a civil right.
I think America is big enough and strong
enough to figure out a way to accommodate both.
While Schlapp may personally oppose
same-sex marriage, he admits his inclusive tone has alienated some. Indeed, the
same day as his election as ACUs chairman in June, Cleta Mitchell resigned
from the boards of both the ACU and
ACU Foundation.
And although some may not like his
new approach, Schlapp is okay with the

criticism he may receive. I am surprised
by how many conservative leaders I
have talked to have said, Youre striking
exactly the right tone. So, I think there
are a lot of people who realize this is the
right way to go forward.
I come from a family of four kids and
I have five kids, he continues. Ive not
gone through a dinner table conversation
where everyone agreed. Theres always
disagreement Ive just been brought
up in a way where I understand that to be
healthy. You put your differences on the
table and you talk about them. And were
going to do that.
Some of those differences are on gay
issues, some are on regulatory policy, tax
policy, foreign affairs, everything under
the sun. That discussion, I believe, will
lead us to be more cohesive, because
instead of hiding from our disagreements
and sanitizing them, we put them out
there. l
Delayed Nuptials
Finland welcomes marriage equality... in 2017
By Rhuaridh Marr
INNISH PRESIDENT SAULI

Niinist last week signed into
law a bill that brought marriage
equality to his country.
The move put Finland in line with its
Scandinavian neighbors all of whom
have equal marriage laws. Finland,
known for its excellent education system
and Tom of Finlands incredible gay art,
lagged behind Norway and Sweden
which legalized equal marriage in 2009
and Denmark, which introduced samesex marriage in 2012.
The bill itself made history, not
only for allowing same-sex marriage,
but for being the first publicly-backed
piece of legislation to make it into law.
Finnish citizens can request that parliament review proposals for bills with
sufficient public support 50,000
signatures in support, and lawmakers
are obliged to review it. The same-sex
marriage bill received 167,000 signatures, or 3 percent of Finlands total
population.
Its incredible, Aija Salo, secretarygeneral of the LGBT group National Seta
told Gay Star News. We are, of course,
extremely happy with this result. Not only
because of the changes of the Marriage
Act itself, but because this carries a huge
symbolic value.
However, its those changes to the
Marriage Act that have led to a lengthy
delay in the law taking effect Finlands
same-sex couples wont be able to legally
wed until March 1, 2017. Salo claims the
delay was a political move, designed to
ensure the bill gained sufficient support
from politicians and secure its passage
through parliament.
Once it reached the desk of President
Niinist, however, its success was
assured. He addressed parliament in
December in support of the legislation,
telling lawmakers, Finland should strive
to become a society where discrimination
doesnt exist, human rights are respected
and two adults can marry regardless of
their sexual orientation.
Two years from now, they can. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
13
LGBTCommunityCalendar
Metro Weeklys Community Calendar highlights important events in
the D.C.-area LGBT community, from alternative social events to
volunteer opportunities. Event information should be sent by email to
calendar@MetroWeekly.com. Deadline for inclusion is noon
of the Friday before Thursdays publication. Questions about
the calendar may be directed to the Metro Weekly office at
202-638-6830 or the calendar email address.
rity inside the main entrance on Maryland Ave. at

3rd St. SW. Lunch in Museums Mitsitam caf follows. Contact Craig, 202-462-0535. craighowell1@
verizon.net.
HOPE DC, a support group for HIV-positive gay
men, hosts a monthly social get-together at The DC

Center. 7-10 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
more information, visit hopedc.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
BET MISHPACHAH, founded by members of the
LGBT community, holds Saturday morning Shabbat
services, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush luncheon.
Services in DCJCC Community Room, 1529 16th St.
NW. betmish.org.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27
GAYS AND LESBIANS OPPOSING VIOLENCE

(GLOV), a group committed to combating and
GAY MARRIED MENS ASSOCIATION (GAMMA)
preventing anti-gay hate crimes, holds its monthly

meeting at The DC Center. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
KAPPA ALPHA LAMBDA SORORITY, a lesbian
sorority for professional women interested in community service, meets at The DC Center. 6:30-8 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.
OUTWRITE LGBT BOOK FESTIVAL meets
monthly at The DC Center to plan for OutWrites

fifth anniversary, to be held July 31-Aug. 2 at the
Reeves Center this summer. 6-7 p.m. 2000 14th St.
WEEKLY EVENTS
DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and lesbian squaredancing group features mainstream through
advanced square dancing at the National City
Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m.
Casual dress. 301-257-0517, dclambdasquares.org.
The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Virginia social
group meets for happy hour at Sheraton in Reston,
11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor bar, 7-9
p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com.
is a confidential support group for men who are

gay, bisexual, questioning and who are married
or involved with a woman, that meets regularly in
Dupont Circle and monthly in Northern Virginia
and Hagerstown, Md. 7:30-9:30 p.m. For more
information, visit gammaindc.org.
WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES, a social discussion

and activity group for LBT women, meets on the
second and fourth Fridays of each month at The
DC Center. Social activity after meeting concludes.
8-9:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers
free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by
appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session
at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit

swimdcac.org.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health,
METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV

testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW,
Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by
appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger.

202-567-3155 or testing@smyal.org.
US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics Anonymous
Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW.

The group is independent of UHU. 202-446-1100.
WOMENS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE for young
LBTQ women, 13-21, interested in leadership development. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th
St. SE. 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@smyal.org.
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social
club welcomes all levels for exercise in a fun and

supportive environment, socializing afterward.
Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for a walk; or
10 a.m. for fun run. dcfrontrunners.org.
DC SENTINELS basketball team meets at Turkey
Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE,

2-4 p.m. For players of all levels, gay or straight.
teamdcbasketball.org.
DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for LGBT community,

family and friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Churchon-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria. All
welcome. For more info, visit dignitynova.org.
GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses critical languages and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellies, 900 U St.
NW. RVSP preferred. brendandarcy@gmail.com.
IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing
in Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite
411. Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments other
hours, call 301-422-2398.
Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,

9 a.m.-5 p.m. 202-745-7000, whitman-walker.org.
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
ADVENTURING outdoors group hikes 10 strenuous miles with 2400 feet of elevation gain on Signal
Knob at northern end of Massanutten Mountain
overlooking Strasburg, Va. Bring beverages, lunch,
winter-worthy boots, and about $15 for fees; no
dogs, please. Carpool at 9 a.m. from East Falls
Church Metro Kiss & Ride lot. Contact Craig, 202462-0535. adventuring.org.
testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW,

Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
in Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave., and in

Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411.
Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments other hours,
call Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or Takoma Park,
301-422-2398.
BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including others interested in Brazilian culture, meets. For location/time,
email braziliangaygroup@yahoo.com.
PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-affirming social
group for ages 11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road

NW. Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, layc-dc.org.
SMYALS REC NIGHT provides a social atmosphere for GLBT and questioning youth, featuring
dance parties, vogue nights, movies and games.
More info, catherine.chu@smyal.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS MEMORIAL
EPISCOPAL CHURCH celebrates Low Mass at 8:30
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
a.m., High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral Ave. NW.

202-232-4244, allsoulsdc.org.
BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today for Food & Friends. To
participate, burgundycrescent.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at
CHRYSALIS arts & culture group visits
DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic Mass for the
Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian to

view exhibition on history of treaties between
Native American tribes and the United States. Free;
non-members welcome. Meet at 11 a.m. past secu-
Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit

swimdcac.org.
LGBT community. 6 p.m., St. Margarets Church,

1820 Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome. Sign interpreted. For more info, visit dignitynova.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
15
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF
CHRIST welcomes all to 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G
St. NW. firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317.
FRIENDS MEETING OF WASHINGTON meets for
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST for an inclusive,

loving and progressive faith community every
Sunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW, near R in
Shaw/Logan neighborhood. lincolntemple.org.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF

NORTHERN VIRGINIA services at 11 a.m., led by
worship, 10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW, Quaker

House Living Room (next to Meeting House on
Decatur Place), 2nd floor. Special welcome to lesbians and gays. Handicapped accessible from Phelps
Place gate. Hearing assistance. quakersdc.org.
Rev. Onetta Brooks. Childrens Sunday School, 11

a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax. 703-691-0930,
mccnova.com.
HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes
ST. STEPHEN AND THE INCARNATION, an
GLBT community for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130 Old

Telegraph Road, Alexandria. hopeucc.org.
Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL TEMPLE
interracial, multi-ethnic Christian Community

offers services in English, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and
in Spanish at 5:15 p.m. 1525 Newton St. NW. 202232-0900, saintstephensdc.org.
MONDAY, MARCH 2
BOOK READING UPLIFTS HIS SPIRIT (BRUHS),
a literary and movie discussion group for GBT
men, hosts special guest Otis Randolf, author of
Shadows Behind the Rainbow at the Martin
Luther King, Jr. Library. 6 p.m. 901 G St. NW,
Auditorium A-5. More info, visit facebook.com/
BRUHSDC.
The DC Center hosts a monthly VOLUNTEER

NIGHT for those interested in sorting through book
donations, cleaning up around the center, taking
inventory for safe-sex packets, and other activities.
Pizza will be provided. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St.
WEEKLY EVENTS
Michael Brazell teaches BEARS DO YOGA, a program of The DC Center. 6:30 p.m., Green Lantern,
1335 Green Court NW. No cost, newcomers welcome. 202-682-2245, thedccenter.org.
at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit

swimdcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds practice, 6:30-8:30
p.m. Garrison Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.
GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at Quaker House,

2111 Florida Ave. NW. getequal.wdc@gmail.com.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. D.C.:

9 a.m.-6 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301
MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY (K.I.) SERVICES,
3333 Duke St., Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV

testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 703-823-4401.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 5-7 p.m. 2049

N. 15th St., Suite 200, Arlington. Appointments:
703-789-4467.
The DC Center hosts COFFEE DROP-IN FOR THE

SENIOR LGBT COMMUNITY. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000
14th St. NW. 202-682-2245, thedccenter.org.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS Water Polo Team

practices 7-9 p.m. Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at least basic swimming ability always welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504,
secretary@wetskins.org, wetskins.org.
Whitman-Walker Health HIV/AIDS SUPPORT
GROUP for newly diagnosed individuals, meets 7
p.m. Registration required. 202-939-7671, hivsupport@whitman-walker.org.
16
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
TUESDAY, MARCH 3
DC RECOVERY NETWORK, a program of the
Campbell Center, holds a meeting at The DC

Center. 7-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
more information, contact Misha, misha@thecampbellcenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
Chu, 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@smyal.org.
US HELPING US hosts a support group for black

gay men 40 and older. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave.
NW. 202-446-1100.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly dinner in Dupont/

Logan Circle area, 6:30 p.m. afwash@aol.com,
afwashington.net.
BOOKMEN DC, an informal mens gay-literature

group, discusses Richard Rodriguezs Darling, an
essay collection. 7:30 p.m. Cleveland Park Library,
3310 Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome. bookmendc.blogspot.com.
THE GAY MENS HEALTH COLLABORATIVE
DUPONT SOCIAL CLUB hosts a meeting at The
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 ANONYMOUSLGBT focused

meeting every Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. Georges
Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave., Arlington, just
steps from Virginia Square Metro. For more info.
call Dick, 703-521-1999. Handicapped accessible.
Newcomers welcome. liveandletliveoa@gmail.com.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by
appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger.

Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@smyal.org.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ YOUTH ages 13-21

meets at SMYAL, 410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy
DC Center. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.

For more information, visit the dccenter.org.
Rayceen Pendarvis hosts THE ASK RAYCEEN

SHOW, welcoming performer Septimius The Great,
The Improv Imps, Coach G, and plays The Dating
Game with participating audience members. Doors
open 6 p.m. Club Liv, 2001 11th St. NW. For more
information, visit facebook.com/askrayceen.
THE TOM DAVOREN BRIDGE CLUB meets for

Social Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity Center, 721 8th St
SE, across from Marine Barrack. No reservation and
partner needed. 301-345-1571.
WEEKLY EVENTS
AD LIB, a group for freestyle conversation, meets
about 6:30-6 p.m., Steam, 17th and R NW. All wel-
come. For more information, call Fausto Fernandez,

703-732-5174.
at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit

swimdcac.org.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the

9 a.m.-6 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301
MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 202-745-7000,
whitman-walker.org.
in Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave. Walkins 2-7 p.m. For appointments other hours, call
Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978.
JOB CLUB, a weekly support program for job
entrants and seekers, meets at The DC Center. 2000

14th St. NW, Suite 105. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. More info,
www.centercareers.org.
testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012

14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 11 a.m.2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200, Arlington.
Appointments: 703-789-4467.
PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social club for mature gay

men, hosts weekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,
Windows Bar above Dupont Italian Kitchen, 1637
17th St. NW. Carl, 703-573-8316. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
17
Inappropriate
the
Interview by Doug Rule
of
Nature
Scott G. Brooks
COTT G. BROOKS ART IS LESS WINNIE THE POOH, MORE SMOKEY THE BEAR
if Smokey were a scruffy, sexualized gay bear, that is.
Though he started his career painting murals in his hometown of Flint, Mich., it was
the works he created in his spare time during high school that shaped the artist he is
today.
When I went home and I would paint for myself, Brooks says, I wanted to do something a little more fun and edgy and a little more reflective of the kind of person I was.
In the decades since, the 54-year-olds pursuit of making art thats unique and will get people
to pay attention hasnt been without controversy. But its also come with great success. Brooks has
been one of D.C.s most recognized artists since moving to the area 25 years ago. And his work goes
beyond signature oil paintings to encompass digital work for clients (regular readers have enjoyed
several of Brooks illustrations on our covers).
For the past several years, Brooks has worked out of his home studio in a spacious upper-level
apartment, just north of the 9:30 Club, that he shares with his partner Mike Layton. His colorful,
cartoon-inspired artworks often feature characters based on familiar faces around town, most
recently Metro Weeklys 2013 Coverboy of the Year finalist Jared Keith Lee and folk singer-songwriter Tom Goss.
In December, Brooks will present works in a Star Wars-themed show at the Anacostia Arts
Center, his first local showing in years. Right now, however, you can see his latest works in a solo
show at New Yorks Last Rites Gallery. Inappropriate Nature features 11 large-scale paintings that
playfully pivot on serious concerns about the nature of humans. Theres irony in these works,
Brooks says in his official artist statement. Much of what is considered natural, such as nudity and
sexuality, is deemed inappropriate by contemporary standards.
METRO WEEKLY: Inappropriate Nature is your
third show in the past decade at this gallery in

Hells Kitchen. Tell us more about the gallery.
SCOTT G. BROOKS: Paul Booth, a really wellknown tattoo artist, is the owner. The main
floor of Last Rites is where the show is, and in
the basement they have a parlor they call it a
Tattoo Theater. Its always very dark pop, and
very edgy themes, so its a really good fit.
This is my first solo show since 2011, which
is kind of a long stretch for me. It spans a couple
years of work. Ive been working on including
more natural surroundings in my paintings.
Just more nature and landscape elements. But
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
there are always people in the paintings. All

my work can sometimes get a little edgy, so
Inappropriate Nature seemed like a perfect
title for the show. A lot of people look at my
work kind of suspect. I think it makes people
uncomfortable, and they look at it as odd.
MW: Because its too playful in depicting serious
concerns?
BROOKS: I dont know. Ive always just painted
what I wanted to paint. I didnt really worry about
whether it fit other peoples ideas. Stylistically
and technically, I do strive to get better, and
make it as technically accurate as I can.
I just kind of have a good time with it and put
Monsters of War
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
19
Actaeon
One piece was

in the restaurant
area at Baltimores
American Visionary
Art Museum. They
decided it was just
too much, and they
had to take it down.
PEOPLE WERE
COMPLAINING.
Trimming the Hedge
in whatever I want to put in. There are gay references from a lot
of pop culture and politics in all of my work, but in the newer
work as well. Theres one called Monsters of War. And theres a
lot of nudity. Although theyre figurative. All of my work starts
with a model and a figure, and then I work around that. I embellish and create a tableau.
MW: Is this the kind of work youve always wanted to do?
BROOKS: Yeah, pretty much. I didnt quite have an idea of this
type of art. I grew up in Michigan, and I was surrounded by
either wildlife or religious art. We had the sad-eyed puppies, and
the Keane prints. Childrens books or comic books or cartoons,
Disney that was kind of what I thought about. I got into murals
when I was in high school. I was invited to work and do some
murals at the local school. And I ended up painting more than
100 murals all over Michigan, the Flint and Detroit area.
When I went to college I expanded my view of what was
possible. And right away I just started doing stuff that was a
little odd, and a little darker. I grew up watching science fiction,
and monster movies the same as most kids. So it didnt really
seem odd to me to start painting stuff with monsters and things
that were a little bizarre. Because thats what was fun for me to
watch. I never was really interested in just painting landscapes
20
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
or wildlife. I do have some straight-out wildlife paintings of bobcats and deer from when I was really young. And there is a lot
of wildlife in my work. The nature part of the Inappropriate
Nature comes from that. Its still interesting to me but to
focus and just become a wildlife artist, I knew that wasnt going
to work for me.
MW: Were your parents encouraging of your artistic pursuits?
What did they do for work?
BROOKS: My mom was a nurse, and my dad was a barber. My
dad kind of got me going in art. He would draw. And he thought
of cutting hair and drawing as very similar, because you had to
visualize the haircut. Before you started cutting you had to know
what you were going to cut. And we would sit down and draw.
They were supportive, but I think they were more supportive
of me playing hockey and hunting. Ive played hockey since I
was young. I had two older brothers and a younger sister and
we hunted and fished. It was much easier for me to just go along
with the crowd. They bought me paper, they bought me pencils,
they bought me canvasses, but they didnt really know you
know, we dont come from an art background. And I dont think
they really knew what was possible. My mom is still around.
Shes very proud. Ill have a show up in Flint in April. My first
Admit One
TODD FRANSON
Pan
show in Flint since I left 25 years ago.

MW: Whats the theme of that show?
BROOKS: Its called Unfinished Business, which is kind of
appropriate. You can take it a couple different ways. A lot of
the work thats going to be in the Flint show will be work thats
already done some pieces that I finished, but I wasnt quite
happy with them, so Im going to be re-working them a little bit.
I left 25 years ago, and a lots changed. I wasnt really out back
then. I mean, I did go out and I lived with my partner at the time,
but it was pretty low-key.
MW: This isnt your first show in Flint?
BROOKS: Well, I showed in Flint a couple weeks before I left. And
in that show there were some pieces that were banned. It was a
public space. People who had the space came over and saw my
work and they asked me to not put in a few pieces because they
were inappropriate.
MW: So you took them out?
BROOKS: Yeah, I understood. Its a difficult position for both of
us. It was a bank lobby. Ive shown in galleries, which isnt really
an issue. But this was a public space. They were just figurative
sculptures and paintings. Papier-mach sculptures, which had
breasts, and animal/people hybrids.
MW: Have you dealt with censorship at other points in your career?
Or other episodes where there was interference or pushback displaying some of your work?
BROOKS: I dont recall any problems. I dont really think about it
too much. In galleries, you dont really have to worry about it.
And certainly in this gallery, Last Rites, its pretty much a freefor-all. And thats why I like it. I dont ever have to worry about
them being offended by something I paint.
Two decades ago, I had a sculpture in the HRC auction.
And it was called An Allegory of the GOP. And it was like a
little fat Buddha/bald eagle-ish kind of character a Buddha
with a big belly, and then in his claws was a cross. And he was
maybe sitting on a Bible, I dont really remember. People at
the auction there was a struggle back and forth whether to
leave it in. There was the sculpture that I had made, and then
right next to it was a box of porn videos. And yet my sculpture
was the one that people were disgruntled about, because of the
Republican angle on it.
One piece, Monsters of Medicine, was in the restaurant area at
Baltimores American Visionary Art Museum. We had it up for a
couple days, and then they decided it was just too much, and so
they had to take it down. People were complaining.
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
21
I grew up watching science fiction and mon

seem odd to me to start painting stuff with t
I NEVER WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN
LANDSCAPES OR WILDLIFE.
Strategic Negotiations
If I rack my brain I will think of others. It happens on occasion, where a piece doesnt work. I dont take it personally. Im
not doing this to be controversial.
MW: When did you know you could make this your living? When
you were commissioned to do the murals in high school?
BROOKS: Yeah. I started working for myself right away. And part
of the reason I started doing kind of the bizarre weird stuff was
because for work, for the murals, I was doing Winnie the Pooh
and Big Bird, and elementary school characters. So when I went
home and I would paint for myself, I wanted to do something a
little more fun and edgy and a little more reflective of the kind of
person I was. I learned early on that I could make a living from
it. And I sold stuff early. I used to do a lot more commissions. I
dont do commissions too much anymore.
MW: I understand you once gave Smokey Bear a makeover, on commission from the United States Forest Service.
BROOKS: That never really took off. I did Smokey Bear, and I did
a bunch of them. But the forest service never really they used
it a little bit, but I dont think they really got into it. Because I
think he was too big and he was burly and he was hairy. I dont
know where the artwork is. I know they printed a few of them.
It was kind of when the bear culture was just coming up 1996
22
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
The Three Graces of

or 1997. I was aware of the bear culture. I had some friends who
were very self-identified as bears. But I didnt think I was quite
there yet.
MW: And now?
BROOKS: [Laughs.] Im pretty close now. Recently, I did a take off
on it called Spanky Bear for a friends birthday. Which is basically Smokey Bear in Daisy Dukes and nipple rings and leather,
a paddle.
MW: Is that the type of benefits your friends get: special artwork
for their birthdays?
BROOKS: Not very often. [Laughs.] Its so personal. Even my family, I dont give them artwork very often. Because I think its
a very personal thing to have hanging in your home. It seems
a little presumptuous of me to say, Here, you need this piece
to put in your home. If they like a piece and I know they like
a piece, then we can talk about it. Its kind of expensive just to
give away as gifts. [Laughs.] Ill give prints away. But I dont give
original artworks away.
MW: What are the average costs for your artworks?
BROOKS: The smaller pieces go for $2,800. And then it goes up to
$15,000. The most expensive was $16,000.
MW: And people can buy older artworks, those no longer repre-
nd monster movies. So it didnt really

f with things that were a little bizarre.
TED IN JUST PAINTING
Graces of Orvieto
sented by a gallery, through your website?
BROOKS: Yeah, people contact me all the time to buy. And we
have open studios twice a year through Mid City Artists. Within
the neighborhood, theres about 20 to 30 of us. So people come
through and Ill sell stuff that way.
MW: These days youre creating more work digitally, though I
understand thats strictly for commissioned commercial work,
such as the occasional Metro Weekly cover.
BROOKS: Ive always done both commercial illustration and fine
arts. It was always this weird kind of split-personality thing.
The stuff that I do in digital is for commercial clients, childrens
books. Its a way for me to separate okay, now Im doing fine
arts, now Im doing work for myself. I turn the computer off,
and this is my work now. And again, thats why I can kind of let
myself go and not really censor myself. I dont restrict myself. I
just kind of do whatever I want to do and not really worry about
an audience. Theyre not created for the public, theyre created
really more for me.
MW: Who do you work for in the childrens book realm?
BROOKS: The last one I did was in 2013 for the Imagination Stage
up in Bethesda. It was called Mouse on the Move. They created a
book based on a play that they did. So thats for sale up there. Its
The Wounded Sparrow

got cute kittens and mice.
It really throws people off when they find out I do childrens
books. My work has got a lot of characters, and there are a lot of
fun aspects to it, so its not much of a stretch for me to go from
something like that to this. And Im incorporating more illustration elements into my work. The new pieces you can see the
little monsters and little characters. So I can see the crossover
pretty easily, but some people have a hard time. And I think
people assume that, if Im doing a childrens book, Im going to
sneak stuff in. I just have no desire to do that.
I think next for me would be to work on my own. I have some
ideas for my own childrens books. It would maybe be a little
more twisted and dark than your typical, but its not so unusual.
I would be careful and I would be sensitive to the age group, like
Grimms Fairy Tales, or Roald Dahl. I mean, there are some really
dark childrens books out there. And the kids, what theyre seeing these days early, early on is pretty, pretty dark.
Inappropriate Nature runs to April 4 at Last Rites Gallery, 325
W. 38th St. in New York. Visit lastrites.tv or call 202-529-0666.
For more information on Scott. G Brooks,
visit scottgbrooks.com/. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
23
FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 5, 2015
Compiled by Doug Rule
Great
Scot
Kate Eastwood Norris amps up the rage in Folgers Mary Stuart
I
F YOURE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PLAY MARY STUART, YOURE IN

good company.
Once I found out, actress Kate Eastwood Norris says, it was like something I had
been longing for but didnt even know it. No doubt youll be as shocked by Friedrich Schillers
Shakespearean play after seeing it as Norris was when she first read the script a year ago.
Its a surprising thing for an actress of my age, whos past the ingnue point, to find something classical and yet so huge and meaty. Its also a play whose leads are both women. Norris
plays the title character, a Scottish queen imprisoned and ultimately killed by her cousin,
Queen Elizabeth I, portrayed by Holly Twyford.
In fact, director Richard Clifford secured three of Washingtons best actresses for the
Folger Theatre production, recruiting the local theater scenes grande dame to play
Marys dutiful assistant. When I found out that Nancy Robinette was playing the
part of my servant, Norris says, I just felt like, my job is easier. If shes busy feeling sorry for me, then I have a feeling the audience will too.
For the role, Norris is using nearly every technique shes acquired as a veteran actor, one who performs on stages around the country but considers Folger
her classical home and Woolly Mammoth her contemporary home. Theres
no moment in this play where Mary Stuart gets to rest. ... We keep using the
phrase shooting ourselves out of a cannon, because a gun wouldnt do it.
At the top of the show everyone actually has to come out raging or the thing
wont work.
One thing missing from this fraught role is humor. I think I have half of
a laugh in Mary Stuart, she says. But at the least she can find humor in her
real-life husband, Cody Nickell, who plays the duplicitous Earl of Leicester,
paramour to both Mary and Elizabeth. Hes that guy you cant tell who hes in
love with, Norris says, adding, Id like to think its me. Doug Rule
TERESA WOOD
Mary Stuart runs to March 8 at the Folger Theatre,

201 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $40 to $75.
Call 202 -544-7077 or visit folger.edu.
SPOTLIGHT
CHOIR BOY
Tarrell Alvin McCraneys Choir Boy centers on the
growing concerns of a headmaster at an AfricanAmerican all-boys school as to whether the star
pupil is the right fit to lead their celebrated choir.
No question Pharus is the most talented, charismatic
and lovable. But maybe hes just a little too lovable
too sweet, too soft, too sissy-like. McCraney explores
a lot of topics in his roughly 95-minute, intermission-less play, chief among them the power of
music specifically, spirituals to help people find
inner-strength to carry on through pain and strife.
But the real power of the piece is in McCraneys
subtle, graceful and evocative style of storytelling.
Heartstrings arent pulled in obviously manipula24
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
tive ways, were not beaten on the head about the

key themes or takeaways, and everything remains
a little mysterious, more suggestive than definitive.
Closes this Sunday, March 1. Studio Theatre, 14th &
P Streets NW. Tickets are $44 to $88. Call 202-3323300 or visit studiotheatre.org. (Doug Rule)
ERIC OWENS WITH TED ROSENTHAL TRIO
A week before he stars in its revival of The Flying

Dutchman, the Washington National Opera presents
a concert featuring bass-baritone Eric Owens. But this
is not an opera performance. Instead, its an evening
of jazz standards, those made famous by legendary
singers Billy Eckstine and Johnny Hartman. Owens
will be accompanied by a trio led by its namesake, an
American jazz pianist, plus drummer Quincy Davis
and bassist Norio Ueda. Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7:30
p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are
$39. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
FOLGER CONSORT WITH

SIR DEREK JACOBI, RICHARD CLIFFORD
A founding member of the Royal National Theatre,

Sir Derek Jacobi stars as Sir Ian McKellens partner
in the British television series Vicious, aired in the
U.S. on PBS, but in real-life his partner of nearly four
decades is actor Richard Clifford. The couple will
appear together at Strathmore, reading passages from
Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice as part of a
program in which the Folger Consort performs music
from Venice during the Bards era. Londons Gabrieli
Consort accompanies. Friday, Feb. 27, at 8 p.m. Music
Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North
Bethesda. Remaining tickets are $35 to $80. Call 301581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.
JEN KIRKMAN
If you dont remember Jen Kirkman from regular

stints on Chelsea Lately or Comedy Centrals @midnight, maybe you caught her hilarious narrations on
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
25
Comedy Centrals Drunk History. Now you can catch

the standup comic Entertainment Weekly essentially called the female Louis CK when she stops by
the Arlington Drafthouse. Friday, Feb. 27, at 10:30
p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia
Pike, Arlington. Tickets are $22. Call 703-486-2345
or visit arlingtondrafthouse.com.
GLOES ANNUAL QUEER PURIM PARTY
PHOTO COURTESY ATLAS
The DC JCCs Kurlander Program for Gay & Lesbian

Outreach and Engagement presents its eighth annual
Mardi Gras-like Purim party, Mischief. Purim
celebrates the Jews who were spared execution by
Persian leader Haman in biblical times. It calls for
dressing up especially drag - of every kind!
and drinking a lot. Those in costume enjoy an open
bar with beer, wine and champagne cocktails. Food
is also provided. Saturday, Feb. 28, from 8:30 p.m.
to 12 a.m. Washington, D.C.s Jewish Community
Center, 1529 16th St. NW. Tickets are $20 in advance
or $30 at the door. Call 202-518-9400 or visit
washingtondcjcc.org.
RUPAULS DRAG RACE:

BATTLE OF THE SEASONS
Dog & Pony DC
Arts
Mixers
Five highlights still on tap at Atlass Intersections Festival
W
EVE CREATED A FESTIVAL WHERE THE STRUCTURE ENSURES

that people encounter one another in ways that they might not expect,
Mary Hall Surface says of Intersections: A New America Arts Festival.
Now in its sixth year, Surfaces Intersections presents shows in all genres of the
performing arts, staged throughout the various theaters in the Atlas Performing
Arts Center, often in overlapping fashion, so the audiences end up hanging out
together listening to a caf concert.
But the real draw of the festival is to see performances mixing media and genres,
often through audience interaction and engagement. Or, as Surface describes it,
using the arts as a catalyst for dialogue.
Weve selected five highlights still to come from this years festival, featuring
700 performers and running to March 7.
*A national leader in devised, or participatory, theater, DOG & PONY DC stages its
new show Toast, intended to push the boundaries of our current technology and
explore the awesome potential of group innovation. (2/28 and 3/7)
*Aerial artists AIRBORNEDC pair up with the Zip Zap Circus from South Africa for
two performances demonstrating the two companies work in empowering innercity youth through daring artistry and skill- and trust-building exercises. (2/28)
*An outgrowth of the now-defunct Lesbian & Gay Chorus of Washington, DC,
the NOT WHAT YOU THINK ensemble performs a program of social justice-themed folk
and contemporary songs that will include audience participation in both song and
dance. (3/1)
*DISSONANCE DANCE THEATRE, a contemporary dance company founded by a
gay veteran of the Washington Ballet, offers a mixed-repertory program of works
intentionally straddling the divide between classical ballet and contemporary urban
dance. (3/1)
* The eclectic chamber ensemble ALL POINTS WEST hell-bent on transforming
the classical concert back into a fun, social experience aims to jump-start the
weekend with a program of Bach and Brews featuring classical music performed
while the audience sips beer furnished by the local Atlas Brew Works. (2/27 and
3/6) Doug Rule
Intersections runs weekends to March 7, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H
St. NE. Ticket prices and passes vary. Call 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
Many of the those you loved or loved to hate

from past seasons of Logos RuPauls Drag Race
return to the 9:30 Club next weekend for a show
to promote the latest season, as well as to keep
these queens names in circulation. This round,
were talking Alaska 5000 (aka Thunderfuck),
BenDeLaCreme, Darienne Lake, Ivy Winters, Jiggly
Caliente, Jinkx Monsoon and Pandora Boxx. As with
last years show, the host is Michelle Visage, who has
been RuPauls right-hand woman for two decades
now. For me, its all about the bravery that these
boys go through on a daily basis, Visage told Metro
Weekly two years ago. From the first moment I saw
a drag queen when I moved to New York City when I
was 17, it was all about admiration. I have the utmost
respect for these people and what they go through,
every day, and their transformation. Sunday, March
8. Doors at 8 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW.
Tickets are $35, $55 for VIP meet and greet at 7 p.m.
Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.
TEAM DC FASHION SHOW AND MODEL SEARCH
The popular annual event raises funds for the LGBT

sports associations College Scholarship Program
for LGBT student athletes. The fashion show features models in club wear, swimsuit, underwear and
leather/sports/fetish competitions. And this years
event features special guest judge Lynda Erkiletian
from The Real Housewives of DC. Saturday, Feb. 28,
at 8 p.m. Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th NW. Cover
is $15. Call 202-234-TOWN or visit teamdc.org.
TOSHI REAGON
Three years after her last performance in the area,

this veteran lesbian folk artist returns to the Free
State. This time, Reagon helps christen Strathmores
new medium-sized performing arts center, AMP,
located just off the Rockville Pike in the new multipurpose complex called Pike & Rose. The daughter
of celebrated gospel singer Bernice Reagon and the
goddaughter of folk legend Pete Seeger, Reagon will
perform with avant-garde New York-based drummer-singer Allison Miller. Vocal percussionist Be
Steadwill aka B.Steady opens the show with queer
pop and soul. Sunday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m. AMP by
Strathmore, 11810 Grand Park Ave. North Bethesda.
Tickets are $35. Call 301-581-5100 or visit ampbystrathmore.com.
FILM
BIRDMAN
Michael Keaton takes center stage, figuratively and

literally, as an actor desperately trying to stay rel-
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
27
evant as he mounts a Broadway adaptation of the

Birdman superhero he is known for playing. From
there, this years Oscar winner for Best Picture as
well as Best Director (Alejandro Gonzlez Irritu)
descends into madness a beautiful, technically
dazzling kind of madness with a cast that includes
Edward Norton, Emma Stone and Zach Galifianakis.
Now playing. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
CHEROKEE
STILL ALICE
Julianne Moore deserved this years Oscar for

Best Actress for yet another terrific, heartbreaking and unforgettable performance this time as
Alice, a mother who is starting to forget her words
(her stock-in-trade as a linguistics professor) due
to early onset Alzheimers. Richard Glatzer and
Wash Westmoreland direct this film, based on Lisa
Genovas novel, that also stars Alec Baldwin as
Alices husband and Kate Bosworth, Hunter Parrish
and Kristen Stewart as their children. Now playing.
Landmarks E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. Call
202-452-7672 or visit landmarktheatres.com.
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Eddie Redmayne won the Oscar for his portrayal

of brilliant physicist Stephen Hawking, who succumbed to motor neuron disease but still managed to
become one of the most lauded scientists of his generation. Redmaynes transformation over the course
of James Marshs film is remarkable, as is his resemblance to Hawking. Opens Friday, Feb. 27. Angelika
Pop-Up at Union Market, 550 Penn St. NE, Unit E.
Call 800-680-9095 or visit angelikapopup.com.
WASHINGTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
Now celebrating its silver anniversary, this large

festival offers 100 different events from traditional
film screenings to related cultural and educational
programs. In addition to its usual crop of new films,
this years festival will toast its quarter-century mark
by screening 12 Jewish cinema classics, including
Francois Truffauts The Last Metro, Robert Hamers
It Always Rains on Sunday and Golem, the 1920
German silent horror-fantasy expressionist film with
an original score to be performed live by Gary Lucas.
Runs to Sunday, March 1, at various venues. Ticket
prices are $12 for regular screenings or $30 for closing and centerpiece evenings. Call 888-718-4253 or
visit wjff.org.
STAGE
BACK TO METHUSELAH
One of the first works of science fiction ever put on

stage, George Bernard Shaws Back to Methuselah
features the writers celebrated wit and touch of
satire as it examines the human lifespan, from the
Garden of Eden to as far as thought can reach.
Bill Largess directs the latest Washington Stage
Guild production. To March 15. Undercroft Theatre
of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, 900
Massachusetts Ave. NW. Tickets are $40 to $50. Call
240-582-0050 or visit stageguild.org.
BESSIES BLUES
HHHHH
Twenty years ago, Studio Theatre won six Helen
Hayes Awards with its production of Bessies
Blues by Thomas W. Jones II. If you missed its first
outing, you might wonder what all the fuss was
about. Bernardine Mitchell reprises the lead role at
MetroStage, and she is the chief reason to see the
revival. Mitchell has one of the most powerful voices
around, with stupendous range, conjuring Smith and
other blues-informed divas, from Aretha Franklin
to Patti LaBelle. The subtle way the music helps
narrate the history and the influence of the blues is
impressive, but the script itself is a little too loose in
telling us about Smith especially. Bessies Blues uses
28
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
both interpretive acting as well as interpretive dancing and even if you dont find that pretentious, it
can be befuddling. The show is on soundest footing
when it keeps the focus on Mitchell and the music.
To March 15. MetroStage, 1201 North Royal St.,
Alexandria. Tickets are $55 to $60. Call 800-4948497 or visit metrostage.org. (Doug Rule)
METROWEEKLY.COM
John Vreeke directs a Woolly Mammoth production

of Lisa DAmours latest comedy, about two couples
one black, one white fleeing their suburban
pressures in an attempt to reconnect with nature
by going camping in Cherokee, N.C. A companion
to last seasons hit Detroit, Cherokee takes a disparate group of Americans beyond the brink and asks
what it means to lead an authentic life. To March 8.
Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW. Tickets are $35 to
$68. Call 202-393-3939 or visit woollymammoth.net.
FROZEN
The Anacostia Playhouse presents a local production

of Byrony Laverys play Frozen, about the disappearance of a 10-year-old girl named Rhona, following
her mother and killer over the years that follow.
Delia Taylor directs. Closes this Sunday, March
1. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Place SE.
Tickets are $35. Call 202-241-2539 or visit
anacostiaplayhouse.com.
HOUSE OF DESIRES
Hugo Medrano directs a GALA Hispanic Theatre

production of this romantic Spanish Golden Age
farce, mixing lyrical poetry, songs, cross-dressing
and mistaken identities. Sor Juana In de la Cruzs
House of Desires stars a large cast that includes
Natalia Miranda, Mauricio Pits, Carlos Castillo and
Luz Nicolas. Performend in Spanish with English
surtitles. Closes this Sunday, March 1. GALA Theatre
at Tivoli Square, 3333 14th St. NW. Call 202-2347174 or visit galatheatre.org.
KID VICTORY
Signature Theatre offers another world-premiere

musical, Kid Victory, a new collaboration between
legendary composer John Kander (Chicago, Cabaret)
and playwright Greg Pierce (The Landing). The
show, a co-production with the Vineyard Theatre
and directed by Liesl Tommy, is a dark and slightly twisted coming-of-age story about a confused
17-year-old boy who returns home after vanishing for a year. Jake Winn stars as Luke, and the
cast includes Signature veterans Donna Migliaccio,
Christopher Bloch and Bobby Smith. To March 22.
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington.
Call 703-820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org.
THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE
Matthew R. Wilson directs Constellation Theatre

Companys production of a gleeful and gruesome
comedy sending up violence from Oscar winner and
acclaimed Irish playwright Martin McDonagh. The
ensemble cast includes Chris Dinolfo, Megan Dominy,
Thomas Keegan and Matthew Ward. To March 8.
Source, 1835 14th St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $45. Call
202-204-7741 or visit constellationtheatre.org.
THE METROMANIACS
Michael Kahn directs a new adaptation by David

Ives of Alexis Pirons classic 1738 French farce, about
a would-be poet who has fallen for the works of a
mysterious Breton poetess. In fact, the works are by a
middle-aged gentleman, who pawns his own daughter
off as the author in an attempt to separate her from
the son of a sworn enemy. Chaos ensues, as does some
poetic wooing reminiscent of Cyrano. Extended to
March 15. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW. Call
202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org.
THE TURN OF THE SCREW
As the first installment in its five-year Bold New

Works for Intimate Stages Initiative, Virginias
Creative Cauldron commissioned this musical from
the Signature Theatre-affiliated team (and reallife gay couple) writer Stephen Gregory Smith and
musician Matt Conner (Nevermore, Crossing). Smith
and Conner adapted Henry Jamess classic novella,
a ghost story about a governess who learns dark
secrets about the two young orphans in her care.
Closes this Sunday, March 1. Creative Cauldron, 410
South Maple Ave. Falls Church. Tickets are $25. Call
703-436-9948 or visit creativecauldron.org.
COLLEGE THEATER
GOOD KIDS
The first commissioned work of a new playwriting

and performance initiative known as Big Ten Theatre
Chairs, Naomi Iizukas Good Kids explores a casual
sexual encounter gone wrong and its very public
aftermath. The play responds to actual events to
generate a national dialogue. Opens Friday, Feb. 27,
at 7:30 p.m. To March 7. Kay Theatre at the Clarice
at the University of Maryland, University Boulevard
and Stadium Drive. College Park. Tickets are $25. Call
301-405-ARTS or visit theclarice.umd.edu.
MUSIC
AUSTIN LOUNGE LIZARDS
A kind of alt-country Weird Al Yankovic that bills

itself as the most laughable band in show business, the Austin Lounge Lizards offer Americana,
bluegrass and rock songs with pointedly satirical
lyrics. The 35-year-old Austin-based touring band
performs parodies such as the TSA-inspired Thank
You for Touching Me There and last decades financial collapse-inspired Too Big to Fail. Thursday,
March 5, at 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap
Road, Vienna. Tickets are $25 to $27. Call 703-2551900 or visit wolf-trap.org.
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Cristian Macelaru conducts an evening of music

inspired by literature. Specifically, Shakespeare
the Fantasy Overtures from Tchaikovskys The
Tempest and Romeo and Juliet and Hans Christian
Andersen the Divertimento from Stravinskys
ballet The Fairys Kiss, based on Andersens short
story The Ice-Maiden. Simon Trpceski also joins to
perform Prokofievs Piano Concerto No. 1. Friday,
March 6, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 8, at 3 p.m.
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral
St., Baltimore. Also Saturday, March 7, at 8 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane,
North Bethesda. Tickets are $29 to $95. Call 410783-8000 or visit bsomusic.org.
FRENCH HORN REBELLION
Presented by the 9:30 Club at U Street Music Hall,

French Horn Rebellion is a funky, disco-steeped
Brooklyn duo, whove recently released several
songs featuring Jody Watley. The Wisconsin-bred
Perlick-Molinari brothers mostly rebel from the
bands namesake instrument, which one brother had
played in the Chicago Civic Orchestra before they
made the switch to making dance-pop music. But
the music is infectious and melodically enthusiastic,
even without the brass. Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m.
U Street Music Hall, 1115A U St. NW. Tickets are
$15. Call 202-588-1880 or visit ustreetmusichall.com.
JOHN EATON
The Barns at Wolf Trap hosts another concert by

local jazz veteran and pianist John Eaton, a flagship
artist on the Wolf Trap Recordings label. Piano
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
29
Solos and Jazz Duets features Eaton accompanied by local jazz bassist Tommy
Cecil. Friday, Feb. 27, at 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna.
Tickets are $25 to $27. Call 703-255-1900 or visit wolf-trap.org.
NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Herbert Blomstedt conducts an all-Beethoven program, including the Eroica

Symphony as well as the Piano Concerto No. 3 as performed by Emanuel Ax.
Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m., and Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28, at 8
p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets are $10 to $95. Call 202-467-4600
or visit www.kennedy-center.org.
OF MONTREAL
Despite his bands name, Kevin Barnes is based in the indie-rock hotbed of
Athens, Ga. He named his band after a woman he once dated, who was you
guessed it from Montreal. An odd name hasnt stopped the eccentric band,
whose music is all over the psychedelic rock map, from gaining a devoted
following. Saturday, March 7. Doors at 8 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW.
Tickets are $20. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.
SIMONE DINNERSTEIN WITH ANNAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Strathmore welcomes Marylands capital city symphony as it accompanies this

celebrity pianist in a program of works by English poet and composer Arthur
Bax, Richard Strauss and Ravel. Sunday, March 1, at 3 p.m. Music Center at
Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $10 to $30. Call
301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.
WASHINGTON CONCERT OPERA
Artistic director Anthony Walker leads the 29-year-old Washington Concert

Opera in its second show of the season, a performance of Guntram, Richard
Strausss rarely performed first opera in fact, this is reportedly only the
second time its been performed in the United States. Renowned heldentenor
Robert Dean Smith sings the title role, and will be on stage for most of the
opera, accompanied by up-and-coming soprano Marjorie Owen and baritone
Tom Fox. Sunday, March 1, at 6 p.m. GW Lisner, The George Washington
University, 730 21st St. NW. Tickets are $15 to $110. Call 202-364-5826 or visit
concertopera.org or lisner.org.
WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA
Francesca Zambello directs the company premiere of Francis Poulencs

Dialogue of the Carmelites, a powerful opera about an order of nuns who refuse
to renounce their beliefs during the French Revolution. Poulenc, who wrote the
original French libretto after a play by Georges Bernanos, approved the English
translation to be sung by the WNO cast, including three fast-rising sopranos
making their WNO debuts: Lea Crocetto, Layla Claire and Ashley Emerson. To
March 10. Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets are $25 to $300. Call 202-4674600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
DANCE
BLACK MOVEMENTS DANCE THEATRE
Founded decades ago on the campus of Georgetown University by AfricanAmerican women, this contemporary modern dance company offers its annual
Black History Month Concert Celebration featuring the works of worldrenowned dance artists in a mixed-repertoire program of modern, jazz, ballet, African, lyrical, hip-hop and spiritual dance styles. Friday, Feb. 27, and
Saturday, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m. Gonda Theatre at the Davis Performing Arts Center,
37th and O Streets NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-687-ARTS or visit
performingarts.georgetown.edu.
LULA WASHINGTON DANCE THEATRE
Founded 35 years ago in South Los Angeles, this trailblazing dance troupe
performs its risky, experimental dance works and masterpieces by legendary pioneers in African-American dance. A free night as part of the Kennedy
Centers Millennium Stage programming. Friday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. Kennedy
Center Millennium Stage. Tickets are free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit
kennedy-center.org.
MALPASO DANCE COMPANY
After its U.S. debut in New York last spring, this Cuba-based contemporary
dance company offers a program at Dance Place that includes a work by
its artistic director Osnel Delgado and set to a new composition by Arturo
OFarrill. The performance is made possible through the Performing Americas
Program, an international partnership meant to increase artistic exchange
throughout the Western Hemisphere. Sunday, March 1, at 7 p.m. Dance Place,
3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are $25 in advance, or $30 at the door. Call 202-2691600 or visit danceplace.org. l
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
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scene
Glamour, Glitter &
Gold: The DC Centers
10th Annual Oscar
Gala at Town
Sunday, February 22
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
WARD MORRISON
SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE
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stage
Something
Synetics dance-musical interpretation
of Much Ado About Nothing is a
clever, outside-the-box extravaganza
by KATE WINGFIELD
KOKO LANHAM
NOTHER IN SYNETIC THEATERS SILENT

Shakespeare series, the dance-musical interpretation of Much Ado About Nothing is a clever,
outside-the-box extravaganza. A pastiche of
1950s musical themes, along with numerous references to the
eras icons, it admires as much as it pokes gentle fun at vintage
Americana, Las Vegas style.
But this is Synetic, a company led by two Georgians (the
country, not the state), and the lens is, as always, colored
by a sensibility a little different from the American norm.
As much as the piece is infused with an enthusiasm for
American music and images, there is something a little darker
in the mix. Its intrinsically interesting and also saves the
piece from being hopelessly corny.

Of course, the novelty here is not just the 1950s setting
(which, truth be told, often feels a bit more like an earlier swing
era), but also seeing Shakespeare through dance versus words.
For those familiar with the play, though there may be a few
vague moments, the gist can be readily tracked. For those less
familiar, this is stand-alone entertainment you can let the
dance and mime provide whatever story you make of it. Or, you
can hedge your bets either way by reading the program notes.
Yet, to dwell too much on the literal and whether it matches
Shakespeare is to miss the better point: the Bards meaningful
themes and emotions are delivered through dance, movement
and Thomas Sowers and Konstantine Lortkipanidzes inspired
score. It is the sense of the story, its characters and their interconnections, that are in play, and it is the clarity of their expression
that is the measure. And though not everyone will bond with the
brash concept, the piece delivers. Partnering with the cleverly
curated music and interludes of unsettled sound, choreographer
Irina Tsikurishvili embraces the task with a big, vibrant picture,
juxtaposing the jumpy, expansive moves of bebop and swing
with smoother, more lyrical and expressive dance.
But with Synetic there is always another conversation joining
the dance, and this production is no exception. As Tsikurishvili
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
33
evokes the musical numbers of bygone days, she does so with a

certain tongue-in-cheek humor and often in piquant contrast to
the emotions of the players. No movement is ever superfluous
- it all has expressive purpose and it makes for riveting viewing.
Tsikurishvili delivers a dancing feast for the eyes - a stage often
filled with a host of different mini-vignettes, all equally interesting and clever.
One of the edgier elements here comes in the form of
Beatrice, who Irina Tsikurishvili dances with a certain canny
sensuousness that gives her a touch of the louche. It makes for
an interesting chemistry with the characters on-again-off-again
beau, Benedick, played by Ben Cunis with an uncomplicated,
good-natured gallantry. They make a credible pair and dance
together with exceptional clarity of expression.
Aside from the will-they-wont-they of Beatrice and Benedick
is the secondary plot centering on the fall and rise of ingnue
Hero, in the not overly mature eyes of her suitor Claudio. Emily
Whitworth is a stand-out here, giving her Hero an unassailable sweetness and also expressing some distinct personality.
Whitworth is another of Synetics treasures: a woman of height
and grace who shows just how limiting it is to see dance only in
terms of ballets traditional waif. Though there isnt an abundance of chemistry between this Hero and Claudio, Scott Brown
delivers his young man with keen clarity.
Carrying another of the darker themes here is Dallas
Tolentino as the devious Don John, who does his best to scuttle
the nascent romance between Hero and Claudio. Tolentino is
not just, to use a vintage term, devilishly handsome, he is also a
strikingly confident and dexterous mover, a complete natural.
He delivers Synetics interesting take on Don Johns motives: a
cynicism born of a half-life existence in an urban underworld.
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
These moments feel and look far more 21st century than midcentury. Whether intended or not, the fact that Tolentino, and
director Paata Tsikurishvili, can convincingly meld such divergent moods with the whole speaks volumes.
Less successful is Claudios rather graphic and altogether
contemporary imaginings of Heros supposed wantonness they dont sit well with the overall tone of the production and
the spirited but chaste banter between Beatrice and Benedick.
Still, these are just a few moments and they dont overly dent the
proceedings.
Adding to the color and fun of the piece are a charismatic
Peter Pereyra as a slick, club-owning Leonato and the everacrobatic Vato Tsikurishvili as Dogberry, seen here as a blundering state trooper. Tsikurishvili is an accomplished purveyor
of slapstick which is thankfully mitigated by a subversive sense
of humor. Other standouts are Zana Gankhuyag delivering a
comedic transformation as Verges, one of Dogberrys men.
Philip Fletcher succeeds in making his Don Pedro credible and
compelling whether he is leading the bikers or jittering through
a big dance number.
It is, without doubt, a bold take on Shakespeare. Delivering
the ins-and-outs of the plot requires a careful balance between
the exciting dance and enough mime to advance the plot.
Although there are a few moments when the mime threatens to
put a damper on the pace, overall, director Tsikurishvili makes it
sing. The bottom line is, taken as a Shakespearean concept piece,
this is bold stuff. Taken as pure entertainment, it beats the band.
Much Ado About Nothing (HHHHH) runs to March 22 at Synetic
Theater, 1800 South Bell St., in Crystal City. Tickets are $20 to $95.
Call 800-494-8497 or visit synetictheater.org. l
games
Unrevolutionary
While great in concept,
in practice Evolve is
somewhat of a mess
by RHUARIDH MARR
TURTLE ROCK STUDIOS / 2K
T WOULD BE FAR TOO EASY TO STOMP ALL OVER

Evolve. Much like the monsters the game so gloriously
depicts, I could rampage and wreak havoc on it, tearing it to
shreds, so underwhelmed was I by something touted as the
next big event in multiplayer gaming. But I cant. For, as much
as I ended up forcing myself to play the game in order to write
this review, I cant deny that what Turtle Rock Studios have produced is indeed different, original, refreshing and wonderfully
crafted. Its just a shame, then, that my own enthusiasm for the
game is tepid at best.
As a concept, its fantastic. The studio that gave us multiplayer
gem Left 4 Dead would build an online-only game which pits
humans against a giant monster, in a David versus Goliath situation where all bets are off as to which side will eventually win.
Four players would control a team of Hunters, who must work
together to take down the savage, two-story tall beast. The twist?
The monster isnt AI, its a fifth player at the controls of the brute.
Its player-versus-player in a way we havent really seen before.
In practice? Well, its more than a little messy. Evolve takes
place on Shear, a planet colonized by humanity that transpires
to contain monstrous alien creatures, who take umbrage to this
puny species building homes, power plants and research stations

on their world. The entire story is established in one cutscene,
where were introduced to the various Hunters the player can
control. A full scale evacuation is in order, and the Hunters are
tasked with delaying or killing as many of the Monsters as possible, to give colonists a chance of salvation aboard a rescue ship.
And thats it. Thats all the plot Evolve feels the need to tell in
order to justify its multiplayer action dont expect a lengthy
campaign to play through, because it isnt here.
If there are echoes of Titanfall in this approach, youre not
the only one detecting them. Last years Xbox One exclusive was
also online-only, and similarly eschewed a story mode in favor
of wrapping a vague narrative around its multiplayer matches.
Indeed, the two share more than a passing similarity if you
stripped away most of the players and reduced Titanfall to four
pilots versus one Titan, youll have a better understanding of
Evolves gameplay. Unfortunately, unlike Titanfall, Evolves multiplayer failed to sink its teeth into my bones and drag me into
hours of uninterrupted multiplayer battles. Instead, knowing I
had to review it, it gently clawed my face, an irritant I could only
ignore for so long before I had to attend to its needs.
Really, the core of Evolves problems stem from its restriction to four-versus-one gameplay. Thats all there is to play
here dont expect to do large-scale battle with an army of
Hunters fighting hordes of Monsters. Its not going to happen.
That restriction extends to Evolves game types, which involve
Hunt (the Hunters must track and kill the Monster, before it
evolves and kills them), Nest (Hunters must find and destroy
the Monsters eggs, and any minions which hatch from them),
Rescue (Hunters must find injured humans and return them to
a dropship, while the Monster must kill them), and Defend (the
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
35
starship tasked with lifting the colonists to safety is refuelling,

and Hunters must survive an assault by the Monster and its
minions, which will attempt to destroy the refuelling point and
thus the starship). Four modes; thats your lot. In-game pop-ups
during loading screens will tell you that there are 800,000 possible match varieties across the games dozen maps, but in reality
it feels far more restricted.
In battle, your experience will depend on which side you are.
Playing as a Monster is arguably where Evolve is at its best. As
you may have guessed, one of the key strategies when controlling these beasts is to evolve, achieved by killing and eating the
wildlife found in each map. This increases the Monsters armor,
eventually allowing it to upgrade through two stages, building in
strength and ability as it does so. Monsters have a basic attack, as
well as four special abilities. Your starter Monster, the Goliath,
will have the ability to throw boulders, breath fire, smash down
on Hunters from a great height, and charge through them,
knocking them out of firing range. Unlocking the games three
other Monsters will bring abilities such as lightening strikes,
supernova explosions, lava bombs, proximity mines, decoy
cloning and rock traps. Watching your Monster evolve and
grow as you play, and then taking the fight to the Hunters, is an
exhilarating experience. Theyre more than a little cumbersome
to control, but theres a weight and solidity that is more than
appropriate given their ginormous size.
Playing as a Hunter offers its own rewards and challenges. There are four main classes: Assault, Medic, Trapper and
Support. Each has three characters, which can be unlocked as
you play, offering various gun types and abilities. Assault are
the main attack class, with a personal shield granting temporary
invulnerability against the Monsters strikes. Guns are big and
powerful, as are the the characters wielding them. Medics heal
their teammates, and are a vital part of winning a match lose
the medic, and youll easily lose the game. Trappers are experts
in finding the Monster, and can utilize traps (hence the name) to
prevent the Monster from escaping, letting players coordinate
their attacks in a smaller area. Support class does exactly what
it says on the tin using a cloaking device to hide from the
Monster, youll lay down covering fire or provide teammates with
additional shields to aid them in battle. Each class can be levelled
up, unlocking new abilities, and there is a welcome variety to the
way each character plays. Gunplay is solid, with the games future
tech lending itself well to a wide variety of explosive weaponry.
Unfortunately, in play, is where the game starts to lose you.
Each of Evolves maps are pleasingly vertical, which adds an
extra dimension to gameplay Monsters can climb surfaces and
leap between points, while all Hunters have jetpacks to enable
temporary boosts and to scale cliffs and buildings. Outside of
that, and especially when playing as a Hunter, the game quickly
loses focus. In Hunt mode the core gameplay type and the one
youll play most often depending on who is controlling the
Monster, youre likely to spend the vast majority of your game
as a Hunter aimlessly running around. Tracking the Monster is
aided by following its tracks, watching out for disturbed birds,
fallen trees, and dead animals, or utilizing the tech at your disposal. In practice, and definitely not aided by each map being
almost unbearably dark in places, youll be wandering through
the map, waiting for the game to throw a visual cue at you when
it senses that the Hunters have completely lost the Monster.
Almost every Hunt game I played followed this pattern and
while we were dithering about, trying to find the Monster, the
person controlling it was evolving into a Stage 3 behemoth,
which is almost unbearably difficult to kill.
Its here that a four person team needs to work together, making the most of their skill sets and their headsets to communicate
with one another to bring it down. The Trapper can throw up a
dome that keeps the Monster within a certain distance, the Medic
can take out its armor to highlight areas that will grant more
damage, the Support can buff the other players and the Assault
can go in for the kill. In practice, not once would anyone speak
during a game, and usually players would lose one another and be
quickly overwhelmed by the Monster and this is true for every
game type. Single players in a disparate team wont stick together,
which is vital to win. When playing as a Monster, I would seek
out the Medic and kill them once theyre gone, it then becomes
a case of taking out the other three and youve won. Evolve works
best when youve got three friends with you, working as a team
to do battle without friends, its a horrible, unbalanced mess.
Its somewhat telling that I had more fun playing as a Hunter
in Evolves Solo mode, which replaces human players with
AI-controlled bots. My team of CPU code and I worked wonderfully together to bring down Monster after Monster we were a
better team than any human players Id come across.
That lack of balance when faced with uncoordinated teammates is what ultimately caused me to switch off from Evolve.
Evacuation mode is a five-match story mode of sorts, pitting
Hunters against Monster across four maps of random game types,
with the intention to see how many survivors you can save in the
lead up to the final, fifth match type which is always Defend.
Start with a weak team and youre going to have a long, boring
session ahead of you as you slog through the various game modes
having your ass handed to you by the Monster even with auto
balancing lending buffs and upgrades to the losing team for the
next round. Theres only so much losing as a Hunter I could take
before I wanted to eject the disc and play something else.
And yet, I cant hate Evolve. For those with friends to play
with no one on my Xbox Live friends list owns the game it
must surely be an absolute blast. Working together to take down
a Monster must be as exhilarating as it was for me to be the
Monster, trying to crush individual Hunters until I won. Whats
more, the whole game screams quality. Though predominantly
dark, its beautifully depicted, with lush jungle areas, rocky outcrops, wonderfully rendered buildings and fantastic character
designs particularly on the Monsters. Audio, too, is sublime.
Hunters chatter away to one another, reacting to gameplay
moments and commenting on one anothers achievements, as
well as the Monster. The booming footsteps of the Monster as
it roams nearby are terrifyingly ominous with the right audio
setup. Guns, bombs and abilities all crash and bang with appropriate depth. Its all too clear that Turtle Rock Studios put a vast
amount of effort into the game.
Which makes it all the more depressing that, ultimately, Ive
ejected Evolve from my console for what feels like the last time.
Perhaps if different game modes are released, Ill jump back in.
If a few friends pick up the game at a later date, maybe Ill revisit
it. In the meantime, though, I have none of the clawing desire of
many other multiplayer games to return for just one more round.
Personally, I cant recommend Evolve especially given that its
charging full price for a game that is remarkably low on content
(and has a somewhat suspect amount of paid DLC available so
soon after launch). Everything it brought to the table seemed
delicious, but turned out bland. However, for the many people
currently playing it, and for anyone reading this and considering
buying, it could be the sweetest dish of all. Its a game of personal
taste, and this time, Im not playing.
Evolve (HHHHH) is available on PS4, Xbox One and PC. l
36
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
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NIGHT
LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 02.26.15
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
ANNIES/ANNIES
UPSTAIRS
4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm-7pm
$4 Small Plates, $4 Stella
Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite, $4
Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm $3
Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight,
$5 Red Bull, Gatorade
and Frozen Virgin Drinks
Locker Room Thursday
Nights DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Ripped
Hot Body Contest at midnight, hosted by Sasha
J. Adams and BaNaka
$200 Cash Prize Doors
open 10pm, 18+ $5 Cover
under 21 and free with
college ID
DC EAGLE
Throwback Thursday Ted
on the Bar Peter on the
Boot Black Chair Evening
Hour, 10pm-midnight
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Shirtless Thursday,
10-11pm Featuring music
by DJs BacK2bACk
JR.S
$3 Rail Vodka Highballs, $2
JR.s drafts, 8pm to close
Throwback Thursday featuring rock/pop retro hits
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
scene
Valentines Day Black
Hearts Ball at Cobalt
Saturday, February 14
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY
WARD MORRISON
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

Beat The Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15
NUMBER NINE
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
Tim-e in Secrets 9pm
Cover 21+
FRI., 02.27.15
9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
Friday Night Videos with
resident DJ Shea Van Horn
VJ Expanded craft beer
selection No cover
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
Martinis Upstairs open
5-11pm
COBALT/30 DEGREES
All You Can Drink Happy
Hour $15 Rail &
Domestic, $21 Call &
Imports, 6-9pm Guys
Night Out Free Belvedere
Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6
Belvedere Vodka Drinks all
night DJ MadScience
presents INFERNO! Dance
Party, 10pm-close DJ
Keenan Orr on the danceoor $10 cover 10pm1am, $5 after 1am 21+
DC BEAR CRUE
@Town Bear Happy
Hour, 6-11pm $3 Rail,
$3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles
Free Pizza, 7pm Hosted
by Charger Stone No
cover before 9:30pm 21+
DC EAGLE
Gear Night $2 off vests,
harnesses or chaps, 9pmclose
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
JR.S
Buy 1, Get 1, 11pm-midnight Happy Hour: 2-for1, 4-9pm $5 Coronas, $8
Vodka Red Bulls, 9pm-close
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

DJ Matt Bailer Videos,
Dancing Beat The Clock
Happy Hour $2 (5-6pm),
$3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm)
Buckets of Beer $15
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour: 2
for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover
TOWN
Drag Show starts at
10:30pm Hosted by Lena
Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-QueetaLee, Epiphany B. Lee
and BaNaka DJ Wess
upstairs, BacK2bACk
downstairs Doors open
at 10pm For those 21 and
over, $5 from 10-11pm and
$10 after 11pm For those
18-20, $12 all night 18+
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers,
hosted by LaTroya Nicole
Ladies of Illusion with host
Kristina Kelly, 9pm DJ
Steve Henderson in Secrets
DJ Don T. in Ziegfelds
Cover 21+
SAT., 02.28.15
9 1/2
$5 Absolut & Titos, $3
Miller Lite after 9pm
Expanded craft beer selection No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Drag Yourself to Brunch
at Level One, 11am-2 and
2-4pm Featuring Kristina
Kelly and the Ladies of
Illusion Bottomless
Mimosas and Bloody Marys
Happy Hour: $3 Miller
Lite, $4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Sherry Vine Dinner Show
at Level One, 8-11pm
Reservations recommended
Winter Party Kickoff with
DJ Gustavo Scorpio, 10pmclose DJ contest winner
DJ iRO in the lounge
Chance to win two VIP
tickets to this years Winter
Party Beach Party $5 Rail
Drinkis, $3 PBR, $8 Vodka
Red Bulls, $4 Fireball all
night 21+
DC EAGLE
Spartan MC Bar Night,
10pm-close
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Diner-style Breakfast
Buffet, 10am-3pm Crazy
Hour, 4-7pm Freddies
Follies Drag Show, hosted
by Ms. Destiny B. Childs,
8-10pm
DJ Adam Koussari-Amin
and DJ Devon Trotter
upstairs at 11pm Music
and videos downstairs with
DJ Wess Drag Show
starts at 10:30pm Hosted
by Lena Lett and featuring
Miss Tatianna, Shi-QueetaLee, Epiphany B. Lee and
BaNaka Doors open
10pm Cover $10 from
10-11pm, $12 after 11pm
21+
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
JR.S
$4 Coors, $5 Vodka highballs, $7 Vodka Red Bulls
NELLIES
Guest DJs Zing Zang
Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer,
House Rail Drinks and
Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm
Buckets of Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on
any drink, 5-9pm No
Cover DILF Daddy Party,
9:30pm-close Featuring
DJ Douglas Sullivan $3
Miller Lite, $5 Titos and
Bulleit bourbon, 9pm-close
SUN., 03.01.15
TOWN
Team DC Fashion Show,
7pm Cover $15 CTRL:
50 Shades Dance Party featuring Agents of S.H.A.D.E.
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ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion with host Ella
Fitzgerald, 9pm DJ Steve
Henderson in Secrets
DJ Joey O in Ziegfelds
Doors 8pm Cover 21+
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
41
COBALT/30 DEGREES
$4 Stoli, Stoli avors
and Miller Lite all day
Homowood Karaoke, 10pmclose No Cover, 21+
DC EAGLE
Barbecue and Beer Blast
$2 off pitchers of beer
all day
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
10am-3pm Crazy Hour,
4-7pm Karaoke, 8pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Mamas Trailer Park
Karaoke, 9:30pm-close
JR.S
Sunday Funday Liquid
Brunch Doors open at
1pm $2 Coors Lights &
$3 Skyy (all avors), all day
and night
NELLIES
Drag Brunch, hosted by
Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am-3pm
$20 Brunch Buffet
House Rail Drinks, Zing
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
Beer and Mimosas, $4,
11am-close Buckets of
Beer, $15
42
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
NUMBER NINE
Pop Goes the World with
Wes Della Volla at 9:30
pm Happy Hour: 2 for
1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
8pm Cover 21+
MON., 03.02.15
9 1/2
Multiple TVs showing
movies, shows, sports
ANNIES
Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Drag Show hosted by
Kristina Kelly Doors open
at 10pm, show starts at
11pm $3 Skyy Cocktails,
$8 Skyy and Red Bull No
Cover, 18+
FREDDIES
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour All Night Long,
4pm-close Michaels
Open Mic Night Karaoke,
9:30pm-close
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm
Showtunes Songs &
Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ Jamez $3 Drafts
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Poker Texas
Holdem, 8pm Dart
Boards
NUMBER NINE
No Cover RuPauls Drag
Race Premiere Party with
BaNaka, 8pm Drag Race
Trivia, with prizes Music
and Videos by DJ Wess
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour All Night Long,
4pm-close
TUES., 03.03.15
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Karaoke and
Drag Bingo
9 1/2
Multiple TVs showing
movies, shows, sports
ANNIES
Happy Hour, 4-7pm $4
Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
SIN Industry Night
Half-price Cocktails, 10pmclose
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
JR.S
Underground (Indie Pop/Alt/
Brit Rock), 9pm-close DJ
Wes Della Volla 2-for-1,
all day and night
NUMBER NINE
No Cover Safe Word: A
Gay Spelling Bee, 8-11pm
Prizes to top three
spellers After 9pm, $3
Absolut, Bulleit & Stella
WED., 03.04.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
ANNIES
Happy Hour, 4-7pm $4
Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Wednesday Night
Karaoke downstairs, 10pm
$4 Stoli and Stoli Flavors
and Miller Lite No Cover
21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
Burgers Drag Bingo
Night, hosted by Ms.
Regina Jozet Adams
Bingo prizes Karaoke,
10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
JR.S
Trivia with MC Jay Ray,
8pm The Queen, 10-11pm
$2 JRs Drafts & $4
Vodka ($2 with College I.D./
JRs Team Shirt)
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

SmartAss Trivia Night, 8pm
and 9pm Prizes include
bar tabs and tickets to
shows at the 9:30 Club
$15 Buckets of Beer for
SmartAss Teams only
Bring a new team member
and each get a free $10
Dinner
NUMBER NINE
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Shirtless Night, 10-11pm,
12-12:30am Military
Night, no cover with
military ID DJ Don T. in
Secrets 9pm Cover 21+
THURS., 03.05.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
ANNIES/ANNIES
UPSTAIRS
4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm-7pm
Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite, $4
Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm $3
Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight,
$5 Red Bull, Gatorade
and Frozen Virgin Drinks
Locker Room Thursday
Nights DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Ripped
Hot Body Contest at midnight, hosted by Sasha
J. Adams and BaNaka
$200 Cash Prize Doors
open 10pm, 18+ $5 Cover
under 21 and free with
college ID
DC EAGLE
Throwback Thursday Ted
on the Bar Peter on the
Boot Black Chair Evening
Hour, 10pm-midnight
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
METROWEEKLY.COM
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Shirtless Thursday,
10-11pm Featuring music
by DJs BacK2bACk
JR.S
$3 Rail Vodka Highballs, $2
JR.s drafts, 8pm to close
Throwback Thursday featuring rock/pop retro hits
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Shirtless Thursday DJ
Tim-e in Secrets 9pm
Cover 21+
FRI., 03.06.15
9 1/2
Friday Night Videos with
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
43
resident DJ Shea Van Horn

VJ Expanded craft beer
selection No cover
ANNIES
Martinis Upstairs open
5-11pm
COBALT/30 DEGREES
All You Can Drink Happy
Hour $15 Rail &
Domestic, $21 Call &
Imports, 6-9pm Guys
Night Out Free Rail
Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6
Belvedere Vodka Drinks
all night Watch your
favorite music videos with
DJ MadScience in the
lounge DJ Keenan Orr
on the danceoor $10
cover 10pm-1am, $5 after
1am 21+
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FEBRUARY 26, 2015
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DC BEAR CRUE
@Town Bear Happy
Hour, 6-11pm $3 Rail,
$3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles
Free Pizza, 7pm Hosted
by Charger Stone No
cover before 9:30pm 21+
DC EAGLE
Bear Nonsense: Bear Happy
Hour, 6-10pm
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
JR.S
Buy 1, Get 1, 11pm-midnight Happy Hour: 2-for1, 4-9pm $5 Coronas, $8
Vodka Red Bulls, 9pm-close
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
DJ Matt Bailer Videos,
Dancing Beat The Clock
Happy Hour $2 (5-6pm),
$3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm)
Buckets of Beer $15
NUMBER NINE
No Cover
TOWN
Drag Show starts at
10:30pm Hosted by Lena
Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-QueetaLee, Epiphany B. Lee
and BaNaka DJ Wess
upstairs, BacK2bACk
downstairs Doors open
at 10pm For those 21 and
over, $5 from 10-11pm and
$10 after 11pm For those
18-20, $12 all night 18+
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers,
hosted by LaTroya Nicole
Ladies of Illusion with host
Kristina Kelly, 9pm DJ
Steve Henderson in Secrets
DJ Don T. in Ziegfelds
Cover 21+ l
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
45
Im gay. And
I want my kid to be gay,
too.
SALLY KOHN, liberal political commentator, in an article for the Washington Post. Kohn, who has a six-year-old daughter with
partner Sarah Hanse, wrote that she wants her daughter to know that being gay is equally desirable to being straight, adding
that if her daughter was gay, I dont worry about her having a hard life. But I do worry about
people expecting her to have a hard life.
Thats the important criteria:

Are they going to be excellent service members?
And I dont think anything but their suitability for service should preclude them.
U.S. Defence Secretary ASHTON CARTER, in a press conference, answering whether he thought the military should end
the current ban on openly transgender service. Last year, a report recommended that the military lift the ban, but Carters
predecessor, Chuck Hagel, failed to implement any change in policy.
They have this knob, where zero is they hate it and 10 is they love it. And
theyre at a 10 until the two men kiss,
then its down to a zero.
LEE DANIELS, speaking with Daily Extra about reactions by test audiences to a gay storyline in his Fox series Empire. Its
something about two men being together two women being together they can more accept but two men being together.
I would like this moment to be for that kid out there

who feels like shes weird or shes different or
she doesnt fit in
anywhere. Yes, you do. I promise you do.
GRAHAM MOORE, in his speech accepting the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Imitation Game. Moore,
whos straight, told the audience When I was 16 years old, I tried to kill myself because I felt weird and I felt different and I felt
like I did not belong. Stay weird. Stay different, and then when its your turn and you are standing on this stage,
please pass this same message to the next person who comes along.
Everyone will have respect and

everyone can love and everyone can get married.
And thats the state that we want for all of us.
TZIPI LIVNI, an Israeli politician, speaking during an appearance at a gay nightclub in Tel Aviv, Israel National News reports.
The leader of Israels Hatnuah party is promising to legalize same-sex marriage in the country. A proposed coalition with the
Labor party would make Livni one of two prime ministers, should both parties win the countrys elections in March.
46
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DVOCATES FOR GESTATIONAL surrogacy ran into

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

could end it all.

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

cate. At one point, Delegates Susan McComas (R-Harford Co.)

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

ACU Chairman Matt Schlapp welcomes gay conservatives to CPAC

HEN THE CONSERvative Political Action

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

including conservatives who are gay, he

2012 after GOProud co-founder Chris

We had people that founded America

new approach, Schlapp is okay with the

INNISH PRESIDENT SAULI

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

rity inside the main entrance on Maryland Ave. at

HOPE DC, a support group for HIV-positive gay

men, hosts a monthly social get-together at The DC

GAYS AND LESBIANS OPPOSING VIOLENCE

GAY MARRIED MENS ASSOCIATION (GAMMA)

preventing anti-gay hate crimes, holds its monthly

KAPPA ALPHA LAMBDA SORORITY, a lesbian

OUTWRITE LGBT BOOK FESTIVAL meets

monthly at The DC Center to plan for OutWrites

is a confidential support group for men who are

WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES, a social discussion

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session

at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health,

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by