CONTENTS

AUGUST 30, 2018 Volume 25 Issue 16

2 RESTORATION BARD
The Folger Theatre unearths a rarely-performed 17th Century
adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s fundamental tragedies.

By Randy Shulman

THE PASSIONS OF
CLAYBOURNE ELDER
The star of Signature’s latest hit musical is as zealous about
his one-year-old son as he is about baring it all.
28
39
Interview by Doug Rule
Photography by Julian Vankim

ANIMAL HOUSE
We the Animals tells a gay coming-of-age tale through the
quiet, dream-filled imagination of its young protagonist.

By Rhuaridh Marr

SPOTLIGHT: DC SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL p.7 OUT ON THE TOWN p.10

RESTORATION BARD: FOLGER THEATRE’S MACBETH p.12 DISCO INFERNO: BLISSPOP DISCO FEST p.14
THE FEED p.21 COMMUNITY: HITTING THE LANES p.21 FORUM: INFORMATION, PLEASE p.27
COVER STORY: THE PASSIONS OF CLAYBOURNE ELDER p.28 GALLERY: SWEENEY TODD p.38
FILM: WE THE ANIMALS p.39 NIGHTLIFE p.43 SCENE: JR.’S p.43 LISTINGS p.45 SCENE: GREEN LANTERN p.50
SCENE: A LEAGUE OF HER OWN p.52 SCENE: PITCHERS p.53 LAST WORD p.54

Metro Weekly will not be publishing an issue the week of Sept. 6.

We will see you on Sept. 13 with the 25th Annual Fall Arts Preview. Happy Labor Day
Editorial Editor-in-Chief Randy Shulman Art Director Todd Franson Online Editor at metroweekly.com Rhuaridh Marr Senior Editor John Riley
Contributing Editors André Hereford, Doug Rule Senior Photographers Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim Contributing Illustrator Scott G. Brooks
Contributing Writers Sean Maunier, Troy Petenbrink, Bailey Vogt, Kate Wingfield Webmaster David Uy Production Assistant Julian Vankim
Sales & Marketing Publisher Randy Shulman National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 Distribution Manager Dennis Havrilla
Patron Saint Iginio Ugo Tarchetti Cover Photography Julian Vankim

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© 2018 Jansi LLC.

4 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 Spotlight
DC Shorts Film Festival
O
NE OF THE LARGEST FESTIVALS IN THE WORLD
of its kind, the 15th annual DC Shorts Film Festival
has amassed more than 120 shorts running an average
of 5 to 15 minutes each. The films are presented in 18 diverse
Showcases, each screened twice on different days and times
over the course of the event, which runs from Sept. 6 to 16.
Ten additional showcases, each screening once, are
grouped into defined topics, including comedy, women’s
issues, current events, international, and animation. Among
these, “Cinema 10%” is an especially noteworthy collection
dedicated to encounters of the LGBTQ kind (Wednesday,
Sept. 12, at the Landmark E Street Cinema). Other LGBTQ
films are scattered throughout the standard showcases, and
part of the joy of watching any collection of short films is in
the discovery, taking delight in the variety of subject matter,
styles, and genres on display. It’s like a Whitman’s Sampler.
But on film.
The festival also features workshops for budding filmmak-
ers (Friday, Sept. 7, from Noon to 6 p.m.; advance registration
required), and assorted parties and receptions. Among the
more unique highlights is a Screenplay Competition, held
Friday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. at the Miracle Theatre (535 8th St.
SE), in which six scripts are performed live for the audience,
who will then vote to award one aspiring filmmaker $2,000 as
seed money for their project. The evening concludes with the
World Premiere of last year’s winner, The Pharaohs.
DC Shorts runs Thursday, Sept. 6. to Sunday, Sept. 16, with
all Showcase screenings at the Landmark E Street Cinema
(555 E St. NW), a few blocks from Metro Center. Individual
Showcase tickets are $15, although an All Access Festival
Pass, which gets you into all the showcases and the parties,
is only $125. Can’t make it to everything? Fret not. Watch 103
of this year’s films online during the run of the festival for a
mere $30. For more details on this year’s festival, including
brief synopses of all the films, pick up a copy of the official DC
Shorts Program Guide at venues around town, or watch for it
as an insert in this week’s Washington City Paper. Call 202-
393-4266 or visit dcshorts.org for more details. l
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 7
 Spotlight
JILL SOBULE
The original “I Kissed a Girl” hitmak-
er appears at City Winery in support
of her forthcoming album, Nostalgia
Kills. The set includes new versions of
songs originally written by Sobule for the
stage, including “There’s Nothing I Can
Do” from the Off-Off Broadway musi-
cal Prozak and the Platypus, “25 Cents”
from a forthcoming musical adaptation
of the 1980 film Times Square, and the
gorgeous klezmer-inflected pop ballad
“Tomorrow Is Breaking My Heart,” from
a recent adaptation of Isaac Bashevis
Singer’s gender-bending romance Yentl.
Sunday, Sept. 9. Doors at 7:30 p.m. City
Winery DC, 1350 Okie St. NE. Tickets are
$20 in advance, or $25 at the door. Call
202-250-2531 or visit citywinery.com.

VICTOR/VICTORIA
Blake Edwards cast wife Julie Andrews in his
1982 musical comedy gender-bender set in
1930s Paris. Robert Preston stars as the man
who successfully transforms the down-on-
her-luck nightclub performer into a sensation
as an impersonator of an impersonator. The
film also stars James Garner, a scene-steal-
ing Lesley Ann Warren, and ex-footballer
Alex Karras, and features an Oscar-winning
score by Henry Mancini. Part of Landmark’s
West End Cinema Capital Classics series on
Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 1:30, 4:30, and 7:30
p.m., 2301 M St. NW. Happy hour from 4 to
6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $12.50. Call 202-
534-1907 or visit landmarktheatres.com.

THE PAINTED ROCKS

AT REVOLVER CREEK
MetroStage, which launched in 1987
with Blood Knot by Athol Fugard, kicks
off its 30th Anniversary Season with the
latest play by the South African master.
The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek was
inspired by the life of outsider artist Nukain
Mabuza and shows apartheid’s lingering
effects in the country today. MetroStage
Artistic Associate Thomas W. Jones
II directs Doug Brown, Marni Penning,
Jeremiah Hasty, and Jeremy Keith Hunter.
In previews. Opens Sunday, Sept. 2. Runs to
Sept. 30. MetroStage, 1201 North Royal St.,
Alexandria. Tickets are $55. Call 703-548-
9044 or visit metrostage.org.

8 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 Spotlight
EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY
Art inspired by food, real or metaphorical,
and the way food and drink bring people
together to celebrate is the theme of a hybrid
show with both visual and ceramic artists at
Alexandria’s eclectic Del Ray Artisans Gallery.
This National Ceramic Show and Regional
Art Exhibit was juried by ceramic artist Lisa
York, who will also lead a day-long demon-
stration workshop, “Bowls and Plates with
Nice Curves,” down the street from the gal-
lery during the exhibit’s opening weekend.
Opening Reception is Friday, Sept. 7, from 7
to 9 p.m. On display to Sept. 30. 2704 Mount
Vernon Ave. The workshop is $75 per person
and will be held on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. The Clay Queen Pottery, 2303
Mount Vernon Ave. Call 703-731-8802 or visit
SAM LALLY

thedelrayartisans.org.

ALANIS MORISSETTE
The Canadian singer-songwriter sold over 30 million
copies of her emotionally powerful third studio set,
1995’s Jagged Little Pill, which was the best-selling
album of its decade and generated six mega-hits, from
“You Oughta Know” to “You Learn” to her biggest hit of
all, “Ironic.” The 44-year-old Morissette has had other
subsequent hits, including “Thank U,” “Uninvited,” and
“Hands Clean.” Expect to hear them all next week in
one of the last concerts of the season outdoors at Wolf
Trap. Thursday, Sept. 6, at 8 p.m. The Filene Center,
1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $45 to $80. Call
877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.

MICHAEL IAN BLACK

“I look at myself on TV and my gaydar pings,” this straight come-
dian joked a few years ago in an interview with Metro Weekly.
Familiar from Comedy Central’s Another Period and his com-
mentary on VH1’s I Love The... series, among other TV projects
— not to mention his sex scene with Bradley Cooper in the 2001
film Wet Hot American Summer — Black has been an affiliated
member of the LGBTQ community since birth, raised by his
lesbian mother. Friday, Sept. 7, and Saturday, Sept. 8, at 7 and 9
p.m. Drafthouse Comedy, 1100 13th St. NW. Tickets are $30. Call
202-750-6411 or visit drafthousecomedy.com.

AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 9

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL ZOO

Out On The Town

ZOO UNCORKED
Local and national wineries and vineyards will be on hand at this Friends of the National Zoo fundraiser once known as
Grapes with the Apes. In addition to wine tasting among the animals, there will also be food trucks and artisans selling fare
and wares as well as live performances. The evening benefits conservation, research and education programs at the zoo and
its Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va. Thursday, Sept. 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. Tickets
are $70 and include a commemorative wine glass, or $115 for VIP including private lounge, private wine tastings, bites from
D.C. restaurants, exclusive animal encounters, and a take-home gift. Call 202-633-4800 or visit nationalzoo.si.edu.

Compiled by Doug Rule ON THE TOWN

FILM
CAPITOL DC DANCE
& CINEMA FESTIVAL
More than two dozen short
dance-oriented films, plus previews
of upcoming feature films, screen in
two curated, hour-long programs.
A Q&A session with filmmakers in
attendance follows each program.
The evening also includes an open
forum on key topics in the field,
one of which is sure to be the gen-
der disparity in the American dance
field, stemming from the cultural
bias and homophobia against boys
pursuing the artform. That’s the
subject of Scott Gormley’s forth-
coming feature-length film Danseur,
sharing the struggles that several
professional male dancers have
faced, including James Whiteside
of the American Ballet Theatre and
Harper Watters of the Houston
Ballet. Danseur will be previewed at
the festival. Sunday, Sept. 9, start-
ing at 6:30 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre,
8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.
Tickets are $25. Call 301-495-6720
or visit capitoldcfestival.com.
Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett, and
Ann Miller star in this 1949 classic
co-directed by Stanley Donen and
Gene Kelly, who also choreographed
the tale about sailors on shore leave.
Adolph Green and Betty Comden
adapted their hit Broadway musical
of the same name, but the resulting
film was largely stripped of Leonard
Bernstein’s original musical score
— and Bernstein famously boycot-
ted the film. Nevertheless, there’s
still enough Bernstein represent-
ed — most notably, the American
Songbook standard “New York,
New York” — to justify the AFI
Silver Theatre’s decision to screen
the film this weekend as part of
the series “Leonard Bernstein at
100” that also includes a West Side
Story Sing-Along on Sunday, Sept.
2, at 4 p.m. On The Town screens
Saturday, Sept. 1, through Monday,
Sept. 3, at 11 a.m., and Tuesday, Sept.
4, and Thursday, Sept. 5, at 2 p.m.
AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville
Road, Silver Spring. Tickets are $10
to $13. Call 301-495-6720 or visit afi.
com/Silver.
STAGE
IN THE CLOSET
Rainbow Theatre Project opens its
sixth season with its first full pro-
duction of a new play — a joint
world premiere with Cleveland’s
Convergence-Continuum. A meta-
physical comedy from Siegmund
Fuchs, a native of Cleveland who
lives and works in D.C. as a lawyer
for the U.S. Department of Justice,
In The Closet follows an 18-year-old
boy guided by three older gay men
acting as his “fairy godmothers” to
help find a way out of the closet.
The company’s H. Lee Gable directs
a cast featuring Tim Caggiano,
Zachary Dittami, Christopher
Janson, and Patrick Joy. To Sept.
15. District of Columbia Arts Center
(DCAC), 2438 18th St. NW. Tickets
are $35. Call 202-462-7833 or visit
rainbowtheatreproject.org.
KENNEDY CENTER’S PAGE-TO-
STAGE NEW PLAY FESTIVAL
More than 60 D.C.-area theater
companies offer free readings,
workshops, open rehearsals, and
previews of developing plays and
musicals as part of this 17th annu-
al event over Labor Day weekend.
LGBTQ highlights among the full
day of offerings on Saturday, Sept. 1
include I’ve Been A Woman, Jordan
Ealey’s time-traveling play follow-
ing two souls reincarnated in black
women’s bodies in three distinct
time periods; Glimmer/Jellyfish
Summer, a reading of two plays by
Darcy Parker Bruce and Natalie
Ann Valentine focused on what pre-
senting organization Bridge Club
calls “young, queer, heart-wander-
ers” looking for “whatever magic
there is beneath the water”; The
Springfield Boys, Anthony E. Gallo’s
two-act dramedy about the close
relationships between Abraham
Lincoln, his closest friend Joshua
Fry Speed, and law partner Billy
Herndon; Life Lines, a collection
of theatrical works written, per-
formed, and directed by black
LGBTQ artists; Montgomery, a
blues/rock musical by Britt Bonney
set in Alabama during the birth
of the civil rights movement; A
Butterfly’s Eyes, a series of short
scenes and monologues by partici-
pants in GALA’s Paso Nuevo Youth
Performance Group touching on
their experiences with love, racism,

10 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 coming out, bullying, self-esteem,
and immigration; Unprotected Sex,
an edgy collection of short plays
about contemporary black LGBTQ
life written and directed by Alan
Sharpe. Meanwhile, highlights
from Monday, Sept. 3, include
Small House, No Secrets, a com-
ing out musical by Jody Nusholtz
and Sonia Rutstein (of disappear
fear); Saints, Debra Buonaccorsi
and Steve McWilliams’ unconven-
tional look at faith and religion, told
with music, comedy, and burlesque
and directed by Rick Hammerly;
Abomination, a drama about queer
yeshiva graduates written by
Nicole Cox and directed by Jose
Carrasquillo; and Tunnel Vision,
a gritty, emotional play about sex
trafficking by Dan Goldman. For
a complete schedule, visit kenne-
dy-center.org.

MARIE AND ROSETTA

Mosaic Theater Company launch-
es its fourth season with George
Brant’s empowering play with
songs highlighting the talents of
Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight,
two under-appreciated black music
legends. Sandra L. Holloway directs
a production starring Helen Hayes
Award-winning actress Roz White

RESTORATION BARD
(Studio Theatre’s Bessie’s Blues)
as Tharpe, the queer black woman
who all but invented rock ‘n’ roll,
while Ayana Reed takes on the role
of Tharpe’s young protege Knight.
The Folger Theatre unearths a rarely-performed 17th Century adaptation Music direction comes from e’Mar-
of one of Shakespeare’s fundamental tragedies. cus Harper-Short. In previews. To
Sept. 30. The Lang Theatre in the

I
Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333
T IS A ONE IN A LIFETIME CHANCE TO SEE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD NEVER H St. NE. Tickets are $50 to $68.
ordinarily see,” says director Robert Richmond, who is helming a very unique Restoration-era ver- Call 202-399-7993 or visit mosa-
sion of Macbeth, starring Ian Merrill Peakes and Kate Eastwood Norris as the ultimate, bloodthirsty ictheater.org.
power couple. The production launches the Folger’s season on Tuesday.
MELANCHOLY PLAY:
“In the 17th century, Shakespeare’s plays were changed to suit what they thought was the general
A CONTEMPORARY FARCE
appetite at the time,” continues Richmond, discussing the play’s adaptation by Restoration poet William Don’t let the first half of this play’s
Davenant. “Macbeth has been changed in as much that some of the roles are larger, and some of the title fool you: Constellation Theatre
roles that don’t speak to each other — Lady Macbeth and Lady MacDuff — have a whole conversation. Company’s next production is not
The witches sing and dance. Macbeth would have been much more of an evening of full entertainment, only right up its farcical alley, it’s
a bubbly and whimsical come-
music, singing, dancing, and would have special effects. It would have been sort of the Steven Spielberg dy that “will make you fall in love
movie of its time.” with love.” Written by Sarah Ruhl,
To assist, Richmond is taking full advantage of the Folger’s scholarly resources. “We have [consulted the acclaimed playwright of The
with] ten international scholars on Restoration drama and Restoration music,” he says, noting that the Clean House and Dead Man’s Cell
Phone, Melancholy Play focuses on
venerated Folger Consort is performing the show’s music. “[Seventeenth century composer] John Eccles
a morose woman (Billie Krishawn)
wrote an entire score for the original performances, which, of course, we’re using. In addition, Robert who is the apple of everyone’s eye —
Eisenstein, who is the Consort leader, has found period Scottish music to go along with the theme.” until she discovers happiness. Nick
For the production’s setting, Richmond opted for madness. “Restoration actors gestured a lot,” he Martin directs. To Sept. 2. Source
says. “So in order to get a physical style of acting that will be unique to this production, I decided to set Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW. Tickets
are $19 to $45. Call 202-204-7741 or
this particular Macbeth in the London institution of Bedlam — the madhouse — in 1666, two weeks after
visit constellationtheatre.org.
the fire of London. The idea is that the inmates of Bedlam are putting on the play Macbeth [to raise funds
to rebuild the asylum].... I thought, ‘What if the inmates of Bedlam perform a real murder inside of this SHAKESPEARE’S FREE FOR ALL:
play on stage, what happens to the world then?’ Everything changes. Wind sweeps in, we turn to sepia ROMEO AND JULIET
tones, there’s a big old switch in acting styles, and suddenly we’re in the reality of Macbeth inside this The Shakespeare Theatre Company
reprises its 2016 staging of Romeo
institution.” and Juliet as this year’s Free For All
Richmond feels Shakespeare’s tragedies are more relevant today than ever, given the world’s political offering. Alan Paul returns to direct
turmoil. “The humanity embedded into these plays is remarkable,” he says. “What Shakespeare shows the show, recasting the lead roles
us is examples of what we were and what we maybe should not become in the future. I think they are all with Sam Lilja portraying Romeo
and Danaya Esperanza as Juliet,
cautionary tales in one way or another.” —Randy Shulman
plus powerhouse performer E. Faye
Butler making her company debut
Macbeth runs Sept. 4 to 23 at the Folger Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. as the Nurse. To Sept. 2. Sidney
Tickets are $42 to $79. Call 202-544-7077 or visit folger.edu. Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. Tickets

12 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 are free, distributed via daily online
lottery as well as in-person on a
first-come, first-serve basis starting
two hours before each day’s curtain.
Call 202-547-1122 or visit shake-
spearetheatre.org/ffa.

THE BRIDGES
OF MADISON COUNTY
Kurt Boehm directs and choreo-
graphs the Keegan Theatre pro-
duction of this recent Broadway
musical adaptation by Jason Robert
Brown with a book by Marsha
Norman. Susan Derry and Dan
Felton star. To Sept. 2. The Andrew
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St.
NW. Tickets are $45 to $55. Call
202-265-3768 or visit keeganthe-
atre.com.

MUSIC
SEBASTIAN KIM

CREATIVE CAULDRON CABARET:

STEPHEN GREGORY SMITH
Moroder The Virginia-based theater com-
pany Creative Cauldron continues

DISCO INFERNO
its 9th annual months-long sum-
mer cabaret series at ArtSpace
Falls Church with “Inspired By,” a
cabaret featuring Stephen Gregory
Smith exploring the inspiration for
This weekend’s Blisspop Disco Fest will keep attendees dancing like mad the musicals written by his compos-
er husband, Matt Conner, many of
over two days at four different parties. them made with Smith as writer/
lyricist for Creative Cauldron, on

W
Friday, Sept. 7, and Saturday, Sept.
HEN WILL EASTMAN FIRST PITCHED BLISSPOP DISCO FEST TO DJS, HIS 8, at 8 p.m. 410 South Maple Ave.
Tickets are $18 to $22 per show, or
idea was simple. “This is not an EDM festival — no lasers, no Cryo Jets, no confetti $55 for a table for two with wine
cannons. Just a dark room with a disco ball.” and $110 for four with wine. Call
“Everybody was into that,” the DJ and promoter says. “I think they get it based on the vibe 703-436-9948 or visit creativecaul-
that we’ve championed at U Street Music Hall and...our sort of ethos going back to the Bliss dron.org.
party I started in the year 2000: No bottle service, no dress code, no bullshit. Just fun.” DIERKS BENTLEY
This weekend’s Blisspop Disco Fest — named after Eastman’s music website — picks up Fifteen years into a major-label
where he left off when, in 2015, he ended his monthly party, which focused on underground recording career, the country super-
star helped launch the local outdoor
house music and dance-rock/dance-punk. For example, on Saturday, Sept. 1, the festival fea- concert season with a concert at
tures several of the DJs and musicians who had a hand in last decade’s dance-punk revival, Merriweather Post Pavilion that
including Holy Ghost!, Juan Maclean, and Nancy Whang. also kicked off his 2018 Mountain
That party, at Eastman’s own U Street Music Hall is just one of four to come over the course High Tour. Nearly four months
later, and three months after the
of two nights and two venues, the other being the 9:30 Club. Each party will have a slightly dis- release of his 9th studio album The
tinct feel and appeal. Ultimately, Eastman says, “I wanted to create a little festival that would Mountain, Bentley is back for a
pay homage both to the old-school disco founders and the indie-dance and nu-disco that I had stop at Jiffy Lube Live along with
his tour’s opening acts Brothers
championed, as well as the new producers that are coming up today.” Osborne and Lanco. Friday, Sept.
Certainly, no one has loomed larger in modern dance music than Giorgio Moroder, known as 7, at 7 p.m. 7800 Cellar Door Drive,
the “Father of Disco” and the producer of so many pioneering dance-pop classics, most notably Bristow, Va. Tickets are $35 to $160.
those from the Donna Summer catalog. The festival’s headliner, Moroder will spin at the 9:30 Call 703-754-6400 or visit livena-
tion.com.
Club on Saturday, Sept. 1, after opening sets by Eastman and Baltimore’s gay-popular DJ Ultra
Nate. GABRIEL KAHANE
The night before, Friday, Aug. 31, the focus is on house and deep house at the 9:30 Club, This boundary pushing artist has
made a name for himself as a con-
with a headlining set from German DJ Claptone. And over at U Hall, it’s sexy, even sleazy, disco temporary classical composer, but
— specifically geared to the LGBTQ community. London’s queer DJ collective Horse Meat the Brooklynite’s roots are in indie-
Disco will spin a primetime headlining set that will be bolstered by local DJs Steve “Lemz” folk. An inventive singer-songwrit-
Lemmerman and Keenan Orr. er-storyteller, Kahane performs
in support of Book of Travelers,
As an added bonus, U Hall will be open until 6 a.m. on both nights, per a special permit that inspired by his trip around the con-
Eastman and company procured in part as a nostalgic tribute. “We wanted to get that permit to tinental U.S. immediately after the
capture that disco magic of the old warehouse, the old nightclub vibe.” —Doug Rule 2016 presidential election, a quest
to better understand the state of
things. The result is a sprawling col-
Blisspop Disco Fest is Friday, Aug. 31, and Saturday, Sept. 1, at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW, and lection of songs calling for empathy
U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. Ticket prices vary, from $20 for Horse Meat Disco to $40 and reconciliation while also exam-
for Giorgio Moroder and Ultra Nate. Call 202-588-1889 or visit ustreetmusichall.com. ining the country’s complex and

14 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 As timely as it is catchy in a beyond-
its-years kind of way, Miguel’s rock-
steeped, uptempo R&B/pop should
be the perfect salve for end-of-sum-
mer melancholy, at least for the
night — especially considering how
dazzling Miguel is live. DVSN and
Nonchalant Savant open. Tuesday,
Sept. 4. Doors at 6:30 p.m. 901 Wharf
St. SW. Remaining general admis-
sion tickets are $45. Call 202-888-
0020 or visit theanthemdc.com.
NATIONAL SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA’S LABOR DAY
CONCERT
Guest Conductor JoAnn Falletta
leads the NSO in an annual tra-
dition on the West Lawn of the
U.S. Capitol. Domingo-Cafritz
Young Artist alumna Leah Hawkins
serves as narrator and vocalist for
this year’s program of patriotic
classics, traditional melodies, pop-
DC OUT: ANTIGONE RISING ular songs, and a bevy of works by
living composers. NSO musicians
Launched in 2016 by John Lindo and Jim Aaron Goldman on flute and Craig
Coakley, with a headline performance by The Mulcahy on trombone are also fea-
tured. Sunday, Sept. 2, at 8 p.m. U.S.
Voice’s Billy Gilman, this Labor Day Weekend
Capitol Building, West Lawn. (Or
LGBTQ dance mainstay returns with the les- Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall, in
bian country/rock act co-founded by guitar- case of inclement weather.) Free.
ist Kristen Ellis-Henderson — the other half Call 202-467-4600 or visit kenne-
dy-center.org/nso.
of GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis-Henderson.
Antigone Rising will perform an hour-long set NOT WHAT YOU THINK AT
on Sunday, Sept. 2, followed by DJ Louis St. RAINBOW FAMILIES HILLWOOD
PICNIC
George, as part of a capstone dance party for DC
Started through the former Lesbian
Out festival-goers to demonstrate the dances and Gay Chorus of Washington,
they practiced in workshops over the course of this a cappella ensemble works for
the three-day country-western themed event, equality and social justice through
song and humor. The 12-piece
including two-stepping, West Coast Swing, and
group returns to Hillwood for an
line-dancing. New York drag act Manhattan annual concert as part of a three-
Prairie Dogs is also set to perform at this year’s hour family picnic on the lawn,
organized by Rainbow Families and
event, which will also feature performances
starting at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 9,
from and classes taught by competitive dancing at 2 p.m. Visitor Center Theater at
couple Lia and Helen, Brazil’s Igor Pitangui, the Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Ave.
Boston ReneGAYdes, the JT Swing Teams DC, NW. Tickets are $5 in advance, or
$18 day-of. Call 202-686-5807 or
and DC RolePlay. Friday, Aug. 31, to Sunday,
visit HillwoodMuseum.org.
Sept. 2. Hyatt Regency, 400 New Jersey Ave.
NW. Tickets to the concert are $30, or includ- PUNCH BROTHERS
ed in a $65 Individual Day Pass or $119 Full This progressive bluegrass super-
group is led by charismatic mando-
Weekend Pass. Visit dc-out.com. lin player Chris Thile, successor to
Garrison Keillor on the hit Saturday
night public radio variety show now
troubled history. Saturday, Sept. 8. p.m. The Filene Center, 1551 Trap called Live From Here. As a quintet
Doors at 6:30 p.m. Jammin Java, Road, Vienna. Tickets are $30 to with banjoist Noam Pikelny, gui-
227 Maple Ave. E. Vienna. Tickets $60. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit tarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul
are $20 to $22. Call 703-255-3747 or wolftrap.org. Kowert, and fiddler Gabe Witcher,
visit jamminjava.com. they offer an eclectic, entertaining
MIGUEL and accomplished mix of original
GAVIN DEGRAW, At first blush, you might consider music steeped in bluegrass and
PHILLIP PHILLIPS this young black Mexican-American Americana but incorporating ele-
Two sunny contemporary pop art- artist as one pursuing a career in the ments from rock, jazz, and clas-
ists will share the stage at Wolf mold of Usher. Yet while the art- sical. Now touring in support of
Trap to perform their solo hits — ist born Miguel Jontel Pimentel did fifth album All Ashore, the Punch
including “I Don’t Want to Be,” write a few songs for Usher Raymond Brothers are joined by Madison
which was the theme song to the IV before his own commercial Cunningham, a 20-year-old sing-
CW’s One Tree Hill, and “Not Over breakthrough, it would be better to er-songwriter who has been com-
You,” in the case of the 41-year-old think of Miguel as a next-generation pared to Joni Mitchell. Thursday,
DeGraw; and “Home,” the best-sell- Prince. We’re talking rangy music, Sept. 6. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The
ing coronation song from American edgy lyrics, and an overall sharp style Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. Tickets
Idol, which the 27-year-old Phillips that foregrounds his diverse, multi- are $35 to $55, or $179 for the
won in 2012. Friday, Aug. 31, at 8 cultural influences and experiences. “Ahoy! Premium Big-Time Friend
16 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
Package” with pre-show perfor-
mance and Q&A, front-row seats,
and merch. Call 202-888-0020 or
visit theanthemdc.com.
THE SELDOM SCENE
& JONATHAN EDWARDS
Formed nearly 50 years ago in
Bethesda, the progressive bluegrass
band remains especially popular in
its hometown region. The group
hits Alexandria’s seated show
palace for a show with a Virginia-
reared veteran folk sessions musi-
cian who has also dabbled as an
actor on Broadway (Pump Boys and
Dinettes) and in film, most nota-
bly the 2008 romcom The Golden
Boys. Saturday, Sept. 8, at 7:30
p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Mount
Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets
are $29.50. Call 703-549-7500 or
visit birchmere.com.
DANCE
KANKOURAN WEST AFRICAN
DANCE: CELEBRATING 35 YEARS
Assane Konte co-founded the dance
company he leads as a way to intro-
duce and incorporate elements of
traditional West African dancing
and drumming to American audi-
ences, and by extension to promote
greater intercultural understanding.
Hundreds of participants will come
together over Labor Day weekend
to celebrate the company in a two-
hour concert — subtitled “The Spirit
Lives On!” and the culmination of
a three-day conference — featur-
ing master dancers and drummers
from Mali, Senegal, Liberia, the
Congo, and Guinea. Saturday, Sept.
1, at 8 p.m. GW Lisner, The George
Washington University, 730 21st St.
NW. Tickets are $25. Call 202-994-
6851 or visit lisner.gwu.edu.
READINGS
PATRICK L. RILEY:
THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR
Subtitled On The Women Who
Inspired Me, this new memoir cel-
ebrates the “unofficial sorority of
diverse women” who helped shape
the career of this gay black televi-
sion producer (and A Day In The
Life of Riley blogger), based in New
York but raised in Savannah, Ga.
Looming largest in the sorority is
Oprah Winfrey, on whose show
Riley worked as a producer for over
a dozen years. Diana Ross is “my
favorite diva,” Riley has said, so
naturally she also factors into this
book, along with Wendy Williams,
Mary Tyler Moore, Janet Jackson,
Aretha Franklin, Beyonce, and
Maya Angelou. Riley will discuss
the book and his life in a special
engagement organized and hosted
by D.C.’s Ryan Williams and Jocko
Fajardo. Monday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m.
Upstairs at Number Nine, 1435 P St.
NW. Call 202-986-0999 or search
“Patrick Riley” in eventbrite.com.
 would become reality seven years FRACTAL WORLDS
later. Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 12 p.m. BY JULIUS HORSTHUIS
D.A.R. Museum, 1776 D St. NW. The latest installation at D.C.’s
Free. Call 202-879-3241 or visit dar. unique art-meets-technology gal-
org/museum. lery ArTecHouse is billed as the
first immersive art exhibition bridg-
ing the gap between the real and the
MUSEUMS virtual world. This visual “journey
of discovery” explores mind-bend-
& GALLERIES ing sci-fi worlds and infinite 3D
geometric patterns, transporting
viewers to another dimension.
BASELITZ: SIX DECADES
Horthuis, whose work was fea-
The Hirshhorn presents the first
tured in the 2016 Oscar-winning
major U.S. retrospective since 1996
film Manchester by the Sea and has
of one of Germany’s greatest liv-
been seen in collaborations with
ing artists, featuring more than
American EDM duo Odesza among
100 works, from iconic paintings
other musical artists, incorporates
to wood and bronze sculptures,
both projection and virtual reality
highlighting every phase of Georg
elements. To Sept. 3. 1238 Maryland
Baselitz’s career. The occasion is
Ave. SW. Tickets for timed-entry
the 80th birthday of the figurative
sessions are $8 to $15, with evening
artist, who came of age in post-war
admission for those over 21 years
East Germany and is best known for
of age, including exhibit-related
large-scale, expressive paintings,
Augmented Reality Cocktails avail-
often with subjects painted upside
able for purchase. Visit artechouse.
down. Through Sept. 16. Second
com.
Floor Galleries, Independence
Avenue and Seventh Street SW.
FUN HOUSE
Call 202-633-1000 or visit hirsh-
This year’s offering in the National
horn.si.edu.
Building Museum’s imaginative
Summer Block Party series of tem-
DAMON ARHOS:
porary structures inside its historic
I LOVE TO HATE YOU
Great Hall is a freestanding struc-
This D.C.-based interdisciplinary
ture that recalls and re-imagines
artist attempts to show the con-
the idea of the traditional home.
tradictory feelings and circum-
PRINCE TRIBUTES stances he often experiences as
Designed by Snarkitecture, the
playful New York studio whose
The music of the Purple One will be celebrated a gay man in today’s world: both
work straddles the divide between
proud and shamed, affirmed and
through two very different concerts the first two reviled. This series of artworks
art and architecture, Fun House
Saturdays of September. First up is a concert-driv- includes a sequence of interactive
includes: his painting series The
rooms featuring new as well as sev-
en dance party with charismatic singer Eugene Antidote, which evokes the stigma
eral environments and objects the
and shame associated with being
“Junie” Henderson of hitmaking D.C. go-go band HIV-positive, as well as with taking
organization has become known
E.U. (Experience Unlimited) performing as Prince. for. Presented inside the museum
Truvada as an HIV preventative
as well as outside on the grounds,
Henderson will be supported by a band, led by Mark measure; Yesterday’s 30, filmed on
the series also sees the return of
Stewart, consisting of veteran R&B and rock play- Super 8, which mourns the tragic
Hill Country Backyard Barbecue,
loss of 30 transgender people in the
ers who have toured with everyone from Aretha United States in 2017; and Trapped,
serving food and drink and pre-
Franklin to Patti LaBelle. Saturday, Sept. 1. Doors at senting additional activities and live
a lustrous tower made out of rat
performances from the West Lawn
6:30 p.m. The Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW. Tickets traps enhanced with metallic paint,
on Wednesdays through Sundays.
intended as a metaphor for how
are $18 to $25. Call 202-787-1000 or visit theham- many LGBTQ Americans feel when
To Sept. 3. 401 F St. NW. Tickets are
iltondc.com. A week later, the Wolf Trap Orchestra $16, or free for museum members.
facing both embrace and disdain. To
Call 202-272-2448 or visit nbm.org.
leads what is billed as “the first and only estate-ap- Sept. 2. IA&A at Hillyer, 9 Hillyer
proved Prince celebration,” also a concert present- Court NW. Call 202-338-0325 or
HEAVY METAL:
visit athillyer.org.
ing his music in a way never heard before. Avid WOMEN TO WATCH 2018
Prince fan Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson helped The fifth installment in a triennial
FABERGE REDISCOVERED
exhibition series presented at the
curate the music and the arrangements that the The late heiress Marjorie
National Museum of Women in the
Merriweather Post has a renowned
orchestra will play, riffing on Prince’s greatest hits collection of pieces from the firm of
Arts showcases 20 contemporary
as well as some of his lesser-known gems. Saturday, artists working in metal to create
Carl Fabergé, the legendary jeweler
a wide variety of objects, includ-
Sept. 8, at 8 p.m. The Filene Center at Wolf Trap, to the last court of Russia. A spe-
ing sculpture, jewelry, and concep-
1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $30 to $60. Call cial exhibition at Post’s Hillwood
tual forms. Inspired by NMWA’s
Estate, nestled in a leafy section of
877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org. Upper Northwest a few blocks from
collection of silverwork crafted by
British and Irish women in the 18th
Van Ness, unveils new discoveries
and 19th centuries, Heavy Metal,
relating to the collection of about
displaying more than 50 works of
90 Fabergé works, including two
art, seeks to further disrupt the
imperial Easter eggs. To Jan. 13.
REBECCA BOGGS ROBERTS: nent public radio journalists Steve predominantly masculine narra-
4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested
SUFFRAGISTS IN WASHINGTON, and Cokie Roberts — details the tive that surrounds metalworking
donation is $18. Call 202-686-5807
DC heroic work of Alice Paul and the despite women’s consistent pres-
or visit HillwoodMuseum.org.
The Great Suffrage Parade of 1913 National Women’s Party in finally ence the field for centuries. To
was the first civil rights march to achieving a breakthrough, via the Sept. 16. 1250 New York Ave NW.
use the nation’s capital as a back- parade’s national exposure, in the Admission is $10. Call 202-783-
drop. This author and public radio long-simmering cause of granting 5000 or visit nmwa.org.
reporter — the daughter of promi- women the right to vote, which

18 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

ILLUMINATE
The Target Gallery in Alexandria’s
Torpedo Factory Art Center pres-
ents a special glow-in-the-dark
exhibition, for which it will turn
off its lights to put the focus on
exhibited artwork, artificially illu-
minated in various ways — some
by video, some by light installa-
tion and sculpture, some by black
light. Emily Smith of Richmond’s
1708 Gallery served as juror for
the exhibition, selecting works by
11 artists, including D.C.’s Joana
Stillwell, Baltimore’s Sarah Clough
and Karen Lemmert, Alexandria’s
Andreas Schenkel and Art Vidrine,
Mount Rainier’s Steve Wanna, and
Potomac’s Michael West. To Sept.
2. 105 North Union St. Alexandria.
Free. Call 703-838-4565 or visit tor-
pedofactory.org.
JOURNEY TO YUKI’S WORLD
As a child, Yuki Hiyama suffered a
brain injury that left her speechless.
Yet the development also inspired
her to express herself through
drawing and painting full of color
and texture. Touchstone Gallery
presents the first D.C. exhibition
of the 40-year-old Japanese artist
and examples of her artworks, full
of color and texture, in a variety
of media, from oil to colored pen-
cil, watercolor to pen, even sand.
A percentage of proceeds of art-
work sales will go to the Yukien
School for children with disabilities
in Hiroshima, Japan. To Aug. 31.
Touchstone Gallery, 901 New York
Ave. NW Call 202-347-2787 or visit
touchstonegallery.com.
MARKING THE INFINITE:
CONTEMPORARY WOMEN
ARTISTS FROM ABORIGINAL
AUSTRALIA
The Phillips Collection offers a
glimpse into the diverse contem-
porary art practice of Aboriginal
Australia in this special exhibition
that showcases the work of nine
leading women artists from Down
Under. In recent decades women
artists have given the Aboriginal art
movement a new vitality and dyna-
mism. Steeped in ancient cultural
traditions, specific to each artist, the
works on display speak to universal
contemporary themes as well as the
wisdom of indigenous knowledge,
asserting both our shared humani-
ty and differences in experiencing
and valuing our planet. To Sept. 2.
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st
St. NW. Tickets are $12, or free
for Phillips members, or for those
30 and under via a special summer
promotion. Call 202-387-2151 x247
or visit phillipscollection.org.
NANCY WEISSER:
EXPERIMENTAL: DEVOTION TO
DISCOVERY
A solo retrospective with work
spanning the 40-year career of
Nancy Weisser, well-known for her
innovative work in glass and as pro-
prietor of the Weisser Glass Studio
in Kensington, Md. The show, pre-
sented by an artist-collaborative
organization in the White Flint
business district, includes installa-
tions of glass, new works, and work
on paper and canvas.
Opening Reception is Friday, Sept.
7, from 6 to 9 p.m. To Sept. 26.
Artists & Makers Studios, 11810
Parklawn Drive, Ste. 210, Rockville.
Call 240-437-9573 or visit art-
istsandmakersstudios.com.
NO SPECTATORS:
THE ART OF BURNING MAN
The Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery
has turned over its entire building
to present the first major nation-
al exhibition focused on Burning
Man, in particular the annual
Nevada desert event’s maker cul-
ture and creative spirit. In fact, the
exhibition even extends “Beyond
the Renwick,” with six sculptural
works from Burning Man installed
nearby on Pennsylvania Avenue
west of the White House as well as
on Connecticut Avenue and other
major corridors. The full exhibition
is on view through Sept. 16, while
half of it will remain up until Jan.
21, 2019. On Friday, Sept. 7, from
8:30 p.m. to 12 a.m., BYT teams
up with the museum to offer the
Renwick After Hours “Leave It All
Behind,” the last immersive party
inside the exhibition. Renwick
Gallery, Pennsylvania Avenue at
17th Street NW. Free, though tick-
ets to the BYT After Hours are $60.
Call 202-633-1000 or visit renwick.
americanart.si.edu.
QUEER(ING) PLEASURE
Inspired by Audre Lorde, this
exhibit of works in various media is
focused on illustrating “the radical
queer potential of pleasure” and the
ways in which pleasure is an “unex-
pressed and unrecognized” feeling.
Curated by Andy Johnson, per the
District of Columbia Arts Center’s
Curatorial Initiative, Queer(ing)
Pleasure goes beyond the standard
“limited, white, hetero-centric logic
of the erotic” with works of per-
formance, photography, embroi-
dery, video, and sculpture by artists
including Antonius Bui, Monique
Muse Dodd, Tsedaye Makonnen,
John Paradiso, and Jade Yumang.
Opening Reception is Friday, Sept. 7,
from 7 to 9 p.m. On exhibit to Oct. 14.
DCAC, 2438 18th St. NW. Call 202-
462-7833 or visit dcartscenter.org.
THE GREAT MYSTERY
Baltimore’s American Visionary
Art Museum is letting its curios-
ity run wild in its 21st year-long
exhibition curated by founder and
director Rebecca Hoffberger. Partly
inspired by Albert Einstein, who
once referred to the concept of life
as “the Great Mystery,” the show
celebrates mysteries big and small,
the ultimate source of artistic cre-
ativity, scientific inquiry and social
progress. On display are works by
44 visionary artists, research sci-
entists, astronauts, mystics and
philosophers. To Sept. 2. American
Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key
Highway. Baltimore. Tickets are
$15.95 for regular daily admission.
Call 410-244-1900 or visit avam.org.
THE SWEAT OF THEIR FACE:
PORTRAYING AMERICAN
WORKERS
Nearly 100 portrayals of labor-
ers by some of the nation’s most
influential artists reveal how
American workers have shaped
and defined the nation in a mul-
tifaceted Smithsonian exhibition
further exploring the intersections
among work, art, and social histo-
ry. Paintings, sculptures, drawings,
prints, mixed-media, and photo-
graphs factor into this fully bilin-
gual show, with works by Winslow
Homer, Dorothea Lange, Elizabeth
Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, Lewis
Hine, and Ben Shahn. To Sept. 3.
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F
Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300 or
visit npg.si.edu.
FOOD & DRINK
GELATO FESTIVAL
WASHINGTON DC
D.C. is one of eight U.S. cities this
year hosting a celebration of Italy’s
less-fattening, more-flavorful ver-
sion of ice cream that also doubles
as a competition among select gela-
to artisans, who are battling to go to
the Gelato Festival World Masters,
set for 2021 in Italy. At next week-
end’s two-day affair, patrons can
go to “Gelato School” to learn what
it takes to be a “gelato chef,” par-
ticipate in a Gelato Eating Contest,
and sample and vote on original
gelato flavors created for the fes-
tival. Entrees include the Crusty
Fantasy, a combination of caramel,
cashews, and Rice Krispies, made
by Ezequiel Gomez Garofalo of
Florida’s Gelato Gourmet, Whistle
& Cuss: White Coffee-infused
gelato made by Sierra Georgia of
Philadelphia’s Gelat’oh Brick &
Motor, the chocolate Apurimac
made by Alisa Dan of D.C.’s Pitango
Gelato, and Trinacrium, a blend of
pistachio, almonds, and oranges,
made by Maria Liliana Biondo of
Miami’s uGOgelato. The victor will
be crowned based on votes from
the audience and a panel of experts,
including RIS pastry chef Melissa
Cockrell, Washington Post wine col-
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
umnist Dave McIntyre, @eatdrink-
dc writer/photographer Lanna
Nguyen, former USA Today travel
and food editor Veronica Stoddart,
2018 Gelato World Cup judge
Jessica Tava, and Yelp Washington,
D.C. Community Director Kimberly
Van Santos. Saturday, Sept. 8, from
12 to 8 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 9,
from 12 to 7 p.m., concluding with
the Awards Ceremony at 7:30 p.m.
City Market at O, 800 P St. NW.
Tickets are $25 to $30 per day and
include samples of each competing
flavor and participation in all con-
tests and activities. Visit gelatofesti-
valamerica.com.
HANK’S OYSTER BAR:
LADIES TEA SEASON FINALE
This Sunday, Sept. 2, lesbians and
everyone “under the rainbow” are
welcome to enjoy the bar menu
and drink specials at the original
Dupont location of the small chain
of restaurants run by Jamie Leeds.
The last Ladies Tea of the season
runs from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Hank’s
Dupont, 1624 Q St. NW. Call 202-
462-4265. Visit hanksoysterbar.
com.
SIREN BY RW:
A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT
Celebrated D.C. chef Robert
Wiedmaier’s restaurant, located in
the boutique Logan Circle hotel The
Darcy, kicks off September with a
Brazilian Amazon Culinary Week
promotion in partnership with the
Brazilian Embassy and Destination
DC — specifically, a five-course,
prix-fixe menu developed by chef
Felipe Schaedler of Brazil’s Banzeiro
Restaurant. Intended as a showcase
of the vibrant flavors and ingredi-
ents of the Amazon, the menu begins
with a frothy amuse-bouche of Saúva
Ants with Espuma — yes, we’re
talking insects — and an appetizer of
Dadinhos de Tapioca, Brazil’s signa-
ture crunchy, cheesy cubed dump-
lings accompanied by jelly from the
tropical superfruit Cupuaçu. Two of
the country’s largest native species of
fish are the stars of two main cours-
es: Crispy Tambuchi Ribs, served
with a sweet-and-sour sauce and
sesame seeds, and Pirarucu, dressed
with acidic root Tucupi sauce and
served with hearts of palm, red
quinoa, and coriander. The dinner
ends with Chilled Tapioca Cake,
made with white chocolate ganache
and served with the herbal Puxuri
Seed Syrup. Proceeds from the
promotion benefit the Destination
DC-affiliated charity American
Experience Foundation as well as
Brazil’s Vegalume Foundation.
Evenings starting Saturday, Aug.
31. To Sunday, Sept. 9. 1515 Rhode
Island Ave. NW. Cost is $70 per
person, plus tax and gratuity. Call
202-521-7171 or visit sirenbyrw.com.
19
ABOVE
AND BEYOND
HONEY GROOVE LITE
Now in its 4th year, this festivall
with a focus on showcasing LGBTQ-
identified performing and visual art-
ists of color, moves back to its roots
in Southwest. In addition to ven-
dors, food trucks, and a cash bar, the
2018 Honey Groove lineup includes
live music from Danni Cassette,
the CooLots, Pinky Killacorn,
Black Assets, Christen B., and
Patience Sings, spoken word from
Charity Blackwell, burlesque from
Madamme Seduction and Queen
Nefertittie, and drag from Majic
Dyke. Visual artists Aja Adams,
Latoya Peoples, Emma Quander, and
Liz Stewart will also be featured at
the event, which also includes danc-
ing to DJs LadyRyan, MIM, and Jai
Syncere, plus live drumming by Asha
“Boomclak” Santee. Sunday, Sept.
2, starting at 4 p.m. Blind Whino,
700 Delaware Ave. SW. Tickets are
$40. Call 202-554-0103 or visit hon-
eygroovedc.com.
LA-TI-DO: JAZZ NIGHT
FEATURING RUSSWIN
FRANCISCO
Regie Cabico and Don Mike
Mendoza’s variety show features
higher-quality singing than most
karaoke, often from local musi-
20 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
cal theater actors performing on
their night off, and also includes
spoken-word poetry and comedy.
Now held at Dupont Circle’s Bistro
Bistro, La-Ti-Do was born in the
space next door when it housed
the Black Fox Lounge, the former
jazz club run by Russwin Francisco,
current owner of the leather/fetish
store Bite the Fruit. Francisco is the
featured entertainer for the eve-
ning, hosted by Mendoza with Anya
Randall Nebel. This annual night of
jazz songs includes guests Krystle
Cruz, Michelle Moses-Eisenstein,
Taunya Ferguson, Lawrence Grey,
Jr., Michael Santos Sandoval, and
Karen Vincent, plus a spotlight on
the group Summer Parfait. Pianist
Paige Rammelkamp accompanies
the performers along with a small
jazz band. Monday, Sept. 10, at 8
p.m. 1727 Connecticut Ave. NW.
Tickets are $15, or $10 if you eat
dinner at the restaurant before-
hand. Call 202-328-1640 or visit
latidodc.wix.com/latido.
MARYLAND
RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
In the year 1529, King Henry VIII
flaunted his love for Mistress Anne
Boleyn by bringing her in tow —
and not his wife Queen Katherine of
Aragon — as part of the royal court’s
annual trek to the village of Revel
Grove for its Harvest Festival. “Of
all the storylines we do with Henry
VIII,” says Carolyn Spedden, artistic
director of this annual festival, now
in its 42nd year, “Boleyn tends to
be the most popular.” Guided by an
overarching historical storyline that
changes each year, RennFest offers
a little something for everyone in
what Spedden calls “a very inclusive,
welcoming event. Everybody should
feel comfortable coming through
the gates.” That’s true whether your
primary motive is to take in the per-
formances — over 200 professionals
engaged in everything from jousting
to comedic sword-fighting to reen-
actments to parodies of Shakespeare
— or to shop for early holiday gifts
from “the amazing artisans here
with their handmade wares.” Or
simply to eat a turkey leg, steak on
a stake, or cheesecake on a stick.
Themed events in 2018 include a
Celtic Celebration the weekend
of Sept. 16, performances by U.K.
vocal ensemble Mediaeval Baebes
throughout the weekend of Sept. 23,
Pirate Weekend Sept. 29 and Sept.
30, and Shakespeare Weekend Oct. 7
and Oct. 8. RennFest runs weekends
to Oct. 21. 1821 Crownsville Road,
Annapolis, Md. Tickets are $19 to
$26 for a single-day adult ticket, with
multi-day passes also available, or a
Season Pass for $150. Call 800-296-
7304 or visit rennfest.com.
PRETTY BOI DRAG:
#AMATEURKINGNIGHT
New drag kings take center stage
at the next edition of this regular
showcase of mostly male-present-
ing drag, started by former DC King
Pretty Rik E. D.C.’s only amateur
drag king event offers a stage full
of new recruits ready “to show the
world the king that lives inside
[them].” Thursday, Sept. 13, at 8
p.m. Bier Baron Tavern, 1523 22nd
St. NW. Tickets are $10 in advance,
or $15 at the door. Call 202-293-
1887 or visit prettyboidrag.com.
THE ASK RAYCEEN SHOW
At the September edition of the free
variety show, Rayceen Pendarvis
moderates “The Nightlife in
DC Panel” and interviews D.C.
Councilmember Brandon Todd
(D-Ward 4), who has proposed a
bill to create a mayor-appointed,
citywide nightlife director. The
event will be rounded out with
performances by New York sing-
er Ramona Montañez and D.C.
drag/burlesque artist extraordi-
naire Pussy Noir, plus music by DJ
Suspence, displays by vendors, free
food (while it lasts), and a cash bar.
Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 6 p.m. HRC
Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island
Ave. NW. Free. Call 202-505-4548
or visit AskRayceen.com. l
 theFeed
REPUBLICAN RANT
Gay Utah official claims LGBTQ suicide rates linked to a high number of sex partners
and the availability of PrEP. By John Riley
T
HE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE
Salt Lake County Republican Party has been heav-
ily criticized after telling the Salt Lake Tribune that
suicide rates in the LGBTQ community may be linked to
gay men’s promiscuity and a high number of sex partners.
In a meeting with the newspaper’s editorial board, Dave
Robinson recounted a conversation with neighbors in which
he had attempted to defend the Republican Party from the
charge that it is hostile towards to the gay community.
“I actually think it has more to do with the lifestyle that
the gays are leading that they refuse to have any scrutiny
with,” he apparently told his neighbors. Robinson said he
knows people who have had “over 2,000 sex partners” and
thinks that could be contributing to “some of the self-loath-
ing” that drives people to commit suicide.
“You talk to some of these people that have had grun-
dles of sex partners and the self-loathing and basically the
unhappiness and the self-hatred level is tremendously high,”
he said.
Robinson also critiqued the availability of pre-exposure
prophylaxis, or PrEP, as a form of protection against HIV.
He claimed making PrEP widely available may be contrib-
uting to the rise of other STDs, leading to depression and
suicidal ideation.
Robinson claimed that the county health department was
caving to political pressure from the LGBTQ community and
giving out PrEP for free. That, in turn, was leading members
of the community to have unprotected sex like “bunny rab-
bits” at monthly “sex parties,” because those taking PrEP
were unaware that it does not protect against other sexually
transmitted diseases.
When the comments were finally published, fellow
Republicans denounced Robinson’s remarks.
“I am angry that someone who purports to speak for
GRAND OLD BIGOTRY
Republican leaders in 16 states are urging the Supreme Court to declare it legal to fire
an employee for being LGBTQ. By John Riley
S
IXTEEN STATES ARE URGING THE U.S. SUPREME
Court to rule that federal law does not prevent com-
panies from firing LGBTQ workers. The brief, filed
Aug. 23, was written in response to a decision by the 6th
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals finding that a Michigan funer-
al home unlawfully discriminated against a transgender
employee when it fired her for following through with her
Republicans has made such inappropriate, inaccurate and
hurtful comments,” Salt Lake County Council Chairwoman
Aimee Winder Newton told the Tribune. “This has caused
our LGBTQ friends heartache and has been counterproduc-
tive in our fight against suicide.”
The Utah Log Cabin Republicans said that suicide and
STD rates should be more openly and widely discussed by
members of the LGBTQ community, but noted that it is
difficult to have those conversations “when comments like
these are made on these subjects and reported in a way that
suggests any of us believe that underage young men are out
at group sex parties, contracting diseases and then commit-
ting suicide over that situation.”
Robinson has stood by his comments, telling the Tribune
that the response to his remarks, “both pro and con, show
that there is a tremendous need [for dialogue] on these
issues within not only the gay community but the straight
community and the county as a whole.” He also promised to
continue to engage with the party and hopes to have deeper,
more thoughtful conversations about the issue in the future.
Miller, the county GOP chair, subsequently wrote an
open letter apologizing for the comments, which appeared
in several local LGBTQ publications.
“The subject of depression and suicide transcends all of
our communities,” he wrote. “I want to be very clear that
the Salt Lake County Republican Party and our candidates
do not agree that there is only one cause or solution to our
local/national suicide concerns. We believe there are many
factors surrounding these issues and we will continue to
diligently seek solutions.”
According to the Tribune, Miller has refused to fire
Robinson, instead asking members of the county GOP’s
Central Committee to vote in an online poll whether or not
to remove Robinson from his post. l
gender transition.
The funeral home has since appealed to the Supreme
Court, arguing that the owner of the funeral home should
not be forced to violate his personal religious beliefs object-
ing to transgenderism.
The 16 states, led by Nebraska’s Republican Attorney
General David Bydalek, have asked the Supreme Court to
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 21
 theFeed
reverse the 6th Circuit’s decision. The 12 attorneys gener- and G.R. Harris Funeral Homes, alleges that his company
al and three governors who cosigned the brief are all also was justified in requiring employee Aimee Stephens to dress
Republicans. in accordance with male grooming standards based on her
They want the high court to explicitly say that Congress biological sex at birth, and in firing her when she failed to
never intended for the ban comply.
on sex discrimination in Title Their view of Title VII —
VII of the Civil Rights Act to
be applied to instances where The role of the that it only applies to a per-
son’s biological sex — com-

LGBTQ people are discrimi-
nated against based on their
sexual orientation or gender
identity.
“The States’ purpose is to
note that ‘sex’ under the plain
terms of Title VII does not
mean anything other than bio-
logical status,” Bydalek wrote
in the brief. “The role of the
courts is to interpret the law,
not to rewrite the law by add-
ing a new, unintended mean-
ing.”
The brief also asks the court
to rule on whether a previous
decision the high court issued
on sex discrimination prohibits
employers from applying sex-specific policies according to and 7th Circuits have determined that it does, while the 11th
a person’s biological sex rather than their gender identity. Circuit has dismissed at least two lawsuits alleging viola-
In the case in question, Thomas Rost, the owner of R.G. tions of LGBTQ people’s Title VII rights. l
courts is to
ports with the view held by the
Trump administration.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Equal
interpret the law, Employment Opportunity
Commission, which originally
not to rewrite the sued on Stephens’ behalf, says
LGBTQ bias is inherently a
law by adding a form of sex-based discrimina-
tion.
new, unintended The court will either decide
to take up the case or to allow
the 6th Circuit’s decision to
meaning.” stand. The court could also
decide to take up one of sev-
— Nebraska Attorney General eral other cases dealing with
David Bydalek whether Title VII prohibits
discrimination based on sex-
ual orientation. Both the 2nd

22 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY


FRIDAY, August 31
Weekly Events
ANDROMEDA
TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH
offers free HIV testing and HIV
RAWPIXEL/UNSPLASH
services (by appointment). 9
a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center,
1400 Decatur St. NW. To
arrange an appointment, call
202-291-4707, or visit androm-
edatransculturalhealth.org.
BET MISHPACHAH, founded
by members of the LGBT com-
munity, holds Friday evening
Shabbat services in the DC
Jewish Community Center’s
Community Room. 8 p.m. 1529
16th St. NW. For more informa-
tion, visit betmish.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds
a practice session at Howard
University. 6:30-8 p.m. Burr
Gymnasium, 2400 6th St. NW.
For more information, visit
swimdcac.org.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-
Walker Health. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
at 1525 14th St. NW. For an
appointment call 202-745-7000
or visit whitman-walker.org.
METROHEALTH CENTER
offers free, rapid HIV testing.
Appointment needed. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. To arrange
an appointment, call 202-638-
0750.
PROJECT STRIPES hosts
LGBT-affirming social group
for ages 11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419
Columbia Road NW. Contact
Tamara, 202-319-0422, layc-
dc.org.
SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides
a social atmosphere for LGBT
and questioning youth, featur-
ing dance parties, vogue nights,
movies and games. For more
info, email catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing,
3-6 p.m., by appointment
and walk-in, for youth 21 and
younger. Youth Center, 410 7th
St. SE. 202-567-3155 or test-
ing@smyal.org.
SATURDAY, September 1
ADVENTURING outdoors
group takes a very strenuous
10-mile hike with 2800 feet
of elevation gain along the
Appalachian Trail in the central
section of Shenandoah National
Park. Bring plenty of beverages,
lunch, sturdy boots, bug spray,
sunscreen, about $20 for fees,
Community
and money for dinner and
blackberry ice cream at Skyland
Lodge afterwards. Carpool at
8:30 a.m. from the East Falls
Church Metro Station Kiss &
Ride lot. Likely return after
dark. For more information,
contact Jeff, 301-775-9660 or
visit adventuring.org.
CENTER GLOBAL, a group that
fights against anti-LGBTI laws
and cultures in 80 countries,
holds its monthly meeting
HITTING THE LANES
on the first Saturday of every
month. 12-1:30 p.m. The DC
Center, 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more informa-
tion, visit thedccenter.org.
The Capital Area Rainbowlers Association’s
bowling leagues are open to all, Weekly Events
regardless of experience. ANDROMEDA
I
TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH
’VE BEEN BOWLING SINCE I WAS 10 YEARS OLD,” offers free HIV testing and HIV
says Les Johnson. “What I like about it is you meet dif- services (by appointment only).
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Decatur Center,
ferent people every week, because you’ll bowl against a
1400 Decatur St. NW. To
different team. It’s nice way to network socially.” arrange an appointment, call
Johnson is the president of the Capital Area Rainbowlers 202-291-4707, or visit androm-
Association — or CARA — which holds regular “social bowl- edatransculturalhealth.org.
ing night” events to introduce newcomers to the sport. The
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a
next one currently planned for December, but if you can’t practice session at Montgomery
wait that long to get into the game, try joining one of CARA’s College Aquatics Club. 8:30-
10 a.m. 7600 Takoma Ave.,
leagues.
Takoma, Md. For more infor-
CARA runs six LGBTQ bowling leagues in the D.C. area, mation, visit swimdcac.org.
and they meet at four different bowling alleys in Northern
Virginia. Four run from September through the end of April, DC FRONT RUNNERS run-
ning/walking/social club
while two others run from September to December and have welcomes runners of all ability
a separate session from January through April. Leagues meet levels for exercise in a fun and
on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, supportive environment, with
socializing afterward. Route
allowing participants to choose one that works best with their
distance will be 3-6 miles.
schedule. Walker meet at 9:30 a.m. and
“We’re open to everyone, and you can join any time of runners at 10 a.m. at 23rd & P
the year,” says Johnson. “You don’t have to have experience Streets NW. For more informa-
tion, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
in order to bowl. Beginners are welcome, even in our more
competitive leagues.” DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass
Costs vary by league, but on average total about $20 per for LGBT community, fam-
ily and friends. 6:30 p.m.,
week. Participants also pay a one-time fee to become a mem-
Immanuel Church-on-the-
ber of the U.S. Bowling Congress, the governing body for Hill, 3606 Seminary Road,
recreational bowling. On the bright side, every person gets Alexandria. All welcome. For
a chance to win some money back, as prizes are awarded for more info, visit dignitynova.org.
first through last place each season.
IDENTITY offers free and
The level of competitiveness differs based on the league. confidential HIV testing at its
“Some people are much more social about their bowling, and Takoma Park location. Walk-
ins accepted from 12-3 p.m.,
they’re not really concerned about how much they score,”
by appointment for all other
says Johnson. “For others, it’s about practice and finding the hours. 7676 New Hampshire
right bowling equipment and repeating the same technique Ave., Suite 411, Takoma Park,
over and over again. Md. To set up an appointment
or for more information, call
“Bowling’s all related to how you do against your average. 301-422-2398.
The sport tries to reward all skill levels, regardless of where
you are or how you start.” —John Riley SUNDAY, September 2
To learn more about the Capital Area Rainbowlers Association CHRYSALIS arts & culture
group visits Frederick Douglass
and its fall/winter leagues, or to sign up for a league, visit National Historic Site in
carabowling.org. Anacostia to see his longtime
D.C. home, Cedar Hill. Free
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 23
 admission. Meet at noon inside
the National Park Service Visitor
Center, 1411 W St. SE. For more
information, contact Craig, 202-
462-0535 or email craighowell1@
verizon.net.
Weekly Events
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a
practice session at Wilson Aquatic
Center. 9:30-11 a.m. 4551 Fort Dr.
NW. For more information, visit
swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
walking/social club welcomes run-
ners of all ability levels for exercise
in a fun and supportive environ-
ment, with socializing afterward.
Route will be a distance run of 8, 10
or 12 miles. Meet at 9 a.m. at 23rd
& P Streets NW. For more informa-
tion, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
MONDAY, September 3
ADVENTURING outdoors group
takes its traditional 6-mile
Labor Day hike from Old Town
Alexandria across the Wilson
Bridge to National Harbor, Md.
Bring plenty of beverages, lunch,
sunscreen, a $2 trip fee, and $10
for a water taxi back to either Old
Town or the new Wharf on the
Southwest Waterfront. Meet at 10
a.m. inside the King Street Metro
Station near the station attendant’s
kiosk. Note: Adjacent parking lot is
closed indefinitely. For more infor-
mation, contact Craig, 202-462-
0535, or visit adventuring.org.
The DC Center hosts a
VOLUNTEER NIGHT for commu-
nity members to lend a hand with
various duties, including cleaning,
keeping safe-sex kit inventory, and
sorting through book donations.
Pizza provided. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
more information, visit thedccen-
ter.org.
Weekly Events
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at 1525 14th
St. NW, and 9 a.m-12 p.m. and 1-5
p.m. at the Max Robinson Center,
2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE. For an
appointment call 202-745-7000 or
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 test-
ing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite
200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-
789-4467.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5
p.m., by appointment and walk-in,
for youth 21 and younger. Youth
24 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-
3155 or testing@smyal.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay
men’s evening affinity group for
GBT black men. Light refreshments
provided. 7-9 p.m. 3636 Georgia
Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH
HIV/AIDS SUPPORT GROUP
for newly diagnosed individuals,
meets 7 p.m. Registration required.
202-939-7671, hivsupport@whit-
man-walker.org.
TUESDAY, September 4
Join LGBTQ people from all over
the D.C. area at Hi-Tide Lounge
for a FIRST TUESDAY HAPPY
HOUR SOCIAL. Bring friends. No
Cover. 7-9 p.m. 101 N. Union St.,
Alexandria, Va. Take the free King
Street Trolley from King Street
Metro. For more information, visit
meetup.com/GoGayDC.
Weekly Events
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing
and HIV services (by appointment).
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center, 1400
Decatur St. NW. To arrange an
appointment, call 202-291-4707,
or visit andromedatranscultural-
health.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
walking/social club welcomes run-
ners of all ability levels for exercise
in a fun and supportive environment,
with socializing afterward. Route
distance is 3-6 miles. Meet at 7 p.m.
at Union Station. For more informa-
tion, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
IDENTITY offers free and confi-
dential HIV testing at two separate
locations. Walk-ins accepted from
2-6 p.m., by appointment for all
other hours. 414 East Diamond Ave.,
Gaithersburg, Md. or 7676 New
Hampshire Ave., Suite 411, Takoma
Park, Md. To set up an appoint-
ment or for more information, call
Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or
Takoma Park, 301-422-2398.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
holds an LGBT-focused meet-
ing every Tuesday, 7 p.m. at St.
George’s Episcopal Church, 915
Oakland Ave., Arlington, just steps
from Virginia Square Metro. For
more info. call Dick, 703-521-
1999. Handicapped accessible.
Newcomers welcome. liveandletli-
veoa@gmail.com.
STI TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at both 1525
14th St. NW and the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 Martin Luther King,
Jr. Ave. SE. Testing is intended for
those without symptoms. For an
appointment call 202-745-7000 or
visit whitman-walker.org.
Support group for LGBTQ youth
ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL. 5-6:30
p.m. 410 7th St. SE. For more
information, contact Cathy Chu,
202-567-3163, or catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
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.
Whitman-Walker Health holds its
weekly GAY MEN’S HEALTH AND
WELLNESS/STD CLINIC. Patients
are seen on walk-in basis. No-cost
screening for HIV, syphilis, gon-
orrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis
and herpes testing available for fee.
Testing starts at 6 p.m, but should
arrive early to ensure a spot. 1525
14th St. NW. For more information,
visit whitman-walker.org.
WEDNESDAY, September 5
BOOKMEN DC, an informal men’s
gay literature group, discusses Alan
Hollinghurst’s latest novel, The
Sparsholt Affair, at the Cleveland
Park Library. All are welcome. 7:30
p.m. 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW.
For more info, visit bookmendc.
blogspot.com.
The TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL
BRIDGE CLUB meets for Social
Bridge at the Dignity Center, across
from the Marine Barracks. No
partner needed. 7:30 p.m. 721 8th
St. SE. Call 301-345-1571 for more
information.
Weekly Events
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing
and HIV services (by appointment).
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center, 1400
Decatur St. NW. To arrange an
appointment, call 202-291-4707,
or visit andromedatranscultural-
health.org.
FREEDOM FROM SMOKING, a
group for LGBT people looking
to quit cigarettes and tobacco use,
holds a weekly support meeting at
The DC Center. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more infor-
mation, visit thedccenter.org.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at 1525 14th
St. NW, and 9 a.m-12 p.m. and 1-5
p.m. at the Max Robinson Center,
2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE. For an
appointment call 202-745-7000 or
visit whitman-walker.org.
JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-
gram for job entrants and seekers,
meets at The DC Center. 6-7:30
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more info, centercareers.org.
THURSDAY, September 6
The DC Center holds a meeting
of its ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER
QUEER SUPPORT GROUP. 7-8
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more information, visit thedc-
center.org.
Weekly Events
DC LAMBDA SQUARES, D.C.’s gay
and lesbian square-dancing group,
features mainstream through
advanced square dancing at the
National City Christian Church.
Please dress casually. 7-9:30 p.m. 5
Thomas Circle NW. 202-930-1058,
dclambdasquares.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds prac-
tice. The team is always looking
for new members. All welcome.
7-9 p.m. Harry Thomas Recreation
Center, 1743 Lincoln Rd. NE. For
more information, visit scandalsrfc.
org or dcscandals@gmail.com.
THE DULLES TRIANGLES
Northern Virginia social group
meets for happy hour at Sheraton
in Reston. All welcome. 7-9 p.m.
11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, sec-
ond-floor bar. For more informa-
tion, visit dullestriangles.com.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and from
2-5 p.m. at 1525 14th St. NW, and
9 a.m-12 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. at the
Max Robinson Center, 2301 MLK
Jr. Ave. SE. For an appointment
call 202-745-7000 or visit whit-
man-walker.org.
US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics
Anonymous Meeting. The group
is independent of UHU. 6:30-7:30
p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. For
more information, call 202-446-
1100.
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ
women, 13-21, interested in lead-
ership development. 5-6:30 p.m.
SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th St.
SE. For more information, call 202-
567-3163, or email catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
FRIDAY, September 7
GAY DISTRICT, a group for
GBTQQI men between the ages of
18-35, meets on the first and third
Fridays of each month. 8:30-9:30
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more information, visit gaydis-
trict.org.
The DC Center’s TRANS
SUPPORT GROUP provides a
space to talk for transgender people
and those who identify outside of
the gender binary. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 25
 SATURDAY, September 8
The DC Center hosts a monthly
meeting of UNIVERSAL PRIDE,
a group to support and empower
LGBTQIA people with disabili-
ties, offer perspectives on dating
and relationships, and create
greater access in public spaces for
LGBTQIA PWDs. 1-2:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, contact Andy Arias,
andyarias09@gmail.com.
SUNDAY, September 9
ADVENTURING outdoors group
and CHRYSALIS arts & culture
group co-sponsor a guided walking
tour through downtown Frederick,
Md., covering both historic sites
and contemporary highlights.
Moderate hike will not exceed 4
miles in length, with little elevation
gain. Lunch to follow in downtown
restaurant. Bring plenty of beverag-
es, snacks, sunscreen, a few dollars
for trip and transportation fees, and
lunch money. Carpool at 9:30 a.m.
from the Grosvenor-Strathmore
Metro Station. Return before din-
ner time. For more information,
contact Craig, 202-462-0535, or
visit adventuring.org.
MONDAY, August 10
The YOUTH WORKING GROUP
of The DC Center holds a monthly
meeting to discuss upcoming pro-
gramming options. Light snacks
will be provided. 6-7:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. Visit thed-
ccenter.org.
TUESDAY, September 11
The DC Center’s TRANS
SUPPORT GROUP provides a
space to talk for transgender people
and those who identify outside of
the gender binary. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
WEDNESDAY, September 12
BIG GAY BOOK GROUP meets at
Trio Bistro to discuss Not So Good
a Gay Man: A Memoir by Frank M.
Robinson. Newcomers always wel-
come. Near Dupont Circle Metro
Station on the Red Line. 7 p.m. 1537
17th St. NW. For more information
and to RSVP, email biggaybook-
group@hotmail.com.
The LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB meets
at the Dignity Center, across from
the Marine Barracks, for Duplicate
Bridge. No reservations needed.
Newcomers welcome. 7:30 p.m. 721
8th St. SE. Call 202-841-0279 if you
need a partner.
26 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
Weekly Events
AD LIB, a group for freestyle con-
versation, meets about 6-6:30 p.m.,
Steam, 17th and R NW. All wel-
come. For more information, call
Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
holds a practice session at Dunbar
Aquatic Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 101 N
St. NW. For more information, visit
swimdcac.org.
FREEDOM FROM SMOKING, a
group for LGBT people looking
to quit cigarettes and tobacco use,
holds a weekly support meeting at
The DC Center. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more infor-
mation, visit thedccenter.org.
HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH
offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.
and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.
Washington St., Alexandria. 703-
549-1450, historicchristchurch.org.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at 1525 14th
St. NW, and 9 a.m-12 p.m. and 1-5
p.m. at the Max Robinson Center,
2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE. For an
appointment call 202-745-7000 or
visit whitman-walker.org.
IDENTITY offers free and confiden-
tial HIV testing at its Gaithersburg
location. Walk-ins accepted from
2-7 p.m., by appointment for all
other hours. 414 East Diamond
Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. To set up
an appointment or for more infor-
mation, call 301-300-9978.
JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-
gram for job entrants and seekers,
meets at The DC Center. 6-7:30
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more info, centercareers.org.
METROHEALTH CENTER offers
free, rapid HIV testing. No appoint-
ment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012
14th St. NW, Suite 700. For more
information, call 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.
STI TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at both 1525
14th St. NW and the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 Martin Luther King,
Jr. Ave. SE. Testing is intended for
those without symptoms. For an
appointment call 202-745-7000 or
visit whitman-walker.org.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
p.m. Newcomers with at least basic
swimming ability always welcome.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more informa-
tion, contact Tom, 703-299-0504
or secretary@wetskins.org, or visit
wetskins.org. l
 Forum
INFORMATION, PLEASE
How healthy are we? For D.C.’s LGBTQ community,
the question is not so easy to answer.
By Steven Feit
T
HE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOLDS ITSELF
out as a model LGBTQ-friendly city. We have a
large, diverse, and vibrant LGBTQ community.
Same-sex marriage was legalized here well before it was
made the law of the land, and LGBTQ residents have the
highest possible legal protection from discrimination. A
sizeable number of bars, clubs, and civic organizations sup-
port our community. It’s truly wonderful that so many of us
can feel safe and welcome here.
Yet there is a stunning lack of public information on the
health of D.C.’s LGBTQ community. Sporadic reports from
the Department of Health shed some
light on these issues, but don’t provide
the kind of information that we can
use to advocate for specific interven-
tions, direct resources, and measure
“Our
improvements.
There are some things we do know. addictions,
We know that the LGBTQ community
is at a higher risk of drug, alcohol, and illnesses,
tobacco addiction than the public at
large. We know that our community
suffers from mental illness at unac-
and traumas
ceptably high rates. Many of us are
victims of violence, sexual or other-
remain in
wise. And we are still dealing with a
persistent HIV crisis.
the shadows
We also know that these challeng-
es are not borne equally within our because we
don’t have
community — it’s what makes collect-
ing high-quality, granular, and reliable
data so critical. It’s also what makes
ignoring these problems so easy. To
look at the most visible members of
the data.”
our community — white, male, cisgen-
der, and financially well-off — things
appear “under control.” But a closer look reveals uncom-
fortable truths, and we cannot abdicate responsibility by
convenience.
Though new HIV infections are declining, epidemic
numbers of current infections, especially among African
Americans, continue to haunt our community. Teen preg-
nancy is a greater risk for lesbian and bisexual teenagers
than their straight counterparts, yet they receive virtually
no funding or public attention. Like many LGBTQ issues,
they simply are not understood by the broader public. And
our trans brothers and sisters, who suffer from extraordi-
nary rates of violence, are often totally overlooked.
Too many of us are suffering, and we are not being
counted. Our addictions, our illnesses, our traumas remain
in the shadows because we simply don’t have the data. But
we can change our situation.
We should support the establishment of permanent
public health monitoring and reporting for LGBTQ resi-
dents of the District. Last month, Councilmembers David
Grosso and Trayvon White introduced the LGBTQ Health
Data Collection Amendment Act of 2018, which would
mandate the Department of Health to publish an annual,
detailed report on the health of DC’s LGBTQ residents. It
would also require the Office of the State Superintendent
of Education and the DOH to add
questions about gender identity and
sexual preference in existing annual
data collection activities. Moreover,
we should push the DOH to create an
LGBTQ community advisory group,
and attend meetings where our fates
are decided. A community advisory
group would address health issues
directly affecting our community and
inform our government so that it can
respond quickly to new challenges.
The DOH has taken some steps in
this direction, but progress has stalled
and needs to be revived. It needs to
include all our communities, especial-
ly the most marginalized and vulner-
able. Failure to do so runs the risk of
not merely ignoring those who need
the most help, but burying them under
an illusion of widespread health that
masks those who suffer uncounted.
To highlight these problems is not
to suggest that the D.C. government is
doing nothing. We know that D.C. is
responsible and responds to problems in our communities
when made aware. The DOH has been working to curtail
new HIV infections and to assist those infected with diag-
nosis and treatment. But to congratulate successes without
understanding the entirety of the problem isn’t enough. We
need information — real information — that we can use to
hold our leaders accountable. And we need to understand
the breadth and depth of the challenges facing our commu-
nity, so we can live healthy lives. l
Steven Feit is a D.C. resident and member of the Health
Working Group at the D.C. Center for the LGBT
Community.
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 27
 The Passions of
Claybourne Elder
The star of Signature’s latest hit musical is as zealous about his
one-year-old son as he is about baring it all.
Interview by Doug Rule
Photography by Julian Vankim
W
HEN YOU FOLLOW A PASSION, YOU
end up giving up a lot of things,” says
Claybourne Elder. “As artists and as
actors, we are so used to giving up for our
art.” As it happens, Elder follows many
passions — from travel and the arts to helping homeless LGBTQ
youth. At the moment, however, no passion is greater than Bo
Rosen-Elder, the one-year-old son he is raising with husband
Eric Rosen. “I keep joking that I’m going to make our house like
the town in Footloose,” he says. “There will be no music and no
dancing. We’re gonna tell him that we’re mathematicians that
work at night and pretend that there’s no joy or music in the
world. We’re gonna just say, ‘You can be anything you want to
be, as long as it ends in engineer.’”
Obviously, Elder has a passion for melodramatic farce, too.
“I have always been the nerdy jokester,” says the 36-year-old,
who grew up in a large, extended Mormon family in Utah. The
Rosen-Elder household itself was built on a foundation of the-
ater and the arts, with Rosen a prominent national stage direc-
tor and playwright (Venus), and Elder an aspiring multi-genre
writer and actor with a special affinity for works by Stephen
Sondheim. After starring in a 2014 production of Sondheim’s
Sunday in the Park with George, Elder jumped at the chance to
return to Signature Theatre for the composer’s Passion, directed
by Matthew Gardiner.
Elder is a knockout as Giorgio in the Tony-winning musical,
which features a book by frequent Sondheim collaborator James
Lapine. Set set in Italy during the 1860s, Giorgio is a dashing
army captain who attracts the romantic attentions of two
women, including the homely, ailing Fosca, whose boundless
infatuation and single-minded pursuit of Giorgio threatens to
be his undoing. Elder uses the full force of his magnetic person-
ality to make the character as relatable as possible, and his rich,
melodic baritone and incisive vocal delivery proves to be a good
match for Fosca’s Natascia Diaz, one of the sharpest singers to
ever grace Signature’s Max stage. The result is a Passion worth
getting passionate about — for both the audience and Elder
himself.
“I’ve always wanted to do Passion,” Elder says during an
28 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
interview at the Shirlington showplace. “And I can’t imagine a
better place to do it, because Signature audiences love Sondheim.
When you hear that a Sondheim production is being done at
Signature, you know that it’s a serious, big deal, and everybody
comes from out of town to see it. It’s exciting to be a part of it.”
METRO WEEKLY: This marks your first Passion, but your 10th
Sondheim production as a professional actor. How did Sondheim
become such a predominant figure in your career?
CLAYBOURNE ELDER: That’s the thing. I love him so much, I love
the work so much, that I wish I could say I sought out Sondheim
shows to do, but it actually is more that those are just the shows
I end up getting cast in. I think there’s just something about his
aesthetic and his music — it falls on my voice well. He writes for
my voice type, low tenors.
My first job off the boat in New York was in Roadshow, which
is one of Sondheim’s lesser-known musicals. I didn’t have an
agent, but I went to the open chorus call and they kept calling me
back and calling me back and I thought, “This is really nice, but
I’m never gonna get this job.” Then finally, Stephen Sondheim
was there: “Oh wow. They’re serious.”
John Doyle directed that and I got to know Steve a little bit.
He was there every day at rehearsal with us, working on it. He
was nice. The first love song between two men was in that show
— “The Best Thing That Ever Has Happened” — and it was me
and this other guy. It wasn’t in the show originally, and John
Doyle our director brought it to him. “We should put this back in
the show and have these two guys sing it.” It was a really beauti-
ful moment of the show. I sing it a lot now in cabarets.
I’ve just fallen into doing his shows a lot. I’m a glutton for
punishment, apparently. They’re challenging — emotionally so,
as well. This show in particular, I don’t really leave the stage and
there’s no intermission, so the whole journey of Passion, which is
really arduous for me, leaves me feeling confused and exhausted
when it’s over. My husband asked, “Why are you in such a weird
mood when you come home?” Then he came and saw the show
and said, “I get it. Never mind. I’m just gonna leave you alone.”
MW: Passion is confusing and produces mixed emotions for every-
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 29
one, including the audience.
ELDER: Like the name suggests, there are a lot of really height-
ened emotional experiences in it, and it is complicated, and it is
not a simple love story. I’ve never been in a musical, let alone a
play, where there’s been so much audience reaction. Not just
laughter, but audible gasps. That doesn’t happen very often. That
doesn’t happen in 42nd Street, you know? It’s not that kind of
“I went on a diet — that’s really good
motivation. If anybody wants to lose
weight, they should just agree to
stand naked in front of 300 people a
night for six weeks, because that will
make you stop eating sugar and wheat.”
show. Here, there’s no good or bad guy. We all make mistakes in
the show. There is no character that is right.
MW: True, although your character is better, or at least more like-
able, than the female leads.
ELDER: I love that you say that, because I feel like a big part of my
job is bringing the audience on my journey with me. I am narra-
tor — I need to bring you all with me. I need you all to believe me.
What’s beautiful about Passion is that people walk away
with really different opinions. It’s very polarizing. I think that’s
fascinating. It’s not just a story about some guy and some girl,
and then they fall in love. It’s very complicated. Treading that is
challenging, but also very exciting.
MW: Perhaps the biggest complication is the fact that your char-
acter, Giorgio, tells off the infatuated Fosca, repeatedly and in no
uncertain terms. And yet he befriends her.
ELDER: It’s that concept of the person in class who you hate, who
becomes your best friend. The thing that brings you the most
challenge is often the thing that you are drawn to the most. I
think it is a story about people who criticize something in others
that they see in themselves, and the process of those two things
meeting. Those two people coming together and meeting each
other halfway.
The important thing to remember is that Giorgio is very lost
at the beginning of the story. He doesn’t want to be there. He
doesn’t get along with soldiers. He doesn’t like being in the mili-
tary. He’s doing it because he has to. He meets this woman who
shares his interests and is fascinating. Her appearance, which is
something that is very important for all the other people, he sets
aside and becomes her friend. They become very close in that
way first. She’s available, and there’s a depth to her that there
isn’t in his other relationships.
MW: You start out the show naked. How was that for you?
ELDER: I do, yeah. Ruth Bader Ginsburg came to an early perfor-
mance and saw me naked, and all I could think was, “I’m sorry,
Ruth.” It was very nerve-racking at first. I’ve been in shows
before where I’ve been naked — I was in Angels in America — but
30 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
I’d never been on stage in a sexual situation while being naked.
Luckily I do it with Steffanie Leigh, who is my incredible co-star
in that scene.
MW: She’s also naked, which we see as you two hop out of bed at the
end of the opening scene.
ELDER: She’s very naked. She’s more naked than me. I’m wear-
ing a little cock sock. I call it the glitter dick because it’s kind of
shimmery. It’s flesh-toned and has a sheen on it. I don’t get to
come off stage, so I have to wear that the whole show.
There’s a lot of sheet choreography to make sure we don’t
show off too much. The nudity is important, in that it’s telling
the story of a sexual relationship. It’s important to have it, but
you also don’t want just cock and balls, cock and balls, cock and
balls. You want the audience to listen to what you’re saying.
MW: But ultimately, you’re okay with baring all?
ELDER: I’m okay with it. I went on a diet — that’s really good
motivation. If anybody wants to lose weight, they should just
agree to stand naked in front of 300 people a night for six weeks,
because that will make you stop eating sugar and wheat.
I also now have facial hair for the part. I had grown a mus-
tache once, five or six years ago, and my husband hated it so
much, because it made me look a little like a guy you wouldn’t
leave your kids alone with. Now, it’s a little fuller and maybe
with the chops, less offensive-looking. Although I do forget fre-
quently, and people at the grocery store give me a lot of weird
looks. “You’re really trying to do that, huh?” “Mutton chops and
a mustache, huh?”
MW: Have you gone out to a gay bar with the mutton chops?
ELDER: Yes, I’ve been called daddy a lot in the past month.
MW: That hadn’t happened before?
ELDER: I joke that I’ve been a daddy my whole life, but I’ve been
a father for a year. So no, not that surprising. I was a really chub-
by, nerdy kid. I was not sporty. I was never the handsome guy.
MW: Your husband, Eric Rosen, also works in the theater, having
just ended a 10-year run as artistic director of the Kansas City
Repertory Theatre. Did you meet him doing a show?ELDER: Yeah.
Moisés Kaufman was doing this crazy anime version of Into the
Woods in Kansas City. He hired me to come out. I was the wolf
and the prince. My now-husband was producing the show — he
wasn’t casting — but he was there once we started rehearsals,
and we became really good friends. That’s where we met, and
I remember thinking, where am I going? Kansas City is a place
I had heard of, but I had never been. Little did I know that it
would become a huge part of my life
for the next nine years.
MW: When did Bo come into the picture?
ELDER: The baby arrived a year ago. It
took us about two years to get preg-
nant. We had an egg donor. We had
a separate surrogate. I jacked off in a
cup and they put it in a test tube with
years to get
an egg and shook it around. It’s the
romance of creation.
24th, when you celebrate the pioneers
“It took crossing the plains. Several years ago I
started celebrating Pie-and-Beer Day
us two as my Mormon holiday. I gather all my
friends and we make pies and drink
beer, and I tell them Mormon stories
about pioneers crossing the plains.
MW: What about your family: Do they still
pregnant. practice and call themselves Mormon, or
has accepting you as their gay son caused

We had an
They put me in a room with a big them to reconsider their faith as well?
leather chair in a doctor’s office with ELDER: My parents definitely are, and I
porn. They had gay porn, which was have two siblings who are still Mormon.
very nice of them — I think usually
that’s not their clientele. There were egg donor. What I love about my parents is that it’s
actually very simple for them: “They’re

three gay porn options, and they were
all just very twinky. I thought, “A gay
man did not pick this. That’s some
straight doctor going, ‘The gays will
enjoy this pornography.’”
MW: Do you intend to have more kids?
ELDER: We have two more frozen
embryos that are hanging out. We
call them the Frozen Rosens. They’re
waiting in a bank in California.
MW: Wait, are they actually your hus-
band’s?
ELDER: No, no, they’re mine. He had
no desire to reproduce, whereas I — I
have seven siblings, but I only have
one full brother, and he’s gay as well,
and I don’t know that he’s gonna have
We had a
our kids, we love them. It’s not our
job to tell them how to live their lives.
They’re adult people.” They’re not
separate PFLAG-waving people, either. There
have been times where I’ve thought, “I
surrogate. wish my mom would go to Pride with
me and have condoms thrown at her.”
That’s not gonna happen, but there’s no
I jacked off question in my mind that she supports
me and loves me. My mother, I think,
in a cup and honestly believes that the Mormon
church will eventually say, “Gays are
okay.”
they put MW: Did you have to do anything official
to renounce your faith?
it in a test ELDER: No. There are levels in the
Mormon church. I didn’t get excom-

biological children. My husband’s
family, he has nieces and nephews
that are biologically related to him. So
it was like, “Who’s gonna go into the
awkward room and jack off? I guess
tube with
municated, because I didn’t go to
this certain level. I was just this sing-
ing-and-dancing missionary — a per-
an egg and forming missionary for the Mormon
church in Nauvoo, Illinois, which is

shook it
I will.”
MW: You mentioned growing up gay and
Mormon. When did you come out, and
was that a struggle?
ELDER: My older brother came out
around. It’s
before me. He even went through
reparative therapy and all that. I came the romance
out and was like, “I’m gay, and I’m not
gonna do anything about it.”
MW: You’re the baby, so that no doubt
of creation.”
helped you as well.
ELDER: Yeah, it did. Although my
mother and I fought about it a lot. Now
they’re incredible about it. My father
gave a Mormon prayer at our wedding that made everyone cry
their eyes out. They love my husband. They love our son. They’re
very, very supportive.
MW: You’re not a practicing Mormon these days, are you?
ELDER: No, no, no. Not since I was 20 or younger even. I am
agnostic. “Oh, so you’re just a lazy atheist,” people always say in
response — except that I believe in a higher power. I just don’t
know if it’s the spaghetti monster in the sky, or a lady, or a group
of people.
We have a lot of spirituality. My husband’s Jewish, so we
celebrate all the Jewish holidays and all the Mormon holidays
— well, there’s only one Mormon holiday. Pioneer Day, July
kind of like colonial Williamsburg for
Mormons. I wasn’t a full-time mis-
sionary, so I didn’t go to the temple.
Technically, they won’t boot me, but I
don’t know — I assume I’m still in the
church records, I don’t really know. It
doesn’t matter if I am. I don’t give them
any money or anything.
I left early. I don’t know that I ever
truly, really bought into it. With the
history of Mormonism, there was a lot
of, “Yeah? Sure. That could have hap-
pened.”
MW: Essentially what The Book of
Mormon pokes fun at, the church’s history and beliefs.
ELDER: Exactly. The Book of Mormon is a well-researched beast.
They are dead-on.
MW: Would you accept a role in the show if the option was there?
ELDER: Yes, I would. I would totally do that.
MW: Having grown up Mormon, do you feel like an LGBTQ activist
just by living as an openly gay man? Do you feel a sense of respon-
sibility along those lines?
ELDER: I think you have to be if you’re going to be a person who’s
in any sort of public light. I’m involved with several different
organizations — there’s Covenant House in New York, a home
for homeless youth. They do Broadway Sleep Out, where we

AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 31

32 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
get the Broadway community together to raise money and we
all sleep out on the street one night once a year in support of
homeless youth. It was just a couple weeks ago — I missed it this
year because I’m here doing this. They help all youth, but they
do a lot of work with LGBTQ youth, because a common reason
why a teenager is homeless and in New York City is because of
their sexuality or gender. I think that this is a particularly scary
time, especially right now, and a more important time than ever
to stand up and to speak out when you can, when you have the
opportunity.
MW: Are you politically engaged?
ELDER: Not super-politically engaged. My sister is. She runs a
political advising firm in Utah that basically runs liberal politics.
She’s 16 years older than me, and I grew up working with her on
various congressional campaigns.
MW: Given Utah is a deep-red state, did you ever win?
ELDER: No. No one I ever supported in Utah won. We always
fought the good fight, and then we were really sad. You always
“There have been times where I’ve
thought, ‘I wish my mom would go
to Pride with me and have condoms
thrown at her.’ That’s not gonna happen,
but my mother honestly believes that
the Mormon church will eventually say,
‘Gays are okay.”
think that this one is gonna be the one, and then it didn’t work
out.
MW: Did that help prepare you for the rejection that comes with
working in show business?
ELDER: I haven’t thought of it that way, but yeah, maybe. I know
what it’s like to lose those big roles or shows that you’ve been
working on.
MW: Did you grow up in a musical family?
ELDER: My dad’s side of the family is very musical. I studied the
violin for 11 years growing up, because my grandfather was a
violinist and his father was a violinist, or a fiddler. And my uncle,
who is 86, has a Hank Williams tribute cover band that still plays
in bars in rural Utah. He’s so awesome.
No one else in my family is in theater or anything. I saw my
brother in a production of The Music Man, and thought, “That
looks really fun. I want to do that.” My mom was a teacher —
she taught photography and journalism, she was the yearbook
teacher — and so I would have to wait for her after school. When
I was I think 14, I was sitting in her office after school, and I
just started calling all the community theaters in the region and
asking when their auditions were. And I asked her if she would
drive me. I got cast in a show and started working.
MW: What show?
ELDER: I was the teenager in On Golden Pond. From there, it was
just doing community theater into college. I went to Brigham
Young University for a year. I was studying music, dance, the-
ater. It is the gayest thing you can study, and at BYU, it’s just full
of magic and sparkles and Disney.
MW: Meaning it’s full of gay people?
ELDER: Yes. Closeted. In fact, I left BYU but there were some
students that were trying to get me kicked out. They had
witch-hunted me, sort of — had snuck into my bedroom and
found a love note from a then-boyfriend and photocopied it, and
were gonna send it to the Honor Code Office to get me kicked
out of school.
MW: These were fellow students?
ELDER: Yes. Music, dance, theater students. I found out it was
happening, but luckily I was already leaving school. It was still
crushing. I knew who they were, and thought, “Why would you
do that to me? You want to get me kicked out of school? That’s
gonna ruin my life.” It could have.
MW: Were they threatened by you?
ELDER: I guess. I don’t know. It was pretty “Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell” at BYU, but I wasn’t exactly closeted. People knew that I
was gay, and so I think maybe that was something people didn’t
like.
MW: Have you encountered similar challenges — homophobia, or
jealousy — as an out actor in the industry?
ELDER: I have had managers who would say, “Let’s keep your
sexuality basically a little more hush-hush.” I would respond, “I
just don’t ever want to do that.” I was on the TV show The Carrie
Diaries on The CW — a prequel to Sex in the City about Carrie
Bradshaw when she was in high school. I played kind of the sex-
ually adventurous girl’s military boyfriend. I was 30 and I was
supposed to be playing a 19-year-old, and an out gay man playing
a very straight military officer/bro. Whether I pulled that off or
not is a good question. It was exciting to me that they cast an out
gay actor in a straight role, because I was never not an out gay
actor. That was just never a question for me.
When I was getting married to my husband, my then-manag-
er and agent both were very upset about it. They didn’t want me
to do it. They were concerned with me being so out and me hav-
ing such a public wedding, and letting Playbill and People cover
it, because we’re both theater people. I said, “Yes, absolutely.
That’s just part of my life.”
MW: One of the musicals you’re most associated with on Broadway
is Frank Wildhorn’s Bonnie and Clyde from 2011. I gather that
was a special show for you.
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 33
34 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
ELDER: Yes! My favorite. I worked on that show for three years,
doing out-of-town workshops of it. The core four leads of the
show were the same pretty much the whole time. We all got to
be very close — Jeremy Jordan, Laura Osnes, Melissa van der
Schyff, and myself. The out-of-towns that we did were all over
Thanksgiving and Christmas, so we spent three Thanksgivings
and Christmases together. For years, we had this thing that we
loved, that was working towards going to Broadway, and even-
tually it did, which was so exciting. Even though it closed really
quickly, it’s gone on to have a life in regional theater, which is
lovely. I just have such fond memories of that time and those
people. It was just a really wonderful group of people.
MW: It must have been hard that it didn’t last long on Broadway.
ELDER: Very hard. It’s kind of a miracle that shows open on
Broadway at all. It’s so expensive and so difficult. When they
do, at that point, it’s the producers’ job — how they prepare
for it, how they market it, how they run it. You can only do the
best show you can do. Once a show gets to Broadway, it really
becomes less about is it good or not, because the artists all work-
ing on it are probably pretty good for actually making it. I don’t
think that there are untalented people working on Broadway,
either writing or directing. There are just things that don’t work
and things that financially don’t happen. I thought Bonnie &
“When I was getting married to my
husband, my manager and agent both
were very upset. They didn’t want me
to do it. They were concerned with
me being so out and having such a
public wedding.”
Clyde was great. There were imperfections in it, sure, but I really
loved it personally.
MW: Do you have any sense why it didn’t succeed?
ELDER: I think it was a difficult subject matter. It’s about two
people with guns shooting people — that’s not a great thing.
Once we closed on Broadway, no touring companies would
touch us, because it was like, “Ah, it’s about young people shoot-
ing people. Nobody wants to tour that.” That’s not exactly why,
but that was definitely a factor.
Who’s to say why it didn’t work out in the end? That’s almost
too difficult to define. It was so sad, that meeting when they call
you all in and tell you that you’re closing. It’s basically breaking
apart your community, that group of people that you have come
together to create something with and see each other every
single day.
MW: It also threatened your livelihood.
ELDER: Yes. Absolutely. The financial blow.
MW: After Passion, you’re going back to Broadway to take part in
the revival of another gay classic, Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song
Trilogy.
ELDER: Yes, I’m the standby for the character Ed. Ward Horton
is the actor who I’m standing by for, playing the boyfriend. And
Michael Urie’s playing the Harvey Fierstein role. I start rehears-
als right after this is finished. That’s a year contract.
MW: Do you like being an understudy?
ELDER: I don’t know, because I’ve never done it before. I mean,
I did it on Broadway in Sunday and the Park with George, but
it was a limited engagement and there were so many special
clauses around it — basically, if Jake Gyllenhaal hadn’t gone on,
it would have been the worst day of my life if I had to go on as
George.
MW: You didn’t get to do that?
ELDER: No. Imagine, it would have been the most exciting thing
for me, and everyone [else] would have hated it. It would have
been miserable, so thank God I didn’t go on. Also, I don’t know
that they would have done the show, honestly. They probably
would have just canceled the performance if he hadn’t done a
show. Torch Song is not that situation — I’m not covering a big
fancy star.
MW: What else do you have on the horizon?
ELDER: I have been writing some things. I’ve been working on
a children’s book with a mentor for about a year. And then Eric
and I started writing a TV pilot together. If you can make col-
laboration work with your spouse, it’s really fun. We’ve worked
together before — he’s directed me in shows before.
With our pilot, I’ll write a scene and then go and leave it in
front of him and walk away. A couple of days later, he’ll do the
same — kind of like cats leaving each other dead mice. We’ve
been quietly not talking about it, but this pilot is based loosely on
our lives, too. We just write a scene and walk away, so that we
don’t have to hear the other’s response. They just update it and
change it. It’s working out for now.
It’s been a while since I’ve done a sit-down of a show, so this
next year I’m looking forward to having time to just be a dad
and write. l
Passion runs to Sept. 23 in Signature Theatre’s Max Theatre, 4200
Campbell Ave., in Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or visit sigtheatre.
org.
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 35
 Gallery
The Costumes of Sweeney Todd
Illustrations by Sarah Cubbage
I
T’S INCREDIBLY REWARDING TO BE ABLE TO REIN-
terpret Sweeney Todd and to give it a bit of a fresh life,” says
Sarah Cubbage, costume designer for Rep Stage’s bold new
production of one of Stephen Sondheim’s most famous works.
Cubbage was especially delighted when director Joseph Ritsch
decided to set this Sweeney in modern times. “He decided our
cast of eight are London street artists. And as soon as you’re
talking about artists, you’re talking about humans who want
to express themselves visually,” says the 38-year-old designer,
who has worked on dozens of productions regionally, as well
as on Broadway. “Punk fashion, goth fashion, and subversive
street fashion was really my inspiration. I looked at a lot of
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 37
fashion designers who, like Vivienne Westwood and Alexander
McQueen, feel at once very British and also a little subversive,
which is really at the meat of Sweeney Todd.”
Pressed to pick a favorite character to design, Cubbage opts
for Mrs. Lovett, who she provided a “goth punk aesthetic.”
“Mrs. Lovett is fascinating,” says Cubbage who also created the
costumes for Rep Stage’s production of Dorian’s Closet. “She’s a
little down on her luck and then she gets some money. She’s into
fashion, she’s into decorating her pie shop, she’s into the presen-
tation of her work. We’ve got this idea to do purple dreadlocks
on Mrs. Lovett that are sort of piled up and messy and fun. Jade
Jones, our wonderful actress, was really into the idea.”
Most productions of Sweeney Todd incorporate a healthy
dollop of gore, as the “Demon Barber of Fleet Street” slices
the throats of his customers, creating the base ingredient for
Mrs. Lovett’s popular meat pies. But Cubbage says the bloodier
aspects of the show are being reconceived.
“There’s no physical blood,” she says. “We’re doing it in a
more theatrical way. We see so much blood and gore in film and
TV, that we’re almost desensitized to it. What’s wonderful about
theater is to be able to achieve the terror of someone getting
murdered with light and sound, to create the fear factor without
getting everyone all bloody. That was Joseph’s idea from the out-
set. I was excited by it because again, it’s a new way to achieve
our production of Sweeney Todd.” —Randy Shulman

Sweeney Todd opens September 6 and runs through September 23

in the Studio Theatre of the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts
Center on the campus of HCC, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway,
Columbia, Maryland. Tickets prices range from $10-$40 for general
admission. Visit repstage.org or call 443-518-1500.

38 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 Movies

outsiders in their predominantly white

Animal House
town, of an impulsive, abusive patriarch
whose emotions can turn on a dime.
As Jonah, newcomer Evan Rosado
delivers a commanding performance.
We the Animals tells a gay coming-of-age tale through the quiet, Much like Moonlight’s Alex Hibbert, he
dream-filled imagination of its young protagonist. By Rhuaridh Marr tells the majority of his character’s trans-
formation through expression, his pale

E
eyes wide and naive at the film’s start, sure
XISTING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN ETHEREAL FANTASY, BEAUTIFULLY and determined by its end. Any pretense
shot documentary, and home movie, We the Animals weaves a delicate tale that of an idyllic childhood is shattered, and
enchants far beyond what its wafer-thin narrative — and waifish protagonist — Jonah’s naivety slowly starts to fade, after
would suggest. Not in recent memory has a movie as slow-burning, as spare of content, Paps beats Ma and then storms out the
as light of foot made such an indelible impact. door, sending her spiralling into depres-
Based on Justin Torres’ eponymous and semi-autobiographical novel, We the sion and forcing the boys to fend for them-
Animals (HHHHH) is a coming-of-age tale about the youngest of three brothers realiz- selves until he returns.
ing both his outsider status in his own family and his own inherent queerness. Jeremiah The family’s struggles, their parents’
Zagar’s film, co-written with Dan Kitrosser, leans heavily on Zagar’s background in mood swings, and each bump in the road
short and documentary filmmaking, distilling Torres’ book — told like a series of mem- further corrodes the three boys’ innocence
ories, offering details on his upbringing from naive youngster to ostracized gay man — and youthfulness. But while his older
into the first stages of lead character Jonah’s sexual awakening. brothers Manny and Joel (Isaiah Kristian
In both content and character, We the Animals plays like an extended cut of the and Josiah Gabriel) start to emulate their
first act of Barry Jenkins’ masterful Moonlight. But where Chiron’s story was bleak father — rebelling, swearing, letting their
from the outset, Jonah’s begins in the dreamlike world that most nine-year-olds emotions get the better of them — Jonah
inhabit. In a cramped house in rural New York, Jonah lives with his two older broth- retreats into his imagination and the jour-
ers and their mother and father, the boys left by their working parents to roam like nal he frantically writes and draws in
feral animals in the countryside around their house. But as the boys run, scream, and at night while the others sleep. These
play, Zagar gradually teases out the reality behind the scenes, of a struggling working segments are told through crude, child-
class family, of a Puerto Rican father who got their white mother pregnant before like animation, and offer abstract insight
fleeing Brooklyn to try and forge a life upstate, of mixed-race boys who feel like into Jonah’s understanding of the world

AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 39

around him — his limited grasp of sex, his burgeoning sexuality,
his interpretations of the actions of his parents and brothers.
Jonah’s world truly changes when the boys, hungry and
attempting to steal from a nearby farmer, meet the farmer’s
grandson, who introduces them to porn — straight porn, lesbian
porn, even gay porn. In Jonah, both as he watches the men and
as he looks at the grandson, something starts to click. And with
it, the disconnect from his boisterous older brothers, from his
mother and father, and from his childhood, begins.
Zagar’s film does all of this with a deliberate paucity of dia-
logue. These are Jonah’s memories, glimpses of his upbringing,
and only the parts that he is witness to. When his father flips out
at his boss and loses his job, we don’t hear the argument, only
the muffled yelling as the boys watch from the truck. Even when
his father tries to teach him how to swim, we don’t see Jonah’s
full trauma until afterwards, in his imagination, when he relives
the sensation of drowning, of separation, of helplessness. We the
Animals is in no rush to tell what little story it has, and what’s
here fuels itself with emotion, with the actions of the boys, with
Jonah’s expressions and his animated scribbling. The pacing is
languid, but it also feels appropriate — after all, childhood seems
infinite to a ten-year-old.
None of this would work were it not for the chemistry in
the core family unit. The three young newcomers act like real
siblings, whether engaging in their youthful games, or in later
scenes as the older brothers start to bully and chastise Jonah.
As Paps and Ma, Raúl Castillo (Looking) and Sheila Vand (A Girl
Walks Home Alone at Night) inhabit largely stereotypical char-
We the Animals opens Friday, Aug. 31 at Landmark’s E Street Cinema and Bethesda Row Cinema. Visit landmarktheatres.com.
40 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
acters — he alternating between dominating, passionate, and
intensely caring, she between passive, forgiving, and nurturing
— but each delivers their role with aplomb. Castillo shines in the
softer moments between Paps and Jonah, and bristles with men-
ace when his rage boils over. Vand’s strongest scene comes after
an evening of abuse — desperate to flee, she grabs the boys, runs
to the truck, and starts driving. But as her confidence falters, she
begs the youths to tell her whether to keep going or turn back.
It’s heartbreaking to watch, and thrives on the strength of Vand’s
performance.
However, while Zagar and cinematographer Zak Mulligan
have crafted a softly captured and often beautiful piece of art,
it’s not perfect. We the Animals is occasionally too abstract, giv-
ing not quite enough to convey its intentions at certain points.
And while the story largely plays out at snail’s pace, the ending
seems rushed for a film that lasts only 90-minutes. Jonah’s true
awakening happens moments before the credits roll, and we’re
quickly shepherded into a hamfisted encounter with his family,
before lapsing back into soft, dreamy abstraction.
Still, that doesn’t detract from what Zagar has created.
Translating the memories of the origin text into a cohesive film
without adding an abundance of dialogue is no mean feat, and
We the Animals works in large part because of an expressive
cast that sells the quieter moments as much as it does the film’s
harder-hitting scenes. As a coming-of-age tale it trades on gentle
exposition and gradual awakening more than deliberate story-
telling and protracted narration. Jonah’s tale is far from unique,
but its quiet beauty makes it a worthy experience. l
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 41
42 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
NightLife Photography by
Ward Morrison

AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 43

Scene JR.’s - Monday, August 20 - Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

DrinksDragDJsEtc... SHAW’S TAVERN Friday, NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR SHAW’S TAVERN

Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3 Open 3pm • Beat the Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, August 31 Clock Happy Hour — $2 Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
Thursday, • Shirtless Thursday,
10-11pm • Men in
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas 9 1/2
(5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), $4
(7-8pm) • Buckets of Beer,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
August 30 Underwear Drink Free, and Select Appetizers Open at 5pm • Happy $15 • Weekend Kickoff and Select Appetizers
12-12:30am • DJs • All-You-Can-Eat Ribs, Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, Dance Party, with Nellie’s
9 1/2 BacK2bACk $24.95, 5-10pm • $4 5-9pm • Friday Night DJs spinning bubbly pop TRADE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Heineken and Corona Videos, 9:30pm • Rotating music all night Doors open 5pm • Huge
drink, 5-9pm • Multiple NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR all night DJs • Expanded craft beer Happy Hour: Any drink
TVs showing movies, Beat the Clock Happy Hour selection • No Cover NUMBER NINE normally served in a cock-
shows, sports • Expanded — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), TRADE Open 5pm • Happy Hour: tail glass served in a huge
craft beer selection • $4 (7-8pm) • $15 Buckets Doors open 5pm • Huge A LEAGUE OF HER OWN 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm glass for the same price,
Music videos featuring of Beer all night • Sports Happy Hour: Any drink 2319 18th St. NW • No Cover • Friday Night 5-10pm • Beer and wine
DJ Wess Leagues Night normally served in a cock- Doors open, 5pm-3am • Piano with Chris, 7:30pm only $4 • Otter Happy
tail glass served in a huge Happy Hour: $2 off every- Hour, 5-11pm
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN NUMBER NINE glass for the same price, thing until 9pm • Video PITCHERS
2319 18th St. NW Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any 5-10pm • Beer and wine Games • Live televised 2317 18th St. NW ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
Doors open, 5pm-2am • drink, 5-9pm • No Cover only $4 sports Doors open, 5pm-3am Men of Secrets, 9pm •
Happy Hour: $2 off every- • Happy Hour: $2 off Guest dancers • Rotating
thing until 9pm • Video PITCHERS ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR everything until 9pm • DJs • Kristina Kelly’s Diva
Games • Live televised 2317 18th St. NW All male, nude dancers • Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Video Games • Foosball Fev-ah Drag Show • Doors
sports Doors open, 5pm-2am Open Dancers Audition • Karaoke, 9pm • Live televised sports • at 9pm, Shows at 11:30pm
• Happy Hour: $2 off Urban House Music by DJ Full dining menu till 2am and 1:45am • DJ Don T. in
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR everything until 9pm • Tim-e • 9pm • Cover 21+ GREEN LANTERN • Special Late Night menu Ziegfeld’s • Cover 21+
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Video Games • Foosball Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $3 till 11pm • Visit pitchers-
Karaoke, 9pm • Live televised sports • Rail and Domestic • Free bardc.com
Full dining menu till 9pm Pizza, 7-9pm • $5 Svedka,
GREEN LANTERN • Special Late Night menu all flavors, all night long
Happy Hour, 4-9pm till 1am • Visit pitchers-
bardc.com

44 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY


Saturday, GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5
September 1 Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long • REWIND:
9 1/2 Request Line, an ‘80s
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any and ‘90s Dance Party,
drink, 2-9pm • $5 Absolut
9pm-close • Featuring
and $5 Bulleit Bourbon, DJ Darryl Strickland •
9pm-close • Expanded No Cover
craft beer selection •
No Cover NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
2319 18th St. NW
by Chanel Devereaux,
10:30am-12:30pm and
Doors open, 2pm-3am • 1-3pm • Tickets on sale
Video Games • Live tele- at nelliessportsbar.com
vised sports • House Rail Drinks, Zing
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Beer and Mimosas, $4,
Saturday Breakfast Buffet, 11am-3am • Buckets of
10am-3pm • $14.99 with
Beer, $15 • Guest DJs
one glass of champagne
or coffee, soda or juice •
NUMBER NINE
Additional champagne $2 Doors open 2pm • Happy
per glass • World Tavern Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
Poker Tournament, 1-3pm
2-9pm • $5 Absolut and $5
• Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Bulleit Bourbon, 9pm-close
Freddie’s Follies Drag
• Time Machine and
Show, hosted by Miss Power Hour, featuring DJ
Destiny B. Childs, 8-10pm Jack Rayburn, 9:30pm
• Karaoke, 10pm-close
PITCHERS
2317 18th St. NW
Doors open, 12pm-3am •
Video Games • Foosball
• Live televised sports •
Full dining menu till 9pm
• Special Late Night menu
till 2am • Visit pitchers-
bardc.com
SHAW’S TAVERN
Brunch with $15
Bottomless Mimosas,
10am-3pm • Happy Hour,
5-7pm • $3 Miller Lite,
$4 Blue Moon, $5 House
Wines, $5 Rail Drinks •
Half-Priced Pizzas and
Select Appetizers
TRADE
Doors open 2pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
2-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4
Playlist
M I X TA PE
Heavy Cross (Fred Falke Remix)
Gossip
Dancing On My Own
Robyn
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
Dance Party, 9pm • Guest
dancers • Music by DJ Invisible Light
Steve Henderson • Ladies Scissor Sisters
of Illusion Drag Show,
featuring Ella Fitzgerald
4th of July
• Doors at 9pm, Shows
at 11:30pm and 1:45am • Kelis
Cover 21+
Heaven Must Have Sent You
Bonnie Pointer
Sunday, Great DJ
September 2 The Ting Tings
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Clearest Blue
drink, 2-9pm • $5 Absolut CHVRCHES
and $5 Bulleit Bourbon,
9pm-close • Multiple TVs
showing movies, shows,
Lisztomania
sports • Expanded craft Alex Metric Remix
beer selection • No Cover Phoenix
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
Get Outta My Way
2319 18th St. NW
Doors open, 2pm-12am • Kylie Minogue
$4 Smirnoff and Domestic
Cans • Video Games • Work It
Live televised sports Missy Elliot
DJs Matt Bailer and Shea Van Horn
have been throwing their dance party
MIXTAPE for ten years. On Saturday,
Sept. 8, the duo is hosting their 10th
Anniversary & Finale party at U Street
Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. The tracks
in this week’s Playlist represent a few of
the favorite songs they’ve played over
the years. You can catch Matt spinning
at his monthly ’90s party Peach Pit at
DC9. Meanwhile, Shea is living in India,
but he’ll be here for their final MIXTAPE.
Attention DJs: Find out how to submit
a Metro Weekly Playlist. Email
playlist@metroweekly.com.
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 45
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
10am-3pm • $24.99 with
four glasses of champagne
or mimosas, 1 Bloody
Mary, or coffee, soda
or juice • Crazy Hour,
4-8pm • Zodiac Monthly
Contest, hosted by Ophelia
Bottoms, 8pm • Karaoke,
10pm-close
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm •
Karaoke with Kevin down-
stairs, 9:30pm-close
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted
by Chanel Devereaux,
10:30am-12:30pm and
1-3pm • Tickets on sale
at nelliessportsbar.com
• House Rail Drinks, Zing
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
Beer and Mimosas, $4,
11am-1am • Buckets of
Beer, $15 • Guest DJs
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on
any drink, 2-9pm • $5
Absolut and $5 Bulleit
Bourbon, 9pm-close • Pop
Goes the World with Wes
Della Volla at 9:30pm •
No Cover
PITCHERS
2317 18th St. NW
Doors open, 12pm-2am
• $4 Smirnoff, includes
flavored, $4 Coors Light or
$4 Miller Lites, 2-9pm •
Video Games • Foosball
• Live televised sports •
Full dining menu till 9pm •
Visit pitchersbardc.com
SHAW’S TAVERN
Brunch with Bottomless
Mimosas, 10am-3pm •
Happy Hour, 5-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers
• Dinner-n-Drag, with
46 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
Miss Kristina Kelly, 8pm
• For reservations, email
shawsdinnerdragshow@
gmail.com
TRADE
Doors open 2pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a
cocktail glass served
in a huge glass for the
same price, 2-10pm •
Beer and wine only $4 •
Church: A Church-themed
Dance Party featuring
house music and pop-up
performances, 9pm-close
• Music by WesstheDJ,
Jesse Jackson, and special
guest performers
Monday,
September 3
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
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Singles Night • Half-Priced
Pasta Dishes • Poker Night
— 7pm and 9pm games •
Karaoke, 9pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm •
$3 rail cocktails and
domestic beers all night
long • Singing with the
Sisters: Open Mic Karaoke
Night with the Sisters
of Perpetual Indulgence,
9:30pm-close
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of
Beer, $15 • Half-Priced
Burgers • Paint Nite, 7pm
• PokerFace Poker, 8pm •
Dart Boards • Ping Pong
Madness, featuring 2 Ping-
Pong Tables
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm • No Cover
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers •
Shaw ’Nuff Trivia, with
Jeremy, 7:30pm
TRADE
Doors open 5pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4
Tuesday,
September 4
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Taco
Tuesday • Poker Night —
7pm and 9pm games •
Karaoke, 9pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4pm-9pm
• $3 rail cocktails and
domestic beers all night
long
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of
Beer $15 • Drag Bingo
with Sasha Adams and
Brooklyn Heights, 7-9pm •
Karaoke, 9pm-close
PITCHERS
2317 18th St. NW
Open 5pm-12am • Happy
Hour: $2 off everything
until 9pm • Video Games
• Foosball • Live televised
sports • Full dining menu
till 9pm • Special Late
Night menu till 11pm •
Visit pitchersbardc.com
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers •
Half-Priced Burgers and
Pizzas all night with $5
House Wines and $5 Sam
Adams
Wednesday,
September 5
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
2319 18th St. NW
Doors open, 5pm-12am •
Happy Hour: $2 off every-
thing until 9pm • Video
Games • Live televised
sports
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • $6
Burgers • Beach Blanket
Drag Bingo Night, hosted
by Ms. Regina Jozet
Adams, 8pm • Bingo prizes
• Karaoke, 10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4pm-9pm •
Bear Yoga with Greg Leo,
6:30-7:30pm • $10 per
class • $3 rail cocktails
and domestic beers all
night long
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
SmartAss Trivia Night,
8-10pm • Prizes include
bar tabs and tickets to
shows at the 9:30 Club •
$15 Buckets of Beer for
SmartAss Teams only •
Absolutely Snatched Drag
Show, hosted by Brooklyn
Heights, 9pm • Tickets
available at nelliessports-
bar.com
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers •
Piano Bar and Karaoke
with Jill, 8pm
Thursday,
September 6
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
2319 18th St. NW
Doors open, 5pm-2am •
Happy Hour: $2 off every-
thing until 9pm • Video
Games • Live televised
sports
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
• Shirtless Thursday,
10-11pm • Men in
Underwear Drink Free,
12-12:30am • DJs
BacK2bACk
PITCHERS
2317 18th St. NW
Open 5pm-2am • Happy
Hour: $2 off everything
until 9pm • Video Games
• Foosball • Live televised
sports • Full dining menu
till 9pm • Special Late
Night menu till 11pm •
Visit pitchersbardc.com
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers •
Open Dancers Audition •
Urban House Music by DJ
Tim-e • 9pm • Cover 21+
Friday,
September 7
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $3
Rail and Domestic • Free
Pizza, 7-9pm • $5 Svedka,
all flavors all night long
• Davon Hamilton Events
presents Meat Locker:
Leather and Jockstraps,
Part 2, 10pm-close •
Featuring DJ Tryfe • GoGo
Dancers • Three Special
Guest Hosts • $10 Cover
all night
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Open 3pm • Beat the
Clock Happy Hour — $2
(5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), $4
(7-8pm) • Buckets of Beer,
$15 • Weekend Kickoff
Dance Party, with Nellie’s
DJs spinning bubbly pop
music all night
PITCHERS
2317 18th St. NW
Open 5pm-3am • Happy
Hour: $2 off everything
until 9pm • Video Games
• Foosball • Live televised
sports • Full dining menu
till 9pm • Special Late
Night menu till 2am • Visit
pitchersbardc.com
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm •
Guest dancers • Rotating
DJs • Kristina Kelly’s Diva
Fev-ah Drag Show • Doors
at 9pm, Shows at 11:30pm
and 1:45am • DJ Don T. in
Ziegfeld’s • Cover 21+
 WARD MORRISON / FILE PHOTO
NIGHTLIFE HIGHLIGHTS by Doug Rule
Saturday, Select Appetizers
MIXTAPE: 10TH ANNIVERSARY & FINALE
September 8 ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS DJs Matt Bailer and Shea Van Horn (pictured) have decided to stop
Men of Secrets, 9pm-4am
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN • Guest dancers • Ladies
mixing things up together after a full decade of doing just that with
2319 18th St. NW of Illusion Drag Show their monthly roaming party, which has repeatedly sold out the 9:30
Doors open, 2pm-3am • with host Ella Fitzgerald Club and the Howard Theatre, to name but two regular venues. Yet
Video Games • Live tele- • Doors at 9pm, Shows
vised sports at 11:30pm and 1:45am not without an encore, one last spin through their mix of indie-dance,
• DJ Don T. in Ziegfeld’s electro-pop, house, and disco throwbacks, all as a send-off and a cele-
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR • DJ Steve Henderson in
Saturday Breakfast Buffet, Secrets • Cover 21+
bration for making it to 10 years. Saturday, Sept. 8, starting at 10 p.m.
10am-3pm • $14.99 with U Street Music Hall, 1115A U St. NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-588-
one glass of champagne 1880 or visit ustreetmusichall.com.
or coffee, soda or juice •
Additional champagne $2
per glass • World Tavern Sunday, GREEN LANTERN: MEATLOCKER
Poker Tournament, 1-3pm September 9 Davon Hamilton Events presents “Leather & Jockstraps Part 2,” a
• Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Freddie’s Follies Drag A LEAGUE OF HER OWN party where, naturally, leather and jockstraps are encouraged attire. To
Show, hosted by Miss 2319 18th St. NW heighten the sexual vibe, the party features go-go dancers as well as
Destiny B. Childs, 8-10pm Doors open, 2pm-12am •
• Karaoke, 10pm-close $4 Smirnoff and Domestic
live demos from leather group the Men of Onyx. And resident DJ Tryfe
Cans • Video Games • will provide the evening’s sexy, sultry vibe, with guest hosts William,
GREEN LANTERN Live televised sports Cherry Coca-cola, and Egidio. Friday, Sept. 7, starting at 10 p.m. Green
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5
Bacardi, all flavors, all FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Lantern, 1335 Green Ct. NW. Cover is $10. Call 202-347-4533 or visit
night long Champagne Brunch Buffet, greenlanterndc.com.
10am-3pm • $24.99 with
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR four glasses of champagne
Drag Brunch, hosted or mimosas, 1 Bloody ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS: FREAKY FRIDAYS
by Chanel Devereaux, Mary, or coffee, soda or September sees the launch of a new monthly party from the veteran
10:30am-12:30pm and juice • Crazy Hour, 4-8pm
1-3pm • Tickets on sale • Karaoke, 9pm-close
Daryl Wilson Promotions at Southwest’s large LGBTQ nightclub and
at nelliessportsbar.com entertainment complex. After Kristina Kelly and her ladies of illusion
• House Rail Drinks, Zing GREEN LANTERN
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
perform their weekly “Diva Fev-ah” show on the Ziegfeld’s level,
Happy Hour, 4-9pm •
Beer and Mimosas, $4, Karaoke with Kevin down- Wilson will take over both floors of the complex for a party with 20 all-
11am-3am • Buckets of stairs, 9:30pm-close nude male dancers and partygoers dancing to either house beats from
Beer, $15 • Guest DJs
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
DJ Sedrick or hip-hop from DJ Tim Nice and DJ Unknown. Friday, Sept.
PITCHERS Drag Brunch, hosted 7. 1024 Half St. SW. Call 202-863-0607 or visit darylwilsondc.com.
2317 18th St. NW by Chanel Devereaux,
Open Noon-3am • Video 10:30am-12:30pm and
Games • Foosball • Live 1-3pm • Tickets on sale TEN TIGERS PARLOUR: THE COVEN DC
televised sports • Full at nelliessportsbar.com Every second Saturday of the month comes a queer women-centered
dining menu till 9pm • • House Rail Drinks, Zing
Special Late Night menu
“witchy dance party” in the Petworth restaurant/bar/intimate nightclub
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
till 2am • Visit pitchers- Beer and Mimosas, $4, venue owned by D.C.’s ubiquitous Hilton Brothers (Brixton, Marvin).
bardc.com 11am-1am • Buckets of Kate Ross’ The Coven is touted as “open to all genders, orientations,
Beer, $15 • Guest DJs
SHAW’S TAVERN ideologies, and badasses,” and an event where — no surprise given
Brunch with $15 PITCHERS the name — “dark couture is encouraged.” Saturday, Sept. 8, starting
Bottomless Mimosas, 2317 18th St. NW
10am-3pm • Happy Hour,
at 10 p.m. 3813 Georgia Ave. NW. Call 202-506-2080 or visit tentigers-
Open Noon-2am • $4
5-7pm • $3 Miller Lite, Smirnoff, includes flavored, dc.com. l
$4 Blue Moon, $5 House $4 Coors Light or $4 Miller
Wines, $5 Rail Drinks • Lites, 2-9pm • Video
Half-Priced Pizzas and Games • Foosball • Live
Do you have a party or Nightlife event you’d like us to consider
including in our weekly highlights? Email us the details at nightlife@
metroweekly.com.

AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 47

48 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
televised sports • Full din-
ing menu till 9pm • Visit
pitchersbardc.com
SHAW’S TAVERN
Brunch with Bottomless
Mimosas, 10am-3pm •
Happy Hour, 5-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers
• Dinner-n-Drag, with
Miss Kristina Kelly, 8pm
• For reservations, email
shawsdinnerdragshow@
gmail.com
Monday,
September 10
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Singles Night • Half-Priced
Pasta Dishes • Poker Night
— 7pm and 9pm games •
Karaoke, 9pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm •
$3 rail cocktails and
domestic beers all night
long • Singing with the
Sisters: Open Mic Karaoke
Night with the Sisters
of Perpetual Indulgence,
9:30pm-close
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of
Beer, $15 • Half-Priced
Burgers • Paint Nite, 7pm
• PokerFace Poker, 8pm •
Dart Boards • Ping Pong
Madness, featuring 2 Ping-
Pong Tables
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers •
Shaw ’Nuff Trivia, with
Jeremy, 7:30pm
Tuesday,
September 11
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
2319 18th St. NW
Doors open, 5pm-12am •
Happy Hour: $2 off every-
thing until 9pm • Video
Games • Live televised
sports
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Taco
Tuesday • Poker Night —
7pm and 9pm games •
Karaoke, 9pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4pm-9pm
• $3 rail cocktails and
domestic beers all night
long
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of
Beer $15 • Drag Bingo
with Sasha Adams and
Brooklyn Heights, 7-9pm •
Karaoke, 9pm-close
PITCHERS
2317 18th St. NW
Open 5pm-12am • Happy
Hour: $2 off everything
until 9pm • Video Games
• Foosball • Live televised
sports • Full dining menu
till 9pm • Special Late
Night menu till 11pm •
Visit pitchersbardc.com
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers •
Half-Priced Burgers and
Pizzas all night with $5
House Wines and $5 Sam
Adams
Wednesday
September 12
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
2319 18th St. NW
Doors open, 5pm-12am •
Happy Hour: $2 off every-
thing until 9pm • Video
Games • Live televised
sports
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • $6
Burgers • Beach Blanket
Drag Bingo Night, hosted
by Ms. Regina Jozet
Adams, 8pm • Bingo prizes
• Karaoke, 10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4pm-9pm •
Bear Yoga with Greg Leo,
6:30-7:30pm • $10 per
class • $3 rail cocktails
and domestic beers all
night long
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
SmartAss Trivia Night,
8-10pm • Prizes include
bar tabs and tickets to
shows at the 9:30 Club •
$15 Buckets of Beer for
SmartAss Teams only •
Absolutely Snatched Drag
Show, hosted by Brooklyn
Heights, 9pm • Tickets
available at nelliessports-
bar.com
PITCHERS
2317 18th St. NW
Doors open, 5pm-12am
• Happy Hour: $2 off
everything until 9pm •
Video Games • Foosball
• Live televised sports •
Full dining menu till 9pm
• Special Late Night menu
till 11pm • Visit pitchers-
bardc.com
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers •
Piano Bar and Karaoke
with Jill, 8pm
Thursday,
September 13
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
2319 18th St. NW
Doors open, 5pm-2am •
Happy Hour: $2 off every-
thing until 9pm • Video
Games • Live televised
sports
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Karaoke, 9pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
• Shirtless Thursday,
10-11pm • Men in
Underwear Drink Free,
12-12:30am • DJs
BacK2bACk
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) • $15 Buckets
of Beer all night • Sports
Leagues Night
AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
PITCHERS
2317 18th St. NW
Open 5pm-2am • Happy
Hour: $2 off everything
until 9pm • Video Games
• Foosball • Live televised
sports • Full dining menu
till 9pm • Special Late
Night menu till 11pm •
Visit pitchersbardc.com
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers • All
You Can Eat Ribs, 5-10pm,
$24.95 • $4 Corona and
Heineken all night
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers •
Open Dancers Audition •
Urban House Music by DJ
Tim-e • 9pm • Cover 21+
Friday,
September 14
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
2319 18th St. NW
Doors open, 5pm-3am •
Happy Hour: $2 off every-
thing until 9pm • Video
Games • Live televised
sports
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Karaoke, 9pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $3
Rail and Domestic • Free
Pizza, 7-9pm • $5 Svedka,
all flavors all night long
• HybridNine: Stripped, a
Harness and Jock Party,
10pm-close • Featuring
DJ Ryan Doubleyou •
No Cover
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Open 3pm • Beat the
Clock Happy Hour — $2
(5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), $4
(7-8pm) • Buckets of Beer,
$15 • Weekend Kickoff
Dance Party, with Nellie’s
DJs spinning bubbly pop
music all night
PITCHERS
2317 18th St. NW
Open 5pm-3am • Happy
Hour: $2 off everything
until 9pm • Video Games
• Foosball • Live televised
sports • Full dining menu
till 9pm • Special Late
Night menu till 2am • Visit
pitchersbardc.com
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm •
Guest dancers • Rotating
DJs • Kristina Kelly’s Diva
Fev-ah Drag Show • Doors
at 9pm, Shows at 11:30pm
and 1:45am • DJ Don T. in
Ziegfeld’s • Cover 21+ l
49
Scene Green Lantern - Friday, August 24 - Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

50 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

Scene A League of Her Own - Saturday, August 18 - Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

52 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

Scene Pitchers - Saturday, August 18 - Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 53

 LastWord.
People say the queerest things

“Don’t be a fucking bully. Don’t raise your kids to be bullies.

This shit is heartbreaking and preventable.”
— ELLEN PAGE, responding in a Tweet to the news that Jamel Myles, a nine-year-old boy in Denver, killed himself four days after
coming out as gay and subsequently being severely bullied at his school. LGBTQ organizations, activists, and celebrities took to
Twitter to offer condolences and demand action against homophobia.

“I think
it’s pretty irresponsible for Facebook to allow
an advert that preys on gay men
with mental health issues in such a negative way on their homepage.
”
— ALYSTAIR RYDER, a gay Facebook user, speaking to Britain’s The Telegraph about his experience with adverts on the social net-
work site that advocated for gay cure therapy — known as conversion therapy. Facebook said its “micro-targeting algorithm”
allowed adverts promoting “sexual purity” to be specifically targeted towards young LGBTQ users. The social media giant has
since removed the adverts.

“I want to make music for queer people.

I want to make music for people like me.”
— TROYE SIVAN, speaking to Entertainment Weekly about his new album Bloom, which releases Aug. 31. Sivan said the album
would be both gayer and sexier than his previous efforts, and that he wanted to “make something real about what’s actually going
on in my life,” rather than keep things “mild and palatable.”

“We are sliding backward. It is evident the systems that identify, treat, and ultimately prevent STDs are

strained to near-breaking point.”

— DR JONATHAN MERMIN, director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, in a state-
ment announcing “steep, sustained increases” in the number of new infections of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in the U.S.
between 2013 and 2017. Of the 2.3 million reported cases of STDs in 2017, 1.7 million were chlamydia. Meanwhile, diagnosis rates
of gonorrhea have almost doubled among men, while gay and bisexual men accounted for
70 percent of primary and secondary syphilis diagnoses.

“LGB veterans were more likely

to experience sexual assault
while serving in the military.
”
— DR. CARRIE LUCAS, lead author of a study, published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, which found that U.S. troops who identify
as LGB are more likely to experience sexual assault compared with straight servicemembers. Almost one-third of LGB troops sur-
veyed experienced some form of sexual assault while on active duty, compared with just over 16% of non-LGB personnel. Among
female veterans, over 57% of lesbian and bisexual servicemembers reported experiencing sexual assault, compared with just over
37% of straight female servicemembers.

54 AUG. 30 & Sept. 6, 2018 • METROWEEKLY