Arts news in brief

Queer poetry workshops

Three sessions of “Brother Tongue,” a spoken word and poetry workshop for “queer men” led by noted poet and spoken word artist Regie Cabico begins Saturday at the D.C. Center at 1318 U St., N.W.

The workshops continue the next two Saturdays Dec. 11 and Dec. 18 and meet each time from 1 to 4 p.m. To register, contact brothertongue@thedccenter.org. Participants are also encouraged to bring their work on Jan. 7 to the DC Center Open Mic Night, for which signups begin that evening at 7:30 p.m. and performances start at 8 p.m.

Grimm meets ‘Glee’ at Kennedy Center

Matt Gardiner, the Helen Hayes Award-winning gay resident director at Signature Theater in Arlington, directs and choreographs “Snow White, Rose Red and Fred,” a new musical for young audiences running through Dec. 19 at the Kennedy Center Family Theater.

The Kennedy Center-commissioned show is the work of composer Zina Goldrich, with book and lyrics by Marcy Heisler; they’ve been a writing team for 17 years. It re-imagines the Brothers Grimm fairy tale as the story of two contemporary ill-behaved teens — Melinda and Melissa, popular cheerleader BFFs — who use warp-speed texting and Tweeting and song to navigate the challenge of their rivalry over who will invite them to the high school prom. An hour-long, for ages 9 and above, it runs daytimes Saturday and Sunday through Dec 19. For tickets at $18 and times, go here.

Drag queens, feminists at Jewish film fest

Among the 53 films at this year’s Washington Jewish Film Festival running Dec. 2-12 are several with LGBT and feminist interest. See them at the DC Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St., N.W.

“Mary Lou” (2010), 9:15 p.m., Saturday: A drag queen searches for love and self in this Israeli TV mini-series totaling 150 minutes. An Israeli Emmy Award winner for 2010 by filmmaker Eytan Fox, it brings to life a modern fable with a catchy musical message.

“Mary Lou” is co-sponsored by the DC JCC program for Gay and Lesbian Outreach and Engagement (GLOE).

“Grace Paley: Short Stories” (2010), 11a.m., Sunday: A 74-minute documentary by director Lilly Rivlin, presented in cooperation with Lilith Magazine, the film contains interviews with the noted feminist author of short stories and poems exploring racial, gender and class issues, and interviews with her friends, and footage of her political activities. Paley, who died in 2007 at age 84, was a “combative pacifist” whose lifetime of struggle against social and political injustice often landed her in jail.

Director Lilly Rivlin will speak after the film. Tickets are $11 ($10 for seniors and students) here.

‘Candide’ cast member performs ‘F You’

Young Joey Stone plays several roles, including Senor and the “bad sailor” in the Leonard Bernstein musical “Candide,” now at the Shakespeare Theatre Company through Jan. 9. And he is also its dance captain. Stone has been out since high school.

He recently joined with Lauren Molina, who stars in the show as Cunegunde, to produce a music video cover of “Fuck You,” the 2010 hit pop song by hip-hop singer Cee-Lo Green, sometimes edited for radio as “F.U.” or “Forget You” and performed that way on “Glee.” Their unvarnished version — with Lauren on cello and performed with Dominic Johnson from the Chicago cast of “Candide” on violin — has become a hit on You Tube.