Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Oct. 7
Concerts, exhibits, meetings and more through next week
‘Clouded Leopard Labyrinth No. 2’ is part of an installation by Leslie A. Johnston that will be on display at Touchstone Gallery. (Image courtesy Touchstone)
TODAY (Friday)
SAGE Committee is meeting at Metropolitan Community Church today from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The Lemonheads will be performing “It’s a Shame About Ray” at the Black Cat with the Shining Twins and the New York Rivals tonight. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online atblackcatdc.com. Doors open at 9 p.m.
Busboys & Poets presents “First Fridays,” a monthly series that includes artist talks, studio visits and more, tonight at 6 p.m. in the Zinn Room at its Hyattsville location (5331 Baltimore Ave., Suite 104).
Cameron Mackintosh presents a new 25th anniversary production of “Les Miserables” at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $39 to $155 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) is hosting an opening reception tonight from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for its newest exhibits “Recent Paintings: Scapes,” featuring expressionistic paintings by Steve Alderton and “Clouded Leopard Labyrinth” which is a mixed media installation by Leslie Johnston.
Saturday, Oct. 8
Zoom Urban Lesbian Excursions is organizing a trip to theMaryland Renaissance Festival (1821 Crownsville Rd.) in Annapolis today at 1 p.m. The group will be meeting near the ticketing area with a sign and purple balloons. Tickets are $19 and can be bought at the venue.
The Delmarvalous Squares are having an all-day event today to promote square dancing in the Rehoboth Beach area. The group will have afternoon workshops from 2 to 4 p.m. and then an evening open house from 7 to 9 p.m. at Camp Rehoboth (37 Baltimore Ave.).
DJ Joey O, formerly of Apex, will be spinning at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) for the first time ever tonight. Doors open at 10 p.m. with an $8 cover until 11 and $12 afterward. Attendees must be 21 or older.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) is hosting a fundraiser for Mr. D.C. Leather 2011 Ron Moser tonight from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. There will be drink specials and two raffles. Proceeds will benefit the Leather Archives and Museum.
Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents Hellmouth Happy Hourwhere every week an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” will be screened and drink specials will be offered. This week the episode is “Go Fish.”
Premiere Entertainment, a gay-owned entertainment and promotion team, presents “The Rave Part VI with Nina Sky” tonight from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. at the Warehouse Loft (411 New York Ave., N.E.). General admission is $20, VIP access is $30 and all access VIP is $35. Attendees under 21 must send name to[email protected] to get on guest list.
Sunday, Oct. 9
Charger Stone presents “Sweet Tea: A Dance for Everyone” today from 1 to 5 p.m. at Remington’s (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.).
Busboys & Poets is showing “I Shot Andy Warhol” tonight at 3 p.m. in the Langston Room at its 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.) as its October Focus-In! Film of the Month. This is a free screening.
A new gay-welcoming Catholic church, St. Hedwig’s Old Catholic Church, has Mass today at 9 a.m. The church meets each Sunday morning at Palisades Community Church (5200 Cathedral Ave., N.W.) in Washington. The church, not affiliated with the Vatican, describes itself as one with “progressive Catholic values” that welcomes those “disaffected by mainstream traditions” and what some consider “politically distorted teachings of Christ” in other faith traditions. Bishop Michael Seneco, who’s gay, is the pastor. Visitsainthedwigs.org for more information. All are welcome.
The Indigo Girls play the Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane) in North Bethesda tonight at 7 p.m. with opening band, the Shadowboxers. Tickets range from $45 to $55 and can be purchased online at strathmore.org.
Monday, Oct. 10
Commissioner Darrell Gaston will be at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) tonight for the Team Gaston 2012 LGBT Fundraiser at 6 p.m. hosted by Marc Morgan, Earnest Walker from Us Helping Us and Brian Watson from the Wanda Alston House. Tickets are $35 and attendees can RSVP at secure.actblue.com/page/lgbt4gaston.
WEAVE, a support group for LGBT survivors of intimate partner violence/abuse will be meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Lighthouse Center for Healing (5321 First Place, N.E.). For more information and to register, call 202-280-6391.
Tuesday, Oct. 11
The electronic music group Ladytron will be performing at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at 930.com. Doors open at 7 p.m.
DCBiWomen will have its monthly dinner at Dupont Italian Kitchen (1637 17th St., N.W.) tonight from 7 to 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit dcbiwomen.org.
Wednesday, Oct. 12
Uh Huh Her is returning to the 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight with its Keep a Breast Tour for an early show. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at 930.com. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) is hosting an AIDS Walk free burger night starting at 5 p.m. Attendees who sign up to walk with Team Nellie or make a donation of $35 or more will receive a free burger.
Rainbow Response is holding its monthly meeting tonight at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 8 p.m.
The Lambda Bridge Club is meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) across from Marine Barracks, for duplicate bridge. No reservations are needed and newcomers are welcome. If a partner is needed, visit lambdabridge.com.
The Big Gay Book Group will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at 1155 F Street, N.W., Suite 200. The book discussed will be “Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade” by Justin Speing. For more information, visit biggaybookgroup.com or e-mail [email protected].
Thursday, Oct. 13
National Symphony Orchestra Pops presents “Some Enchanted Evening: The Music of Rodgers and Hammerstein” tonight at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) at 7 p.m. Conducted by Steven Reineke, Aaron Lazar, Rebecca Luker and Rod Gilfry will sing hits like “Surrey with the Fringe on Top,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” and more. Tickets range from $20 to $85 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) and Tongue in You Ear present the Brother Tongue Poetry Workshop series. Tonight is the final workshop led by Regie Cabico, a three time National Poetry Slam finalist who has appeared on two season of HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam.” All sessions will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 for all four sessions. For more information and to register, visitthedccenter.org.
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will be performing the music of Elton John at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane) in North Bethesda tonight at 8 p.m.
Team DC, the umbrella organization for LGBTQ-friendly sports teams and leagues in the D.C. area, held its annual Night of Champions Awards Gala on Saturday, April 20 at the Hilton National Mall. The organization gave out scholarships to area LGBTQ student athletes as well as awards to the Different Drummers, Kelly Laczko of Duplex Diner, Stacy Smith of the Edmund Burke School, Bryan Frank of Triout, JC Adams of DCG Basketball and the DC Gay Flag Football League.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The 2024 National Cannabis Festival was held at the Fields at RFK Stadium on April 19-20.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Covering the @NatlCannaFest at RFK Stadium for @WashBlade . Stop by the LGBTQ+ booth and pick up a paper if you are here. pic.twitter.com/is7hnsaPns
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) April 20, 2024
Theater
‘Amm(i)gone’ explores family, queerness, and faith
A ‘fully autobiographical’ work from out artist Adil Mansoor
‘Amm(i)gone’
Thorough May 12
Woolly Mammoth Theatre
641 D St., N.W.
$60-$70
Woollymammoth.net
“Fully and utterly autobiographical.” That’s how Adil Mansoor describes “Amm(i)gone,” his one-man work currently playing at Woolly Mammoth Theatre.
Both created and performed by out artist Mansoor, it’s his story about inviting his Pakistani mother to translate Sophocles’s Greek tragedy “Antigone” into Urdu. Throughout the journey, there’s an exploration of family, queerness, and faith,as well as references to teachings from the Quran, and audio conversations with his Muslim mother.
Mansoor, 38, grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and is now based in Pittsburgh where he’s a busy theater maker. He’s also the founding member of Pittsburgh’s Hatch Arts Collective and the former artistic director of Dreams of Hope, an LGBTQ youth arts organization.
WASHINGTON BLADE: What spurred you to create “Amm(i)gone”?
ADIL MANSOOR: I was reading a translation of “Antigone” a few years back and found myself emotionally overwhelmed. A Theban princess buries her brother knowing it will cost her, her own life. It’s about a person for whom all aspirations are in the afterlife. And what does that do to the living when all of your hopes and dreams have to be reserved for the afterlife?
I found grant funding to pay my mom to do the translation. I wanted to engage in learning. I wanted to share theater but especially this ancient tragedy. My mother appreciated the characters were struggling between loving one another and their beliefs.
BLADE: Are you more director than actor?
MANSOOR: I’m primarily a director with an MFA in directing from Carnegie Mellon. I wrote, directed, and performed in this show, and had been working on it for four years. I’ve done different versions including Zoom. Woolly’s is a new production with the same team who’ve been involved since the beginning.
I love solo performance. I’ve produced and now teach solo performance and believe in its power. And I definitely lean toward “performance” and I haven’t “acted” since I was in college. I feel good on stage. I was a tour guide and do a lot of public speaking. I enjoy the attention.
BLADE: Describe your mom.
MANSOOR: My mom is a wonderfully devout Muslim, single mother, social worker who discovered my queerness on Google. And she prays for me.
She and I are similar, the way we look at things, the way we laugh. But different too. And those are among the questions I ask in this show. Our relationship is both beautiful and complicated.
BLADE: So, you weren’t exactly hiding your sexuality?
MANSOOR: In my mid-20s, I took time to talk with friends about our being queer with relation to our careers. My sexuality is essential to the work. As the artistic director at Dreams of Hope, part of the work was to model what it means to be public. If I’m in a room with queer and trans teenagers, part of what I’m doing is modeling queer adulthood. The way they see me in the world is part of what I’m putting out there. And I want that to be expansive and full.
So much of my work involves fundraising and being a face in schools. Being out is about making safe space for queer young folks.
BLADE: Have you encountered much Islamophobia?
MANSOOR: When 9/11 happened, I was a sophomore in high school, so yes. I faced a lot then and now. I’ve been egged on the street in the last four months. I see it in the classroom. It shows up in all sorts of ways.
BLADE: What prompted you to lead your creative life in Pittsburgh?
MANSOOR: I’ve been here for 14 years. I breathe with ease in Pittsburgh. The hills and the valleys and the rust of the city do something to me. It’s beautiful, it’ affordable, and there is support for local artists. There’s a lot of opportunity.
Still, the plan was to move to New York in September of 2020 but that was cancelled. Then the pandemic showed me that I could live in Pittsburgh and still have a nationally viable career.
BLADE: What are you trying to achieve with “Amm(i)gone”?
MANSOOR: What I’m sharing in the show is so very specific but I hear people from other backgrounds say I totally see my mom in that. My partner is Catholic and we share so much in relation to this.
I hope the work is embracing the fullness of queerness and how means so many things. And I hope the show makes audiences want to call their parents or squeeze their partners.
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