Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: June 8
Parties, exhibits, concerts and more through June 14
Sharon Needles (Photo by Austin Young)
TODAY
Special Agent Galactica performs tonight at Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave. NW) from 6-9 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com or pinkhairedone.com.
Sharon Needles, winner of this season’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and fellow “Drag Race” contestants Phi Phi O’Hara and Dida Ritz perform this evening at Town (2009 8th St. NW). Doors open at 9 p.m. and the drag show begins at 10:30. Tickets are $20 for all guests 18 and over. For more details, visit towndc.com.
Women in Their 20s, a social discussion group for all lesbian, transgender and bisexual women, meets tonight from 8-9 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St. NW). Dinner at a nearby restaurant follows the discussion. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
DJ Drew G and DJ Keenan spin tonight at Cobalt (1636 R St. NW). Vodka cocktails are served free of charge from 11 p.m.-midnight. For more details, visit cobaltdc.com.
The Queen Extravaganza, the official Queen tribute band, plays tonight at the 9:30 Club at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit 930.com.
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Saturday June 9
The D.C. Center for the LGBT Community (1318 U St. NW) provides free HIV testing from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. today. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Phase 1 (525 8th St. SE) hosts Apocalypto: Post Pride Parade Dance Party this evening. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $5. For more details, visit phase1dc.com.
Town (2009 8th St. NW) has the largest party of Pride weekend tonight, D.C.’s Pride Party. Doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets are $20. Admission is limited to guests 21-and-older with valid government-issued ID. Tickets can be purchased in advance on GrooveTickets.com, and more details on the event are on towndc.com.
The Lambda Sci-Fi group hosts a gaming party today for LGBT science fiction, fantasy and horror fans at 1425 S St. NW at 3 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a snack and non-alcoholic drink to share, and their favorite board, card, RPG or other game to play. The group will take a break to watch the Pride parade and get dinner. For more information, visit lambdascifi.org or call 202-483-6369.
Adventuring, a D.C.-area LGBT outdoor group, hikes on Maryland Heights today overlooking Harpers Ferry, W.V. The group meets at 9 a.m. at the Grosvenor-Strathmore metro station. Please bring your own beverages, lunch, sturdy boots and bug spray. Transportation, admission and trip fees are $15. For more details, visit meetup.com/Adventuring-Gay-Lesbian-Hiking-Biking.
The Black Cat (1811 14 St. NW) hosts Hellmouth Happy Hour tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. One episode of the gay cult classic series “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” screens and a drink special is served. Tickets are free. For more information, visit blackcatdc.com.
The Black Cat (1811 14 St. NW) hosts Gay/Bash! tonight at 10 p.m. DJs Joshua and Dean spin rock and pop hits all night. The event is open to people of all ages and admission is $5. For more details, visit blackcatdc.com.
Sunday June 10
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today from 9 a.m.-noon for the D.C. Central Kitchen (425 2 St. NW). The activity is limited to 15 group members. Volunteers will help cook, but no prior experience is required. For more details, visit burgundycrescent.org.
“Pariah,” a film about a teenage black woman’s lesbian identity and her rocky familial relationships, screens tonight at Busboys and Poets (2021 14 St. NW) from 8-10 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Phase 1 (525 8 St. SE) hosts the D.C. Kings Show tonight with performances by local drag kings. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 and limited to 21-and-older guests. For details, visit phase1dc.com.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, helps out today at the Capital Pride festivities. If interested in participating, visit burgundycrescent.org.
Monday June 11
The Whitman-Walker Clinic (1701 14 St. NW) hosts an HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. Registration is required to attend the meeting, so call 202-939-7671 if interested. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Nellie’s (900 U St. NW) has its weekly Poker Face night starting at 8 p.m. this evening. Texas Hold ‘Em is the featured poker game for guests. For details, visit nelliessportsbar.com.
Tuesday June 12
DC Bi Women has its monthly group gathering tonight at the Dupont Italian Kitchen (1637 17 St. NW) from 7-9 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The D.C. Kings, a local drag king troupe whose performances are not limited to just male impersonation, have a meeting tonight at Café Collage (1346 T St. NW) for current members and those interested in joining the group. The meeting for new kings begins at 7 p.m., and the general meeting begins at 7:45. Those interested should visit dckings.com for more information.
Adventuring, a D.C.-area LGBT outdoor group, has its Arlington Evening Bike Ride tonight. The group meets at the Clarendon Metro at 6:25 p.m. and the bike ride begins promptly at 6:30. Bring a helmet, water and $2 for the club. For more details, visit adventuring.org.
Wednesday June 13
Center Women, a group within the D.C. Center, gathers tonight at Mova (2204 14 St. NW) for the iCandy Happy Hour from 6-8 p.m. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
Rainbow Response, a group that addresses domestic partner violence among LGBTQ people in the D.C. area, meets tonight at 6 p.m. at the D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence (5 Thomas Circle NW). For more information, visit thedccenter.org or rainbowresponse.org.
The Lambda Bridge Club meets at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Dignity Center (721 8 St. SE) for duplicate bridge. No reservations are needed to participate and newcomers are welcome. For more details and if you need to find a partner, visit lambdabrige.com.
Thursday June 14
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington hosts an open mic night this evening from 8-11 p.m. at Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave. NW). Admission is free and those who sing get a free drink. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, helps Food and Friends (219 Riggs Rd. NE) with food preparation and grocery packing tonight from 6-8 p.m. The volunteer group size is limited to 10 per shift and will fill quickly. If interested, email [email protected] and visit burgundycrescent.org or foodandfriends.org for more information.
Cobalt (1639 R St. NW) hosts its weekly “best package contest” tonight with hosts Lena Lett and Ba’Naka. Participants in this exhibitionistic contest can win up to $200 in prizes. Tickets are $3, and 21-and-older attendees can buy $2 vodka drinks from 9-11 p.m. For more details, visit cobaltdc.com.
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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