Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: Oct. 12

Parties, exhibits, concerts and more through Oct. 18

Published

12 years ago

October 11, 2012

A firefly metal that is part of the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival this weekend in Gaithersburg. (Photo courtesy Sugarloaf)

TODAY (Friday)

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts Bear Happy Hour tonight from 6-11 p.m. This event is for people 21 and older. There is no cover charge. For details, visit towndc.com.

Landmark’s E Street Cinema (555 11th St., NW) presents “How to Survive a Plague” tonight at 7. Attendees can get free vouchers at brownpapertickets.com. When free vouchers run out or for more information, visit landmarktheatres.com.

Women in their Twenties meets tonight at 8 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., NW). The group is for lesbian, bisexual, transgender and other interested women in Washington. For details, visit thedccenter.org.

The Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8^th St., S.E.) is having its happy hour tonight starting at 5 p.m. All drinks are half off until 7:30 p.m. After 9 p.m., admission is $10. The dance floor opens at 11 p.m. with DJ Tim-Nice and DJ Cameron. For details, visit thebachelorsmill.com.

Special Agent Galactica plays at Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) tonight from 6-9. Her guests tonight are performers from the Hope Operas, which is running on Mondays this month in Arlington (see below). Admission is free. For more information, visit pinkhairedone.com.

Phase 1 (528 8^th St. SE) has its weekly dance party with DJ Jay Von Teese tonight starting at 7:30. Cover is $10. For more information, visit phase1dc.com.

The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival begins today and runs through Sunday at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds (16 Chestnut Street, Gaithersburg). Today and Saturday, the fair is open from 10 a.m.-6 pm. On Sunday, the fair runs until 5 p.m. The festival includes fashion, fine art, jewelry, glass and pottery. For details, visit sugarloafcrafts.com.

The Spooky Movie International Horror Film Festival continues tonight at 9:20 pm at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center (8633 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring). Tickets start at $11 and a festival pass can be purchased for $125-$150. For more information, visit thespookymovie.com.

Saturday, Oct. 13

The Team D.C. 2012 Champions Awards Reception takes place at the HRC Equality Forum Hall (1127 Connecticut Ave., NW) tonight from 6-8 pm. The annual event celebrates local leaders and supporters of LGBT sports. Awards included are the MVP Award, the Trailblazer Award and the Community Support Award. For more information, visit teamdc.org.

Whitman-Walker offers HIV Testing at D.C. Center (1318 U St. NW) today from 4-7:30 pm. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

Town (2009 8^th St., N.W) hosts Djs Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer as they bring their party “Mixtape” tonight at 10. The cover is $8 before 11 pm and $12 after. For details, visit towndc.com.

Sunday, Oct. 14

Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers this morning for D.C. Central Kitchen (425 2^nd St. NW) at 9 a.m. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.

Founder and owner of Busboys and Poets, Andy Shallal, holds a discussion about how to affect social change through entrepreneurship today from 10:25-11:15 a.m. at River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation (6301 River Road, Bethesda). This event is free and open to everyone. For details, visit rruuc.org.

“Being Home,” an art exhibit by Patricia Tice, is being shown at River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation (6301 River Road) today from 3-5 p.m. This event is free and open to everybody. For more information, visit rruuc.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) holds its weekly Martini Sundays and Homowood Karaoke tonight. Karaoke starts at 10 p.m. and there is no charge for admission. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.

Lambda Sci-fi hosts its monthly meeting for science fiction, fantasy and horror fans today at 1425 S St. NW. The meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. and the social begins at 2. Attendees should bring a snack or a non-alcoholic beverage. For more information, visit lambdascifi.org.

Monday, Oct. 15

The Hope Operas continue tonight at 8 p.m. at the Comedy Spot on the third floor of the Ballston Mall (4238 Wilson Blvd. Arlington) as a series of original musicals and cliffhangers that run each Monday night this month. Founder Chris Griffin is gay as are several of the performers. Audience members get to vote for their favorite serial and money raised from the performances will go to a local charity. Performances are by local theater professionals. Tickets are $13 per show or $50 for the month. Find the group on Facebook for details.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts its Martini Monday tonight at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge and martinis are $5. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14^th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It is a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Tuesday, Oct. 16

Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) hosts its Safer Sex Kit-packing program tonight from 7-10:30. The packing program is looking for more volunteers to help produce the kits because they say they are barely keeping up with demand. Admission is free and volunteers can just show up. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W) hosts its Flashback dance night with DJ Jason Royce starting at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge. For more details, visit cobaltdc.com.

Wednesday, Oct. 17

The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 at the Dignity Center (721 8^th St., SE). A partner is not needed. For more information, visit lambdabridge.com.

“Dirt,” by Bryony Lavery, opens tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Studio Theatre (1501 14^th, St. NW). The play chronicles people’s relationships and how they can make a mess of them. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit studiotheatre.org.

Thursday, Oct. 18

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14^th St., NW) holds its gay men over 50 support group this evening at 6:30 pm. The group is for gay men entering a new phase of life. Registration is required to attend. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W) hosts its weekly Best Package Contest tonight at 9 p.m. There is a $3 cover and there are $2 vodka drinks. Participants in the contest can win $200 in cash prizes. The event is hosted by Lena Lett and music by DJ Chord, DJ Madscience, and DJ Sean Morris. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.

Whitman-Walker Health provides HIV Testing this evening at Miriam’s Kitchen (2120 West Virginia Ave., NE) beginning at 4 p.m. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Photos

PHOTOS: Night of Champions

Team DC holds annual awards gala

Published

2 days ago

April 21, 2024

Michael Key

Team DC President Miguel Ayala speaks at the 2024 Night of Champions Awards on Saturday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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)

Photos

PHOTOS: National Cannabis Festival

Annual event draws thousands to RFK

Published

2 days ago

April 21, 2024

Michael Key

Growers show their strains at The National Cannabis Festival on Saturday. (Washington Blade photo 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

Published

3 days ago

April 20, 2024

Patrick Folliard

Adil Mansoor in ‘Amm(i)gone’ at Woolly Mammoth Theatre. (Photo by Kitoko Chargois)

‘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.