Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Oct. 11-17
Parties, concerts, exhibits and more for the coming week
New York City based ‘Vegan Drag Queen’ Honey LaBronx hosts Acorn-A-Go-Go’s Vegan Fall Festival Saturday. (Photo courtesy Honey LaBronx)
Friday, Oct. 11
The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival kicks off its 39th year at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds (16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg, Md.,) today from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Festival continues through Sunday. Meet the jury selected artists and purchase their artwork including pottery, sculpture, home accessories, jewelry, fashion, furniture, photography and more. Sample gourmet food, listen to live music and participate in interactive children entertainment. Tickets are $8 online for adults and $10 at the door. Children under 12 are free. Free parking. For more information, visit sugarloafcrafts.com.
“Love Heals Homophobia” screens at St. Marks Episcopal Church (301 A St., S.E.) tonight from 7-8 p.m. The film was made in response to the appeals made by countries where it is illegal to be LGBT. For more details, visit thedccenter.org.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts Bear Happy Hour tonight from 6-11 p.m. There is no cover charge and admission is limited to guests 21 and over. For more information, visit towndc.com.
SMYAL (410 7th St., S.E.) hosts “National Coming Out Day Celebration” today from 5-7 p.m. Decorate cupcakes, listen to music and more. For details, visit smyal.org.
Saturday, Oct. 12
Washington National Opera (WNO) honors Giuseppe Verdi’s 200th birthday with a performance of “The Force of Destiny,” the tale of three lives on a path to ruin, beginning tonight at 7 p.m. and running through Oct. 26 at The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.). Tickets range from $25-$300. For more details, visit kennedy-center.org.
The D.C. Center (1316 U St., N.W.) hosts free and confidential HIV testing from 4-7 p.m. today. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts adult entertainment stars Levi Karter, Jake Bass and Max Ryder tonight. Doors open at 10 p.m. Cover is $8 from 10-11 p.m. and $12 after 11 p.m. $3 drinks before 11 p.m. Drag show starts at 10:30 p.m. Admission limited to guests 21 and over. For more information, visit towndc.com.
Acorns A Go-Go hosts its vegan fall festival today at the Roosevelt Center (131 Centerway, Greenbelt, Md.,) today from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Enjoy vegan food vendors, exhibitors and live music. Watch demonstrations including how to use acorns in vegan bread and cookies. Kids can participate in a hula hoop competition and activities at the Animal Rights Youth Booth. The mistress of ceremonies is “Vegan Drag Queen” Honey LaBronx. For more details, visit facebook.com/acornsagogo.
A free screening of the documentary “For the Bible Tells Me So” is today at 11 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant Library (3160 16th Street, N.W.) hosted by Queers For Christ and Revive DMV: A Gathering of Queer Christian Women.
Sunday, Oct. 13
Club Bunns (606 W. Lexington St., Baltimore) hosts “Baltimore Black Pride Block Party” today from 4-9 p.m. Cover TBA. For more details, visit facebook.com/n.g.a.clubbunns.
Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va.,) celebrates its third anniversary with “Pop Art Fun: Free Family Day” from noon-4 p.m. today. The Andy Warhol-inspired day includes the interactive Warhol “Silver Clouds” exhibit, pop art projects and a magic show. Baby Loves Disco hosts a dance party for all ages in the ballroom. Admission is free. For more details, visit artisphere.com.
Perry’s (1811 Columbia Rd., N.W.) hosts its weekly “Sunday Drag Brunch” today from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The cost is $24.95 for an all-you-can-eat buffet. For more details, visit perrysadamsmorgan.com.
Monday, Oct. 14
The D.C. Center Youth Working Group hosts its monthly meeting today at the D.C. Center (1316 U St., N.W.) from 6-7:30 p.m. The meeting focuses on positively impacting the lives of D.C. area youth. For more details, visit thedccenter.org.
Us Helping Us holds its 25th anniversary awards celebration “A Passion for Living” featuring Jennifer Holliday this evening at Arena Stage (1101 6th St., S.W.) from 6-9 p.m. The event raises funds for Us Helping Us’s prevention programs and recognizes individuals and businesses in their commitment to fight HIV/AIDS. Tickets are $150. For details, visit tickets.arenastage.org.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts coffee drop-in hours this morning from 10 a.m.-noon for the senior LGBT community. Older LGBT adults can come and enjoy complimentary coffee and conversation with other community members. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Tuesday, Oct. 15
Green Lantern (1335 Green Crt.. N.W.) hosts its “FUCK!T Packing Party” this evening from 7-9 p.m. Bring friends or make new ones while packing safer-sex packets. Challenge yourself and your friends to see how many FUK!T packets you can pack in two hours. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
Whitman-Walker Health offers free HIV testing in honor of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day today at Whitman-Walker Health Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center (1701 14th St., N.W.) 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Whitman-Walker Health Max Robinson Center (2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E.) from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Columbia Heights Fountain (1345 Park Rd., N.W.) from 3-6 p.m. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) offers all drinks half price tonight until 2 a.m. Enjoy pool, video games and cards. Admission is free. Must be 21 and over. For more details, visit bachelorsmill.com.
Wednesday, Oct. 16
Queers for Christ, a young adult LGBT Christian group, has a happy hour this evening from 6:45-9 p.m. at Number Nine (1435 P Street, N.W.).
Bookmen D.C., an informal men’s gay literature group, meets this evening at 7:30 p.m. at the American Foreign Service Association (2101 E Street, N.W.) to discuss “The Lost Library: Gay Fiction Rediscovered,” an anthology. All are welcome. Visit bookmendc.blogspot.com for details.
The National Symphony Orchestra presents organist Cameron Carpenter at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) in the concert hall at 8 p.m. tonight. Tickets are $15. For details, visit kennedy-center.org.
The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) this evening at 7:30 p.m. for social bridge. No partner needed. For more information, call 301-345-1571.
Big Gay Book Group meets tonight at 1155 F St., N.W. Suite 200 at 7 p.m. to discuss “The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard” by Stephen Jimenez. For details, email [email protected].
Thursday, Oct. 17
The Dance Theatre of Harlem performs the world premiere of its ballet “past-carry-forward” at the Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. Other performances include “Gloria” and “Contested Space.” Tickets range from $40-$75. For more information, visit shakespearetheatre.org.
Publick Playhouse presents “Bailé Folklórico de Bahia” at 8 p.m. tonight. The dance blends Afro-Brazilian folk, samba reggae, African liturgical dance and capoeira. It includes dances from the days of slavery and dances that celebrate Carnival. Tickets are $20. For details, visit arts.pgparks.com.
Wear purple today to show support for LGBT youth and stand against bullying for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s (GLAAD) Spirit Day. Showcase your support on social media platforms using “#spiritday.” For more information, visit glaad.org/spiritday.
“Marriage Equality,” a free seminar presented by the law firm of Gimmel, Weiman, Ersek, Blomberg & Lewis, is this evening at 7 p.m. at Hampton Inn (960 N. Frederick Ave.) in Gaithersburg, Md. It’s free to attend but a reservation is required as seating is limited. Local attorneys will speak about Maryland’s same-sex marriage law and the repeal of key sections of DOMA and their effect on several LGBT issues such as marriage, adoption, custody and more. To make a reservation, call 301-840-8565 or visit gweblaw.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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