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Calendar for April 30

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Friday, April 30

Open Mic Night at the DC Center, 1810 14th St. N.W., at 8 p.m. for a night of queer spoken word and poetry. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come prepared to share your work. This event is free and open to the public.

Equality Forum arrives in Philadelphia this weekend with a packed schedule of panel discussions on the LGBT movement, parties and more. Visit equalityforum.org for a full schedule of events. Blade editor Kevin Naff joins Obama administration officials and GLAAD’s Jarrett Barrios for a Saturday panel on the White House at 1 p.m.

BYT Presents: Christmas In Heaven II: A Cosmic Disco Journey with DJ Shea Van Horn (Mixtape), DJ Cale (BYT) at the Black Cat, 1811 14th St N.W., starting at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 1

Youth Pride, rescheduled from last weekend, takes place in the P Street Beach area (23rd & P streets) from noon-5 p.m. featuring a diverse lineup of musicians, speakers and other performers. The Infatuation dance at Fly Lounge follows from 5-9:30 p.m. Visit youthpridedc.org for more information.

Jam is returning to Mova Lounge with a very special session, Cherry Jam, to benefit The Cherry Fund. Drink specials, prizes and music by DJ Gemz. No cover but donations accepted for The Cherry Fund. The Jam begins at 9 p.m. at Mova Lounge, 1435 P St. N.W.

CODE, returns to Motley Bar above EFN Lounge, 1318 9th St., N.W., for its monthly installment. Gear, rubber, skin, uniform or leather dress code will be strictly enforced. Music provided by DJ Shea Van Horn. Admission is $10. Code is an 18+ event. There will be an open bar from 9-10 p.m.

Who’s Bad, ā€œthe world’s greatest Michael Jackson tribute band,ā€ performs at 9 p.m. at Ram’s Head Live, 20 Market Place at Power Plant Live in downtown Baltimore. Tickets are $16.50; call 410-244-1131.

Sunday, May 2

Mamma Mia flash mob with Bowen McCauley Dance and the DC Cowboys Dance Company. Join the DC Cowboys for a dance “flash mob” of Mamma Mia. All you have to do is learn the steps to the Mamma Mia choreography via online tutorials. The public is invited to take part in these flash mob dances that will be performed live. 1 p.m. at Dupont Circle and a second flash mob 3 p.m. at Ballston Common Mall, 4328 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA. Online tutorial of Mamma Mia can be found here on You Tube: http://tinyurl.com/yb65gks

Mark Knopfler brings his ā€œGet Luckyā€ tour to Warner Theatre, 13th Street between E&F streets, N.W., at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range $75.50-105.50; call 202-783-4000.

Monday, May 3

Country-Western dance lessons at Remingtons, 639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. (half block west of Eastern Market Metro) from 8:30-9:30 p.m., $5 per person, per lesson (dance class participants should wear boots or shoes with leather soles).

Tuesday, May 4

Volunteers will be assembling safer sex kits and enjoying great drink specials at Motley, 7-10:30 p.m. Motley is the upstairs bar at EFN Lounge, located at 1318 9th St., N.W.

Drag bingo at Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St., N.W., hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee, every Tuesday starting at 8 p.m. Free to play.

Sia performs at the 9:30 club, 815 V St., N.W., at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25; visit 930.com for information.

Wednesday, May 5

The Tom Davaron Social Bridge Club will meet at 7:30 p.m., at the Dignity Center, 721 8th St., S.E. (across from Marine Barracks) for social bridge. No partner needed. Visit lambdabridge.com.

Each Wednesday at the Green Lantern is POZ Wednesday. Starting at 8 p.m., POZ mixers provide a supportive atmosphere for those who are HIV positive and those who want to help eradicate the stigma surrounding HIV. The Green Lantern is located at 1335 Green Ct., N.W.

General Program Wednesdays 7-8:30 p.m. at the Vajroyogini Buddhist Center,1803 Connecticut Ave., N.W., 2nd floor, $12. How can we learn to love without pain? Through these teachings, we will learn to enjoy our relationships and in turn benefit others. For more information visit meditation-dc.org, call 202-986-2257 or e-mail [email protected].

Thursday, May 6

The Point Foundation’s annual Washington, D.C., reception is held from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W. Tickets are $75.

Johnny Blazes performs live at the DC Center. Johnny Blazes’ show is an evening-length performance that blends cabaret arts with theater to create a semi-narrative series of vignettes. The performance will begin at 8 p.m. in the DC Center Activity Room, 1810 14th St. N.W. Tickets $10 now or $15 at the door. Light refreshments will be served. Visit thedccenter.org for more information.

Final Capital Pride general meeting will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Volunteer sign-up, mixer and raffle. The meeting will be held at the Madison Hotel, 1177 15th St., N.W., near Farragut North and McPherson Square Metro stations. That evening, the full schedule of events and the headlining act for Capital Pride’s 35th anniversary celebration, ā€œYou Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!ā€ will be announced. Volunteers interested in being a part of Capital Pride’s 35th anniversary celebration are encouraged to attend. Visit capitalpride.org or call 202-719-5304 for information.

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Theater

Signature’s acclaimed music director tackles ā€˜Sweeney Todd’

Kalbfleisch excited to conduct 15-piece orchestration

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Jon Kalbfleisch in action. (Photo by Christopher Mueller)

ā€˜Sweeney Todd’
Through July 9
Signature Theatre
4200 Campbell Ave.
Arlington, Va. 22206
$40-119
Sigtheatre.org

Typically, music directors play second fiddle to directors. ā€œThat’s just how it is in theater,ā€ says Jon Kalbfleisch, longtime resident music director at Signature Theatre. ā€œIt’s different with opera. But those audiences have altogether different expectations.ā€

For the hugely talented Kalbfleisch, vying for attention has never been a concern. With 10 Helen Hayes Awards and an astounding 30 nominations under his belt, he’s had his time in the limelight, and more importantly, the out music director is focused on the work.

Currently he’s music directing his fourth production of composer Stephen Sondheim’s ā€œSweeney Toddā€ at Signature Theatre and he couldn’t be happier. He counts the famously hard to sing ā€œSweeneyā€ as both his favorite Sondheim show and among his all-time favorite scores overall. He says ā€œlike all Sondheim shows it has a lot of challenges, the ensemble stuff is particularly hard and the finale is really tricky. When it goes perfectly though, it’s wonderful.ā€

A tale of revenge soaked in melodrama and dark humor, the 1979 hit musical set in grubby 19th century London is rife with memorable numbers including ā€œThe Worst Pies in London,ā€ ā€œA Little Priest,ā€ ā€œJohannaā€ and ā€œNot While I’m Around.ā€ In Signature’s current offering directed by Sarna Lapine, Sweeney, the disgruntled, murderous barber, and his ruthless pie-making accomplice Mrs. Lovett are played respectively by Broadway actors Nathaniel Stampley and Bryonha Marie.

Kalbfleisch first music directed ā€œSweeneyā€ (Signature’s first ever musical) in 1991 at the company’s then home, the Gunston Arts Center in Arlington; his second Signature ā€œSweeneyā€ starring Norm Lewis and Donna Migliaccio was in 1998 at Signature’s legendary garage space; and there was a third production in the MAX Theatre, their top-notch permanent home in Shirlington in 2010 with Ed Gero and Sherri L. Edelen.

ā€œWhat makes the current production unique,ā€ explains Kalbfleisch, who lives just a short walk from Signature, ā€œis a 15-piece orchestration that Jonathan Tunick [famed longtime Sondheim collaborator] did for a production in the UK. When Tunick takes his own work and makes it for a small ensemble it feels utterly complete. The way he redid it, it doesn’t feel smaller than the original.ā€

Long before the cast convenes, Kalbfleisch begins his preparation, attacking a score as if he’s never seen it before. For several weeks, he rehearses the orchestra, ensemble, and leads separately and together. Once the show opens, he conducts the 15-piece orchestra at every performance. Arduous? Maybe. But he enjoys every moment.

A meticulous professional prone to generous laughter, Kalbfleisch’s first love is piano, but conducting runs a close second. He says ā€œthe opportunity to stand up and conduct 15 players with the terrific cast of ā€˜Sweeney’ that we have right now I’m in a very happy place.ā€

Like many talented young pianists, the Lawton, Okla., native was recruited into musical theater: ā€œMy high school’s choir director said you’re going to be my accompanist. Similarly, my band director volunteered me to play piano for the school music ā€˜You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown’ I had little choice.ā€

ā€œThe experience was lots of fun, but it never occurred to me that it would be a big part of my career.ā€

He studied classic piano at Cameron University in Oklahoma, and went on to earn a Master of Music, at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. It was in Texas that he really dipped his toe into music direction at a small professional theater with shows like ā€œPirates of Penzanceā€ and a fully orchestrated ā€œA Chorus Line.ā€

Over his more than 30-year tenure at Signature, Kalbfleisch has music directed 33 Sondheim musicals. As an integral part of Signature, a Tony Award-winning regional theater, he’s had the chance to collaborate with Broadway luminaries including Sondheim, Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera, and Tunick. He’s humbled and happy by the way things have worked out.

Looking forward, Kalbfleisch is ready for more pared down, big music Sondheim shows. He says, ā€œMatthew [Matthew Gardiner, Signature’s artistic director] is very appreciative of the music and keen on maintaining doing shows with as big of an orchestra that we can manage.ā€

He’s a terrifically busy guy. In addition to his work at Signature, Kalbfleisch is – among a zillion other things — the conductor of his hometown Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra and serves as the music director and organist at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church.

Sundays can be complicated. They might include church service, a matinee, and an evening performance. When his schedule is tight, it’s just eating, sleeping, and working and not much else.

And when ā€œSweeneyā€ closes in July? Kalbfleisch says he’ll drop. Until the next job.

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Out & About

Virginia Queer Film Festival to debut

Inaugural event to hold screenings at ODU’s University Theater

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(Screen capture via Virginia Queer Film Festival YouTube)

The inaugural Virginia Queer Film Festival will start on Wednesday, June 14 on the campus of Old Dominion University at the University Theater.

More than 35 films, including short packages, features and documentaries, will be screened. In addition to the films, there will be filmmaker talkbacks, educational workshops and opening and closing ceremonies.

Tickets are available on the festival’s website.

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Out & About

Local tavern showcases queer songwriters

Quarry House Tavern to feature indie rock singers

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Kym Register and the Meltdown Rodeo live at Hi-Tone Cafe, Memphis, Tenn on Aug. 23, 2022. (Screen capture via Southern Punk Archive YouTube)

Three queer singers and songwriters will perform on Saturday, June 10 at 9:30 p.m. at Quarry House Tavern.

Indie rock singers Kym Register & Meltdown Rodeo, Tami Hart and Evil will perform. Evil, whose “depressed queer country” songs have been featured on Cartoon Network’s ā€œAdventure Time,ā€ will open the show.

Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased in Quarry House’s website.

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