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Arts news in brief

Last weekend to catch several worthy local productions

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John Robert Keena (left) and Chuck Young in 'Golden Boy,' which ends its local run Sunday. (Photo by Jim Coates; courtesy of Church Street Theater)

Last chance for ‘Wife Swappers,’ ‘Golden Boy’

Cherry Red’s production of Justin Tanner’s play “Wife Swappers” brings the horny, homophobic world of middle-aged swinger-sex in the land of Orange County church-going Republicans under the revealing microscope —  an eyeful of full-frontal nudity and wide-open frankness, with sometimes way “too much information” as the characters let it all hang out at the D.C. Arts Center in Adams Morgan, but only through Saturday.

The setting is Christmas-time under a holiday party banner reading “Deck The Halls With Your Balls.” But the play ends on a more serious note, hinting more at Edward Albee and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolff?” than carefree suburban poly-amorous humping. See it tonight at 7:30 or Saturday when it closes, at 7:30 and 10 p.m. The D.C. Arts Center is at 2438 18th St. N.W. Tickets are $25. 202-462-7833.

“Golden Boy” is another very different play, but it’s also see-it-now-before it closes. Clifford Odets’ classic kitchen-sink drama of 1937, “Golden Boy” (William Holden made his film star debut in the 1939 film adaptation), on stage at the Keegan Theatre in the Church Street Theater in Dupont Circle. It closes there Sunday. Odets, a leading Hollywood screenwriter (for example, “The Sweet Smell of Success” in 1957), shows a man torn between the lure of big money in the ring as a prize-fighter and the risk of ending his dream of a career as a violinist by using his hands to slug instead of bow.

The drama is often melo- and the tragic ending is fore-shadowed. But even so it’s worth seeing, tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.  The Church Street Theater is at 1742 Church St., N.W. Tickets are $30 to $35. 703-892-0201 or here.

Webre re-imagines ‘Nutcracker’; ‘Hamlet’ goes high def

“The Nutcracker” ballet by gay composer Tchaikovsky has been revamped by Septime Webre (also gay) and the Washington Ballet, with distinctive twists including setting it during the American Revolution, with a heroic George Washington as the Nutcracker and King George III as the King of the Mice, and a Potomac River setting for a dance of the cherry blossoms. Through Dec. 26 at the Warner Theatre, 13th and E streets, N.W. Tickets from $31 at 202-397-7328 or here.

“Hamlet,” is it the greatest play by the greatest ever playwright? And was he in fact bisexual? Well, to both questions, maybe. At least you can perhaps answer the first question at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 27, when the play is performed live from London’s National Theatre on the giant high def screen at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Hall, 610 F St., N.W. The classic portrait of uncertainty, which of course ultimately appears to answer the question “to be or not to be” by mostly choosing the latter, is directed by Nicholas Hynter and features Rory Kinnear in the title role. Tickets are $20 from 202-547-1122 or here.

Art galleries offer year-end collections

Two very different group shows of artists are now in progress at Gallery planb, in Logan Circle at 1530 14th St., N.W., open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., gay gallery director David Kalamar has pulled together a remarkable year-end group show running through Dec. 24, featuring about 25 artists showing works in painting, photography, jewelry, prints and much more. Any purchase enters you in a raffle to win a limited edition print, “Smith Island,” by gay artist Keith H. Adams, a former U.S. Marine Corps combat artist who later worked as a set painter at the Washington Opera and just recently opened with his partner a B&B in Washington, Va., in the bucolic foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Also, be sure to admire Adams’ oil paintings “Cedar II” and “Muir Beach.”

“Focus Group: Four Walls, Five Women,” at the D.C. Arts Center in Adams Morgan, 2438 18th St., N.W., is open 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday through Jan 9. This show is a collaboration between the Center and Black Artists of D.C. (BADC), emerging from discussion among five black women about how their race and gender expresses itself through the materials they choose to use.

The sixth annual “Downtown Holiday Market” is open daily from noon to 8 p.m. thru Dec. 23. More than 180 local artisans and crafters show their work, under festive tents on F Street between 7th and 9th streets, N.W., in front of the National Portrait Gallery. There’s also live music (free) and refreshments (for sale).

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Books

Celebrate Pride month by reading these books

History, pop culture, and more

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(Photo courtesy of Terri Schlichenmeyer)

You’ve done your share of marching.

You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.

You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.

Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.

You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.

Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.

If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.

Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.

Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.

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Music & Concerts

Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall

Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

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The Indigo Girls are back in the area next week. (Photo courtesy of Vanguard Records)

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall. 

The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.

Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts. 

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Calendar

Calendar: June 13-19

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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Friday, June 13

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected]

Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach bar and Restaurant. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Saturday, June 14

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite

Monday, June 16

“Center Aging Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected]

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook

Tuesday, June 17

Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Wednesday, June 18

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website

Thursday, June 19

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite

Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

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