Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: events through Dec. 23

Published

15 years ago

December 16, 2010

Friday, Dec. 17

The Gay Men’s Chorus production “Men in Tights: A Pink Nutcracker” opens tonight at 8 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University. See page 27 for ticket prices and times.

The Roches will be performing at the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave.) in Alexandria tonight at 7:30 p.m. Lucy Wainwright Roche will be opening. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at birchmere.com.

Brightest Young Gays will have a happy hour at the U St. Music Hall (1115 U St., N.W.) tonight from 5 to 10 p.m. DJs Shea Van Horn, vAnniety Kills and Bradley will be providing music. For more information, visit brightestyoungthings.com.

Lianna Carrera will be performing a stand up comedy routine at Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) tonight from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Carrera is the gay daughter of a Southern Baptist minister and deaf mother. Cover is $5. For more information visit phase1dc.com or liannacarrera.com.

Apex presents “A Very Merry Caliente Grande” with DJ Michael Brandon in the main hall and special performances by Jamaica Rouge and friends. Attendees can get their photo taken with a shirtless Santa. Drink specials include $4 margaritas. There’s a $10 cover charge.

Liz Phair will be performing at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at 930.com.

Team D.C. and 28 other gay sports groups will be hosting the third annual Holiday Extravaganza for D.C. Gay Sports tonight at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) from 6:30 to 9 p.m. There will be free holiday appetizers, drink specials, raffle prizes and surprises.

Saturday, Dec. 18

MIXTAPE D.C. is tonight at the old Rock & Roll Hotel (1353 H St., N.E.) from 10 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. MIXTAPE is a dance party for queer music lovers and their pals that features DJs Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer playing an eclectic mix of electro, alt-pop, indie rock, house, disco, new wave and anything else danceable. $5 cover for 21 and over.

The D.C. DemonCats will take on Scare Force One in a “Happy Brawlidays Bout” today at 4 p.m. at the D.C. Armory (2001 E. Capitol St., N.E.). Tickets are $12 for ages 12 and up, $10 with a valid military I.D., $6 for children 6 to 11 and free for kids 5 and under. Doors open at 3 p.m.

Dan Noel will be celebrating his 5oth birthday and has chosen Mautner Project as a beneficiary for his birthday benefit at Cloud 9 (234 Rehoboth Ave.) in Rehoboth tonight at 9 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10 and the proceeds will go to Mautner Project and AIDS Delaware.

The Fez and Moustache Party returns to DC9 (1940 9th St., N.W.) tonight from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. featuring Romani rock, Klezmer, Slavic soul and Balkan beats. For more information, visit dcnine.com.

DJ Smudge presents Rock and Rule dance party featuring DJ vAnniety Kills tonight at the Rock and Roll Hotel (1353 H St., N.E.) from 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. The night will feature rock jams, guilty pleasures, indie, hiphop, R&B, disco, house and dance hits. This is a free event. Attendees must be 21 or older.

Ziegfeld’s presents its annual Christmas show hosted by Ella Fitzgerald tonight at 11:15 p.m.

Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) presents “The Showdown: House vs. Hip Hop” with DJ Melissa spinning the house musch and DJ Gigi spinning the hip hop beats. Kristina Kelly and her Girls of Glamour will perform at 11 p.m. DJ Michael Brandon will be spinning Latin sounds in the east wing dance lounge.

The Ladies of LURe present Bare featuring DJ Rosie tonight at 10 p.m. at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.). Cover is $5 before midnight and $8 after.

Have the Grindr app? Show the box office and get into Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) for free for the Grindr party tonight at 10 p.m. featuring DJ Billy Carroll from New York as part of his farewell tour. Drag show starts at 10:30 p.m. Cover is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 after.

Sunday, Dec. 19

Eatonville Restaurant (2121 14th St., N.W.) will be holding another installation of its monthly series, Food and Folklore, which intertwines storytelling and food, tonight at 6:30 p.m. This month is Gullah with Charlotte Jenkins, author of “Gullah Cuisine.” To purchase tickets, visit eatonvillerestaurant.com

Lambda Divers will be having its monthly happy hour at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. $1 from every Nellie beer sold goes to Lambda Divers.

The Community Triangle LGBTQ Book Club will meet today at 3 p.m. at Cage Izmir (44 Frederick Rd.) in Funkstown. The book will be “The Story of Edgar Sawfelle” by David Wroblewski and will be available instore for members for $15.99.

Monday, Dec. 20

The American City Diner (5532 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) will be showing the film “The Bridge Over the River Kwai” tonight. The movie starts at 8 p.m. The full menu will be available. Admission is free. For more information, visit americancitydiner.com.

Tuesday, Dec. 21

The Choral Arts Society of Washington presents “Christmas Music: the Treasured Holiday Tradition” at the Kennedy Center concert hall (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $65 and can be purchased at kennedy-center.org.

River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation (6301 River Rd.) in Bethesda, will hold a Multigenerational Winter Solstice Celebration beginning at 7 p.m. All ages are invited.

The D.C. Metro Area Gay Male Witches Coven will hold a yule ritual and social tonight at 7 p.m. For more information call 240-314-9020 or visit the group’s Facebook page.

Wednesday, Dec. 22

Secrets (1824 Half St., S.W.) is holdings it monthly amateur dance contest tonight beginning at 11 p.m. Contests must sign up at the main bar between 10 and 10:45 p.m.

The Lincoln Center Theater presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific today at the Kennedy Center opera house (2700 F St., N.W.) with two showings at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $39 to $150 and can be purchased at kennedy-center.org.

Thursday, Dec. 23

The Washington Chorus presents “A Candlelight Christmas” at the Kennedy Center concert hall (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $65 and can be purchased at kennedy-center.org.

The American City Diner (5532 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) will be showing the film “It’s a Wonderful Life” tonight. The movie starts at 8 p.m. The full menu will be available. Admission is free. For more information, visit americancitydiner.com.

Christmas services — looking ahead

Christmas Eve

Foundry United Methodist Church (16th and P streets, N.W.) has a family-oriented service at 6:30 p.m. tonight and a Christmas concert at 8 as a prelude to the “lessons and carols” candle-light service at 8:30.

Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) will be holding Christmas Eve worship tonight at 8. MCC-D.C. is the region’s largest mostly LGBT church.

Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) will have its Christmas Eve Festival Holy Eucharist at 6 and 10 p.m.

Covenant Baptist Church (3845 S. Capitol St.) will be holding its Christmas Eve Service at 7 p.m. tonight.

National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) will be holding its Christmas Eve service today at 7 p.m., starting with a festive prelude followed by a candlelight communion.

The Christ Church on Capitol Hill (620 G St., S.E.) will be holding a Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. It will also have a choral prelude at 10 p.m., the Holy Eucharist at 10:30 followed by coffee hour.

Saint John’s Episcopal Church (3240 O St., N.W.) will be holding its Holy Eucharist along with a Christmas Pageant at 4 p.m. A Feast of Carols and Noels will begin at 8:30, followed by the Festival Holy Eucharist at 9 p.m.

Seekers Church (276 Carroll St., N.W.) will be holding its Christmas Eve worship tonight at 7.

First Trinity Lutheran Church (309 E St., N.W.) will have its Christmas Eve service at 7:30 p.m. following a pre-service of Christmas music that starts at 7 p.m.

Church of the Pilgrims (2201 P St., N.W.) will have its Christmas Eve service tonight at 7 p.m.

Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle (1725 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) will be holding a vigil at 4:30 p.m. following a prelude at 4, Vigilia at 6:30 p.m. following a concerto at 6, and the main service at 10 p.m. with Cardinal Wuerl presiding.

Christmas Day

Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) will have its Christmas Day Festival Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m. today. Its Christmas Day Holy Eucharist, Rite II will start at noon. There will also be a Christmas Day organ recital at 5:15 p.m.

Christ Church on Capitol Hill (620 G St., S.E.) will be holding its Holy Eucharist today at 10 a.m.

Saint John’s Episcopal Church (3240 O St., N.W.) will be holding its Holy Eucharist with traditional carols today at 10 a.m.

Dignity Washington will hold its Christmas Mass tonight at 6 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Church (1820 Connecticut Ave., N.W.)

Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle (1725 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) will have multiple services today starting at 8:30 a.m. The other services are at 10 and 11:30 a.m. and a service in Spanish at 1 p.m.

Theater

Voiceless ‘Antony & Cleopatra’ a spectacle of operatic proportions

Synetic production pulls audience into grips of doomed lovers’ passion

Published

1 day ago

January 17, 2026

Patrick Folliard

Stella Bunch as Mardian and Irina Kavsadze as Cleopatra in Synetic Theatre's ‘Antony & Cleopatra.’ (Photo by Katerina Kato)

‘Antony & Cleopatra’
Through Jan. 25
Synetic Theater at
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre
450 7th St., N.W.
Synetictheater.org

A spectacle of operatic proportions, Synetic Theater’s “Antony & Cleopatra” is performed entirely voiceless. An adaptation of the Bard’s original (a play bursting with wordplay, metaphors, and poetic language), the celebrated company’s production doesn’t flinch before the challenge.

Staged by Paata Tsikurishvili and choreographed by Irina Tsikurishvili, this worthy remount is currently playing at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre, the same venue where it premiered 10 years ago. Much is changed, including players, but the usual inimitable Synectic energy and ingenuity remain intact.

As audiences file into the Klein, they’re met with a monumental pyramid bathed in mist on a dimly lit stage. As the lights rise, the struggle kicks off: Cleopatra (Irina Kavsadze) and brother Ptolemy (Natan-Maël Gray) are each vying for the crown of Egypt. Alas, he wins and she’s banished from Alexandria along with her ethereal black-clad sidekick Mardian (Stella Bunch); but as history tells us, Cleopatra soon makes a triumphant return rolled in a carpet.

Meanwhile, in the increasingly dangerous Rome, Caesar (memorably played by Tony Amante) is assassinated by a group of senators. Here, his legendary Ides of March murder is rather elegantly achieved by silver masked politicians, leaving the epic storytelling to focus on the titular lovers.

The fabled couple is intense. As the Roman general Antony, Vato Tsikurishvili comes across as equal parts warrior, careerist, and beguiled lover. And despite a dose of earthiness, it’s clear that Kavsadze’s Cleopatra was born to be queen.

Phil Charlwood’s scenic design along with Colin K. Bills’ lighting cleverly morph the huge pyramidic structure into the throne of Egypt, the Roman Senate, and most astonishingly as a battle galley crashing across the seas with Tsikurishvili’s Antony ferociously at the helm.

There are some less subtle suggestions of location and empire building in the form of outsized cardboard puzzle pieces depicting the Mediterranean and a royal throne broken into jagged halves, and the back-and-forth of missives.

Of course, going wordless has its challenges. Kindly, Synectic provides a compact synopsis of the story. I’d recommend coming early and studying that page. With changing locations, lots of who’s who, shifting alliances, numerous war skirmishes, and lack of dialogue, it helps to get a jump on plot and characters.

Erik Teague’s terrific costume design is not only inspired but also helpful. Crimson red, silver, and white say Rome; while all things Egyptian have a more exotic look with lots of gold and diaphanous veils, etc.

When Synetic’s voicelessness works, it’s masterful. Many hands create the magic: There’s the direction, choreography, design, and the outrageously committed, sinewy built players who bring it to life through movement, some acrobatics, and the remarkable sword dancing using (actual sparking sabers) while twirling to original music composed by Konstantine Lortkipanidze.

Amid the tumultuous relationships and frequent battling (fight choreography compliments of Ben Cunis), moments of whimsy and humor aren’t unwelcome. Ptolemy has a few clownish bits as Cleopatra’s lesser sibling. And Antony’s powerful rival Octavian (ageless out actor Philip Fletcher) engages in peppy propaganda featuring a faux Cleopatra (played by Maryam Najafzada) as a less than virtuous queen enthusiastically engaged in an all-out sex romp.

When Antony and Cleopatra reach their respective ends with sword and adder, it comes almost as a relief. They’ve been through so much. And from start to finish, without uttering a word, Kavsadze and Tsikurishvili share a chemistry that pulls the audience into the grips of the doomed lovers’ palpable passion.

Out & About

Love board games and looking for love?

Published

3 days ago

January 16, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

(Image by VLADGRIN/Bigstock)

Quirk Events will host “Board Game Speed Dating for Gay Men” on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at KBird DC.

Searching for a partner can be challenging. But board games are always fun. So what if you combined board games and finding a partner?

Picture this: You sit down for a night of games. A gaming concierge walks you through several games over the course of the night. You play classics you love and discover brand new games you’ve never heard of, playing each with a different group of fun singles. All while in a great establishment.

At the end of the night, you give your gaming concierge a list of the folks you met that you’d like to date and a list of those you met that you’d like to just hang out with as friends. If any two people put down the same name as each other in either column, then your gaming concierge will make sure you get each other’s e-mail address and you can coordinate a time to hang out.

Tickets cost $31.80 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Calendar

Calendar: January 16-22

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

3 days ago

January 16, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, January 16

Friday Tea Time will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Bring your beverage of choice. For more information, contact Mac ([email protected]).

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. This event is ideal for making new connections and community building or just to unwind and enjoy extended happy hour. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, January 17

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.

The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center and SMYAL will host a free film screening of “Mama Bears” celebrating queer youth, resilience, and the power of living authentically. Whether you’re a movie lover, looking to make new friends, or simply want a safe, affirming space to relax, this event is for you. Click this link to RSVP.

LGBTQ People of Color will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ people of color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgement free. There will be all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.

Sunday, January 18

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community and Conversation” at noon at As You Are. This event is for those looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ+ community. Look for the Go Gay DC sign on the long table near the front window. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Monday, January 19

“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 information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

Tuesday, January 20

Center Bi+ Roundtable 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.Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Tae Kwon Do Class with Avi Rome will be at 12:30 p.m. This inclusive and beginner-friendly class, led by Instructor Avi Rome, offers a light warm-up, stretching, and instruction in basic techniques, patterns, and striking padded targets. Each session is designed to be adaptable for all ability and mobility levels, creating a welcoming space for everyone to build strength, confidence, and community through martial arts. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Wednesday, January 21

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. 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.

Thursday, January 22

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.