Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: events through Feb. 17
Concerts, plays, parties and more slated for coming week
‘Fast Company Table’ is part of the Jens Praet exhibit, 'Fossilized' at Industry Gallery. Photo courtesy Violetta Markelou
Friday, Feb. 11
Metropolitan Community Church (474 Ridge St., N.W.) hosts neighborhood bingo tonight at 7 p.m. The doors open at 6:10 p.m. Free parking is available. Bring this announcement and play the early bird games for free. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 202-297-6884.
Tonight from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. is College Nite at Paradox (1310 Russell St.) in Baltimore featuring hip-hop, reggae, club and R&B music. The first 100 college students with ID enter free. A college or military ID will get a discunt. Attendees must be 18 or older.
Club Hippo (1 West Eager St.) in Baltimore presents “Funhouse” an official preliminary to Miss Gay Maryland America hosted by Josie Foster and Tatiyanna Voche. Doors open at 10 p.m.; the contest starts at 10:30. General admission is $8 and reserved seating is $9. For reservations or application information, contact Josie at 410-274-71118.
“Sunset Boulevard” will be performed tonight at 8 p.m. at Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave.) in Arlington. Tickets are either $89.95 or $84.95 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or at the theater box office.
Jens Praet’s first solo U.S. exhibition, “Fossilized,” is on display at Industry Gallery (1358 Florida Ave., N.E.). Praet’s work is created from shredded magazines and documents. He used shredded and recycled copies of Art in America, Capitol File, Details, Fast Company and Robb Report mixed with clear resin to create his art. The gallery is open from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, visit industrygallerydc.com.
Saturday, Feb. 12
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington will be performing “Let’s Hear It for the Boys” tonight with the Rock Creek Singers and special guest Major Mike Almy at the Chruch of the Epiphany (1317 G St., N.W.) at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Chorus will also be honoring the Servicemembers Legal Defence Network with the 2011 Harmony Award. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at gmcw.org.
Dupont Social Club and 18th and U Duplex Diner present “Valentine’s is a Drag” tonight at 6 p.m. Duplex Diner will be open all night and will feature drag queen waitresses, bartenders and hostesses. All donations will go to SAGE Metro D.C.
D.C. Eagle (639 New York Ave., N.W.) hosts the 40th anniversary Scarlett’s Bake Sale today from 4 to 8 p.m. A judged competition will begin prior to the auction of baked goods and the categories will be Best Individual Entry, Best Commercial Entry, Best Club Entry, Most Creative Entry and The Directors Award.
Homo/Sonic comes to the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) with DJ Natty Boom’s “Birthday Explosion” tonight from 9:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. featuring DJs Natty Boom and Zack and Michael of The New Gay. Cover is $10.
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsboro hosts “Cupid’s Ball: The Red Party” with DJ Ryan W tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Cover is $5 before 11 p.m. and $8 after. There will be $5 XXL ReFresher, a super-sized cup, all night.
The Virginia Wine (and Food) Showcase begins today at 11 a.m. with the Grand Tasting Open. The Showcase is one of four Virginia wine events, sponsored by the Farm Wineries Council. There will be unlimited wine tastings of more than 300 world class Virginia wines. The goal is to offer wine lovers the opportunity to sample Virginia’s large variety of award-winning, locally grown wines. Tickets are $45 at the door, $36 online and $20 for non-drinkers. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit vawineshowcase.org.
Sunday, Feb. 13
The fourth annual Metro D.C. PFLAG “Bowling for Love Bowl-A-Thon” is today from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bowl America (6446 Edsall Rd.) in Alexandria. The bowlathon will be $25 a person including shoes and three games. Door prizes and raffle prizes will be given out.
The Human Rights Campaign presents HER HRC Washington D.C. tonight starting at 7 p.m. at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) with a special performance by DCypher Dance. Tickets are $10 and includes an annual HRC membership. Attendees must be 18 or older. For more information and to purchase tickets visit dc.hrc.org.
CLITFest D.C. presents a pancake breakfast today from noon to 2 p.m. at Hole in the Sky (2110 5th St., N.E.). There will be pancakes, orange juice, mimosas and board games. Admission is $5 and proceeds will go toward CLITFest D.C. 2011, Combating Latent Inequality Together, a three-day event in July.
Lace Lounge (2214 Rhode Island, Ave., N.E.) is celebrating Valentine’s Day with two events. First there will be a champagne brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with live music from saxophonist Sharon Thomas. Brunch is $15.95 per person, $20 with bottomless mimosas. The day continues with “Lover’s Cove,” a dinner for two with live music from John G. Lewis and the Band. A three course meal for two is $50. For more information, visit lacedc.com.
Drag City D.C. will be at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) today for a Valentine’s Drag Brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The brunch buffet is $20.
Pocket Gays present “Missed Connections Sunday School” tonight from 3 to 9 p.m. at Local 16 (1602 U St., N.W.). There will be games and special Valentine’s Day prizes. After sunset, The Metaphysical will be providing music inside.
Monday, Feb. 14
SpeakeasyDC and Two Pear Productions partnered up to present “Logic, Luck and Love” tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Atlas Performing Arts Center Lang Theatre (1333 H St., N.E.). Tickets are $22 and can be purchased online at speakeasydc.com.
Chris Chase presents “Heart On: A Singles Soiree” tonight at 7 p.m. at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) with DJ Jesse Jackson. No cover.
Secrets in Lave presents “Burlesque-A-Pades February Frolic” tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave.) in Alexandria. The Valentine’s inspired burlesque revue will sar Angie Pontani, Helen Pontani, Melody Sweets, MStickle, Deanna Danger, Tyler Fyre and hosted by Albert Cadabra
Tuesday, Feb. 15
The Shakespeare Theatre Company presents “Cymbeline,” directed by Rebecca Bayla Taichman, tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th St., N.W.). Tickets range from $37 to $70 and can be purchased online at shakespearetheatre.org.
The National Portrait Gallery is showing an exhibit that focuses on sexual differences in the making of modern American portraiture. “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” is the first major museum exhibit of its kind. The museum is open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and admission is free.
Wednesday, Feb. 16
D.C. Ice Breakers and the Federal Triangles Soccer Club will be hosting a free skate tonight from 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. at Kettler Capitals Iceplex ion top of the Ballston Common Mall parking garage (627 N. Glebe Rd.) in Arlington. The groups will go to a local bar afterward for a social hour. Skating is $8 and $3 for skate rentals. For more information, visit dcicebreakers.com.
The Fessenden Ensemble at the National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) will be performing Mozart favorites today at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 at the door. Students are free with an ID.
Thursday, Feb. 17
Touchstone Gallery’s (901 New York Ave., N.W.) newest exhibit is “Color of Love” featuring 50 artists. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the exhibit will be on display through Feb. 27.
Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant (555 S. 23rd St.) in Arlington presents the grand opening of Wild Thursdays tonight from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. There’s no cover.
Celebrity News
D.C. goes gaga for Gaga
Bisexual icon brought ‘The Mayhem Ball’ tour to Washington this week
Lady Gaga this week took D.C. by storm.
The bisexual icon and LGBTQ rights champion brought “The Mayhem Ball” tour to Capital One Arena on Monday and Tuesday.
“Abracadabra,” “Paparazzi,” “Applause,” and “Bad Romance” are among the songs Lady Gaga performed during the 2 1/2-hour long concert. Lady Gaga also celebrated her many queer fans.
“You are precious to us,” she said on Tuesday night before she performed “Born This Way.”
Photos
PHOTOS: Capital Stonewall Democrats 50th anniversary
D.C. LGBTQ political group celebrates milestone at Pepco Edison Place Gallery
The Capital Stonewall Democrats held a 50th anniversary celebration at Pepco Edison Place Gallery on Friday. Rayceen Pendarvis served as the emcee.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Theater
‘Inherit the Wind’ isn’t about science vs. religion, but the right to think
Holly Twyford on new role and importance of listening to different opinions
‘Inherit the Wind’
Through April 5
Arena Stage
1101 Sixth St., S.W.
Tickets start at $73
Arenastage.org
When “Inherit the Wind” premiered on Broadway in 1955 with a cast of 50, its fictional setting of Hillsboro, an obscure country town described as the buckle on the Bible Belt, was filled with townspeople. And now at Arena Stage, director Ryan Guzzo Purcell has somehow crowded Arena’s large Fichandler space with just 10 actors, five principals and a delightful ensemble of five playing multiple roles.
Inspired by the real-life Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s fictionalized work pits intellectual freedom against McCarthyism via the imagined trial of Bertram Cates (Noah Plomgren), a Tennessee educator charged with teaching evolution. Drawn into the fracas are big shot lawyers, defense attorney Henry Drummond (Billy Eugene Jones), and conservative prosecutor, Matthew Harrison Brady (Dakin Matthew). On hand to cover the closely watched story is wisecracking city slicker and Baltimore reporter E.K. Horneck (played by nonbinary actor Alyssa Keegan).
Out actor Holly Twyford, a four-time Helen Hayes Award winner who has appeared in more than 80 Washington area plays, is part of the ensemble. In jeans and boots, she memorably plays Meeker, the bailiff at the Hillsboro courthouse and the jailer responsible for holding Cates in the days leading to his trial.
Twyford also plays Sillers, a slack jawed earnest employee at the local feed store who’s called to serve on the jury. And more importantly she plays Brady’s quietly strong wife Sarah whom he affectionately calls “Mother.”
When Twyford makes her memorable first entrance as Meeker, she’s wiping shaving cream from her face with a hand towel. With shades of Mayberry R.F.D., the jail is run casually. Meeker says Cates isn’t the criminal type, and he’s not.
“There’s a joke among actors,” says Twyford. “When an actor gets his shoes, they know who their character is. And it’s sort of true. When you put on boots, heels, or flip flops, there’s a different feeling, and you walk differently.”
Similarly, shares Twyford, it goes for clothes too: “When Mother slips a pink coat dress over her cowboy boots, dons a little hat and ties her scarf, or Meeker puts on his work shirt, I know where I am. And all of that is thanks to a remarkable wardrobe crew.
“Additionally, some of the ensemble characters are played broadly which is helpful to the actors and super identifying for the audience too.”
During intermission, an audience member loudly described the production as “a proper play” filled with beautifully written passages. And it’s true. Twyford agrees, adding “That’s all true, and it’s also been was fun for us to be a part of the Arena legacy as well. Arena took ‘Inherit the Wind’ to the Soviet Union in the early ‘70s when the respective governments did a cultural exchange. At the time, the iron curtain was very much in place, and they traveled with a play about a man with his own thoughts.”
When the ensemble was cast, actors didn’t know which tracts exactly they were going to play. “What came together was a cast, diverse in different ways. Some directors, including myself when I direct, are interested in assembling a cast that’s a good group. No time for egos. It’s more about who will make the best group to help me tell this story.”
At one point during rehearsal, ensemble members began to help one another with minor onstage costume changes, like jackets and hats: “We just started doing it and Ryan [Guzzo Purcell] picked up on it, saying things really began to come alive when we helped each other, so we went with that.”
“For me, it was reminiscent of ‘The Laramie Project’ [Ford’s Theatre in 2013] when we played five different parts and we’d help each other with a vest or jacket in a similar way. It worked so well then too,” says Twyford.
“Inherit the Wind” isn’t about science versus religion. It’s about the right to think, playwright Jerome Lawrrence has been quoted as saying. And it’s a quote that makes the play that much more relevant today.
Twford remembers a chat in a hair salon: “I was getting my hair cut and the woman next to me shared that she was tired of message plays. Understandably there are theater makers who believe that message plays are the point, while others think it’s all about entertainment. I feel like ‘Inherit the Wind’ sits in a nice place in the middle.”
She adds “the work is a creative way of showing different opinions and that, I think, is what we should be paying attention to right now. Clearly, it’s not right or wrong to express what you think.”
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D.C. goes gaga for Gaga
Gay priest credited with boosting church support for LGBTQ Catholics
‘How We Survived’ panel set for March 25
Calendar: March 21-26
PHOTOS: Capital Stonewall Democrats 50th anniversary
‘Inherit the Wind’ isn’t about science vs. religion, but the right to think
