Arts & Entertainment

Arts briefs: Feb. 18

New ‘Joseph’ production to open, HRC to hold adoption forum and more

Published

15 years ago

February 17, 2011

Alan Wiggins as Joseph and Eleasha Gamble as the Narrator in ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ directed by David Hidler. Photo courtesy of Olney Theatre Center.

‘Joseph’ production slated for Olney

David Hidler’s take on “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” opens Wednesday at 8 p.m. on the mainstage Olney Theatre Center (2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd).

“When I think of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ I think of a show as big as its title – splashy, flashy, big dance numbers, terrific music … it all feels epic, gigantic,” said Hilder in a press release. “And yet when I read the story … what strikes me is much simpler and, fundamentally more personal … It’s a powerful story we all can learn from.”

“Joseph” is the first full-length musical by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim price that began as a 20-minute “pop cantata” by Webber for a school choir to perform in 1968 and was produced on the London stage five years later. The show went on Broadway in 1982.

Joseph will be played by Alan Wiggins, a first time performer at Olney. His father is played by R. Scott Williams (who also plays Potiphar). Williams has performed at Olney in “Of Mice and Men” and has appeared locally on stage at the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, the Shakespeare Theatre, Washington Stage Guild and Wayside Theatre.

Another performer returning to the center is Eleasha Gamble as the Narrator, a role in which she made her professional debut at Olney in 1999.

Joseph’s brothers will be played by Stephawn Stephens, Mardee Bennett, Nick Lehan, Kurt Boehm, Parker Drown, L.C. Harden Jr., Vincent Kempsi, Ben Lurye, Jeramiah Miller, Andrew Sonntag and Russell Sunday.

On Wednesday through Saturday, there will be a performance at 8 p.m with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Sundays and March 8, a Tuesday, will also have a 7:30 p.m. performance. Two additional matinees will be on March 2 and 16 at 2 p.m.

Tickets start at $26 with discounts available to groups, seniors, military and students and can be purchased by calling the box office at 301-924-3400 or visiting olneytheatre.org. The show will run through March 20.

HRC plans adoption forum

This Wednesday, Human Rights Campaign (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) is hosting an adoption forum.

Ellen Kahn, Family Project Direct at HRC says there are major adoption needs in the D.C. area.

“We are a city that has a large population of older children in foster care,” Kahn said.

These older children will age out of the system if they do not find a family, she said.

That’s why she is organizing this forum.

“The long term goal, of course, is to find families for some of these young people who might not otherwise have these connections,” Kahn said.

There will be a number of speakers from different organizations at the forum, such as Adoptions Together and D.C. Child and Family Services. These representatives will be talking about the work that they do and the ways in which they help find families for children in foster care.

They will share local resources and what the process of becoming a foster parent or adopting entails. The panelists will also answer frequently asked questions.

The questions Kahn always hears is whether these organizations trying to place children in families will allow a gay man or lesbian to adopt.

Kahn says a disproportionate number of youth identify somewhere on the LGBT spectrum and agencies are having trouble placing these children because not everyone is open to adopting or fostering an LGBT child.

Agencies are trying to find parents who are open to the idea of adopting an LGBT youth or who have experience or are knowledgeable about the LGBT community. They are looking for parents, gay or straight, who would be committed to supporting these youths.

According to Kahn, there will also be some people on the panel who are raising teens to share their experiences of going through the process and being a support for a child who was in the foster care system. She hopes they will have one or two youths who can share their experiences about being in the system and finding a family.

Kahn will be on the panel as well.

This is a free event that is opened to all families whether they are single, partnered, married, gay or straight. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the program begins at 7.

“If anybody has even the slightest instinct to be a resource, we want them to come through the door,” Kahn said.

Sandy LeBrun-Evans photograph titled "View of Cells" is part of the f11 exhibit, "A Room of Our Own," which opens March 1 at Pepco Edison Place Gallery.

Rooms explored in new exhibit

f11 Women’s Photography Collective presents “A Room of Our Own” which opens March 1 at Pepco Edison Place Gallery (702 8th St., N.W.).

Sponsored by The Art League in Alexandria, “Room” features more than 50 images created by the 18 members of f11.

“The images are as rich and varied as the methods used to make them, reflecting the different perceptions, styles and processes of f11’s members,” Rose O’Donnell, Gallery Director for The Art League said in a press release.

Some of the photographs on display include Sandy LeBrun-Evans images of the Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania and Sheila Galagan’s series of images from Rock Creek Cemetery in Petworth.

Pamela Viola’s “interpretive” Egyptian landscapes will also be on display.

“I consider my work interpretive photography; meaning I develop the image beyond the straight photographic capture — sometimes layering multiple images and textures together to create an embellished landscape,” Viola said in an artist’s statement on her website.

The exhibit will run from March 1 to Apr. 1. There will be an opening reception on March 10.

The gallery is open from Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. It will also be open March 12 and 26 from noon to 4 p.m. This exhibit is free.

Theater

Voiceless ‘Antony & Cleopatra’ a spectacle of operatic proportions

Synetic production pulls audience into grips of doomed lovers’ passion

Published

2 days 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.