Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: April 1
Concerts, exhibits, parties and more through April 7
Britney Spears’ new album is the centerpiece of the ‘Femme Fatale Ball’ tonight at Apex. (Photo courtesy of Jive Records)
Friday, April 1
RAW, hosted by DJs Bil Todd and Shea Van Horn with special guest DJ Joshua, will be at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Free entry before 11 p.m. with a $5 cover after. There will be an open bar from 10 to 11 p.m. Attendees must be 21 or older.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) presents the Femme Fatale Ball, a release party for Britney Spears’ new album, “Femme Fatale,” from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. with DJs Randy White and Keenan Orr. Attendees will have a chance to win a free copy of the album.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) has its open mic night tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. featuring Avata J and hosted by Mike Brazell. This is a free event.
AnniethingGoes and Forward Fest present Dory, Charles Martin and vANNIEty Kills at Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club (1103 Bladensburg Rd., N.E.) tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. This is Dory’s D.C. debut. Cover is $5 or free with the FWD pass. All attendees must be 21 or older. For more information, visit forwarddc.com.
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsboro presents Ten Queens. One Crown. The Journey to Miss Gay Maryland: A Contestant Revue Show hosted by Onyx Revlon and Ashley Bannks. Doors open at 9 p.m. with a $5 cover until 11 and $8 after. The show starts at 10:30 p.m.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) is hosting an opening reception tonight from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for its newest exhibits, “Grasses” by Mary D. Ott featuring hand-pulled prints of diverse images with grasses as their theme and “Nest with a Twist” by Janet Wheeler featuring mixed media pieces that depict nature’s endless cycle of renewal.
Saturday, April 2
John Doe and Jill Sobule, the singer of the original “I Kissed a Girl,” will be performing at Rams Head On Stage (33 West St.) in Annapolis today at 13:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at ramsheadonstage.com.
Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) presents RuPaul’s DragRace season three star, India Ferrah, tonight at 11 p.m. with Kristina Kelly and Her Girls of Glamour. DJ Gigi will be spinning starting at midnight. There is $10 cover.
Code has its monthly installment tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.). Gear, rubber, skin, uniform or leather dress code will be strictly enforced. Music provided by DJ Frank Wild. Admission is $10. Code is an 18-and-older event. There will be an open bar from 9-10.
DJs Will Eastman and Brian Billion return to the 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) with their No Scrubs: ‘90s Dance Party tonight at 9 p.m. featuring music by Salt N Pepa, Nirvana, Ace of Base and more. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at 930.com.
Busboys & Poets is holding a bake sale for Japan on the patio of its 5th and K Sts. location (1025 5th St., N.W.) at 10 a.m. This is part of a simultaneous national bake sale. All money raised will be donated to Peace Winds Japan. For more information, visit bakesalforjapan.com.
Adventuring, a D.C. gay and lesbian outdoor group, will be hosting a cherry blossom day hike. The group will meet at the station attendant’s kiosk at the Rosslyn Metro at 9 a.m. and hike a trail to the cherry blossoms and back. The only required cost is the $2 trip fee. For more information, visit adventuring.org.
Sunday, April 3
Nicki Minaj will be performing tonight at 7 p.m. at the Verizon Center (501 F St., N.W.) as part of Lil Wayne’s I’m Still Music tour also featuring Rick Ross and Travis Barker with MixMaster Mike. Tickets range from $49.75 to $125.75 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.
For the 2011 Kennedy Center Spring Gala, the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents “Michael Kaiser at the Kennedy Center: A Celebration of Ten Years” at 8 p.m. hosted by honoree Smokey Robinson with performers like Joshua Bell, Barbara Cook, Audra McDonald and dancers from various ballet companies. Tickets range from $35 to $150. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit kennedy-center.org.
Monday, April 4
The Queer Network of the Women’s Information Network is having a volunteer night at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to make safer sex kits.
Bears do Yoga at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court N.W.) tonight at 6:30 p.m. Class lasts for an hour and serves as an introduction to yoga for people of all different body types and physical abilities. It’s taught by Michael Brazell. For more information, visit dccenter.org.
Tuesday, April 5
“Shear Madness,” a comedy whodunit, will be performed twice tonight at the Kennedy Center Theater Lab (2700 F St., N.W.) at 5 and 8 p.m. “Madness” takes place in present-day Georgetown, in the Shear Madness Hair Styling Salon. Tickets are $42. Visit kennedy-center.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
Conflict Solutions International is hosting an event on Islam and Western Society today at the Western Presbyterian Church (2401 Virginia Ave., N.W.) at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 6
The Tom Davaron Social Bridge Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for social bridge. No partner is needed. For more information, visit lambdabridge.com and click “Social Bridge in Washington, D.C.”
Green Lantern (1331 Green Court, N.W.) will host the weekly Poz D.C. happy hour upstairs from 8 p.m. to midnight. DJs, C-Dubz, Keith Hoffman, Jason Horswill and T-N-T Music factory will be spinning. Jacob Pring will host and bartend.
Thursday, April 7
Team D.C. presents Spring Sportsfest, a happy hour and “open house expo” for LGBT athletes and newcomers interested in joining a team this season today from 7 to 10 p.m. at Room & Board (1840 14th St., N.W.). More than 25 sports groups have been confirmed as being in attendance. For more information, visit teamdc.org.
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) is hosting AIDS Walk 2011 Kick-Off today at 6 p.m. There will be raffle prizes, free fries, free walk registration and fundraising guide and one free beer.
The Crime Victims’ Rights Week National Observance and Candlelight Ceremony is tonight at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (1615 H St., N.W.) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. featuring Judy Shepard, mother of slain hate crime victim, Matthew Shepard. This is a free event. For more information, visit ncvrw.org.
The 2026 Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather competition was held at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill on Sunday. Seven contestants vied for the title and Gage Ryder was named the winner.
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Theater
Voiceless ‘Antony & Cleopatra’ a spectacle of operatic proportions
Synetic production pulls audience into grips of doomed lovers’ passion
‘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?
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.
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Comings & Goings
