Arts & Entertainment
Queery: Matthew Gardiner
The Signature Theatre director answers 20 gay questions
Matthew Gardiner (Photo by Kristina Sherk; courtesy of Signature Theatre)
Matthew Gardiner’s first exposure to Stephen Sondheim is a vivid memory. He was 5 and remembers his mom watching “Into the Woods” on PBS. He was supposed to be in bed but hid behind the sofa watching it unbeknownst to her.
“His lyrics are unlike anybody else’s who writes for musical theater,” the 27-year-old gay College Park, Md., resident says. “His music is spectacular and he’s an amazing wordsmith.”
Gardiner is directing “Side by Side by Sondheim,” which runs through June 12 at Arlington’s Signature Theatre. It’s a revue of the gay composer’s early works that features music from “West Side Story,” “Company,” “Follies,” “A Little Night Music” and more. Gardiner changed a couple of the songs — with Sondheim’s blessing — and tweaked the between-song patter, but says the simple presentation is intrinsic to the show.
“There’s no reason to clutter Sondheim’s work with excessive spectacle,” he says. “His words are what you want to focus on.”
Gardiner is also directing “Art,” another current Signature production. Eric Schaeffer, whom Gardiner calls “my mentor and teacher” slated him for both productions — it’s the first time Gardiner knows of that a Signature director has helmed simultaneous productions.
Gardiner and his twin brother grew up active in the arts. He studied ballet for years but eventually wanted to find something that would allow him more creative input so he pursued directing. He joined Signature after going to school at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University. And though he has a group of friends with whom he enjoys exploring new restaurants and activities in Washington, the theater, he says, is his life.
“I’m a workaholic and I’m doing what I love and I love the people I do it with,” he says. “So it’s not a job for me. It’s what I want to be doing. I have a wonderful group of friends and we do lots of stuff together but I enjoy the theater most so I spend a lot of time doing it.”
Gardiner is single and lives in Arlington. (Photo courtesy of Kristina Sherk)
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
Since I was 18 but it took a while to have the conversation with my parents. They probably knew since I was 5 when I begged my mother to buy me all the Judy Garland albums. Was it hard to tell them I was gay? No. They knew. But is a conversation about sexual preference with your parents a bit awkward. Sure.
Who’s your LGBT hero?
Socially: Harvey Milk. Artistically: There are many. But presently, Arthur Laurents, who recently passed away. He was a giant in the theatre world (the writer of West Side Story, which in my opinion is perfection) and an open and proud gay man.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
Ali’s Bar at Signature Theatre
Describe your dream wedding.
I don’t think I’ve ever given that much thought. I guess something simple and intimate, with close friends and family. Something personal, that speaks to my relationship with that other person.
What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?
Arts education
What historical outcome would you change?
Everything happens for a reason. But I guess the election of and the re-election of George W. Bush.
What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?
Being in an elevator with Al Pacino.
On what do you insist?
110 percent. Will you always achieve or get from those around you? No. But I strive for and expect it from those around me.
What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?
I enjoy sharing YouTube videos. The most recent was a video of Anne Reinking, Donna McKechnie and Chita Rivera singing “Let Me Entertain” you on a television special in 1987. Look it up. It’s amazing.
If your life were a book, what would the title be?
“Questionable Sensibility”
If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?
Protest
What do you believe in beyond the physical world?
The tooth fairy… definitely the tooth fairy.
What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?
I have no advice, except to keep on. I am amazed daily by people who dedicate their lives to fighting for their rights and others.
What would you walk across hot coals for?
My parents and brother.
What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?
Well the whole “show queen” stereotype … oh and the word “twink.”
What’s your favorite LGBT movie?
“Philadelphia.” That scene with Tom Hanks, listening to the Maria Callas recording, it does a number on me every time I see it. Also “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” but for very different reasons.
What’s the most overrated social custom?
If by customs you mean etiquette then I think nothing is overrated. Shaking hands, opening the door for others, saying please and thank you. I’m all for social etiquette and good manners.
What trophy or prize do you most covet?
Positive feedback on my work from my brother. Is that corny? OK, my “Most Improved” trophy from a bowling team I was on in elementary school. I was awful.
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
Have confidence and don’t worry what others think of you and your decisions. I still have to remind myself of this.
Why Washington?
Because it’s my home. I grew up here. And because it is one of the most exciting theatre towns in America.
Theater
Studio’s ‘Mother Play’ draws from lesbian playwright’s past
A poignant memory piece laced with sadness and wry laughs
‘The Mother Play’
Through Jan. 4
Studio Theatre
1501 14th St., N.W.
$42 – $112
Studiotheatre.org
“The Mother Play” isn’t the first work by Pulitzer Prize-winning lesbian playwright Paula Vogel that draws from her past. It’s just the most recent.
Currently enjoying an extended run at Studio Theatre, “The Mother Play,” (also known as “The Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions,” or more simply, “Mother Play”) is a 90-minute powerful and poignant memory piece laced with sadness and wry laughs.
The mother in question is Phyllis Herman (played exquisitely by Kate Eastwood Norris), a divorced government secretary bringing up two children under difficult circumstances. When we meet them it’s 1964 and the family is living in a depressing subterranean apartment adjacent to the building’s trash room.
Phyllis isn’t exactly cut out for single motherhood; an alcoholic chain-smoker with two gay offspring, Carl and Martha, both in their early teens, she seems beyond her depth.
In spite (or because of) the challenges, things are never dull in the Herman home. Phyllis is warring with landlords, drinking, or involved in some other domestic intrigue. At the same time, Carl is glued to books by authors like Jane Austen, and queer novelist Lytton Strachey, while Martha is charged with topping off mother’s drinks, not a mean feat.
Despite having an emotionally and physically withholding parent, adolescent Martha is finding her way. Fortunately, she has nurturing older brother Carl (the excellent Stanley Bahorek) who introduces her to queer classics like “The Well of Loneliness” by Radclyffe Hall, and encourages Martha to pursue lofty learning goals.
Zoe Mann’s Martha is just how you might imagine the young Vogel – bright, searching, and a tad awkward.
As the play moves through the decades, Martha becomes an increasingly confident young lesbian before sliding comfortably into early middle age. Over time, her attitude toward her mother becomes more sympathetic. It’s a convincing and pleasing performance.
Phyllis is big on appearances, mainly her own. She has good taste and a sharp eye for thrift store and Goodwill finds including Chanel or a Von Furstenberg wrap dress (which looks smashing on Eastwood Norris, by the way), crowned with the blonde wig of the moment.
Time and place figure heavily into Vogel’s play. The setting is specific: “A series of apartments in Prince George’s and Montgomery County from 1964 to the 21st century, from subbasement custodial units that would now be Section 8 housing to 3-bedroom units.”
Krit Robinson’s cunning set allows for quick costume and prop changes as decades seamlessly move from one to the next. And if by magic, projection designer Shawn Boyle periodically covers the walls with scurrying roaches, a persistent problem for these renters.
Margot Bordelon directs with sensitivity and nuance. Her take on Vogel’s tragicomedy hits all the marks.
Near the play’s end, there’s a scene sometimes referred to as “The Phyllis Ballet.” Here, mother sits onstage silently in front of her dressing table mirror. She is removed of artifice and oozes a mixture of vulnerability but not without some strength. It’s longish for a wordless scene, but Bordelon has paced it perfectly.
When Martha arranges a night of family fun with mom and now out and proud brother at Lost and Found (the legendary D.C. gay disco), the plan backfires spectacularly. Not long after, Phyllis’ desire for outside approval resurfaces tenfold, evidenced by extreme discomfort when Carl, her favorite child, becomes visibly ill with HIV/AIDS symptoms.
Other semi-autobiographical plays from the DMV native’s oeuvre include “The Baltimore Waltz,” a darkly funny, yet moving piece written in memory of her brother (Carl Vogel), who died of AIDS in 1988. The playwright additionally wrote “How I Learned to Drive,” an acclaimed play heavily inspired by her own experiences with sexual abuse as a teenager.
“The Mother Play” made its debut on Broadway in 2024, featuring Jessica Lange in the eponymous role, earning her a Tony Award nomination.
Like other real-life matriarch inspired characters (Mary Tyrone, Amanda Wingfield, Violet Weston to name a few) Phyllis Herman seems poised to join that pantheon of complicated, women.
Bars & Parties
Mixtape Sapphics hosts holiday party on Dec. 13
‘Sugar & Spice’ night planned for Saturday
Mixtape Sapphics will host “Sapphic Sugar & Spice: A Naughty-Nice Mixtape Holiday Party” on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. at Amsterdam Lounge.
This is a festive, grown holiday party for queer women and sapphics 35 and older at Revolt’s Christmas pop-up. There will be music, joy, and an optional White Elephant.
This is Mixtape Sapphics’ first-ever holiday party — a cozy, flirty, intentionally grounded night created just for queer women and sapphics 35+ who want real connection, festive joy, and a warm place to land at the end of the year.
Tickets start at $13.26 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Friday, December 12
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 12 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. To RSVP, visit the DC Center’s website or email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.
Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for queer women in the Washington, D.C. area. For more details, go to Facebook.
Saturday, December 13
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 12 p.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 Center for the LGBT Community will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. D.C.’s queer community will gather for good food, laughter, and community. For more information, email [email protected].
Sunday, December 14
SADBrunch will host “HokiSlay Drag Brunch” at 12 p.m. at Throw Social. This festive affair brings fierce performances, over-the-top holiday looks, and more sparkle than a tinsel explosion. Expect powerhouse lip-syncs, laughter, and cheer hotter than your spiked cocoa. Cake Pop will host the event. Tickets cost $28.52 and are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, December 15
“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]).
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. 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 details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.
Tuesday, December 16
Center Bi+ Roundtable will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather and discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.
The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Self-Defense Class with Avi Rome” at 12:30 p.m. Rome is a proud member of the LGBTQ community and a full-time martial arts instructor with 25 years of teaching experience. He holds a Fifth Degree Black Belt in Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do and is the director of the studio’s Adaptive Tae Kwon Do program for students with special needs. He has also run numerous self-defense workshops for various groups and situations. For more details, visit the center’s website.
Wednesday, December 17
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.
Asexual and Aromantic Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a space where people who are questioning this aspect of their identity or those who identify as asexual and/or aromantic can come together, share stories and experiences, and discuss various topics. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, December 18
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, breath work 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.
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