Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Sept. 23
Parties, support groups, concerts and more through Sept. 29
‘Sentinel-I’ is one of the reliefs by Mary H. Lynch on display at Touchstone Gallery. (Image courtesy of Touchstone)
TODAY (Friday)
Beat City, a queer lounge night, is tonight at Chief Ike’s Mambo Room (1725 Columbia Rd., N.W.) from 9:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. There is no cover for this 21-and-older event.
The Baltimore Improv Group will be performing at Creative Alliance at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave.) in Baltimore, tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16 for the general public and $11 for members. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit creativealliance.org.
FYM presents Eighties Mayhem, an ‘80s dance party, tonight at Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) with DJs Steve EP, Missguided, Killa K and Krasty McNasty. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at blackcatdc.com.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) is having its weekly Bear Happy Hour tonight starting at 6 p.m. There is no cover for this 21 and older event.
Fahrenheit presents “Leche,” a new Latin night at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) featuring DJ Michael Brandon from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. This is a $7 cover after 10.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) has two exhibits on display, “The Nature of Joy” featuring pastels by Lou Gagnon and “Off the Square” featuring canvas wall reliefs by Mary H. Lynch. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24
Raw, hosted by DJs Bil Todd and Shea Van Horn with special guest DJ Matt Bailer, will be at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. There will be an open bar from 10 to 11 p.m. There is a $7 cover. Attendees must be 21 or older.
D.C. VegFest is today at George Washington University at the University Yard from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is a free outdoor festival celebrating the best of everything vegetarian in and around the district. For more information, visit dcvegfest.com.
Today is the first of six square dancing classes being held by D.C. Lambda Squares from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a break for lunch. The classes are $155. For more information, email [email protected].
The National Book Festival starts today from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the National Mall. Normally a one day event, organizers have added an extra day on Sunday from 1 to 5:30 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit loc.gove/bookfest.
Manila Luzon and Carmen Carrera from the last season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will be performing at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) during the regular drag show tonight. Doors open at 10 p.m. and the show starts at 10:30. The cover is $8 until 11 and then $12. All attendees must be 21 or older.
Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents Hellmouth Happy Hour where every week an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” will be screened and drink specials will be offered. This week the episode is “Killed by Death.”
Out singer/songwriter Melissa Ferrick plays the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave.) in Alexandria tonight at 7:30 p.m. with Ria Mae. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at birchmere.com.
Throwback presents “Knock Out,” a ‘90s dance party tonight at Grand Central (1001 N. Charles St.) in Baltimore. DJ Madscience and Grand’s own DJ Arturo will be spinning. Doors open at 10 p.m. and there is a $5 cover.
Hope D.C., a men’s HIV-positive social group, is celebrating its 23rd anniversary at a private residence in Arlington at 7 p.m. tonight. For more details call 202-466-5783 or visit hopedc.org/events.
Sunday, Sept. 25
Ziegfeld’s (1824 Half St., S.W.) is having its 2012 Miss Ziegfeld’s pageant tonight honoring Sue Nami, Miss Ziegfeld’s 2011, and a live performance by Jen Corey, Miss District of Columbia 2009. Doors open at 8 p.m.
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) is having a closing party for its weekly Guil-Tea dance party today at 7 p.m. featuring free T-shirts.
Monday, Sept. 26
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is hosting an inter-generational dialogue between LGBT seniors and LGBT youth tonight starting at 6 p.m. For more information, email [email protected].
Teaching for Change’s Busboy’s & Poets is having an authors Joanne Smith, Meghan Huppuch and Mandy Van Deven to sign and discuss their new book, “Hey Shorty: A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in Schools and on the Streets” tonight at the 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.) at 6:30 p.m.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) now has beer pong every Monday from 8 p.m. to midnight upstairs featuring $8 pitchers and $2 drafts.
D.C. Different Drummers Capitol Pride Symphonic Band will rehearse tonight from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Reformation Lutheran Church, Capitol Hill (212 East Capitol St.). For more information, contact [email protected] or visit dcdd.org.
Tuesday, Sept. 27
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is having a special event tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. for Gay Men’s HIV Awareness Day, honoring those who have been making a difference including author Justin B. Terry-Smith, Paul Kawata, executive director of the National Minority AIDS Council, and Jacob Pring.
Remington’s (639 Pennslyvania Ave., S.E.) is hosting D.C. Drag Idol tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. hosted by Raquel Savage Black. Admission is $5.
Wednesday, Sept. 28
D.C. Different Drummer’s D.C. Swing! group will rehearse tonight from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Reformation Lutheran Church, Capitol Hill (212 East Capitol St.). For more information, contact [email protected] or visit dcdd.org.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is tonight at Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar (1101 H St., N.E.) with The Machine and special guest DJs spinning alternative music and obscure dance tracks from the ‘80s tonight from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Attendees must be 21 or older for this cover-free event.
The Lambda Bridge Club is meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) across from Marine Barracks, for Duplicate Bridge. No reservations are needed and newcomers are welcome. If a partner is needed, visit lambdabridge.com.
Thursday, Sept. 29
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) and Tongue in You Ear present the Brother Tongue Poetry Workshop series. Tonight is the second in a series of four workshops led by Regie Cabico, a three time National Poetry Slam finalist who has appeared on two season of HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam.” All sessions will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 for all four sessions. For more information and to register, visit thedccenter.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) is hosting a book release part for Aaron Anson’s new book, “Mind Your Own Life,” tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information on Anson and his book, visit his site, aaronanson.com.
Honoring Individual Power and Strength (HIPS) will celebrate its 30th anniversary by providing essential health and social services on Saturday, April 5 at 6 p.m. at 906 H St., N.E.
This event will be a celebration of the ongoing generosity of local D.C. business, philanthropists, and residents who step up to help us support those most in need in our neighborhoods. At this event you will join other HIPS stakeholders and community members for music and performances from local queer talent and learn more about some of the work the group has accomplished in the past 30 years to ensure everyone in our neighborhoods has access to HIV, viral hepatitis, and STI testing. For more details, visit the HIPS website.
Capital Pride Alliance and the Washington Wizards will host “Pride Night” on Thursday, March 27 at 7 p.m. Ticket purchases come with a limited-edition Wizards Pride belt bag. There are limited quantities.
Tickets start at $31 and can be purchased on the Wizards’ website.
Theater
Celebrated local talent Regina Aquino is back on the boards
Queer actor starring in Arena Stage’s ‘The Age of Innocence’
‘The Age of Innocence’
Through March 30
Arena Stage
1101 Sixth St., S.W.
Tickets start at $59
Arenastage.org
Actor, director, and now filmmaker, celebrated local talent Regina Aquino is back on the boards in Arena Stage’s “The Age of Innocence,” staged by the company’s artistic director Hana S. Sharif.
Adapted by Karen Zacarías from Edith Wharton’s 1920 masterpiece novel, the work surrounds a love triangle involving New York scion Newland Archer, his young fiancée, and the unconventional beauty Countess Olenska. The Gilded Age-set piece sets up a struggle between rigid societal norms and following one’s own heart.
Aquino — a queer-identified first-generation Filipino immigrant who grew up in the DMV— is the first Filipino American actress to receive a Helen Hayes Award (2019). She won for her work in Theater Alliance’s “The Events.”
In “The Age of Innocence,” Aquino plays Newland’s mother Adeline Archer, a widow who lives with her unmarried, socially awkward daughter Janey. No longer a face on the dinner party circuit, she does enjoy gossiping at home, especially with her close friend Mr. Sillerton Jackson, a “confirmed bachelor” and social arbiter. Together, they sip drinks and talk about what’s happening among their elite Manhattan set.
WASHINGTON BLADE: Do you like Mrs. Archer?
REGINA AQUINO: There’s a lot of joy in playing this character. She’s very exuberant in those moments with her bestie Sillerton. Otherwise, there’s not much for her to do. In Wharton’s book, it says that Mrs. Archer’s preferred pastime is growing ferns.
BLADE: But she can be rather ruthless?
AQUINO: When it comes to her family, yes. She’s protective, which I understand. When she feels that her family’s under attack in any way, or the structure of the society that upholds way of life is threatened, she leans hard into that.
The rare times that she’s out in society you see the boundaries come up, and the performative aspect of what society means. She can be very mean if she wants to be.
BLADE: Can you relate?
AQUINO: I come from a large Filipino matriarchal family. Mrs. Archer is someone I recognize. When I’m in the Philippines, I’m around people like that. People who will do business with you but won’t let you into their inner circle.
BLADE: Did you ever imagine yourself playing a woman like Mrs. Archer?
AQUINO: No. However, in the past couple of years diversely cast TV shows like “Bridgerton” and “Queen Charlotte” have filled a need for me that I didn’t I know I had.
With stories like “The Age of Innocence” that are so specific about American history, they aren’t always easily imagined by American audiences when performed by a diverse cast.
But when Karen [Zacarías] wrote the play, she imagined it as a diverse cast. What they’re presenting is reflective of all the different people that make up America.
BLADE: You seem a part of many groups. How does that work?
AQUINO: For me, the code switching is real. Whether I’m with my queer family, Filipinos, or artists of color. It’s different. The way we talk about the world, it shifts. I speak Tiglao in the Philippines or here I may fall into an accent depending on who I’m with.
BLADE: And tell me about costume designer Fabio Tablini’s wonderful clothes.
AQUINO: Aren’t they gorgeous? At the Arena costume shop, they build things to fit to your body. It’s not often we get to wear these couture things. As actors we’re in the costumes for three hours a night but these women, who the characters are based on, wore these corseted gowns all day, every day. It’s amazing how much these clothes help in building your character. I’ve found new ways of expressing myself when my waist is cinched down to 26 inches.
BLADE: Arena’s Fichandler Stage is theatre-in-the-round. Great for costumes. How about you?
AQUINO: This is my favorite kind of acting. In the round there’s nowhere to hide. Your whole body is acting. There’s somebody somewhere who can see every part of you. Very much how we move in real life. I find it easier.
BLADE: While the Gilded Age was opulent for some, it wasn’t a particularly easy time for working people.
AQUINO: The play includes commentary on class. Never mind money. If you’re not authentic to who you are and connecting with the people you love, you’re not going to be happy. The idea of Newland doing what he wants, and Countess Olenska’s journey toward freedom is very threatening to my character, Mrs. Archer. Today, these same oppressive structures are doing everything here to shutdown feelings of liberation. That’s where the heart of this story lands for me.
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