Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Sept. 30
Parties, meetings, concerts and more through Oct. 6


A reunited Bangles play the 9:30 Club Thursday. Tickets are $25 and were still available as of Blade press time. (Photo courtesy 9:30 Club)
TODAY (Friday)
The Dubstep Dance Party featuring Andre Jetson at Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave., E.) in Vienna, is tonight from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at jamminjava.com.
It’s Swing Night at Remington’s (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) tonight at 8 p.m. An intermediate West Coast Swing lesson will be taught from 8 to 9 p.m. by Michael Frank for $5, then the dance begins 9. For more information, visit reminstonswdc.com.
Jenny Owen Youngs will be performing at the Red Palace (1212 H St., N.E.) tonight with Hank and Cupcakes at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at redpalacedc.com. Attendees must be 18 or older. Doors open at 8 p.m.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) is hosting Fahrenheit tonight from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. with music by DJ and producer, Twisted Dee. There is a $7 after 10 p.m.
Busboys & Poets will be hosting ASL open mic poetry tonight at 11 p.m. in the Langston Room at its 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.). Anyone with sign language knowledge may sign up to recite a poem or sign a song by e-mailing [email protected]. There is a $5 cover.
Saturday, Oct. 1
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsboro presents “We Love the ā80s” costume party with DJ Ryan W. Cover is $5 until 11 p.m. when it goes up to $8. No cover if in full costume. The best ā80s costume contest will take place on the patio at midnight and the winner will get $100. Doors open at 9 p.m.
Deaf Queers of D.C. is hosting a “Last Chance” cookout today from noon to 5 p.m. at Rock Creek Park at Grove 9.
MTV’s “The Real World” is hosting an open casting call for the series 27th season today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.). Applicants must be 20 or older and appear between 20 and 24. Applicants are also asked to bring a recent photo of themselves that will not be returned and a photo ID. For more information, visit bunim-murray.com/rwcasting.
Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents Hellmouth Happy Hour where every week an episode of āBuffy the Vampire Slayerā will be screened and drink specials will be offered. This week the episode is āI Only Have Eyes for You.ā
Signature Theatre is hosting a post-show panel discussion, “30 Years is Enuf,” tonight at 8 through special arrangement with the Black Gay Men’s Network, Black AIDS Institute and Jane M. Saks to commemorate Gay Men’s HIV Awareness Day. Tickets, which include a dance performance, discussion and meet-and-greet/booking-signing with author and star E. Patrick Johnson, are available at the Signature Box Office for $35 with code word, metro.
Sunday, Oct. 2
A new gay-welcoming Catholic church, St. Hedwigās Old Catholic Church, has Mass today at 9 a.m. The church meets each Sunday morning at Palisades Community Church (5200 Cathedral Ave., N.W.) in Washington. The church, not affiliated with the Vatican, describes itself as one with āprogressive Catholic valuesā that welcomes those ādisaffected by mainstream traditionsā and what some consider āpolitically distorted teachings of Christā in other faith traditions. Bishop Michael Seneco, whoās gay, is the pastor. Visit sainthedwigs.org for more information. All are welcome.
Busboys & Poets is showing “I Shot Andy Warhol” tonight at 7 p.m. in the Zinn Room at its Hyattsville location (5331 Baltimore Ave., Suite 104) as its October Focus-In! Film of the Month. This is a free screening.
Cameron Mackintosh presents a new 25th anniversary production of “Les Miserables” at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) today at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $39 to $155 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Monday, Oct. 3
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is having its monthly volunteer night tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tonight’s activities could range from sorting through book donations, cleaning up around the center and taking inventory for Fuk!ts, as well as socializing. Pizza will provided.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) presents “Funkytown,” featuring music of the ā70s, ā80s and ā90s by DJ Ed Bailey with performances by the Ladies of Town and The Dance Camp. Doors open at 10 p.m. Cover is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 afterwards. Attendees must be 21 or older.
The Red Palace (1212 H St., N.E.) is hosting the kick-off for the 2011-12 seasons for Theater Alliance and Rorschach Theatre tonight at 7 p.m. Theater Alliance performs at the H Street Playhouse and Rorschach has a new home at Atlas Performing Arts Center. Attendees must be 21 or older.
Tuesday, Oct. 4
Tony Award-winning Broadway legend Audra McDonald plays the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 8. Tickets range from $25 to $85 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Nellieās (900 U St., N.W.) hosts its weekly āGleeā watch party tonight at 8 p.m. on the deck in the pub room.
Wednesday, Oct. 5
Riot Act Comedy Theater’s (801 E St., N.W.) monthly gay and gay-friendly comedy show “Gay-larious” returns tonight at 8:30 p.m. with Lean Bonnema and Yamaneika. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at riotactcomedy.com.
Thursday, Oct. 6
The Bangles will be performing at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at 930.com. Doors open at 7 p.m.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) and Tongue in You Ear present the Brother Tongue Poetry Workshop series. Tonight is the third in a series of four workshops led by Regie Cabico, a three time National Poetry Slam finalist who has appeared on two season of HBOās āDef Poetry Jam.ā 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.
The second annual east coast tour of black lesbian poets, Revival, returns to D.C. today featuring Love the poet, Solrose and t’ai freedom ford with special guest, Bettina Judd at Lighthouse D.C. (5016 9th St., N.W.) at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at cereusarts.eventbrite.com.
Books
From genteel British wealth to trans biker
Memoir āFrighten the Horsesā a long but essential read

āFrighten the Horses: A Memoirā
By Oliver Radclyffe
c.2024, Roxane Books/Grove Atlantic
$28/352 pages
Finding your own way.
It’s a rite of passage for every young person, a necessity on the path toĀ adulthood. You might have had help with it. You might have listened to your heart alone on the quest to find your own way. And sometimes, as in the new memoir,Ā “Frighten the Horses” by Oliver Radclyffe,Ā you may have to findĀ yourselfĀ first.

If you had observed Oliver Radclyffe in a random diner a few years ago, you’d have seen a blonde, bubbly, but harried mother with four active children under age seven and a distracted husband. You probably wouldn’t have seen trouble, but it was there.
“Nicky,” as Radclyffe was known then, was simmering with something that was just coming to the forefront.
As a young child, Nicky’d been raised in comfort in a family steeped in genteel British wealth, attended a private all-girl’s school, and never wanted for anything. She left all that behind as a young adult, and embraced the biker lifestyle and everything it entailed. The problem now wasn’t that she missed her old ways; it was that she hated life as a wife and mother. Her dreams were filled with fantasies of “exactly who I was: a man on a motorbike, in love with a woman.”
But being a man? No, that wasn’t quite right.
It took every bit of courage she had to say she was gay, that she thought constantly about women, that she hated sex with men. When she told her husband, he was hurt but mostly unbothered, insisting that she tell absolutely no one. They could remain married and just go forward. Nothing had to change.
But everything had already changed for Nicky.
Once she decided finally to come out, she learned that friends had already suspected. Family was supportive. It would be OK. But as Nicky began to experiment with a newfound freedom to be with women, one thing became clear: having sex with a woman was better when she imagined doing it as a man.
In his opening chapter, author Oliver Radclyffe shares an anecdote about the confusion the father of Radclyffe’s son’s friend had when picking up the friend. Readers may feel the same sentiment.
Fortunately, “Frighten the Horses” gets better ā and it gets worse. Radclyffe’s story is riveting, told with a voice that’s distinct, sometimes poker-faced, but compelling; you’ll find yourself agreeing with every bit of his outrage and befuddlement with coming out in a way that feels right. When everything falls into place, it’s a relief for both author and reader.
And yet, it’s hard to get to this point because this memoir is just too long. It lags where you’ll wish it didnāt. It feels like being burrito-wrapped in a heavy-weighted blanket: You don’t necessarily want out, but you might get tired of being in it.
Still, it remains that this peek at transitioning, however painful, is essential reading for anyone who needs to understand how someone figures things out. If that’s you, then consider “Frighten the Horses” and find it.
Celebrity News
Is Karla SofĆa GascĆ³n’s apology too little, too late?
Netflix has removed transgender actress from Oscars campaign

The latest in the scandal involving “Emilia PerĆ©z”ās trans star and Best Actress nominee Karla SofĆa GascĆ³n is Netflix deciding to part ways with her even after her public apology and statement regarding not withdrawing from the nomination.
āI have been labeled a racist and I need to be clear that I am not. I feel like Iāve been judged, sentenced, crucified, and stoned without a fair trial and without an option to defend myself,ā said GascĆ³n in an interview with CNN en EspaƱol.Ā
According to Variety and the Hollywood Reporter, Netflix has cut GascĆ³n out of the campaign for the Oscars. This move comes even after GascĆ³n issued an apology through a statement on her social media and in an interview with CNN en EspaƱol. On Thursday she was set to be seated with co-star Selena Gomez, Zoe SaldaƱa and the filmās writer-director, Jacques Audiard for the AFI Awards luncheon ā a gathering at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. On Friday, she was set to attend the Critics Choice Awards. On Saturday, she was set to serve as presenter at the Producers Guild Awards, which happen to be going on at the same time as the Directors Guild Awards. According to THR, she will not be attending the events.
The Spaniard actress found herself at the center of controversy surrounding the Netflix original being nominated for 13 Oscars after freelance culture writer Sarah Hagi uncovered the actress’s stream of consciousness on display on X, formerly Twitter. Hagi found tweets from as far back as 2020, revealing GascĆ³n’s views on Muslims, George Floyd, China, and vaccines.
In her hour-long interview with CNN en EspaƱol, she defended her position on the issue stating that she feels that she was unfairly targeted, while not being given the opportunity to defend the position she stood behind while writing those tweets.
She goes on to say that she āsupports the Black Lives Matter movement obviouslyā and that the tweets about George Floyd āwere taken out of context.ā In the interview, she goes on to say she was highlighting the hypocrisy of humanity in that moment in history. According to GascĆ³n, what she noticed during that time was that only after Floydās death did people care about him, but prior to his death, they did not help him or care about his struggles.
āI do not identify with any political party and I have my own opinions about issues that might have been one thing in the past, but have now shifted because I have learned many things about respect, love and with the spiritual practice of Buddhism,ā said GascĆ³n.
In the interview, she also pulls the “I have a friend whoās Black, so Iām not racist,ā card by saying she has a very close family friend who is Muslim, in response to the line of questioning about her being Islamophobic and only through very heavy discussions with her, has GascĆ³n truly come to understand the implications of her words against the culture and religion, as well as theĀ differences between the cultures.Ā
“Emilia PerĆ©z” was already facing an upward battle to gain popularity, as it was a French production about MĆ©xico. Audiences criticized the film for various reasons and yet, it was still nominated for Best Picture, Critics Choice Award for Best Picture, Academy Award for Best Directing, and many others.
GascĆ³n deleted her X account shortly after the tweets were discovered and is now facing the cold shoulder from Netflix. Variety and THR, reported that the streaming giant is no longer directly communicating with GascĆ³n ā only through representatives.
Whether or not this is a witch hunt for a trans actress at the height of her career, GascĆ³n now has first-hand experience in dealing with what it means to misuse a platform by sharing her views on issues she said herself, she did not understand.
Out & About
Camp Rehoboth Theatre Company kicks off new season
Poetry jam to be followed by ‘5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche’

CAMP Rehoboth Theatre Company will kick off its 2025 season with its first-ever poetry jam followed by a full-stage production of ā5 Lesbians Eating a Quicheā on Friday, Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. at CAMP Rehoboth’s Elkins-Archibald Atrium.
CAMP Rehoboth Poetry Jam Poets / Performers include: Debbie Bricker, Kari Ebert, Shelley Blue Grabel, Lavance John, Vanita Leatherwood, Syd Linders, Ellie Maher, Jane Miller, Gwen Osborne, Coco Silveira, Guillermo Silverira, Laura Unruh, Paul Unruh, and Sherri Wright.
ā5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche,ā which will run from March 7-9 debuted at CAMP Rehoboth in fall of 2022, and features returning cast members Karen Laitman, Kelly Sheridan, Gwen Osborne, Darcy Vollero, and Shelley Kingsbury, and is directed by Teri Seaton. The absurdist comedy follows the Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein having their annual quiche breakfast in 1956. Winner of the 2012 NYC International Fringe Festival as Best Overall Production, ā5 Lesbians Eating A Quicheā is a tasty recipe of hysterical laughs, sexual innuendos, unsuccessful repressions, and delicious discoveries. For more information, visit CAMP Rehobothās website.
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