Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Nov. 11
Concerts, happy hours, parties and more through Nov. 17
Melissa Manchester, once a back-up singer for Bette Midler, plays Wolf Trap Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Wolf Trap)
TODAY
The Foo Fighters play Verizon Center (601 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. with Social Distortion and The Joy Formidable. Tickets range from $37.50 to $57.50 and are available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) presents Fahrenheit with music by Anthony Murphy, tonight from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. with free rail vodka upstairs from 10 to 11 p.m. There’s a $5 cover after 10 p.m.
This week’s Bear Happy Hour at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) will featuring a special comedy show with Frank Liotti and special guest, Neil Thornton. Happy Hour starts at 6 p.m. and there’s no cover.
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) presents Beat the Clock happy hour tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. Prices for all bottles, Miller Light and house vodka drinks start at $2 and go up a $1 every hour.
DJ Petworth of Moon/Bounce DJs, will be spinning at Red Palace (1212 H St., N.E.) tonight from 10 p.m. to close. Pentworth spins hip hop, house disco, pop and more.
The Kensington Arts Theatre (2710 Mitchell St.) presents “Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $13 to $20 and can be purchased online atkatonline.org.
Saturday, Nov. 12
DJ Drew G will be spinning at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight with Wess downstairs and the drag show starting at 10:30 p.m. Doors open at 10 p.m. Cover is $8 from 10 to 11 p.m. then goes up to $12. Attendees must be 21 or older.
Zoom Urban Lesbian Excursions presents Equestrian today. The group will be meeting at Marriott Ranch (5305 Marriott Lane) Trail Ride Barn in Hume, Va. at 11:30 a.m. before going on a 90 minute guided trail ride followed by lunch. Tickets are $75 and must be purchased in advance. Visit phatgirlchic.om/zoom for more information and to purchase tickets.
Mixtape D.C. is tonight the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) from 9:30 p.m. to 2:15 a.m. Mixtape is a dance party for queer music lovers and their pals that features DJs Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer playing an eclectic mix of electro, alt-pop, indie rock, house, disco, new wave and anything else danceable. There is a $10 cover for this all ages event.
Washington National Opera presents “Lucia di Lammermoor” at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. “Lucia” tells the story of a woman who loses her sanity, kills her bridegroom and succumbs to madness. Tickets range from $25 to $300 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Laurel Mill Playhouse (508 Main St.) in Laurel presents “In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)” tonight at 8 p.m. “Next Room” tells the story of Dr. Givings, who has invented a device for treating “hysteria” in women — the vibrator. Tickets range from $10 to $13. For more information, visit laurelmillplayhouse.org.
Sunday, Nov. 13
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is screening the film “Signified” today at 4 p.m. followed by a question-and-answer session with the creators Anna Barsan and Jessie Levandov and a panel discussion. “Signified” is a web-based, multi-platform documentary project featuring the work of queer identified individuals who are fostering, enriching and sustaining vibrant and diverse communities.
The Fridge (516 1/2 8th St., S.E.) is hosting a curators talk with Luna George and Alex Goldstein for its current exhibit, Above the Radar II, which will be on display through Dec. 3. The exhibit features more than 100 pieces by more than 140 artists, specifically, graffiti and street artists. For more information, visit thefridgedc.com.
D.C.’s Different Drummers is putting on its second annual “DCDD Does Drag Too!” fundraiser tonight at Omega D.C. (2122 P St., N.W.) at 7 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $5 at the door. For more information, visit dcdd.org.
The D.C. Kings present a “Thankful” king show tonight at Phase 1 hosted by Rock and Ken Vegas. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins and 10. There’s a $10 cover for this 21-and-older event. For more information, visit dckings.com.
Monday, Nov. 14
Busboys & Poets presents its Monday open mic poetry night hosted by poet-in-residence Beny Blaq tonight at 8 p.m. at its Shirlington location (4251 S. Campbell Ave.) in Arlington. There’s a $4 cover charge for this event and wristbands will be available for purchase starting at 10 a.m. until sold out.
WEAVE, a support group for LGBT survivors of intimate partner violence/abuse will be meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Lighthouse Center for Healing (5321 First Place, N.E.). For more information and to register, call 202-280-6391.
Tuesday. Nov. 15
The National Center for Transgender Equality is celebrating its eighth anniversary tonight with an event at The Mayflower Renaissance (1127 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 7 to 9 p.m. in the State Ballroom. Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be the keynote speaker and Brian Bond, former Deputy Director of the White House Office of the Public Liaison and Donna Cartwright, founding NCTE board member and co-president of Pride at Work will be honored. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased online attransequality.org.
Join Burgundy Crescent Volunteers to help pack safer sex kits from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at FUK!T’s packing location, Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct., N.W.
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) hosts its weekly “Glee” watch party tonight at 8 p.m. on the deck in the pub room.
Wednesday, Nov. 16
Owl City plays an early show at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at 930.com. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
The D.C. Ice Breakers will be having its monthly skate and social tonight. The group will be skating at Kettler Capitals Iceplex (627 N. Glebe Rd.) in Arlington from 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. then they’ll hit a local bar for a social hour. Skating is $8 and skate rentals are $3.
Thursday, Nov. 17
Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Melissa Manchester will be performing at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd.) in Vienna tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online atwolftrap.org.
Busboys & Poets presents “Smokin’ Words!” a night of spoken word, poetry and other performances about the LGBT community and its struggles with smoking, tonight at its 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.), featuring Regie Cabico, Liz Prescott and more. This is a free event and for more information, visit thedccenter.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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