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Arts & Entertainment

Sending up Scrooge

Broadway chestnuts mined for Dickens’ classic parody

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‘A Broadway Christmas Carol’
Through Dec. 18
MetroStage
1201 North Royal Street, Alexandria
$45-$50
800-494-8497
metrostage.org

MetroStage’s annual Christmas production is becoming a regional tradition. (Photo by C. Stanley Photos; courtesy MetroStage)

You don’t have to be a hardcore show tune fan to enjoy “A Broadway Christmas Carol” but it certainly helps.

Created by Kathy Feininger, MetroStage’s holiday musical offering employs melodies from scads of hit scores including “Les Misérables,” “Damn Yankees,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Cabaret” and more (all with cleverly adapted lyrics) to tell Charles Dickens’ holiday classic in a fast-paced, comic style. Performed by a fabulously talented trio, it’s an amusing, toe-tapping good time.

So don’t expect to experience a fully realized Ebenezer Scrooge transformational journey. You won’t. This is less heartwarming old chestnut and more of a campy romp (for those old enough to remember think the “Carol Burnett Show’s” send up of Hollywood’s golden era). Here, penny-pinching Scrooge (played by talented gay actor Michael Sharp who also directs and choreographs) sings, mugs and dances his way from miserable miser to grateful geezer.

Still the essential plot points are met and each of the tale’s many familiar characters make an appearance but not necessarily as you might remember them. Jacob Marley’s ghost inexplicably shows up as a buxom, gum-cracking Mae West and the ghost of Christmas present is in fact a prettily wrapped present who orders Scrooge to touch her box. And those allegorical twins — Want and Ignorance — are represented as a pair of hand puppets á la “Avenue Q,” always ready to blaringly appeal to Scrooge’s more sensitive side.

As “the Woman Who Isn’t Scrooge,” terrific Tracey Stephens makes rapid fire costume and character changes to play every female role in the musical including a hilariously love-starved do-gooder, Scrooge’s myopic first love Belle, as well as his late sister, a dimpled and tap-dancing Baby Fan. Equally good is Matthew A. Anderson as “the Man Who Isn’t Scrooge.” He’s especially funny as an understandably sulky Bob Cratchit and a spoiled rotten Tiny Tim whose demented number based on a song from “Annie” — “(I’m Going to Walk) Tomorrow” — is well worth the price of admission. Sharp, Stephens and Anderson are all terrific comic actors.

The parodied show tunes are nonstop, well done and numerous at about 30 ranging from “I’m In the Money” to “Bob’s Once a Year Day” to “It Sucks to Be Thee.” Though Feininger hasn’t spoofed too much from contemporary shows, she has mined several decades of Broadway gold. For those who know and like musical theater, the many tuneful takeoffs and innumerable inside jokes are especially fun.

Allison Campbell’s festive set — a little stage upon a stage framed by red and green bulbs and topped with an enormous plaid bow — charmingly invokes both Christmas and vaudeville. Off to the side sits a baby grand piano, where music director Elisa Rosman accompanies with a lot of skill and some humor.

Now in its second year at MetroStage (located on the northern tip of Old Town Alexandria), “A Broadway Christmas Carol” is emerging as somewhat of a holiday tradition for the company.

At a recent performance, the couple seated to my left described the show as their “auxiliary” annual visit with Mr. Humbug. In addition to the straight play version they attend every December, they’re now making time for the musical too.

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Books

Celebrate Pride month by reading these books

History, pop culture, and more

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(Photo courtesy of Terri Schlichenmeyer)

You’ve done your share of marching.

You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.

You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.

Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.

You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.

Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.

If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.

Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.

Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.

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Music & Concerts

Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall

Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

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The Indigo Girls are back in the area next week. (Photo courtesy of Vanguard Records)

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall. 

The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.

Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts. 

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Calendar

Calendar: June 13-19

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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Friday, June 13

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected]

Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month 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

Saturday, June 14

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Brunch” at 11 a.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.

Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite

Monday, June 16

“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 details, email [email protected]

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. 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 information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook

Tuesday, June 17

Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Wednesday, June 18

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. 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.

“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website

Thursday, June 19

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite

Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

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