Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: May 4
Parties, concerts, exhibits and more through May 10
‘100 Years of Blossoms D.C. 2012’ is one of the paintings by Kate McConnell on display at Touchstone Gallery. There is an opening reception for the gallery's newest exhibits today. (Image courtesy Touchstone)
TODAY (Friday)
George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic play Rams Head Live (20 Market Place, Baltimore) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 and available online at tickets.ramsheadlive.com.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) is hosting an opening reception for its newest exhibits, “It’s My Nature” featuring works by Kate McConnell and “Vivid Horizon: Color and Light” featuring works by Colleen Sabo, tonight from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
The D.C. Eagle (639 New York Ave., N.W.) presents “Otter Crossing” tonight at 10 p.m. to celebrate the arrival of 13 new otters at the National Zoo. For more information, visit otterdendc.com.
Drag singer Joey Arias and master puppeteer Basil Twist perform “Arias With a Twist” at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased online at woollymammoth.net. The show will run through May 6.
Studio Theatre (1501 14th St., N.W.) presents “The Big Meal” by Dan LeFranc tonight. The show follows a young couple through their life, from their first date to having kids and more at a single restaurant table. Tickets range from $46 to $59. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit studiotheatre.org.
Busboys & Poets presents First Fridays: A Local Arts Exploration today at 5:30 p.m. in the Zinn room at its Hyattsville location (5331 Baltimore Ave., Suite 104). This event combines a reception, artist talk and the opportunity to meet local artists and see their work. This month will feature Victor Ekpuk and Cobaya Dance Theater. Light refreshments will be served. This is a free event.
Saturday, May 5
Gay/Bash!, a “queer night of rock and pop gems” with DJs Joshua and Junebullet is tonight at the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.). Admission is $5 and doors open at 10 p.m.
Code has its monthly installment tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.). Gear, rubber, skin, uniform or leather dress code will be strictly enforced. Music provided by DJ Frank Wild. Admission is $10. All attendees must be 18 or older. There will be an open bar from 9 to 10 p.m.
The D.C. Jewish Community Center (1529 16th St., N.W.) is screening the film “Love Free or Die” tonight at 7 p.m. The film looks at New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay individual elected to serve as bishop. Bishop Robinson will be at the screening, giving opening remarks and doing a Q&A after the film.
Perry Center’s Young Leadership Council hosts the fourth annual Kentucky Derby event at the Iron Horse Tap Room (507 7th St., N.W.) today from 4 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 and available at the door. There will be drink specials, hors d’oeuvres, raffle prizes and more.
The Lodge (21614 National Pike, Boonsboro) presents “Madonna Gagarama Dance and Costume Party” tonight with DJ Keith Hoffman and Madonna and Gaga impersonators as guest bartenders and “shot girlz.” There’s a $5 cover after 10 p.m. Doors open at 9 p.m.
Sunday, May 6
The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents its spring gala event with Grammy Award-winner David Foster tonight at 8 p.m. Also scheduled to appear are Christ Botti, Jewel, Barry Manilow and more. Tickets range from $35 to $150 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Rainbow Wedding Network presents its third annual gay and lesbian wedding expo in D.C. at the Renaissance Washington (1143 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.) today from 1 to 4 p.m. The expo will feature more than 30 gay-friendly exhibitors including event planners, DJs, photographers and more. This is a free event, but attendees are asked to pre-register for tickets. For more information, visit samelovesamerights.com.
There will be a benefit for the Hagerstown Community Free Clinic today at Turner’s Skate Palace (17333 Virginia Ave., Hagerstown) starting at 4:30 p.m. featuring performance on roller skates by Ashley Bannks, Jayden Elyse, Sasha Renee and more. Presale tickets are $7 and tickets ate the door are $10. There will be a free skate from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. following be the performances and an auction.
Monday, May 7
Busboys & Poets presents Monday Night Open Mic Poetry hosted by Rich Hanks in the Robeson Room of its Shirlington location (4251 S. Campbell Ave., Arlington) at 8 p.m. Wristbands are $4 and will be sold in the Global Exchange store beginning at 10 a.m. They are also available for purchase online at busboysandpoets.com starting at midnight before the event.
Tuesday, May 8
GLAA is having a membership meeting tonight in the second floor community room at the Reeves Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
D.C. Bi Women will have its monthly dinner at Dupont Italian Kitchen (1637 17th St., N.W.) tonight from 7 to 9 p.m.
Southern Universities Alumni is having a happy hour at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) tonight at 5 p.m.
The Go-Gos play Rams Head Live (20 Market Place, Baltimore) tonight at 7 p.m. The show will feature all the original members including Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Gina Schock, Jane Wiedlin and Kathy Valentine. Tickets are $45 and available online at tickets.ramsheadlive.com.
Wednesday, May 9
Rainbow Response has its monthly meeting tonight at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 8 p.m.
The D.C. Queer Theatre Festival has a happy hour at MOVA (2204 14th St., N.W.) tonight at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit dcqueertheatrefest.org.
IMP presents Feist, best known for her song “1234” tonight at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Besthesda) at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45 and are available online at ticketmaster.com or through the Strathmore ticket office. For more information, visit strathmore.org.
The Big Gay Book Group meets tonight at 7 at 1155 F Street, N.W., Suite 200 to discuss “Jack Holmes and His Friend” by Edmund White. Newcomers welcome. Visit biggaybookgroup.com for more information.
Thursday, May 10
Matt Howe presents his newest cabaret show “I’m Hip!” tonight at the Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) at 8 p.m. The show will feature Howe singing a mix of show tunes, standards and comedy songs with Daniel Sticco on piano. There is a $10 cover. There will be another performance on May 12.
Celebrity News
Silky Nutmeg Ganache talks sex and dating, gender, politics, weight loss journey
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ semifinalist grew up in Bible Belt
Uncloseted Media published this interview on July 7.
By SPENCER MACNAUGHTON, ISABEL STOKES, and BELLA SAYEGH | After appearing on the 11th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” the first season of “Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. the World,” the sixth season of “RuPaul’s All Stars” and now the 11th season of “All Stars,” Silky Nutmeg Ganache, known by many as the Reverend, is undoubtedly a legend.
Born and raised in Moss Point, Miss., Ganache bears all in this episode of “UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton.” She speaks about her relationship with gender, her 100-pound weight loss, what it’s like living as a queer person of color in a red state and why she’s calling on allies to stand up for the trans community.
Patrons enjoyed a night out at the popular LGBTQ venue Crush Dance Bar on Friday, July 3.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Theater
‘My Favorite Sociopath’ debuts at Shepherdstown’s CATF
Gay playwright Aurin Squire’s take on D.C. journalism in the ‘90s
‘My Favorite Sociopath’
Contemporary American Theater Festival
July 10-Aug. 2
Shepherdstown, W.Va.
Catf.org
Discernment. It’s a thing some people have, explains playwright Aurin Squire, especially when you’re gay or Black in America (Squire is both).
“You instinctively know when the mob is teaming up for the best interests of the powers that be. You can feel it in the air.”
In his sharp new satire “My Favorite Sociopath,” Squire writes about life experiences but set in a different time and place: It’s the 1990s, early days of the 24-hour news cycle, and three ambitious journalism students are pursuing success in D.C.
And now, Squire’s play, along with other new works, are making their world premieres at the annual Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University in historic, queer-friendly Shepherdstown, W.Va. (just a 90-minute drive from D.C.).
“All of my plays are queer in some way,” says Squire, 46. “This one touches on harmless and dangerous lies. The characters are on the spectrum sexually, and it’s interesting how all that falls out.”
And he’s given it a lot of thought.
“Already as a kid, it seemed to me that the rage against rap music and sex was coming from closeted people resisting their own urges and temptations. For me, it was interesting to see a witch hunt led by witches. Queer people can always call out a lie.”
Since September, Squire has also been working with a TV show about the tech industry set in Silicon Valley. He says, “It seems the general flow of the tech industry is that humanity and civilization is finished and it’s just about accumulating as many goods as possible before everything collapses. In fact, those who are profiting actually agree. But for those who disagree, they believe the solution is to build bigger gates, but activists believe we can stop this”
Yet, he’s learned from folks associated with the show. “Many say the quickest way to divorce yourself from any responsibility or regulations — smash and grab. Otherwise, you have to stop and think and regulate your desires for greed and power”
Squire possesses a penchant for pithy titles. He laughs, explaining the first thing he wrote as a student at Juilliard was “Obama-ology,” the comedy with contemporary message. While a lot of people liked the name, it didn’t necessarily vibe with the author. He concedes that he chooses names based on “easy to remember” and titles that won’t be easy to lose as a file.
Another is “Defacing Michael Jackson,” a coming-of-age dramedy set in rural Florida in 1984, specifically Squire’s native town Opa-locka, Miami, a fantastical place famed for its fanciful Moorish revival architecture.
Living in the shadow of exotic structures, he wasn’t particularly fazed. Squire says “It wasn’t until returning to visit after my freshman year at Northwestern University in Chicago that I realized how weird it was: When you grow up in a place, you take surroundings for granted no matter how over the top.”
Now based in New York (where for two happy years, 2017-2019, he shared digs with drag king Murry Hill), Squire returns frequently to Miami to be with family, but this summer has been filled with both work and travel.
Currently, he’s in Shepherdstown with CATF shaping up “My Favorite Sociopath.” Later this summer he will travel to South Africa for research, followed by a silent writing retreat in Santa Fe, N.M.
Much of Squire’s work reflects the Latino, African, Caribbean, African-American, and Jewish cultures he grew up around in South Florida.
When asked if today’s winds of anti-multiculturalism worry him, he replies, “No, because that’s going to pass. Most people don’t like, people are seeing the negative results of it, and the young people coming up despise it. White male gamers were tricked momentarily through the algorithms into voting against their own interests and they’re now seeing how it’s not working out for them.
“Conservatives always try to stop progress and eventually they always lose. It’s just a question of where we’ll be in the middle of the end of civilization before that happens. I’d like to hope we can turn the ship around before then.”
In addition to “My Favorite Sociopath,” CATF summer season features three other world premieres (Lisa D’Amour’s comedy “The Smoker,” “Refugee Rhapsody” by Yussef El Guindi, “Best Line Wins: A Play Inspired by the Improvised Lives of Elaine May & Mike Nichols” by Beth Kander) and “¡VOS!” by Christina Pumariega.
CATF runs from July 10-Aug. 2 in three venues on the Shepherd University campus: Frank Center, Marinoff Theater, and Studio 112.
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