Arts & Entertainment

Out & About: DC and Baltimore events

Swimsuit show and WTF at Town, several black LGBT theater events, a Whitney Houston tribute in Baltimore and more

Published

13 years ago

May 24, 2012

Juliette Ebner

A production still from ‘The Ice Child,’ being staged now in Washington. (Photo courtesy Factory 449)

‘Ice Child’ play finds inspiration in creepy Poe tales

Inspired by the chilling tales of Edgar Allan Poe, Factory 449 company members Lisa Hodsoll, Hunter Styles and Rick Hammerly (who is gay) have co-written “The Ice Child,” a terrifying hour-long theater piece guaranteed to resonate with audiences.

Now in production at Mead Theatre Lab at Flashpoint, “The Ice Child” centers on Catherine (Sara Barker), a young woman who awakens to find herself imprisoned in a coffin-sized freezer. Held captive by former co-worker Kidd (Dexter Hamlett), Catherine soon learns her release is not imminent and escape from what could easily be a lethal situation depends on not angering her creepy captor. Meanwhile outside the freezer, Catherine’s treatment and fate is being considered as well.

Slickly produced, “The Ice Child” is compellingly told through a mash up of performance, film, and projected photos. It runs through June 3 at the Mead Theatre Lab at Flashpoint (916 G Street, NW). Tickets are $20. Visit factory449.com for details or call 866-811-4111.

Swimsuits and WTF at Town this weekend

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) has a couple events happening this weekend.

On Saturday, the club is hosting a swimwear fashion show featuring models in “2xist” swimsuits courtesy of Universal Gear. DJ Chord spins. Doors open at 10 p.m. and cover is $7 until 11 p.m. and $12 afterward.

Sunday brings the return of “WTF” and this week’s theme is airlines. The night will feature several DJs including the Pocket Gays, Aaron Riggins and Ed Bailey. Doors open at 10 p.m. and cover is $5.

Attendees must be 21 or older for both events.

Several black LGBT theater events on weekend slate

Tonight and Saturday, “She’Baltimore” by Ira Kip is premiering in the D.C. area at Warehouse Theater (645 New York Ave.,) as an official part of Black Pride at 8 p.m.

The play, which takes place in Baltimore, deals with issues of battery and abuse in the LGBT community. Admission is $25.

Another official Black Pride theater event is a reading of “The Four of Us” at Mead Lab Theater (916 G St., N.W.) on Saturday at 2 p.m. Admission is $20 and includes a small reception.

Although not an official part of Pride, the African-American Collective Theater is observing the 20th anniversary of its first D.C. Black Pride theater showcase on Sunday with two stage readings of “Here. And Now.” by ACT founding directo Alan Sharpe at Warehouse Theater at 5 and 8 p.m. The play is a family drama in which the relationship of a middle-aged, male couple with two sons is tested. Tickets are $15. Contact [email protected] for more information and advance tickets.

Komen race to benefit Mautner Project

The 23rd annual Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure will happen June 2 on the National Mall in Washington. The annual breast cancer benefit awarded a $200,000 grant to lesbian health organization the Mautner Project, which expanded its breast cancer program. The grant was awarded in 2011 and runs for two years.

The event starts at 8 a.m. It’s still possible for those wishing to participate to register. Details are at globalraceforthecure.org. Or call 1-877-GOKOMEN.

Soulful Symphony to honor Houston

Hippodrome Theater at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center (12 North Eutaw St.) hosts the Soulful Symphony on June 1 at 8 p.m. as it honors the late Whitney Houston.

The concert will feature Houston’s hits ranging from gospel to pop, R&B to film music and more.

This performance will also act as the groups season-ending gala event.

Tickets range from $30 to $250 and are available online at ticketmaster.com. Special gala tickets include dinner, concert and VIP after party.

For more information on Soulful Symphony, visit soulfulsymphony.org.

Grand Central has specials, theme nights and more

Grand Central (1001/1003 N. Charles St.) has several events this week.

Tonight is the club’s weekly dance party with $2.50 drinks until 11 p.m. Sappho’s is having its own happy hour from 8 to 10 p.m.

Saturday has two-for-one drinks until 8 p.m. and Glow with DJ Arturo. Admission to Glow is $5.

Sunday is the club’s kick off to summer beach party with DJ Arturo.

Monday and Tuesday, Grand Central has karaoke with host Nikki Cox from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Wednesday is “Hump Wednesdays,” an electropop, alternative, indie dance night with DJ Arturo.

The week ends Thursday with ladies night featuring DJ Lems and $2.50 drinks until 11 p.m.

Sci-fi/fantasy convention in town this weekend

Balticon 46, the Maryland regional science fiction and fantasy convention, runs today through Monday at Marriott’s Hunt Valley Inn (245 Shawan Rd.) with special guests Jody Lynn Nye, Jim Odbert, Heather Dale, Ben Deschamps and William D. Phillips.

There will be a variety of panels and workshops covering topics such as anime, dance, gaming, music, video and more.

There will also be an art show, various dealers selling books, memorabilia and more.

Registration ranges from $17 for a single day to $62 for the whole weekend for adults and $9 to $31 for children ages 6 through 12.

For more information and to register online, visit balticon.org.

Trans, poz, coming-out groups to meet at Center

The GLBT Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (241 West Chase St.) has several programs this week.

Three groups are slated to meet Saturday: Sufficient As I Am, a group for youth 24 and younger dealing with issues of sexuality, coming out, relationships, family and more, meets in room 201 at 12:30 p.m.; GIG: Baltimore Trans-Masculine Alliance, a FTM support group, meets at 6 p.m. in room 202; and GIG: Tran*quality, a MTF support group, meets at 8 p.m. in room 202.

On Monday, Men Like Me, a support group for adult men who love other men, is facilitated by licensed clinicians and meets 6 p.m. in room 202.

POZ Men, an LGBT-affirming peer support group for all HIV-positive men, meets Wednesday in room 202 at 6 p.m.

Women of Color, a social and discussion group, meets Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in room 202.

The center also has HIV and STD testing on Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. provided through a collaboration between the GLCCB Health Committee and the Baltimore City Health Department.

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Michael Key

Doechii performs at the WorldPride Closing Concert on Sunday, June 8. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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Theater

A hilarious ‘Twelfth Night’ at Folger full of ‘elegant kink’

Nonbinary actor Alyssa Keegan stars as Duke Orsino

Published

4 days ago

June 8, 2025

Patrick Folliard

Alyssa Keegan (Photo courtesy Folger Theatre)

‘Twelfth Night’
Through June 22
Folger Theatre
201 East Capitol St., S.E.
$20-$84
Folger.edu

Nonbinary actor Alyssa Keegan (they/them)loves tapping into the multitudes within.

Currently Keegan plays the melancholic Duke Orsino in Folger Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “Twelfth Night.” Director Mei Ann Teo describes the production as “sexy, hilarious, and devastating” and full of “elegant kink.”

Washington-based, Keegan enjoys a busy and celebrated career. Her vast biography includes Come From Away at Ford’s Theatre; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Helen Hayes Award, Best Actress) and Paula Vogel’s How I Learned to Drive, both at Round House Theatre; Diana Son’s Stop Kiss directedby Holly Twyford for No Rules Theatre Company; and Contractions at Studio Theatre, to name just a few.

In addition to acting, Keegan works as a polyamory and ethical non-monogamy life and relationship coach, an area of interest that grew out of personal exploration. For them, coaching seems to work hand in hand with acting.

WASHINGTON BLADE: You’re playing the lovesick Orsino in Twelfth Night. How did that come about?

ALYSSA KEEGAN: The director was looking to cast a group of actors with diverse identities; throughout auditions, there were no constraints regarding anyone’s assigned sex at birth. It was really a free for all.

BLADE: What’s your approach to the fetching, cod-piece clad nobleman?

KEEGAN: Offstage I identify as completely nonbinary; I love riding in this neutral middle space. But I also love cosplay. The ability to do that in the play gives me permission to dive completely into maleness.

So, when I made that decision to play Orsino as a bio male, suddenly the part really cracked open for me. I began looking for clues about his thoughts and opinions about things like his past relationships and his decision not to date older women.

Underneath his mask of bravura and sexuality, and his firmness of feelings, he’s quite lonely and has never really felt loved. It makes sense to me why his love for Olivia is so misguided and why he might fall in love with the Cesario/Viola character.

BLADE: As an actor, do you ever risk taking on the feelings of your characters?

KEEGAN: Prior to my mental health education, yes, and that could be toxic for me. I’ve since learned that the nervous system can’t tell the difference between real emotional distress and a that of a fully embodied character.

So, I created and share the Empowered Performer Project. [a holistic approach to performance that emphasizes the mental and emotional well-being of performing artists]. It utilizes somatic tools that help enormously when stepping into a character.

BLADE: Has changing the way you work affected your performances?

KEEGAN: I think I’m much better now. I used to have nearly debilitating stage fright. I’d spend all day dreading going onstage. I thought that was just part of the job. Now, I’ve learned to talk to my body. Prior to a performance, I can now spend my offstage time calmly gardening, working with my mental health clients, or playing with my kid. I’m just present in my life in a different way.

BLADE: Is Orsino your first time playing a male role?

KEEGAN: No. In fact, the very first time I played a male role was at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Va. I played Hipolito in Thomas Middleton’s The Revenger’s Tragedy.

As Hipolito, I felt utterly male in the moment, so much so that I had audience members see me later after the show and they were surprised that I was female. They thought I was a young guy in the role. There’s something very powerful in that.

BLADE: Do you have a favorite part? Male or female?

KEEGAN: That’s tough but I think it’s Maggie the Cat. I played the hyper-female Maggie in Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Round House. In the first act she didn’t stop talking for 51 minutes opposite Gregory Wooddell as Brick who barely had to speak. That lift was probably the heaviest I’ve ever been asked to do in acting.

BLADE: What about Folger’s Twelfth Night might be especially appealing to queer audiences?

KEEGAN: First and foremost is presentation. 99% of the cast identify as queer in some way.

The approach to Shakespeare’s text is one of the most bold and playful that I have ever seen. It’s unabashedly queer. The actors are here to celebrate and be loud and colorful and to advocate. It’s a powerful production, especially to do so close to the Capitol building, and that’s not lost on any of us.