Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: July 6
Parties, events, concerts and more through July 12
DJ Oren Nizri spins at Town this weekend. (Photo courtesy Nizri)
TODAY (Friday)
The HIV Working Group does outreach tonight for Bear Happy Hour at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) from 7-10 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org or towndc.com.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) hosts a dance party tonight for guests 21 and older with DJ Jay Von Teese from 7:30 p.m.-3 a.m. For more details, visit phase1dc.com.
CaShandra J, a jazz and blues singer, performs tonight at Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 6-9 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Saturday, July 7
DJ Oren Nizri, an Israeli DJ, spins tonight at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.). Doors open for guests 21 and older at 10 p.m. and the drag show starts at 10:30. Admission is $8 from 10-11 p.m. and $12 after 11; $3 drinks will be served before 11. For details, visit towndc.com.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) hosts a “Pop Rocks” party with DJ LS tonight for guests 21 and older from 7:30 p.m.-3 a.m. For details, visit phase1dc.com.
The Mayu Saeki Trio (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.), an alternative Jazz ensemble, perform tonight at Black Fox Lounge from 8-11 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today for the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation at the Falls Church, Va., PetSmart (6100 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church) from 11:45 a.m.-3 p.m. If interested, email [email protected] or visit burgundycrescent.org for more information.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) has free HIV testing today from 4-7 p.m. today. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The Black Cat hosts Hellmouth Happy Hour tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. One episode of the gay cult classic series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” screens and a drink special is served. Admission is free. For more details, visit blackcatdc.com.
The Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.) hosts Code tonight from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Code is a leather, jock gear, uniforms and skin gear party with a strictly enforced dress code. For details, visit codedc.com.
Sunday, July 8
The D.C. Kings perform tonight at Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.). Doors open at 7 p.m. and the performances begin at 9. Tickets are $10 and limited to guests 21 and over. For more information, visit phase1dc.com or dckings.com.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today for the D.C. Central Kitchen (425 2nd St., N.W.) from 9 a.m.-noon. The activity is limited to 15 volunteers. Volunteers will help cook alongside D.C. Kitchen chefs, but prior cooking experience is not required. If interested, email [email protected] or visit burgundycrescent.org for more information.
The Lambda Sci-Fi club hosts its monthly meeting for LGBT science fiction, fantasy and horror fans at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon at 1425 S St., N.W. Guests are encouraged to bring a snack and non-alcoholic drink to share. For more information, visit lambdascifi.org or email [email protected].
Monday, July 9
The D.C. Lambda Squares Beginner Class starts tonight from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.). No prior square dancing experience, special outfits or partners are required to participate. The cost is $100 in advance or $125 at the door for the 16 classes. For details, visit dclambdasquares.org or thedccenter.org.
The Goethe-Institut German Cultural Center (812 7th St., N.W.) screens “The Complaint of an Empress,” a film directed by Pina Bausch, tonight at 6:30 p.m. The film features a collage of scenes of the city of Wuppertal, Germany, and focuses on the human quest for love. For more information, visit goethe.de/washington.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (200 N Boulevard, Richmond) hosts a textile design workshop today from 9 a.m.-noon. Enrollment is limited to 10 people and costs $135 per workshop ($120 for VMFA members). For more information, visit vmfa.museum.
Tuesday, July 10
Dupont Italian Kitchen (1637 17th St., N.W.) hosts the monthly D.C. Bi Women meeting from 7-9 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The D.C. Center hosts a FUK!T Packing Party tonight from 7-9 p.m. at the Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.). Volunteers will help make FUK!T packets and TOOLK!Ts. For more details, visit thedccenter.org.
Cobalt (1638 R St., N.W.) hosts Flashback tonight with DJ Jason Royce from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Dance jams from the ‘70s, ‘80s and early ‘90s play all night. Admission is free and $2 draft beer will be served all night. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) features the opening show of “The Addams Family,” a morbid musical comedy classic, tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $39-$115 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Wednesday, July 11
The Rainbow Response Coalition, a group that addresses intimate partner violence among LGBT people in the greater Washington area, meets tonight from 7-8 p.m. at the D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.). For more information, visit rainbowresponse.org or thedccenter.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts karaoke tonight for guests 21 and older. Doors open at 10 p.m. and admission is free. $5 Absolut and Smirnoff cocktails will be served. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Thursday, July 12
The Art League Gallery (105 North Union St., Alexandria) hosts an opening reception with featured artist Cecily Corcoran for her “Genius Loci” solo exhibition tonight from 6:30-8 p.m. The exhibit has paintings of various Washington landscapes inspired by her daily commute to work. For more information, visit theartleague.org.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers tonight for Food & Friends (219 Riggs Road, N.E.). Volunteers will help with food preparation and chopping vegetables. If interested, email [email protected] or visit burgundycrescent.org for more information.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington host an open mic tonight at Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 8-11 p.m. Admission is free. Participants receive a complimentary drink after their first song. For more details, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Cobalt (1638 R St., N.W.) hosts its weekly best package contest at midnight this evening with DJ MadScience and DJ Sean Morris. Admission is $3 and limited to guests 21 and over. $2 rail drinks will be served from 9-11 p.m. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
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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