Arts & Entertainment
Calendar through Feb. 28
Meetings, events and parties
Friday, Feb. 22
National Archives Experience hosts free screenings of Academy Award nominees in four categories: documentary feature, documentary short subject, live action short film and animated short film at William G. McGowan Theater in the National Archives Building (700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW). Tonight’s lineup, which starts at 7 p.m., includes screenings of āHow to Survive a Plague,ā āThe Invisible Warā and ā5 Broken Cameras.ā Tomorrow the screenings continue at noon with the showing of Live Action Short Film nominees. Screenings of Animated Short Film nominees follow at 3:30 and 5 p.m. The screenings concluded on Sunday at 11 a.m. with showing of Documentary Short Subject nominees. Seating is first come first serve. Free tickets will be handed out at the entrance on Constitution Ave. an hour prior to the event. For more information, visit archives.gov.
Special Agent Galactica returns with her happy hour show this evening at 6 p.m. at Black Fox Lounge (1732 Connecticut Ave., NW). This week she welcomes singer and actress Nora Palka as her special guest. The show includes live jazz, blue cabaret, standards and comedy. There is no cover charge. For more information, visit pinkhairedone.com.
Saturday, Feb. 23
Rooting D.C., a free all-day gardening forum, takes place today at Wilson High School (3950 Chesapeake St., NW) from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This forum aims to educate about urban food production and consumption while cultivating health. Pre-registration is closed but walk ins will be permitted if attendees arrive early. Coffee and lunch will be provided. This event is free. For more information, visit rootingdc.org.
Burgundy Crescent volunteers this morning at Food and Friends (219 Riggs Rd., NE) at 8 a.m. and again at 9:45 a.m. Volunteers will help with food preparation and packing groceries. The shifts are limited to 10 per shift. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
Military Partners and Families Coalition (MPFC) seeks five volunteers to assist in the celebration of the recordings and stories of LGBT military families that are to be archived in the Library of Congress today at 5:30 p.m. at the Human Rights Campaign building (1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW). Volunteers will set-up before the event, staff the check-in table and greet attendees, hand out information and clean-up afterwards. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
GLOEās Masquerade & Mischief Purim Party, described as the queerest annual Purim Party, takes place tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the DC Jewish Community Center (1529 16th St., NW). Attendees are asked to come in costume and enjoy an open bar, food and performances all night. Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the door. For more information, visit washingtondcjcc.org.
Sunday, Feb. 24
Metropolitan Community Church (747 Ridge St., NW) welcomes LGBT Latinos and their friends for a potluck today at 12:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share. For more information, email [email protected].
Monday, Feb. 25
Matchbox 20 brings its “2013 Changed Tour” to the Lyric Opera House (140 West Mount Royal Ave.) tonight at 7 p.m. with all new material from its fourth album āNorth.ā Tickets are $75. For more information, visit 930.com.
The D.C. Lambda Squares holds its dance series tonight at 7:30 p.m. at National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, NW). The only square dance club located in Washington, the group invites everybody to learn square dancing in just 16 Mondays. No special outfits, partner or prior dance experience is needed. The cost is $100. For more information or to register, visit dclambdasquares.org.
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It is a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. Registration is required and attendees must call 202-797-3580 or email [email protected]. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Tuesday, Feb. 26
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its group Starting Over for Women group tonight at 7. The group is for women whose long-term relationship with another woman. Registration is required and attendees must call 202 797 3580 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) hosts its Safer Sex Kit-packing program tonight from 7-10:30 p.m. The packing program is looking for more volunteers to help produce the kits because they say they are barely keeping up with demand. Admission is free and volunteers can just show up. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Wednesday, Feb. 27
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It is a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. Registration is required and attendees must call 202-797-3580 or email [email protected]. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets tonight at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., SE) at 7:30 p.m. for social bridge. Newcomers are welcome and no reservations are needed. For more information or if you need a partner, visit lambdabridge.com.
Thursday, Feb. 28
Lambda Sci-Fi book group meets to discuss āBlack Blade Blues,ā by J.A. Pitts this evening at 7 p.m. at 1425 S St, NW. Please bring a snack or non-alcoholic drink to share. For more information, visit lambdascifi.org.
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its gay men over 50 support group this evening at 6:30 p.m.. The group is for gay men entering a new phase of life. Registration is required to attend. Registration is required and attendees must call 202-797-3580 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Theater
Signatureās fresh take on classic āForumā
Actor Mike Millan says āitās like a new work in many waysā
āA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forumā
Through Jan. 12
Signature Theatre
4200 Campbell Ave.
Arlington, Va.
$40-$126
sigtheatre.org
For out actor Mike Millan, Signature Theatreās production of āA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,ā couldnāt feel fresher.
Set in ancient Rome, the 62-year-old Tony-winning hit (music with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart) borrows from Roman comedy, farce, and a dash of bawdy vaudeville to the tales of slaves, soldiers, courtesans, and a lovesick young man.
Millan plays Hysterium, a nervous slave in the House of Senex, whose tagline reads āI live to grovel.ā
āIāve never done āForum,ā so to me itās like a new work in many ways,ā he says. āAnd because itās older and has a classic musical point of view and weāre doing it now, itās as if weāve been given a lovely opportunity to make it our own.ā
And indeed, they are doing just that. Directed and choreographed by Matthew Gardiner, the Signature production is introducing new bits and playing with gender: the central character Pseudolus, a sly slave role created by Zero Mostel, is played by Erin Weaver; Erronius is played by Sherri Edelen in drag; and two male actors and one nonbinary actor play courtesans.
Though Millan, 35, is based with his partner in Los Angeles, he regularly travels to New York and is pleased to make Signature in Shirlington an additional destination on his bicoastal work journey. Recently, the affable actor took time to talk about Signature and āForum.ā
WASHINGTON BLADE: A little about the brilliantly named Hysterium, please.
MIKE MILLAN: As a gay actor, I can say that Hysterium is one of the gayer characters Iāve ever played. Heās a sort of fop and heās in drag most of the second act. How can you not see him as a queer character?ā
When the part was written it was sort of gay coded and now itās just abundantly clear, you donāt think twice about it.
BLADE: āForumā is unapologetically fun. Is now the right time for a romp?
MILLAN: The show comes with a level of escapism that is really infectious. During these tense times, it feels great to be doing a silly musical. Weāre doing fart jokes in tunics, and the material and jokes really hold up. Youāll feel better leaving than when you came in.
BLADE: All that and a Sondheim score too?
MILLAN: Heās the reason Iām here. In high school, I discovered his āInto the Woodsā and remember locking myself in my room until I knew every word to āGiants in the Sky.ā
āPassion,ā āFollies,ā I love it all. Heās so singular because he writes from a perspective of acting and storytelling; Sondheim touches me in a way that feels quasi-religious.
When I think about the number of times I sang āLast Midnightā alone in my car, it fills me with a joy that Iāve never gotten from any other composer or jukebox musical.
BLADE: In 2022, you played Idina Menzel super fan Jeff in āWhich Way to the Stageā at Signature. Are you glad to be back?
MILLAN: Yes, Iām happy to be employed. Itās a tough business. Not only are we asked to be great singers, dancers, actors, and performers but weāre asked to have a social media presence and to be the most popular kid in school.
Signature provides a safe environment to try something new and different, to experiment with a community that respects doing that. Also at Signature, it never feels like any audience members are being dragged by their partners to see a show. Itās a supportive community.
BLADE: Speaking of partners, do you miss being away from home?
MILLAN: Sometime itās nice to have that time away from each other; it builds a little mystery.
BLADE: Will your performance change between now and January?
MILLAN: In recent years, Iāve changed my acting approach from cracking the code on how to play a character to inviting the audience on a journey and making them part of the process.
I was raised in musical theater, but by doing comedy, standup, and improv, Iāve come to find the joy of failure freeing. And I like being part of a changing show. I like the idea of somebody being able to say āI was there the night Patti LuPone yelled at the guy who took a picture.ā
BLADE: An unexpected moment.
MILLAN: Of course, I go in with certain things I have planned out, but I like the element of excitement that anything might happen. And I think the audience should feel that way too.
The flight over to Barcelona was uneventful and landed on-time in this beautiful city. I was met at the airport by a very nice taxi driver I had pre-arranged through booking.com. He drove me to my hotel, the Barcelona Continental, on the Ramblas. It was a little disappointing. They neglected to tell those booking the road in front of the hotel was dug up and therefore you needed to be let out of the taxi across the Ramblas and had a long walk with your luggage. It is really old and not redone, except for the bathrooms, those are nice. But I would not recommend it.
I was early and they couldnāt get me checked in for a few hours, so had coffee and then met my friend Simone, also staying at the hotel. She had checked in a couple of days earlier and had the same reaction to the hotel I did. But that didnāt stop either one of us from enjoying Barcelona in all its beauty. I donāt sleep on planes, so the first day was spent relaxing and wandering aimlessly past cathedrals, long shopping streets, and wonderful little side streets off the Ramblas. Simone took off to do her shopping with more specific plans. It was an early night for me and we met again in the morning for coffee and spent a wonderful day together, shopping, walking, and seeing some great street performers. Then it was dinner with friends who we would be boarding the ship with the next morning. They kept predicting rain. It did come late at night and continued through us heading to the port to board the ASCENT. Because of the broken-up roadway we got a little wet heading to the taxi stand, which didnāt make us feel any better about the hotel.
It was a short ride to the port, and soon the beautiful ASCENT came into view. Boarding was easy and then suddenly the cruise was beginning. A walk around the ship unveiled some beautiful artwork, and small changes from the rest of the EDGE series ships I have been on. But it still felt like a welcome home. I headed to deck 15 and the Retreat lounge to meet some of the 70 people I would be traveling with. Scott and Dustin of My Lux Cruise had planned a sail-away party for all of us in their beautiful Iconic suite. They will be hosting a number of events during the cruise, which makes them such great travel agents, and friends. Another friend, the extraordinarily talented Andrew Derbyshire, who would be performing that evening, was there. He was on the ship for only one night, getting off in Alicante to head home to the UK the next day.
I joined friends, Scott, Mike, and the irrepressible Jason, for dinner in Luminae, the dining room for the retreat. It was to be a night where dinner came first and then the show. At 9 p.m. we were seated in the third row of the beautiful theater, to hear Andrew. He didnāt disappoint. He is better than ever. He has an incredible voice and such great stage presence. I, and everyone else, were just so sorry he wouldnāt be staying on the cruise with us. He reminded us he has been working with Celebrity for more than eight years and is one of their biggest stars. He also hosts their Pride month events doing so with great panache. As a young man Andrew performed in the West End in London, and has been a star performer for much of his life. Then it was off to The Club for a little disco music, and then off to bed with a satisfied smile on my face to complete day one on the ASCENT.
Day two began with a knock on the door of my cabin with delivery of coffee, juice, and a bagel. I sat down to write, which I do every morning, and then headed to the gym for my first workout on the ship. It was empty, which was great, and the sun had come out and the view from the lifecycle made it fun. After the gym I headed to the retreat lounge and met some friends and had a cappuccino. The sky started to get gray and clearly it was going to rain in Alicante, our first stop. But that didnāt stop anyone from walking around the town. I was getting the best feeling this was going to be a great cruise.
Out & About
DC Center to host queer market
Clothes, shoes, accessories and other items will be available
The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host āMetro Queer Marketā on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. at its offices at 2000 14th St., N.W., Suite 105.
Guests will have the opportunity to check out the centerās closet. Clothes, shoes, accessories and other items will be available.
For more details, visit the DC Centerās website.
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