Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Through March 14
Local D.C. events, parties, concerts, mixers and more through mid-March
‘Mr. Imagination’ by Gregory Warmack, one of the pieces on display starting Saturday (through March 30) in the exhibit ‘Glitterbomb’ at Off-Rhode Studio. (Photo courtesy of Paul Yandura)
Friday, March 8
Special Agent Galactica returns with her happy hour show this evening at 6 p.m. at Black Fox Lounge (1732 Connecticut Ave., NW). The show includes live jazz, blues, cabaret, standards and comedy. Galactica is backed by a three-piece jazz combo. There is no cover charge. For more information, visit pinkhairedone.com.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elT5UIELpGA
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) hosts “10 Hail Marys: A True Blue Madonna Tribute” tonight starting 10 p.m. The party celebrates her first 10 albums. There is an open vodka bar from 10 to 11 p.m. For more information, visit greenlanterndc.com.
Saturday, March 9
On Foursquare? Add many of these events to your To-Do list, and connect with the Blade to always be in the know.
Our City Film Festival kicks off tonight with an opening night party at 9:30 p.m. at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., NE). This party is free. The festival continues tomorrow at noon with its first screening of “Oxygen for the Ears: Living Jazz.” This is the only film festival that showcases D.C.-focused films. Individual tickets are $12, and VIP tickets are $150. For more information, visit ourcityfilmfestival.com.
Off-Rhode Studio at Art Enables (2204 Rhode Island Ave., NE) opens the art exhibit “Glitterbomb” provided by art collector Paul Yandura this afternoon at 1 p.m. The show redefines the attitudes and uses of glitter in artwork with pieces from several different artists and mediums. For more information, visit art-enables.org.
Team D.C. hosts its annual Fashion Show and Model Search tonight at 7 p.m. at Town (2009 8th St., NW). The featured fashions range from club wear and swimsuits to underwear and leather from Universal Gear and Adam & Eve. Pussy Noir will be guest judge. Cover is $10. For more information, visit teamdcsports.com.
Community Life Newsletter celebrates eight years tonight with a night at the theaer to see “Ladies Swing the Blues” at Metro Stage (1201 North Royal St., Alexandria) at 8 p.m. The Community Life Newsletter’s goal has been to connect and educate the community. Tickets are $55. For more information, visit metrostage.org.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHp_-jVp3mY
Sunday, March 10
Lambda Sci-fi has its monthly meeting this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at 1425 S St. NW. Attendees are asked to bring a snack or a non-alcoholic beverage to the social. For more information, visit lambdascifi.org.
Bishop Gene Robinson gives a homily as part of a Lenten Series at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (3rd and A St., SE) this morning at 10 a.m. Robinson was consecrated as Bishop in 2003 by the Episcopal Diocese in New Hampshire, becoming the first openly gay bishop. His talk will start a discussion about the journey of St. Mark and about the global Anglican Church’s inclusion of the LGBT community. For more information, visit stmarks.net.
Monday, March 11
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, March 12
D.C. Center kicks off its new Center Military program this evening at 5 p.m. at MOVA Lounge (2204 14th St., NW). The program is a new initiative to support LGBT service members, veterans and their families. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Whitman-Walker (1701 14th St., NW) holds its group Starting Over for Women 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. 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.
Pop singer Rihanna performs at 1st Mariner Arena (201 West Baltimore St.,) tonight. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $33-$123. For more information, visit baltimorearena.com.
Wednesday, March 13
The Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and dozens of other LGBT networking groups invite professionals to Town Danceboutique (2009 8th St., NW) this evening at 6:30 p.m. for its fifth annual Mega Networking event. There is no cover and registration is free. For more information or to register, visit caglcc.com.
The Big Gay Book Group discusses the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Angels in America: Part I Millennium Approaches” by Tony Kushner tonight at 7 p.m. at 1155 F St., NW, Suite 200. The epic weaves together historical and fictional characters spanning the Reagan-Bush years. For more information, visit biggaybookgroup.com.
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, March 14
P!NK comes to the Verizon Center (601 F St., NW) on her tour “The Truth About Love” tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50-$115. For more information, visit verizoncenter.com.
Special Agent Galactica celebrates the coming weekend at her show at Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., NW) tonight at 8 p.m. Her show brings a variety of music genres and comedy. There is no cover for this event. For more information, visit pinkharedone.com.
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.
Team DC, the umbrella organization for LGBTQ-friendly sports teams and leagues in the D.C. area, held its annual Night of Champions Awards Gala on Saturday, April 20 at the Hilton National Mall. The organization gave out scholarships to area LGBTQ student athletes as well as awards to the Different Drummers, Kelly Laczko of Duplex Diner, Stacy Smith of the Edmund Burke School, Bryan Frank of Triout, JC Adams of DCG Basketball and the DC Gay Flag Football League.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The 2024 National Cannabis Festival was held at the Fields at RFK Stadium on April 19-20.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Covering the @NatlCannaFest at RFK Stadium for @WashBlade . Stop by the LGBTQ+ booth and pick up a paper if you are here. pic.twitter.com/is7hnsaPns
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) April 20, 2024
Theater
‘Amm(i)gone’ explores family, queerness, and faith
A ‘fully autobiographical’ work from out artist Adil Mansoor
‘Amm(i)gone’
Thorough May 12
Woolly Mammoth Theatre
641 D St., N.W.
$60-$70
Woollymammoth.net
“Fully and utterly autobiographical.” That’s how Adil Mansoor describes “Amm(i)gone,” his one-man work currently playing at Woolly Mammoth Theatre.
Both created and performed by out artist Mansoor, it’s his story about inviting his Pakistani mother to translate Sophocles’s Greek tragedy “Antigone” into Urdu. Throughout the journey, there’s an exploration of family, queerness, and faith,as well as references to teachings from the Quran, and audio conversations with his Muslim mother.
Mansoor, 38, grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and is now based in Pittsburgh where he’s a busy theater maker. He’s also the founding member of Pittsburgh’s Hatch Arts Collective and the former artistic director of Dreams of Hope, an LGBTQ youth arts organization.
WASHINGTON BLADE: What spurred you to create “Amm(i)gone”?
ADIL MANSOOR: I was reading a translation of “Antigone” a few years back and found myself emotionally overwhelmed. A Theban princess buries her brother knowing it will cost her, her own life. It’s about a person for whom all aspirations are in the afterlife. And what does that do to the living when all of your hopes and dreams have to be reserved for the afterlife?
I found grant funding to pay my mom to do the translation. I wanted to engage in learning. I wanted to share theater but especially this ancient tragedy. My mother appreciated the characters were struggling between loving one another and their beliefs.
BLADE: Are you more director than actor?
MANSOOR: I’m primarily a director with an MFA in directing from Carnegie Mellon. I wrote, directed, and performed in this show, and had been working on it for four years. I’ve done different versions including Zoom. Woolly’s is a new production with the same team who’ve been involved since the beginning.
I love solo performance. I’ve produced and now teach solo performance and believe in its power. And I definitely lean toward “performance” and I haven’t “acted” since I was in college. I feel good on stage. I was a tour guide and do a lot of public speaking. I enjoy the attention.
BLADE: Describe your mom.
MANSOOR: My mom is a wonderfully devout Muslim, single mother, social worker who discovered my queerness on Google. And she prays for me.
She and I are similar, the way we look at things, the way we laugh. But different too. And those are among the questions I ask in this show. Our relationship is both beautiful and complicated.
BLADE: So, you weren’t exactly hiding your sexuality?
MANSOOR: In my mid-20s, I took time to talk with friends about our being queer with relation to our careers. My sexuality is essential to the work. As the artistic director at Dreams of Hope, part of the work was to model what it means to be public. If I’m in a room with queer and trans teenagers, part of what I’m doing is modeling queer adulthood. The way they see me in the world is part of what I’m putting out there. And I want that to be expansive and full.
So much of my work involves fundraising and being a face in schools. Being out is about making safe space for queer young folks.
BLADE: Have you encountered much Islamophobia?
MANSOOR: When 9/11 happened, I was a sophomore in high school, so yes. I faced a lot then and now. I’ve been egged on the street in the last four months. I see it in the classroom. It shows up in all sorts of ways.
BLADE: What prompted you to lead your creative life in Pittsburgh?
MANSOOR: I’ve been here for 14 years. I breathe with ease in Pittsburgh. The hills and the valleys and the rust of the city do something to me. It’s beautiful, it’ affordable, and there is support for local artists. There’s a lot of opportunity.
Still, the plan was to move to New York in September of 2020 but that was cancelled. Then the pandemic showed me that I could live in Pittsburgh and still have a nationally viable career.
BLADE: What are you trying to achieve with “Amm(i)gone”?
MANSOOR: What I’m sharing in the show is so very specific but I hear people from other backgrounds say I totally see my mom in that. My partner is Catholic and we share so much in relation to this.
I hope the work is embracing the fullness of queerness and how means so many things. And I hope the show makes audiences want to call their parents or squeeze their partners.
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