Arts & Entertainment
Summer stock staycation
D.C.’s never-ending theater season in full swing
Mitchell Jarvis as Frank N. Furter in Studio Theatre’s production of ‘Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show.’ (Photo by Igor Dmitry; courtesy Studio)
When planning your staycation, don’t forget to include some of the tempting selections offered by D.C.’s never ending theater season. Here are a just a few must-see summer productions.
A trip to Olney Theatre Center’s (olney-theatre.org) rambling campus of leafy trees and white clapboard buildings makes a perfect staycation outing. But make no mistake — the longtime company’s upcoming production of “A Chorus Line” (Aug. 1-Sept.1) is more a trip to Times Square than the countryside. When Olney’s new artistic director Jason Loewith took the reins earlier this year, he made a few changes. Tweaks included adding the musical about 17 hoofing hopefuls vying for eight spots in a Broadway musical. Throughout the grueling auditions, the candidates open up, revealing not only battered pasts and heartaches but also the unbridled joy and fulfillment they’ve found in dance. Stephen Nachamie directs and choreographs.
Studio 2ndstage’s (studio-theatre.org) summer production has typically been a highpoint of staycations past. In recent years, they’ve taken audiences from Studio’s 14th Street location to old Kentucky (“Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson”), Los Angeles (“Passing Strange”) and a Chicago television studio (“Jerry Springer: The Opera”). Now it’s a visit to a lonely castle with “Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Picture Show” (through Aug. 4). Mitchell Jarvis stars as that sweet transvestite Dr. Frank N. Furter. Cast includes Sarah Marshall, Matthew DeLorenzo and Will Hayes. Keith Alan Baker and Alan Paul direct. Costume designer Collin Ranney (also known around town as his outré drag persona Birdie LaCage) has been assigned the task of dressing the cast in what promises to be some provocative getups.
Featuring well over a hundred shows in about a dozen or so local venues, Capital Fringe Festival 2013 (capitalfringe.org; July 11-28) adds a kick to your D.C. summer staycation. Like the Fest’s performance spaces that range from cool and comfy to hot as Calcutta in May (though with increasingly improved venues that’s less and less the case), the options onstage (theater, music, dance, puppetry, etc.) are wide and varied, inspiringly risky to flat-out bad. Though quality is on the rise, the delight still lies in finding the gems among the clunkers.
In Silver Spring, Forum Theatre (forum-theatre.com) presents the world premiere of “The T Party” (July 17-27), a celebration of gender transformation in the nation’s capital. Written and directed by versatile Forum company member Natsu Onoda Power, “The T Party” is comprised of two very different acts. The first invites the audience to join interactive small groups: a bridal shower, a prom, a karaoke party or a super bowl party; while the second consists of a series of performed vignettes including songs, dance numbers, video projection, as well as more traditional “scenes” and monologues. Audience participation is not required. Whew.
For its annual Free For All, Shakespeare Theatre Company (shakespearetheatre.org) is reviving its Cuba-themed production of the Bard’s romantic comedy “Much Ado About Nothing” (Aug. 20 – Sept.1) featuring Derek Smith and Kathryn Meisle as witty lovers Benedick and Beatrice. A popular Washington tradition for 22 years, Free For All offers free tickets to the general public to experience Shakespeare in the late summer. These performances formerly took place under the stars at Carter Barron Amphitheater, but now it all goes down indoors in the comfort of STC’s Sidney Harman Hall. No rain. No mosquitoes. No humidity.
The Victory Fund held its National Champagne Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, April 27. Speakers included Tim Gunn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Music & Concerts
Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’
Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.
For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.
Friday, May 2
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at P.F. Chang’s. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, May 3
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more information and events for LGBTQ People of Color, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
Sunday, May 4
“The Chateau Drag Brunch” will be at 12 p.m. at Chicatana. Enjoy fabulous Mexican food and cocktails while being entertained by a rotating cast of the DMV’s best drag performers. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
“The Bubble: Queer Brooklyn Comics in DC” will be at 5 p.m. at As You Are. Queer comedians Charlie Flynn, Evan Lazarus and Keara Sullivan are coming down from NYC for a night of fun as they split an hour of standup comedy. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Monday, May 5
“Center Aging Monday Coffee & Conversation” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Tuesday, May 6
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more details, email [email protected].
Wednesday, May 7
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older queer women can meet and socialize with one another. We will have discussion, activities, and a chance for you to share what you want future events to include. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, May 8
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga with Sarah M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
South Asian Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The peer support group is an outlet for South Asian-identified LGBTQ individuals to come and talk about anything affecting them. It’s a secure, judgment-free environment to discuss relationships, sexuality, health, well-being, identity, culture, religion, or anything that is on your mind. For more details, email [email protected].
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