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Summer stock staycation

D.C.’s never-ending theater season in full swing

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Mitchell Jarvis, Studio Theatre, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Gay News, Washington Blade
Mitchell Jarvis, Studio Theatre, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Gay News, Washington Blade

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.

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Theater

Local theater scene heats up for the season

David Sedaris, Tituss Burgess, opera, and more on tap

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Alec Ludaca and Naomi Jacobson in 'Wipeout.' (Photo by Margot Schulman)

With all the fun and half the hassle, staycation has a lot going for it, and the performing arts can be a big part of the experience. Here’s some of what’s out there this summer.  

At Wolf Trap, the summer program is bursting with song, dance, and laughs. And if you’re quick, you can catch the sardonic wit of gay humorist David Sedaris in his one-night only show “An Evening with David Sedaris” on July 19.  

Pink Martini is bringing its 30th anniversary tour to Wolf Trap on July 29. The self-described “tiny orchestra” known for its cosmopolitan musical stylings, features vocalists China Forbes and Storm Large along with special guest out radio journalist Ari Shapiro.

Other shows slated for the Vienna, Va., farm park include Broadway stars Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra for an evening of showstoppers by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Sondheim, Cole Porter, Jason Robert Brown, and Joni Mitchell. (8/1) Wolftrap.org 

Perfectly timed for summer, Studio Theatre presents “Wipeout” (through July 27). Playwright Aurora Real de Asua’s beach-set story looks to be a promising 110 minutes of humor and poignant moments. 

In “Wipeout,” Claudia, played by terrific D.C. favorite Naomi Jacobson, treats herself and her two closest girlfriends to an early birthday present of surf lessons. 

Coached by “surf bro” instructor Blaze (played by handsome actor Alec Ludacka), Claudia is determined to slide into her golden years “catching some waves, and settling some scores.” 

Olney Theatre presents a fantastic, queer friendly summer program centered mainly around its open-air Root Family Stage (7/31-8/24). 

Highlights include hilarious out actor/singer Tituss Burgess in concert on Aug. 7, as well as the U.S. Premiere Concert presentation of “To Wong Foo: The Musical” (8/21) and “Just Arts: From Stonewall to RuPaul Drag Extravaganza” (8/24) featuring big name drag performers Lala Ri and Latrice Royale

For those looking to beat the heat indoors, Olney has Synetic Theater performing its wordless version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” through Aug. 10. 

Replete with fairies, a fantastical forest, star-crossed lovers, and an actor transformed into a donkey, Synetic’s take on the Bard’s enchanting, Athens-set rom com is directed by Paata Tsikurishvili. Olneytheatre.org 

If kids (4 years and up) figure into your staycation plans, a trip to Bethesda’s Imagination Stage may be just the ticket. “Dory Fantasmagory” (through Aug. 3) based on the children’s book by Abby Hanlon and adapted to the stage by John Glore, explores family dynamics while remaining both imaginative and fun. 

“It’s tough being the youngest. Dory’s siblings won’t play with her and there are monsters to battle all over the house, like the hair-raising Mrs. Gobble Gracker. With the help of her fairy godfather, Mr. Nuggy, her monster-friend, Mary, and her mighty imagination, Dory sets out to win what she wants most: her family’s attention.” 

Young theatergoers are encouraged to come in wacky outfits in the spirit of Dory’s playful style, and pajama Saturdays are also encouraged. Imaginationstage.org 

Young audiences may also enjoy “The Lightning Thief” (through Aug. 17) presented by Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo Park. With music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki, this dynamic musical adaptation of Rick Riordan’s bestselling book opened on Broadway in 2019. 

Here’s the gist of the story. “When teenager Percy Jackson discovers he’s a demigod, he and his friends embark on an epic journey to find Zeus’ missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods.” Kurt Boehm directs. Adventuretheatre-mtc.org

At Signature Theatre, there’s some laid-back cabaret with “Sailing: Yacht Rock” (July 22-Aug. 10) featuring terrific talents Deimoni Brewington and Tracy Lynn Olivera. 

Relax and possibly reminisce with chill tunes like “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl),” “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” and “What a Fool Believes.” It’s a chance to enjoy and revisit the sounds of Christopher Cross, TOTO, and the Doobie Brothers. Sigtheatre.org 

Washington National Opera (WNO) presents Opera in the Outfield (Aug. 23). The WNO invites theater and baseball fans to the Nationals Park for a free broadcast of Gershwin’s gorgeous classic “Porgy and Bess.” The screening starts at 6:30 p.m. 

At the Kennedy Center, summer staycation wraps up with “Parade” (Aug. 19-Sept. 7), a powerful and celebrated 2023 Broadway revival musical. It’s based on the true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory superintendent in Atlanta wrongly accused and convicted of the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan in 1913. Co-conceived by the legendary Harold Prince, the production is a collaboration of some Broadway heavyweights including out director Michael Arden, Alfred Uhry (book), Jason Robert Brown (music & lyrics). Kennedy-center.org

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Music & Concerts

Cyndi Lauper ready to have fun in Virginia

Superstar to bring final leg of farewell tour to Jiffy Lube Live

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Pop icon Cyndi Lauper brings her farewell tour to Jiffy Lube Live on July 24. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Superstar Cyndi Lauper will bring the final leg of her farewell tour “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” to Bristow, Va., on Thursday, July 24 at Jiffy Lube Live. 

Lauper’s international Farewell Tour – her first major headlining run in a decade – kicked off in North America last October, and included her first time ever headlining (and selling out) Madison Square Garden. Lauper’s performances have earned raves from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and many more, and surprise guests have included Chaka Khan, Sam Smith, and Hayley Williams. The tour just visited the U.K. and Europe, and will head to Australia and Japan in April.  

Tickets are available on Live Nation’s website

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Out & About

Rehoboth Pride set for this weekend

Delaware beach town hosts festival, events

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(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Rehoboth Beach Pride is back for a day of summer celebration on Saturday. 

The Delaware beach town will host its Pride festival at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center on July 19 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., followed by an after-party at Freddie’s Beach Bar and a ticketed event in the evening with a film screening, comedian, and musician. 

“It will be a day of community engagement, fun, celebration and learning, all sorts of things rolled into one,” David Mariner, executive director of Sussex Pride, told the Blade. “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to be together, to support each other.”

Pride is organized by Sussex Pride and Gay Women of Rehoboth. The festival will include a free, family-friendly event with vendors offering information and resources, health screenings, and other activities. For more information visit sussexpride.org.

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