Arts & Entertainment
Missionary man
Mormon-skewering Broadway hit at Kennedy Center
Mark Evans, left, and Derrick Williams in ‘The Book of Mormon.’ (Photo by Joan Marcus; courtesy Kennedy Center)
‘The Book of Mormon’
Through Aug. 18
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
$43-$250
kennedy-center.org
You’ve seen them. Those squeaky clean Mormon boys on their post-high school mission, indefatigably going door to door pushing the Latter Day message.
Dressed in their white shirts, black ties and pants, they look lifted from the Eisenhower era. “The Book of Mormon,” the Broadway favorite from “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and “Avenue Q” co-creator Robert Lop, hilariously trades on this iconic image so ripe for lampooning. And now the first national tour of the delectably irreverent musical is parked at the Kennedy Center through late August. Tickets have been in extremely high demand.
The action kicks off in Salt Lake City (imagined here as a flat, pretty colored picture map) with a passel of eager young Mormons honing their proselytizing skills in the very funny opening number “Hello.” Next the young men are paired off and assigned their mission destinations. Mormon poster boy Elder Price (Mark Evans) is matched with unlikely counterpart Elder Cunningham (Christopher John O’Neill). With his perfect hair and no-nonsense demeanor, Price is an admired over achiever; while Cunningham who’s never been able to slog through the Book of Mormon is rumpled and desperate for a friend. Together they’re sent to a remote Ugandan village (Price was hoping for Orlando, Fla.).
In Uganda, Scott Pask’s set morphs into a darker world of ominous skies and broken down huts. A villager casually crosses the stage dragging a life size, bloody donkey carcass. After presenting themselves to some of the leading natives, Price and Cunningham join a group of other young missionaries stationed in the village. They learn that things aren’t going too well, religious conversions aren’t happening. It seems that the understandably jaded local population, tired from dealing with AIDS, forced female genital mutilation and a threatening violent warlord, has little time for far out Bible stories.
Undaunted, Price is determined to do something incredible. But surprisingly, it’s less-than-promising Cunningham, not Price, who connects with the native population. He strikes up a romance with local girl Nabulungi (the sweet and sexy Samantha Marie Ware), and with her help, peddles a watered down version of Mormonism filled with references from his favorite science fiction and fantasy films, and wins loads of converts.
With the creators of “South Park,” nothing is sacred. In the second act’s “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream,” Price sees his father having hot sex with serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Then there’s casual talk of raping babies as a cure for AIDS. One villager routinely complains, “I have maggots in my scrotum.” Yes, it’s a little offensive and very foulmouthed, but it’s also big-hearted and admirably executed.
As Price, sterling-voiced Evans gives a nuanced performance, ably conveying his character’s big ego as well as his decency and likeability. Evans’ stirring rendition of “I Believe” is one of the show’s more memorable moments. And though not as musically blessed as Evans, O’Neill (making his professional debut as Cunningham) oozes comic ability.
Smartly, the show’s creators use musical theater elements including heartrending ballads and big song and dance numbers (delightfully choreographed by co-director Casey Nicholaw) to poke fun. Grey Henson is terrific as the closeted Elder McKinley who likes to think that suppressing his gayness is as simple as turning off a light switch. He and the other Mormons sing about it in a fabulous tap-filled number titled “Turn it Off.”
With “The Guardsman” and “Anything Goes,” the Kennedy Center has been on a roll. And now with “The Book of Mormon,” that winning streak continues for the big boxy landmark on the Potomac.
Friday, April 17
Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7:00p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Saturday, April 18
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.
The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website.
Sunday, April 19
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Lunch” at 11 a.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. 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.
Monday, April 20
“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” 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 information, contact Adam ([email protected]).
Tuesday, April 21
Center Bi+ Roundtable will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting.Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Senior Self Defense Class with Avi Rome will be at 12:30 p.m. This inclusive and beginner-friendly class, led by Instructor Avi Rome, offers a light warm-up, stretching, and instruction in basic techniques, patterns, and striking padded targets. Each session is designed to be adaptable for all ability and mobility levels, creating a welcoming space for everyone to build strength, confidence, and community through martial arts. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Wednesday, April 22
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. 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.
Asexual and Aromantic Group will meet at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a space where people who are questioning this aspect of their identity or those who identify as asexual and/or aromantic can come together, share stories and experiences, and discuss various topics. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, April 23
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm 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 Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Out & About
Team DC’s annual gala set for this weekend
LGBTQ sports organization to hold annual ‘Night of Champions’
Team DC will host “Night of Champions Gala” on Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at the Georgetown Marriott.
This will be an evening of celebration and inspiration as Team DC honors remarkable individuals and supports the next generation of LGBTQ student-athletes.
There will be opportunities to support Team DC through auctions. The Silent Auction items will offer an array of unique goods and experiences. Additionally, Team DC will feature an exclusive selection of live auction items for those looking to make a significant impact.
This year, Team DC will recognize six outstanding awardees who have made significant contributions to the LGBTQ community and sports:
- Trailblazer Award – Adam Peck, District Wrestling
- Most Valuable Person Award – Sean Bartel (posthumously)
- Champion Award – Dan Martin
- Clark Ray Horizon Award – Manuel Montelongo, aka Mari Con Carne
- Bernard Jude Delia Award – Dr. Sara Varghai
- Platinum All Star Award – Centaur Motorcycle Club
To purchase tickets, visit Team DC’s website.
Television
‘The Pitt’ stars discuss what season two gets right about queer representation
Noah Wyle and Taylor Dearden spoke with Blade in LA
As season two of “The Pitt” comes to a close this Thursday, stars Noah Wyle and Taylor Dearden are looking back on what this season got right about queer representation.
“There is some intentionality behind it, but it’s not necessarily for the representation to be anything other than human or ubiquitous to anyone that would come into an emergency room,” Noah Wyle, who plays Dr. Robby, told the Los Angeles Blade at PaleyFest event in Los Angeles on April 12. “I know that we’ve done some storylines with some gay couples, and we did a storyline in season 1 where a woman comes in who’s cut her arm, who’s trans. But in both of those storylines, that wasn’t the point.”
Wyle continues, “In doing it that way, and not making a point of orientation being part of the problem that brings you to the emergency room, we have been told in feedback that that has been extremely revolutionary, almost, and extremely appreciated. But that’s true whether we do storylines with any kind of minority or a person with a disability. We try to have a cosmology of cast and representation on the show that’s indicative of what you find in Pittsburgh.”
Dearden, who plays Dr. Mel King, echoed Wyle’s sentiment: “I think constantly battling tropes is always important. It’s not a show about romance; it’s a show about real life and a shift in the ER. The more we represent everyday people going through everyday life, they just happen to be queer, they just happen to be trans, and making it not the plot, is putting everyone on equal playing [field]. You don’t have to have a big coming out scene.”
Queer representation on “The Pitt” is also notable through the actual actors themselves, including openly queer actor Supriya Ganesh, who plays Dr. Samira Mohan (who didn’t attend PaleyFest after the news that she is not returning for season three), and Amielynn Abellera, who plays Perlah Alawi.
“Doctors don’t put value judgments on who they treat,” Wyle concludes. “That’s not a luxury extended to them, and so that’s not part of our storytelling.”
The season two finale will air Thursday, April 16, on HBO Max, while season three has already been confirmed and is currently being written.
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