Arts & Entertainment
Calendar through August 29
DJ Escape, drag cabaret, LGBT hip-hop and a Rehoboth 5k on tap this week
DJ Escape is at Town tonight (Friday). (Photo courtesy DJ Escape)
Friday, August 23
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts Bear Happy Hour tonight from 6-11 p.m. There is no cover charge and admission is limited to guests 21 and over. For details, visit towndc.com.
Remington’s Nightclub (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) hosts “The A-List Show” tonight from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. The drag show, featuring Ladi Lenore and The Empire, starts at 11:30. Admission is $10.
Us Helping Us (3636 Georgia Ave., N.W.) hosts a reception to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March On Washington tonight from 6-10 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served. For more information, visit uhupil.org.
DJ Escape, a New York-based deejay who has spun at some of the world’s largest nightclubs and made remixes for stars like Beyoncé and Gwen Stefani, spins tonight at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.). Doors open at 10 p.m. and the drag show starts at 10:30. Cover is $8 from 10-11, and $12 after 11. For details, visit towndc.com.
The Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) hosts “GAY/BASH,” an alternative LGBT dance party and drag show, tonight at 9:30 p.m. DJs Joshua Vogelsong and Dean Sullivan blend electro and bass pop with punk and rock and roll all night. The party features two drag performances, one at 11:30 and the other at 1 a.m. Admission is $10 and open to guests 18 and over. For details and to purchase tickets, visit blackcatdc.com.
Olivia & the Mates, fronted by lesbian singer-songwriter Olivia Mancini, perform tonight with Matthew Sweet at the Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $29.50. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit birchmere.com or oliviamancini.com.
Saturday, Aug. 24
Phase 1 of Dupont (1415 22nd St., N.W.) hosts its weekly “Booty Beach Ladies Dance Party.” The winner of the party’s bikini and board shorts contest will receive cash and prizes. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $5. Visit phase1dc.com for more information.
Maryland Trans*Unity hosts a picnic and potluck for all transgender, genderqueer and gender non-conforming individuals from 2-6 p.m. at Open Door MCC (15817 Barnesville Rd., Boyds, Md.). For details, visit thedccenter.org.
Layla Lounge (501 Morse St., N.E.) hosts an “Elite Boyz” dance party tonight from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Admission is limited to guests 21 and over and is free before midnight and $10 afterward. For details, visit layladc.com.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts “Beats and the City,” a laser light show and dance party with DJs Eddie Elias and Luis Perez, from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Admission is $10 and open to guests 18 and over. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit cobaltdc.com.
Club Hippo (1 West Eager St., Baltimore, M.D.) hosts “Vogue,” a Madonna birthday tribute party, tonight from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. DJ Jason Royce spins Madonna classics all night, and $2 rail drinks and draft specials will be served. Cover is $8 and is free those with military or college IDs and those who share Madonna’s Zodiac sign. For more information, visit clubhippo.com.
The Latino Queer Bilingual Writing Group hosts a creative writing workshop at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) today from 12:30-2:30 p.m. The workshop is open to writers of all genres and levels of experience who wish to write in Spanish or English. Visit thedccenter.org for more information.
Sunday, Aug. 25
Perry’s (1811 Columbia Rd., N.W.) hosts its weekly Sunday Drag Brunch today from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The cost is $24.95 for an all-you-can-eat buffet. For details, visit perrysadamsmorgan.com.
The Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) hosts karaoke tonight from 9 p.m.-midnight. Cover is $3, and there will also be pool, video gaming systems and cards. For more information, visit bachelorsmill.com.
Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) hosts its weekly “Guil-Tea Dance Party” today from 3-8 p.m. DJ Shea Van Horn spins pop guilty pleasures all afternoon. Admission is free and limited to guests 21 and over. For more details, visit nelliessportsbar.com.
K&C Productions hosts its weekly “Sizzling Hot Sundays,” an LGBT hip-hop and house music dance party, at Club Muse (717 6th St., N.W.) from 11 p.m.-2 a.m. For details, visit clubmuse.com.
The Black Fox Lounge (1723) hosts “Tula’s Cabaret,” a classic lip-sync drag show, from 8-11 p.m. tonight. Admission is free. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts a “Celebration of Bayard Rustin’s Life” today from 2-5 p.m. The event includes a “Meeting for Worship” at 2, light refreshments at 3 and a screening of the biopic film, “Brother Outsider,” at 3:30. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Heart to Hand, a non-profit devoted to assisting people with HIV and AIDS, is having a benefit called Skate Away HIV Day today at the Temple Hills Skating Palace (3132 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, Md.) from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission is free and the first 500 who get tested at the event will get free skate rentals.
The fourth annual Sundance Land & Sea event is today at 8 a.m. (7:30 check-in) at the Rehoboth Bandstand in Rehoboth Beach, Del. Participants can do either a 5k run, half-mile swim, one-mile walk or biathlon. Participants are encouraged to pick up their packets on Saturday. The event is a benefit for CAMP Rehoboth. Visit seashorestriders.com for details.
Monday, Aug. 26
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts its weekly “Monday’s a Total Drag [Show]” party tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. An episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” screens at 9, and then a live drag show will be featured. Admission is 18 and up and is free. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts coffee drop-in hours this morning from 10 a.m.-noon for the senior LGBT community. Older LGBT adults can come and enjoy complimentary coffee and conversation with other community members. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The Capital Area Rainbowlers Association (CARA) hosts a social tonight at the AMF Annandale Lanes (4245 Markham St., Annandale, Va.) from 8-10 p.m. All local LGBT groups are invited to attend. Bowling is $1 per game and shoe rental is $1. For more information, visit carabowling.org.
Tuesday, Aug. 27
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts a genderqueer discussion group from 7-8 p.m. tonight for people who identify outside of the gender binary. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.) hosts its weekly FUK!T Packing Party tonight from 7-9 p.m. For more details, visit thedccenter.org or greenlanterndc.com.
Wednesday, Aug. 28
The Dupont Drawing Group meets tonight at 7 p.m. at The Church of the Pilgrims (2201 P St., N.W.) to draw from a live model. The session is self-directed with no formal instruction and no materials are provided. Drawing spots and easels are available on a first-come-first-serve basis, so guests should arrive anytime after 6:45. No reservations are required, and a modest fee to pay the model will be collected. For more information, visit paulreuther.com.
Us Helping Us (3636 Georgia Ave., N.W.) hosts a support group for black gay men living with HIV from 7-9 p.m. For more details, visit uhupil.org.
The Lambda Bridge Club meets at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for duplicate bridge. Reservations are not necessary and newcomers are welcome. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Thursday, Aug. 29
SMYAL (410 7th St., S.E.) hosts “Chat it Up,” a support group for LGBT youth, from 5-7 p.m. tonight. For more information, visit smyal.org.
Rude Boi Entertainment hosts “Tempted 2 Touch,” a ladies dance party, at the Fab Lounge (2022 Florida Ave., N.W.). Doors open at 5 p.m. for happy hour until 9, and the club closes at 1 a.m. Admission is $5 all night and limited to guests 21 and over. For details, visit rudeboientertainment.wordpress.com.
Whitman-Walker Health provides free HIV testing at Miriam’s Kitchen (2401 Virginia Ave., N.W.) tonight from 4-6 p.m. 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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