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The conundrum of chance

Team behind hit ‘Normal’ returns with pre-Broadway D.C. debut

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Idina Menzel, James Snyder, If/Then, gay news, theater, Washington Blade

 

Idina Menzel, James Snyder, If/Then, gay news, theater, Washington Blade

Idina Menzel and James Snyder in ‘If/Then.’ LGBT issues percolate in two sub-plots in the new musical. (Photo by Joan Marcus, courtesy National Theatre)

‘If/Then’
Through Dec. 8
National Theatre
1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
800-514-3849

Do you ever wonder to what extent chance rules your destiny?

The new musical “If/Then” starring Broadway megastar Idina Menzel as a woman on the precipice of a new life does. Not just how chance affects the individual, but also how the ripple effect of our lives impacts in significant and small ways the fate of those around us.

The neatly titled but rather rambling  “If/Then” (currently premiering at the National Theatre before  moving on to Broadway) centers on Elizabeth (Menzel), an urban planner in her late 30s. We meet her at a pivotal time — after 10 years mired in an unhappy marriage and professional doldrums in Phoenix, Elizabeth returns solo to New York, her city, eager to get her life right. From here, the musical cuts back and forth between two narratives, both possible realities for our heroine. As “Beth,” she concentrates almost solely on her career; but as “Liz,” she makes love and family more of a priority. Though very different, neither of these paths is particularly less traveled, nor are they immune from hardship.

Even though Brian Yorkey’s book with its sometimes confusing parallel stories is cleverly conceived and keeps the audience on its collective toes, the show unfolds unevenly — the plodding first act is followed by a brisker, high drama second. Its most notable achievement however, is the fleshed out character of likable Elizabeth. As the data-obsessed but down-to- earth PhD, Menzel, who famously created the parts of Maureen, the wild bisexual performance artist in “Rent,” and, of course “Wicked’s” green-faced witch Elphaba, gets to show off her considerable acting  chops.

“If/Then” reunites Tom Kitt (music) and Yorkey (book and lyrics) and director Michael Greif (the team behind the commercial/critical hit musical “Next to Normal”). It also brings together a truly stellar, pitch-perfect diverse cast to portray Elizabeth’s friends and love interests including handsome James Snyder as Josh, a low-key Nebraska born ER doctor and army reservist. Anthony Rapp plays Lucas, an intense affordable housing activist who earns his living as a barista and is bisexual. Tony Award-winning LaChanze’s Kate is an innovative, upbeat kindergarten teacher and Liz’s biggest cheerleader. And Kate’s roving-eyed partner Anne is beautifully underplayed by Jenn Colella, who identifies as gay offstage too. Jerry Dixon is Stephen, Beth’s unhappily married boss.

The action takes place in Madison Square Park and other Manhattan locales. The cost of housing and the banishment of lower income residents from the city’s increasingly exclusive ranks is a recurring topic. Mark Wendland’s striking two-tiered set boasts leafy trees and fire escapes. It lightly suggests parks and smoothly morphs into work and living spaces. At one point, we see Elizabeth speaks to us from her tiny, cramped bathroom. We see her from the vantage point of peering through the other side of the mirror above the sink.

Clocking in at almost three hours, the show covers a lot: the relevance of chance, career, family, New York City and marriage. (There are two subplots involving same-sex marriages!) One of the “If/Then’s” quieter moments is Menzel’s wistful delivery of “Walking By a Wedding” just after intermission. Later in the second, Menzel belts it out with the crowd-pleasing power ballad “Always Starting Over,” displaying her voice and range to full advantage.  It’s in this song that our Liz hashes out her choices and comes to grips with the concept that every day is a new opportunity to begin. It’s a stirring theatrical moment and makes up for the musical’s flashes of sitcom-ish humor and occasionally awkward staging.

Today’s musical fairy tale isn’t happily ever after. It’s more fall in love even when the odds strongly favor failure. If it works out, great. If not, at least you tried. For a woman like Elizabeth who worships at the altar of numbers and doesn’t believe in accidents, letting go isn’t easy. “If/Then” advises giving it a shot.

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Books

Celebrate Pride month by reading these books

History, pop culture, and more

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(Photo courtesy of Terri Schlichenmeyer)

You’ve done your share of marching.

You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.

You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.

Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.

You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.

Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.

If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.

Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.

Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.

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Music & Concerts

Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall

Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

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The Indigo Girls are back in the area next week. (Photo courtesy of Vanguard Records)

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall. 

The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.

Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts. 

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Calendar

Calendar: June 13-19

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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Friday, June 13

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected]

Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach bar and Restaurant. 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, June 14

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month 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.

Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite

Monday, June 16

“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 details, email [email protected]

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook

Tuesday, June 17

Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion 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. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Wednesday, June 18

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.

“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website

Thursday, June 19

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite

Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

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