Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: March 28-April 3
Center groups, parties, exhibits and more for the week ahead
Singer Cher Lloyd, who played the Capital Pride mainstage last summer, visits Rams Head Live in Baltimore next week. (Photo courtesy Rams Head Live)
Calendar for the week ahead in LGBT D.C. events:
Friday, March 28
The Latino History Project hosts its third annual “Mujeres en el Movimiento,” an event for lesbian Latinas to meet and connect, at MOVA Lounge (2204 14th St., N.W.) tonight from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The theme is “Celebrating Women of Color, Courage and Commitment.” There will be drinks, Latino music and a historical digital photo exhibit. There is a $5 suggested donation. For more details, visit latinoglbthistory.org.
Chef Art Smith hosts a private dinner as part of “Taste of Pride” at his restaurant Art and Soul (415 New Jersey Ave., N.W.) tonight from 7-10 p.m. Smith, who has appeared on numerous television specials including “ABC’s Lady Gaga Thanksgiving Special,” will prepare a three-course dinner with red wine. There will also be a meet and greet with him. Tickets are $60. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit capitalpride.org/taste.
Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) holds a happy hour from 5-7:30 p.m. tonight with all drinks half price. Enjoy pool, video games and cards. Admission is $5 after 9 p.m. Must be 21 and over. For more details, visit bachelorsmill.com.
Women in Their 20s, a social discussion group for lesbian, bisexual, transgender and all women interested in women, meets today at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) from 8-9:30 p.m. All welcome to join. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
Saturday, March 29
Washington Independent Review of Books hosts “Books Alive!,” a literary book conference for writers, agents and book lovers, at the Bethesda Marriott (5151 Pooks Hill Rd., Bethesda, Md.) today from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Speakers include best-selling author Jonathan Alter, cookbook author Joan Nathan and former Washington Post restaurant critic Phyllis Richman. There will also be pitch session for aspiring authors to meet with top literary agents. Tickets are $220 and include morning coffee and a box lunch. For more information, visit washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com.
“Bring It On: The Musical,” a musical adaptation of the hit blockbuster movie “Bring It On” comes to Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, Md.) for two performances today at 3 and 8 p.m. The musical was on Broadway and written by Tony Award-winning writer of “Avenue Q,” Jeff Whitty. Tickets range from $31-81. For more details, visit strathmore.org.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts DJ Chord, who will be playing pop music, tonight. Doors open at 10 p.m. Cover is $8 from 10-11 p.m. and $12 after 11 p.m. Drinks are $3 before 11 p.m. The drag show starts at 10:30 p.m. Admission is limited to guests 21 and over.
Sunday, March 30
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 more details, visit perrysadamsmorgan.com.
Adventuring, an LGBT outdoors group, holds a walking tour of the Battle of Spotsylvania this morning at 9 a.m. The tour covers seven miles of trails including the Bloody Angle, where two armies were locked in combat for nearly 24 hours. Bring a picnic lunch, bug spray and $10 for transportation and trip fees. They will carpool at 9 a.m. from the King Street Metro Station (1900 King St., Alexandria, Va.). For more information, visit adventuring.org.
Monday, March 31
University of Maryland’s Jewish LGBT group hosts Rabbi Steve Greenberg, an openly gay rabbi, at Theodore R. McKeldin Library at University of Maryland (Theodore R Mckeldin Library Campus Dr., College Park, Md.) in the special events room on the sixth floor tonight from 7-10 p.m. He will speak on “wrestling with God” as an openly gay Jew in the Orthodox world. For more details, visit marylandhillel.org.
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.
Us Helping Us (3636 Georgia Ave., N.W.) holds a support group for gay black men to discuss topics that affect them, share perspectives and have meaningful conversations. For details, visit uhupil.org.
Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) hosts poker night tonight at 8 p.m. Win prizes. Free to play. For more information, visit nelliessportsbar.com.
Tuesday, April 1
Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.) hosts its weekly ”FUK!T Packing Party” from 7-9 p.m. tonight. For more details, visit thedccenter.org or greenlanterndc.com.
The National Education Association (1537 M St., N.W.) screens “Always Be My Son,” a short documentary about a family struggling with a family member’s sexuality, tonight from 7-9 p.m. For more information, thedccenter.org.
SMYAL (410 7th St., S.E.) provides free and confidential HIV testing drop-in hours today from 3-5 p.m. For more information, visit smyal.org.
Wednesday, April 2
The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for social bridge. No partner needed. For more information, call 301-345-1571.
Bookmen D.C., an informal men’s gay literature group, discusses “The Queen’s Throat: Opera, Homosexuality and the Mystery of Desire,” an exploration of the relationship between gay men and opera, at Tenleytown Library (4450 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome. For details, visit bookmendc.blogspot.com.
Thursday, April 3
British pop singer Cher Lloyd performs at Rams Head Live (20 Market Pl., Baltimore) tonight at 8 p.m. Lloyd is a former “The X Factor U.K.” contestant and received fame in the United States with her hit single “Want U Back.” Lloyd has previously performed at Capital Pride. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 the day of show. For more details, visit ramsheadlive.com.
Broadway star Linda Eder performs at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna, Va.) tonight at 8 p.m. Eder played Lucy in the Broadway musical “Jekyll and Hyde.” She also has 14 solo albums and one duets album. Tickets range from $44-48. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit wolftrap.org.
Rude Boi Entertainment hosts “Tempted 2 Touch,” a ladies dance party, at the Fab Lounge (2022 Florida Ave., N.W.) Doors open at 10 p.m. Drink specials $5 and vodka shots $3 all night. No cover charge. Admission limited to guests 21 and over. For more details, visit rudeboientertainment.wordpress.com.
Celebrity News
D.C. goes gaga for Gaga
Bisexual icon brought ‘The Mayhem Ball’ tour to Washington this week
Lady Gaga this week took D.C. by storm.
The bisexual icon and LGBTQ rights champion brought “The Mayhem Ball” tour to Capital One Arena on Monday and Tuesday.
“Abracadabra,” “Paparazzi,” “Applause,” and “Bad Romance” are among the songs Lady Gaga performed during the 2 1/2-hour long concert. Lady Gaga also celebrated her many queer fans.
“You are precious to us,” she said on Tuesday night before she performed “Born This Way.”
Photos
PHOTOS: Capital Stonewall Democrats 50th anniversary
D.C. LGBTQ political group celebrates milestone at Pepco Edison Place Gallery
The Capital Stonewall Democrats held a 50th anniversary celebration at Pepco Edison Place Gallery on Friday. Rayceen Pendarvis served as the emcee.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Theater
‘Inherit the Wind’ isn’t about science vs. religion, but the right to think
Holly Twyford on new role and importance of listening to different opinions
‘Inherit the Wind’
Through April 5
Arena Stage
1101 Sixth St., S.W.
Tickets start at $73
Arenastage.org
When “Inherit the Wind” premiered on Broadway in 1955 with a cast of 50, its fictional setting of Hillsboro, an obscure country town described as the buckle on the Bible Belt, was filled with townspeople. And now at Arena Stage, director Ryan Guzzo Purcell has somehow crowded Arena’s large Fichandler space with just 10 actors, five principals and a delightful ensemble of five playing multiple roles.
Inspired by the real-life Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s fictionalized work pits intellectual freedom against McCarthyism via the imagined trial of Bertram Cates (Noah Plomgren), a Tennessee educator charged with teaching evolution. Drawn into the fracas are big shot lawyers, defense attorney Henry Drummond (Billy Eugene Jones), and conservative prosecutor, Matthew Harrison Brady (Dakin Matthew). On hand to cover the closely watched story is wisecracking city slicker and Baltimore reporter E.K. Horneck (played by nonbinary actor Alyssa Keegan).
Out actor Holly Twyford, a four-time Helen Hayes Award winner who has appeared in more than 80 Washington area plays, is part of the ensemble. In jeans and boots, she memorably plays Meeker, the bailiff at the Hillsboro courthouse and the jailer responsible for holding Cates in the days leading to his trial.
Twyford also plays Sillers, a slack jawed earnest employee at the local feed store who’s called to serve on the jury. And more importantly she plays Brady’s quietly strong wife Sarah whom he affectionately calls “Mother.”
When Twyford makes her memorable first entrance as Meeker, she’s wiping shaving cream from her face with a hand towel. With shades of Mayberry R.F.D., the jail is run casually. Meeker says Cates isn’t the criminal type, and he’s not.
“There’s a joke among actors,” says Twyford. “When an actor gets his shoes, they know who their character is. And it’s sort of true. When you put on boots, heels, or flip flops, there’s a different feeling, and you walk differently.”
Similarly, shares Twyford, it goes for clothes too: “When Mother slips a pink coat dress over her cowboy boots, dons a little hat and ties her scarf, or Meeker puts on his work shirt, I know where I am. And all of that is thanks to a remarkable wardrobe crew.
“Additionally, some of the ensemble characters are played broadly which is helpful to the actors and super identifying for the audience too.”
During intermission, an audience member loudly described the production as “a proper play” filled with beautifully written passages. And it’s true. Twyford agrees, adding “That’s all true, and it’s also been was fun for us to be a part of the Arena legacy as well. Arena took ‘Inherit the Wind’ to the Soviet Union in the early ‘70s when the respective governments did a cultural exchange. At the time, the iron curtain was very much in place, and they traveled with a play about a man with his own thoughts.”
When the ensemble was cast, actors didn’t know which tracts exactly they were going to play. “What came together was a cast, diverse in different ways. Some directors, including myself when I direct, are interested in assembling a cast that’s a good group. No time for egos. It’s more about who will make the best group to help me tell this story.”
At one point during rehearsal, ensemble members began to help one another with minor onstage costume changes, like jackets and hats: “We just started doing it and Ryan [Guzzo Purcell] picked up on it, saying things really began to come alive when we helped each other, so we went with that.”
“For me, it was reminiscent of ‘The Laramie Project’ [Ford’s Theatre in 2013] when we played five different parts and we’d help each other with a vest or jacket in a similar way. It worked so well then too,” says Twyford.
“Inherit the Wind” isn’t about science versus religion. It’s about the right to think, playwright Jerome Lawrrence has been quoted as saying. And it’s a quote that makes the play that much more relevant today.
Twford remembers a chat in a hair salon: “I was getting my hair cut and the woman next to me shared that she was tired of message plays. Understandably there are theater makers who believe that message plays are the point, while others think it’s all about entertainment. I feel like ‘Inherit the Wind’ sits in a nice place in the middle.”
She adds “the work is a creative way of showing different opinions and that, I think, is what we should be paying attention to right now. Clearly, it’s not right or wrong to express what you think.”
Menaka Guruswamy celebrated as India’s first openly LGBTQ MP
Trans-led HIV clinic in Portsmouth struggles amid funding cuts
D.C. goes gaga for Gaga
Gay priest credited with boosting church support for LGBTQ Catholics
HRC to host National Rainbow Seder
‘How We Survived’ panel set for March 25
Calendar: March 21-26
‘Inherit the Wind’ isn’t about science vs. religion, but the right to think
Small is beautiful: subcompact SUVs
