a&e features
From the ‘Heart’
‘Looking’ actor Groff leapt at chance to be in Kramer classic
Jonathan Groff, center, as Craig in ‘The Normal Heart.’ (Photo by Jojo Whilden, courtesy HBO)
When director Ryan Murphy and writer Larry Kramer (both out) announced they were adapting Kramer’s groundbreaking and Tony-winning play “The Normal Heart” for HBO, a virtual who’s who of stars clamored to take part in the powerful and emotional story that deals with the onset of the AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s.
The cast quickly filled with respected names like Julia Roberts, Mark Ruffalo, Jim Parsons, Taylor Kitsch and Matt Bomer.
“The Normal Heart” follows Ned Weeks (Ruffalo), a gay activist enraged at the indifference of public officials and the gay community. Bomer plays a reporter who becomes Ned’s lover; former “Friday Night Lights” star Kitsch plays Bruce, a closeted investment banker who becomes a prominent AIDS activist; Roberts plays Dr. Emma Brookner, who treats some of the earliest victims of the epidemic; and Parsons portrays gay activist Tommy Boatwright, reprising his critically praised Broadway role.
One actor who was dreaming of taking part was Jonathan Groff. Although too young to remember the events of the time, the 29-year-old had seen the play during its Off-Broadway revival in 2004 and again when it opened on Broadway in 2011.
“I had seen it several times and it’s such an important piece of writing and it means so much,” Groff says. “When I learned HBO would be turning it into a film, something that would last forever, I wanted to be part of it.”
Luckily, Groff already had a relationship with Murphy, having worked with him on “Glee,” playing the one-time Vocal Adrenaline powerhouse Jesse St. James.
“Ryan texted me and said he had this part for me in the movie, and I called him back right away and said, ‘Absolutely, I would do anything in this movie because it’s such a special project,’” Groff recalls. “I feel very lucky to be in it.”
In the movie, Groff plays Craig Donner, a character barely mentioned in the play, but one who has an extremely important role in the film. He plays the boyfriend of Bruce and ex-boyfriend of Ned.
“Craig is based on one of Larry’s friends from Fire Island, when the ‘gay cancer’ at the time started hitting this circle of friends, and Craig was the first one to go,” Groff says. “It hit him so quickly that when he died, his body was still tan. It was horrifying.”
For the part, Groff worked on location at Fire Island, shooting some of the earliest scenes of the movie.
“We did a bunch of the boys partying it up on Fire Island,” he says. “It was nice to be at the beginning of the movie. We were all having a blast, and then it got pretty dark.”
With longtime friend Lea Michele by his side, Groff joined the cast for an opening night screening last week at New York City’s Ziegfeld Theater and said it was unlike any movie premiere he had ever attended.
“Here we are at the Ziegfeld with the whole cast and crew and a lot of the men and women who lived through the AIDS crisis in New York City at the time and watching it in that venue was just incredibly powerful and a night I will never forget,” he says. “Everyone in that room felt so personally connected to the story we were telling. It is such an amazing movie and has such an effect on people — some had to walk out because it was so much. When we left the theater, there was that same sadness and reverence you have when you leave a funeral, it was a really powerful experience.”
Groff admits that the movie is a little different from the play, but that it almost had to be to pull off its importance on screen.
“Ryan is so visual, so he creates some amazing pictures and the way he pulls the story together has the spirit of the play and a lot of those same lines and speeches that we love, but there’s something very specifically Ryan Murphy about the movie that makes the sensibility a little different,” he says. “It’s the same overall experience, but you are served it in a different way.”
“The Normal Heart” debuts on HBO at 9 p.m. Sunday and is expected to be seen by millions, a far greater reach than the play ever could secure.
“When it’s on a network like HBO that everyone looks to as the benchmark of quality programing, you get a lot of people paying attention to what they put out,” Groff says. “We have Taylor and Julia and Matt and Mark, and hopefully it adds a lot of eyes to the story of those who wouldn’t have watched it before and that reach grows once the movie starts to air.”
In addition to being part of this landmark movie, Groff has had a pretty exciting year already. He starred in HBO’s new series, “Looking,” which will be returning for season two this fall and voiced Kristoff in Disney’s mega-hit “Frozen.”
“The movie exploded in ways that I don’t think anyone who worked on it thought it would, certainly we all thought it was great, but you can never predict a phenomenon,” he says. “I feel extremely lucky to be a part of this history.”
For those who know him from his Tony-nominated role of Melchior Gabor in “Spring Awakening” or one of the many other theatrical productions he’s done, Groff says he is itching to get back to the Great White Way.
“I rented an apartment in New York a couple of weeks ago and I spent every night last week watching plays. I am a theater nerd and a fan and I try to see everything and I want to be back on that stage. It’s just hard to find the time and find the right project, but it’s something I definitely hope to be doing soon.”
Born in 1985, Groff feels he is part of “a younger gay generation” whose members don’t always understand the history of those who came before. He hopes the movie will change the way that some approach their advocacy efforts.
“I think there’s a disconnectedness that my generation has in some ways for the AIDS crisis and what the generation before us went thought emotionally but fought for and got political and advocated about,” he says. “I hope probably more than anything that the movie reaches my generation and not only teaches us about what happened before us, but inspires us to advocate and stay connected to each other and protect each other and continue to be vocal.”
a&e features
Summer in D.C. brings sports, Restaurant Week, festivals, and more
Summer in D.C. just hits different. Congress is out, school is out, the sun is out, thighs are out. With the skies clearing from Canadian smoke, here are a few ways to stay entertained.
Dining
Summer restaurant week: The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is once again hosting Summer Restaurant Week, Aug. 18-24. This weeklong dining experience showcases the dynamic dining scene of the DMV, including 2026 RAMMY Award-winning favorites (the annual D.C. food awards show that took place June 29). Participating restaurants will offer three-course brunch and lunch selections for $25 or $35 per person, and three-course dinners for $40, $55 and $65 per person.
New Restaurants: A handful of new spots have opened, so the summer is a great time to check them out:
- Oribu: A new Mediterranean-Japanese restaurant in the Grand Hyatt hotel, which just underwent a remodeling effort. The sleek restaurant brings upscale charm, with dishes like Wagyu beef tartare with potato pavé and caviar.
- The Oak Room: A snazzy old-school American grill has just opened in Georgetown, alongside its sister upstairs supper club (Bernadette’s) restaurant, in the old El Centro space.
- Uchi: This showy Japanese sushi-forward chain has landed in Dupont with a chef’s tasting menu of favorites like fatty tuna.
- Kathmandu: Recalling the capital of Nepal, this warm, buzzy subterranean restaurant right in the heart of U Street brings spice, flair, and rare ingredients to its dishes (see: buffalo burgers) and drinks.
Sports
- Washington Spirit Pride Night OUT: On Sunday, Aug. 23, head to Audi Field for a massive, high-energy game following the exciting month of World Cup. The designated Pride Night OUT game promises boisterous crowds plus pre- and post-game community engagements.
- Washington Tennis Open – Now called the Mubadala DC Open, this annual tournament is only combined mens’ and womens’ 500-level tennis tournament in the world. The open is one of D.C.’s longest-standing sports traditions, and will take place at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center July 25-Aug. 2. Naomi Osaka, Venus Williams, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and others are expected to play.
Festivals
- Afro Plus Fest: This huge, three-day Afro-Caribbean Hip-Hop Festival brings together headliners Davido, Alkaline, and Wizkid, plus Tems and Ayra Starr. The event moves from RFK to the Northwest Stadium Complex for three days, Sept. 4-6.
- Capital Fringe Festival: Running from July 11-21, this massive celebration features dozens of live theater, comedy, dance, and boundary-pushing nighttime performances across multiple DC neighborhoods.
- The National Book Festival returns, with headliners like Cynthia Erivo, and Martin Scorsese. The one-day festival, Saturday, Aug. 22, brings together bookworms and word nerds under the theme “America 250: It’s Your Story.” There are talks, workshops, musical sessions and more.
- All Things Go: A three-day festival Sept. 25-27 at Merriweather Post Pavilion featuring Mitski, Hayley Williams, Brandi Carlile, MUNA, Zara Larsson, Ethel Cain, and many, many more artists. There are single-day and three-day tickets. Featuring and highlighting female artists, the festival has turned into a must-see for many LGBTQ audience members.
- Fuchsia Fest: The inaugural Fuchsia Fest is a new multi-day celebration created to celebrate LGBTQ community and expression, bringing together a mix of community gatherings, entertainment, and nightlife. The event takes place Sept. 18-20 and is hosted by Capital Pride.
Art and Music
- United We Dance: A high-energy rave with house, techno, bass, and festival music, on Aug. 1 at the 9:30 Club.
- The Fray. On Aug. 14, this American rock band famous for How To Save A Life is at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
- Kesha: Kesha’s high-energy The Freedom Tour comes to the D.C. area on Aug. 14 at Jiffy Lube Live.
- ALOK: On Sept. 3 at Lincoln Theater, ALOK (they/them) performs. The poet, comedian, and actor is putting on a new comedy show.
- 2charm, the emerging Australian electronic club-pop duo popular with the queer community, which blends hyperpop and dance music, comes to the Atlantis.
- Sapphic Dance Party: a vibrant, inclusive nightlife and social event designed specifically for queer women, lesbians, bisexuals, trans individuals, and nonbinary folks, at Atlantis on Aug. 21.
- Jazz in the Garden: The most quintessential of D.C. activities returns Friday evenings through Aug. 14. This season’s theme, “American Sounds,” is a nod to the nation’s 250th anniversary. Tunes themes range from Appalachian and Americana to Creole jazz, Hill Country blues, contemporary jazz, and more. Tickets are available through a lottery system a week before each event.
a&e features
Tickets on sale for chef Patrick O’Connell’s book launch event
Sept. 18 kickoff to feature José Andrés, Tom Sietsema
Acclaimed chef Patrick O’Connell is preparing to publish his new memoir, “Main, Middle & Gay” in September and he’s launching the book with an event on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium featuring Chef José Andrés and former Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema.
Tickets for the event go on sale Tuesday, July 21 at Ticketmaster; prices start at $55.
O’Connell, who’s gay, is the pioneering Michelin-starred chef and longtime proprietor of the Inn at Little Washington. He spoke with the Blade about the September event and the launch of his first memoir.
“I’ve known [Andrés and Sietsema] for more than 25 years and I have great respect for them,” O’Connell said. “I felt that it would allow us to add a different dimension rather than just have an interviewer. The chemistry will be fun and lively and unpredictable and exciting. I think we’re all different personalities and we’ll compliment each other.”
O’Connell has published cookbooks but this is his first memoir. The event will feature a short film that will highlight his work and the Inn.
“What I hope to do with the event is bring the book to life visually,” he said. “So we’re producing a short film that will be part of it. Most of the audience will not have read the book so it’ll give them a visual flavor of the book. It parallels the evolution of American cuisine over 50 years. It’s a rare perspective to be in the trenches for that long.”
The book’s title refers to the location of the garage on the corner of Main, Middle, and Gay streets in Washington, Va., where he launched his restaurant that became an international culinary destination.
The Blade will publish the rest of its wide-ranging interview with O’Connell in September in conjunction with the book’s release.
a&e features
The queer Asian comics building collective joy in D.C.
Spotlighting chaotic ways family, romance, identity take shape in their lives
Kevin Chen’s family tombstone has room for four: him, his parents and his boyfriend. The arrangement might prove to be a little awkward.
“My boyfriend is 100% white, and my parents are 100% disappointed,” Chen confessed.
Jokes about family traditions and the untraditional ways they’re practiced earned a burst of laughs at the bar where Chen was opening for the Pride Comedy Special. The D.C. stand-up event, produced by Comedy Bonfyre last month, spotlighted queer Asian comics who shared the chaotic ways family, romance and identity take shape in their lives.
From candid oral sex takes to top surgery hypotheticals like “Where do the boobs go?”, the night highlighted the loud camaraderie of the queer Asian experience — one that sounds like a cacophony of snorts, cackles and belly laughs. While the comics say they are not quite a community, there’s more than enough shared material to bring them together.
“It was such a magical experience. I loved performing in a queer API lineup. It feels so validating,” Chen said after the show. “I’m wondering, ‘Is this how white men feel all the time?’”
Each performance evoked queer Asian joy through a medium that could use more of its presence.
According to Chen, who is based in D.C., it’s hard to say whether there is a true queer Asian comedy presence in his city. There are only a scattered “handful” of Asian comics, and people of color are underrepresented in queer comic circles, he said.
When Tarunika Anand, a nonbinary lesbian comic, first entered the mainstream D.C. comedy scene, they mostly encountered straight white men, describing the experience as “a culture shock.”
“I feel like sometimes a lot of queer spaces are really white, and then a lot of Asian spaces are really straight,” Anand said. “I don’t feel like I fit into either.”
But feeling marginalized didn’t stop these comics from honing their craft and creating spaces for others like them. Alex Kim, who headlined the special and is based in Brooklyn, runs the queer Asian comedy group Boba Gays, which began on WhatsApp and has since made its way to Lincoln Center.
Every Wednesday, Anand co-produces a free comedy show called Funny Side Up. The queer-led group focuses on inclusivity and showcasing new talent.
“It’s really beautiful to speak about your experience and your existence in a way that’s uplifting,” Anand said.
Family is a major throughline of their comedic repertoires.
Chen, for instance, shared that he identifies with jokes about having Asian immigrant parents and the expectations they pass down.
“You see me, you know this part about me, you know this experience intimately, and I can see the truth that you’re trying to wrap a joke around,” he said. “That hits even harder because that’s my truth too. I think that’s what makes good comedy.”
Anand had the audience at the special howling when they explained that their parents’ be-more-like-them comparisons didn’t end when they came out. Instead, the expectations took on a new form.
“Now, my parents want me to be the best gay,” Anand said. “They’re like, ‘Do you know Ellen DeGeneres?’”
Kim said he’s been trying to unlearn things from his Christian Korean mom. Yet he described a moment when he was getting ready for the club and realized he looked just like his mother getting ready for church.
“I’ve been finding it hard to escape her,” Kim said.
Mutual recognition also radiates through the different ways queer love can take shape. From singlehood to death-do-us-part commitments, the comics cover just about every corner.
Anand is holding out hope for settling down with “a nice, pretty, Indian girl.” They recently went through a breakup and said they felt they dodged a bullet.
“As a person of color, I just don’t think I should be with a Swiftie,” they said.
Chen, touching on what it’s like to be in a queer interracial relationship, said that meeting his white boyfriend’s baby nephew for the first time felt like he was forced to participate in a diversity, equity and inclusion training.
“The dad was like, ‘Please welcome Kevin. Be curious about his culture, his history, his foods,’” Chen joked.
Laughter is not the only reward for the comics.
To Anand, comedy is a space where they can say whatever they want. “It gives me a voice,” they said.
Nik Narain, a North Carolina-based trans and nonbinary South Asian comic who performed at the special, said meeting older trans comedians and taking the stage helped him feel reassured in his identity during his transition.
“Stand-up was a really cool way to process that onstage,” he said. “[It] became a way for me to repackage my thoughts.”
Queer Asians are still figuring out their place in the greater D.C. comedy scene. The group is small in numbers and many are still working toward a full-time comedy career. But Narain feels he’s already made it.
Narain is reluctant to pin it all on one moment. He feels that success is already peeking through in milestones — opening for celebrities, traveling to performances and self-producing shows.
“As long as I can keep doing this, I’m super happy,” he said.
This story was produced as part of the AAJA VOICES fellowship program, a student journalism project of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
Summer in D.C. brings sports, Restaurant Week, festivals, and more
Trump tries to scare Americans into not voting
No Pride without Disability Pride
House blocks effort to codify transgender servicemember ban into law
D.C. Council approves increased funding for Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs
DOJ seeks to dismiss some claims in gay FBI employee’s bias lawsuit
PHOTOS: Vitamin C at JR.’s
PHOTOS: Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival
Hot hatchbacks: Honda Civic, Subaru Impreza
