a&e features
Sounds of the ‘60s
Midtown Men singer says era’s music had special qualities
The Midtown Men (Photo courtesy of the Midtown Men)
NSO Pops: The Midtown Men with Steven Reineke, conductor
Friday and Saturday
8 p.m.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
2700 F St., N.W.
$20-85
If you loved the smash Broadway musical “Jersey Boys,” the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, you’ll probably also love the Midtown Men, a throwback group comprised of the four original “Jersey Boys” stars who now tour with their own ‘60s revue.
The group, in Washington this weekend for two shows with the National Symphony Orchestra, has played more than 1,000 shows together counting their 2005-2008 stint on the Great White Way.
Now with legal woes behind them — there was a back-and-forth in 2010 between “Jersey Boys” producers and the Men that was eventually settled out of court — the four actor/singers, Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard, J. Robert Spencer and Michael Longoria — have earned raves all over the country for their high-energy show, which the New York Times said has “the air of the Rat Pack, Motown and a nightclub act all rolled into one.”
It started backstage during “Jersey Boys.” Longoria, 33, who originated the role of Joe Pesci while often playing Valli in matinees before taking over the role fully for the last year-and-a-half he was in it, says the cast would often play other early ‘60s music backstage on show nights to help them get in the mood.
“We did it to just kind of feel the world of the ‘60s and the world Frankie Valli lived in,” Longoria, who moved to New York in 1999 when he was 17 to go to New York University, says. “We’d play the Mamas and the Papas, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and before you knew it, we all started singing along together.”
After a hit debut singing at Katie Couric’s 50th birthday party in 2007, invitations started pouring in.
When the guys realized it was more than just a one-off, they started establishing more repertoire and eventually, after three years of “Jersey Boys,” they went their separate ways for about a year, but then reunited and hired an agent and within a month, had a year’s worth of gigs booked as the Midtown Men. That was four years ago.
So is this just Boomer nostalgia in high gear or is it more than that?
Longoria, who croons with ease in a buttery falsetto on songs like “Breaking Up is Hard to Do,” “Sherry,” “Happy Together” and many more (the group rotates its set list regularly), says the songs have lasted because of the uncommonly strong songwriting.
“It was very story driven and has a lot to do with everyday people’s problems,” he says. “It’s guys wearing their hearts on their sleeves. They might be telling you they’re leaving, but it’s done in a very human way. A lot of times in music today, there are so many bells and whistles, the words and melody get lost. But back then, that’s all they had, so they just put it on the table and because of that human element and that human experience, it’s very easy to relate to for an audience.”
Longoria also says the style of much of the singing is well suited to his four-octave range.
“They wrote a lot for guy singers and they don’t really do that much anymore.”
He says the vocal efforts aren’t particularly taxing. He likens it to going to the gym and staying in shape with his voice.
Some of his favorites to sing are “Be My Baby” by Ronnie Spector and “Wouldn’t it Be Nice” by the Beach Boys. Four Seasons hits like “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” are staples of the show.
Longoria says he met Valli many times during the “Jersey Boys” run and says the legendary singer, now 80, was always “very supportive” and even gave Longoria his cell phone number.
“I think he saw himself in me a little bit,” Longoria says. “He was always very nice and kind about giving me advice and stuff like that.”
After graduating from NYU, Longoria worked about six months at the famed Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Times Square before being cast in “Hairspray” with Harvey Fierstein, a show he was with for two years before moving — ironically just across the street — to “Jersey Boys.”
“It was nice because I still got to see my ‘Hairspray’ friends everyday,” he says. “We’d flash each other from the dressing room windows. Girls would show their boobs. Guys would show their asses. If you were lucky, you’d see a dick. It was a fun, young time. Very exciting.”
Longoria came out at age 15 at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and says he can’t imagine living any other way. His boyfriend of five years, a Broadway producer he declines to name, sometimes travels with him.
So is Broadway as gay as everybody tends to think it is?
Longoria says it is, though, “there are lots of annoying straight guys there, too.”
“Hairspray,” he says, was so gay, initially getting cast in the much-straighter “Jersey Boys” provided a tinge of culture shock.
“On ‘Hairspray,’ I never really thought about it,” he says. “It was never like, ‘Oh, there’s all these queens back here,’ you know what I mean? … Harvey Fierstein was just like this big, gay fairy godmother and it just seemed natural. But then being in ‘Jersey Boys, it was a much different experience because I was trying to bring all this machismo to the role and also so many involved were straight, married, had girlfriends. I was the one bringing guys to meet the cast. It was normal and accepting, but it did feel a little different. That specific show just had a lot of straight guys in it.”
Often the Midtown Men perform with a seven-piece rock band, but they eventually had orchestrations charted of their music and shows like this weekend’s with the NSO Pops became possible.
The last few times Longoria has been in Washington, it’s been cold, so he says he’s looking forward to being here in warmer weather. If you’re out this weekend, there’s a chance you could see him at JR.’s or Cobalt. He says he loves checking out the local bar scene, seeing what the drag shows are like and giving out Midtown Men tickets.
“I’ve made some really cool friends in really random places you wouldn’t even think would have a gay bar,” he says.
Will today’s music hold up as well? Will we be going to Adele and Lady Gaga Broadway shows in 40 or 50 years?
Longoria says it’s possible but points out how many of today’s singers — he mentions Adele and the late Amy Winehouse especially — ape ‘60s vibes in their material.
“With Adele, even though the songs are new, so much of the way she sings and the way it’s produced, that’s all ‘60s influences. I think that’s one reason they had so much success is because this time right now is very hot for the ’60s and a lot of people are bringing it back. … It’s also a big trend on Broadway now to bring all this stuff back. There was our show, a Beach Boys musical that flopped but then now there’s the Carole King musical, which I saw and was great. I don’t want it to sound like some negative thing, but it is kind of a cheap way for producers to be like, ‘Oh, you know, this’ll work, everybody loves these songs. Let’s do a show about Carole King, or let’s do a show about Frankie Valli,’ as opposed to something brand new and original. Audiences today don’t always care to see something brand new.”
a&e features
Memorial for groundbreaking bisexual activist set for May 2
Loraine Hutchins remembered as a ‘force of nature’
The Montgomery County Pride Center will host a celebration honoring the life and legacy of Loraine Hutchins, Ph.D., on May 2. People are invited to attend the onsite memorial or a livestream event. The on-site event will begin at 10 a.m. with a meet-and-greet mixer before moving into a memorial service around the theme “Loraine a Force of Nature!” at 11 a.m., a panel talk at 12 p.m., break out sessions for artists, academics, and activists to build on her legacy at 1 p.m. and a closing reception at 2 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to register for the on-site memorial gathering or the livestreamed memorial. The goal of this event is also to collect stories and memories of Loraine. Attendees and others can share their stories at padlet.com.
An obituary for Hutchins was published in the Bladelast Nov. 24, where people can learn more about her activism in the bisexual community. A private service for friends and family was held in December but this memorial service is open to all.
Alongside her groundbreaking work organizing for U.S. bisexual rights and liberation including co-editing “Bi Any Other Name: BIsexual People Speak Out” (1991), she also integrated faith into her sexual education and advocacy work. Her 2001 doctoral dissertation, “Erotic Rites: A Cultural Analysis of Contemporary U.S. Sacred Sexuality Traditions and Trends,” offered a pointed queer and feminist analysis to sex-neutral and sex-positive spiritual traditions in the United States. Her thesis was also groundbreaking in exploring the intersections between sex workers and those in caregiving professionals, including spiritual ones.
In an oral history interview conducted by Michelle Mueller back in August 2023, Hutchins described herself as a “priestess without a congregation.” While she has occasionally had a sense of community and feels part of a group of loving people, she admitted that “I don’t feel like we have the shape or the purpose that we need.”
“I’ve often experienced being the Cassandra in the room, the Cassandra in the community. Somebody who’s kind of way out there ahead, thinking through the strategic action points that my community hasn’t gotten to yet, and getting a lot of resistance and hostile responses from people who are frightened by dissent and conflict and not ready for the changes we have to make to survive,” she said.
“For somebody who’s bisexual in an out political way and who’s been a spokesperson for the polyamory movement in an out political way, it’s very exposing. And it’s very important to me to be able to try to explain and help other people understand the connection between spirituality and sexuality,” she explained citing how even as a graduate student she was “exploring how to feel erotic and spiritual, and not feel them in conflict with each other in my own spiritual contemplative life and my own sensual body awareness of being alive in the world.”
“Every religion has a sense of sacred sexuality. It’s just they put a lot of boundaries and regulations on it, and if we have a spiritual practice that is totally affirming of women’s priesthood and of gay people, queer people’s ability to minister to everyone and to be ministered to be everyone, what does that do to the gender of God, or our understanding of how we practice our spirituality and our sexuality in community and privately?”
“There’s no easy answer,” she concludes, and she continued to grapple with these questions throughout her life, co-editing another seminal text, “Sexuality, Religion and the Sacred: Bisexual, Pansexual, and Polysexual Perspectives,” published in 2012. Her work blending spiritual and queer liberation remains groundbreaking to this day.
Rev. Eric Eldritch, a local community organizer and ordained Pagan minister with Circle Sanctuary who has worked for decades with the DC Center’s Center Faith to organize the Pride Interfaith Service, is eager to highlight this element of her legacy at the memorial service next month.
a&e features
Queery: Meet artist, performer John Levengood
Modern creative talks nightlife, coming out, and his personal queer heroes
John Levengood (he/him) describes himself as a modern creative with a wide‑ranging toolkit. He blends music, technology, civic duty, and a sharp sense of wit into a cohesive artistic identity. Known primarily as a recording artist and performer, he’s also a self‑taught music producer and software engineer who embodies a generation of creators who build their own lanes rather than wait for one to appear.
Levengood, 32, who is single and identifies as gay and queer, is best known as a recording artist who has performed at Pride festivals across the country, including the main stages of World Pride DC, Central Arkansas Pride, and Charlotte Pride.
“Locally in the DMV, I’m known for turning heads at nightlife venues with my eye-catching sense of style. When I go out, I don’t try to blend in. I hope I inspire people to be themselves and have the courage to stand out,” he says.
He’s also known for hosting karaoke at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va., on Thursday nights. “I like to create a space where people feel comfortable expressing themselves, building community, and showcasing their talents.”
He also creates social media content from my performances and do interviews at LGBTQ+ bars and theatres in the DMV. Follow the Arlington resident @johnlevengood.
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
I have been fully out of the closet since 2019. My parents were the hardest people to tell because my family has always been my rock and at the time I couldn’t imagine a world without them. Their reactions were extremely positive and supportive so I had nothing to fear all along.
I remember sitting on the couch with my mom, dad, and sister in our hotel room in New Orleans during our winter vacation and being so nervous to tell them. After I finally mustered up the nerve and made the proclamation, I realized my dad had already fallen asleep on the couch. My mom promised to tell him when he woke up.
Who’s your LGBTQ hero?
My LGBTQ heroes are Harvey Milk for paving the way for gays in politics and Elton John for being a pioneer for the fabulous and authentic. My local heroes in the DMV are Howard Hicks, manager of Green Lantern, and Tony Rivenbark, manager of Freddie’s Beach Bar. Both of them are essential to creating spaces where I’ve felt welcome and safe since moving to the DMV.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
Trade tops the list for me because of the dance floor and outdoor space. It’s so nice to get a break from the music every once and a while to be able to have a conversation.
We live in challenging times. How do you cope?
I’m still figuring this out. What is working right now is writing music and spending time with family and friends. I’ve also been spending less time on social media going to the gym at least three times a week.
What streaming show are you binging?
After “Traitors” Season 4 ended, I was in a bit of a show hole, but “Stumble” has me in a laughing loop right now. The writing is so witty.
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
At 18, I wish I would have known how liberating it is to come out of the closet. It would have been nice to know some winning lottery numbers as well.
What are your friends messaging about in your most recent group chat?
We are planning our next trip to New York City. If you can believe it, I visited NYC for the first time in 2025 for Pride and I’ve been back every quarter since. Growing up in the country, I was subconsciously primed to be scared of the city. But my mind has been blown. I can’t wait to go back.
Why Washington?
It’s the closest metropolitan area to my family, but not too close. I love the museums, the diversity, the history, and the proximity to the beach and mountains. It’s also nice to live in a city with public transportation.
Aging RFK Stadium has come down, but the RFK grounds are still getting lit up. Welcome back to the stage Project GLOW, D.C.’s homegrown electronic festival, on May 30-31. Back for its fifth year on these musically inclined acres, Project GLOW returns with an even more diverse lineup, and one that continues to celebrate LGBTQ antecedents, attendees, and acts.
Project GLOW 2026 headliners include house and techno star Mau P, progressive house legend Eric Prydz, hard-techno favorite Sara Landry, and bass acts Excision b2b Sullivan King, among the lineup of trance, bass, house, techno, dubstep, and others for the fifth anniversary year.
President & CEO Pete Kalamoutsos — born and raised in D.C. — founded Club GLOW in 1999. In 2020, GLOW entered into a partnership with global entertainment company Insomniac Events to produce live events like Project GLOW, which kicked off in 2022.
As in past years, Project GLOW not only makes space, but is intentionally inclusive of the LGBTQ community, one of its most dedicated fan bases. The festival’s LGBTQ-focused Secret Garden stage blooms again — a more intimate dance area that stands on the strength of DJs and musicians who draw from the LGBTQ community. D.C.’s LGBTQ nightlife mastermind Ed Bailey is the creative mind behind Secret Garden again. He joined Project GLOW in 2023.
“Kalamoustos says that “he’s proud of his partnership with Ed Bailey, along with Capital Pride and [nightlife producer] Jake Resnikow. It’s amazing to collaborate with Bailey at the Secret Garden stage, especially after the curated lineup we worked on at Pride last year.”
The Secret Garden will be a bit different from other stages: Eternal (“At the Eternal stage, time stands still. Lose yourself in the dance of past, present, and future, surrendering to the eternal rhythm of the universe”) and Pulse (“Feel the rhythm of the beat pulse through your veins as the heartbeat of the crowd synchronizes into one. Here, every moment vibrates with life as it guides you through a new dimension of euphoria”). The Secret Garden stage is in the round, surrounded by 16 shipping containers. The containers play canvas to muralists from around the world, who are coming in to paint them in a vibrant garden-style vibe. “We gave this stage some extra love with this layout,” K says, “ we finally cracked the code.”
K says that this will be the biggest lineup yet for the Secret Garden, featuring Nicole Moudaber b2b Chasewest, Riordan b2b Bullet Tooth, Ranger Trucco, Cassian, Eli & Fur, Cosmic Gate and Hayla. The stage is also the largest yet, featuring an expanded dance floor and 360-degree viewing.
Across all stages, K says that his goal for the fifth anniversary is “More art and fan interactive experience, more like a festival, strive to be like a Tomorrowland, as budget grows to add more experience.” Last year’s Project GLOW alone drew 40,000 attendees over two days.
K, however, was not satisfied with one festival this spring. GLOW recently announced a “pop-up” one-day event. Teaming up with Black Book Records, GLOW is set to throw a first-of-its-kind dance-music takeover of Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., headlined by electronic music star Chris Lake. Set for April 18, this euphoric block party will feature bass and vibes blocks from the White House. Organizers expect as many as 10,000 fans to attend. Beyond music, there will be food, activations, and plenty of other activities taking place around 6th St and Pennsylvania Ave NW – a location familiar to many in the LGBTQ community, as this sits squarely inside the blocks of the Capital Pride party that takes place in DC every June.
Over the past two decades, Club GLOW has produced thousands of events, from club nights to large-scale festivals including Project GLOW, Moonrise Festival, and more. Club GLOW also operates Echostage.
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