Arts & Entertainment
Moonlit magic
Female-dominated Cirque show a wonder


Andreanne Nadeau, the Moon Goddess riding a cerceau. (Photo courtesy Cirque du Soleil)
‘Cirque du Soleil Amaluna’
Through Sept. 21
At National Harbor
300 Waterfront Street
Oxon Hill, MD
$45-270
800-450-1480,
You can spot Cirque du Soleil’s trademark blue and yellow striped tent from miles away. Sitting on a bluff above the National Harbor complex on the banks of the Potomac in Maryland, the big top conjures the kind of circus excitement you knew as kid. But forget the whip-toting tamer putting defanged lions through the paces. Cirque is about what people can do.
With its latest installation “Amaluna,” the Quebec-based franchise pays tribute to the power and allure of women. From its young woman coming-of-age storyline to its core female performers to its all-girl band, “Amaluna” offers a less-testosterone-fueled experience than Cirque’s other shows. But don’t fear, along with the daring, body-bending ladies, there’s plenty nimble beefcake on hand to keep everyone happy.
“Amaluna” (an etymological mash of “mother” and “moon”) refers to a mysterious, lunar-lit island inhabited by women and watched over by goddesses. Staged by Broadway’s Diane Paulus (best known for her celebrated revivals of musicals “Pippin” and “Porgy and Bess”), this dazzling amalgam of street theater and Vegas follows a narrative loosely based on Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” only in this telling it’s singing sorceress Prospera (Julie McInnes) not Prospero whose magic sets the action in motion.
Prospera’s daughter Miranda needs a mate. The only male on hand is her half human, lizard-tailed pal Cali (Viktor Kee). Despite his enviable abs, he doesn’t make the grade, so mother summons a storm landing a crew of displaced young men on Amaluna’s shores. Miranda falls for Romeo (Evgeny Kurkin), the cutest of the bunch. But nothing comes easy. The pair’s fledgling infatuation must face many tests of the uniquely Cirque variety: for bikini-clad Miranda (the comely and cut Iuliia Mykhailova), it’s a series of contortionist moves on the slippery lip of a huge glass bowl. As Romeo, buff Kurkin demonstrates his outrageous upper body strength with a super tall, death-defying Chinese pole. It’s amazing stuff.
The climate-controlled venue is cavernous allowing the cast to soar through the night sky on aerial straps. And while the moody lighting creates a world of sea, stars and moon, it’s the performers’ athleticism and superbly executed physical feats that make the show.
The acts are varied ranging from highflying acrobatics to Cali’s immensely enjoyable juggling act which combines the tradition of circus and the flash that is Cirque. The tricks are incredible. Not at all the usual circus filler fare that you might expect. The all-male teeterboard act features a crew of well-built shirtless guys attempting to escape from a makeshift prison. It’s an exciting demonstration of strength and tumbling.
Not to say, the show is without flaws. Ever wonder where Olympic wannabes go? It appears the female gymnasts end up doing the uneven bar en masse with a traveling circus. It’s not easy. But when you come to Cirque, you expect to be blown away. This act was underwhelming. And what would a circus be without clowns? In this case, better. Sadly, the comic relief is tiresome.
The show’s highlight is titled Manipulation, an exotic balancing act performed by dancer Lili Chao Rigolo. Bit by bit, she deliberately picks up palm leaf ribs with her toes, slowly but surely assembling a piece of movable art that resembles a huge avian skeleton. The implication of her breath heightens the drama. Hers is intriguing and masterful artistry.
Overall, “Amaluna” is wondrous, transporting summer magic.

Evgeny Kurkin as Romeo in ‘Amaluna.’ (Photo courtesy Cirque du Soleil)
Celebrity News
Is Karla Sofía Gascón’s apology too little, too late?
Netflix has removed transgender actress from Oscars campaign

The latest in the scandal involving “Emilia Peréz”’s trans star and Best Actress nominee Karla Sofía Gascón is Netflix deciding to part ways with her even after her public apology and statement regarding not withdrawing from the nomination.
“I have been labeled a racist and I need to be clear that I am not. I feel like I’ve been judged, sentenced, crucified, and stoned without a fair trial and without an option to defend myself,” said Gascón in an interview with CNN en Español.
According to Variety and the Hollywood Reporter, Netflix has cut Gascón out of the campaign for the Oscars. This move comes even after Gascón issued an apology through a statement on her social media and in an interview with CNN en Español. On Thursday she was set to be seated with co-star Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña and the film’s writer-director, Jacques Audiard for the AFI Awards luncheon — a gathering at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. On Friday, she was set to attend the Critics Choice Awards. On Saturday, she was set to serve as presenter at the Producers Guild Awards, which happen to be going on at the same time as the Directors Guild Awards. According to THR, she will not be attending the events.
The Spaniard actress found herself at the center of controversy surrounding the Netflix original being nominated for 13 Oscars after freelance culture writer Sarah Hagi uncovered the actress’s stream of consciousness on display on X, formerly Twitter. Hagi found tweets from as far back as 2020, revealing Gascón’s views on Muslims, George Floyd, China, and vaccines.
In her hour-long interview with CNN en Español, she defended her position on the issue stating that she feels that she was unfairly targeted, while not being given the opportunity to defend the position she stood behind while writing those tweets.
She goes on to say that she “supports the Black Lives Matter movement obviously” and that the tweets about George Floyd “were taken out of context.” In the interview, she goes on to say she was highlighting the hypocrisy of humanity in that moment in history. According to Gascón, what she noticed during that time was that only after Floyd’s death did people care about him, but prior to his death, they did not help him or care about his struggles.
“I do not identify with any political party and I have my own opinions about issues that might have been one thing in the past, but have now shifted because I have learned many things about respect, love and with the spiritual practice of Buddhism,” said Gascón.
In the interview, she also pulls the “I have a friend who’s Black, so I’m not racist,” card by saying she has a very close family friend who is Muslim, in response to the line of questioning about her being Islamophobic and only through very heavy discussions with her, has Gascón truly come to understand the implications of her words against the culture and religion, as well as the differences between the cultures.
“Emilia Peréz” was already facing an upward battle to gain popularity, as it was a French production about México. Audiences criticized the film for various reasons and yet, it was still nominated for Best Picture, Critics Choice Award for Best Picture, Academy Award for Best Directing, and many others.
Gascón deleted her X account shortly after the tweets were discovered and is now facing the cold shoulder from Netflix. Variety and THR, reported that the streaming giant is no longer directly communicating with Gascón – only through representatives.
Whether or not this is a witch hunt for a trans actress at the height of her career, Gascón now has first-hand experience in dealing with what it means to misuse a platform by sharing her views on issues she said herself, she did not understand.
Out & About
Camp Rehoboth Theatre Company kicks off new season
Poetry jam to be followed by ‘5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche’

CAMP Rehoboth Theatre Company will kick off its 2025 season with its first-ever poetry jam followed by a full-stage production of “5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche” on Friday, Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. at CAMP Rehoboth’s Elkins-Archibald Atrium.
CAMP Rehoboth Poetry Jam Poets / Performers include: Debbie Bricker, Kari Ebert, Shelley Blue Grabel, Lavance John, Vanita Leatherwood, Syd Linders, Ellie Maher, Jane Miller, Gwen Osborne, Coco Silveira, Guillermo Silverira, Laura Unruh, Paul Unruh, and Sherri Wright.
“5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche,” which will run from March 7-9 debuted at CAMP Rehoboth in fall of 2022, and features returning cast members Karen Laitman, Kelly Sheridan, Gwen Osborne, Darcy Vollero, and Shelley Kingsbury, and is directed by Teri Seaton. The absurdist comedy follows the Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein having their annual quiche breakfast in 1956. Winner of the 2012 NYC International Fringe Festival as Best Overall Production, “5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche” is a tasty recipe of hysterical laughs, sexual innuendos, unsuccessful repressions, and delicious discoveries. For more information, visit CAMP Rehoboth’s website.

Friday, February 7
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.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].
Go Gay DC will host “First Friday LGBTQ+ Community Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at P.F. Changs. 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, February 8
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.
“Fashion Freeway” will be at 11 a.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Guests will have the opportunity to check out the clothing closet. Clothes, shoes, accessories, and other items will be available. For more details, email [email protected].
Sunday, February 9
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Dinner” at 6:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. Guests are encouraged to come enjoy an evening of Italian-style dining and conversation with other LGBTQ folk. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Coffee and Conversation” at 12 p.m. at As You Are. This event is ideal for making meaningful new connections and informal community building. Or just to unwind and enjoy the group happy hour. Fabulous people from all over the world are expected. Nametags will be provided. This event is free to attend and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, February 10
“Center Aging Monday Coffee & Conversation” 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. on Zoom. 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 details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.
Tuesday, February 11
Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. By sharing struggles and victories the group allows those newly coming out and who have been out for a while to learn from others. For more details, email [email protected].
Trans Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is intended to provide emotionally and physically safe space for trans* people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].
Wednesday, February 12
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.
Thursday, February 13
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
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