Connect with us

Arts & Entertainment

Joseph Gordon-Levitt lip syncs ‘Rhythm Nation’

‘Night Before’ co-stars Mackie and Rogen also appear

Published

on

Joseph Gordon Levitt channeling Janet.

Joseph Gordon Levitt channeling Janet.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt went full-on “Rhythm Nation” during last night’s Christmas episode of “Lip Sync Battle.”

The actor emulated Janet Jackson’s iconic music video from her all-black wardrobe down to the choreography. Gordon-Levitt even recreated Jackson’s ponytail and hat combination.

Model Chrissy Teigen, another of the show’s guest stars, Ā said Gordon-Levitt went, “full-on Janet.”

Gordon-Levitt appeared on “Lip Sync Battle” with fellow “The Night Before” co-stars Anthony Mackie and Seth Rogen. The three did more throw-back performances with Mackie lip-syncing to MC Hammer’s “Too Legit to Quit” and Gordon-Levitt, Mackie and Rogen performing Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” alongside Run DMC himself.

Advertisement
FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM
SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST

Out & About

Washington Wizards to host Pride night

Seasons of Love ensemble to perform

Published

on

Wizards Pride Night is Friday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Wizards are celebrating ā€œPride Nightā€ on Friday, March 29.

Each purchase includes discounted tickets to the Wizards vs. Pistons game and an exclusive Pride Night belt bag. The night will be full of Pride celebrations and a National Anthem performance from Seasons of Love, an ensemble of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C.

Tickets are available on the Wizardsā€™ website.Ā 

Continue Reading

Calendar

Calendar: March 29-April 4

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

on

Friday, March 29

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 information, email [email protected].Ā 

Go Gay DC will host ā€œLGBTQ+ Social in the Cityā€ at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. 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.

Saturday, March 30

Fashion FREEWay will be at 2 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is an opportunity to get free clothes and also donate what you no longer need in your closet. If youā€™re interested in volunteering at this event, visit the DC Centerā€™s website.Ā 

Go Gay DC will host ā€œLGBTQ+ Brunchā€ at 11 a.m. at Freddieā€™s Beach Bar & Restaurant. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Sunday, March 31

AfroCode DC will be at 4 p.m. at Decades DC. This event will be an experience of non-stop music, dancing, and good vibes and a crossover of genres and a fusion of cultures. Tickets cost $40 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.Ā 

Monday, April 1

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 their choice. For more details, email [email protected].Ā 

Tuesday, April 2

Pride on the Patio Events will host ā€œLGBTQ Social Mixerā€ at 5:30 p.m. at Showroom. Dress is casual, fancy, or comfortable. Guests are encouraged to bring their most authentic self to chat, laugh, and get a little crazy. Admission is free and more details are on Eventbrite.

Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more details, email [email protected].Ā 

Wednesday, April 3

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 ā€” allowing participants to move away from being merely ā€œapplicantsā€ toward being ā€œcandidates.ā€ For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Center Aging: Womenā€™s Social & Discussion Group will be at 6 p.m, on Zoom. This group is a place where older LGBTQ+ women can meet and socialize with one another. There will be discussion, activities, and a chance for you to share what you want future events to include. For more details, visit the DC Centerā€™s website.Ā 

Thursday, April 4

The DC Centerā€™s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. 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.Ā 

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 Communityā€™s website.

Continue Reading

Theater

Talented pair of local queer actors tackles ā€˜Little Shop of Horrorsā€™

Fordā€™s production features terrific score

Published

on

Chani Wereley (Audrey) and Derrick D. Truby Jr. (Seymour) in the 2024 Fordā€™s Theatre production of Little Shop of Horrors. (Photo by Scott Suchman)

ā€˜Little Shop of Horrorsā€™Ā 
Through May 18
Fordā€™s Theatre
511 10th St., N.W.
$33-$95
Fords.orgĀ 

Ever since premiering off-Broadway in 1982, ā€œLittle Shop of Horrorsā€ has drawn a devoted following of avid audiences as well as performers eager to act in the show. Now playing at Fordā€™s Theatre, the doo-wop, dark comedy features a terrific cast including a wildly talented pair of local queer actors whoā€™ve longed to appear in the show since they were kids. 

Set in the urban 1960s, Alan Menken and Howard Ashmanā€™s hit show with a terrific score follows the wacky rise of Seymour, a nebbishy florist in a Skid Row shop who changes his fortunes by unintentionally marketing an exotic, human eating plant.  

Chani Wereley, 28, who plays Seymourā€™s love interest Audrey, a hyper femme downtowner with an edge, has had her on eye the role for years. Wereley says, ā€œAudreyā€™s been around the block more than once, but I approach her as a person who moves through the world with love and hope.ā€

The queer D.C. native adds, ā€œOn long trips to visit family in Canada or Florida, the first thing weā€™d do is pop a ā€˜Little Shop of Horrorsā€™ video [film version] into the carā€™s VHS player. Iā€™ve watched is so many times, I could quote the whole movie to you.ā€

After auditioning to play Audrey in director Kevin S. McAllisterā€™s production at Fordā€™s, Wereley never thought sheā€™d book the part, and when they said she got it, she cried.  

Similarly, Tobias A. Young, 34, the pansexual actor who voices the part of the bloodthirsty plant affectionately dubbed Audrey II, explains his intense interest in the work: ā€œI started watching the film in ā€™86. Growing up as a little gay boy in Calvert County, Md., I wanted to be blonde Audrey [played by Ellen Green in the movie]. I didnā€™t know much about musicals at the time, but I was absorbed.ā€ 

When asked by Fordā€™s to play the voracious plant Audrey II without auditioning, his reply was an unhesitant ā€œyes.ā€ 

Voicing a role requires Young to sing from backstage in a black box rigged with monitors and a mixing board. He says, ā€œpeople ask if Iā€™m singing from inside of the ever-growing, scary plant. No, Iā€™m not, and thatā€™s fine. But letā€™s face it, actors love to be seen on stage, but I donā€™t feel entirely unseen as Audrey II.ā€

Heā€™s worked hard and successfully with formidable puppeteers Ryan Sellers and Jay Frisby to bring parts of himself to the carnivorous plant ā€” his sassiness, own movements, and even a tilt of his head; their efforts have drawn the actual Young into the show. 

Both Wereley and Young possess gorgeous, emotive voices as evidenced by Wereleyā€™s striking rendition of Audreyā€™s ā€œSuddenly Seymour,ā€ and Youngā€™s soulful ā€œFeed Me (Git It).ā€ Additionally, both actors are also big on queer representation in theater. 

When her young pals were listening to Britney Spears, Wereley was dancing to retro tunes like ā€œMashed Potato Time,ā€ and her favorite song to this day, the Shirelleā€™s girl group anthem ā€œWill You Still Love Me Tomorrow.ā€ As Audrey, Wereley eschews the characterā€™s usual platinum hair for a bouncy brunette, cherry-streaked wig, tight pencil skirts, swing coats, and her very own half-sleeve tattoo. 

ā€œItā€™s important for people to see themselves on stage,ā€ she says. ā€œSeeing me or someone like me is inherently interesting. Being that person on Instagram or with the institution, cast, or audiences is meaningful. Itā€™s important.ā€

In 2011, a couple years after finishing high school, Young landed a part in ā€œDream Girlsā€ at Tobyā€™s Dinner Theatre, and heā€™s been working professionally ever since. Growing up, he didnā€™t see a lot of himself ā€“ Black and queer ā€“ on social media. He now wants to be open and honest for those out there who might not feel seen, he says

An introvert who lets everything loose on the stage, Young says, ā€œtheater is a safe space for queer people. Thatā€™s the first place we feel safe, particularly in school. And this is why we need theaters in schools, now more than ever.ā€

He adds, ā€œWhatā€™s great about Fordā€™s is its surprises, especially when they switch up casting. Itā€™s meaningful to see the shows you love, but why not see them with a twist? Using unexpected actors and incorporating queer people just makes it that much better.ā€

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Sign Up for Weekly E-Blast

Follow Us @washblade

Advertisement

Popular