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Adam Lambert turned down the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter

the singer says playing a trans character would be ‘dicey’

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(Screenshot courtesy of YouTube)

(Screenshot courtesy of YouTube)

Adam Lambert revealed he was offered the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in FOX’s “The Rocky Horror Picture Show Event,” but turned down the role.

In an interview with the Idolator, Lambert says he felt uncomfortable taking the role because he isn’t transgender.

ā€œI kind of felt like in 2016, to be cis and playing the role of a trans character, it felt inappropriate to me. In the ā€™70s, it was different,” Lambert told Idolator.Ā ā€œBut nowadays we have such an amazing conversation thatā€™s started about trans and gender in this world. I think casting Laverne [Cox] was so brilliant. Itā€™s so appropriate, you know what I mean?Ā And to re-imagine [the character], as well, because sheā€™s entirely different.”

Lambert says after turning down the role, he realized he wanted to play another iconic character from the film instead.

ā€œSo I said no, but when they started announcing the cast, I said, ā€™Wait a minute ā€” what about Eddie? I wanna play Eddie. I could do that ā€” thatā€™s like one song. Let me just come in and do a bit part, because I really, really wanted to be a part of it,” Lambert says.

The “American Idol” alum doesn’t regret passing on the role and thinks Cox’s take on the character will not only be more fitting, but more interesting.

ā€œYou know, I thought to myself, my friends that are trans ā€” how are they going to feel about casting a non-trans person saying, ā€˜Iā€™m a sweet transvestite from transexual Transylvania?ā€™ Itā€™s dicey,” Lambert says. “I think they made a really bold, refreshing choice on that. Itā€™s very forward-thinking and it feels very right now, which is going to make this remake really interesting.ā€

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Theater

ā€˜Acting their asses offā€™ in ā€˜Exception to the Ruleā€™

Studio production takes place during after-school detention

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Cast of ā€˜Exception to the Ruleā€™ at Studio Theatre (Shana Lee Hill, Khalia Muhammad, Jacques Jean-Mary, Sabrina Lynne Sawyer, Khouri St.Surin, and Steven Taylor Jr.) (Photo by Margot Schulman)

ā€˜Exception to the Ruleā€™
Through Sunday, October 27
Studio Theatre
1501 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
$40-$95
Studiotheatre.org

After-school detention is a bore, but itā€™s especially tiresome on the last day of classes before a holiday.  

In Dave Harrisā€™s provocative new play ā€œException to the Ruleā€ (now at Studio Theatre) thatā€™s just the case. 

Itā€™s Friday, and the usual suspects are reporting to room 111 for detention before enjoying the long MLK weekend. First on the scene are blaring ā€œbad girlā€ Mikayla (Khalia Muhammad) and nerdy stoner Tommy (Stephen Taylor Jr.), followed by mercurial player Dayrin (Jacques Jean-Mary), kind Dasani (Shana Lee Hill), and unreadable Abdul (Khouri St.Surin). 

The familiar is jaw-droppingly altered by the entrance of ā€œCollege Bound Erikaā€ (Sabrina Lynne Sawyer), a detention first timer whose bookworm presence elicits jokes from the others: What happened? You fail a test? 

Dasani (whoā€™s teased for being named for designer water) dubs Erika ā€œSweet Peaā€ and welcomes her to the rule-breaking fold. Together the regulars explain how detention works: The moderator, Mr. Bernie, shows up, signs their slips, and then they go. But today the teacher is tardy. 

As they wait, the kids pass the time laughing, trash talking, flirting, and yelling. When not bouncing around the classroom, Dayrin is grooming his hair, while Dasani endlessly reapplies blush and lip gloss. At one point two boys almost come to blows, nearly repeating the cafeteria brawl that landed them in detention in the first place.  

Itā€™s loud. Itā€™s confrontational. And itā€™s funny.

Erika is naively perplexed: ā€œI thought detention was quiet. A place where everyone remembers the mistakes that got them here and then learns how to not make the same mistakes again.ā€ 

For room 111, the only connection to the outside world is an increasingly glitchy and creepy intercom system. Announcements (bus passes, the schoolā€™s dismal ranking, the impending weekend lockdown, etc.) are spoken by the unseen but unmistakably stentorian-voiced Craig Wallace. 

Dave Harris first conceived ā€œException to the Ruleā€ in 2014 during his junior year at Yale University. In the program notes, the Black playwright describes ā€œException to the Ruleā€ as ā€œa single set / six actors on a stage, just acting their asses off.ā€ Itā€™s true, and they do it well. 

Miranda Haymon is reprising their role as director (they finely helmed the playā€™s 2022 off-Broadway debut at Roundabout Theatre Company in New York). Haymon orchestrates a natural feel to movement in the classroom, and without entirely stilling the action on stage (makeup applying, scribbling, etc.), the out director gives each member of the terrific cast their revelatory moment. In a busy room, we learn that Tommyā€™s goofiness belies trauma, that Mikayla is admirably resourceful, and most startling, why Erika, the schoolā€™s top student, is in detention.   

Mr. Bernie is clearly a no-show. And despite his absence, the regulars are bizarrely loath to leave the confines of 111 for fear of catching yet another detention. Of course, itā€™s emblematic of something bigger. Still, things happen within the room.

While initially treated as a sort of mascot, awkwardly quiet Erika becomes rather direct in her questions and observations. Suddenly, sheā€™s rather stiffly doling out unsolicited advice. 

Itā€™s as if an entirely new person has been thrown into the mix.  

Not all of her guidance goes unheeded. Take fighting for instance. At Erikaā€™s suggestion, St.Surinā€™s Abdul refrains from kicking Dayrinā€™s ass. (Just feet from the audience gathered for a recent matinee in Studioā€™s intimate Mead Theatre, Abdulā€™s frustration resulting from anger while yearning for a world of principled order is palpable as evidenced when a single tear rolled down the actorā€™s right cheek) 

Set designer Tony Cisek renders a no-frills classroom with cinder block walls, a high and horizontal row of frosted fixed windows that become eerily prison like when overhead fluorescent lighting is threateningly dimmed.  

Still, no matter how dark, beyond the classroom door, a light remains aglow, encouraging the kids to ponder an exit plan. 

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Out & About

Commanders Pride Night Out is back

Fourth annual event held at Northwest Stadium

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(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The Washington Commanders are proud to welcome the LGBTQ community for the fourth annual ā€œPride Night Out!ā€ on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.

This will be a matchup against the Cleveland Browns. The Pregame Pride Party Pass and Club level game ticket includes premier party location and club level ticket all-you-can-eat buffet, beer and wine, an exclusive Commanders Pride T-shirt, pregame entertainment and a postgame photo on the field.

More ticket options are available and $5 of every ticket goes back to Team DC. For more information visit the Commandersā€™ website.Ā 

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Out & About

Calendar: October 4-10

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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Friday, October 4

ā€œCenter Aging Friday Tea Timeā€ 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].Ā 

Go Gay DC will host ā€œFirst Friday LGBTQ+ Community Socialā€ at 7 p.m. at The Commentary. 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, October 5

Go Gay DC will host ā€œLGBTQ+ Community Brunchā€ at 11 a.m. at Freddieā€™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.

LGBTQ+ People of Color Support Group will be at 1:00p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.Ā Ā 

Sunday, October 6

Go Gay DC will host ā€œLGBTQ+ Community Dinnerā€ at 6:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano Freddieā€™s Beach Bar & Restaurant. 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.

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, October 7

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, October 8

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.

Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-facilitated discussion group. It is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. For more details, visit the groupā€™s Facebook page.Ā 

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].Ā 

Wednesday, October 9

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 www.thedccenter.org/careers.

Thursday, October 10

Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breathwork, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Communityā€™s website.

South Asian LGBTQ+ Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. KHUSHDC provides a safe, confidential space for South Asian LGBTQ community members to come together and share experiences. This peer support group is an outlet for South Asian-identified LGBTQ individuals to come and talk about anything affecting them. For more details, email [email protected].Ā 

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