Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: March 4
Concerts, exhibits, parties and more through March 10th
Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters. The group will be back in town for their own show on Monday after opening for Gaga last week. (Photo courtesy of FlyTime Entertainment)
Friday, March 4
RAW, hosted by DJs Bil Todd and Shea Van Horn with special guest DJ Smudge, will be at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Free entry before 11 p.m. with a $3 cover after. There will be an open bar from 10 to 11 p.m. Attendees must be 21 or older.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) presents “GLEEtacular” tonight at 10 p.m. with moments from the show recreated on stage and clips shown. Cover is $10 all night for attendees 18- 20 and $5 before 11 p.m. for those 21 or older and $10 afterward.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is hosting its March Open Mic Night featuring local gay performer Monte Wolfe, who does spoken word, poetry and theatrical monologues, tonight from 8 to 10 p.m.
The D.C. Kings celebrate their 11th anniversary with a special “Best of” show tonight at Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) at 11 p.m.
Tilted Torch, a fire variety show, presents “But Wait! There’s More!!” at Red Palace (1212 H St., N.W.) tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. featuring the burlesque and vaudeville of OuiOui Nonnon, ukulele tunes from Maureen Andary, contortion from Jonathan Burns and more. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 10. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Visit redpalacedc.com to purchase tickets.
“Shear Madness,” a comedy whodunit, will be performed at the Kennedy Center Theater Lab (2700 F St., N.W.) at 8 p.m. “Madness” takes place in present-day Georgetown, in the Shear Madness Hair Styling Salon. Visit kennedy-center.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
Saturday, March 5
Blowoff, a dance party featuring gay DJs Bob Mould and Richard Morel, will be at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight. Doors opens at 11:30 p.m. Attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at 930.com.
Adventuring, a D.C.-based gay and lesbian outdoor group, is hosting a hike in the George Washington National Forest. The group will meet near the Pentagon City Metro station at 8:30 a.m. to carpool to the trail. For more information, visit adventuring.org.
Post-Classical Ensemble presents a performance of gay composer Lou Harrison’s works at Lisner Auditorium (730 21st St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m.
Mautner Project’s 21st anniversary gala, “Dare to Be” is tonight at the Omni Shoreham Hotel (2500 Calvert St., N.W.) from 5:30 p.m. to 12;30 a.m.
The Montgomery County Gay Men’s Community will hold its monthly potluck social today from 7 to 10 p.m. in Potomac. For more info call John at 240-342-2757
Signature Theatre and Ken Ludwig host a book release party for “Lend Me a Tenor and Other Plays,” a new anthology published by Smith and Kraus” tonight from 4 to 6 p.m. at Signature Theatre’s Mead Lobby (4200 Campbell Ave.) in Arlington. The event will include readings from “Moon Over Buffalo,” “Shakespeare in Hollywood” and “Leading Ladies.” This is a free event.
Washington National opera presents “Madama Butterfly” at the Kennedy Center. The show is performed in Italian with English supertitles. Catherine Naglestad will play the role of Cio-Cio-San. Tickets range from $55 to $300. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit kennedy-center.org.
Sunday, March 6
Flip-Out, D.C.’s LGBT flip cup league, has its weekly games today at 5 p.m. at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.). For more information, visit flipoutdc.com.
The D.C. Jazz Jam, a weekly jam free for both musicians and jazz lovers, is tonight from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Dahlak (1771 U St., N.W.).
Monday, March 7
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) and Metro D.C. PFLAG are hosting a LGBT youth working group from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss ways to support LGBT youth in D.C. This will be going on at the same time as the Center’s volunteer night which begins at 6:30 p.m.
Rev. Linda Calkins will lead a wellness workshop “Finding Your Perfect Workout” today from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Calkins is also a certified fitness trainer. The workshop will be held at Mautner Project (1875 Connecticut Ave., N.W.).
The Scissor Sisters concert at 9:30 Club is sold out, but Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) is hosting an after party with music by Aaron Riggins and Shea Van Horn. Doors open at 9 p.m. This event is free with a ticket stub from the concert and $5 without.
Tuesday, March 8
The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance will be holding its membership meeting tonight from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archive (1201 17th St., N.W.). This meeting is open to the public.
La Tomate Italian Bistro (1701 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) is hosting Carnevale D.C., a “glam” alternative to “Fat Tuesday,” from 5 to 11 p.m. No ticket is required to access the bar, but tickets for the four-course Venetian menu are $75 plus tax and gratuity. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit carnevaledc.com.
Wednesday, March 9
The third annual CAGLCC Mega LGBT Networking and Social Event is today from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.). Some of the groups invited to attend include Burgundy Crescent, Federal GLOBE, GAYLAW, and D.C. Out and Equal. This is no cover for this event. Visit meganetworkingdc.com to register.
Rainbow Response and CAAPE are holding their monthly meeting tonight at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, March 10
DCBiWomen will be having its monthly dinner at Café Luna (1633 P St., N.W.) tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit dcbiwomen.org.
Baltimore’s Sticky Buns Burlesque take the stage at Red Palace (1212 H St., N.W.). The revue will showcase the group’s “perverse” performance art. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show beings at 9. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. Attendees must be 21 or older.
The DC Center for the LGBTQ Community, SMYAL and Rainbow Families sponsored Gay Day at the Zoo on Sunday at the Smithsonian National Zoo. The Smithsonian marked International Family Equality Day with special exhibits and an event space.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Covering Gay Day at the Zoo for @WashBlade . Here at @NationalZooDC pic.twitter.com/LqgGNOOAiM
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) May 5, 2024
Photos
PHOTOS: Taste of Point
Annual fundraiser held for LGBTQ youth scholarship, mentorship organization
The Point Foundation held its annual Taste of Point fundraiser at Room & Board on May 2.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Theater
Miss Kitty tackles classical mythology in ‘Metamorphoses’
Folger production seen through the lens of the African diaspora
‘Metamorphoses’
May 7-June 16
Folger Theatre
201 East Capitol St., S.E.
$20-$84
Folger.edu
Miss Kitty’s words are thoughtful and measured, occasionally punctuated by flamboyant flourishes and uplifting proclamations. Her tried and tested tagline is “live in fierce not fear.”
She describes herself as “AMAB (assigned male at birth), nonbinary, genderqueer, transfemme” as well as “chanteuse, noble blacktress, and dancer.”
Currently, Miss Kitty is testing her talents in Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses” at Folger Theatre on Capitol Hill.
At 90 minutes, “Metamorphoses,” is made up of interwoven vignettes from classical mythology including the tales of Midas and his daughter, Alcyone and Ceyx, and Eros and Psyche.
“It’s all stories that relate to the human condition: the follies, the happiness, the love, the loss,” Miss Kitty explains. “And a thorough knowledge of mythology isn’t a requirement for enjoyment.”
The language is contemporary and with its 11-person ensemble cast – comprised exclusively of Black or indigenous people of color – they’re adding their own spin to its present-day feel, she adds.
In Zimmerman’s famously staged premiere production, the actors performed in and around a pool of water. At Folger, director Psalmayene 24 has ditched actual aquatics; instead, he suggests the element by introducing Water Nymph, a new character constructed around Miss Kitty.
Water Nymph doesn’t speak, but she’s very visible from the opening number and throughout the play on stage and popping up in unexpected places around the venue.
“It’s a lot of dancing; I haven’t danced the way Tony Thomas is choreographing me in a very long time. At 40, can she still make theater with just my body as her instrument?
The name “Miss Kitty” was born over a decade ago.
Miss Kitty recalls, “She was still presenting as male and going by her dead name. Someone commented that with the wig she was wearing for a part, she looked like Eartha Kitt whom she deeply admires.”
Her penchant for illeism (referring to oneself in third person) isn’t without good reason. She explains, “It’s to reiterate that however she might look, she’s always there; and if you misgender, she will let you know.”
Initially, the moniker was a drag persona at Capital Pride or the occasional fabulous cabaret performance at a nightclub.
But as time passed, she realized that Miss Kitty was something she couldn’t take off. She had always been a part of her.
“She’s helped me to grow and flourish; she’s given me the strength that I never would have had before. I’m so proud of myself for realizing that before it was too late.”
Bringing Miss Kitty into her theatrical career presented some concerns. Would theater folks be open to the new her, especially those she’d worked with before?
Not always, but she’s found new companies who’ve welcomed Miss Kitty with open arms including Avant Bard, Spooky Action Theater, and now Folger.
Last fall, Miss Kitty appeared in Spooky Action’s Agreste (Drylands), a stunning queer story penned by gay Brazilian playwright Newton Moreno.
After being invited to audition and reading the script, Miss Kitty was determined to be a part of the production.
A work dealing with love and being trans, and transphobia, and how people can turn on a dime once they learn the truth about someone, resonated deeply with the actor.
“The play speaks to the idea that if people just let people be who they are and love who they want to love we’d all be a lot happier,” she says.
For her sublime efforts, Miss Kitty nabbed a Helen Hayes Award nomination in the Outstanding Lead Performer category (winner to be determined on Monday, May 20 during a ceremony at The Anthem).
It’s her first time nominated and first time attending. She’s thrilled.
Miss Kitty grew up in Oxen Hill, Md., and now lives near Washington Harbor. Her entry into performance was through music followed by high school plays. She graduated from Catholic University with a degree in music/concentration in musical theater, and from there dove directly into showbiz.
Looking back, Miss Kitty says, “being a person of color AND queer can be a double whammy of difficulty. You have to live in light and do the things you’re afraid to do. That’s the game changer.”
Presenting “Metamorphoses” through the lens of the African diaspora (the cast also includes Jon Hudson Odom and Billie Krishawn, among others) helps us to realize that every story can be universal, especially for marginalized people — South Asian, Native American, or fully queer perspectives, she says.
“Having an all-Black ensemble opens all new worlds for everyone.”
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