Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: July 13
Parties, concerts, exhibits and more through July 19
TODAY (Friday)
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts Bearaoke, a masculine karaoke event, tonight for guests 21 and over. Bear happy hour starts at 6 p.m. and karaoke is from 7-10. Tickets are free. For more details, visit towndc.com.
‘The Wizard of Oz’ will be screened with live accompaniment at Wolf Trap on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Wolf Trap)
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) hosts a dance party with DJ Jay Von Teese tonight for guests 21 and over from 7:30 p.m.-3 a.m. For more information, visit phase1dc.com.
Remington’s Nightclub (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) hosts Lady Lenore’s “A-List Party” with DJ Redd Foxx tonight from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Admission is $10. For details, visit remingtonswdc.com.
“Stopgap,” a play by Danielle Mohlman that confronts heteronormativity in definitions of family, premiers tonight as part of the Capital Fringe Festival at 8:45 p.m. at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church (900 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.). For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, visit capitalfringe.org.
Rockwell’s Universal SeXbots (R.U.X.) is a play written by Maurice Martin and directed by Sun King Davis that premiers tonight at 8:15 p.m. at the Warehouse Theater (645 New York Ave., N.W.) as part of the Capital Fringe Festival. The play is about a businessman who strives to build the ultimate sex robot. Tickets can be purchased online at capitalfringe.org.
Saturday, July 14
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts its monthly Mixtape dance party tonight. Voted “DC’s Best Gay Dance Party” by Washingtonian Magazine, Mixtape features electro, alt-pop, indie rock, house, disco, new wave and other dance music. Doors open at 10 p.m. and the drag show starts at 10:30. Tickets are $8 from 10-11 and $12 after 11, and $3 drinks are served till 11. For details, visit towndc.com.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) hosts a “Pop Rocks” party with DJ LS tonight for guests 21 and over from 7:30 p.m.-3 a.m. For more information, visit phase1dc.com.
Best Coast, a surf-rock inspired indie music duo, play tonight at the 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.). Doors open at 8 p.m. For more details, visit 930.com.
Cobalt (1638 R St., N.W.) hosts Rumba, a Latin music night with special performances and go-go dancers, this evening at 10 p.m. Admission is free and limited to guests 21 and over. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
The Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) hosts “Moon/Bounce Dancing Affair,” a high-energy dance party with hip-hop, ‘90s pop and house music, at 9:30 p.m. tonight. Tickets are $7 and are available at the door. For more information, visit blackcatdc.com.
“The Wizard of Oz” screens tonight at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna, Va.) at 8:30 p.m. The National Symphony Orchestra will play the full score of the film live. Tickets range from $20-52. For more details, visit wolftrap.org.
Sunday, July 15
Remington’s Nightclub (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) hosts “The ‘70s Party” tonight. Performances start at 8 p.m. and tickets are $6 before then. For more information, visit remingtonswdc.com.
Monday, July 16
La-Ti-Do DC, a musical theater and spoken word performance produced by Regie Cabico and DonMike Mendoza, is tonight at the Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 8-10 p.m. Admission is $10 and includes one house drink. For more details, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Busboys and Poets (4251 South Campbell Ave., Arlington, V.A.) has a poetry open mic night hosted by Rebecca Dupas this evening from 8-10 p.m. Wristbands for admission can be purchased online at midnight prior to the event from busboysandpoets.com.
Tuesday, July 17
Cobalt (1638 R St., N.W.) hosts “Flashback,” a retro dance party, tonight with DJ Jason Royce from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Dance jams from the ‘70s, ‘80s and early ‘90s play all night. Admission is free and limited to guests 21 and over. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
Wilco, a beloved alternative rock group, play tonight at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna, V.A.) at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $35-45. For details, visit wolftrap.org.
Whitman-Walker Health offers HIV testing at Miriam’s Kitchen (2120 West Virginia Ave., N.E.) from 4-6 p.m. today. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., N.W.) hosts a support group for women on coming out tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. The group is open to women regardless of age or experience in the coming out process. Registration is required. Contact [email protected] if interested and visit whitman-walker.org for more details.
Wednesday, July 18
The Chi-Cha Lounge (1624 U St., N.W.) hosts speed dating for gay women in their 30s and 40s tonight from 7-9 p.m. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
Ethan Foote, a folk-rock musician, performs tonight at the Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Busboys and Poets (4251 South Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va.) hosts an organic happy hour today from 4-7 p.m. The event features $5 glasses of organic wine, $8 eco-cocktails and $2 off select beers. For details, visit busboysandpoets.com.
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., N.W.) hosts an HIV+ newly diagnosed support group tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. Registration is required, and the group is open to all genders and sexual orientations. Contact [email protected] if interested and visit whitman-walker.org for more information.
Thursday, July 19
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) hosts karaoke tonight from 7:30 p.m.-2 a.m. for guests 21 and over. For more information, visit phase1dc.com.
Cobalt (1638 R St., N.W.) hosts its weekly best package contest at midnight tonight with DJ MadScience and DJ Sean Morris. Admission is $3 and limited to guests 21 and over. $2 rail drinks will be served from 9-11 p.m. Visit cobaltdc.com for details.
“The Normal Heart,” a Tony Award-winning play about HIV/AIDS within the gay community directed by George C. Wolfe, shows tonight at Arena Stage (1101 6th St., S.W.) from 8-11 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at arenastage.org.
Jon Sandler, an alternative rock musician, performs tonight at the Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 8-11 p.m. Admission is $7. For details, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Arena Stage (1101 6th St., S.W.) features “The Music Man” dinner cruise tonight. Tickets include one seat aboard the Odyssey Cruise Line, an all-inclusive three-course meal and a seat at “The Music Man” show immediately following the cruise. Tickets are $147 for regular theater seating and $178 for premium theater seating. Call 202-488-4380 to book tickets and visit arenastage.org for more details.
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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