Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Nov. 9-15, 2018
Concerts, parties a pageant and more are highlights this week


‘Federal City Rooftops,’ a work by Gale Wallar, is on display at Touchstone Gallery. (Photo courtesy Touchstone)
Friday, Nov. 9
Chorus D.C. presents Fancy, a dance party featuring music by DJ Shane Marcus, at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. DJ Shane Marcus hails from New York City and is known for mixing house music. Tickets are $10. Price increases to $15 at 10 p.m. on the day of the event. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) hosts Pup Night tonight from 8 p.m.-3 a.m. Pups and handlers are invited to enjoy drink specials, kibble and a mosh area. Drag show begins upstairs at 10:30 p.m. For more details, visit dceagle.com.
Gamma DC, a support group for men in mixed-orientation relationships, meets at Luther Place Memorial Church (1226 Vermont Ave., N.W.) tonight from 7:30-9:30 p.m. The group is for men who are attracted to men but are currently, or were at one point, in relationships with women. For more information, visit gammaindc.org.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) presents new exhibits through Dec. 2. “The Healing Power of Art” is on display in Gallery A featuring Touchstone artists who transform negative perceptions into positive artwork. “N • S • E • W” by Gale Wallar is on display in Gallery B which showcases contemporary realism through a variety of genres. Gallery C displays “Fresh Take” by Amy Sabrin which shows landscapes featuring watercolors. Admission is free. For more details, visit touchstonegallery.com.
Saturday, Nov. 10
Singer Bright Light Bright Light performs at Union Stage (740 Water St., S.W.) tonight at 6:30 p.m. Loi Loi and Sub-Radio open the show. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15. For more information, visit unionstage.com.
Distrkt C presents Jockstrap & Harness Night at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) tonight from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. DJ Morabito will play music. For details, visit distrktc.com.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.) hosts Freeballers, an underwear-free dance party, tonight from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. DJ Back2back will spin tracks. Clothes check available. For more details, visit greenlanterndc.com.
The New Orchestra of Washington, Washington Master Chiorale, Musica Viva NY and featured artist Joseph Turrin perform “End of the War to End All Wars” at the Church of the Epiphany (1317 G St., N.W.) today at 5 p.m. The performance commemorates the end of World War I with music based on texts by war poets and features works by composers Holst and Ravel who were affected by World War I. Tickets are $40. For more information, visit neworchestraofwashington.org.
Sunday, Nov. 11
The annual wreath laying for LGBT veterans will be held at the grave of Sergeant Leonard Matlovich at Congressional Cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) today at noon. Matlovich came out in 1975 making him the first out service member. The ceremony will honor all LGBT individuals who have served the U.S. as soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and coast guardsmen. For more details, search “Annual Wreath Laying for LGBT Veterans” on Facebook.
Flash (645 Florida Ave., N.W.) hosts Flashy Veterans Day Weekend, a dance party, tonight from 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Bar is open until 4 a.m. DJ Twin and DJ Sean Morris will spin tracks on the main floor until 5 a.m. Cover is $20 for the main floor and roof deck. Access to the first floor is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/flashydc.
The D.C. Chamber Musicians perform their season opening concert at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (301 A St., S.E.) today at 3 p.m. The group will perform Beethoven String Quartet Op. 18 and No. 4; Schubert Piano’s Trio D. 898 and Paul Juon “Miniatures.”Admission is free but there is an optional ticket registration to ensure a seat. For more details, visit dccos.org.
Comedian Elizabeth McCain performs her one-woman show “A Lesbian Belle Tells” as part of Charm City Fringe Festival at 322 N. Howard St., Baltimore. A ticket and a button is $15. Tickets without a button are $10. Buttons give attendees discounted ticket prices to all festival events. For more information, visit charmcityfringe.com.
Monday, Nov. 12
D.C. Cocktail Week kicks off today through Nov. 18. Guests can enjoy cocktails and bites for one price at participating restaurants including Allegory, Circa, City Winery, District Commons, Founding Farmers, Iron Gate and more. For a complete list of participating restaurants and for more information, visit dccocktailweek.com.
Tuesday, Nov. 13
JR.’s Bar (1519 17th St., N.W.) hosts Straight Up Paula Abdul Tribute Night tonight from 9:30 p.m.-midnight. VJ Jason Royce will play Abdul’s biggest hits as well as other music videos from the ‘80s and ‘90s. There will also be drink specials and a contest to win two tickets to see Abdul at the MGM National Harbor on Dec. 2. For more details, visit facebook.com/jrsbardc.
DC Stonewall Kickball League team Knock a Pitch Out hosts drag bingo at Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) today at 3 p.m. Proceeds will be donated to a non-profit organization. Admission is free. Seating is first come, first served. For more information, search “Drag Your A** 2 Drag Bingo” on Facebook.
Wednesday, Nov. 14
The Health Working Group meets at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) today at 6:30 p.m. to discuss transgender health and wellness. The group will discuss existing data on transgender health and wellness and the work of partner organizations to promote transgender health. For more details, visit thedccenter.org.
Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) hosts its first ever Miss Nellie’s Pageant tonight from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Brooklyn Heights and Chanel Devereaux host the event. Sasha Adams Sanchez, LaBellela Ziah, Iyana Deschanel, Bambi Nicole Ferrah, Gigi Cougture, Whitney GucciGoo and more will perform. Prizes include $1,000 cash, a $600 Absolut prize package, a $600 Red Bull prize package and more. Email brooklynheightsdrag@hotmail.
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) hosts karaoke hosted by D&K Sounds tonight at 9 p.m. There will be $3 rail cocktails and domestic drafts and $4 wines. For more details, visit dceagle.com.
The Lambda Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for duplicate bridge. No reservations required and new comers welcome. If you need a partner, call 703-407-6540.
Big Gay Book Group meets at Trio Bistro Restaurant (1537 17th St., N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. to discuss “Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation” by Robert W. Fieseler. Newcomers welcome. For more details, visit biggaybookgroup.com or email [email protected].
Thursday, Nov. 15
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) hosts its monthly poly discussion group tonight at 7 p.m. People of all different stages are invited to discuss polyamory and other consensual non-monogamous relationships. This event is for new comers, established polyamorous relationships and open to all sexual orientations. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
a&e features
Doug Spearman takes his chance
‘Noah’s Arc: The Movie’ debuted on Paramount+ last month

There’s no question that when Patrik-Ian Polk’s series “Noah’s Arc” premiered on Logo 20 years ago, it was a groundbreaking creation. The story of a group of Black gay men and their wonderful friendship. The titular arc was that of the cute main character, Noah (Darryl Stephens), and his close-knit circle of friends, including Chance played by gay actor Doug Spearman. This compelling and loving fraternity may, in fact, be what brought viewers back repeatedly, including a 2008 movie, “Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom,” as well as the 2020 “Noah’s Arc” short, and now, a new full-length feature “Noah’s Arc: The Movie,” debuting on Paramount+ on June 20. In the movie, filled with equal measures of laughs and tears, Chance, who has faced a devastating loss, finds his dependable friends there, ready to support and comfort him at a moment’s notice. I had the pleasure of speaking with Spearman the morning of the streaming premiere of “Noah’s Arc: The Movie.”
WASHINGTON BLADE: Doug, since the early 2000s, when the “Noah’s Arc” series premiered on Logo, you have been playing the character of Chance, including in the latest installment, “Noah’s Arc: The Movie.” What was it about Chance that appealed to you as an actor?
SPEARMAN: When Patrik (-Ian Polk) called me to ask me to play him (Chance), I was at JFK airport in the baggage claim, waiting for a suitcase. He explained what the part was. The thing that stuck out to me was the fact that Chance was in a long-term relationship with another Black man. And, they had a child; they had a 4-year-old daughter named Kenya. I had never seen two Black gay men raise a child on TV before. I thought it was the most revolutionary thing I’d ever seen. I immediately thought I’ve got to do this because that was something nobody had seen. I thought it was incredibly important to take the part.
BLADE: “Noah’s Arc: The Movie” was, once again, written and directed by Patrik-Ian Polk, who you just mentioned, is the creator of the entire franchise. What’s the secret to your long-standing working relationship?
SPEARMAN: [Laughs] the whole team, all of us, are like a band of brothers. We fight like brothers, we come together like brothers, we hash things out, we talk, because we’re all very different from our characters. I think the challenge of playing these guys and then uplifting these men, playing a part, especially something written by Patrik, is like solving a math equation. There’s always a challenge that’s enjoyable for me as an actor: to try to find out what it is that Patrik wants, and then how do I do it.
BLADE: I think you do a very good job of it.
SPEARMAN: Thank you very much
BLADE: In the years between “Jumping the Broom” and the new full-length movie, many changes have occurred, and the story addresses some of them, including gay widowhood, which is something that the aging community is now confronting, as well as mental health issues. Please say a few words about how you approached those subjects in the new movie.
SPEARMAN: I had a lot of loss in my life, right before we started shooting. Two months before we started shooting the first series, my mother died. I was going through the grief process through that whole first season. Since then, I’ve lost a lot of people in my life. In fact, when we started shooting the second season, the second week we were shooting, my ex died of a heart attack. I was having to fold that into what I was doing with my life on the set and off the set. You’ve got to show up and you’ve got to do your work. The first two seasons of “Noah’s Arc” are always tinged with the memory of grief. So, when I had to deal with the death that Chance faces (in the new movie), which is a significant death in his life, it wasn’t that hard to reach back, especially the scene in the graveyard. It was something that I unfortunately could pull from personal experience.
BLADE: Shifting gears, the movie features delightful cast surprises, including Jasmine Guy and TS Madison. Did you have a chance to interact with either or both when they were on set?
SPEARMAN: No, I didn’t have any scenes with Jasmine, and I missed her. I wish I had gotten to see her because I actually got to direct Jasmine for a CBS promo shoot for “Queen,” back in the early ‘90s. I had a huge crush on her when she was on “A Different World.” So, I really would have liked to reconnect. But TS and I got to see each other every day because I was in all her scenes. It was extraordinary being around somebody like that. That is one outspoken woman!
BLADE: Even though Beyoncé never makes an appearance in the movie, there’s a lot of talk about her. Would you say you are a Beyoncé fan?
SPEARMAN: Yes! I’m breathing! Yes, I’m a Beyoncé fan. I actually got the chance to meet her. I knew her mom. Her mom was extraordinary to me. She is in the second movie I directed. She also gave us a wedding gown to use in the very first scene of the movie. That family is extraordinarily important to me. Not only just to be a fan, but to be somebody who’s gotten to know them and work with them and see how hard they work. I don’t think anybody works as hard as Tina or Beyoncé.
BLADE: There was a recent news item about gay actor Benito Skinner of the Amazon Prime series “Overcompensating” being told not to bother auditioning for straight roles. As an out actor yourself, how important do you think it is for queer characters to be portrayed by queer actors, and vice versa?
SPEARMAN: Being queer is a multifaceted identity. There’s no one kind of queer person. I think finding the best actor that’s your first circle of casting. I think one of the joys about being an actor is that you get to play different parts. I play straight guys all the time. Dads and husbands and things like that. I think a lot of people are told not to do it. In fact, I wouldn’t be Chance if the actor who was originally cast as Chance hadn’t been pulled out of the series by his agents because they didn’t want him to play a gay character.
BLADE: That’s amazing! Thank you for sharing that. Without giving away too much, the ending of the movie is a little ambiguous, even ending with a question mark. If there was a “Noah’s Arc: The Movie” sequel, would you come back for that?
SPEARMAN: Yeah! A lot of it would depend on what Chance’s journey is going to be like. Patrik and I have conversations like that all the time. He’s very interested and supportive of input. I hope I would be, as we all would be, part of the creative growth with these characters. They live in Patrik’s head, and he writes them, but we’re the ones who have to flesh them out. It’s a conversation, it’s always a conversation.
BLADE: You are currently performing in Molière’s “The Imaginary Invalid” as part of the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane. What has this experience been like for you?
SPEARMAN: It’s extraordinary! I started on stage when I was seven. There’s nothing like working with a live audience and having that immediacy. I’m working with an extraordinarily talented cast in a really great play, and I have some of the best scene partners I could ever want.
BLADE: Are there any upcoming film or TV projects you’d like to mention?
SPEARMAN: I’m still a writer, and I’m still a director, and I’ve still got scripts that I would like to make. I have a little something that’s a cross between “Treme” and “Bridgerton” that I want to do. I’m always trying to figure out what the next thing is.
Photos
PHOTOS: Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza
LGBTQ celebration held in downtown Silver Spring

Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza was held on Sunday, June 29 at Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, Md.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)























The fifth annual Fredericksburg Pride march and festival was held on Saturday, June 28. A march through the streets of downtown Fredericksburg, Va. was followed by a festival at Riverfront Park.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)


















