CONTENTS

MAY 11, 2017 Volume 24 Issue 2

14 SOULFUL SWAG
Morgan James and her band swing into The Hamilton
for a night of righteous soul, pop, jazz, and blues

By Andr Hereford

STAGE HAND
After years as the publisher at the City Paper, Amy
Austin took on a new role in life: Supporting the citys
incredible theater community.

Interview by Randy Shulman

Photography by Todd Franson
28
49 WHISTLING TRIXIE
A former Drag Race contestant does the unexpected
and strikes gold

By Sean Maunier

SPOTLIGHT: THIEVERY CORPORATION p.7 OUT ON THE TOWN p.12

SOULFUL SWAG: MORGAN JAMES p.14 PARTY IN THE USA: MILEY CYRUS p.24
COMMUNITY: HEROIC PRIDE p.25 COVER STORY p.28 GALLERY: AMERICAN VISIONARY p.35
FILM: SNATCHED p.37 STAGE: MACBETH p.39 STAGE: ARABIAN NIGHTS p.41
STAGE: DORIANS CLOSET p.43 OPERA: MADAME BUTTERFLY p.45 MUSIC: PERFUME GENIUS p.47
MUSIC: TRIXIE MATTEL p.49 NIGHTLIFE p.51 SCENE: BALTIMORE EAGLE p.51
CLUBLIFE: LEATHERED UP p.60 LAST WORD p.62

Real LGBTQ News and Entertainment since 1994

Editorial Editor-in-Chief Randy Shulman Art Director Todd Franson Managing Editor Rhuaridh Marr Senior Editor John Riley Contributing Editor Doug Rule
Senior Photographers Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim Contributing Illustrator Scott G. Brooks Contributing Writers Andr Hereford,
Sean Maunier, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield Webmaster David Uy Production Assistant Julian Vankim
Sales & Marketing Publisher Randy Shulman National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 Distribution Manager Dennis Havrilla
Patron Saint Helen Hayes Cover Photography Todd Franson

Metro Weekly 1775 I St. NW, Suite 1150 Washington, DC 20006 202-638-6830
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2017 Jansi LLC.

4 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 Spotlight
JEN MALER

Thievery Corporation
I
T SOUNDS LIKE A PERFECT FIT: ERIC HILTON AND ROB
Garza have teamed up with Kennedy Center Composer-in-
Residence Mason Bates for a symphonic/electronic presenta-
tion of the D.C. musical duos classic Thievery Corporation sound.
Teddy Abrams leads a 22-piece orchestra performing from
the trendsetting acts catalogue of experimental chillout music,
merging world sounds such as bossa nova, dub reggae, Afrobeat
and jazz with electronica. Launching with Bates and his instru-
mental/electronic work The Rise of Exotic Computing, the
concert also features new arrangements from young classical
composers.
It just blows my mind that we still have any sort of rele-
vance, Hilton told Metro Weekly in 2011. And yet, the one-time
Eighteenth Street Lounge house band has garnered a Grammy
nomination, released eight studio albums including new
album The Temple of I&I and recorded with the likes of David
Byrne, Perry Farrell of Janes Addiction, Lou Lou, Femi Kuti,
and Anoushka Shankar.

Monday, May 15, at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets are $29 to $59.
Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 7

 Spotlight
JEFFREY TAMBOR
Are You Anybody? is the new memoir from
the well-regarded actor, known for his work
on Arrested Development and Transparent
the latter of which has garnered him a Golden
Globe, a Screen Actors Guild award, and
two Emmys. Not too shabby for a man who
grew up in San Francisco as a self-described
overweight, Hungarian-Jewish kid with a
lisp. Wednesday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. Sixth &
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

I Historic Synagogue. 600 I St. NW. Tickets

are $35 for one ticket and one book. Call 202-
408-3100 or visit sixthandi.org.

MASTER CLASS
Ilona Dulaski stars in Terrence McNallys love let-
ter to opera great Maria Callas in a new production
at Virginias MetroStage. Ayana Reed is the Second
Soprano (Sharon), a role made famous by Audra
McDonald, and Joseph Walsh plays Accompanist
while serving as music director. Emily Honzel,
Ayana Reed, Daniel Noone and Michael Sharp
round out the cast. Nick Olcott directs. To June
11. MetroStage, 1201 North Royal St., Alexandria.
Tickets are $55 to $60. Call 800-494-8497 or visit
metrostage.org.

CHRIS BANKS

PDTS JEFF BELL AT COLUMBIA ROOM

New Yorks PDT (Please Dont Tell) bar earned a James Beard Award
for Outstanding Bar Program in 2012, and the following year its head
mixologist was deemed Bartender of the Year by the United States
Bartenders Guild. Now Washington gets a chance to see what all the
buzz is about as Bell takes over D.C.s best cocktail bar, the Beard Award-
nominated Columbia Room. For two nights, Bell will create a special
cocktail menu paired with food from the venues chef Johnny Spero, tem-
porarily replacing the usual three- or five-course prix-fixe menu devel-
oped by Spero and Head Bartender JP Fetherston in the swanky Shaw
venues signature Tasting Room. Tuesday, May 16, and Wednesday, May
17, by timed reservations between 5:30 and 10:30 p.m. Columbia Room,
124 Blagden Alley NW. Tickets are $85 per person in the Tasting Room.
Call 202-316-9396 or visit columbiaroomdc.com.

8 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 Spotlight
FIVE LESBIANS
EATING A QUICHE
An award winner at the 2012 New York
International Fringe Festival, Evan Linder
and Andrew Hobgoods interactive comedy is
set in the closeted, claustrophobic mid-1950s.
As a result, the women in the play self-iden-
tify as widows, even though some of them
have never married. The audience acts as
fellow mid-century quiche-eaters attending
this coming-out party and guiding some of
the evenings improv-oriented developments.
Kaitlin Kemp, Malinda Markland, Morgan
Meadows, Geocel Batista, and Allie ODonnell
star. Jimmy Mavrikes directs. To May 22. Lab
I in Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St.
NE. Tickets are $30. Call 202-399-7993 or

RJ PAVEL
visit monumentaltheatre.org.

MID CITY ARTISTS

SPRING OPEN STUDIOS
Artists who are part of the 14th Street-centered Mid City
Artists collaborative open their studios for the public to
meet, learn, enjoy and buy art as part of this bi-annual
event. The artists represented offer a range of work, from
drawings to sculptures to photographs to mixed media, and
include many of note to the LGBT community, including
Charlie Gaynor, Michael Crossett, Robert Dodge, Gary
Fisher (pictured), Betto Ortiz, Glenn Fry, Miguel Perez Lem,
Branddave, Arthur Kwon Lee, Lucinda Friendly Murphy,
Mark Parascandola, Jane Cave, Stephen Benedicto,
and Indira Marin Dingledine. Evening preview show is
Thursday, May 11, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the White Cloud
Gallery, 1843 14th St. NW. Studios are open Saturday, May
13, and Sunday, May 14, from 12 to 5 p.m. Mid City corridor,
from Dupont to Logan Circles and north to Florida Ave NW.
Free. Call 202-506-3056 or visit midcityartists.com.

SYLVAN ESSO
Over the past few years, singer Amelia Meath and pro-
ducer Nick Sanborn have made some of the quirkiest
and smartest pop music around, an electro-acoustic
blend of tribal chants and folk melodies often unbridled,
unhinged, sometimes even unadorned, and held togeth-
er by spare, naturalistic production with accents from
electronic/dance music. And the duo has never sounded
more riveting or better than on What Now. The just-re-
leased sophomore set focuses on the dualities of life, love
and progress from the highest highs to the down-and-
outs, the fleeting joys and lingering anxieties that come
with impermanence. To hear them live, youll have to
make a jaunt to Baltimore next week, since Sylvan Essos
shows at the 9:30 Club later this month sold out almost
as soon as they went on sale. Tuesday, May 16, at 8 p.m.
Rams Head Live!, 20 Market Place, Baltimore. Tickets
are $25. Call 410-244-1131 or visit ramsheadlive.com.

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 9

TERESA WOOD

Out On The Town

TIMON OF ATHENS
Sparing no expense on lavish parties, expensive gifts and charity, the abundantly generous Timon suffers a downturn of
fortune and friendship in Shakespeares tragic satire. Director Robert Richmond sets the action in modern times, where
technology has taken over and high finance takes place online. Ian Merrill Peakes stars in the final production of Folger
Theatres 25th anniversary season. In previews. Opens Sunday, May 14, at 7 p.m. Runs to June 11. Folger Shakespeare
Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $35 to $75. Call 202-544-7077 or visit folger.edu.

Compiled by Doug Rule define him with 1996s deadpan sat- Va. Free. Call 202-707-9994 or visit and wonderful array of performanc-
ire of small-town community the- loc.gov/avconservation. es, it was a necessary jolt of adren-
FILM ater Waiting for Guffman (it screens
at the end of the month). Next up is GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2
aline to the cinematic superhero
canon. But three years and a big-
arguably the funniest and sharpest ger budget later, the originality has
3 GENERATIONS
of the lot, the 2000 classic that About two-thirds of the way diminished. Whats here isnt fresh,
Critics havent been kind about
satirized the world of champion- through Guardians of the Galaxy though its still very palatable. Now
Gaby Dellals earnest dramedy. Elle
ship dog breeding and competition. 2 comes a moment that perfect- playing. Area theaters. Visit fandan-
Fanning stars as Ray, a transgender
Its hard to pick favorites among ly sums up the highly anticipated go.com. (Rhuaridh Marr)
teen who needs the legal consent of
the stellar performances, though a sequel. The sequence, like most of
his estranged father (Tate Donovan)
in order to start hormone treat-
handful stand out: Parker Posey and the 136 minutes that the film runs KING ARTHUR:
ments. Naomi Watts is Rays moth-
Michael Hitchcock as the Swans, for, is utterly dazzling to behold. LEGEND OF THE SWORD
the Starbucks-minted neurotic cou- Writer-director James Gunn has a $102 million. Thats how much
er, while Susan Sarandon plays his
ple and worst-in-show yuppie par- command of CGI-laden action that Warner Bros. has spent on a film
lesbian grandmother. Peter Travers
ents of poor, frazzled Beatrice the is almost effortless, while Marvels that has bomb written all over
of Rolling Stone called the movie
Weimaraner; Fred Willard as the animators have truly excelled them- it. An epic adventure drama
completely DOA and said Dellal
imbecilic, everyman TV co-host for selves at bringing to life this far- focused on the young King Arthur
allows her film to drown in clich
the fictionalized Mayflower Kennel flung section of the universe. Yet (Charlie Hunnam) who drew the
and crude manipulation. Opens
Club Dog Show; and, above all, its polish over performance, some- sword Excalibur from the stone,
Friday, May 12. Area theaters. Visit
Jennifer Coolidge and Jane Lynch thing Gunn consistently gets wrong the evil villain (Jude Law) who
fandango.com.
as not-quite-secret lovers, connect- throughout the film. Guardians subsequently stole his crown,
ed by standard poodle Rhapsody maintains the scrappy, jokesy, lov- and the accountants who will ask
BEST IN SHOW
in White, who together launch able nature that made the first film what on earth Warner Bros. was
Each Thursday in May, the
American Bitch magazine to address such a huge success and such a thinking when they commissioned
Library of Congress screens one
issues of the lesbian purebred dog breath of fresh air compared with this Guy Ritchie-helmed film,
of Christopher Guests improv-in-
owner. Thursday, May 18, at 7:30 the slightly stale, formulaic nature the first in a planned series about
formed mockumentary comedies
p.m. Packard Campus Theater, of Marvels other franchises. With the King Arthur legend. Watch
a form of filmmaking that came to
19053 Mount Pony Rd. Culpeper, its bold colors, brilliant soundtrack Disneys Sword in the Stone or John

12 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 Boormans lustrous 1981 classic
Excalibur, featuring Helen Mirren
and Patrick Stewart, instead. Opens
Friday, May 12. Area theaters. Visit
fandango.com. (RM)

SNATCHED
Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn, and
the producers of The Heat and
Spy? Color us intrigued. Hawn and
Schumer are mother and daugh-
ter on a vacation to South America
when predictably everything
goes wrong. If Hawn and Schumer
nail the chemistry, and if the script,
which Schumer co-wrote, sustains
itself like her 2015 hit Trainwreck,
this Jonathan Levine-helmed action
comedy could be great. Opens
Friday, May 12. Area theaters. Visit
fandango.com. (RM)

THE ROCKY HORROR

PICTURE SHOW
Every Friday and Saturday,
Landmarks E Street Cinema shows
films at midnight that are more ris-
qu or campy than the usual fare.
AKSHAY BHOAN

And once a month this cinEinsom-

nia program offers a certain cult
classic. Each screening is accom-
panied by the shadow cast Sonic
Transducers, who act out the film

SOULFUL SWAG
in front of the screen with props
and costumes. Friday, May 12, and
Saturday, May 13, at midnight.
Landmarks E Street Cinema, 555
11th St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or
Morgan James and her band swing into The Hamilton for a night of visit landmarktheatres.com.
righteous soul, pop, jazz, and blues
STAGE

M
ORGAN JAMES BROKE INTO THE MAINSTREAM IN 2014 WITH A BLISTERING
cover of Princes Call My Name, included on her debut album Hunter. But the A KID LIKE JAKE
Jake is a precocious four-year-old
track, which brought Jamess soul music stylings to a wider audience, might never
with a fondness for dress-up and a
have happened. When I got signed by Epic, I recorded the song even though they told me not preference for Cinderella over G.I.
to, because they knew that we would never get approval, she says. They said, This is amazing, Joec in Daniel Pearles play about
its unbelievable, we love it, [but] theres no way were going to be able to put it on the record. intimacy and parenthood. Keith
The problem was Prince. A notoriously finicky songwriter, he was reticent to allow cover Fitzgerald directs Nancy Callaway,
Kelsey Cordrey, Heather Falks, and
versions of his music. So Epic released Hunter without the track, but a conversation between Fred Iacovo. Closes Saturday, May
chairman L.A. Reid and James turned things around. 13. Richmond Triangle Players,
One day he just said, You know what, Im just going to call Princes assistant, James says. 1300 Altamont Ave. Richmond.
Five minutes later Prince called him back and said, I love it. Pretty much the next day we Tickets are $15 to $30. Call 804-
pulled the old record [and] added Call My Name to the new version. 346-8113 or visit rtriangle.org.
A self-described little white girl from Pocatello, James has transitioned from the class- ALADDIN AND THE
rooms of Juilliard to the stages of Broadway in The Addams Family, Godspell, and Motown: WONDERFUL LAMP
the Musical, among others and now to the center of an extensive tour to support her new Aladdin and princess Adora must
release, Reckless Abandon. Drawing on influences as diverse as DAngelo, Joni Mitchell, and her outsmart an evil wizard who wants
the genie in the lamp for his own
one-time instructor Barbara Cook, James continues to refine her vocal and songwriting talents.
schemes. A production for all
Its a long journey, but it has to be inspired by something, she says. [I] became obsessed ages but particularly children
with Nina Simone, my gateway into soul. And from there I immersed myself with all these directed by Roberta Gasbarre. The
other inspiring singers and musicians. Thats what informs what I love, the music that I love play is based on Aladdin and the
to make. Wonderful Lamp by James Norris.
To May 21. Adventure Theatre
Its a confidence that resonates throughout Reckless Abandon, no more so than on funkified MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen
opener, Up In Smoke. But thats not to say James intends to pigeonhole herself into a partic- Echo. Call 301-634-2270 or visit
ular genre. Just ask her about Martha Wash. adventuretheatre-mtc.org.
Martha Wash is one of my favorite voices ever, she says. I keep saying to everybody, Will
someone put me on the hook of a rap song, please? I would love to be the voice on a dance BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS
Theater J bills Neil Simons
record or a hip-hop record, anything like that. Because I grew up with those. You dont forget semi-autobiographical play about
all those hooks that Martha Wash sings. Andr Hereford a Depression-era family trying
to laugh through tears a perfect
Morgan James appears Thursday, May 18 at The Hamilton Live, 600 14th St. NW. escape from todays never-ending
news cycle. The companys Adam
Tickets are $17.25 to $39.75. Call 202-787-1000, or visit live.thehamiltondc.com.
Immerwahr also calls it a worthy

14 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory
Smith (The Turn of the Screw).
Presented by Creative Cauldron,
the musical focuses on a legendary
Broadway performer and her come-
back one-woman show, foiled as
she forgets her prepared anecdotes
and attempts to make up new ones
on the fly, as the insidious signs
of Alzheimers become increasingly
apparent. Opens Saturday, May 13,
at 8 p.m. To May 28. ArtSpace Falls
Church, 410 South Maple Ave. in
Falls Church. Tickets are $20 to
$30. Call 703-436-9948 or visit cre-
ativecauldron.org.

LAURA BUSH KILLED A GUY

Billed as a smart, surreal and sur-
prising reexamination of the Bush
years, upstart local theater collec-
tive Klunch offers a world premiere
written by its artistic director Ian
Allen. John Vreeke directs ris-
MARK BAKER

ing local actress Lisa Hodsoll in

a one-woman show that imagines
the former First Lady ruminating
on killing a guy in 1963 and remi-
niscing about her Texas childhood
KINGMAN ISLAND BLUEGRASS & FOLK FESTIVAL and married life with George W. To
June 4. Caos on F, 923 F St. NW.
Nearly 40 musical acts will perform on an island in the Anacostia River to benefit the Tickets are $25 to $35. Call 202-215-
Living Classrooms Foundation, which offers youth in the Baltimore-Washington region 6993 or visit theklunch.com.
hands-on education and job training in the natural and maritime resources fields. The
festival features a lineup including Town Mountain, Dom Flemons, formerly of the
OUTSIDE MULLINGAR
Carolina Chocolate Drops, Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, Nora Jane Struthers & the Keegan Theatre harkens back to
Party Line, the Honey Dewdrops, Charm City Junction w/Ken Kolodner, the Sligo Creek its Irish roots with a comedy by
Stompers, Justin Trawick and the Common Good, the Coteries, Man About a Horse, and John Patrick Shanley that poses
the question, is it ever too late to
King Street Bluegrass. Organizers ask that guests only bring reusable water bottles and take a chance on love? The focus is
food containers onto the island, while a reusable Zero Waste cup will be given to each on neighbors whose families have
attendee to use at vendors and water stations. Rocklands Barbeque & Grilling Company been squabbling for years over
will sell chopped BBQ pork, pulled BBQ chicken, and grilled portabella sandwiches. a patch of land in rural Ireland.
Mark A. Rhea directs Rena Cherry
Saturday, May 13, at noon. Entrance to Kingman and Heritage Islands Park is behind RFK Brown, Susan Marie Rhea, Brandon
Stadium Parking Lot 6 south of Benning Road NE. Tickets are $30 for general admission, McCoy, and Kevin Adams. To May
or $125 for VIP with unlimited beer and drinks and access into an exclusive viewing 28. Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church
St. NW. Tickets are $35 to $45. Call
space next to main stage. Visit kingmanislandbluegrass.info. 202-265-3768 or visit keeganthe-
atre.com.

introduction to American theater
for young theatergoers who grad-
uated from Disney musicals but
arent quite ready for Tennessee
Williams and Arthur Miller. Four
local teen actors take on the lead
roles, joined by adults Lise Bruneau,
Michael Glenn and Susan Rome,
in a production directed by Matt
Torney. Extended to May 14. The
Aaron and Cecile Goldman Theater,
Edlavitch DCJCC, 1529 16th St.
NW. Call 202-777-3210 or visit the-
aterj.org.
FUN HOME
HHHHH
The warm and wonderful musical
Fun Home pulls off the remarkable
feat of capturing a childs-eye view
of the world, framed by a decid-
edly adult understanding of that
kids upbringing. The shows know-
ing voice originates at the source
cartoonist Alison Bechdels
best-selling 2006 graphic memoir
of the same name. Her piercing
tale of her own coming out, which
coincided with her beloved (and
closeted) dads suicide, marries
poignantly with Jeanine Tesoris
arresting melodies. The music is
expressive throughout, but its not
always matched in its transport-
ing quality by the conversational
style of the lyrics. Its a journey full
of fun and sadness, rendered with
touching depth and clarity. Closes
Saturday, May 13. National Theatre,
1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets
are $48 to $98. Call 202-628-6161
or visit thenationaldc.org. (Andr
Hereford)
IN THE HEIGHTS
The U.S. Spanish-language pre-
miere of Hamilton creator Lin-
Manuel Mirandas first Broadway
hit sizzles with the kind of urban
energy you would expect from its
setting in Manhattans Washington
Heights neighborhood. Performed
in Spanish with English surtitles.
To May 21. GALA Theatre, 3333
14th St. NW. Tickets are $40 to $60.
Call 202-234-7174 or visit galathe-
atre.org.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim
Rices rock opera about Jesus
gets a sleek, modern makeover relevant interpretation, while con-
in a Signature Theatre produc-
tion helmed by Joe Calarco and
starring Nicholas Edwards. The
cast includes Signature standouts
Natascia Diaz as Mary, Sherri L.
Edelen as King Herod, and Bobby
Smith as Pontius Pilate. In previews.
Opens Wednesday, May 17, at 7:30
p.m. To July 2. Signature Theatre,
4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Call
703-820-9771 or visit sigtheatre.org.
KALEIDOSCOPE
Florence Lacey stars in the latest
Bold New Work world premiere every aspect of stagecraft from
from partners, in life and in show,
RAGTIME
Fords Theatres new production,
directed by Peter Flynn, shows
the 20-year old, Tony-winning
musical to be a capable workhorse
that wont necessarily set minds
and hearts racing, but is sure to
please. Flynn steers the titanic
song machine towards an incisive,
tending with a book by playwright
Terrence McNally that reduces
E.L. Doctorows expansive novel to
a CliffsNotes reading of an epic.
Fortunately, Ragtime boasts some
great songs by composer Stephen
Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens.
A large part of the success derives
from the wonderful chemistry
between Jonathan Atkinsons silky-
voiced immigrant artist Tateh and
Tracy Lynn Olivera as Mother of
a moneyed New Rochelle fami-
ly. Backing up the performances,
the lighting and sound design to

16 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 THE HUNCHBACK
OF NOTRE DAME
Synetic Theaters Founding Artistic
Director Paata Tsikurishvili brings
his mind-bending, cinematic style to
Victor Hugos gothic, heartbreaking
epic relayed, like many Synetic
productions, in wordless fash-
ion, stripped of Hugos dialogue.
Vato Tsikurishvili is Quasimodo,
Phillip Fletcher is Frollo, and Irina
Kavsadze is Esmeralda. In previews.
Opens Saturday, May 13, at 8 p.m.
To June 11. Synetic Theater, 1800
South Bell St., Arlington. Tickets
are $35 to $60. Call 800-494-8497
or visit synetictheater.org.
THE MAGIC PLAY
Olney Theatre offers the lat-
est from playwright Andrew
Hinderaker (Colossal) in a story
about a magician losing control of
his life. Halena Kays directs Brett
Darrow Montgomery Schneider, Jon Hudson Odom and
Harry A. Winter. Closes Sunday,
May 14. Olney Theatre Center, 2001
MIRROR TO THE WORLD: Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney,
DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY 2017 Md. Call 301-924-3400 or visit
olneytheatre.org.
Photographer and Photoworks instructor Frank
Van Riper juried the ninth and final installment THE TEMPEST
of an annual showcase of emerging local pho- Marylands Port Tobacco Players
tographic talent he started in 2009. Works by offers a community theater produc-
tion of Shakespeares final work,
11 local photographers made the cut, including adding gender-swapping to put
Fred Zafran, Darrow Montgomery, Christine women in a place of power and
Pearl, Valerie Makepeace, Cherry Wyman, Ginger give the show a different, increas-
ingly relevant feel. Rachel Wallace
Werz-Petricka, Ron Petricka, Diana Hoppin, Steve
stepped up to direct the romantic
Hoppin, Gana Browning and Penny Frates. The comedy, full of magic, music and
exhibit also features five in-depth photo essays mayhem, in memory of Jim Kleyle,
on topics ranging from urban D.C. street pho- who died a month after being
selected for the task. Weekends to
tography to life in rural America and the dying May 21. Port Tobacco Players, 508
city of Civita di Bagnoregio. Closes Sunday, May Charles St., La Plata, Md. Tickets
14. Photoworks Gallery, 1st Floor of the Arcade are $15 to $18. Call 301-932-6819 or
visit ptplayers.com.
Building, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., in Glen Echo
Park, Md. Call 301-634-2274 or visit glenechopho-
toworks.org. MUSIC
DC101 KERFUFFLE:
KINGS OF LEON
Whats not to love about a multi-art-
the hair and makeup resonates males), the play is an inch deep and ist concert called a kerfuffle? In
as soundly as the subject matter. a mile wide. Put simply, these char- addition to the Tennessee brothers
Wade Laboissonnieres costumes acters dont interact, they merely rock band, this years concert offers
are especially ravishing, and do a trigger one another into endless 90s rock acts Weezer and Jimmy
fantastic job of identifying each spirals of heavy-handed socio-gen- Eat Worldas well as Fitz and the
character with their respective tribe der-racial self-analysis and accu- Tantrums, the eclectic dance/soul
and milieu a quality beautifully sation. If there is the odd subtle sextet from L.A. Up-and-coming
complemented by Michael Bobbitts moment in which perceptions are acts include British rockers Catfish
peppy choreography. To May 20. interestingly addressed, there are and the Bottlemen, Highly Suspect,
Fords Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. far more in which the messaging and two bands from Texas, elec-
Call 800-982-2787 or visit fords. is scrawled in primary colors (pun tronic duo Missio and indie-rock-
org. (AH) fully intended). Its the kind of PC ers the Unlikely Candidates.
cudgeling that makes two hours of Sunday, May 14. Doors at 12:30 p.m.
SMART PEOPLE Vin Diesels xXx: Return of Xander Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475
HHHHH Cage, with its multi-cultural assas- Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia,
Thoroughly over-egging the batter, sin brigade, look liked blessed relief. Md. Tickets are $55 to $95. Call
Lydia R. Diamonds Smart People To May 21. Kreeger Theater in the 800-551-SEAT or visit merriweath-
is too much of a good thing. If the Mead Center for American Theater, ermusic.com.
premise the throwing of a high- 1101 6th St. SW. Call 202-488-
ly-educated mix of races and gen- 3300 or visit arenastage.org. (Kate GIORGIO MORODER
ders into one anothers romantic Wingfield) If Donna Summer was the Queen
paths has potential, the execu- of Disco, Giorgio Moroder was her
tion does not. Written as a series of godfather. Among his prolific out-
vignettes building to a contrived PC put in the 70s and 80s, the elec-
pseudo-crisis (at least for the two tronic music pioneer produced all
18 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY
of Summers dance classics, from
I Feel Love to Last Dance to
Love to Love You Baby. Daft
Punk helped give the septuagenar-
ian Italian DJ/producer a late-ca-
reer revival. His first studio album
in 23 years, 2015s Deja Vu is full
of appealing dance ditties featur-
ing many latter-day disco princess-
es, from Kylie Minogue to Sia to
Britney Spears. None will appear
with him at the 9:30 Club next
weekend, of course, but the con-
cert is a bucket list moment for
many nonetheless. Enamour opens.
Friday, May 12. Doors at 8 p.m. 9:30
Club, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $40.
Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.
LENA SEIKALY
A former Strathmore Artist-in-
Residence, the local alto singer has
won lots of praise in the past few
years, with Duke Ellingtons biog-
rapher John Hasse touting her as a
major league young talent in jazz.
She returns with her band to D.C.s
top jazz club for another tribute
to the First Lady of Song, aka
Ella Fitzgerald. Tuesday, May 23,
at 8 and 10 p.m. Blues Alley, 1073
Wisconsin Ave. NW. Tickets are
$22, plus $12 minimum purchase.
Call 202-337-4141 or visit bluesal-
ley.com.
LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES
Self-described as Jamiroquai meets
Santana, the popular Venezuelan
disco/funk band creates infectious,
energetic music that the whole
world can enjoy. The quartet, tour-
ing in support of El Paradise, offers
an incredibly positive atmosphere
that makes it impossible not to want
to get up and dance. Saturday, May
13. Doors at 8 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815 V
St. NW. Tickets are $25. Call 202-
265-0930 or visit 930.com.
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO
The iconoclastic, bisexual and
D.C.-reared vocalist and bass-
ist returns home for a Kennedy
Center concert paying tribute to
Nina Simone. Ndegeocello will
draw from her 2012 release Pour
Une Ame Souveraine: A Dedication
to Nina Simone, which featured a
selection of songs the legendary
Simone either wrote or performed,
including Feeling Good and
Dont Let Me Be Misunderstood.
Ndegeocello revamped the songs
into her brooding, lower-register
contemplative style, which can take
a couple listens to fully appreciate.
I wanted to carry on her [legacy],
Ndegeocello told Metro Weekly
after the sets release. What she did
so well was take standards or songs
from writers and make them her
own [so they] become the definitive
version.... You have to put some-
thing of yourself into it. Saturday,
May 13, at 8 and 10 p.m. Kennedy
Center Atrium. Tickets are $35 to
$55. Call 202-467-4600 or visit ken-
nedy-center.org.
 PERFUME GENIUS
Singer-songwriter Mike Hadreas
has cited Rufus Wainwright as a key
influence on his work, and you hear
it in the flamboyance and drama
of the music he makes as Perfume
Genius. Its a brash approach that
might have seemed jarring just a
year or so ago, but now is more
welcome than ever in the queer-an-
tagonistic Trump era. The 35-year-
old with a penchant for lipstick and
jungle red nail polish may be our
most unapologetic, unabashedly
gay artist to date, and his work,
including new album No Shape,
is defined by his own exploration
of self. I grew up my whole life
thinking about my anxieties and
my insecurities, thinking that the
things that happened to me made
me a wounded person, Hadreas
told Metro Weekly a few years ago.
[I learned] you can be a nervous,
weird, tiny, feminine man and be a
fuckin badass. It doesnt need to be
solved for you to be okay. Monday,
May 15. Doors at 6 p.m. 9:30 Club,
815 V St. NW. Tickets are $21. Call
202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

PREAKNESS INFIELDFEST:
SAM HUNT, ZEDD
Before the 142nd running of the
Preakness Stakes comes music, this
year headlined by one of Nashvilles
newest superstars, Sam Hunt, and
young German electronic-dance
music producer Zedd on the Mug
Stage. The smaller DeKuyper
Stage will feature Baltimores own
Good Charlotte, the Nashville duos
Locash and High Valley. Saturday,
May 20. Starting at 7 a.m. Pimlico
Race Course, 5201 Park Heights
Ave., Baltimore. Tickets are $100
in advance, or $110 day-of, or $155
for access to new The Mug & Vine
Lounge with separate bar, private
restrooms and picnic lounge. Call
877-206-8042 or visit preakness.
com.

SIGNATURE THEATRE: PIANO

MEN CABARET
Recent Signature Theatre per-
formers Mark G. Meadows (Jellys
Last Jam), Nick Lehan (Titanic)
and Shayna Blass (Freaky Friday)
perform the hits of multi-talented
pop piano-playing singer-songwrit-
ers Elton John, Billy Joel, Stevie
TEDDY WOLFF

Wonder, and Ray Charles, to name

four. Tickets are sold out for next
weeks run except for an added mat-
inee on Saturday, May 13, at 2 p.m.
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell
Ave., Arlington. Tickets $35. Call
THE FATHER 703-820-9771 or visit sigtheatre.org.
Ted Van Griethuysen stars as an 80-year-old man whose world starts unraveling in
THE KENNEDY CENTERS D.C.
an original and moving play from Florian Zeller, one of Frances most prolific con- PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS
temporary playwrights, translated by two-time Tony Award winner Christopher Five D.C. public schools commit
Hampton. The Father won a Moliere Award, the French equivalent of the Tony, in to boosting arts education through
2014. Kate Eastwood Norris, Caroline Dubberly, Erika Rose, Manny Buckley, and an initiative guiding develop-
ment of individual strategic plans
Daniel Harray also star. David Muse directs. In previews. Opens Sunday, May 14, and providing access to Kennedy
at 2 p.m. To June 18. Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets NW. Call 202-332-3300 or Center resources. The Kennedy
visit studiotheatre.org. Center also highlights each of the

20 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 five institutions artistic achieve-
ments through a free, weeklong
concert series. The schedule is:
Woodrow Wilson High Schools
Concert Choir, Womens Choir,
Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the
Wilson Singers, on Monday, May
15; Columbia Heights Educational
Campus featuring the Lincoln
Middle School Band, CHEC
Orchestra, CHEC Concert Band
and the CHEC Choir, on Tuesday,
May 16; School Without Walls
and its Stage Band and Concert
Choir on Wednesday, May 17;
Barnard Elementary School and
its celebration of the artistic con-
tributions of Africans and African
Americans on Thursday, May 18;
and a showcase of talented area
high school scholarship winners of
the Reston Chapter of Links, Inc.
and Washington, D.C. Chapter of
Society Inc, on Friday, May 19. All
shows at 6 p.m. Millennium Stage.
Free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit
kennedy-center.org.
THE WASHINGTON CHORUS
WITH GAY MENS CHORUS, ARI
SHAPIRO
Julian Wachner is going out with
a bang and not solely by virtue
of Carl Orffs bombastic Carmina
Burana. For the final concert of
his 10th and last season as music
director of the Grammy-winning
Washington Chorus, Wachner will
lead the 200-voice group in a per-
formance of Orffs choral warhorse,
further amplified with the addi-
tion of the Gay Mens Chorus of
Washington, Childrens Chorus of
Washington, and the Washington
National Cathedral Boy and Girl
Choristers. A celebratory nod to
Washingtons unparalleled cho-
ral scene, the three groups arent
the only guests for this monumen-
tal program. Six soloists will also
take turns in the limelight, as will
NPRs Ari Shapiro. The All Things
Considered co-host and sometimes
Pink Martini singer will serve as
special guest narrator in a perfor-
mance of Igor Stravinskys dramat-
ic oratorio Oedipus Rex, about the
Sophocles tragedy. Sunday, May 14,
at 5 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert
Hall. Tickets are $18 to $72. Call
202-342-6221 or visit thewashing-
tonchorus.org.
DANCE
BALLETX
Halcyon Stage, the new perform-
ing arts presenting organization
launched by former Washington
Ballet director Septime Webre,
welcomes one of the nations most
intriguing contemporary ballet
companies for two different pro-
grams at a different kind of dance
venue, Union Market. On Sunday,
May 14, from 12 to 2 p.m., the
Philadelphia troupe offers a free
series of short pop-up dance per-
formances, presented as a sort of
22 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY
scavenger hunt to be found. The
night before comes a more tradi-
tional evening of dances by Trey
McIntyre and Matthew Neenan, set
to the music of Amy Winehouse and
indie-rock band Beirut, followed by
a DJ Set and Meet-the-Artist Dance
Party. Saturday, May 13. Doors at 8
p.m. Dock 5 at Union Market, 1309
5th St. NE. General seating tickets
are $40. Call 202-796-4240 or visit
halcyonstage.org.
COMEDY
DEMETRI MARTIN
A former writer for Late Night with
Conan OBrien as well as a former
regular on The Daily Show with Jon
Stewart to say nothing of his own
short-lived Comedy Central show
wry comedian Demetri Martin
returns on his Lets Get Awkward
Tour. Saturday, May 13. Doors at
6 p.m. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St.
NW. Tickets are $45. Call 202-888-
0050 or visit thelincolndc.com.
UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE
Like the funniest extroverts at the
party, the improv troupe Upright
Citizens Brigade, from New York
and Los Angeles, riffs on D.C. and
audience-members alike. The bri-
gade has many famous alumni,
including Amy Poehler and Ed
Helms. Sunday, May 21, at 7 p.m.
Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. 600 I
St. NW. Tickets are $20 in advance,
or $25 day-of show. Call 202-408-
3100 or visit sixthandi.org.
READING
& DISCUSSION
JEFFREY GOLDBERG, ABDULLAH
ANTEPLI
Jews and Muslims in America:
Political Challenges and Moral
Opportunities is this years focus
at Sixth and I through its annual
offering The Ten: An Alternative
Shavuot Experience. Atlantic
Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg
and Imam Abdullah Antepli discuss
Jewish-Muslim relationships today
and consider new solutions to dif-
ficult topics while studying ancient
texts together. Monday, May 22,
at 6:30 p.m. Sixth & I Historic
Synagogue. 600 I St. NW. Tickets
are $15 in advance, or $18 day-of
event. Call 202-408-3100 or visit
sixthandi.org.
EXHIBITS
KHANH LE: WHILE WE WAIT
Cultural DC presents works by a
D.C. interdisciplinary artist moti-
vated by Syrian refugees and
immigration issues to develop a
mixed-media photography series
reflecting on his personal experi-
ences waiting with his Vietnamese
family for permission to immi-
grate to the U.S. in the late 80s.
The resulting works are a mix of
FOOD AND DRINK
abstract and identity-based art.
NOPA KITCHEN+BAR: $70
Opening reception Friday, May 12,
WEEKEND DINNER FOR TWO
from 6 to 8. On display through
MENU
June 3. Flashpoint [Gallery], 916 G
Across from the Smithsonian
St. NW. Tickets are free. Call 202-
American Art Museum in Penn
315-1310 or visit flashpointdc.org.
Quarter, this 160-seat American
Theres also an Artist Talk Sunday,
brasserie, part of the same family as
May 21, at 1:30 p.m., on the Third
Rasika, Bibiana and the Oval Room,
Floor of the Smithsonian American
should already be on your shortlist
Art Museum, 8th and F Streets NW.
for brunch. On Sundays between
11 a.m. and 3 p.m., each diner can
MARCIA COPPEL: CONNECT/
choose between an appetizer and
DISCONNECT 2
entree or sandwich, as well as a spe-
A former speech pathologist,
cial mimosa or bloody Mary, for $28
Coppel was inspired for her new
to $30 each (or $38 with bottomless
series of paintings by a sign she
classic mimosas). Now Executive
saw at an outdoor cafe in Mexico,
Chef Matt Kuhn is working to get
Talk to Each Other. We dont have
Nopa on your radar earlier in the
Wi-Fi. Some of the whimsical, col-
weekend as well, with a new dinner
orful works in the show feature
menu focused on composed dish-
people talking to each other in cafes
es designed for couples, whether
and at the beach, others are in their
lovers or close friends, reasonably
own worlds, floating in the air as
priced at $70 for two, before tax
well as sitting under umbrellas, and
and tip. Though the menu chang-
some are seated in a group with no
es weekly, regular options include:
interaction. Meet the Artist event
Nopa Spring Mixed Grill, with bites
Saturday, May 20, from 1 to 3 p.m.
of quail, fennel sausage, ribeye, red
On exhibit through May 28. Gallery
prawns and grilled asparagus, plus
B in Touchstone Gallery, 901 New
garlic custard and ramp salsa verde;
York Ave. NW Call 202-347-2787 or
Crispy Chesapeake Soft Shell Crabs,
visit touchstonegallery.com.
three jumbo crustaceans served
with Old Bay sweet corn and crab
PAINTING SHAKESPEARE
succotash, smoked new potatoes
An exploration into how
and pickled ramps; and the stand-
Shakespeares words have inspired
out Maine Lobster Bake, a whole
visual artists, as seen in pictures,
lobster with Old Bay-seasoned kiel-
oil sketches and paintings from the
basa, local clams and red prawns,
Folgers collection. Why is there
and sides of roasted sweet corn,
visual art in a library? Because col-
pee-wee potatoes and smoked
lectors Henry and Emily Folger
tomato butter. Available exclusive-
understood that it takes more than
ly on Fridays and Saturdays during
books and manuscripts alone to
dinner service, 5 to 11 p.m., subject
understand Shakespeare and his era.
to availability. Nopa Kitchen+Bar,
Opens Saturday, May 13. Through
800 F St. NW. Call 202-347-4667 or
Feb. 17. Folger Shakespeare Library,
visit nopadc.com.
201 East Capitol St. SE. Call 202-
544-7077 or visit folger.edu.
ABOVE & BEYOND
YAYOI KUSAMA: INFINITY
MIRRORS CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERYS
Only two weekends remain of DAY OF THE DOG FESTIVAL
the Hirshhorns insanely popular Known as one of the best places on
Instagram phenomenon, the first Capitol Hill to walk your dog, the
major traveling exhibition sur- historic Congressional Cemetery
veying the evolution of celebrated typically only allows privileges to
Japanese painter/sculptors immer- members of the K-9 Corps. But
sive infinity rooms. The exhibition this festival, now in its fourth year,
features six of Kusamas rooms opens the grounds to the public and
as well as Pumpkin, the whimsi- their pups. The free event features
cal, surrealy scaled sculpture, in contests, games, demonstrations,
a bold yellow-and-black pattern, plus representatives from pet adop-
displayed on the museums plaza. tion agencies and shelters with dogs
Closes Sunday, May 14. Hirshhorn and cats ready for adoption. Therell
Museum and Sculpture Garden, also be vendors for pets and their
Independence Avenue and Seventh owners, including brews from Port
Street SW. All free passes for the City Brewing Company and Atlas
remainder of the shows run are Brew Works and grub from vari-
accounted for, but a limited num- ous food trucks. It kicks off with
ber of same-day walk-up passes are
a 5K race. Saturday, May 13, from
available. Call 202-633-1000 or visit
9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Congressional
hirshhorn.si.edu.
Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE. Free,
though $40 to register for the race.
Call 202-543-0539 or visit hcceme-
tery.wixsite.com/dayofthedog.
 PARTY
IN THE USA
Miley Cyrus will headline the
Capital Pride Concert

C
APITAL PRIDE HAS ANNOUNCED THAT
Miley Cyrus will perform at this years concert.
The singer, known for her vocal support of the
LGBTQ community, will headline a show that also fea-
tures Tinashe, the Pointer Sisters and VASSY.
Cyrus has spoken out on numerous issues relating
to the LGBTQ community, including highlighting the
youth homelessness epidemic and openly discussing
her own journey she identifies as pansexual and
has recently described herself as gender-neutral. In
2014, Cyrus founded the Happy Hippie Foundation,
which advocates for homeless rights, LGBTQ rights
and womens rights, among others.
June Crenshaw, Executive Director of the Wanda
Alston Foundation, praised the selection of Cyrus to
headline this years concert. [We applaud] Miley for
her leadership with bringing awareness to the LGBTQ youth homeless epidemic, she said in a statement. LGBTQ youth
are more than 40 percent of the homeless youth in the Nations Capital. We are excited Miley is bringing her voice to the
effort of protecting our most vulnerable youth and helping to eradicate LGBTQ youth homelessness.
Tinashe, a BET Award-winning artist, gained notoriety not only for her genre-blending mix of R&B, hip-hop and elec-
tronica, but also for her support of anti-bullying movements in schools. The Pointer Sisters are a Grammy-winning R&B
group who found success in the 70s and 80s with hits such as Hes So Shy and Im So Excited. VASSY, an Australian
singer known for her number one Dance Chart hit We Are Young, is an ambassador for the NOH8 campaign and works
to promote LGBTQ equality.
We are unapologetically proud to join with Miley Cyrus, Tinashe, and all of the headliners at the 2017 Capital Pride
Festival! said Tommy Chuck, Program Director of Hot 99.5, who present the Capital Pride Concert. This is sure to be
an awesome weekend full of great music and lots of fun. Rhuaridh Marr

The Capital Pride Concert takes place Sunday, June 11, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Capitol Concert Stage, Pennsylvania
Ave. Entry is free. For more information, visit capitalpride.org.

FROM THE CANYONS TO THE
STARS: FREE MULTIMEDIA
CONCERT
Washington Performing Arts
presents the East Coast premiere
of a new production of Olivier
Messiaens massive, 12-movement
work, which the United States Air
Force Band will perform, with
pianist Peter Henderson, as still
and moving images by Deborah
OGrady are screened. Messiaens
From The Canyons to the Stars was
inspired by the grandeur of Utahs
Bryce Canyon National Park, and
the concert, led by conductor
David Robertson, is designed as
a commemoration of the National
Park Services centenary in the
nations capital. Friday, May 12, at
8 p.m. D.A.R. Constitution Hall,
1776 D St. NW. Free. Call 202-628-
1776 or visit washingtonperform-
ingarts.org.
LA-TI-DOS ANNUAL DISNEY
NIGHT
Timothy David Copney and the
cast of Front and Center Stages
Dragalicious: Love & War, com-
ing in June to Virginias Lorton
Workhouse, are the featured per-
formers at the Disney-themed
installment of this long-running
variety series. Founded by Don
Michael Mendoza and Regie
Cabico, La-Ti-Do enlists profes-
sionals from the theater or opera
worlds performing on their night
off, and from time to time also wel-
comes spoken-word poets, story-
tellers and comedians. Mendoza
and Anya Randall Nebel co-host the
May show with additional perform-
ers Dwayne B, Carol Jean Clark,
Madeline Cuddihy, Lizzie Dorman,
Larry Grey, Courtney LeBlanc,
Michelle Moses-Eisenstein, Lissa
Peters and Michael Sandoval.
Pianist Paige Rammelkamp pro-
vides accompaniment. Monday,
May 15, at 8 p.m. Bistro Bistro, 1727
Connecticut Ave. NW. Tickets are
$15, or only $10 if you eat dinner
at the restaurant beforehand. Call
202-328-1640 or visit latidodc.wix.
com/latidodc.
ZOOFARI: DINING FOR WILDLIFE
More than 100 area restaurants and
20 vintners and brewers offer sam-
ples at the annual culinary fund-
raiser benefitting Friends of the
National Zoo. Chefs appearing at
Zoofari 2017 include Jerome Grant
of Sweet Home Cafe in the National
Museum of African American
History and Culture, Todd Gray of
Equinox, Jeffrey Buben of Bistro
Bis and Woodward Table, Rufino
Bautista of Estadio, KN Vinod of
Indique, Tony Chittum of Iron Gate
and Jeff Tunks of Acadiana and
District Commons. Radio broad-
caster and emcee-about-town
Tommy McFly is another special
guest. Further adding to the ambi-
ance: live music, a silent auction,
giveaways from sponsors GEICO
and Rosenthal Jaguar/Land Rover
and naturally animal encounters
along Olmsted Walk as well as in the
Small Mammal House, Great Ape
House and the Reptile Discovery
Center which will all be open
during the event. Thursday, May
18, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. National
Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW.
Tickets are $200, or $500 to $1000
for VIP with a pre-party reception
and lounge with champagne bar,
valet parking and even a Behind
the Scenes tour of the Panda
House. Call 202-633-3045 or visit
fonz.org. l

24 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY


THURSDAY, May 11
METRO DC PFLAG hosts
its 5th Annual Penthouse
Cocktail Party fundraiser at the
Penthouse Pool and Lounge.
Admission fee is $50 per per-
son. 6-9 p.m. 1612 U St. NW.
For more information, visit
pflagdc.org.
Weekly Events
ANDROMEDA
TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH
offers free HIV testing and HIV
services (by appointment). 9
a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center,
1400 Decatur St. NW. To
arrange an appointment, call
202-291-4707, or visit androm-
edatransculturalhealth.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB practice
session at Takoma Aquatic
Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more infor-
mation, visit swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS run-
ning/walking/social club
welcomes runners of all ability
levels for exercise in a fun and
supportive environment, with
socializing afterward. Route
distance is 3-6 miles. Meet at
7 p.m. at 23rd & P Streets NW.
For more information, visit
dcfrontrunners.org.
DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay
and lesbian square-dancing
group features mainstream
through advanced square
dancing at the National City
Christian Church, 5 Thomas
Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m. Casual
dress. 301-257-0517, dclamb-
dasquares.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
practice. The team is always
looking for new members. All
welcome. 7:30-9:30 p.m. King
Greenleaf Recreation Center,
201 N St. SW. For more infor-
mation, visit scandalsrfc.org or
dcscandals@gmail.com.
The DULLES TRIANGLES
Northern Virginia social
group meets for happy hour at
Sheraton in Reston. All wel-
come. 7-9 p.m. 11810 Sunrise
Valley Drive, second-floor bar.
For more information, visit
dullestriangles.com.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-
Walker Health. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at
1525 14th St. NW, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
at the Elizabeth Taylor Medical
Center, 1701 14th St. NW, and 8
a.m-5 p.m. at the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave.
SE. For an appointment call
202-745-7000 or visit whit-
man-walker.org.
Community
FRIDAY, May 12
GAMMA is a confidential, vol-
HEROIC PRIDE
untary, peer-support group
for men who are gay, bisexual,
questioning and who are now
or who have been in a relation-
ship with a woman. 7:30-9:30
The annual Capital Pride Heroes Gala pays p.m. Luther Place Memorial
Church, 1226 Vermont Ave NW.
tribute to several of our communitys finest GAMMA meetings are also held
in Northern Virginia and in
T
Frederick, Md. For more infor-
HIS YEARS CAPITAL PRIDE HEROES, TO BE mation, visit gammaindc.org.
honored in a gala reception on Saturday, May 13, are The DC Center holds a meeting
an impressive, diverse group that have worked hard of its DC LGBTQIA DISABILITY
to advance our communitys cause. They are: longtime HIV/ GROUP to support, educate
and empower people with dis-
AIDS/transgender rights activist Dee Curry; Juan Carlos
abilities. 8-9 p.m. 2000 14th St.
Loubriel of Whitman-Walker Health; Amy Loudermilk of NW, Suite 105. For more infor-
the Trevor Project; Richard Rosendall of Gay and Lesbian mation, contact Andy Arias,
Activists Alliance; and Melvin Thomas, founding member of andyarias09@gmail.com.
Stonewall Sports. WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES
Additional honorees include clinician and researcher (AND THIRTIES), a social
Stacey Karpen, and Hayden Mora, founding member of discussion and activity group
for queer women, meets at The
Trans United. Both will be recognized with the trans-
DC Center on the second and
gender-focused Engendered Spirits award, while Jerry fourth Fridays of each month.
Houston of Hot 99.5/Pride Radio is being presented with Group social activity to follow
the Bill Miles Award for his outstanding volunteer service the meeting. 8-9:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
producing the Capital Pride Concert since 2013. more information, visit thedc-
Brother Help Thyself is being honored with the Larry center.org.
Stansbury Award for its exemplary contributions to pride
in the region, and Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Weekly Events
Holtby is this years Ally awardee for his efforts to advance BET MISHPACHAH, founded
LGBTQ initiatives in pro sports. by members of the LGBT com-
The gala includes an open bar with alcohol by Barefoot munity, holds Friday evening
Shabbat services in the DC
Wine & Bubbly, Stoli, and Heineken, and tasting stations
Jewish Community Centers
offering bites from Asia Nine, CaliBurger, Mason Dixie Community Room. 8 p.m. 1529
Biscuit Co., and Taco Bamba. Doug Rule 16th St. NW. For more informa-
tion, visit betmish.org.
Saturday, May 13, from 7 to 11 p.m. Carnegie Library, 801 K DC AQUATICS CLUB holds
St. NW. Tickets are $65 to $85. Call 202-249-3000 or visit a practice session at Howard
capitalpride.org. University. 6:30-8 p.m. Burr
Gymnasium, 2400 6th St. NW.
For more information, visit
swimdcac.org.
IDENTITY offers free and SMYAL offers free HIV Testing,
confidential HIV testing at 3-5 p.m., by appointment and PROJECT STRIPES hosts
two separate locations. Walk- walk-in, for youth 21 and LGBT-affirming social group
ins accepted from 2-6 p.m., younger. Youth Center, 410 7th for ages 11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419
by appointment for all other St. SE. 202-567-3155 or test- Columbia Road NW. Contact
hours. 414 East Diamond Ave., ing@smyal.org. Tamara, 202-319-0422, layc-
Gaithersburg, Md. or 7676 dc.org.
New Hampshire Ave., Suite Us Helping Us hosts a
411, Takoma Park, Md. To set NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS SMYALS REC NIGHT provides
up an appointment or for more MEETING. The group is inde- a social atmosphere for LGBT
information, call Gaithersburg, pendent of UHU. 6:30-7:30 and questioning youth, featur-
301-300-9978, or Takoma Park, p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. ing dance parties, vogue nights,
301-422-2398. For more information, call 202- movies and games. For more
446-1100. info, email catherine.chu@
METROHEALTH CENTER smyal.org.
offers free, rapid HIV testing. WOMENS LEADERSHIP
Appointment needed. 1012 14th INSTITUTE for young LBTQ SATURDAY, May 13
St. NW, Suite 700. To arrange women, 13-21, interested in
an appointment, call 202-638- leadership development. 5-6:30 Weekly Events
0750. p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410
7th St. SE. For more informa- BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP,
tion, call 202-567-3163, or email including others interested in
catherine.chu@smyal.org. Brazilian culture, meets. For
location/time, email brazilian-
gaygroup@yahoo.com.
MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 25
 DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a prac-
tice session at Montgomery College
Aquatics Club. 8:30-10 a.m. 7600
Takoma Ave., Takoma, Md. For more
information, visit swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
walking/social club welcomes run-
ners of all ability levels for exercise
in a fun and supportive environ-
ment, with socializing afterward.
Route distance will be 3-6 miles.
Walker meet at 9:30 a.m. and run-
ners at 10 a.m. at 23rd & P Streets
NW. For more information, visit
dcfrontrunners.org.
DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for
LGBT community, family and
friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel
Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary
Road, Alexandria. All welcome. For
more info, visit dignitynova.org.
GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses
critical languages and foreign lan-
guages. 7 p.m. Nellies, 900 U St.
NW. RSVP preferred. Email bren-
dandarcy@gmail.com.
SUNDAY, May 14
Weekly Events
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS
MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
celebrates Low Mass at 8:30
a.m., High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300
Cathedral Ave. NW. 202-232-4244,
allsoulsdc.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a
practice session at Wilson Aquatic
Center. 9:30-11 a.m. 4551 Fort Dr.
NW. For more information, visit
swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
walking/social club welcomes run-
ners of all ability levels for exercise
in a fun and supportive environ-
ment, with socializing afterward.
Route will be a distance run of 8, 10
or 12 miles. Meet at 9 a.m. at 23rd
& P Streets NW. For more informa-
tion, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
DIGNITYUSA offers Roman
Catholic Mass for the LGBT
community. All welcome. Sign
interpreted. 6 p.m. St. Margarets
Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave.
NW. For more info, visit dignity-
washington.org.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
welcomes all to 10:30 a.m. service,
945 G St. NW. firstuccdc.org or
202-628-4317.
HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF
CHRIST welcomes GLBT commu-
nity for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130
Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria.
hopeucc.org.
26 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY
HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT
GROUP for gay men living in the
DC metro area. This group will be
meeting once a month. For infor-
mation on location and time, visit
H2gether.com.
Join LINCOLN
CONGREGATIONAL TEMPLE
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST for
an inclusive, loving and progressive
faith community every Sunday. 11
a.m. 1701 11th Street NW, near R in
Shaw/Logan neighborhood. lincol-
ntemple.org.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF NORTHERN
VIRGINIA services at 11 a.m., led
by Rev. Emma Chattin. Childrens
Sunday School, 11 a.m. 10383
Democracy Lane, Fairfax. 703-691-
0930, mccnova.com.
NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN
CHURCH, inclusive church with
GLBT fellowship, offers gospel wor-
ship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional wor-
ship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW.
202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.
ST. STEPHEN AND THE
INCARNATION, an interra-
cial, multi-ethnic Christian
Community offers services in
English, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and
in Spanish at 5:15 p.m. 1525 Newton
St. NW. 202-232-0900, saintste-
phensdc.org.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING
invites LGBTQ families and indi-
viduals of all creeds and cultures to
join the church. Services 9:15 and
11:15 a.m. 10309 New Hampshire
Ave. uucss.org.
MONDAY, May 15
CENTER FAITH, a program of The
DC Center, hosts a meeting for the
LGBT community and their reli-
gious allies. 7:30-9 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more infor-
mation, visit thedccenter.org.
The Metro D.C. chapter of PFLAG,
a support group for parents, family
members and allies of the LGBTQ
community, holds its monthly
meeting at The DC Center. 7-9 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
more information, visit thedccen-
ter.org.
Weekly Events
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a
practice session at Dunbar Aquatic
Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 101 N St. NW.
For more information, visit swim-
dcac.org.
GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at
Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave.
NW. For more information, email
getequal.wdc@gmail.com.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV test-
ing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite
200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-
789-4467.
The DC Center hosts COFFEE
DROP-IN FOR THE SENIOR LGBT
COMMUNITY. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000
14th St. NW. For more information,
call 202-682-2245 or visit thedc-
center.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay
mens evening affinity group for
GBT black men. Light refreshments
provided. 7-9 p.m. 3636 Georgia
Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
p.m. Newcomers with at least basic
swimming ability always welcome.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more informa-
tion, contact Tom, 703-299-0504
or secretary@wetskins.org, or visit
wetskins.org.
TUESDAY, May 16
CENTER BI, a group of The DC
Center, hosts a monthly roundtable
discussion around issues of bisex-
uality. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. Visit thedccenter.org.
Queer-identifying women who
have survived violent or traumatic
experiences and are looking for
support are invited to take part
in a bi-weekly QUEER WOMEN
WORKING THROUGH TRAUMA
GROUP at The DC Center.
Participants are encouraged to
do an intake assessment with
moderator and social worker Sam
Goodwin. 6-7 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more infor-
mation, email Sam at samantha@
thedccenter.org.
THE HIV WORKING GROUP of
THE DC CENTER hosts a Packing
Party, where volunteers assemble
safe-sex kits of condoms and lube.
7-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
105. Visit thedccenter.org.
Weekly Events
ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly
dinner in Dupont/Logan Circle
area, 6:30 p.m. For more informa-
tion, email afwash@aol.com, or
visit afwashington.net.
DC AQUATICS CLUB practice
session at Takoma Aquatic Center.
7:30-9 p.m. 300 Van Buren St. NW.
For more information, visit swim-
dcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds prac-
tice. The team is always looking for
new members. All welcome. 7:30-
9:30 p.m. King Greenleaf Recreation
Center, 201 N St. SW. For more
information, visit scandalsrfc.org or
dcscandals@gmail.com.
THE GAY MENS HEALTH
COLLABORATIVE offers free
HIV testing and STI screening
and treatment every Tuesday.
5-6:30 p.m. Rainbow Tuesday
LGBT Clinic, Alexandria Health
Department, 4480 King St. 703-
746-4986 or text 571-214-9617.
james.leslie@inova.org.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
LGBT focused meeting every
Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. Georges
Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland
Ave., Arlington, just steps from
Virginia Square Metro. For
more info. call Dick, 703-521-
1999. Handicapped accessible.
Newcomers welcome. liveandletli-
veoa@gmail.com.
WEDNESDAY, May 17
WOMAN TO WOMAN: A
SUPPORT GROUP FOR HIV-
POSITIVE WOMEN WHO LOVE
WOMEN, meets on the third
Wednesday of each month at The
Womens Collective. Light refresh-
ments served. 5:30-7 p.m. 1331
Rhode Island Ave. NE. For more
information, 202-483-7003.
Weekly Events
AD LIB, a group for freestyle con-
versation, meets about 6-6:30 p.m.,
Steam, 17th and R NW. All wel-
come. For more information, call
Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
holds a practice session at Dunbar
Aquatic Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 101 N
St. NW. For more information, visit
swimdcac.org.
FREEDOM FROM SMOKING, a
group for LGBT people looking
to quit cigarettes and tobacco use,
holds a weekly support meeting at
The DC Center. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more infor-
mation, visit thedccenter.org.
HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH
offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.
and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.
Washington St., Alexandria. 703-
549-1450, historicchristchurch.org.
JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-
gram for job entrants and seekers,
meets at The DC Center. 6-7:30 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
more info, www.centercareers.org.
PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social club
for mature gay men, hosts weekly
happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,
Windows Bar above Dupont Italian
Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. More
info, contact Carl, 703-573-8316.l
Submit your community event for
consideration at least 10 days prior
to the Thursday publication in which
you would like it to appear. Email to
calendar@metroweekly.com.
 Stage Hand
After years as the publisher at the City Paper,
Amy Austin took on a new role in life:
Supporting the citys incredible theater community.

Interview by Randy Shulman

Photography by Todd Franson

O
H, IM SORRY. CAN I TAKE THIS REAL QUICK?
Amy Austin picks up her phone and listens
intently for a moment before responding.
It was hanging on the back of the green chair when I last
saw it. So I would look on the rail on the.... Downstairs. Okay,
gotta go. Just ask Deirdre.
Im sorry, she says, before settling back into interview
mode. When theyre kids calls, I always think theyve died. who is still acting to this day, and hearing her say, Im gonna
I have to pick up the phone because Im worried that its
something. But then its always something simple that they
should already know. I dont know if thats a common moth-
er reaction.
The call was from from her 16-year-old, Eli. Austin has
two more: David, 14, and Adelaide, also 16, the daughter of
her wife of a decade, Deirdre Joy. Motherhood suits the for-
mer publisher of the Washington City Paper, who now leads
TheatreWashington, an organization that supports and nur-
tures the local theater community and which, for 33 years,
has bestowed the highly esteemed, very-much-so coveted
Helen Hayes Awards.
Theater isnt a new vocation for the Illinois native. Before
her 15-year stint at the City Paper, Austin worked at the long
defunct Horizons Theatre, whose mission was to present
theater from a womans perspective. She also served as chair
of the Theatre Lab School of Dramatic Arts for two decades.
So, when Linda Levy Grossman stepped down as president
and CEO of TheatreWashington in 2015, Austin who had
finally left the City Paper after yet another new set of owners
took the helm (I had eight bosses in seven years!) was the
perfect choice to fill the void. She knows the city. She knows
its theater. And, its safe to say, shes passionate about both.
Austin, however, is modest about TheatreWashingtons
growth and accomplishments since she took the helm, not-
ing that some of the programs shes overseeing had been put
into place before her arrival. But shes no less proud of the
organization and its future potential as a conduit for promot-
ing, fostering, and nurturing local theatre, helping to solve
challenges for all of Washingtons diverse and varied stages.
Interestingly, Austin moved to Washington in the early
80s with dreams of forging a career in acting.
I enjoy acting very, very much, says the warm, ener-
getic 59-year-old. But deep down I knew that I didnt have
the chutzpah to be an actress for life. I have this very vivid
memory of standing next to Kim Schraf, an amazing actress
do this for the rest of my life. I thought, I cannot make that
commitment. So, I switched to production management.
Austins knowledge of the inner-workings of the theater
world have helped inform her work at TheatreWashington,
but her years at the City Paper and her visibility in the post
have helped her strengthen bridges between local theater
and the greater business community, with a goal to help all
theaters, big and small, develop audiences eager to see live
productions. She notes that Washington, D.C. is unique in
its rabid love of theater, and she attributes it to our unique
demographic.
Were not just the government town you see on TV, she
says, and we know that. This is a very international city
its culturally very rich. The people who live and work here
appreciate theater, and enjoy having it be a part of their lives.
Its a city that can support 90-plus theaters. She pauses and
smiles broadly. I dont know if you could say that about
every city in the United States.
METRO WEEKLY: So, lets get to know you a bit. I dont think
Ive ever asked you this, but where are you from originally?
AMY AUSTIN: I grew up in a small town Princeton, Illinois.
Its a town of less than 10,000 people. We were two and a
half hours south of Chicago. Theres an old marketing cam-
paign for Illinois that used to say, Just outside of Chicago
theres a place called Illinois. And so thats where I lived,
that place outside of Chicago called Illinois.
MW: What was your childhood like?
AUSTIN: In Illinois, as far as you can see, you can just see

28 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

the sky. Theres hardly anything there, so you just sort of had to
invent your life. I did anything to keep myself sort of busy and
keeping from recognizing that there was nothing going on in my
small town. Theater, for me, became sort of an anchor starting
in eighth grade.
MW: What kind of roles did you play? Do you remember?
AUSTIN: [Laughs.] Yeah. I did a brilliant Wicked Witch of the
West in The Wizard of Oz. And I was also quite good as the
Jewish mother role in Bye, Bye Birdie. I did a stint in Gypsy where
I played the trumpet player in a community theater production.
I majored in theater in college, so theater was always a
throughline for me. Theater has always been where I can make
sense of the world through theater and through the eyes of
theater and through thinking about roles and people and plays.
The discovery of being able to think about life and how it works
through the eyes of characters and plays and playwrights.
MW: You talk about discovery. When did you first discover you
were gay?
AUSTIN: I was a really late to the game in terms of coming out as
a lesbian. I dated men for a long time throughout high school.
Mostly I think of myself as a bisexual. I fell in love with a woman
I met when I was doing theater, actually, and was really attract-
ed to her. Thats what kickstarted the whole thing. Then I just
decided, as long as youre with a woman, youre gay. So thats
how I identify.
MW: You started in theater in Washington in the 80s, with
Horizons Theatre, just as the scene began to explode.
AUSTIN: Yes, it was an explosion. Not many of us had seen the-
ater like that before. People were starting their own companies
that were going to grow into the institutions that they are today.
There was theater in found spaces that you wouldnt readily
identify as theater spaces.
MW: Are there shows from that period that stuck out as unforget-
table for you?
AUSTIN: [Source Theatres] Fool for Love, which was performed
in an alley. Playing for Time at the Studio Theatre. That was
extraordinary Joy Zinoman had all the actresses shave their
heads. You know, its funny with me and theater, I can remember
moments, but thats not how I retain information, by remember-
ing the story, necessarily. I just remember emotional moments.
MW: It was an interesting period and it established Washington as
a very unique, very powerful theater city.
AUSTIN: Yes, all these stepping stones led to where we are today.
The theater right now is as exciting as it was during that time.
But I would say that at that time, no one had ever seen theater
like that before. There are things that are still happening that
are pushing the boundaries of the genre I still see those things
happening today but theyre not as new.
MW: How did you get involved with The City Paper?
AUSTIN: I applied for a job there and I was hired in the advertis-
ing department. Much like the theater, journalism was changing
and evolving. The City Paper at the time there were so many
new concepts that had never been tried before. It was very new
to have free distribution and not to have to pay for a subscrip-
tion. And it was new to really focus on local in a way that hadnt
ever been done before. Personal ads, free classified ads, all those
things were invented during the time that I was there. I started
in advertising and became operations manager, then general
manager, then publisher.
MW: You never actually owned the paper.
AUSTIN: No, I never owned the paper. But I acted like I owned
it. At that point, I was responsible for all of it. I was responsible
for all the editorial and all the sales and all the people that work
30 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY
there and all the design. But I saw it as more like making sure
that all the pieces came together, both for the readers and for
our internal workings.
MW: The City Paper really hit its heyday during your publishing
tenure. It was massive every week.
AUSTIN: At one point it was 128 pages on average per week.
Which is a lot of pages. That was before the revenue model
crumbled.
MW: Under you, it was known for its longform, in-depth journal-
ism.
AUSTIN: Journalism is like theater you want to see the conflict.
Good storytelling almost always involves conflict. We werent
there to be boosters of the city. We were there to figure out what
can we make better, what can we fix? What is really going on?
What should you know about your city that you dont? How is
this really working? We had the ability to really take a look at
people who werent doing as well in the city as they should. It
was a really great resource to understand where you were.
There was no other way to get this kind of information
besides having the City Paper in your hands. It was a joy to get
to that point where you distributed the paper and people would
come rushing to grab it out of the back of the trucks. The only
way to understand what was going on around you was to get the
City Paper. It was one of the few resources.
MW: Everything did change, for all of us in publishing. Was that a
difficult time for you, watching things erode?
AUSTIN: It did have its challenges, but it really was one of my
favorite times, because everything that you took for granted,
that was always there, did start to go away, and you had to figure
out what you were going to do that would be different. It was
an imperative to understand what the core of your business
was, what you should be doing and to find new ways to create
revenue.
One of the things that we did at the time was to create one
of my favorite things the Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts
Festival. It came out of that time of us trying to understand what
our brand was, and what we cared about. The festival took on a
life of its own, became this incredible community event, where
we would get 20,000 people to come shop for mostly local arts
and crafts, handmade things, for one day. It became a revenue
generator.
It wasnt so much that stories werent being told. There was
even more stories than ever being told because of the way in
which we could write as much as you want online. We were not
constricted by [physical] pages anymore. It became about how
can you make money and still do the work that you care so much
about? Early on we adapted and created a digital ad network and
that was really fun to figure out. The revenue was still there. It
was just moving into different forms and what part could you
play in it.
MW: Were there any particular challenges to being the openly gay
publisher of a non-gay publication?
AUSTIN: You know, one of the things I think about being gay
is that you dont have to really lead with being gay. It took me
a while to teach myself to lead with being gay. Because theres
ways in which you could sit down in a meeting with a client and
you could talk about your family life and your kids and not talk
about your wife, for example. I think that the challenges were
ones that I laid on myself.
We were living in an alternative environment at the City
Paper. It wasnt a big deal to anyone who worked for me or
around me or my bosses. I wasnt in an environment where
that mattered. So that was very healthy. And very fortunate. Its
 I enjoy children very, very much. I
love their willingness to see the world
on their terms instead of adult terms.
I JUST WANTED
TO TAKE THAT
JOURNEY WITH
THEM SO THAT
I WOULD BE
INVOLVED IN
SOMEBODYS
LIFE FOREVER.
much harder when you live and work in an office where you
cant put pictures of your family around you. I know people who
work at those environments still, where its not comfortable to
be out where you work. I was fortunate never to have had that.
MW: Speaking of family, you have quite a sizable one.
AUSTIN: I remember when I came out to my parents, what my
mother saw was that I wasnt going to have a family, but I now
have three kids. At that time, that really wasnt something that
people thought would happen if you were gay. I didnt think it
was going to happen, and then I decided it should happen. So I
adopted two kids. I was a single mom for about six years.
MW: What made you decide to do it?
AUSTIN: I thought I would enjoy it. Not only enjoy parenting, but
be a good parent. It was something I wanted to be a part of my
life. I really love my siblings I have two brothers and two sis-
ters so I wanted more than one child. I adopted twice so that
they would have siblings. This was when I was in my early 40s.
MW: And your third child?
AUSTIN: Fast forward. I was introduced to Deirdre, my wife,
through Holly Twyford, a local actress. Deirdre was a divorced
lesbian with a daughter the same age as one of my sons. We got
married 10 years ago.
MW: So, suddenly you have a family unit. A wife and three kids.
How old are they?
AUSTIN: Two are 16, one is 14.
MW: My god. How are you surviving that?
AUSTIN: [Laughs.] Yeah. Were in the midst of it now....
MW: Earlier you said, I thought I would make a good parent.
Why did you think that?
AUSTIN: Because I grew up in a really good, solid family. I was
taught how to be a good parent. I enjoy children very, very much.
I love their willingness to see the world on their terms instead of
adult terms. I just wanted to take that journey with them so that
I would be involved in somebodys life forever.
MW: Adopting can be considered a very selfless route to go.
AUSTIN: Well, I dont know if its selfless, because one of the
things that theater has taught me is that everybody does every-
thing for a reason. Everybody does everything from their own
want.
Im very fulfilled being a mother. I think where I became
headstrong was when I decided to be a single mother of two. I
remember friends looking at me with raised eyebrows, saying,
Youre going to adopt again? And me saying, gleefully, Yes!
Yes! I want them to have siblings! So, off I went. And thats
where I really didnt quite understand what I was getting myself
into. Theres an expression that two is a lot more than two when
you have kids. And thats true. But I wouldnt change what I did.
MW: Have you ever thought about it from the perspective that, by
adopting, you gave these kids a life that maybe they might have not
otherwise had?
AUSTIN: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Thats the thing about adoption
thats so complicated. You arent the birth mother and are sort
of brought together. From the childs point of view its like,
How did you become in charge of me? How did I get here?
Everybody wants to know about their own lifes journey. When
I was adopting, I saw other children going off to a completely
different family. Somebody was going off to a farm in Texas. Its
part of the quality of life, this sort of random circumstances.
MW: You left the City Paper after fifteen years. How did you end up
as the head of TheatreWashington?
AUSTIN: I was lucky. I took the summer off after leaving the
City Paper, and Holly Twyford emailed me and said, This job
is open, youd be good at it. I was like, Ah! My ongoing pas-
sion for theater I love theater, have always loved theater, and
when I was at City Paper, I pushed that through, making our arts
coverage really strong. And so TheatreWashington seemed like
an opportunity to get back to those roots I had abandoned for
journalism a long time ago.
MW: Youve been at it a year and a half now. How is it?
AUSTIN: Its been great. Theres ninety theaters in the commu-
nity now when I went to an early Helen Hayes Awards cere-
mony, there were maybe a dozen. And we rebranded a few years
ago to TheatreWashington. We want to be more of an organizing
group for the 90 theaters in the city.
MW: I didnt realize there were that many producing theaters now.
AUSTIN: There is theater on the outreaches of the region.
Theres this amazing theater in Tysons Corner called First
Stage. Theres one in Herndon called NextStop. Theres the Hub
Theater. Theres just this rich diversity of amazing community
one of the best, if not the best in the country.
MW: The awards are your centerpiece but what types of projects
are you doing beyond them?
AUSTIN: The awards are wonderful and they work really well,
and they give so much recognition to artists and the talent in
the city, but theres more work that the theaters want to do
together. So thats what weve started on. We had a summit in
early January where we invited all the artistic directors and the
managing directors, marketing and development people, to get
together for a day. We had 180 people from over 70 institutions.
This is the first time in this community wheres theres been
an organizing meeting like that. Where they can just talk about
their shared concerns, and see if theres ways that we can work
together to make it better.
Theres a fund called Taking Care of Our Own that provides
emergency funds for artists when they find themselves with
MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 31
32 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

You go to the theater and you get this
really intimate, wonderful experience,
where youre connected as humans.
WERE VERY
CONNECTED IN
THE THEATER IN
WAYS THAT YOU
CANNOT FIND IN
ANY OTHER ART
FORM. AND
I LOVE THAT.
medical conditions, or their car breaks down and they cant get
to rehearsal. We provide them ways to access these emergency
funds for anybody whos working in the community. So its work
like that, thats really vital and really helpful.
Im working on a program called Theater Week. Its ten days
where you can see theater, just like Restaurant Week, for $15
and $35. In Restaurant Week, you get lunch for $15 and you get
dinner for $35. So now you can get tickets to different theaters,
some for $15, some for $35. Were going to do that in September,
when everybodys seasons are opening, when theres just so
many things to see.
And Im working on the Womens Voices Festival, which
is coming back in 2018. This is a community-driven approach
to trying to solve the problem that women arent produced as
much as men. Its not that there are fewer women playwrights,
its that there are fewer women who are produced. So the com-
munity got together and thought, Lets try to help with this.
They did it in 2015, and its coming back in early 18. So, Im
excited about that.
I have lots of plans. Id like to work on equity diversity and
inclusion at a management and board level, with the institutions.
Not only for what you see onstage and whats backstage, but
also in the institutions themselves. I think there are ways that
we can organize conversations around that, that could involve
the whole community. Were working on ideas about how can
we be better mentors in the community, how can we market so
that going to the theater is as common as going to a movie? Like,
how can we convince more people to go to the theater, and try to
work to get more people to go.
You go to the theater and you get this really intimate, won-
derful experience, where youre connected as humans. Were
very connected in the theater in ways that you cannot find in any
other art form. And I love that about the theater.
MW: The Helen Hayes Awards are Monday night. Heres hoping
you dont have a La La Land/Moonlight-style snafu.
AUSTIN: [Laughs.] Weve got to get our envelopes straight.
MW: Im kidding, but does the possibility of that happening concern
you at all?
AUSTIN: It didnt concern me until I watched the Oscars! I mean,
what a boondoggle. I happened to be watching live, and I was
like, What is that person with the mike doing back there?
I mean, you could see him sort of scurrying around, and you
couldnt tell if it was a joke, or for real. It was extraordinary. It
was all because of a photo opportunity that somebody personally
wanted to take.
MW: So, this is unlikely to happen on Monday night.
AUSTIN: This is unlikely to happen.
MW: Youre not going to be Tweeting backstage.
AUSTIN: No, I wont be distracted.
MW: Youre not going to go, I need to get a selfie with Holly
Twyford!
AUSTIN: [Laughs.] The great influencer of my life.
MW: Finally, to put you on the spot. Do you have a personal favorite
theater in this town?
AUSTIN: Oh, my gosh. Well, I am a city girl. So Studio Theatre,
Woolly Mammoth, and Theater J are the theaters Im the most
loyal to. And I love their work. But now Ive been seeing a lot
more. Particularly theaters that are outside of the city. Round
House. Olney wonderful work. NextStop, out in Herndon.
First Stage.
MW: Do you have a favorite play? A favorite playwright? A favorite
musical?
AUSTIN: No, I really dont. I really like just going to the theater
and being presented with what the theater decided to show me.
Im really eclectic that way. Ill just go. You never know what
youre going to like, or not going to like. I love that adventure of
the theater, too. What you can see, or what you feel, or how it
makes you think.
MW: Do you take your wife with you?
AUSTIN: Yeah. Our first date was at the theater. It was at
Studio Theater Fat Pig by Neil LaBute. The only way I can
describe his plays is that theyre cruel. Not exactly a great
date play.
MW: Ive often said to people, I think D.C. is the best theater city
in the country.
AUSTIN: It is the best theater city in the country! We have
all these national institutions. Woolly Mammoth is nationally
known for being the best place to see new work. Shakespeare is
nationally known as being the best place to see Shakespeare in
America. We have Fords Theatre, an historic theater. We have
Folger. We have Studio, one of the best theaters in the country.
Arena. Signature the musicals they do cant be beat. You have
all of that. Synetic nobody does work like they do, and they
do it right here. And then you have these smaller theaters who
are performing all over town, in different spaces, doing really
provocative work. And you have the Fringe Festival in the mid-
dle of the summer. We really do have it all. l
The 33rd Annual Helen Hayes Awards are Monday, May 15, at
the Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW, at 7:30 p.m. After-party at the
9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $150 to $275. Industry tickets
to the ceremony and the dance party at the 9:30 Club are $75. Use
Industry code theatreWashington75 when purchasing. For more
information or to purchase tickets, visit theatrewashington.org.
MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 33
 Gallery

Kennedy preparing a speech, Baltimore, September 1960. Paul Schutzer

(Courtesy The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

American Visionary: JFKS Life and Times

The Smithsonian American Art Museum presents the first event in a national, year-long centennial celebration
organized by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. One of the most exhaustively researched
collections of Kennedy photos ever assembled, the exhibit brings together images, culled from the former pres-
idents library, foundation, family archives, private collections and Getty Images, that capture the dramatic
scope of Kennedys life and work. Because his administration coincided with a golden age of photojournalism
in America, no single politician was photographed more than Kennedy was over the span of two decades since
his first run for Congress as a decorated war hero in 1946. The exhibition is based on the forthcoming book JFK:
A Vision for America, also featuring speeches and essays by historians and co-edited by his nephew Stephen
Kennedy Smith and Douglas Brinkley. To Sept. 17. Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F Streets NW.
Free. Call 202-633-1000 or visit americanart.si.edu.

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 35

20TH CENTURY FOX
Movies

fidence. For good measure, Snatched adds

Snatch Game
Goldie Hawns back and Amy Schumers got her in the uproarious
the expected and necessary spice of
Lindas Baby Boomer befuddlement with
apps and devices, as well as her nag-
ging disapproval of Emilys lifestyle of
action-comedy Snatched By Andr Hereford day-drinking and casual sex.
Weve come full circle: Hawn, the go-go

W
dancing free spirit of 60s counter-culture
EVE ALL BEEN THERE. YOURE AT A BAR, AND YOUVE JUST MET A touchstones like Rowan & Martins Laugh-
dangerously hot charmer whos invited you to ditch this place and go for a In and Butterflies Are Free, is now the
ride. Before heading out, you make a quick stop in the bathroom to freshen stick-in-the-mud, an out-of-touch naysay-
up a bit. And, if youre anything like Amy Schumers up-for-whatever Emily Middleton er in a world of yasss queen! Hawn, an
in the hilariously cringeworthy Snatched ( ), youll be careful to check the Academy Award-winning actress, brings a
freshness of all your parts. And, if youre like Emily, even that slight gesture of prepara- remarkably light touch to playing against
tion can, in one split-second, lead to outrageously acute humiliation. type, delightfully upending the frothy, fun
Emilys constantly losing her boyfriend, her self-respect, her job, her flip-flops. persona shes spent the last half-century
But the audience wins, because Schumers square in her wheelhouse playing that perfecting.
awkward girl you know, or that awkward girl you are whether youre a girl or not. Now the straight man, Hawn who
Directed by Jonathan Levine (The Night Before, 50/50), from a script by Ghostbusters hasnt starred in a film since her Golden
writer Katie Dippold, Snatched casts the ever-relatable Schumer as a modern woman Globe-nominated role in the 2002 comedy
who takes her cat-loving, buzzkill mom, Linda (Goldie Hawn), on a resort vacation to The Banger Sisters grounds her perfor-
Ecuador that shed planned with the rocker boyfriend (Randall Park) who just dumped mance as Linda in the very real anxiety of
her. a woman so cloistered in her disillusion-
Barely able to pry Linda out of the tightly locked home she shares with agoraphobic ment shes given up on enjoying herself.
adult son Jeffrey (Ike Barinholtz), Emilys determined to have the most spectacular She proves a great match for Schumer,
girls trip ever, despite being saddled with the least fun person she knows. While Emily who excels at playing the opposite, a char-
envisions an adventurous week of waterfalls and rainbows, Lindas idea of fun seems acter whos solely intent on enjoying her-
to involve passing judgment on her reckless daughter while sitting beside a pool in self at all costs. Partying like shes got
enough linen and sunblock to mummify a horse. something to prove, Emily ignores any
Hawn commits to the clich of Linda as the heartbroken romantic, who never got and all red flags that might lead to, say, her
back in the game after a tough divorce permanently dimmed her radiance and self-con- and Linda being kidnapped for ransom

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 37

and held deep in a South of Romancing the Stone-
American jungle. style ranger a hostage
As the moth- might hope to meet
er-daughter duo labor to while escaping through
escape their captors, and a rainforest, is always
a homebound Jeffrey welcome to the party.
harangues a blas State Despite some ques-
Department agent tionably filtered cin-
(Bashir Salahuddin, in a ematography and a
scene-stealing deadpan sloppy sound edit or
turn) to dispatch the two, Emily and Lindas
Army or the A-Team adventure rarely goes
or anybody to their res- astray in delivering
cue, the movie shifts knockout entertain-
into a wild, unpredict- ment. The movie also
able action-adventure. manages to rack up a
Levine, fresh off direct- pretty high body count,
ing the madcap shenan- even by the standards of
igans of last summers this Hangover-abetted
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, builds resonant suspense brand of mayhem-strewn, disaster-comedy. And, while the
from gross-out comic bits and high-action set-pieces alike, while filmmakers are careful to lampoon the supposed obliviousness
indulging a great eye for framing a visual punchline. and entitlement of American tourists, Snatched still tacitly
Schumer and Hawn are heavily assisted by a great supporting endorses the creaky notion that, wherever they go in the world,
cast, including Wanda Sykes, as busy-body fellow vacationer Yankee blondes are in danger of falling prey to bad hombres like
Ruth, and the inimitable Joan Cusack, in a completely silent crimelord Morgado (scar Jaenada).
role, as Ruths platonic friend Barb. As overgrown manchild Luckily, its a pleasure to overlook politics when the leads
Jeffrey, Barinholtzs brand of comically annoying might be an generate laughs at such a furious pace. And its an even greater
acquired taste, but Chris Meloni, popping up as exactly the sort pleasure to say this: Welcome back, Goldie Jeanne. l

Snatched opens in theaters everywhere on Friday, May 12.

38 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

SCOTT SUCHMAN
Stage

casual wear, Malcolm is playing at being

Missed
the young and wealthy libertine. But once
rallied, the honorable and thoughtful
leader emerges and it makes for another

Opportunity
fascinating juxtaposition.
But if these approaches are exciting,
they are not enough to carry a produc-
tion. The wobble, unfortunately, resides
Strong supporting performances cant compensate for the central in the central performance. Though he
failing in STCs Macbeth By Kate Wingfield may be committed and driven, Jesse J.
Perez embodies Macbeth with volume

I
and gesture, but little else. If he is to stir
F DISTINCTLY FLAVORED AND AT TIMES HIGHLY AFFECTING, THE and unsettle, Macbeth must convincingly
Shakespeare Theatre Companys Macbeth (HHHHH) has a lot of energy, but not reveal his inner battles between right
quite enough lift. Its a shame, because with a few different choices, it could have and wrong, between strength and weak-
been a fascinating and effective take on this gloriously dark tale of human failings. ness, between ambition and cowardice. It
Many of the elements are in place: a so-called nontraditional or colorblind pro- is found in the subtleties of the language,
duction, the cast is almost exclusively of color (save for the three witches, whose its music, and the expressive spaces in
whiteness carries its own significance in this interpretation). Though it is not the first between. Perez misses these opportuni-
such rendering of Macbeth, its placing of the action in contemporary Africa in which ties, choosing instead a broad and agitat-
cell phones, jet-setting finery and modern music mix with traditional dress, custom ed brush. The performance feels like an
and song feels exceptionally fresh and unique. In fact, some of the most affecting endless array of vacillations: one minute
moments are those in which director Liesl Tommy sets past and present side by side. Macbeth is a ninny, the next he is a bully,
For example, after Macbeth has dispatched Duncan, he and Lady Macbeth make now he is a tragic failure. In skimming
their entrance as newly anointed king and queen. As the crowd rejoices, they break the surface without reconciling them to a
into a spontaneous celebratory song and dance. The evocative, rhythmic restraint deeper, distinct psyche, Perez gives us no
speaks powerfully to past traditions, glories and honors and it contrasts mightily with sense of the man. Though director Tommy
the moral corruption at the heart of the new royal couple. Tommys gift for contrasts creates numerous stop-action interludes
occurs again near the end of the play when Macbeths nemesis McDuff meets with in which Perez could have explored
Malcolm, Duncans self-exiled son. Elegantly louche in his expensive 21st century Macbeths angst, they instead feel gim-

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 39

micky (especially those in which like Allen, makes one wish this
he inexplicably grapples with was required viewing for met-
some kind of panic disorder). ro-region schools: Shakespeare
Without a strong Macbeth, as delivered this effectively can
good as the surrounding players create audiences for life. She is
may be, there is just too little to such an exciting presence, her
power the production. As one hastily explained death, unfortu-
watches the appealing earnest- nately not represented onstage,
ness and latent dark energies feels too abrupt.
(seen to great effect when he Also strong is Marcus Naylor
turns into a ghost) of McKinley in the role of the beleaguered,
Belcher IIIs Banquo, the friend but finally avenged, Macduff.
SCOTT SUCHMAN
so cruelly betrayed by Macbeth, Naylor is understated, some-
its hard not to wonder what he times almost too much so, but
might have done with the title when he learns Macbeth has had
role. Same for Corey Allen, who his family murdered, the quiv-
plays such a charismatic Malcolm. He has an absolutely stellar ering immensity of his horror and agony is one of the evenings
command of the language and its expression what might he finer moments. This, despite an unconvincing setup in which
have explored in this mans soul-destroying weakness? Sophia Ramos Ross smiles blithely before turning tragic to
Bringing these potential Macbeths to mind is also Nikkole deliver the terrible news.
Salters Lady Macbeth. Playing her big and full of alpha per- The other standout here is an extraordinary Myra Lucretia
sonality, sparks would surely have flown with either of these Taylor who creates an original and memorable Porter, wend-
other men. Her Lady has almost no chemistry with Perezs high- ing her way through the castle to answer midnight callers. In
strung Macbeth, but Salter covers for it with the kind of spousal another small role, her Doctor is equally beautifully drawn and
deadpan that suggests it was always a marriage of convenience delivered. Taylor owns this language, owns these people and she
and ambition. If her Lady is not quite fully coalesced, she has a makes them sing.
great command of the language - so great, in fact, one forgets But as wonderful as the individual performances here may
she is speaking words written more than 400 years ago. Salter, be, they cant compensate for the drag of missed opportunities. l

Macbeth runs to May 28 at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW.
Tickets are $44 to $123. Call 202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org.

40 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

DANIEL SCHWARTZ
Stage

to hold Shahryar at the edge of his seat as

Storytelling she fears the edge of his sword. Behind

the tease of the temptress, her desperation
should be palpable, to ensnare us all in her
duress, but del Cerros portrayal skews
An energetic, harmonious ensemble sails through the Constellations more earnest than that.
confident return to Arabia By Andr Hereford Her Scheherazade connects to

T
Shahryar as a teacher laboring brightly
HE PLUSHEST PILLOWS AND CARPETS HAVE BEEN LAID, THE LIGHTS to hold the attention of a childish, self-in-
dimmed invitingly. Serpentine, hypnotic melodies, courtesy of one of the king- dulgent pupil. Its a valid reading, though
doms finest musicians, lure an audience for re-styled tales from The Book lacking in potency. Sellers similarly is a
of the Thousand Nights & One Night. In the Constellation Theatres buoyant Tenth solid lead who merely teases at manifest-
Anniversary production of Mary Zimmermans The Arabian Nights (HHHHH), all ing Shahryars full, magnificent sweep.
thats missing is the incense, and some of the arresting heat one hopes might be He evokes the beguiling self-regard of a
inflamed by these timeless parables of lust and danger. capricious ruler, but not the menace or
Theres grace and precision in the staging of director Allison Arkell Stockmans brutality that should have his captives and
saucy vignettes, which unfold as stories within stories within stories, featuring a dozen the audience shaking in their boots until
players including the shows taqiyah-sporting composer and one-man-band Tom he comes around.
Teasley animating seemingly 1,001 characters over the course of two well-paced acts. Still, he and del Cerro are one with the
The tightly connected, engaging ensemble has fun with the plays arch innuendoes entire cast, complicit in the general air
(Let us moisten our reed) and blatant sexual silliness. Their collective brio sells most of delight. Although, its more often the
of the comedy, as well as the tales moral lessons on virtues like sympathy, prudence supporting cast members who unearth
and generosity. The somewhat tame presentation stops short, however, of striking with nuggets of treasure in their fast-changing,
enough bite to pierce beneath the quirky costumes and playful facades and make these fundamental bits as the various knaves
stories stick. and maidens populating Scheherazades
As a storyteller, Scheherazade (Veronica del Cerro) held captive by the tyrannical tales. As Perfect Love, Yesenia Iglesias
ruler Shahryar (Ryan Sellers), and forced to earn his mercy night after night is more captures the mystery and poetry in the
amusing than alluring. Weaving yarns about a more patient ruler, the fabled Harun storytelling, while Lilian Obens Sympathy
al-Rashid (Kevin Sockwell), Scheherezade needs to entice and captivate her audience, the Learned proves a winning comic and

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 41

 dramatic foil for every chal-
lenger she faces. Shravan
Amin, wily and charged as
one tales Madman, essays
his host of roles with grati-
fying conviction, and Helen
Hayes Award-winning
player Matthew Aldwin
McGee (incidentally, also
the shows Prop Designer)
nails the target of just-
this-side of too much in an
enjoyable turn as a court
jester.
Adding heartily to the
good time are Teasleys
galloping music, comfort-
ably in the worldly vein of
a Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,
and Veronique Kim Trans
understated yet effective
choreography. Like the
show itself, the dancing
slinks, whirls, and skips
ever so lightly, but only
DANIEL SCHWARTZ

rarely does it spin beyond

the stage into something
truly magical. l

Arabian Nights runs to June 4 at Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $45.
Call 202-204-7741, or visit ConstellationTheatre.org.

42 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

KATIE SIMMONS-BARTH
Stage

York, ready to conquer the Big Apple.

Armed with dazzling looks and show-

Portrait of Dorian
The new musical Dorians Closet stitches together an unconvincing
manship, and a talent for creating show-
stopping gowns and costumes, she lights
up the Sallys stage, while forging sister-
ly bonds with fellow female illusionists
knockoff of a Paris original By Andr Hereford Amazing Grace (Ian Anthony Coleman),
Jesse Torres (James Thomas Frisby),

A
Angel Romano (Tiziano DAffuso), Monica
QUEEN AMONG LEGENDS, THE LATE DORIAN COREY LEFT HER MARK Mugler (Richard Westerkamp), and
on drag history, reigning for years as one of the leading house mothers of the Pepper Labeija (Dwayne Washington).
Harlem ball scene. And she left a legacy of pop cultural influence with her Featuring music by composer Ryan
world-weary but charmingly eloquent commentary throughout Jennie Livingstons Haase, and book and lyrics by Richard
1991 documentary Paris Is Burning. Mailman, Dorians Closet bears some
More bizarrely, Corey also left behind tucked away inside the dressing room resemblance to earlier Times Square tales
where she filmed interviews for Paris a nondescript suitcase containing the mummi- Sweet Charity and The Life. Those great
fied corpse of a purported ex-lover. The legendary female impersonator spilled a lot of musicals also exploited the seedy glamour
T in her time, but it she kept her most shocking secret to herself. of New Yorks 42nd Street as a gritty, yet
The mystery of the dead man found in Coreys closet remains largely unsolved. playful backdrop for ultimately sad stories
The victim was identified, but neither his true relationship to Corey nor the circum- about strivers and survivors. Charity and
stances surrounding his murder are known with certainty by anyone whos alive and The Life both benefited from the tune-mak-
willing to talk about it. From the frayed threads of that mystery, and the known facts ing of the great Cy Coleman, whose sug-
of Coreys glamorous yet troubled life, the creators of the new musical Dorians Closet gestive bump-and-grind rhythms echo
(HHHHH), now in a World Premiere run at Rep Stage, have spun a fictionalized tale of through Haases strongest songs.
gender-crossed romance amid showbiz struggle. Director Joseph W. Ritsch and chore-
Set primarily in notorious Times Square gay dive bar Sallys Hideaway, where Corey ographer Rachel Leigh Dolan honor that
performed in the 80s and 90s, the show recreates the tawdry, pre-Giuliani Deuce as a musical inspiration with staging (particu-
candy-colored fantasyland for dreamers. But behind the smiles and sequins, lurks dan- larly in the numbers Im Working Here
ger in the form of drugs, violence, and a budding epidemic all gunning for the gays, and Shade) that pays homage to original
transvestites and working girls who populate Sallys. Sweet Charity director and choreographer
Dorian (Stephen Scott Wormley) lands at Sallys after arriving from Buffalo, New Bob Fosse. The show might also be paying

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 43

homage to its inspiration, Paris bar. But, either by direction or
Is Burning, but the scripts inter- by choice, Wormleys portray-
polations of indelible quotes, al doesnt capture real or fic-
characters and storylines famil- tional Coreys commitment to
iar from that film feels unin- embodying a feminine appear-
spired. Thoughts expressed in ance. That aspect of gender flu-
the documentary by the likes idity turns out to be integral to
of Corey, Labeija, and Venus Mailman and Haases plot, yet
and Angie Xtravaganza, among it simply doesnt come across in
others, have been recycled as the characterization.

KATIE SIMMONS-BARTH
monologues or dialogue for
characters who register here as
only half-conceived imitations.
To paraphrase another drag
queen favorite, Coreys mummy
mystery is a situation pregnant
with possibilities, and this shows creators came up with a for-
mulaic hodgepodge of musical tropes and verbatim quotes. Even
the costumes quote the movie, although designer Sarah Cubbage
has so exquisitely executed some of the designs that theres no
harm nor foul in her glittering, high-glam wardrobe. Dolans
choreography references the film, too, although the best that can
be said about the casts voguing is that it looks recognizably like
thats what theyre doing.
The singing, for the most part, is more pleasing. Wormley
is a commanding lead, confidently portraying Coreys inner
strength, even while succumbing to her dangerous attraction
to Robert (Jay Adriel), an enigmatic admirer she meets at the
Likewise, Angel, whose story
clearly is inspired by the tragic
life and death of trans woman
Venus Xtravaganza, is ill-served
by a characterization that hews
closer to Butch Queen First
Time in Drag. And shouldnt a musical about leading ladies of the
80s house ball culture know that the real-life Monica Mugler
likely was a member of the House of Mugler, not just a queen
named Mugg-ler?
As Pepper Labeija, Dwayne Washington more precisely hits
the mark playing the endearingly immodest ballroom superstar
who emerged, along with Corey, from Paris Is Burning with her
own following and catalog of hit quotes. Among a cast who, in a
few cases, play their roles in the plot minus accentuating detail,
Washington develops a character of substance. His Pepper is a
winning amalgam of the famously wisecracking queen, and an
exciting new creation. Would that the entire show felt so fresh. l

Dorians Closet runs until May 14 at REP Stage, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia, Maryland.
Tickets are $15 to $40. Call 443-518-1500, or visit repstage.org.

44 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

SCOTT SUCHMAN
Opera

Here, Kanekos immense projections

in striations of primary colors, his snaking

High Notes
lines and computerized colorings-in and
childish silhouettes of Pinkertons war-
ship may be fascinating, but somehow
none of it quite gels with the music or the
WNOs Madame Butterfly blends beautiful opera with an overwhelming mood of Butterfly. In fact, in some ways it
art concept By Kate Wingfield even draws from the operas potential for
immense emotional energy.

A
Take, for example, the screen juxta-
S WE ALL KNOW, ONE MANS CONTEMPLATION OF NATURES SHAPES posed to Butterfly and Pinkerton during
and synergies is another mans pile of rocks in the middle of a gallery floor. Art, their great (and prolonged) love duet. At
especially the modern conceptual kind, is subjective. And, like jazz, it often ben- first, the many wavering lines of color sug-
efits from repeated viewing, time to reflect, even some knowledge of the artists intent. gest a sunset and then a giant yellow moon
Context is always vital. begins to appear and rise up the screen.
Put it all together and set design is an ideal place for modern art there is tremen- But its flatness is distracting. It feels like a
dous scope for experimentation, because the stage, by its nature, invites an open mind symbol from a strange language we dont
and creates context. Thus, the mere fact that the WNOs season-closer of Madame yet know. And yet at the same time the
Butterfly (HHHHH) was designed by the modern artist Jun Kaneko is not the issue. lovers song is soaring in one of the most
Though some may resist on principle they just dont like their Puccini messed with starry, magical duets in all of opera. Its a
the modernity itself is not the problem. Its the concept. conceptual tension that just doesnt feel
As noble and interesting the intent, the art here just doesnt quite work. Would this right. Later, in the finale, as Butterfly initi-
change with repeated viewings? Time to reflect? Knowledge of the artists intellectual ates her terrifying act of hari-kari, another
process? Maybe. But it is a reality that when it comes to the stage especially the circle, this one red, grows behind her on
opera stage the set designer gets just one bite of the apple. An audience will respond a pure white screen. At first the image is
instantly in the space of an evening and within the perimeters of story and music. deeply poignant in its simplicity and its

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 45

relentless dilation. But then, alas, it begins to drip like blood and
all subtlety is lost. And the less said about the giant butterfly
puppet that arrives with Cio-Cio-San as she delivers her One
Fine Day aria, the better. Butterfly captures the mystery and
darkness of love and betrayal, but so much of this art does not.
Yet, such concept-art can work. Case in point was Mariusz
Trelinskis stunning 2006 Butterfly, a highly-stylized interpre-
tation that also embraced color. Take Cio-Cio-Sans entrance:
She arrived, singing her desperately wistful aria in a blood-red
boat, on a blood-red sea in a blood-red light. It was simple but
astounding, because the foreshadowing inherent in its concept
touched so perfectly on the dark core of this young womans des-
tiny. We all know she will be travelling to the deepest, darkest
places in her hearts despair, and seeing it expressed at the outset
was nothing short of electric.
Still, if the projections are a challenge here, there are some
beautifully conceived color contrasts between the stage and the
backdrop, which create gorgeous swaths of vibrancy. The char-
acters (and especially the four mysterious black-clad prop ser-
vants) are, at times, cleverly choreographed to create some grat-
ifying tableaux. The brightly colored parasols of the chorus are
also attractive, if, again, somewhat out of step with the themes.
But all this said, if purely for the chance to hear this eternal
favorite, at least musically you cant go wrong. Although her
Cio-Cio-San is rather full of herself (if all too true for the aver-
age fifteen-year-old), Ermonela Jaho certainly gives her young
woman personality. She sings with expression and beauty, even
if she doesnt bring quite enough power to the highest, most
Madame Butterfly runs to May 21 at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets are $25 to $300.
Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
46 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY
poignant, notes. As Pinkerton, Brian Jagde does an excellent
job delivering the early 20th century version of a Bro with a
heart, and brings pleasing power to those glorious notes that so
splendidly surf an orchestra in full Puccini swell. Drawing a very
subtle and credible Sharpless, Troy Cook sings with expression,
if not always volume. Another standout is Ian McEuen as the
marriage broker Goro. His tenor is attractively piquant and he
blends the right mix of self-interest and veiled sympathy. Kudos
to Domingo-Cafritz young artists Timothy J. Bruno and Michael
Adams. Bruno, singing with clarity and power, is an exciting
Bonze, arriving as if flying down out of the clouds to condemn
Butterfly for abandoning her religion. As spurned suitor Prince
Yamadori, Adams cuts a dashing and thoroughly convincing fig-
ure and sings with a very attractive baritone.
Last but not least, one of the most affecting performances
comes from Kristen Choi in the role of Suzuki, Butterflys
loving and long-suffering servant. Very much in tune with
Cooks understated Sharpless, this is where the poignancy
of this production truly lies. It is Suzukis growing sadness,
despair and resignation as she watches Butterflys denial
entrench that delivers the pathos. She truly loves this rather
immature and self-absorbed girl, and her heartbreak is beau-
tifully portrayed. Chois velvety-rich mezzo-soprano is full
of the gravitas of the coming tragedy and her duet with Cio-
Cio-San was despite an absurdly overdone orgy of cherry
blossoms magnificent.
Thus, if the sets may give pause, the rest does not. Catch this
Butterfly if you can. l
MATADOR RECORDS
Music

ious, it was because he had no shortage of

material to draw upon. He has been open

True Genius
A bold, defiantly queer artist finds inspiration in a new
about his turbulent personal life, marked
by battles with addiction, illness, and the
persistent homophobic bullying he expe-
rienced growing up, which culminated in
and unfamiliar life By Sean Maunier the attack that led to his hospitalization
and subsequent departure from his home-

H
town of Seattle. Accordingly, his work
OW LONG DO WE HAVE TO LIVE RIGHT, BEFORE WE DONT EVEN confronts the bodys vulnerability, the
have to try? The question could apply to anyone, but it takes on layers of slipperiness of identity, and the meanings
meaning in the hands of Perfume Genius, the stage name of unabashedly of his own sexuality in an often uncom-
queer, Seattle-born artist Mike Hadreas. prehending and hostile world, resulting
Given Hadreas tendency towards autobiography, it should be no surprise that No in music that on a fundamental level reads
Shape ( ) fits neatly into a dialogue with his last album, 2014s brash and defi- as a declaration and assertion of identity.
ant Too Bright. That album marked a departure from the introverted, heart-wrenching Having settled into a newfound confi-
piano pop of his first two albums, bringing in synths, strings and an almost industrial dence, he turns his appreciation for queer-
grind. On No Shape, Hadreas carries this further, all but ditching his piano for a sound ness outward as well. Just Like Love
that is even more adventurous, complex and affecting. finds him ruminating on a young queer
This time, his evocative songwriting takes on the feeling of wide-eyed reflection, persons choice of outfit, admiring their
rather than a confessional. On Too Bright, Hadreas bared his soul. On No Shape, he asks bravery and encouraging them to hold
what now? Familiar themes like unapologetic self-love and the aggressive assertion of their head up high. Its a light enough
identity are all still here, but we find him in a noticeably different headspace. If the pre- song, but a powerful and insightful one
vious album was a gesture of defiance and a struggle to assert himself to an unaccepting that is Hadreas songwriting at his best.
world, this time he navigates the unfamiliar calm that settles in the day after the fight Granted, none of the albums tracks can
has been won. It is no coincidence that the transition from brash defiance to a more quite match the sharp turns of phrase of
confident, reflective rumination reflects changes in Hadreas personal circumstances. songs like Queen and Fool and there is
On Too Bright, when he wavered between resistant and vulnerable, proud and anx- nothing quite as evocative as the imagery

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 47

of Hadreas bleeding out on a couch track Alan, dedicated to his part-
hes just lain a dress on. Still, he is ner Alan Wyffels. Im here, he
an undeniably talented songwriter sighs, How weird. In that small
and what No Shape lacks in stand- moment, the whole underlying
out moments, it makes up for with purpose of No Shape comes into
a consistent, captivating strange- focus. While his life may be calmer
ness. On the opener Otherside, and gentler, its anything but bland
Hadreas falsetto over light piano domestic bliss. Its a domesticity
seems to announce a return to that has been fought for rather
the quiet, intimate piano pop that than settled into. As happy as he
preceded Too Bright, until crash- is now, No Shape is undercut with
ing synths suddenly burst forth, flashes of anxiety over its fragility
announcing an entirely different and impermanence, and the inten-
sound. No Shape comes to a head sity running throughout the album
on Wreath. With its dramatic hints at how strange it all still is for
orchestration and glorious bra- Hadreas. What might appear from
zenness, it marks the highpoint the outside as the unremarkable
of the album, after which it falls normalcy of everyday life together
back into a quieter, slightly anxious is hard-won, and in Hadreas hands
tone. Although the piano is gone, it becomes an object of devotion,
Hadreas retains a familiar sense of one to be celebrated loudly and tri-
quiet intimacy, even as he delivers a more esoteric, cohesive and umphantly in the first half of the album, and then contemplated
captivating sound throughout. with a quiet, almost disbelieving sense of wonder on the second.
Hadreas tells his story artfully, mostly leaving his abstractions No Shape may be heavily Hadreas own story, but it is more
up to interpretation. It is clear enough that we are seeing a more than just self-indulgence. In its orchestral swells and small,
confident, joyful version of Perfume Genius than what has come intimate moments, he invites us to share in his happiness and
before. Through most of the album, though, we are left to guess self-assurance, seek out our own, and find out for ourselves what
at the source of his joy until he finally names it on the closing all that means. l

No Shape is available for purchase from Amazon.com and iTunes, as well as on various streaming services.

48 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

TRIXIEMATTEL.COM
Music

drag queen we were introduced to on the

show. Mama Dont Make Me Put On The

Whistling Trixie
Dress Again is the only song that overtly
nods to the Trixie Mattel weve come to
know (painted up in that makeup like a
clown), and even so, the track is more
A former Drag Race contestant does the unexpected sweet than funny. Like some of the best
and strikes gold By Sean Maunier folk and country, it walks the line between
upbeat and sentimental, its poignant lyrics

Y
sung with a grin and set to an upbeat tune
ES, ITS TRUE: ONE OF RUPAULS GIRLS HAS RELEASED A COUNTRY you could dance along to in a pair of cow-
album. That may not have been such a surprise to the fans who have seen Trixie boy boots.
Mattel sing live or who follow her Instagram, but the rest of us can go ahead Fantastic songwriting is the albums
and take a moment to pick ourselves up off the floor. Even more surprising, Mattels other surprise. Two Birds is as much about
Two Birds (HHHHH) is really, really good. Not to cast any shade, but with a handful of Brian Firkus the songwriter as it is about
exceptions, the musical output of Drag Race alumni could generously be described as Trixie Mattel the performer. At just seven
uneven. Two Birds, with neither a hint of autotune nor a single joke about tucking, is an tracks spread over 23 minutes, Two Birds
odd and more than welcome addition to the canon. is short, sweet, and perfectly balanced.
Not that it was ever a question of talent. Brian Firkus doll-like, heavily made-up The toe-tapping Bluegrass and the coun-
drag persona has proven to be one of the more memorable queens from her season, and try radio-ready Make Up Your Mind fall
rightly so. Between her stint on the show, her live performances, and co-hosting the right into place alongside two plaintive
fantastically bizarre YouTube series UNHhhh with her Season 7 sister Katya, Trixies ballads: I Know You All Over Again,
reputation as a comedy queen is clearly well-deserved. a heartwrencher of a breakup song, and
Unexpectedly, however, Two Birds contains very little comedy. In fact, while Ill Wear Your Ring. Including both the
Two Birds was released under the name Trixie Mattel, there are only hints of the album version and stripped down live

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 49

demo of Seen My Man on such what could be more marginal to
a short record might seem like a mainstream country than a drag
strange choice, but both more than queen strumming an autoharp?
justify their inclusion. Throughout, Country music is a big tent,
Firkus songwriting is heartfelt with- though, and despite the genres ste-
out becoming too sappy, clever but reotypical reputation as a bastion of
not obnoxious, and manages to nod flyover country masculinity, this is
at camp several times with just the 2017, and there is plenty of LGBTQ
right amount of subtlety. representation under that tent, if
Reddit and Twitter were quick to you care to look for it. Besides, if any-
jokingly christen Two Birds Trixies one thinks a drag queens aesthetic
Joanne era a tongue-in-cheek com- is incompatible with or somehow
parison that was probably inevitable, antithetical to country, well, Dolly
and one that her fans have rushed to Parton and Shania Twain would
beat into the ground. Its probably like a word. Still, its refreshing to
for the best if it stays that way, too. hear a male voice sing so straight-
Whatever you thought of Joanne, the forwardly about gay romance over
albums similarities end at the cowboy the twang of a steel guitar.
hats on the cover. Trixie Mattel as Two Birds is not just good for a
folksy country singer might be new to Ru girl. Its a legitimately enjoyable
most fans, but is not new to Trixie, who finds herself right at home country album, one that can be listened to over and over again.
in the genre, singing with all the confidence of a Wisconsinite who Even if youve never been on the Drag Race wagon, you owe it
has been living and breathing country their entire life. to yourself to at least give Two Birds a spin. There are no prereq-
Despite the daylight between Trixie and Gaga, they might still uisites required, no irony-drenched inside jokes or ham-fisted
have more in common with each other than what you might hear references to the show. Just sincere, heartfelt songwriting thats
at the CMAs. A quick look at who got snubbed from the awards sure to pull on the heartstrings of any queer kid who grew up
last year is enough to reveal that in country, as elsewhere, most listening to country and never thought they would hear them-
of the interesting things are happening on the margins. And selves in it. l

Two Birds is available for purchase at Amazon.com and iTunes, and on Spotify and other streaming services.

50 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

NightLife Photography by
Ward Morrison

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 51

 Scene
The Baltimore Eagles Grand Opening - Saturday, May 6
Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

DrinksDragDJsEtc... FREDDIES BEACH BAR TRADE BALTIMORE EAGLE DC EAGLE

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normally served in a cock- RuPaul Drag Race viewing off all drinks Onyx Mid-
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glass for the same price,
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Pride and The Cherry Fund
Drinks, 10pm-midnight, $5
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless only $4 10-11:30pm Baltimore present Rebel Heart: A
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Thursday, 10-11pm DJs Bear Fridays in the Code Dance Party for Leather
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Cover thebaltimoreea- Jock or underwear gets $2
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, McClafferty, 9:30pm 11-11:30pm and 1-1:30am Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
gle.com off all drinks, 10pm-2am
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& Half-Priced Pizzas $4 tion No Cover upstairs DJ Keenan Orr night long ALPHA: A
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No Cover
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MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 53

 NELLIES SPORTS BAR TRADE
DJ Matt Bailer Videos, Doors open 5pm Huge
Dancing Beat the Clock Happy Hour: Any drink
Happy Hour $2 (5-6pm), normally served in a cock-
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NUMBER NINE only $4
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Piano with Chris, 7:30pm Guest dancers Ladies
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SHAWS TAVERN Doors at 9pm, Shows at
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& Half-Priced Pizzas

TOWN
Patio open 6pm DC Bear
Saturday,
Crue Happy Hour, 6-11pm May 13
$3 Rail, $3 Draft, $3 Bud
Bottles Free Pizza, 7pm 9 1/2
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21+ Drag Show starts drink, 2-9pm $5 Absolut
at 10:30pm Hosted by & Titos, $3 Miller Lite
Lena Lett and featuring after 9pm Expanded
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Riley Knoxx and BaNaka No Cover
DJ Wess upstairs, DJs
BacK2bACk downstairs fol- BALTIMORE EAGLE
lowing the show GoGo 2022 N. Charles St.
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21 and over, $12 For Saturday, Code Bar,
those 18-20, $15 Club: 8pm-2am Nest Dance
18+ Patio: 21+ Party, 9:30pm-2am the-
baltimoreeagle.com

54 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

COBALT/30 DEGREES GREEN LANTERN TRADE COBALT/30 DEGREES NELLIES SPORTS BAR TRADE
Drag Yourself to Brunch at Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5 Doors open 2pm Huge Happy Hour: Tops Down $6 Drag Brunch, hosted by Doors open 2pm Huge
Level One, 11am-2pm and Bacardi, all flavors, all Happy Hour: Any drink Top Shelf, Bottoms Up $3 Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am-3pm Happy Hour: Any drink
2-4pm Featuring Kristina night long normally served in a cock- Rail, $3 Bud Light, 4-9pm $20 Brunch Buffet normally served in a cock-
Kelly and the Ladies of tail glass served in a huge Police Week Events House Rail Drinks, Zing tail glass served in a huge
Illusion Bottomless NELLIES SPORTS BAR glass for the same price, Homowood Karaoke, Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie glass for the same price,
Mimosas and Bloody Guest DJs Zing Zang 2-10pm Beer and wine hosted by Robert Bise, Beer and Mimosas, $4, 2-10pm Beer and wine
Marys Happy Hour: Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer, only $4 10pm-close 21+ 11am-close Buckets of only $4
Tops Down $6 Top Shelf, House Rail Drinks and Beer, $15
Bottoms Up $3 Rail, $3 Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS DC EAGLE ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Bud Light, 4-9pm Police Buckets of Beer, $15 Men of Secrets, 9pm-4am Doors open at 12pm Bad NUMBER NINE All male, nude dancers
Week Events NYC Takes Guest dancers Ladies Reputation: Tea Dance Pop Goes the World with Decades of Dance DJ
Over DC, 10pm-close NUMBER NINE of Illusion Drag Show and Beer Bust Official Wes Della Volla at 9:30pm Tim-e in Secrets Doors
Doors open 10pm $5 Doors open 2pm Happy with host Ella Fitzgerald Closing Party of DC Leather Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on 9pm Cover 21+
Cover 21+ Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, Doors at 9pm, Shows Pride Weekend, 2-9pm any drink, 2-9pm No
2-9pm $5 Absolut at 11:30pm and 1:30am Featuring music by DJ Say Cover
DC EAGLE
Doors open 8pm Mid-
and $5 Bulleit Bourbon DJ Don T. in Ziegfelds What!?! Of DC Bear Crues
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Monday,
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Atlantic Uniform League BacK2bACk, 9:30pm Secrets Cover 21+ Boys shaking their thang @The House Nightclub May 15
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male, all nude dancers
Nonstop on three stages, drink, 5-9pm Multiple
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Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
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craft beer selection KRUZ: Dance Party by
Drag Queen Broadway 10pm Drag Show starts Happy Hour, 5-7pm $3 Up $3 Rail, $3 Bud Light,
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4-8pm Mamas Trailer
Starring Freddies Lena Lett and featuring $5 Rails and House Wines A Drag, featuring Miss
BALTIMORE EAGLE Park Karaoke downstairs,
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MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 55

 DC EAGLE NUMBER NINE COBALT/30 DEGREES TRADE FREDDIES BEACH BAR TRADE
Doors open at 8pm Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any DJ Honey Happy Hour: Doors open 5pm Huge Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6 Doors open 5pm Huge
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off everything Endless Bottoms Up $3 Rail, $3 Bud normally served in a cock- Night, hosted by Ms. normally served in a cock-
Happy Hour prices to any- SHAWS TAVERN Light, 4-9pm SIN Service tail glass served in a huge Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm tail glass served in a huge
one in a DC Eagle T-Shirt Happy Hour, 4-7pm $3 Industry Night, 10pm-close glass for the same price, Bingo prizes Karaoke, glass for the same price,
Industry Mondays Free Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, $1 Rail Drinks all night 5-10pm Beer and wine 10pm-1am 5-10pm Beer and wine
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Cover 21+
TRADE
Karaoke, 8pm
Wednesday, 4pm-close
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FREDDIES BEACH BAR Doors open 5pm Huge GREEN LANTERN May 17 NELLIES SPORTS BAR May 18
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm Happy Hour: Any drink Happy Hour all night long, SmartAss Trivia Night, 8pm
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8pm tail glass served in a huge Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any bar tabs and tickets to Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
glass for the same price, NELLIES SPORTS BAR drink, 5-9pm Multiple shows at the 9:30 Club drink, 5-9pm Multiple
GREEN LANTERN 5-10pm Beer and wine Beat the Clock Happy Hour TVs showing movies, $15 Buckets of Beer for TVs showing movies,
Happy Hour all night long only $4 $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), shows, sports Expanded SmartAss Teams only shows, sports Expanded
Open Mic Night Karaoke $4 (7-8pm) Buckets of craft beer selection Bring a new team member craft beer selection
with Kevin, 9:30pm-close Beer $15 Karaoke and No Cover and each get a free $10 Music videos featuring

JR.S
Tuesday, Drag Bingo
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Dinner DJ Wess

Showtunes Songs & May 16 NUMBER NINE Happy Hour: Tops Down $6 NUMBER NINE BALTIMORE EAGLE
Singalongs, 9pm-close Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Top Shelf, Bottoms Up $3 Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any 2022 N. Charles St.
DJ James $3 Draft Pints, 9 1/2 drink, 5-9pm No Cover Rail, $3 Bud Light, 4-9pm drink, 5-9pm No Cover 410-200-9828
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drink, 5-9pm Multiple Bulleit & Stella and Miller Lite all night SHAWS TAVERN $3 Well Drinks All Night
NELLIES SPORTS BAR TVs showing movies, Wednesday Night Karaoke, Happy Hour, 4-7pm $3 Contest at 11pm No
Beat the Clock Happy Hour shows, sports Expanded SHAWS TAVERN hosted by India Larelle Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, Cover thebaltimoreea-
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), craft beer selection Half-Priced Burgers and Houston, 10pm-close No $5 Rails and House Wines gle.com
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of No Cover Pizzas, 5-10pm $5 House Cover 21+ and Half-Priced Pizzas
Beer $15 Texas Holdem Wines and $5 Sam Adams Piano Bar with Jill, down-
Poker, 8pm Dart Boards stairs, 8pm

56 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

COBALT/30 DEGREES NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Happy Hour: Tops Down Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$6 Top Shelf, Bottoms $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Up $3 Rail, $3 Bud $4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Light, 4-9pm Locker Beer $15 Drag Bingo
Room Thursday Nights,
10pm-close $3 Rail NUMBER NINE
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Red Bull and Frozen Virgin drink, 5-9pm No Cover
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and MadScience Best SHAWS TAVERN
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night, hosted by BaNaka & Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
Kristina Kelly $200 Cash $5 Rails and House Wines
Prize Doors open 10pm, & Half-Priced Pizzas $4
21+ $5 Cover or free Heineken and Coronas,
with college ID 5pm-close

DC EAGLE TRADE
Doors open at 8pm Strip 1410 14th St. NW
Down Thursdays Happy Doors open 5pm Huge
Hour Shirtless guys get Happy Hour: Any drink
$2 off all drinks, 8-10pm normally served in a cock-
Jock or underwear gets $2 tail glass served in a huge
off all drinks, 10pm-2am glass for the same price,
No Cover 21+ 5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Karaoke, 8pm All male, nude dancers
DJ 9pm Cover 21+ l
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 57

 Scene
The Baltimore Eagles Grand Opening - Saturday, May 6
Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

58 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 59
 ClubLife

Leathered Up DC Leather Pride offers a full weekend of events to help kickstart

Pride season By Doug Rule / Photography by Julian Vankim

I
MIGHT HAVE SNUCK INTO THE HOST HOTEL ONCE
or twice, Miguel Ayala says, but I wasnt ready. I ran
out. The hotel in question was in Chicago, Ayalas
hometown, and it was hosting International Mr. Leather.
It was a situation he wouldnt become comfortable with
until well after he had moved to Washington, where
Ayala finally immersed himself in leather, putting down
roots at the DC Eagle, even running for Mr. DC Eagle in
2013. He lost to Ramien Pierre, who went on to reign at
IML in 2014.
I guess Ramien going on to win IML is validation that
I did pretty well, chuckles Ayala, who has since become
a leather leader in his own right, heading up DC Leather
Pride with Kyle Collins. The organization, known for its
parties during Januarys Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend,
also throws a number of events during Capital Pride, and
this year brings several changes.
Chief among those is a switch to an earlier weekend, to
avoid getting lost in the hubbub of Pride events. Theres
a lot already happening Pride weekend, so we decided
to move to a separate weekend, he says. Its making
some of us nervous, but...I think its going to be the start
of a new tradition for the D.C. area. And I think it really
just helps broaden what it is to be part of the LGBTQ
community here.
The DC Eagle will play host to three of DC Leather
Prides five main events, including a partnership with the
popular monthly dance party DistrktC on Saturday, May
13. The night before, Friday, May 12, DC Leather Pride
partners with the Cherry Fund for a dance party featuring
DJ Seth Breezy from Atlanta and D.C.s DJ Kudjo, plus
go-go dancers. And at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, comes
the inaugural Tea Dance and Beer Bust featuring DJ Say
What?, more go-go dancers, and sponsor Bluejacket
Brewery offering three of its brews on tap for a $15
Bottomless Beer promotion.
Beyond the Eagle, theres the fourth annual Drag Out
Your Leather fundraiser at Cobalt, with resident diva
Kristina Kelly emceeing a drag show featuring Mr. DC
Eagle 2017 Grey Onyx and Leatherman of Color 2017 Kai
Anderson. The two titleholders will compete at IML 2017,
and all funds raised will go toward their expenses.
The Green Lantern kicks Leather Pride off on Thursday,
May 11, with its popular weekly promotion enticing men
to strip their shirts for free drinks from 10 to 11 p.m. More
recently, the promotion has expanded include 12 to 12:30
a.m. though only for those daring enough to strip to
their underwear.
The whole weekend was planned with a Rebel theme,
a nod to Capital Prides 2017 theme Unapologetically
Proud as well as to Madonna via her 2015 album Rebel
Heart and track Unapologetic Bitch. Its something
Ayala identifies with.
I definitely relate to the rebel theme this year because
I was a little rebel since high school, he says. I helped
start the first gay/straight alliance in Chicago and eventu-
ally got inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of
Fame for that.
I feel like I hit that peak of gay activism when I was
17. Im just trying to catch up ever since. l

DC Leather Pride runs Thursday, May 11, through Sunday, May 14, at Green Lantern,
the DC Eagle, and Cobalt. Individual event tickets are $10 to $40.
Visit facebook.com/DCLeatherPride for more information.

60 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY

MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY 61
 LastWord.
People say the queerest things

I dont think we should ever

discriminate against these students.
Texas State Sen. JOS MENNDEZ, speaking during a vote on a bill by a Republican senator that would ban transgender athletes
from competing in high school sports, the Texas Tribune reports. The bill would make hormone therapy equal to steroid usage in
preventing athletes from competing. Sen. Bob Hall, who introduced the measure, said it was not addressing who plays on what
sports, but addressing individuals who ... are taking steroids.

Tabloid stories about trans people are often exploitative, invasive of privacy, inaccurate, irrelevant or
intended to drum up transphobia in their readers.
A respondent to the Trans Mental Health Study discussing the impact of negative coverage of transgender people, as detailed
in the LGBT Foundations Transforming Outcomes report aon the wellbeing of transgender people. Media coverage was on of the
biggest issues affecting trans people, the report found, with 51% saying it had damaged their wellbeing.

And on the other side,

its homophobic.
French President-elect EMMANUEL MACRON, speaking about rumors from opponents that he was secretly gay and his marriage
to wife Brigitte Trogneux was a sham, in new documentary Behind the Scenes of a Victory. Two odious things: on one side
misogyny, because they say its not possible to be with a woman who is 24 years older, Macron said. Thats how Ive always lived
because Ive been with my wife for 20 years. And on the other side, its homophobic.

Being with Lance has been the

best thing thats happened in my life.
Olympic diver TOM DALEY, speaking to New! Magazine about his recent marriage to Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance
Black. The couple married on May 6 in Britain. Its very exciting moving forward and its nice to be in love, Daley said.

Same-sex couples have to be treated

the same way
that opposite-sex couples are.

JULIE TATE-KEITH, an attorney for Charitey and Heather Mackenzie, two lesbian women suing the state of Tennessee over an
anti-LGBT law designed to undermine marriage equality, speaking to NBC News.

62 MAY 11, 2017 METROWEEKLY