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14 GETTING VOCAL
Composer Gregory Spears ambles into Thoreau
territory with his latest song-cycle commission.
By Randy Shulman
By Sean Maunier
Metro Weekly 1775 I St. NW, Suite 1150 Washington, DC 20006 202-638-6830
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The DC Weirdo Show is Friday, Sept. 21. Doors at 8 p.m. Bier Baron Tavern, 1523 22nd St. NW.
Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. Call 202-293-1887 or visit dcweirdoshow.com.
SWEENEY TODD
Rep Stage kicks off its 26th season with one of Stephen
Sondheim’s most popular works. Subtitled The Demon
Barber of Fleet Street, the macabre musical tells the story of
a vengeful barber who slits the throats of his customers and
the provides their corpses to the neighboring Mrs. Lovett,
who fashions them into “meat pies” that become the culinary
hit of London. The lush score is famous for “Not While I’m
Around,” “Pretty Women,” and “Johanna.” Starring V. Savoy
McIlwain as Sweeney and Jade Antoinette Jones as Mrs.
Lovett. Directed by Joseph Ritsch. Through September 23 in
the Studio Theatre of the Horowitz Visual and Performing
Arts Center on the campus of Howard Community College,
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md. Tickets are
$40. Visit repstage.org or call 443-518-1500.
AMERICAN CHAOS
Give the guy some credit for prescience: Six
months before the 2016 presidential election,
Jim Stern put everything on hold in his life
to travel through red states to engage with
Donald Trump supporters. It was a quest for
insights, answers, and anything that could shed
light on the billionaire’s surging appeal despite
the myriad scandals that embroiled hin. Stern’s
documentary examines the difficult issues roil-
ing the nation and chronicles a cultural divide
— still woefully misunderstood — that is tear-
ing at the fabric of democracy. Opens Friday,
Sept. 14. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
El Angel
Compiled by Doug Rule 900 Ellsworth Dr., Silver Spring, and Hardy’s documentary explores the a cast featuring Tim Caggiano,
AMC Hoffman Center, 206 Swamp rigorous two-year journey required Zachary Dittami, Christopher
FILM Fox Road, Alexandria. Visit anamer- of all canine candidates as they pre- Janson, and Patrick Joy. To Sept.
icaninpariscinema.com for tickets. pare to work as a guide dog for the 15. District of Columbia Arts Center
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS blind. Among the many hard chal- (DCAC), 2438 18th St. NW. Tickets
A filmed version of the recent DARK VICTORY lenges thrown at dogs during this are $35. Call 202-462-7833 or visit
Broadway stage musical, adapt- In Edmund Goulding’s 1939 drama, process: Learning when to disobey a rainbowtheatreproject.org.
ed from the 1951 film. Director Bette Davis plays a hedonistic Long direct command that might endan-
Christopher Wheeldon, who Island socialite and hard drinking ger their person. Opens Friday, MARIE AND ROSETTA
snagged a Tony for Best heiress. The star is in great compa- Sept. 14. Area theaters. Visit fan- Mosaic Theater Company launch-
Choreographer for his efforts, wisely ny here, George Brent, Humphrey dango.com. es its fourth season with George
retained much of Gene Kelly’s moves Bogart, Geraldine Fitzgerald, and Brant’s empowering play with
STAGE
from the movie, most notably the Ronald Reagan are also part of the songs highlighting the talents of
17-minute ballet set to the first com- heavy-hitting cast for this soapy yet Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight,
position that George Gershwin titled intense drama. Described by a Time two under-appreciated black music
“An American in Paris.” Wheeldon Out London critic as a “Rolls-Royce IN THE CLOSET legends. Sandra L. Holloway directs
cast Robert Fairchild of the New of the weepie world,” Dark Victory Rainbow Theatre Project opens its a production starring Helen Hayes
York City Ballet and Leanne Cope screens as the next selection in the sixth season with its first full pro- Award-winning actress Roz White
of the British Royal Ballet. The Capital Classics series at Landmark’s duction of a new play — a joint (Studio Theatre’s Bessie’s Blues)
pair, also nominated for Tonys for West End Cinema. Wednesday, Sept. world premiere with Cleveland’s as Tharpe, the queer black woman
their work, returned to the show 19, at 1:30, 4:30, and 7:30 p.m., 2301 Convergence-Continuum. A meta- who all but invented rock ‘n’ roll,
last year for a West End debut. And M St. NW. Happy hour from 4 to physical comedy from Siegmund while Ayana Reed takes on the role
it’s a taped performance from the 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $12.50. Fuchs, a native of Cleveland who of Tharpe’s young protege Knight.
London run that will grace movie Call 202-534-1907 or visit landmark- lives and works in D.C. as a lawyer Music direction comes from e’Mar-
screens next week. Thursday, Sept. theatres.com. for the U.S. Department of Justice, cus Harper-Short. In previews. To
20, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 23, at In The Closet follows an 18-year-old Sept. 30. The Lang Theatre in the
12:555 p.m. Area theaters including PICK OF THE LITTER boy guided by three older gay men Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333
Landmark’s E Street Cinema, 555 Heralded as an uplifting, heart- acting as his “fairy godmothers” to H St. NE. Tickets are $50 to $68.
11th St. NW, Regal Majestic Stadium, warming celebration of the dog-hu- help find a way out of the closet. Call 202-399-7993 or visit mosa-
man bond, Dana Nachman and Don The company’s H. Lee Gable directs ictheater.org.
GETTING VOCAL
MetroStage Artistic Associate
Thomas W. Jones II directs Doug
Brown, Marni Penning, Jeremiah
Hasty, and Jeremy Keith Hunter. In
previews. To Sept. 30. MetroStage,
Composer Gregory Spears ambles into Thoreau territory 1201 North Royal St., Alexandria.
with his latest song-cycle commission. Tickets are $55. Call 703-548-9044
T
or visit metrostage.org.
HERE’S SOMETHING VERY ‘EVERYDAY’ ABOUT A SINGER AND A PIANO MAK-
ing a song — especially an opera singer, who actually sings very, very loudly.” It’s a cool, MUSIC
rainy Saturday, and composer Gregory Spears is deep in a discussion of the upcoming DIANA ROSS
performance of Walden, a song cycle based on the work of Henry David Thoreau, com- Even after all these years, Ross still
missioned by Vocal Arts DC. has the pipes, the power, and the
“There’s something very grounding about having instruments made out of wood accompanying stage charisma to bring an audi-
ence to its knees or to its feet. The
a person who has no microphone,” the youthful 41-year-old, who lives in New York, continues. Lady returns to the area for another
“That’s what brings me back, over and over, to classical music. Because it has that tradition of glorious opportunity to relive her
purely acoustic performance.” Motown hits and disco classics —
for her and her fans, especially those
Spears, who is a proud member of the LGBTQ community, says that composing music to of the LGBTQ variety. And there are
Thoreau’s words had its share of challenges. few places better or more acous-
“I don’t know if you’ve read Thoreau recently,” he says, “but it’s these long, complex nine- tically perfect to savor the sound.
teenth-century sentences. And yet, the ideas are all about being logical and making clear argu- Tuesday, Sept. 25, and Wednesday,
Sept. 26, at 8 p.m. Music Center at
ments about the world based on observation, often nature. So trying to set this as a song was an Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane,
interesting challenge. I liked Thoreau’s ideas about simplicity and directness and taking away all North Bethesda. Tickets are $69
the stuff of life that’s not necessary, all the sort of consumerist stuff that surrounds us. If you clear to $239. Call 301-581-5100 or visit
strathmore.org.
all that away, what can you see?”
Spears was particularly thrilled to write for baritone Brian Mulligan, who will also perform the MARYLAND LYRIC OPERA:
1974 Pulitzer Prize-winning song cycle, Dominick Argento’s From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, at LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST
this Sunday’s recital. Despite acclaim as one of opera’s
greatest scores and lushest orches-
“Vocal Arts are always engaging these incredible, world-class singers,” says Spears. “They trations, this masterwork from
didn’t tell me immediately who the singer would be, but when they mentioned Brian Mulligan, Puccini remains relatively unknown
I was excited because I actually went to college with him back in the ’90s. We didn’t ever get a and rarely performed. To the rescue
comes this young, singer-focused
chance to work together then, but I’ve been following his career. So it was exciting to be able to company via a semi-staged concert
write a piece for him.” —Randy Shulman version of the romantic Western
epic. Translated in English as The
Girl of the Golden West, the opera
Gregory Spears’ Walden will be performed by Brian Mulligan and pianist Timothy Long on Sunday, focuses on Millie, a heroine in the
Sept. 16, at 2 p.m., at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are $50. Call 202-467-4600 or mold of Puccini’s far-better-known
visit kennedy-center.org. Tosca and Butterfly. Louis Salemno
MICRO-MONUMENTS II:
UNDERGROUND
An exhibition featuring 15 local and
eight German artists, who were
brought together to focus a contem-
porary lens on topics including the
cosmos, nature, and deep time, with
the intention of serving as a catalyst
for exploration into enduring ques-
tions about our history and place
in the world. A co-presentation of
the Washington Sculptors Group
and IA&A at Hillyer, featured art-
ists include Ursula Achternkamp,
Ex Hex Alan Binstock, Janet Brome, Mark
Fromm, Caroline Hatfield, Linda
BLACK CAT’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY Hesh, Jacqueline Maggi, Alim
This weekend ushers in two-nights’ worth of tributes to one of D.C.’s best-known venues Pasht-Han, Judith Pratt, and Steve
for indie and alternative rock bands, as well as dance parties and other eclectic program- Wanna. A Curator & Artist Talk is
Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. On
ming. Festivities kick off on Friday, Sept. 14, with a lineup featuring Subhumans, Ocampo display through Oct. 28 at 9 Hillyer
Ocampo & Watt (ft. Mike Watt, Devin Ocampo, and Renata Ocampo), Ted Leo, Des Court NW. Call 202-338-0325 or
Demonas, Dagger Moon, Scanners, Honey, and Felix & Sam, plus DJ Amanda Mackaye. visit athillyer.org.
The next night brings Ex Hex, Gray Matter, Hurry Up (feat. Kathy Foster and Westin
Glass of the Thermals), Algiers, Hammered Hulls (feat. Alec MacKaye, Mary Timony, BRUNCH
Mark Cisneros, and Chris Wilson), Wanted Man, and Fool Swoops, with DJ Dante
LA BOUM
Ferrando — also known as the Black Cat’s owner. Doors at 7 p.m. each night. Black Cat, Launched seven years ago at
1811 14th St. NW. Tickets are $25 each night. Call 202-667-4490 or visit blackcatdc.com L’Enfant Cafe, the incredibly popu-
lar boozy brunch/day party known
as La Boum has only gotten bigger
leads the company’s 75-member
orchestra and chorus in two per-
Estrellita, and Pablo de Sarasate’s
Carmen Fantasy. Saturday, Sept. 22,
MUSEUMS and boum-ier in recent years — even
earning a nod as one of Bravo TV’s
formances this weekend, with two
casts led by a different internation-
at 7 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert
Hall. Tickets are $65 to $175. Call
& GALLERIES “Top 5 Raging Brunches in the U.S.”
The self-billed “revolutionary-style
ally acclaimed soprano in the role 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-cen- brunch” welcomes patrons of all
BASELITZ: SIX DECADES
of Millie: Susan Bullock on Friday, ter.org. genders and sexual orientations
The Hirshhorn presents the first
Sept. 14, and Elizabeth Blancke- for a multi-course dinner and four
major U.S. retrospective since 1996
Biggs on Saturday, Sept. 15, both SHENANDOAH RUN of one of Germany’s greatest liv-
hours of drinking, dancing to a DJ,
starting at 7:30 p.m. Music Center at This nine-member, D.C.-based and doing “everything they weren’t
ing artists, featuring more than
Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, ensemble focuses on “keeping folk allowed to do under pure paren-
100 works, from iconic paintings
North Bethesda. Tickets are $35 music alive and fresh” — yet also tal supervision as young adults.”
to wood and bronze sculptures,
to $75. Call 301-581-5100 or visit connected to its roots in political Yet you have to be very grown-up
highlighting every phase of Georg
strathmore.org. protest. The weekend of Trump’s and plan ahead in particular for
Baselitz’s career. The occasion is
Inauguration, for example, they Saturday brunch. Abigail, 1730 M
the 80th birthday of the figurative
NATIONAL SYMPHONY put together “Songs of Protest, artist, who came of age in post-war
St. NW. Tickets are $32.50 to $35
ORCHESTRA: SEASON OPENING Songs of Triumph,” a program of East Germany and is best known for
per person, plus 20-percent gratuity
GALA CONCERT folk standards that had galvanized large-scale, expressive paintings,
and drinks. Call 240-286-4286 or
The NSO will be spacing out next activists in earlier times of strug- visit laboumbrunch.com.
often with subjects painted upside
weekend as the company launch- gle. Here’s to the group keeping up down. Through Sept. 16. Second
es its new season with salutes to that fight by maintaining their level SIR SUNDAYS AT SAX
Floor Galleries, Independence
NASA’s recent 60th Anniversary of quality musicianship and sig- Penn Quarter’s Moulin Rouge-
Avenue and Seventh Street SW.
and the upcoming 50th Anniversary nature soaring harmonies, which inspired restaurant Sax offers move-
Call 202-633-1000 or visit hirsh-
of the moon landing. Naturally, one have been known to inspire sing- ment-based spectacles, including
horn.si.edu.
of the spaciest symphonies, Gustav alongs. Who could argue with that? aerial stunts, hip-hop group rou-
Holst’s The Planets, is a prominent Saturday, Sept. 22. Doors at 5 p.m. tines, pole performances, and bur-
HEAVY METAL:
part of the program, which also pres- Jammin Java, 227 Maple Ave. E. lesque, to add excitement beyond
WOMEN TO WATCH 2018
ents the soaring new work Voyage Vienna. Tickets are $20 in advance, the food. And male burlesque is
The fifth installment in a triennial
by Michael Giacchino, the prolific or $25 day-of. Call 703-255-3747 or the showcase every Sunday during
exhibition series presented at the
Oscar-winning composer behind visit jamminjava.com. brunch, as a group of male pro-
National Museum of Women in the
the recent Star Trek titles. This fessional dancers, aerialists, and
Arts showcases 20 contemporary
year’s celebrity soloist is perennial bodybuilders perform full-length
artists working in metal to create
gala favorite and superstar violinist shows, accompanied by unlimited
a wide variety of objects, includ-
Joshua Bell, joining for “Song to mimosas delivered by by table ser-
ing sculpture, jewelry, and concep-
the Moon” from Antonín Dvořák’s vice studs. Sundays at 11 a.m. and 2
tual forms. Inspired by NMWA’s
Rusalka, as well as Manuel Ponce’s p.m. Sax Restaurant & Lounge, 734
TRADE: GAY/BASH:
SUMMER 4 EVER
Josh Vogelsong started his month-
ly alternative drag-focused party
more than six years ago at the Black
Cat, but it wasn’t until it moved
to Trade that it became what he
had long envisioned it could be.
“People show up in looks, every-
body comes dressed up,” Vogelsong
says. “Everybody gets crazy during
COLLIN HOVDE
L
GBTQ TELEVISION SHOWS AND ARTISTS WON “This show is so important,” executive producer David
big at the Creative Arts Emmys over the weekend, Collins said in his speech, “thank you for what this Fab Five
bringing home at least 12 awards. are doing to help the LGBT movement.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise continued its awards Transgender filmmaker Yance Ford made history as the
success, earning Emmys in four categories. Zaldy Goco, first openly transgender man and first black transgender
RuPaul’s costume designer, nabbed Outstanding Costumes person to win an Emmy Award, taking home an Emmy for
for Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Programming, marking his Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for his doc-
second win in the category. Hairstylists Hector Pocasangre umentary Strong Island. It’s the second time Ford has made
and Gabriel Villarreal — better known as Drag Race star Delta history this year, after becoming the first openly trans man
Work — took home the award for Outstanding Hairstyling to be nominated for an Academy Award for Strong Island.
for a Multi-Camera Series or Special, and Nick Murray won The Handmaid’s Tale’s Samira Wiley also made history,
for Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program. RuPaul, becoming the youngest ever person to win Outstanding
meanwhile, took home his third consecutive award for Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role in the Hulu
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition show. Wiley was previously nominated for Outstanding
Program. Supporting Actress. She thanked “my higher power because
“Everybody say ‘Love’!” RuPaul said in his acceptance without her I wouldn’t be here,” and also thanked her wife,
speech, according to Deadline, prompting the audience Lauren Mirelli, “who every day shows me what real passion
to scream back “Love!” “Now drive that down to 1600 is for your work and every hour gives me a reason to bring
Pennsylvania Avenue! That’s what our show is about. Our it.”
show is about love and courage and the tenacity of the The late Craig Zadan, co-producer of Jesus Christ
human spirit. And all the people who work on the show at Superstar Live In Concert, was posthumously awarded with
[World of Wonder] and at VH1, we are so happy to present five Creative Arts Emmys after the NBC television special
all of these queens to the world.... Thank you from the bot- won for Outstanding Variety Special, Outstanding Lighting
tom of my heart!” Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special, Outstanding
Another big winner was Queer Eye, Netflix’s lauded Production Design for a Variety Special, Outstanding Sound
reboot of the Bravo reality series, which took home three Mixing for a Variety Series or Special, and Outstanding
awards almost 14 years after its original iteration won the Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a
Emmy for Best Reality Show. The show won Outstanding Limited Series, Movie or Special.
Structured Reality Program, Outstanding Picture Editing Zadan, who was openly gay, died at his Los Angeles home
for a Structured or Competition Reality Program, and on Aug. 20 after experiencing complications from shoulder
Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program. replacement surgery. He was 69. l
SCHADENFREUDE
Gay New Hampshire Democrat beats opponent who allegedly used homophobic
“dog whistle” attack in mailers By John Riley
D
EMOCRAT CHRIS PAPPAS, AN OPENLY GAY his nearest competitor and chief rival, Maura Sullivan, by 12
candidate for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional points. The two had sparred earlier this week over a mailer
District, has won his primary for an open seat in sent out by the Sullivan campaign that some LGBTQ groups
Congress, adding to the ranks of openly LGBTQ candidates believed was a homophobic “dog whistle,” calling into ques-
seeking office. tion whether Pappas had the “backbone” to stand up against
Pappas won an 11-way race with 42% of the vote, besting right-wing special interest groups seeking to repeal the
Weekly Events
ANDROMEDA
TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH
offers free HIV testing and HIV
Jim Graham (second from left) at a Whitman-Walker gala in 1996. services (by appointment). 9
TO OUR HEALTH
a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center,
1400 Decatur St. NW. To
arrange an appointment, call
202-291-4707, or visit androm-
edatransculturalhealth.org.
Whitman-Walker celebrates 40 years of service to the D.C. community
with a gala next weekend. DC AQUATICS CLUB practice
O
session at Takoma Aquatic
Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 300 Van
UR COMMUNITY REALLY COUNTS ON US,” SAYS JEWEL ADDY, EXTERNAL
Buren St. NW. For more infor-
affairs manager at Whitman-Walker Health. “Everyone who walks through our doors mation, visit swimdcac.org.
is treated with dignity, respect and love. I’ve had the pleasure and opportunity to hear
stories from clients about how Whitman-Walker has impacted their lives.” DC FRONT RUNNERS run-
ning/walking/social club
For forty years, Whitman-Walker has served members of D.C.’s LGBTQ community and welcomes runners of all ability
people living with HIV, providing high-quality health care including regular checkups, HIV levels for exercise in a fun and
and STD testing and treatment, addiction services, and mental health counseling. To com- supportive environment, with
socializing afterward. Route
memorate those achievements, Whitman-Walker will hold its 40th anniversary gala at the
distance is 3-6 miles. Meet at
Marriott Marquis Washington on Saturday, Sept. 22. 7 p.m. at 23rd & P Streets NW.
The evening’s program, emceed by Rayceen Pendarvis, NBC4 news host Chuck Bell, and For more information, visit
local actress and four-time Helen Hayes Award winner Holly Twyford, will begin with a dcfrontrunners.org.
cocktail reception and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a seated dinner and speaking program, DC LAMBDA SQUARES, D.C.’s
a silent auction, and a dance party featuring music from DJ Paddy Boom, formerly of the gay and lesbian square-dancing
Scissor Sisters. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s GenOUT Chorus and the legendary group, features mainstream
through advanced square
Washington trio Betty, who were behind the theme song for The L Word, are also slated to
dancing at the National City
perform. Christian Church. Please dress
Ahead of the gala, Whitman-Walker has launched a “40 Stories” Project, featuring inter- casually. 7-9:30 p.m. 5 Thomas
views and biographies of people who were instrumental to its history, including former Circle NW. 202-930-1058,
dclambdasquares.org.
Whitman-Walker Executive Director and D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham, national news-
caster Max Robinson, and Dr. Mary Edwards “Walker,” one of the clinic’s namesakes. The DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
project includes interviews and testimonials from current employees and clients, who talk practice. The team is always
looking for new members.
about the services they’ve received or their work at Whitman-Walker.
All welcome. 7-9 p.m. Harry
“We offer so many different programs and services that it’s often hard to capture what we Thomas Recreation Center,
do in a single tweet or word,” says Addy. “So it’s nice to have these different voices share their 1743 Lincoln Rd. NE. For more
individual experiences with us.” information, visit scandalsrfc.
org or dcscandals@gmail.com.
While Whitman-Walker holds other fundraising events throughout the year, including the
upcoming annual Walk & 5K to End HIV on Saturday, Oct. 27, the gala serves as yet another THE DULLES TRIANGLES
vital source for the organization, as demand for services only continues to grow. “The amount Northern Virginia social
group meets for happy hour at
of lives we’ve saved and the amount of stigma we’ve helped combat is immeasurable,” says
Sheraton in Reston. All wel-
Addy. “When people give money to support Whitman-Walker and our patients’ health and come. 7-9 p.m. 11810 Sunrise
wellbeing, it really does help people thrive.” —John Riley Valley Drive, second-floor bar.
For more information, visit
dullestriangles.com.
Whitman-Walker Health’s 40th Anniversary Gala is on Saturday, Sept. 22 from 6:30 to 11 p.m.
at the Marriott Marquis Washington, 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Tickets are $400 per per- HIV TESTING at Whitman-
son. To purchase tickets, visit wwhgala.com. For more information on Whitman-Walker’s “40 Walker Health. 9 a.m.-12:30
p.m. and from 2-5 p.m. at 1525
Stories” Project, visit whitman-walker.org/40-stories.
Boy Erased
Film
I
T’S SOMETHING OF AN UNUSUAL SEASON FOR FILM by Rhuaridh Marr
this fall. Gone are the usual spate of horrors that typically
cram theaters ahead of Halloween. Instead, there’s only a COLETTE — The life of Nobel Prize-winning novelist Sidonie-
choice few — from theme park nightmare Horror Fest, to a forty Gabrielle Colette is dramatized in this period film, starring
years-later sequel to Halloween, once again starring Jamie Lee Keira Knightley as the titular character. Forced by her domi-
Curtis as Laurie Strode. neering husband (Dominic West) to publish her novels under
Instead, fall is shaping up to be a bountiful season of Oscar- his name — granting him the fame and recognition she deserves
bait and indie darlings, with a number of topics popping up — Colette begins an affair with the gender-defying Mathilde de
throughout the coming months. There’s addiction and its Morny, Marquise de Belbeuf (Denise Gough), which inspires
impact on families in Beautiful Boy and Ben is Back, British her to take control of her life and career. A timely tale of female
royalty and the imagined goings-on behind castle walls in The empowerment, glowing early reviews suggest that it’s one of
Favourite and Mary Queen of Scots, and the post-apocalypse in I Knightley’s best performances. (9/21)
Think We’re Alone Now and Mortal Engines.
And then, in December, something supercalifragilisticexpia- FAHRENHEIT 11/9 — Michael Moore’s latest documentary tack-
lidocious this way comes... les the election and presidency of Donald Trump, as well as the
how and the why of what led to his victory — or, in the film’s
SEPTEMBER own terms, “How the fuck did we get here, and how the fuck
do we get out?” While some critics have argued that it lacks
LIZZIE — Lizzie Borden became something of a national celebri- cohesion, Fahrenheit 11/9 is Moore’s most lauded film in recent
ty when, in 1892, she was accused of murdering her father and memory, and a chilling reminder that we all need to fight for our
stepmother with an axe. The lead-up to the murders and the democracy, or soon there’ll be nothing left to fight for. (9/21)
sensational trial that followed are the subject of Craig William
Macneill’s film, which stars Chloë Sevigny as Borden and TEA WITH THE DAMES — Fancy spending 90 minutes with Dame
Kristen Stewart as the housemaid Borden allegedly engaged Eileen Atkins, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Joan Plowright, and
in an illicit romance — and who inspired her to commit double Dame Maggie Smith? Now you can, as Roger Mitchell’s doc-
parricide. (9/14) umentary explores the lifelong friendship between four of
Stage
Aladdin
C
ALL IT “THE SEASON OF PAULA VOGEL.” SEVERAL Compiled by Randy Shulman
area companies are staging several of the most compel- McCloskey, featuring music and lyrics by William Yanesh (9/21-
ling works by the Baltimore-born, Pulitzer Prize-winning 10/21) • FANCY NANCY’S SPLENDIFEROUS CHRISTMAS — Nancy
playwright, a member of the LGBTQ community, including has enough money to buy a brand-new sparkly tree topper,
The Baltimore Waltz (Keegan), How I Learned to Drive (Round but when things don’t turn out the way Nancy planned, will
House) and Indecent (Arena). It’s also the season of Elton John, Christmas still be splendiferous? (11/17-1/6) • HUCKLEBERRY
with two of the iconic rocker’s musicals — Billy Elliot (Signature) FINN’S BIG RIVER — The Mark Twain classic in which Huck
and Aida (Constellation) — hitting the local boards. The season helps Jim, a slave, escape captivity. Based on the Tony-winning
also marks the final year for Michael Kahn, who during his ten- Broadway musical, with music and lyrics by Roger Miller (2/8-
ure as Artistic Director, transformed The Shakespeare Theatre 3/10) • WINNIE THE POOH — Pooh and Piglet have to find the
Company into an international, critically-acclaimed power- Heffalump, watch Rabbit scheme to rid the forest of Kanga’s
house. He’ll be ending his run, fittingly, on a tragedy of mythic dreaded bathtub, and help Eeyore search for his tail. Based on
proportions. the A.A. Milne classic (3/29-5/26) • THE CAT IN THE HAT — A
Naturally, this wouldn’t be a Washington Theatre season rainy day is turned into a miraculous, mayhem-filled adventure
with more than a smattering of political dramas as well an abun- in this adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic. Directed by Theater
dance of satirical appearances by the delightful Second City J’s Adam Immerwahr (6/21-8/18)
gang. But Washington is clearly turning, more and more, into
a town known for big, sparkling musicals. Signature will grant ARENA STAGE
us a stay at the Grand Hotel, Olney will ship us off to the South 1101 Sixth St. SW
Pacific, Ford’s will take us Into the Woods, GALA celebrates 202-488-3300
Fame, and the Kennedy Center will let Aladdin’s genie out of the arenastage.org
lamp while it opens its own Little Shop of Horrors. After all, who TURN ME LOOSE — An intimate and no-holds-barred drama
doesn’t love a singing plant? that chronicles Dick Gregory’s rise as the first black comedian
to expose audiences to racial comedy (Now-10/14, Kreeger
ADVENTURE THEATRE MTC Theater) • ANYTHING GOES — Molly Smith puts her stamp on
7300 MacArthur Blvd the Cole Porter favorite (11/2-12/23, Fichandler) • INDECENT
Glen Echo, Md. — The story of the courageous artists who risked their careers
301-634-2270 to perform Sholem Asch’s God of Vengeance on Broadway in
adventuretheatre-mtc.org 1923, a work deemed “indecent.” By Pulitzer Prize-winner
BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL — Based on the classic book by Robert Paula Vogel (11/23-12/30, Kreeger) • KLEPTOCRACY — A World
NATIONAL THEATRE
1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
202-628-6161
thenationaldc.org
BEETLEJUICE — Alex Timbers directs the pre-Broadway world
premiere of this new musical comedy, based on Tim Burton’s
iconic film (10/14-11/18) • BEAUTIFUL — The music of Carole
King. Where you lead... (11/27-12/30) • SCHOOL OF ROCK: THE
MUSICAL — Another hit from Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber (1/16-
1/27) • FINDING NEVERLAND (2/26-3/3) • A BRONX TALE (3/26-
3/31) • JIM STEINMAN’S BAT OUT OF HELL — Paradise by the
dashboard lights, indeed (5/7-5/26)
REP STAGE
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, Md.
443-518-1500
repstage.org
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET —
Sondheim’s rapturous macabre musical about a murderous
barber and meat pies made from his slaughtered customers
SIGNATURE THEATRE
4200 Campbell Ave.
Arlington, Va.
703-820-9771
sigtheatre.org
PASSION — Natascia Diaz and Claybourne Elder star in Stephen
Sondheim’s lush and romantic musical (Now-9/23, Max
Theatre) • HEISENBERG — A chance encounter at a London train
stop changes the course of life for two people in this tender,
funny, intimate comedy. Directed by Joe Calarco (9/18-11/11,
Ark Theatre) • BILLY ELLIOT — All 11-year-old Billy wants to do
is dance in this Elton John musical based on the popular film
(10/30-1/6, Max) • AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ — A swinging, dancing
celebration of big band and the songs of Thomas “Fats” Waller
starring Nova Y. Payton, Kevin McAllister, and Iyona Blake
(1/23-3/10, Ark) • MASTERPIECES OF THE ORAL AND INTANGIBLE
HERITAGE OF HUMANITY — Three women are trapped in a rav-
aged museum during a catastrophic hundred years war tasked
with restoring a damaged Rembrandt painting. Holly Twyford
stars (2/26-4/7, Ark) • GRAND HOTEL — Eric D. Schaeffer directs
this intricate and magnificent musical set in a lavish hotel in 1928
Berlin (4/2-5/12, Max) • SPUNK — Based on three short stories
of Zora Neale Hurston and adapted by Jelly’s Last Jam writer
George C. Wolfe (4/30-6/23, Ark) • BLACKBEARD — The World
Premiere of a high seas musical adventure by the authors of The
Witches of Eastwick and The Fix, commissioned by Signature
(6/11-7/7, Max)
STUDIO THEATRE
1501 14th St. NW
202-332-3300
studiotheatre.org
IF I FORGET — A modern Jewish family is fracturing in this polit-
ical and deeply personal play. Written by Bethesda native Steven
Levenson (Now-10/14) • CRY IT OUT — The lives of four new par-
ents collide in this candid comedy (11/14-12/16) • ADMISSIONS
— A no-holds-barred look at privilege, power, and the perils of
whiteness from Joshua Harmon (Bad Jews) (1/16-2/17) • QUEEN
OF BASEL — A bold and Spanish-infused take on Strindberg’s
Miss Julie (3/6-4/7) • THE CHILDREN — David Muse directs a
taut and disquieting thriller about what one generation owes the
next (5/1-6/2)
SYNETIC THEATER
1800 South Bell St.
Crystal City, Va.
800-494-8497
synetictheater.org
SLEEPY HOLLOW — Gothic horror, iconic characters, and imag-
ery combine to produce the kind of wondrous, wordless evening
Synetic is renowned for. Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili and
choreographed by Irina Tsikurishvili (10/3-11/4) • CYRANO
DE BERGERAC — An athletic, acrobatic telling of the world-fa-
mous story (2/6-3/10) • RICHARD III — The latest entry in the
company’s Wordless Shakespeare series (5/15-6/16) • TITUS
ANDRONICUS — Synetic founder Paata Tsikurishvili tackles
this revenge-driven tragedy as the 13th entry in the company’s
celebrated “Silent Shakespeare” series (4/25-5/27) • TREASURE
ISLAND — The company works its magic on Robert Louis
Stevenson’s adventure classic (7/17-8/18)
WOOLLY MAMMOTH
641 D St. NW
202-393-3939
woollymammoth.net
GLORIA — When an ordinary day at one of New York’s most
prestigious magazines suddenly becomes a nightmare, two
survivors transform the experience into career-making sto-
ries (Now-9/30) • THE FEVER — An ordinary party evolves
into a spellbinding examination of how we assemble, orga-
nize, and care for the bodies around us. Performed in col-
laboration with the audience (11/23-12/4) • THE SECOND
CITY’S SHE THE PEOPLE — Performed by an all-female team
of the sketch troupe’s most fearless comics (12/3-1/6) BLKS —
A day in the life of three twenty-something black women
wrestling with love, uncomfortable truths, and the anguish of
adulting in New York City (2/4-3/3) • WHAT THE CONSTITUTION
MEANS TO ME — In 1988, a young woman tries to earn enough
money to go to college by entering speech competitions about
the U.S. Constitution in American Legion halls all across the
country (4/1-29) • DESCRIBE THE NIGHT — Seven lost souls are
connected across decades by history, fiction, lies, and blood
when a centuries old Russian diary is unearthed (5/27-6/3)
Diana Ross
C
ONCERTS FEATURING LGBTQ ARTISTS OR WITH Compiled by Doug Rule
significant queer appeal are all over the map this sea-
son — geographically and in seemingly every possible 9:30 CLUB
way, from genre and format to identity, age, and stature. Elton 815 V St. NW
John (Capital One Arena), the Indigo Girls (The Birchmere), Jake 877-435-9849
Shears (9:30 Club) and Rufus Wainwright (Strathmore) are among 930.com
the trailblazers on tap, with next-generation stars Troye Sivan LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES (9/14) • JOEY COCO DIAZ (9/15) •
(The Anthem) and Years and Years (Lincoln Theatre) representing ALINA BARAZ W/CAUTIOUS CLAY (9/15) • FIDLAR W/DILLY DALLY,
the newer crop, along with other under-the-radar acts including NOBRO (9/18) • CAR SEAT HEADREST W/NAKED GIANTS, DON
Blood Orange aka producer Dev Hynes (Lincoln) and Bright Light BABYLON (9/19-20) • GARY NUMAN W/NIGHTMARE AIR (9/21)
Bright Light, the alias for Rod Thomas (Union Stage). • WHETHAN W/SWEATER BEATS, ANDREW LUCE (9/21) • OWL
Heather Mae and Be Steadwell are two more artists worth CITY W/MATTHEW THIESSEN AND THE EARTHQUAKES (9/22) •
getting to know, and the two local lesbians are part of the same HIGHLY SUSPECT (9/27) • THE GROWLERS (9/23) • HIGHLY
four-person bill at Pearl Street Warehouse. Meanwhile, The SUSPECT (9/27) • BELLY (9/29) • OUR LADY PEACE W/OAK &
Hamilton offers another noteworthy showcase of mostly local ASH (10/2) • LIZ PHAIR W/SPEEDY ORTIZ (10/3) • CAM W/LUCIE
LGBTQ artists courtesy of Capital Pride. SILVAS (10/4) • SIMPLE MINDS — Walk Between Worlds Tour
You can get all that and your diva fix with Diana Ross from the unforgettable “Alive and Kicking” ’80s-era hitmakers
(Strathmore) or Christina Aguilera (MGM), too. To say we’re (10/6) • HONNE — Love Me/Love Me Not Tour (10/7) • THE
spoiled for choice would be putting it mildly. STRUTS W/WHITE REAPER, SPIRIT ANIMAL (10/8) • KALI UCHIS
ECHOSTAGE
2135 Queens Chapel Rd. NE
202-503-2330
echostage.com
ZHU: DUNE TOUR 2018 — Club GLOW presents this rising
hip-hop-influenced sultry soul/house star who prefers his music
be the focus of attention (9/24) • ARMIN VAN BUUREN — The
veteran trance/house DJ, long ranked among the top, comes
back for a party presented by Club GLOW (10/5) • REZZ
(10/6) • WIZKID — Nigerian Independence Day Celebration
(10/7) • MALAA — Illegal Tour (10/13) • DJ PAULY D W/DJ
RUCKUS — Jersey Shore invasion (10/19) • KYSFEST 2018:
H.E.R., JACQUEES, TK KRAVITZ (10/25) • PETIT BISCUIT — Steez
Promo presents (10/27) • SLANDER W/SPAG HEDDY, WAVEDASH
(10/31) • SAN HOLO W/SAID THE SKY, BAYNK, TASKA BLACK, THE
NICHOLAS (11/9) • GORGON CITY — The U.K.’s Millennial deep
house duo return to play from new studio album Escape (11/16) •
SEVEN LIONS — The Journey II Tour, presented by Club GLOW
(11/17) • KSHMR (11/24) • SNAILS — Steez Promo presents
(11/30) • NGHTMRE (12/21)
Dance
T
HE FALL DANCE SEASON STARTS STRONG WITH Compiled by Doug Rule
a local focus: a gathering of many of the community’s key ATLAS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
movers and shakers next weekend, followed by free per- 1333 H St. NE
formances of key dance ensembles over the course of the next 202-399-7993
month at the Kennedy Center, which has commissioned new atlasarts.org
works for the occasion. PRIOREDANCE: CIRQUE DE NUIT — The latest evening-length
The new season is also rich with performances of flamenco, work from local gay choreographer Robert J. Priore and per-
hip-hop — and the Nutcracker. You’ll find a little Kwanzaa, even formed by his company takes as inspiration the world of fantasy
a nod to Clara, too. Did I mention the Nutcracker? Tis (almost) as well as the sideshow lifestyle, as a community of societal out-
the season. casts come together to create magic inside and outside of the cir-
cus tent (9/13-14, Sprenger Theatre) • FURIA FLAMENCA DANCE
2018 DC DANCE SUMMIT COMPANY: CAFE FLAMENCO — An intimate evening of flamenco
dancemetrodc.org “tablao” style, with drinks and tapas served tableside during
Dance Metro DC presents three days of performances, classes, the performance, accompanied by guitarist Torcuato Zamora
panel discussions, and more, bringing together members of the (10/13, Sprenger) • STEP AFRIKA! MAGICAL MUSICAL HOLIDAY
regional dance community. Each day’s activities take place at a STEP SHOW — D.C.’s internationally known stepping company
different hosting organization, with the first day at DANCE PLACE presents its annual interactive celebration of the holidays, with
offering an evening Presentation Showcase with the follow- furry friends and DJ Frosty the Snowman (12/14-30, Sprenger)
ing Kennedy Center Local Dance Commission Recipients and
Dance Place Artists-in-Residence: Kalanidhi Dance, Heart Stück THE CLARICE
Bernie, SOLE Defined, Diana Movius, and Erica Rae/Raediant University of Maryland
Movement (9/21). Activities on the second day are at DANCE College Park, Md.
EXCHANGE (9/22) with the summit concluding at the DANCE 301-405-ARTS
INSTITUTE OF WASHINGTON (9/23) • Among other related but theclarice.umd.edu
not official events that weekend is a DC DANCE HISTORY DINNER MFA DANCE THESIS CONCERT: STACEY CARLSON AND CHRISTINE
at Busboys & Poets Brookland (9/22) HANDS — Carlson’s multidisciplinary work dwelling intertwines
the title
L
ILY TOMLIN, WANDA SYKES, AND CABLE TV’S TWO Compiled by Doug Rule
Andys — as far as non-singing, non-dancing entertain- lower-budget features, with select screenings introducted by
ment goes, those are some of the best and biggest names TCM host and foundation founder Eddie Muller (10/12-25) •
in show business today. Again this fall, there are an abun- REEL ROCK 13 — A collection of 2018’s best climbing and adven-
dance of culinary celebrities popping up — and not just at the ture films, taking viewers on a wild ride from the frigid Antartic
annual food-centric fests put on by the Smithsonian, HRC, or to the bedoin canyonlands of the Middle East, and featuring
MetroCooking DC at the Convention Center: José Andrés, Carla Madaleine Sorkin, Alex Honnold, and Conrad Anker, among
Hall, and Ina Garten are just three who will also be out and about others (11/12-14)
stirring the pot to promote new books bearing their names.
You can also get more than your fill of weighty discussions AMP BY STRATHMORE
with experts from the worlds of science, politics, and interna- 11810 Grand Park Ave.
tional affairs. Yet if by chance what you want is more clever North Bethesda, Md.
comedy with an LGBTQ bent, look no further than Tig Notaro’s 301-581-5100
Bentzen Ball, which is gayer than ever this year. ampbystrathmore.com
BENGT WASHBURN & ROBERT BARIL — AMP Comedy (9/27) •
AFI SILVER THEATRE AND CULTURAL CENTER FRIENDS: THE MUSICAL PARODY — Satirizing everyone’s favorite
8633 Colesville Road ’90s sitcom (10/18-19) • MYQ KAPLAN — AMP Comedy (10/25) •
Silver Spring SMOOTH CRIMINAL — A Murder Mystery Musical Tribute (11/17)
301-495-6720
afi.com/Silver THE ANTHEM
13TH ANNUAL SPOOKY MOVIE INTERNATIONAL HORROR FILM 901 Wharf St. SW.
FESTIVAL — The best in horror from around the world, includ- 202-265-0930
ing Phantasm: Remastered, presented by legendary filmmaker theanthemdc.com
Don Coscarelli, who will also sign copies of True Indie: Life and REESE WITHERSPOON — Whiskey In A Teacup book tour (9/22) •
Death in Filmmaking (10/4-7) • NOIR CITY DC — The Film Noir JO KOY — Comedian on his Break The Mold Tour (9/29) •
Foundation presents film noir classics paired with rarities or DC CENTRAL KITCHEN: CAPITAL FOOD FIGHT — Tastings from
Desperate Housewife
to spin a shocking mystery from Emily’s
unknown past. A cool customer like Em
might say the movie’s simply trying too
hard to impress, with its zig-zagging plot
The cheeky thriller A Simple Favor twists itself into knots trying turns and jaunty French pop soundtrack.
desperately to outsmart the audience. By André Hereford The proceedings hit peak preciousness
with a third-act tête-à-tête conducted over
T
wisecracks and cocktails in a cemetery. It’s
HE TWISTS AND TURNS OF BIG LITTLE LIES IN THE THRILLER A SIMPLE all too cutesy by the end, and the solution
Favor ( ) eventually lead it off a cliff. But before the Gone Girl clone to the mystery not satisfying enough to
crashes into self-parody, its cast and glam noir looks generate a joie de vivre that warrant the laboriously circuitous trail.
is quite infectious. Kendrick is chipper fun as the deter-
Anna Kendrick is perky to the max as down-to-earth single mom and passionate mined, self-deprecating Stephanie, who
food and crafts vlogger Stephanie Smothers. Recently widowed and new to town, also occasionally lets loose a sliver of the
Stephanie is gratified to see her second-grader Miles (Joshua Satine) become fast darkness underlining her good cheer. She
friends with a boy in his class, Nicky (Ian Ho). And she’s overjoyed when Nicky’s and Lively both get into the groove of
impeccably glamorous and beautiful mom Emily (Blake Lively) somehow deigns to the film’s winking tone, although neither
befriend a mousy, regular gal like her. really sells the segue into Hitchcockian
At the boys’ private school in this gossipy Connecticut town, Emily, a Porsche- murderousness.
driving, New York City fashion publicist, is the mom all the other moms love to envy Lively well embodies the golden, ami-
and obsess over. So, of course, Stephanie is thrilled to set down her cookie sheets to able alpha that the script calls for, but she
kick back and clink martinis with the coolest blonde in town. She’s the coolest mom, does little to suggest the depths of pain
with the hottest husband, Sean, a stalled novelist whom Emily can’t keep her hands and deviousness driving the enigmatic
off of — especially since he’s played by box office hunk of the summer Henry Golding Emily. The full scope of Emily’s dysfunc-
(Crazy Rich Asians). tion just doesn’t resonate from Lively’s
Despite the couple’s luxe life and flagrant displays of affection, Emily drops plenty of performance. Golding, the unsteady third
hints that all’s not wine and roses for her and her handsome hubby. Then, one day, she leg of this emotional triangle, is not at
asks Stephanie the simple favor of picking up Nicky at school, and promptly disappears all compelling, although he certainly is
off the face of the planet. Stephanie immediately gets to sleuthing, and Kendrick is just swoon-worthy eye candy. Lushly attired
the right actor to convey the earnest concern that propels the character to chase down by costume designer Renee Ehrlich Kalfus,
every clue. But those clues eventually lead Stephanie, and the film, down a dark tunnel he and Lively look like movie stars every
of dead-end turns. step of the way.
Directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) with a gleeful sense of mischief, the film, based Fortunately, there are delights other
on the novel by Darcey Bell, piles revelations upon twists upon double-crosses, but than just the vicarious thrills of living and
never comes up with anything truly surprising. The plotting appears more desper- continues on page 94
Sivan
I
of familiar energy and camp, but with the
N HIS 2013 COMING-OUT VIDEO, TROYE SIVAN EXPRESSED A FEELING
focus now on Shears himself, he is more
that would end up guiding his career. Reacting to the mantra, “It Gets Better,”
able to craft songs in his own image.
Sivan retorted that we shouldn’t necessarily have to wait for things to get better
During his time with Scissor Sisters,
— they can be great right here and now. His second album Bloom (HHHHH) exists in
Shears became a master at packaging a
a world where coming out is an afterthought, and gay love in particular is free, joyful
chaotic mix of influences into songs that
and, above all, celebrated.
were incredibly catchy, usually campy, and
Sivan is a talented artist who obviously deserves recognition for more than the fact
often overtly, unapologetically queer. The
that he is a gay pop star, but he has straightforwardly and openly centred his sexuality
angst-saturated, stadium-sized lead single
on this record, making his queerness the focal point of the love songs on the album. The
“Creep City” is the most infectious track
catchy slow burn “Seventeen” is a bold choice of an album opener, detailing a hookup
of the album and can easily stand along-
with an older man told from Sivan’s perspective. In the lyrics, the singer bluntly recalls
side any of Scissor Sisters’ hits. “S.O.B.”
the tension between his active pursuit and the way he was taken advantage of in ret-
(“sex on the brain”) and “Clothes Off” are
rospect.
saturated with a campy, yet visceral sexu-
Sivan gives us other moments of pathos on tracks like “The Good Side,” “Postcard,”
ality that recalls Night Work in its upfront,
and “Animal,” which slow down the pop beats to create a more melancholy atmosphere.
in-your-face homoeroticism.
The emotion comes across as honest and they work well for what they are, but none of
Make no mistake though — this album
them are quite as affecting and visceral as the opener. Bloom is instead at its strongest
is much more than a Scissor Sisters redux.
when he is leaning into the more joyful sides of the queer experience, as he does on
Going solo gives Shears more room to draw
the title track “Bloom,” a catchy, understated celebration of bottoming. Another strong
on personal themes. One of the highlights
track, “Dance to This,” has him hold his own alongside Ariana Grande. The overlooked
of the album is “Big Bushy Mustache,” a
highlight of the album might just be “Plum,” a catchy track full of enough thinly-veiled
self-image anthem with a clear message:
fruit metaphors to make anyone who saw Call Me By Your Name blush.
Jake Shears loves his facial hair, and he
If Troye Sivan’s first record can be seen as his timid step outside of the closet, then
wants you to love yours, too. Self love is
this one gleefully takes a sledgehammer to it. Bloom dares to imagine a world where
a recurring theme of the album, usually
the closet need not exist, where queer love and all its aspects can be embraced with joy
coming through in the form of a cocky
and enthusiasm.
Bloom and Jake Shears are both out now and available to buy on Amazon.com and iTunes, and on streaming services.
continued on page 91
dressing like Emily and Sean. Kendrick’s suburban Nancy Drew color that’s missing from the mystery.
shares a convincing onscreen rapport with her fashionable new At various stages, Stephanie, Emily, and Sean all prove to be unre-
pal that crucially relays Steph and Em’s fresh but deeply-felt liable narrators of their secrets, in a move intended to stir the per-
friendship. Alas, their co-starring heat is nowhere near potent plexing plot. Instead, the story plays like an outlandish tall tale being
enough to relay real desire in the lukewarm lip-lock the ladies spun by a passable fibber who’s just making it up as they go along.
share at one point, but desire takes a backseat here to wit. And Struggling to supply a suspenseful mystery that can live up to the
the supporting cast — which includes Andrew Rannells as the build-up of twists, A Simple Favor stumbles and falls before reaching
bitchiest gossip among the school’s catty parents, and Jean the finish line. It’s a high-revving race in circles that might amuse,
Smart as Emily’s boozy mother — provides much of the zest and and may muss your hair a bit, but won’t really take you very far. l
A Simple Favor is rated R, and opens in theaters everywhere September 14. Visit fandango.com.
Madhouses
Kendra must drive much of the comedy
but also the lion’s share of Jacobs-Jenkins’
messaging on the toxic workplace. Hong
almost gets it right, but the dance between
Woolly puts forth a vicious comedy of office politics, while Folger being funny and being damaging never
offers stunningly unique version of Macbeth. By Kate Wingfield quite works. Still, she chews through her
fast and furious patter with some stun-
T
ning dexterity. As Gloria, Alyssa Wilmoth
HERE IS A PROVOCATIVE KIND OF COMMENT HUMMING AROUND Keegan is similarly caught between play-
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Gloria (HHHHH), a play with a premise that might ing it large enough to forward the arc ver-
have been, as they say, ripped from the headlines. The controversy is not in his sus finding authenticity. Ultimately — and
assumption that our casually brutal communities (online, in class, at work) — in which this rests with Jacobs-Jenkins’ choice to
alpha snark and savvy decide who “belongs” and who doesn’t — put pressure on the keep her peripheral — the former wins
psychologically fragile. It is his subtler suggestion that in breeding and feeding this cul- and her woman ends up presenting more
ture of self-obsessed one-upmanship, we are far more deeply entwined in the violence like a plot-mover, and a potted vision of
erupting in our communities than we realize or would like to believe. the alienated and disturbed.
Whether one agrees wholly with Jacobs-Jenkins or not, his delivery is, as always, In her Nan, the pretend-nice, ruthless
clever, devious, and unrelenting, in equal measures. Luring us in with a very funny take boss most of us have encountered in one
on a typical office of perpetually disgruntled, competitive and/or self-involved minions, form or another, Keegan shows her versa-
Jacobs-Jenkins pulls the rug out and then returns for a second act in which he explores tility in capturing this pampered woman.
his more damning points. If his people originally seemed harmlessly charmless, now, in But the Starbucks monologue given to
the aftermath of tragedy, they reveal something deep and insidious: the me-first ethos her by Jacobs-Jenkins is symptomatic of
has not just survived the unimaginable, it has been fed by it. everything in the second act: as meaning-
But as important the subject and as interesting Jacobs-Jenkins’ take, the play must ful as the gist may be, people just don’t talk
nevertheless work — as written and as delivered. Here, the end-result is somewhat like this and the artifice undoes so much of
mixed. what the first act built.
First is Jacobs-Jenkins’ choice to keep it rather too simple. He touches with only the Finally, credit to set designer Misha
broadest brush strokes the reasons for violence. It may be his eagerness to get to the Kachman for a clever kind of intimacy
psychology of the aftermath (and its relation to his characters as a whole), but it feels between employees and audience — and
unconvincing. It’s hard not to reflect that the vast majority of us will endure conniving, respect to Fagan for the care and craft in
bitchy office-mates without snapping. showing the violence through these sets.
The challenges continue with Jacobs-Jenkins’ tonal about-face in the second act. As with any art that touches on topical
With a first act that runs like clockwork with its perfectly-pitched one-liners (at least tragedy, the questions must be: is this
until the violence), the pace of the second feels awkward by comparison. The care-free genuine? Are the choices justified? Even
characters from the first act have all been irrevocably changed, fair enough, but their flawed, the answers here are yes.
Macbeth runs to September 24 at Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol Street SE. Tickets are $42 to $79.
Call 202-544-7077 or visit folger.edu.
Gloria runs to September 30 at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $69.
Call 202-393-3939 or visit woollymammoth.net.
Underbaked
knows this arrangement can only lead to
misery, and it does. But the shared knowl-
edge that Pedro’s marriage to his true
love’s sister can’t end well is part of what
GALA’s Como Agua para Chocolate lacks a few key ingredients, binds the audience to these characters.
while REP’s Sweeney Todd needed a little longer Tita and Pedro and Elena’s extreme nods
in the oven. By André Hereford to convention and emotion are played
out in grand style, across a landscape
L
shaken by a violent revolution, and yet
OVE, SORROW, AND LONGING ARE FOLDED INTO THE PLOT AND INTO Tita’s dilemma comes down to the simple
each delectable dish described in Mexican author Laura Esquivel’s beloved 1989 thwarting of a noble love.
novel Como Agua para Chocolate (English title: Like Water for Chocolate). That Her plight is an oppression of her gen-
bittersweet recipe produced an equally popular film, directed by Esquivel’s ex-husband der, her spirit, and her independence —
Alfonso Arau, and now begets a theatrical adaptation, care of Spanish playwright Garbi but true love cannot be oppressed, the
Losada. Making its U.S. premiere at GALA Hispanic Theatre under the assured direc- story says. Tita pours her thwarted love
tion of Olga Sánchez, Como Agua para Chocolate ( ), performed in Spanish into her food, and manages to change her
with English surtitles, captures the poetry and magical realism that have stirred fans of world that way.
the story’s previous incarnations. Therein lie the story’s other potent
Sánchez and company dive passionately into the multi-generational epic romance, points of connection: food, and the shared
spiced with dashes of narration and fantasy. Employing a keen sense of where to move experiences of preparing and eating a meal,
the actors, and of transitioning the action across time and space, Sánchez, greatly abetted gathering in the kitchen, or around the
by Christopher Annas-Lee’s lighting design, keeps the narrative flowing with grace and family table. Nearly everyone is vulnerable
imagination. Decades pass, but scenic designer Mariana Fernández’s set stays mostly the to the power of those shared experiences,
same, serving faultlessly as the homestead of the familia at the heart of the tale. and the script cleverly exploits that univer-
The family’s matriarch, Mamá Elena (Luz Nicolás), runs their ranch with a steady sal relationship to food, dramatizing how
hand on her rifle, and her eyes pointed towards tradition. Her family’s history dictates it can bring joy or discomfort, pleasure or
that her youngest daughter Tita (Inéz Dominguez del Corral) can never marry, but sadness. Tita’s food contains and expresses
instead must spend her life serving her mother until one of them dies. It’s a raw deal her emotions. Said to have been born cry-
for Tita, who’s already stolen the heart of their neighbor Pedro (Peter Pereyra). He ing, and swept from her mother’s belly on a
declares his love for Tita the very first time they meet. wave of tears, Tita can cry into a casserole,
But tradition rules, and Tita’s bad luck is her older sister Rosaura’s good fortune, and the taste of it will reduce a table full of
as Mamá Elena refuses Pedro’s appeal for Tita’s hand in marriage and forces him to diners to heaving sobs.
take Rosaura (Guadalupe Campos) instead. Pedro dutifully agrees to marry the sister Clearly, there’s magic in Tita’s cooking,
he doesn’t love, reckoning that at least he’ll be nearer to the sister he actually loves. an otherworldly specialness that animates
Perhaps simply breathing the same air will be enough to quench their desire. her cuisine. That spark can’t be located,
Sweeney Todd runs until September 23 at REP Stage, The Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center’s Studio Theatre,
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland. Tickets are $10 to $40. Call 443-518-1500, or visit repstage.org.
Como Agua para Chocolate runs until October 7 at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St., NW. Tickets are $25 to $48.
Call 202-234-7174 or visit galatheatre.org.
DrinksDragDJsEtc... till 9pm • Special Late Friday, Harness and Jock Party, till 9pm • Special Late
Night menu till 11pm • 10pm-close • Featuring Night menu till 2am • Visit
Visit pitchersbardc.com September 14 DJ Ryan Doubleyou • pitchersbardc.com
No Cover
Thursday, GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
SHAW’S TAVERN 9 1/2 SHAW’S TAVERN
September 13 • Shirtless Thursday,
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
Open at 5pm • Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Open 3pm • Beat the
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
10-11pm • Men in
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail 5-9pm • Friday Night Clock Happy Hour — $2 $5 House Wines, $5 Rail
9 1/2 Underwear Drink Free,
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas Videos, 9:30pm • Rotating (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), $4 Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any 12-12:30am • DJs
and Select Appetizers • All DJs • Expanded craft beer (7-8pm) • Buckets of Beer, and Select Appetizers
drink, 5-9pm • Multiple BacK2bACk
You Can Eat Ribs, 5-10pm, selection • No Cover $15 • Weekend Kickoff
TVs showing movies,
$24.95 • $4 Corona and Dance Party, with Nellie’s TRADE
shows, sports • Expanded NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Heineken all night A LEAGUE OF HER OWN DJs spinning bubbly pop Doors open 5pm • Huge
craft beer selection • Beat the Clock Happy Hour
2319 18th St. NW music all night Happy Hour: Any drink
Music videos featuring — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
TRADE Doors open, 5pm-3am • normally served in a cock-
DJ Wess $4 (7-8pm) • $15 Buckets
Doors open 5pm • Huge Happy Hour: $2 off every- NUMBER NINE tail glass served in a huge
of Beer all night • Sports
Happy Hour: Any drink thing until 9pm • Video Open 5pm • Happy Hour: glass for the same price,
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN Leagues Night
normally served in a cock- Games • Live televised 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm 5-10pm • Beer and wine
2319 18th St. NW
tail glass served in a huge sports • No Cover • Friday Night only $4 • Otter Happy
Doors open, 5pm-2am • NUMBER NINE
glass for the same price, Piano with Chris, 7:30pm Hour, 5-11pm
Happy Hour: $2 off every- Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
5-10pm • Beer and wine FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
thing until 9pm • Video drink, 5-9pm • No Cover
only $4 Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • PITCHERS ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
Games • Live televised
Karaoke, 9pm 2317 18th St. NW Men of Secrets, 9pm •
sports PITCHERS
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS Open 5pm-3am • Happy Guest dancers • Rotating
2317 18th St. NW
All male, nude dancers • GREEN LANTERN Hour: $2 off everything DJs • Kristina Kelly’s Diva
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Open 5pm-2am • Happy
Open Dancers Audition • Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $3 until 9pm • Video Games Fev-ah Drag Show • Doors
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Hour: $2 off everything
Urban House Music by DJ Rail and Domestic • Free • Foosball • Live televised at 9pm, Shows at 11:30pm
Karaoke, 9pm until 9pm • Video Games
Tim-e • 9pm • Cover 21+ Pizza, 7-9pm • $5 Svedka, sports • Full dining menu and 1:45am • DJ Don T. in
• Foosball • Live televised
all flavors all night long Ziegfeld’s • Cover 21+
sports • Full dining menu
• HybridNine: Stripped, a
MARCO CERRONE
9 1/2 Cave: Retro to Electro
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Music, 9pm-close •
they refer to as their home
drink, 2-9pm • $5 Absolut Featuring DJ Popperz • away from home. Mookie
and $5 Bulleit Bourbon, No Cover Brock is warm-up DJ. Friday,
9pm-close • Expanded
craft beer selection • NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Sept. 14, starting at 9 p.m. U
Ultra Naté
No Cover Drag Brunch, hosted Street Music Hall, 1115A U
by Chanel Devereaux, St. NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-588-1880 or visit ustreetmusichall.com.
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN 10:30am-12:30pm and
2319 18th St. NW 1-3pm • Tickets on sale
Doors open, 2pm-3am •
Video Games • Live tele-
at nelliessportsbar.com
• House Rail Drinks, Zing
DRINK COMPANY: GWAR PUB
vised sports Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie With the threat of a lawsuit at the eleventh hour, Warner Bros. last month
Beer and Mimosas, $4, forced Derek Brown, Angie Fetherston, and fellow Drink-ers to cancel the
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR 11am-3am • Buckets of
Saturday Breakfast Buffet, Beer, $15 • Guest DJs opening of their immersive tribute to the animated TV series Rick and Morty
10am-3pm • $14.99 with that they had spent the summer assembling. As a result, two of the three small
one glass of champagne NUMBER NINE
or coffee, soda or juice •
connected spaces in the Drink Company’s Shaw pop-up bar, or PUB, remain
Doors open 2pm • Happy
Additional champagne $2 Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, dark until the November relaunch of the popular holiday-themed Miracle on
per glass • World Tavern 2-9pm • $5 Absolut and $5 7th Street extravaganza. But Richmond’s GWAR has been tapped to lift spirits
Poker Tournament, 1-3pm Bulleit Bourbon, 9pm-close
• Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • • THIRSTY, featuring DJ
in the complex’s third bar, decked out with outrageous stage props and cos-
Freddie’s Follies Drag Chord Bezerra, 9:30pm tumes in a 34-year retrospective of the heavy metal heads. One of his favorite
Show, hosted by Miss bands, Brown describes GWAR as a “funnier KISS, on steroids, during a WWE
Destiny B. Childs, 8-10pm
• Karaoke, 10pm-close stage show peppered with intergalactic horror themes and a little Damien
Hirst.” PUB highlights include a 20-foot World Maggot, an intergalactic battle
scene, a hall of blood (paying homage to the gallons of synthetic blood spurted
at every show), and a mobile of GWAR’s interplanetary journey. Band-related
memorabilia will be for sale, such as a limited-edition Hail Oderus Tiki Mug —
from which patrons drink the GWAR-inspired cocktail Oderus Eternal, green
chile-flavored vodka mixed with manzanilla, grapefruit, and club soda ($12,
or $52 with the mug). Meanwhile, rosé meets Strawberry Campari and Blanc
Vermouth with a splash of soda in If You Want Blood (You Got It) ($12), the
bloodiest punch on a menu of 18 specialty concoctions, including four “Parting
Shots” ($6) and two “Spirit Free” juice blends ($7). Also on hand are a few beer
and wine selections, and snack packages of Combos, Pirate’s Booty, Gushers,
and Twinkies. Daily from 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (until 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and
Saturdays). Runs to Oct. 31. Drink Company, 1839 7th St. NW. Call 202-316-
9396 or visit popupbardc.com.
DJ STEVE HENDERSON
SOS
(Barry Harris Mix)
Cher
God is a Women
(Taj BK 7 Skies Mix)
Ariana Grande ft. Madonna
On The Radio
(Thee Werq’n B!tches TGIF Mix)
Donna Summer
Remind Me To Forget
(Barry Harris Remix)
Kygo ft. Miguel