2 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 3 EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Randy Shulman APRIL 14, 2016 ART DIRECTOR Volume 22 / Issue 49 Todd Franson

MANAGING EDITOR Rhuaridh Marr NEWS 6 Business Backlash SENIOR EDITOR John Riley by John Riley

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 8 Incremental Activism Doug Rule by John Riley SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim 12 Community Calendar CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS Scott G. Brooks, Christopher Cunetto

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FEATURES 16 Irresistible Tituss Burgess Gordon Ashenhurst, Sean Bugg, Connor J. Hogan, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield Interview by Randy Shulman

WEBMASTER 20 Queer Commitment David Uy by Rhuaridh Marr PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Julian Vankim

SALES & MARKETING OUT ON THE TOWN 22 Seeing the Light by Randy Shulman PUBLISHER Randy Shulman 24 Choral Cause NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE by Doug Rule Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 STAGE 30 Reality Check DISTRIBUTION MANAGER by Kate Wingfield Dennis Havrilla HEALTH 32 Juice Up by Bucky Mitchell

PATRON SAINT GEARS 34 Driverless and Clueless D’Fwan by Rhuaridh Marr

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy of Netflix NIGHTLIFE 37 JR.’s photography by Ward Morrison

SCENE 44 The Fireplace photography by Ward Morrison

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4 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM

Now online at MetroWeekly.com Tennessee therapists can refuse service to LGBT people NewsLGBT Deutsche Bank halts expansion in North Carolina UNCNRI Charlotte, NC Business Backlash Corporate America is leading the fight against anti-LGBT state laws

by John Riley

T SEEMED THAT NOT EVEN THREATS OF ECO- “I think PayPal, when they announced that they would be nomic backlash could dissuade social conservatives halting future expansions, set a precedent that others will fol- from writing anti-LGBT laws. In North Carolina, low,” says Jonathan Lovitz, vice president of external affairs at Mississippi and others, the business community tried the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). itsI best to force legislators to back down from bigotry, but “We’re seeing some of these companies commit to pulling jobs, Republicans laughed. Such threats were toothless, they pulling investments, and it’s certainly a powerful message and said — merely a scare tactic being used to quell the First a gesture that is clearly resonating, as we’re hearing rumblings Amendment rights of good Christian folks. Then PayPal that some of these states are reconsidering on their own, regard- drew blood, and everything changed. less of some of the conversations about there being a legal fight.” The online electronic payments giant had planned to build a Indeed, PayPal is alone in supporting North Carolina’s LGBT global operations center in Charlotte, North Carolina, that was community. Lionsgate Entertainment, which was planning to expected to employ more than 400 people. But the company shoot Hulu sitcom Crushed in North Carolina, pulled out of the announced last week that it would seek out other venues for state after the passage of HB 2, choosing to relocate production its expansion in light of the passage of HB 2, a law invalidating to Vancouver, Canada. And the New Jersey-based pharmaceuti- local LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances and placing restric- cal company Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, which had previously tions on the types of restroom and changing facilities available announced plans for a $20 million manufacturing and research to transgender people. facility to be built in Durham, has walked back its plans, saying PayPal slammed the law, which North Carolina lawmakers it is now “re-evaluating” its options. jammed through in a matter of hours as part of a special legisla- And the backlash is not limited to North Carolina. Mississippi, tive session. Given it puts PayPal’s LGBT employees at risk of which passed a bill allowing individuals, businesses, and even discrimination, moving forward with any planned expansion in government workers to refuse to serve LGBT people or others the state was “simply untenable.” who do not conform to preferred sexual mores under the guise

6 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM

LGBTNews

of religious freedom, is now under fire from major corporations. tions for the LGBT community.” The CEOs of eight major companies, among them Levi Strauss A 2014 worldwide study from the Williams Institute, a think & Co., Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Whole Foods Market, and tank that studies LGBT-related issues at UCLA found a positive PepsiCo, have signed onto a letter demanding that Magnolia correlation between countries with greater LGBT rights and State lawmakers repeal the act, which is slated to go into effect those with higher per capita income and a greater degree of eco- on July 1. In Tennessee, where legislators have passed a bill nomic development. But that same concept can be applied state- allowing counselors and therapists to refuse to treat LGBT side, as many corporations have found that embracing equality clients, and have revived another measure seeking to restrict and inclusion have resulted in higher levels of employee satis- transgender students’ access to restrooms based on their bio- faction and increased productivity. logical sex at birth, corporations and event planners have been “Look at the bottom line of America’s most inclusive compa- putting pressure on the government. Nashville Mayor Megan nies,” Lovitz notes. “Look at the companies who are NGLCC’s Barry told reporters that at least 12 conventions expected to supply chain partners, and how they correlate to being at the bring millions of dollars to the city have threatened to pull out top of the list of the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate should either bill be signed into law. Equality Index. And then compare that to their profit margin Deena Fidas, director of the Human Right Campaign’s and their bottom line. It is no longer anecdotal; it is a hard Workplace Equality Program, says businesses that adopt a numerical fact that companies that commit to diversity and strategy of divestment in states with anti-LGBT laws, while also inclusion are more successful.” speaking out against the law and demanding their repeal, can Despite setbacks in some states, others, such as Minnesota help influence lawmakers to drop anti-LGBT schemes. and Pennsylvania, are beginning to catch on when it comes to “Corporate interest speaks to both sides of the political aisle,” the connection between greater LGBT inclusion and increased she says. “In the past few weeks, you have seen Republican economic output. governors heed the call of major businesses to veto anti-LGBT “It’s inspiring that in the same month when we’re seeing bills in South Dakota and Georgia, for example. You’d be hard- North Carolina and Mississippi take a step backwards, we’re pressed to find anyone who seriously suggests that businesses seeing Pennsylvania’s governor commit publicly and proactively are in on some politically liberal agenda. These businesses are to LGBT inclusion and protections in state contracting and state demonstrating that, similar to what the American public shows public accommodations, which will only make it more attractive in survey after survey, equality is a shared value. It is both part to businesses, make it more attractive to conferences, make it of a viable economic and business strategy, and it’s also reflec- more attractive to new investments,” Lovitz says. “People want tive of what most Americans believe in terms of basic protec- to be able to go where they’re the most free.” l

accomplish its aims also serves as a model for others — par- Incremental Activism ticularly those who argue that the gay community, out of expe- GLAA reflects on 45 years of working for LGBT rights dience, should attempt to separate itself from the lesbian or transgender communities. By John Riley “Our opponents, those who want to deny us equality, are not confused about this,” Rosendall says. “They lump us all togeth- N D.C., WE’VE BEEN BLESSED. MAYBE THERE’S er. Anyone in any way who does not conform to their notion of more maturity, maybe it’s the kind of people who migrate, gender roles is seen as threatening them.” I here, [but] people want to get something done,” says As it does every year, GLAA will mark its anniversary cel- Richard J. Rosendall. ebration by bestowing Distinguished Service Awards on indi- “In many other cities, they would spend so much time stab- viduals and groups who have helped advance LGBT rights and bing each other in the back and engaging in internecine warfare, served the wider LGBT community in the D.C. area. This year’s that opportunities were missed,” Rosendall, president of the honorees include Mónica Palacio, director of the D.C. Office of Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA), adds. “But whatever Human Rights (OHR); June Crenshaw, the chair of the Board the reason is, we’ve been blessed with people who didn’t just of the Rainbow Response Coalition, which combats LGBT inti- want to go down in flames and feel righteous in the process, but mate partner violence, and the recently named interim director steadily work at something over a period of time. Not because of the Wanda Alston Foundation, which provides housing and they wanted it to take forever, but because they knew they had support for LGBT homeless youth; and Sterling Washington, to be steadfast and not just demand everything at once.” the former director of the Office of GLBT Affairs under the It’s that incremental approach that Rosendall credits with administration of Mayor Vincent Gray. helping form working relationships with important allies, “Each of them has stepped up in a variety of ways, and shown including a majority of the D.C. Council, to achieve many of their commitment [to the community],” Rosendall says. “And it GLAA’s major policy priorities over its 45 years. Those include goes back to the coalition idea. My personal motto is, ‘It’s not the successful repeal of D.C.’s sodomy law in 1993, the addition all about you.’ ... We like to have our anniversary celebrating of gender identity and expression to the D.C. Human Rights Act, members of the community and allies for their contributions to and the successful passage of marriage equality in 2009 — at a advancing our collective interests.” l time when only six states had extended full marriage rights to same-sex couples. The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance will celebrate its 45th “You have to work on it, you have to build relationships, you Anniversary Reception on Thursday, April 21, at Policy Restaurant have to educate people, you have to move the ball forward,” and Lounge, 1904 14th St. NW, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 Rosendall says. “It’s hard work, creating and sustaining change.” per person. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit glaa. The group’s success in forming broad-based coalitions to org/anniversary or contact Richard J. Rosendall at 202-328-6278.

8 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 9

LGBTCommunityCalendar

Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events in the D.C.-area SUNDAY, APRIL 17 LGBT community, from alternative social events to volunteer opportunities. Event information should be sent by email to [email protected]. BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay vol- unteer organization, volunteers today Deadline for inclusion is noon of the Friday before Thursday’s publication. for DC Central Kitchen. To partici- Questions about the calendar may be directed to the pate, visit burgundycrescent.org. Metro Weekly office at 202-638-6830 or the calendar email address. CHRYSALIS arts & culture group visits DAR Museum to see exhibition on how Americans remembered the Revolution from 1776 to 1890. Free. Meet at noon in the Museum lobby at 1776 D St. NW, a few blocks south of the White House. Lunch in the neigh- borhood follows. Craig, 202-462-0535. [email protected]. THURSDAY, APRIL 14 FRIDAY, APRIL 15 SATURDAY, APRIL 16 MONDAY, APRIL 18 Join IMMIGRATION EQUALITY’s GAY DISTRICT, a group for GBTQQI ADVENTURING outdoors group Executive Director and fellow men between the ages of 18-35, meets hikes 9 strenuous miles with about CENTER FAITH, a program of The pro bono attorney for the group’s on the first and third Fridays of each 1500 feet of elevation gain along the DC Center, hosts a meeting for the SPRING SOCIAL, hosted by Mithcell month. 8:30-9:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. Appalachian Trail near Paris, Va. LGBT community and their religious Gold + Bob Williams, to celebrate NW, Suite 105. For more information, Bring beverages, lunch, sturdy boots, allies. 7:30-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, their work on behalf of LGBT immi- visit gaydistrict.org. bug spray and about $20 for fees. Suite 105. For more information, visit grants fleeing persecution. Hors Visit to winery follows hike. Carpool thedccenter.org. d’oeuvres and beverages provided. LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for at 9 a.m. from East Falls Church 6-8 p.m. 1526 14th St. NW. To RSVP adults in Montgomery County offers Metro Station Kiss & Ride lot; return WEEKLY EVENTS and for more information, call 212- a safe space to explore coming out by 6:30 p.m. Harris, 443-415-7856. 714-2904 or visit eventbrite.com. and issues of identity. 10-11:30 a.m. Adventuring.org. DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds 16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512, practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison WEEKLY EVENTS Gaithersburg, Md. For more informa- The DC Center hosts a monthly Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan- tion, visit thedccenter.org. meeting of its HARM REDUCTION dals.wordpress.com. SUPPORT GROUP. 3-4 p.m. 2000 DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more practice session at Takoma Aquatic WEEKLY EVENTS GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at information, visit thedccenter.org. Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9 Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. NW. p.m. swimdcac.org. DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice [email protected]. The DC Center hosts a meeting of session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. KHUSH DC, a support group for DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and les- SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org. KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY LGBTQ South Asians. 1-3 p.m. 2000 bian square-dancing group features (K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St., 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more mainstream through advanced square HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIV information, visit thedccenter.org. dancing at the National City Christian Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30 Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 703-823-4401. p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson The DC Center hosts a monthly LGBT dclambdasquares.org. Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 ASYLEES SUPPORT MEETING NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment AND DINNER for LGBT refugees and 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200, The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman- asylum seekers. 5-7 p.m. 2000 14th St. Arlington. Appointments: 703-789- Virginia social group meets for happy walker.org. NW, Suite 105. For more information, 4467. hour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810 visit thedccenter.org. Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor METROHEALTH CENTER offers THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee Drop- The DC Center hosts a planning meet- bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestri- free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment In for the Senior LGBT Community. ing for fundraisers on behalf of the angles.com. needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202- 202-638-0750. LGBT FALLEN HEROES FUND, hon- 682-2245, thedccenter.org. METROHEALTH CENTER offers oring those LGBT police, fire, EMS and military members who have given free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT- US HELPING US hosts a black gay their lives in the line of duty. 3:30- needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. affirming social group for ages 11-24. men’s evening affinity group. 3636 202-638-0750. 5:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW. For more 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW. Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100. Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, layc- information, visit thedccenter.org. dc.org. SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATER p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for WEEKLY EVENTS POLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m. youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155 SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van or [email protected]. a social atmosphere for GLBT and BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, includ- Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at questioning youth, featuring dance ing others interested in Brazilian cul- least basic swimming ability always US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics parties, vogue nights, movies and ture, meets. For location/time, email welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, secre- Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., games. More info, catherine.chu@ [email protected]. [email protected], wetskins.org. 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group is smyal.org. independent of UHU. 202-446-1100. DC FRONT RUNNERS running/ WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6 walking/social club welcomes all HIV/AIDS Support Group for newly WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for levels for exercise in a fun and sup- diagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m. youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women, portive environment, socializing Registration required. 202-939-7671, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, test- 13-21, interested in leadership devel- afterward. Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & P [email protected]. opment. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth [email protected]. Streets NW, for a walk; or 10 a.m. for Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163, fun run. dcfrontrunners.org. [email protected].

12 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 13 TUESDAY, APRIL 19 For more info. call Dick, 703-521-1999. Handicapped accessible. Newcomers CENTER BI, a group of The DC welcome. [email protected]. Center, hosts a monthly roundtable discussion around issues of bisexual- SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ ity. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL, 410 105. For more information, visit 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy Chu, 202- thedccenter.org. 567-3163, [email protected].

WEEKLY EVENTS US HELPING US hosts a support group for black gay men 40 and older. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202- ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly 446-1100. dinner in Dupont/Logan Circle area, 6:30 p.m. [email protected], afwash- ington.net. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20 DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Takoma Aquatic BOOKMEN DC, an informal men’s Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30- gay-literature group, discusses Blue 9 p.m. swimdcac.org. Too: More Writing by (for or about) Working-Class Queers, a compilation DC FRONT RUNNERS running/ of the work of 20 writers who speak walking/social club serving greater to the LGBT working class experi- D.C.’s LGBT community and allies ence. 7:30 p.m. DC Center, 2000 14th hosts an evening run/walk. dcfront- St. NW, Suite 105. All are welcome. runners.org. Bookmendc.blogspot.com.

THE GAY MEN’S HEALTH GAMMA, a confidential support COLLABORATIVE offers free HIV group for men who are gay, bisexual, testing and STI screening and treat- questioning and who are married or ment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m. involved with a woman, mets on the Rainbow Tuesday LGBT Clinic, third Wednesday of each month in Alexandria Health Department, 4480 Virginia. This month’s meeting is at King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571- a private residence in Vienna. 6:30- 214-9617. [email protected]. 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit GAMMAinDC.org. IDENTITY offers free and confiden- tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL 414 East Diamond Ave., and in BRIDGE CLUB meets for Social Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity Center, Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. 721 8th St SE (across from Marine For appointments other hours, call Barracks). No reservations and part- Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978 or ner needed. All welcome. 301-345-1571 Takoma Park at 301-422-2398. for more information.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY WOMAN TO WOMAN: A SUPPORT (K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St., GROUP FOR HIV-POSITIVE Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIV WOMEN WHO LOVE WOMEN, testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. meets on the third Wednesday of each 703-823-4401. month at The Women’s Collective. Light refreshments served. 5:30-7 p.m. OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS— 1331 Rhode Island Ave. NE. For more LGBT focused meeting every information, 202-483-7003. l Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. George’s Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave., Arlington, just steps from Virginia Square Metro.

14 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 15 Irresistible Tituss Burgess The rising sitcom star takes a break to talk about Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, the show that’s making him a part of Netflix’s “Must-Stream TV”

Interview by Randy Shulman

ORKING WITH TINA FEY IS LIKE SWIM- Sebastian the Crab in Disney’s stage-adaptation of The Little ming in the ocean with an Olympic Gold Mermaid, and two years later stepped into one of contemporary Medalist for swimming as a lifeguard,” says musical theater’s most iconic characters, Nicely-Nicely Johnson Tituss Burgess. “I feel so safe. And safety while in the 2009 revival of Guys and Dolls. It’s safe to say, Broadway Wcreating is one of the most important ingredients, because it has been good to Burgess. Netflix — and Fey, who cast Burgess breeds more creativity. It makes you feel safe to fuck up, pardon in seasons five and six of 30 Rock as D’Fwan, a member of Tracy my expression.” Jordan’s wife’s entourage — has been even better. Expression pardoned. Yet, if Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is Burgess attributes much of his current success, graciously, any indication, there are few, if any fuck ups from Burgess (or to Fey. any of his similarly gifted castmates). His spectacularly funny “I’ve never met a harder working person — her focus is turn on the Netflix series, co-created and written by Fey and everywhere and you, simultaneously,” he says. “Watching her producing partner Robert Carlock, has already earned the actor journey around a joke is a lesson in brilliance. Everything that one Emmy nomination. If things keep going as they are, a win is comes out of her is funny. She’s just a lovely, lovely woman and a forgone conclusion. so gracious and just the picture of class.” Burgess plays Titus Andromedon, the sassy, frequently petu- The very same could be said for Burgess. lant roommate to Ellie Kemper’s earnest, wide-eyed Kimmy — a young woman who, after being locked in captivity with three METRO WEEKLY: When did you first realize you were gay? other women for 15 years by a demented doomsday-paranoid TITUSS BURGESS: I knew very early on. There was not a whole lot preacher, is rescued and starts life anew in Manhattan. Kimmy of self-discovery — I came out discovered. I grew up in Athens, and Titus are the perfect pairing, with Titus’ eye-rolling exas- Georgia, and the neck of the woods I was from, it wasn’t some- peration with Kimmy weirdly balanced by his near-pathologi- thing you talked about, or displayed if you were effeminate. But cal desire to ride her coattails to fame. it wasn’t something I necessarily hid. The show started life as a typical fish-out-of-water story, MW: How old were you when you came out? as Kimmy navigates, often with misguided help from her BURGESS: I had a formal conversation in my late teens but I’ve flamoboyant roommate, the vast changes in a society that has always had a very “This is it, and if you can’t accept it, it’s your left her stranded in ’90s amber. Over the course of its first sea- problem, not mine.” That has served me throughout my life. son, however, underneath the humor (and there are as many When it comes to my well-being, how other people feel is not laughs as there were in Fey’s previous hit, 30 Rock), the show my concern. I never had real trouble accepting myself. It was gradually became a social commentary lambaste, tackling more trying to figure out how to get other people to learn how everything from society’s passive racism to the devestating to accept. (yet hilarious) impact the end of a marriage has on Kimmy’s MW: How did your family take it? employer, brilliantly portrayed by Jane Krakowski in full self- BURGESS: yM mom had a difficult time, and on some levels still absorption mode. struggles with it, but she’s the only one I really cared about. My “There’s a real basis and truth in this show, even though the mom and I are thick as thieves, and her feelings are important characters started out seeming absurd,” notes Carol Kane, who to me. But even with her, at a certain point, I had to just go, plays Kimmy and Titus’ nutcase landlord, Lillian Kaushtupper. “Look, we’re not going to talk about this again. Go get some “I feel so grateful to have the quality of the writing and the group counseling, figure something out, so that you can better other actors be so high. I just feel like I fell into a vat of cher- deal with this.” I’m 37 now, and even as recent as last year we ries.” had some issues with it. For some people, it’s a lifetime of inte- Keeping spoilers at bay, in Season 2 — which debuts its grating the information. For others, it’s like, “Well, all right, no binge-worthy 13-episodes on Netflix this Friday, April 15 — big deal.” I’ve always been a “Well, no big deal.” There are so we’ll learn more of Lillian’s checkered, criminal past, as well many other things to be concerned about, my lord. as meet the flamboyant Titus Andromedon’s tempestuous ex, MW: The character you play on Kimmy Schmidt so craves the spot- “right away,” teases Burgess. light, so craves fame. Are there any similarities there? Like his character’s namesake, the 37-year-old Athens, BURGESS: No. I don’t crave the spotlight. I don’t crave attention. Georgia native had Broadway aspirations. Unlike his namesake, In fact, I try and get people to leave me alone — I don’t like a lot of he actually achieved them. In 2007, he originated the role of people around me. I pick up on energy very easily, so if you walk

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METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 17 in the room and I can feel what you’re feeling, it exhausts me. ate is. But I completely agree with you. What I do for a living requires so much of all of me that by the MW: With Kimmy Schmidt, you’ve had a huge breakthrough of time it’s time for me to go and do whatever it is that I’m supposed visibility. What has that been like for you? to be doing, if I haven’t protected myself, all that energy is gone. BURGESS: Well, when you’re inside of it, it’s hard to see the for- The spotlight, for me, is a byproduct, a residual effect, of est for the trees. I wake up, I go to work, I love my job, and I what I love to do. And what I love to do is perform and create. absolutely adore the people that I get to work with. I never have The spotlight is empty outside of just applause and attention to worry about trying to make something funny because when but, you know, even while you’re receiving that you are still I read it, it makes me laugh right away. And I’ve not always had participating. But by the time I’m done fi lming, I’m quite ready the luxury of working with writers who didn’t need help from to hang Titus up and go hide for a little while. actors. Sometimes you have to string air together. Every script MW: Prior to the show, you had a stellar career on Broadway. is not as polished or sophisticated as the ones my current bosses BURGESS: I was in the original casts of every show I’ve ever done. [Tina Fey and Robert Carlock] write. So it’s been great. MW: One of your most heralded was as Sebastian the Crab in As far as the visibility, I said earlier I’m not that eager or Disney’s Broadway production of The Little Mermaid. crazy about attention, so I don’t pay a great deal of attention to BURGESS: You know what, I gotta tell you, that was one of the most charmed experiences I’ve ever had in my entire “We don’t play up how life. My entrance was on an elevator that rose out of the orchestra pit, and when you hear that collective gasp from ‘queeny’ Titus is. We are all the kids in that fi rst couple of rows, it makes doing it enjoying how he handles night after night so worth it. And that score is so beautiful the situations he fi nds — I got to sing two of the most famous songs. It just was a himself in. That is more dream come true. important than focusing MW: There are those who bemoan that Broadway is becoming too “Disney-fi ed,” that less and less serious musical works on whether he raises his are being produced in favor of family fare based on animated pinky when he drinks a fi lms. Do you feel this is a good trend for Broadway? glass of wine.” BURGESS: This is wonderful for Broadway. Now listen, Broadway is less about art and more about commerce, obviously, and while once upon a time it was more bal- anced, or even maybe even tipped in the direction of art, the costs are rising. It costs a lot of money to mount a show. And producers are becoming less and less visionary, and more “How we can get the max amount of dollars back on our investments?” I would like to see more risks taken. I have not seen Hamilton yet, but apparently it’s replete with wonderful artistic content. And there are a lot of shows this season that are quite moving. I just recently saw — it’s closing, but it won the Tony — The Curious Incident of the Dog Carol Kane and Tituss in the Night. Probably the most magical theatrical experience the press or you know, the superlatives that people give me. I I’ve ever had as an audience member. I think it just takes the certainly appreciate them because it means that they are enjoy- right director, the right writer and a producer who knows how ing the work I am doing. But for me, it’s about the work. As bor- to get out of the way and let these people do their jobs to steer ing as that sounds, that is what excites me and what makes me Broadway back in the direction of content fi rst, commerce a wake up in the morning and want to do it all over again. close, close second. MW: The show becomes progressively more absurd as it goes along. MW: But there are so many screen-to-stage musicals these days. BURGESS: In the most brilliant way. BURGESS: Screen-to-stage doesn’t bother me if the translation is MW: Yes, and the interesting thing is that it also becomes more done with respect to the source material, or if the stage version grounded in reality at the same time. is going to improve upon what we saw [at the movies]. But if it’s BURGESS: It sure does, doesn’t it? Particularly with its acknowl- just going to lump and throw the movie onto the stage without edgment of what is going on in our social political climate in maximizing all the resources that we have in theater, then America. It helps ground it even more — and it also allows for what’s the point? the absurdity to be more palatable, because it has a backdrop of I have no problem with Disney using their archives to create something so serious. new material for the stage, because who doesn’t want to go to MW: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a TV show do that so successfully. the theater and lose yourself? Taken down that nostalgic road I’ve seen them go one way or the other but I don’t think I’ve ever of when you were a kid and were coming up with all of these seen them actually traverse the same path simultaneously. stories. These stories are around to this day for a reason. So I BURGESS: I don’t know that I have either, to be perfectly honest think it’s important. I think there’s a place for it. with you. MW: That’s a great outlook. I used to defend Starlight Express MW: A straight friend asked me of your character, “Do you fi nd as a great way to introduce children to theater. I mean, it’s pure it at all offensive that he’s so stereotypically effeminate?” And I spectacle, but it’s got a great score and, well, you don’t want to said, “No, not at all.” Still, I can see why he’d ask that. What’s necessarily take a child to Phantom of the Opera. your take?

BURGESS: Well, it depends on how sophisticated your child’s pal- BURGESS: I don’t think there’s anything stereotypical about ERIC LIEBOWITZ/NETFLIX

18 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM Titus. How many gay people do you know who are effeminate? Lots, right? MW: A fair amount. BURGESS: If they exist in the world, then they certainly can exist on television. If it happens in the world, if it happens to human beings, if there are human beings who house it, if there are human beings who say it, if there are human beings who wear it, it is fair game. There is nothing in terms of the writing or in my execution that is off-putting in the way that could be considered a stereotype. People should pay less attention to how people act and more to what they are trying to work out in their lives — I think that is what is important. We don’t play up how “queeny” Titus is. We are enjoying how he handles the situations he finds himself in. And I think that is more important than focusing on whether or not he raises his pinky when he drinks a glass of wine. MW: Do you find there’s homophobia within the gay community towards effeminate men? BURGESS: Absolutely. Absolutely. MW: How do we respond to that? BURGESS: sThat i a much larger conversation than I can answer in one sentence, but I think it stems from self-hatred. We were made to hide for so long, to repress how we naturally come into the world for so long, that we begin to agree with those who are in opposition. We start to feel that people are supposed to act and be a certain way. It exacerbates something that probably lives deep down inside of you. It is unfortunate that we can be so divisive and unwelcoming of anyone that’s different. But intra- hatred within the community is no different than the intra-hatred in the human race. We fear what we don’t understand. If effeminate gay men were left alone all these centuries ago, and were treated like whole human Tituss and Ellie Kemper beings, the landscape of television would have ever done. It’s so unfortunate and it’s horrifying that it’s not so changed a very long time ago, and the sight of a gay far from the truth. And being in an election season — election man, whether he was “straight acting or effeminate,” years bring out racism like nothing else I’ve ever seen — they wouldn’t be shtick. And I think Tina Fey and Robert handled it with class. You were laughing before you realized, Carlock are tackling that and normalizing it so that now we can “Oh, shit, this is real.” This is something that is very topical and appreciate what Titus Andromedon, the human being, is expe- that unfortunately, you know, we are still living in a time where riencing in New York City, not what this black, gay, effeminate so many minorities are shunned and not allowed to be treated male is doing and how he’s sassing it up on the screen. with respect that we come into earth naturally having the right. MW: You’re a gay actor playing a gay character. Noah Galvin is a It’s unfortunate. gay actor playing a gay character on that great new sitcom, The MW: How do you feel about the election season right now? Real O’Neals. Hopefully this is a new trend, as in the past most of BURGESS: Oh, lord have mercy. the gay roles went to straight actors. MW: That’s one way to put it. BURGESS: I have to be honest with you, my friend. I don’t know BURGESS: Truly, lord have mercy. I am cautiously optimistic. why that’s interesting. I mean straight people play straight peo- I’m choosing to believe that there are more humans who are in ple all the time. I don’t think they find that interesting. What’s favor of justice and what is right for the world than there are interesting is playing an interesting character — who he sleeps humans who will promote candidates who will see to it that with it is the least of it. It’s about what he goes through in life rights are taken away. I’m choosing to believe that we will come — and Titus goes down some really crazy paths. That is what’s out going further in the direction that Obama tried to take us, interesting, not the fact that he likes to kiss boys. barring a Republican-run Congress. I’m choosing to believe that MW: Do you worry about typecasting? we’re going to come out of this having learned a very valuable BURGESS: No, not at all. I’m an actor. I can do anything. It hasn’t lesson and I hope it doesn’t take a president like Trump to snap been a problem yet. us out of it. MW: One of the most interesting episodes in the first season is the MW: What happens to this country if Trump becomes President? one in which Titus is dressed as a werewolf and finds that people BURGESS: Oh, god. Well, look at the kind of campaign he’s run- treat him better as a monster than as a black man. It’s a funny ning. So if that’s any indication, we’re gonna be in the shitter. episode, and yet it makes an incredibly powerful social statement.

LIEBOWITZ/NETFLIX BURGESS: It’s sad. It’s depressing. It’s one of the funniest, most Season 2 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt will stream exclusively

ERIC depressing episodes I think I’ve ever filmed of anything I’ve on Netflix starting Friday, April 15. Visit netflix.com. l

METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 19 Commitment QNetflixueer is dedicated to LGBT content — and that includes its original series By Rhuaridh Marr F EVER THERE’S ONE AREA WHERE NETFLIX can comfortably beat its more traditional TV-based competi- tors, it’s in the representation it gives to LGBT characters. AsI if it weren’t enough that the streaming giant’s catalogue is crammed with an array of LGBT films and television shows, both recent and classic, Netflix’s original content is also rife with characters that represent various aspects of the queer spectrum. From the outrageous, flamboyant Titus Andromedon in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, to the intense relationship between Piper and Alex in Orange Is the New Black, to the entire main cast of Sense8, Netflix and its creators have committed to an array of depictions of LGBT people, both comical and serious. We highlight nine series by Netflix that showcase LGBT characters.

Grace and Frankie — The series centers around Grace (Jane Fonda) and Frankie (Lily Tomlin), whose husbands abruptly announce that they are in love with one another, have been having an affair for 20 years, and are leaving the two women to start a life together. At the series’ core is the odd-couple relationship between Grace and Frankie, who ultimately end up sharing the same home as they come to terms with single life. While the focus is firmly on the two women, there are Sense8 numerous moments that will resonate with LGBT viewers, get close to him, whether that’s platonic or whether as Sol (Sam Waterston) and Robert (Martin Sheen) come out that’s sexual. And when he does, it’s not necessarily to their friends, families and former co-workers. A second a gender or preference, it really has to do with trust.” season premieres May 6. The show’s fourth season premiered earlier this year, with a fifth to air in 2017. Hemlock Grove — Netflix’s Emmy-nominated horror fantasy managed to survive for three seasons before it was quietly Jessica Jones — One of Netflix and Marvel’s col- put out to pasture, but we’re not sure of anyone who actually laborations, Jessica Jones follows the eponymous watched the 33 episodes produced (except, it seems, Emmy comic book character, a former superhero who opens voters). That said, the show didn’t shy away from R-rated a detective agency. Critics have applauded the show’s content, including flaying a lesbian werewolf-hunter from the approach to a variety of themes, not least sexuality. waist up in season one. She was then quietly suffocated by For her transition to the screen, one of Jones’ (Krysten Dr. Johann, who was repeatedly hinted to be gay. He was Ritter) allies was transformed — Jeri Hogarth (Carrie- also totally devoid of emotion and one of the Grove’s darkest Anne Moss) is an attorney who hires Jones for cases, characters, so not exactly boyfriend material. All three sea- but always depicted as male in the comics. Here, she sons remain available to stream. is female and a lesbian, with Jessica Jones’ first sea- son following the breakdown of her marriage due to House of Cards — The political thriller that D.C. residents an affair. Moss described her character to ComicBook. can’t get enough of, House of Cards isn’t short of gay char- com, saying she “goes after what she wants; she acters. However, it’s protagonist Frank Underwood (Kevin is kind of playing that male role, the mid-life kind of Spacey) who invites the most speculation and discussion. finding herself a little bit, making some decisions that Frank’s sexuality is never discussed in House of Cards, but are impacting her life based on greed, and status, and he’s known to have had sexual encounters with both men and sex.” Jessica Jones has been renewed for a second season. women. From a gay fling in college to flirtations with an author to a threesome with his wife and another man, Frank’s sexual- Master of None — Aziz Ansari’s comedy-drama was lauded ity is a constant source of questions. Indeed, the show’s third by critics when it debuted late last year, but it’s not just season is the only time he is explicitly shown having sex with the show itself that is noteworthy. The character of Denise wife Claire (Robin Underwood) — and only her. Showrunner was originally written as a white, straight woman who could Beau Willimon, however, is quick to refute questions about become a potential love interest for Dev (Ansari). Instead, sexuality. “People have asked me straight up, is Frank she became an African-American lesbian friend, all thanks Underwood bisexual? Is he gay?” he told Huffington Post to Lena Waithe. “I don’t think they ever intended her to be

last year. “I think he’s incredibly guarded with who he lets African-American. They definitely didn’t intend for her to be NETFLIX

20 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM gay,” she told Entertainment Weekly in November. “But when Aziz met me, he was like, ‘I like what I’m seeing and I want to make the character a little more like you.’ They were really cool and went back and rewrote the character to reflect more of my Netflix is dedicated to LGBT content — and that includes its original series By Rhuaridh Marr personality, which was amazing.” A second season of Master of None is expected to premiere in 2017.

Orange Is the New Black — Few shows have achieved the kind of cultural jug- gernaut status of Orange Is the New Black in recent years. Whenever a new season airs, it’s tough to escape the conversations, GIFs and articles depicting and dissecting the goings on at Litchfield Penitentiary. It certainly hasn’t hurt that the show has made lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters centrepieces of its narrative, giving each open, frank and engrossing stories. OITNB’s central hook is that of the relationship between Piper (Taylor Schilling) and Alex (Laura Prepon), with the latter being the cause for the Orange Is the New Black former to spend 15 months in prison after being convicted of drug smuggling. The show also hasn’t to one another’s senses, language skills and knowledge. The shied from its frank depictions of lesbian sex and main cast includes Nomi (Tina Desai), a trans woman who relationships in prison — including the fluid sexuali- lives in San Francisco with her girlfriend, and Lito (Miguel ties of those who are merely engaging in relation- Ángel Silvestre), a closeted actor in Mexico city who lives with ships until their release date. OITNB also gave the his boyfriend. The show has dealt with AIDS, gender identity, world Laverne Cox, whose portrayal of trans inmate sexuality and a number of other topics, but it was a reveal outside of the show that shed new light on its devotion to diversity: when a fan asked actor Brian Smith on Twitter whether his character Will was bisexual, he replied that “Lana [Wachowski] thinks all the characters are pansexual.” Here’s hoping that’s further explored in Sense8’s confirmed second season.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt — Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt may have been a star vehicle for Ellie Kemper, who plays the title character, but it’s in Tituss Burgess’ Titus Andromedon that the show truly thrives. Kimmy’s roommate, an aspiring Broadway performer, offers many of the series’ laughs during its first season, whether in his one-man performance of Lion King, a role as a Werewolf at a horror-themed restaurant, or recording his smash hit “Peeno Noir,” a song he tells his landlady is “an ode to black penis.” Titus gives us life as Kimmy’s source of inspiration and criticism over the first season, with a string of endlessly quotable quotes. “I envy you. I’ve never been able to meet me.” Never change, Titus. Season 2 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt premieres April 15.

Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp — When Grace and Frankie the original film debuted in 2001, it showcased the romance Sophia led to her becoming the first transgender actor to be between Ben (Bradley Cooper) and McKinley (Michael Ian nominated for an Emmy Award. A fourth season premieres Black), including a sexy scene in the summer camp’s supply on June 17, with three more seasons confirmed after that. shed. For Netflix’s prequel series, it was all about the build-up: the slow reveal of how the two characters started their bud- Sense8 — Sense8 hasn’t shied from dealing with sexuality ding relationship. We highly recommend watching the series and gender, but few shows have been quite as extensive and from start to finish, then going back and enjoying that shed sweeping in their commitment to covering such issues as scene again with a little extra emotional padding. Both the film Netflix’s sci-fi series. It follows eight individuals who sudden- and series are available to stream now — though no word on

NETFLIX ly become mentally and emotionally linked, gaining access if we’ll ever see more from Camp Firewood. l

METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 21 Compiled by Doug Rule APRIL 14 - 21, 2016 SPOTLIGHT

BLACK TO SILVER: A BLACK LGBT EXPERIENCE Now in its fourth year, Dissonance Dance Theatre presents this event examining the experiences and issues in the gay black community. This year’s focus is Sleep, a new multi- disciplinary show about the provoca- tive notion that many in the LGBT community are sleeping on, instead of striving for, personal growth and realizing their potential. A pursuit of vices — coupled with other factors, both sociocultural and psychological — hold back too many queer black people, according to contemporary cultural critic Bell Hooks, who con- trasts the situation with that of several historical fi gures: writer Joseph Beam, poet Essex Hemphill, and fi lmmaker/ poet Marlon Riggs. These queer art- ists/activists succeeded by work- ing against a natural inclination to

HUNTER CANNING “self-hate,” toward one of “self-love.” Saturday, April 16, at 8 p.m. The Jack Guidone Theater at Joy of Motion Dance Center, 5207 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Tickets are $18 in advance, or Seeing the Light $25 at the door. Call 202-362-3042 or The Neo-Futurists perform a greatest hits version of Too Much Light Makes visit ddtdc.org. CAROL BURNETT the Baby Go Blind at The Alden The female comedy pioneer and dynamic entertainer puts herself on FTER YOU’RE IN FOR SEVEN WEEKS, YOU’RE USUALLY READY FOR A BREAK,” SAYS the spot, taking questions from the Daniel McCoy. “But there have been epic runs. One time I did 14 weeks in a row. I don’t necessarily audience, just as she did in the intro to every episode of The Carol Burnett recommend more than like ten, because after that you just turn into a strange creature.” A Show. The focus of this “Laughter McCoy is veteran of the New York Neo-Futurists, sibling of the original Chicago group that recently and Refl ection” program will be paid a visit to Woolly Mammoth with its tour de force, Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. The show on Burnett’s performing career, is a mad, electrifying dash to perform 30 two-minute plays, in a random order, in exactly 60 minutes. A launched into superstardom by her unique theatrical experience, the plays are an often delightful-yet-strange brew of the absurd, profound, 1959 Tony-nominated role in Once satirical, hilarious, disquieting, even uncomfortable. And their fates are altered weekly by chance. Upon A Mattress. Friday, April 15, and “In New York, we perform every Friday and Saturday night,” explains McCoy. “At the end of each Saturday, April 16, at 8 p.m. The Music Center at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville show we ask an audience member to roll a six-sided die onto the stage. We add those 2 numbers up — it Pike, North Bethesda. Tickets are $65 can be 2 or 12 or anywhere in between — and at the end of the weekend that’s how many plays we cut to $175. Call 301-581-5100 or visit from our menu. We then write the ones for next week.” It can be a grueling schedule, but that’s why the strathmore.org. troupe remains large (New York has 20 rotating performers, six or seven of which take the stage at any given time) and rotational. CHARLES ROSS: There will be no roll of the die when the Neo-Futurists performs for one-night-only this Saturday, ONE MAN DARK KNIGHT April 16, at The Alden in McLean, Virginia. “You’re going to see plays that have had rotation in our show,” In recent years, Charles Ross has says McCoy, sort of like a “greatest hits.” He promises it will be “super fun.” offered irreverent, succinct paro- McCoy concedes the group has a liberal bent when it comes to politics, and that Donald Trump is a dies of popular science fi ction/fan- tasy franchises with One Man Star current favorite target. “We are theater artists within the New York arts community and that is technically Wars and One Man Lord of the Rings. liberal people,” he says, noting that “there’s a lot of queer people” in the company, McCoy among them. These CliffsNotes-esque theatrical “There’s a spectrum,” he says, “but it tends to be those who are more aligned with liberal progressive shows included plenty of pop cul- politics. That’s just a fact of who’s there and what we have to draw from. There honestly aren’t a large ture references and side-jokes that amount of conservative Republican people in the New York theater community.” —Randy Shulman helped broaden the appeal beyond their core fan bases. For his latest effort, the self-described super-nerd The New York Neo-Futurists perform T.M.L.M.T.B.G.B. on Saturday, April 16, at 8 p.m., at The Alden, in the McLean offers a parody of Christopher Nolan’s Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, Va. Tickets are $25. Call 703-790-0123 or visit mcleancenter.org. 2008 Batman blockbuster The Dark

22 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 23 Falls Church. Tickets are $20 per per- formance. Call 703-436-9948 or visit creativecauldron.org.

JEN KIRKMAN If you don’t remember Jen Kirkman from regular stints on Chelsea Lately or Comedy Central’s @midnight, maybe you caught her hilarious, inebriated narrations on Comedy Central’s Drunk History. Now you can catch the stand- up comic Entertainment Weekly essen- tially called the female Louis CK on Sixth and I, as part of combination standup/book reading tour to promote her latest memoir, I Know What I’m Doing and Other Lies I Tell Myself. Saturday, April 16, at 8 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.

LE1F 9:30 Club presents a return to U MURPHY Street Music Hall by the gay rapper with the hyperarticulate flow. Born Kristin Chenoweth & Andrew Lippa Khalif Diouf in Manhattan, Le1f MATTHEW was initially focused on becoming a dancer, but channels those roots into his music videos, such as recent hit “Wut.” Tedra Wilson, a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art, Choral Cause opens performing under her rap alias TT The Artist. Friday, April 15, at 7 Strathmore premieres a pair of choral works about two persecuted p.m. U Street Music Hall, 1115A U St. NW. Tickets are $15. Call 202- civil rights pioneers 588-1880 or visit ustreetmusichall. com. Also Saturday, April 16, at 9 p.m. OMPOSER ANDREW LIPPA WASN’T EXACTLY CONFIDENT ABOUT THE LONGEVITY Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market of I Am Harvey Milk, his one-hour choral work about the slain gay rights pioneer from San Place. Tickets are $20 day-of-show. Call 410-244-0057 or visit baltimore- Francisco. “My expectation was that we’d have seven productions of it, and it would be some- C soundstage.com. thing nice to publish and record,” he says. But the show — written in 2013 as a co-commission by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and MIKE TWITTY’S SOUL FOOD six other gay choruses — became a massive hit. “We’re heading into almost our 20th production,” the DINNER, DISCUSSION WITH composer of the Broadway musicals The Addams Family and Big Fish says with pride. TREY GRAHAM Next weekend, Strathmore will present a fully staged, World Premiere “concept opera,” tying the Well-revered culture critic Trey Milk piece with a new one-act companion, I Am Anne Hutchinson. Lippa views Hutchinson, banished Graham, best known from stints cov- from Massachusetts Bay in 1637 for speaking her mind about her religious beliefs, as a kind of progenitor ering performing arts at NPR and to Milk. “Her story is remarkably similar to Milk’s in the civil libertarian sense,” he says. “This woman the Washington City Paper, is now stood up for something she believed in even though she knew she was going to be persecuted for it.” examining culinary arts through a new dinner-focused discussion series, In Hutchinson isn’t widely known — Lippa first heard about her plight in a book about forgotten Good Company. This weekend at the American stories. He hopes to change that, and has enlisted his friend of 20 years, Kristin Chenoweth, new Slim’s Diner in Petworth, Graham for the cause. “I wrote this with her in mind,” he says. “It’s ideal for her to premiere it.” —Doug Rule will host a discussion about the origins and traditions of Southern soul-food, I Am Anne Hutchinson/I Am Harvey Milk is Saturday, April 23, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, April 24, at 4 p.m. Music as it pertains to the three-course meal Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $39 to $99. Call 301-581-5100 that D.C.-based food historian Michael or visit strathmore.org. Twitty, aka the Antebellum Chef, will prepare for the occasion. The food will be complemented by drink pair- ings concocted by sister bar Petworth Night, touted as “a one-hour comedic trum of genres: jazz to Latin, opera from throughout Central and Eastern Citizen. Ten percent of ticket proceeds joyride from Batman’s origins to his to klezmer. Presented in collaboration Europe and joined by the Tisza will go to City Blossom, a local non- epic battles against Gotham’s super- with the Folklore Society of Greater Ensemble and Orfeia Vocal Ensemble, profit focused on creating kid-centric villains.” Saturday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Washington, the series continues on Sunday, April 17, at 2 p.m.; D.C.- green spaces. Saturday, April 16, at 7 The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon with performances including: the Hot based rock/jazz/folk ensemble the p.m. Third Floor of Slim’s, 4200 9th St. Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $35. Call Club of Baltimore swing band accom- Dave Kline Band, on Sunday, April 17, NW. Tickets are $80.25, including the 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com. panied by vocalist Alexis Tantau and at 6 p.m.; local short opera company three-course meal and drink pairings. focused on French gypsy jazz songs, UrbanArias featuring soloists perform- Call 202-783-3933 or visit ingoodco. CREATIVE CAULDRON’S on Friday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m.; Juan ing the comedic Craigslist Cabaret on eventbrite.com. PASSPORT TO THE WORLD Cayrampoma of Andean/Latin fusion Friday, April 22, at 8 p.m.; and a clos- MUSIC SERIES group Raymi offers Peruvian music ing concert by D.C.-based jazz/samba NATIONAL SYMPHONY and dance from the Andean Scissors acoustic quartet Veronneau, led by fes- Virginia’s fledgling theater troupe ORCHESTRA WITH ANNE AKIKO Dancers, on Saturday, April 16, at tival co-curator Lynn Veronneau, on offers its sixth annual festival cele- MEYERS, MASON BATES 2 p.m.; folk band Shenandoah Run, Saturday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. Series brating the music and dance of cul- Anne Akiko Meyers, the top-selling on Saturday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m.; runs to April 23. Visit creativecauldron. tures around the world, with perfor- instrumentalist on Billboard’s 2014 Carpathia Folk Dance Ensemble, pre- org for more information. ArtSpace mances throughout much of April classical charts, joins the NSO for senting couple and line dance styles Falls Church, 410 South Maple Ave. in by artists representing a broad spec- the first performances of the ancient

24 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM animals-inspired violin concerto by “Space Oddity.” Saturday, April 23, Wittman’s musical, originally based HILARY HAHN Mason Bates, the Kennedy Center’s at 9:15 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 on John Waters’ classic film. Suzanne A Virginia native who got her start per- Composer-in-Residence. Hugh Wolff Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets Donahue directs, with choreogra- forming with the Baltimore Symphony conducts the NSO in the main sub- are $12 general admission. Call 301- phy by Brooke L. Howells-Weiser. Orchestra, this violinist has become scription program that also includes 495-6720 or visit afi.com/Silver. Weekends to April 24. Port Tobacco known as one of the most intense, Barber’s School for Scandal Overture Players, 508 Charles St., La Plata, Md. focused and adventurous artists of her and Ives’ Symphony No. 2. Thursday, Tickets are $15 to $18. Call 301-932- generation. Washington Performing April 14, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 6819 or visit ptplayers.com. Arts presents a concert as part of a 16, at 8 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert STAGE two-season project to premiere a set of Hall. Tickets are $15 to $89. Call 202- THE BOYS IN THE BAND new works for solo violin from Spanish 110 IN THE SHADE 467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org. Dominion Stage offers a produc- composer Anton Garcia Abril, commis- Marcia Milgrom Dodge directs and tion, led by Rosemary Hartman, of sioned by WPA. Tuesday, April 19, at 8 choreographs a new production of The NSO and Meyers will also per- Mart Crowley’s bitchfest, first staged p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 this old-fashioned musical, set dur- form Bates’ violin concerto as part in 1968. It provides a look at how Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. ing a sweltering Texas summer in the of a special “Declassified” program some gay men — particularly in New Tickets are $65 to $80. Call 301-581- mid-1950s and featuring a lively score on Friday, April 15, offering a deeper York’s Greenwich Village — inter- 5100 or visit strathmore.org. from the creators of The Fantasticks. dive into Bates’ avant-garde oeuvre. acted with one another at the time. The focus is on a self-proclaimed rain- Also known as DJ Masonic, Bates Closes Saturday, April 16. Gunston maker who promises to reverse for- HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE will bring his DJ equipment into the Theater Two, 2700 South Lang St. Traditional brass meets hip-hop and tunes in the drought-stricken town, Concert Hall to further sample from Arlington. Tickets are $15 to $20. Call funk in this Chicago group of eight to say nothing of its leading spinster, the electronic parts of his electro- 571-DS-SHOWS or visit dominion- brothers, all sons of jazz trumpeter played by Tracy Lynn Olivera. To May acoustic suite The B-Sides as well as stage.org. Kelan Phil Cohran. Also known 14. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. play the composition The Rise of Exotic as the Bad Boys of Jazz, and hav- Tickets are $28 to $69. Call 800-982- Computing. Alcoholic drinks in a sou- ing performed or recorded with 2787 or visit fordstheatre.org. THE LION IN WINTER venir cup will even be allowed into the Baltimore’s Vagabond Players offers an equally eclectic group of artists, Concert Hall for this later-night event this story of the battle for the royal including Erykah Badu, The B-52’s, CHRONICLE OF A DEATH that ends in a DJ-led dance party once crown from James Goldman. Steve Prince, Ghostface Killah, and Gorillaz, the NSO exits the stage. Friday, April FORETOLD Goldklang directs Eric C. Stein as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble are gearing 15, at 9 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novella is King Henry II and Cherie Weinert up for their Wolf Trap debut. Friday, Hall. Tickets are $39. Call 202-467- the source for another stage adapta- as his estranged Queen Eleanor of April 22, at 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf 4600 or visit kennedy-center.org. tion, though this time as a straight Aquitaine in this witty political Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets play, unlike the 1995 Tony-nominated drama. Weekends to May 5. Vagabond are $20 in advance, or $25 day-of musical. Jose Zayas directs GALA Theatre, 806 S. Broadway, Baltimore. show. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit FILM Theatre’s production of the tale about Tickets are $10 to $20. Call 410-563- wolftrap.org. a murderous mission of revenge by a 9135 or visit vagabondplayers.org. band of brothers in Colombia, adapt- JULIA BULLOCK BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT ed by Jorge Triana and performed As part of its 25th anniversary sea- Twelve years after Barbershop 2, Ice in Spanish with English surtitles. son, Vocal Arts DC presents a con- Cube and Cedric the Entertainer To May 8. GALA Theatre at Tivoli MUSIC cert by the rising star soprano, a 2014 return to save their south Chicago bar- Square, 3333 14th St. NW. Tickets are Juilliard alumna who has also drawn bershop from gang members roaming $20 to $42. Call 202-234-7174 or visit ENSEMBLE SCHUMANN attention for her work with the San the streets. Malcolm D. Lee — Spike’s galatheatre.org. Pianist Sally Pinkas, viola player Steve Francisco Symphony as well as debuts cousin — directs this third film in the Larson and oboist Thomas Gallant with the English National Opera and series, with a cast including Regina form this lively trio, which hardly lim- FALLING OUT OF TIME Madrid’s Teatro Real. Bullock will per- Hall, J.B. Smoove, Anthony Davis, its itself to the work of its namesake, Theater J presents an adaptation form selections by Faure, Wolf, Cage Common and Nicki Minaj. Opens the great German Romantic composer of acclaimed Israeli author David and Revel, with accompaniment by Friday, April 15. Area theaters. Visit Robert Schumann. For example, the Grossman’s 10-year-old novel about frequent collaborator, pianist Renate fandango.com. group, which has worked together enduring loss and accepting death. Rohlfing. Monday, April 18, at 7 p.m. since 2005, is preparing to release Derek Goldman adapted and directs Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. THE JUNGLE BOOK later this year its latest recording, the work, featuring Nora Achrati, Tickets are $50. Call 202-467-4600 or Disney continues to mine its animated an all-Mozart set with the Adaskin Edward Christian, Leo Erickson, visit kennedy-center.org. fare for more live action hits, this Nanna Ingvarsson, John Lescault, String Trio. Thursday, April 21, at time giving its beloved Jungle Book 7:30 p.m. The Mansion at Strathmore, Erika Rose, Michael Russotto, Rafael MARYLAND OPERA STUDIO the treatment. Good news: the ani- Untalan and Joseph Wycoff. Closes 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Nick Olcott directs a cast of aspir- mals still talk and “Bear Necessities” this Sunday, April 17. The Aaron and Tickets are $30. Call 301-581-5100 or ing opera stars from the University is still here. Jon Favreau directs and Cecile Goldman Theater, Washington, visit strathmore.org. of Maryland in a production of Marc Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba D.C.’s Jewish Community Center, Blitzstein’s Regina, based on Lillian and Lupita Nyong’o lend their voice- 1529 16th St. NW. Call 202-777-3210 ESPERANZA SPALDING Hellman’s The Little Foxes. Musical over talents to a film that looks to be or visit theaterj.org. The first jazz artist to win Best New force Leonard Bernstein deemed an utterly beautiful adaptation. Bad Artist at the Grammys, Esperanza Regina “the first great American opera” news: If it’s better than the animated Spalding continues to push against THE FLICK — yet its unusual demands on the act- version, our childhoods will be ruined. standard notions of genre boundaries. Annie Baker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning ing skills of the singers, and complex Opens Friday, April 15. Area theaters. The singing bassist’s latest release, comedy focuses on employees at an relationship between its music and Visit fandango.com. (Rhuaridh Marr) Emily’s D+Evolution, co-produced increasingly out-of-date movie the- spoken dialogue, has kept it from being by David Bowie’s right-hand-man ater struggling to find their place performed by either opera or theater ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE Tony Visconti, may be rooted in jazz, in the world. Starring Evan Casey, companies. Thursday, April 14, at 7:30 SPIDERS FROM MARS particularly of the avant-garde kind, Lara C. Harris, Thaddeus McCants p.m., and Saturday, April 16, at 7:30 As part of a special David Bowie but it draws from folk-rock, classi- and William Vaughan. Directed by p.m. Kay Theatre in the Clarice at Tribute, the American Film Institute’s cal, hip-hop and especially funk to Joe Calarco. Extended to April 24. the University of Maryland, University Silver Theatre has been presenting a weave a wild Prince-esque display Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Boulevard and Stadium Drive. College few of the movies featuring the Thin of musical eccentricity and dexter- Ave., Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or Park. Tickets are $25. Call 301-405- White Duke. The final film in the ity. Spalding brings the set to life in visit signature-theatre.org. ARTS or visit theclarice.umd.edu. series is, naturally, Ziggy Stardust and concert by incorporating an unprec- the Spiders from Mars, which captured edented level of stagecraft, movement the rock legend’s final electrifying per- and acting, with assistance from stage MASON BATES The Kennedy Center’s first Composer- formance in his Ziggy Stardust perso- COMMUNITY STAGE director and playwright Will Wiegler. in-Residence is integral to several con- na at London’s Hammersmith Odeon Tuesday, April 19. Doors at 7 p.m. 9:30 cert programs this month, including Theater. This 1973 film, directed by HAIRSPRAY Club, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $38. the National Symphony Orchestra’s D.A. Pennebaker, pulses with the raw Maryland’s Port Tobacco Players Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com. performances this weekend of his new energy of early glam rock, including offers a community stage produc- violin concerto. But farther afield is an the Bowie classics “Changes” and tion of Marc Shaiman and Scott

26 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 27 eccentric concert, part of Bates’s new $25 at the door. Call 202-544-5807 or and how they use the meat will help actor who is nominated for a Best KC Jukebox series titled “New Voices, visit cornerstorearts.org. determine the winner from the crowd Supporting Actor Helen Hayes Award Old Muses.” Donato Cabrera will con- and celebrated judges. The winner of for his work in last year’s Avenue Q duct the concert, which consists of SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY this regional event will then go on to at Constellation Theatre Company. mostly new or unusual works, includ- Washington Performing Arts presents compete in a national event in Aspen For the next event, he’ll be joined ing one of Bates’ own using electronic a return to the podium of Michael in June. The competition is preceded by Erin Granfield & Assassins, plus sounds, which Bates will manifest Tilson Thomas, a year after leading by two nights of limited-seat charity guests including Rachel Barlaam, Jen using DJ equipment. Also on the bill the New World Symphony, this time dinners: a Late Night Asian Speakeasy, Bevan, Tiziano D’Affuso and Meredith are vocal works by two leading lights in front of his signature ensemble. a family-style feast hosted by chef Richard. Tuesday, April 19, at 8 p.m. in new music: Donnacha Dennehy, Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Scott Drewno and the Source restau- Bistro Bistro, 1727 Connecticut Ave. whose That the Night Come is a song Sasha Cooke and rising opera tenor rant, on Friday, April 15; and a Chef’s NW. Tickets are $15, or $10 if you eat cycle on the poetry of W.B. Yeats, and Simon O’Neill join the San Francisco Course Dinner featuring chefs from dinner at the restaurant beforehand. Anna Clyne, whose As Sudden Shut Symphony to perform what Thomas’ Kapnos, the Source and Mandu and Call 202-328-1640 or visit latidodc. is a response to Emily Dickinson. A mentor Leonard Bernstein once called hosted by Mike Isabella, on Saturday, wix.com/latido. free after-party with cash bar will fol- Mahler’s greatest symphony, Das April 16. Cochon555 is Sunday, April low the performance in the standing- Lied von der Erde. The program also 17, starting at 4 p.m. Loews Madison MADE IN ARLINGTON POP-UP room-only Atrium. Monday, April 18, includes Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 in Hotel, 1177 15th St. NW. General SHOP at 8 p.m. Kennedy Center Atrium. B Minor. Saturday, April 16, at 4 p.m. admission tickets are $125, which This one-day pop-up is geared toward Tickets are $15 to $89 and include Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets includes samples and drink pairings. finding locally made gifts — beautiful, one complimentary drink voucher. are $55 to $120. Call 202-467-4600 or Visit cochon555.com for more details. wearable or edible items from innova- Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy- visit kennedy-center.org. tors and artisans, with a focus on things center.org. appropriate for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations, weddings and sum- RACHAEL SAGE ABOVE AND BEYOND mer celebrations. The showcase takes The bisexual, jazz/folk singing pianist FOOD place amid the local photo exhibit LA-TI-DO from New York creates sweet and Living Diversity at the Arlington Mill Regie Cabico and Don Mike bright poetic music, mostly ballads, in COCHON555 CULINARY CHARITY Community Center. Saturday, April Mendoza’s La-Ti-Do variety show a style that could be described as a soft- COMPETITION 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Arlington is neither karaoke nor cabaret. The er Sara Bareilles. And like Bareilles, Jonah Kim of Yona, Marjorie Meek- Mill Community Center Gallery, 909 show features higher-quality singing Sage is known as an engaging, come- Bradley of Ripple, Jennifer Carroll S. Dinwiddie St. Arlington. Call 703- than most karaoke, often from local dic performer in concert. The prolific, of Requin, Anthony Lombardo of the 228-1850 or visit facebook.com/arts. musical theater actors performing on independent artist returns to the area Hamilton, and host Louis Goral of arlington for more information. their night off. Cabico and co-host with her band the Sequins in pro- Rural Society will compete at this Mendoza also select storytellers who motion of Choreographic — her 12th regional competition, a fundraiser for offer spoken-word poetry and com- studio set in a career that is only in its the Piggy Bank, a new nonprofit pro- edy. Held at Bistro Bistro in Dupont 11th year. Saturday, April 16, at 8 p.m. moting the raising of heritage breed Circle, all La-Ti-Do events in April Corner Store Arts, 900 South Carolina pigs through creation of an open- feature Mikey Cafarelli, a local stage Ave. SE. Tickets are $20 in advance, or source platform for family farming. The five chefs will prepare up to six dishes from one locally raised hog,

28 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM MIRANDA SINGS SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHDAY ent of the 2016 Visionary Award. The of talking animals, evil disco queens Comedian Colleen Evans created the OPEN HOUSE festival runs Thursday, April 21, from and trans-men in tights.” Specifically, quirky, talentless and tuneless, nar- Jugglers and jesters join other the- 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, April 22, there’s the belly-dancing troupe Brinal cissistic character Miranda Sings in atrical performers and musicians in from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Band and the Aubergine Fairies, sing- 2008 as a satire of the aspiring but bad celebrating the bard’s big day, com- April 23, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., er-songwriter Crys Matthews, queer- performers everywhere who take to plete with cake. Celebrants can also and Sunday, April 24, at 11 a.m. to 5 core punk band Little Waist, come- the Internet in the hopes of a break- stroll around the building and the p.m. National Building Museum, 401 F dian Joyce Rebar and poet Tyler Vile. through. You know, like Justin Bieber. Elizabethan garden. Sunday, April St. NW. Daily admission is $20, or $17 Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April And Miranda Sings has been a break- 24, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Folger purchased online in advance; a two- 23, at 8 p.m. Baltimore Theatre Project, through for Evans, whose parody has Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol day pass is $30. Call 202-272-2448 or 45 West Preston St. Baltimore. Tickets surpassed 900 million views and six St. SE. Free. Call 202-544-7077 or visit visit nbm.org. are $15. Call 410-752-8558 or visit the- million subscribers on YouTube. It’s folger.edu. atreproject.org. even inspired tour after tour of Evans TEAM RAYCEEN: TASTY TUESDAY performing live — as both Sings and SMITHSONIAN CRAFT SHOW Rayceen Pendarvis offers a special THE NAKED MAGIC SHOW herself — to crowds around the world. Touted as the most prestigious juried event, another LGBT variety show Christopher Wayne and Mike Tyler (Next up: A Netflix show built on show and sale of American contempo- that comes in addition to the monthly are the magicians from Down Under, Sings’ signature line, Haters Back Off.) rary fine craft, this annual event fea- The Ask Rayceen Show. Curt Mariah who perform tricks in the buff. Billed The Kennedy Center is the latest stop tures 120 of the field’s leading artists co-hosts with Pendarvis this spe- as “the world’s naughtiest magic show” for her show blending comedy, music in the country. All facets of contempo- cial “Tasty Tuesday” event of live and an “R-rated spectacle,” the nudi- and magic tricks, as well as dramat- rary design and jewelry are represent- music, dance and burlesque featur- ty is not just a semantic sleight of ic readings of hate mail and never- ed, including wearable art, basketry, ing C. Paige, Starranko, Peace Jah, hand: While not full-frontal for the full before-seen videos. Saturday, April 23, furniture, glass, leather and mixed N3xt Dance Crew, Quineice, Chi the show, the performers do strip out of at 7 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert media. As befits its presenting organi- Energy, Queen Nefertittie, and special their clothes on stage and occasionally Hall. Tickets are $35 to $70. Call 202- zation and namesake, this show isn’t guest Pussy Noir. DJ Suspence will position themselves so that they can’t 467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org. strictly about sales, sales, sales but also provide the music. Tuesday, April 19, hide, baring all for the audience. The includes an educational focus. A Great from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Eighteenth Street Naked Magic Show was conceptualized NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM Collectors Series of lectures, free with Lounge, 1212 18th St. NW. Free. Call with Simon Painter, creator of well- FESTIVAL attendance, include: “The History of 202-505-4548 or visit facebook.com/ regarded magic show The Illusionists, Peak bloom of the cherry trees around Craft” by Lloyd Herman, founding TeamRayceen. so the magic should easily rival the the Tidal Basin has already come and director of the Renwick, on Friday, naked thrills. Thursday, April 21, at 8 gone, but the annual festival runs for April 22, at 1 p.m.; and Queer Eye THE CHARM CITY KITTY CLUB p.m. Modell Performing Arts Center another two weeks. Notable events for the Straight Guy designer Thom PRESENTS QUEER FAIRY TALES at the Lyric, 140 West Mount Royal still to come: A Festival Parade, Sakura Filicia in conversation with Home and The Charm City Kitty Club, a col- Ave. Baltimore. Tickets are $20 to $75. Matsuri Japanese Street Festival and Design magazine’s Sharon Jaffee Dan, lective designed to foster, showcase Call 410-547-SEAT or visit lyricopera- the art-and-nightlife event Cherry on Saturday, April 23, at 1 p.m. Also and celebrate creative expression house.com. Also Sunday, April 24, at 8 Blast on Saturday, April 16. Call 877- this year is a special installation of and social justice among LGBT indi- p.m. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 442-5666 or visit nationalcherrblos- 12 organic, exuberantly colored glass viduals and allies, presents a cabaret Tickets are $20 to $75. Call 202-328- l somfestival.org for more information. pieces by artist Dale Chihuly, recipi- titled “The Sisters Quimm,” featuring 6000 or visit thelincolndc.com. what it bills as “a magical land full

METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 29 stage

Reality Check

had any language stronger than “Oh, Man!” Put simply, they All The Way has hints of the were the kind of fare your average high school teacher would approve of. after-school special, while Well, if you can imagine an after school special for grown- ups, one a well-lubricated educator might appreciate after a hard day teaching civics to a bunch of gum-chewing students, The Nether is a timely, then you’ll have the vibe of Robert Schenkkan’s All the Way (HHHHH). edgy examination of It is essentially a soup-to-nuts treatment of the year in which Lyndon Baines Johnson became president upon John virtual reality F. Kennedy’s assassination — and then campaigned for, if not re-election, election on his own merits. The meat of the drama revolves around LBJ’s machinations to get Civil Rights legisla- by KATE WINGFIELD tion passed, in order to pull votes from the African-American community and white liberals. HOSEENTIENT S IN THE EARLY 1970S WILL Like anything in politics, it’s a complex issue. And because likely remember ABC’s “after school specials,” a Schenkkan is — to put it mildly — eager to make sure that series of late-afternoon mini-movies for teens that numerous notable politicians of the day make an appearance BAROUH dealt with the socially relevant topics of the day. and offer comment on the proceedings, there is a lot of exposi-

T STAN They were tame, always carried a positive moral spin, and never tory from the ensemble. It may set the stage for all the opposing

30 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM factions, describe the political and social mores of the day, and vent acts in the real world — can that be quantified or valued? move the drama, but it does bring on that mood of the after- Quite amazingly, Haley never lets her characters or sug- school special. gestions becoming preachy or moralizing. Even more extraor- Despite this slightly educational tone, Schenkkan’s real goal dinary is her skill in handling the hypotheticals. Although it is delivering LBJ, the man. And that he does. Thrashing his way couldn’t be edgier, she engages with such fine restraint and through the parade of notables is a living, breathing, swearing clear vision, it succeeds in capturing the issues and questions ball-buster, who terrifies and charms in equal measures — often at their most vital juncture. This is huge, skillful and incredibly at the same time. It’s an interesting contrast with the surround- rare. Some will find it hard to endure, but Haley is a playwright ing panoply of thinner characters — and one that actually works to trust. — even if one can’t help but wish that Schenkkan had opted to There is, by necessity, a certain artifice here and the chal- pump more nuance into fewer characters. lenge for the players is to deliver enough realism to compel and Pulling off this duality can’t be easy. Director Kyle Donnelly connect. Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey as Detective Morris does uses bold pacing and tight rhythm to move the freight, but all a superb job of driving the imperative and offering a quietly must be driven by LBJ. Too over-the-top and he will be noth- convincing introspection. As Sims/Papa, Edward Gero is appro- ing but caricature, too underplayed and he will clash with the priately commanding and ambiguous, though he at times feels a revolving cast of potted personalities. tad too actorly in the interrogation room. In the role of witness Suffice to say, Jack Willis gets it exactly right. He is indomi- Doyle, Paul Vincent O’Connor is fascinating and nuanced. Maya table, larger-than-life, and incredibly funny. But it is not just Brettell is hauntingly memorable as Iris and Tim Getman is writ large, it is also a performance brimming with fascinating believable in his awkward avatar Woodnut. nuance. Willis digs into this man and finds his inner fire and The timing of The Nether couldn’t be better. The Internet deepest secrets. His achievement in carrying the piece cannot — with its morally unbounded landscape — is already deeply be underestimated: without his extraordinary portrayal of the embedded in our lives and psyches. This play raises questions man at the center of this maelstrom, this play would have far too that will only become of greater importance. l many moving parts. Unfortunately, there isn’t much scope for many of the All The Way runs to May 8 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth Street SW, other players to develop their (multiple) characters. Cameron Washington. Tickets are $50 to $110. Call 202-488-3300 or visit Folmar gives his George Wallace some convincing swagger and arenastage.org. Bowman Wright’s Martin Luther King, Jr., is played with an effectively intense realism. As Lady Bird Johnson, Susan Rome The Nether runs to May 1 at Woolly Mammoth, 641 D Street, NW has a certain self-consciousness — rather like Lady Bird playing Washington. Tickets are $20 $78. Call 202-289-2443 or visit wool- herself — but she makes a convincing and memorable connec- lymammoth.net. tion with her husband. Shannon Dorsey as Coretta Scott King and others, brings compelling clarity to all her roles. Although Schenkkan can’t resist the current toe-curling trend to show women in history as all having been behind-the-scenes power brokers, thankfully the play is just too busy with events to push the issue. Thus, this play is almost as complex as the subject matter it takes on, but Willis makes it all worthwhile. And Schenkkan does provide one lesson on which every civic and history teacher can agree: this country’s politics are, and have always been, far more convoluted than today’s soundbites would have us believe.

FAST FORDWARD TO Jennifer Haley’s The Nether (HHHHH) and it’s not the moral ambiguities of the politi- cal world, but rather the virtual. In this not-so-distant future, an investigation is underway of some terrible crimes. The detective in charge has pulled in her prime suspect, a mysterious man she calls Sims, aka Papa. In this new age, the Internet has evolved into the Nether, a fully-immersive sensory experience, and Papa runs a “realm” called The Hideaway. Much like a chat room, people frequent The Hideaway as avatars. Papa appears as himself in his realm, serving, quite literally, as host and moderator. As the interrogation unfolds, partly as discussion, partly in flashback, it becomes clear that the “crimes” have occurred in Papa’s realm. This leads to a number of fascinating questions over which the characters spar: should there be moral culpabili- ty for “acts” committed in a virtual world? Do acts in the virtual world change who we are in the real world — albeit invisibly? What if acts in the virtual world trigger acts in the real world — is there culpability? And what if acts in the virtual world pre-

METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 31 health ANNA HOYCHUK Juice Up

Four juicing combos that pack keep you happy and healthy throughout the day. EVERGREEN A pretty self explanatory drink: everything in it is green! Perfect a healthy punch for starting your day, its combination of fruits and veggies pack an energetic punch, help with infl ammation and digestion, and by BUCKY MITCHELL serve as an antioxidant for the heart and detoxifi er for the liver. For an added kick, add a small chunk of ginger: It’s guaranteed UICING IS A FANTASTIC WAY TO GET A to wake you up! healthy dose of the plant-based nutrients and min- erals we need. It’s also ideal for jump-starting your • 2 cups of kale/spinach J morning routine, or replenishing energy after a long • 1 cup of cucumber/celery workout. Whether you’re new to juicing, or looking for some • 1 small bunch of parsley new recipes to try, here are some surefi re combinations that will • 1 green apple

32 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM PICK-ME-UP HAPPY HANGOVER Starting to feel a slow and sluggish in the middle of day? Try Gotten a little too merry at happy hour? Let last night’s wine be this juice for a much-needed boost. The beets will keep you alert your cure the next day. Potassium-rich grapes help replenish and awake, as they help increase the blood flow to the brain. electrolytes, while the diuretic quality of the melon will flush out Meanwhile, the heat of jalapeno will kick your metabolism into toxins. Finally, the celery will help that nasty headache to go away. gear and keep you running circles around your co-workers. • 1 cup of cantaloupe • 2 cups of beets • 3 cups of spinach • 1 cup of pineapple • 1 cup of red grapes • 1 lemon • 1 cup of celery • 1 small jalapeno (seeded)

SWEET RECOVERY Sweet potatoes may not sound like a good base for any juice, but they provide a wonderful creamy texture when mixed with oranges and car- rots. Notice the theme here is orange: That’s because these orange foods are high in potas- sium, which allows your body to replenish electrolytes lost during a workout or a long day at the office.

• 2 cups of sweet potatoes • 1 peeled orange • 2 small carrots MONTICELLO

METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 33 gears

Driverless and Clueless

and ignore safety for the sake of that next hit of adrenaline. The Consumer Watchdog are fighting Google’s anonymous Tesla owner in that video from last year was proof that, when given something powerful that’s intended for our self-driving car plans, because computers safety, we’ll find a way to be moronic. The man’s actions were so foolhardy that Tesla’s CEO prom- are fickle and humans are dumb ised immediate retribution. In response to the video and others of drivers doing similarly stupid things with the company’s Autopilot system, Tesla issued an update that required the by RHUARIDH MARR driver’s hands to always be on the wheel in order for the car to navigate by itself. OU’VE LIKELY SEEN THE FOOTAGE. A DUTCH “There have been some fairly crazy videos on YouTube...this man is driving his Tesla Model S on the highway, is not good,” Musk said late last year. “We will be putting some except he’s not in the driver’s seat — he’s in the additional constraints on when Autopilot can be activated, to Y back. At 51 mph, the car is navigating by itself, using minimize the possibility of people doing crazy things with it.” intelligent software and hardware to keep within the lines and Of course, the likelihood of a crash was minimal. Autonomous away from other vehicles, all while the driver is at least ten sec- systems and other such intelligent safety features have been onds from being able to retake control in the event of an emer- proven to reduce accidents by reacting far faster than a human gency. To call it foolish is a mild understatement. driver can, by stamping on the brakes or swerving to avoid acci- Human beings have a problem: we are, by and large, a spe- dents. This last week, an American driver shared footage of his cies of idiots. We constantly push boundaries, test extremes, Model S swerving to avoid a truck that had erroneously pulled

34 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM tions in which its cars can’t cur- rently cope, and how the NHTSA will deal with that; what Google plans to do if the computer “goes offline” and the passenger has no wheel or pedals to manipulate; whether Google plans to release its algorithms, including whether a robot driver would prioritize the vehicle’s occupants or pedes- trians in an accident; and how Google will prove that its driver- less cars are safer than today’s vehicles. “NHTSA officials have repeat- edly said safety is the agency’s top priority,” Simpson continued. “You must not allow your judg- ment to be swayed by rosy, self- into his lane — neither the truck driver nor Model S driver had serving statements from companies like Google about the capa- seen the other vehicle, but the Tesla sensed the impending crash bilities of their self-driving robot cars.” and acted to avoid it. For the NHTSA, which has promised to “develop guidance on It’s why Google’s vision for the future of cars is one where the the safe deployment and operation of autonomous vehicles” by driver isn’t required at all. Unlike people, computers can’t drink the middle of this year, dealing with Google’s request is a matter and drive, don’t get tired, and can react at speeds far beyond of urgency: there are already driverless systems out there, but no those of the average Joe. Volvo is getting in on the action, too, regulations in place to deal with them. The NHTSA’s concern, with expectations that their autonomous vehicles will be on according to AP, is that “people are just going to keep putting American streets by 2020. Most major manufacturers are work- stuff out on the road with no guidance on how do we do this the ing on some degree of autonomy for their vehicles, be it simple right way.” accident avoidance systems that can detect crashes before they And how we keep idiots from climbing into the backseat at happen, or fully integrated systems that can take control of a 50 mph. l vehicle on the highway or in stop-start traffic. It’s why Google is now pressuring the government to catch up with the speed of development, and work to implement new rules governing the testing of driverless cars. But there’s one group that isn’t happy with Google’s plans: Consumer Watchdog has lobbied a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, asking it to halt any fast-track plans it may have and implement several restrictions that it maintains are vital to ensuring safety for road users. The crux of Consumer Watchdog’s complaint lies in Google’s own data. In 15 months of testing, with over 400,000 miles driven by autonomous vehicles, the internet search giant reported that the systems in its vehicles failed 272 times. In addition, human drivers felt the need to physically intervene a further 69 times. Likely not helping matters is a video from last month showing one of Google’s Lexus RX self-driving test cars sideswipe a bus at low speeds — the first such time any of its cars had been involved in an accident, Google claimed. For Consumer Watchdog, once was clearly enough, and they’re demanding that any laws writ- ten require a driver be behind the wheel — and have a wheel to actually grab, something Google’s self-built prototypes lack. “What the disengagement reports show is that there are many everyday routine traffic situations with which the self-driv- ing robot cars simply can’t cope,” says Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project Director John M. Simpson. “It’s imperative that a human be behind the wheel capable of taking control when necessary. Self-driving robot cars simply aren’t ready to safely manage too many routine traffic situations without human inter- vention.” The organization has put ten questions to the NHTSA in an effort to force a decision against Google’s fast-tracking. They include: whether Google will publish a list of the situa-

METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 35

NIGHT LIFE LISTINGS

THURS., 04.14.16

9 1/2 Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • Multiple TVs showing movies, shows, sports • Expanded craft beer selection • Music videos featuring DJ Wess

COBALT/30 DEGREES Happy Hour: $6 Call Martini, $3 Miller Lite, $4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm • $3 Rail Drinks, 10pm- midnight, $5 Red Bull, Gatorade and Frozen Virgin Drinks • Locker Room Thursday Nights • DJs Sean Morris and MadScience • Best Package Contest at mid- night, hosted by Ba’Naka • $200 Cash Prize • Doors open 10pm, 18+ • $5 Cover under 21 and free with college ID

DC9 1940 9th St. NW Happy Hour, 5-8pm • dcnine.com

DC EAGLE Doors open at 5pm • Happy Hour, 5-8pm • $2 Bud and Bud Light Draughts, $3 Domestic Bottles, $4 Rail and Import Bottle Beer, $6 Call • Men with shirts off during Happy Hour drink free rail and domestic • DJ Switch spins on the main floor, 9pm • Men in jockstraps and underwear drink free rail and domestic, 10pm- midnight • Highwaymen TNT on Club Bar, 10pm- 1am — $2 Draughts and jello shots • Hot Jock Contest at 11:30pm • $100 in cash and prizes • No Cover • 21+

FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Karaoke, 8pm t

METROWEEKLY.COM 37 38 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM scene

JR.’s Sunday, April 10

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Photography by Ward Morrison

t GREEN LANTERN Beer, $6 Imports • Domestic, $21 Call & all night long • SIREN: Riley Knoxx and Ba’Naka Cover • Music videos Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $12 cover • For Table Imports, 6-9pm • Guys Robyn Riot 6, 10pm-close • DJ Wess upstairs, DJs featuring various DJs Ladies Drink Free Power Reservations, 202-487- Night Out • Free Rail • Featuring DJ MAJR • BacK2bACk downstairs • Hour, 4-5pm • Shirtless 6646 • rockharddc.com Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6 No Cover GoGo Boys after 11pm • COBALT/30 DEGREES Thursday, 10-11pm • DJs Belvedere Vodka Drinks all Doors open at 10pm • For Drag Yourself to Brunch at BacK2bACk TRADE night • DJ MadScience JR.’S those 21 and over, $10 • Level One, 11am-2pm and 1410 14th St. NW upstairs • DJ Keenan Orr Happy Hour: 2-for-1, For those 18-20, $15 • 18+ 2-4pm • Featuring Kristina JR.’S Doors open 5pm • Huge downstairs • $10 cover 4-9pm • $2 Skyy Highballs Kelly and the Ladies of All You Can Drink for $15, Happy Hour: Any drink 10pm-1am, $5 after 1am and $2 Drafts, 10pm- TRADE Illusion • Bottomless 5-8pm • $3 Rail Vodka normally served in a cock- • 21+ midnight • Retro Friday • 1410 14th St. NW Mimosas and Bloody Highballs, $2 JR.’s drafts, tail glass served in a huge $5 Coronas, $8 Vodka Red Doors open 5pm • Huge Marys • Happy Hour: $3 8pm-close • Throwback glass for the same price, DC9 Bulls, 9pm-close Happy Hour: Any drink Miller Lite, $4 Rail, $5 Thursday featuring rock/ 5-10pm • Beer and wine 1940 9th St. NW normally served in a cock- Call, 4-9pm • LURe Ladies pop retro hits only $4 Happy Hour, 5-8pm • NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR tail glass served in a huge Night, 10pm-close • Doors dcnine.com DJ Matt Bailer • Videos, glass for the same price, open 10pm • $7 cover NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS Dancing • Beat the Clock 5-10pm • Beer and wine before midnight, $10 cover Beat the Clock Happy Hour All male, nude dancers • DC EAGLE Happy Hour — $2 (5-6pm), only $4 after • 21+ — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), Shirtless Thursday • DJ • Doors open at 5pm • $3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm) • $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of 9pm • Cover 21+ Happy Hour, 5-8pm • Buckets of Beer $15 ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS DC9 Beer $15 • Drag Bingo $2 Bud and Bud Light All male, nude dancers, 1940 9th St. NW Draughts, $3 Domestic NUMBER NINE hosted by LaTroya Nicole Happy Hour, 4-6pm • NUMBER NINE FRI., 04.15.16 Bottles, $4 Rail and Import Open 5pm • Happy Hour: • Ladies of Ziegfeld’s, dcnine.com Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Bottle Beer, $6 Call • 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm 9pm • Rotating Hosts • drink, 5-9pm • No Cover 9 1/2 Fetish Friday: Tax Relief • No Cover DJ in Secrets • VJ Tre in DC EAGLE Open at 5pm • Happy — men with chained wal- Ziegfeld’s • Cover 21+ Doors open at 8pm • THROBBING Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, lets drink free, 8-10pm • TOWN Happy Hour, 8-10pm • THURSDAYS 5-9pm • Friday Night No Cover • 21+ DC Bear Crue Happy $2 Bud and Bud Light @THE HOUSE Videos with resident DJ Hour, 6-11pm • $3 Rail, SAT., 04.16.16 Draughts, $3 Domestic NIGHTCLUB Shea Van Horn • VJ • FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR $3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles Bottles, $4 Rail and Import 3530 Georgia Ave. NW Expanded craft beer selec- Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • • Free Pizza, 7pm • No 9 1/2 Bottle Beer, $6 Call • Diverse group of all male, tion • No Cover Karaoke, 8pm cover before 9:30pm • Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Onyx on Club Bar, 10pm- all nude dancers • Doors 21+ • Drag Show starts at drink, 3-9pm • $5 Absolut 2am — $2 Draughts and open 9pm • Shows all COBALT/30 DEGREES GREEN LANTERN 10:30pm • Hosted by Lena & Tito’s, $3 Miller Lite jello shots • Men in club night until close, starting All You Can Drink Happy Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Lett and featuring Miss after 9pm • Expanded colors get $2 off across at 9pm • $5 Domestic Hour • $15 Rail and $5 Smirnoff, all flavors, Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee, craft beer selection • No the board • No Cover • 21+

METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 39 FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR TOWN ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS Drag Queen Broadway DC Rawhides host Town Men of Secrets, 9pm • Brunch, 10am-3pm & Country: Two-Step, Line Guest dancers • Ladies • Starring Freddie’s Dancing, Waltz and West of Illusion with host Ella Broadway Babes • Crazy Coast Swing, $5 Cover Fitzgerald • Doors at 9 Hour, 4-7pm • Freddie’s to stay all night • Doors p.m., first show at 11:30 Follies Drag Show, open 6:45pm, Lessons p.m. % DJs • Doors open 8-10pm, hosted by Miss 7-8pm, Open dance 8pm • Cover 21+ Destiny B. Childs • No 8-10:30pm • DJ Wess Cover spins all night • RDAX of RuPaul’s Drag Race per- SUN., 04.17.16 GREEN LANTERN forms in the Drag Show • Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5 DAX Meet and Greet, 9pm 9 1/2 Bacardi, all flavors, all • $20 Cover for Meet and Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any night long • 495 Bears Greet • Tickets available drink, 3-9pm • Multiple presents Bears Can Party, online at Flavorus.com TVs showing movies, 9pm-close • No Cover • Drag Show starts at shows, sports • Expanded 10:30pm • Hosted by Lena craft beer selection • No JR.’S Lett and featuring Miss Cover $4 Coors, $5 Vodka Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee, Highballs, $7 Vodka Red Riley Knoxx and Ba’Naka COBALT/30 DEGREES Bulls • For general admission, $4 Stoli, Stoli flavors doors open 10pm • $12 and Miller Lite all day NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Cover • 21+ • Homowood Karaoke, Guest DJs • Zing Zang hosted by Robert Bise, Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer, TRADE 10pm-close • 21+ House Rail Drinks and 1410 14th St. NW Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm • Doors open 2pm • Huge DC9 Buckets of Beer, $15 Happy Hour: Any drink 1940 9th St. NW normally served in a cock- Happy Hour, 2-6pm • NUMBER NINE tail glass served in a huge dcnine.com Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any glass for the same price, drink, 3-9pm • No Cover 2-10pm • Beer and wine DC EAGLE only $4 Doors open at 12pm • $2 Bud and Bud Light

40 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM Draughts, $3 Domestic Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS DC9 NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Wines, $4 Stolichnaya Bottles, $4 Rail and Import Beer and Mimosas, $4, All male, nude dancers • 1940 9th St. NW Beat the Clock Happy Hour Cocktails, $4 Manhattans Bottle Beer, $6 Call • 11am-close • Buckets of Decades of Dance • DJ Happy Hour, 5-8pm • — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), and Vodka Martinis Highwaymen TNT host Beer, $15 Tim-e in Secrets • Doors dcnine.com $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Sunday Buffet, 2-7pm — 9pm • Cover 21+ Beer $15 • Texas Hold’em COBALT/30 DEGREES “Like” on Facebook for NUMBER NINE DC EAGLE Poker, 8pm • Dart Boards DJ Honey Happy Hour: menu options • $2 Bud Pop Goes the World with Doors open at 5pm • $2 Rail, $3 Miller Lite, $5 and Bud Light Draughts all Wes Della Volla at 9:30pm MON., 04.18.16 Happy Hour, 5-8pm • NUMBER NINE Call, 4-9pm • Stand-up day and night • No Cover • Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on $1 Bud and Bud Light Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Comedy Show, 7:30pm • • 21+ any drink, 3-9pm • No 9 1/2 Draughts • Free Pool all drink, 5-9pm • No Cover SIN Service Industry Night, Cover Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any day and night • Men in 10pm-close • $1 Rail FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR drink, 5-9pm • Multiple DC Eagle T-Shirts get TRADE Drinks all night Champagne Brunch Buffet, ROCK HARD SUNDAYS TVs showing movies, Happy Hour, 8pm-close 1410 14th St. NW 10am-3pm • Crazy Hour, @THE HOUSE shows, sports • Expanded • $2 Bud and Bud Light Doors open 5pm • Huge DC9 4-7pm • Karaoke, 8pm- NIGHTCLUB craft beer selection • No Draughts, $3 Domestic Happy Hour: Any drink 1940 9th St. NW 1am 3530 Georgia Ave. NW Cover Bottles, $4 Rail and Import normally served in a cock- Happy Hour, 5-8pm • Diverse group of all male, Bottle Beer, $6 Call • No tail glass served in a huge dcnine.com GREEN LANTERN all nude dancers • Doors ANNIE’S Cover • 21+ glass for the same price, Happy Hour, 4-9pm • open 9pm • Shows all 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • 5-10pm • Beer and wine FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Mama’s Trailer Park night until close, starting $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR only $4 Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Karaoke downstairs, at 9pm • $5 Domestic Artois, $4 House Wines, Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Karaoke, 8pm 9:30pm-close Beer, $6 Imports • $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, Karaoke, 8pm $12 cover • For Table $4 Manhattans and Vodka TUES., 04.19.16 GREEN LANTERN JR.’S Reservations, 202-487- Martinis GREEN LANTERN Happy Hour all night long, Sunday Funday • Liquid 6646 • rockharddc.com Happy Hour all night long 9 1/2 4pm-close Brunch • Doors open at COBALT/30 DEGREES • Puppy-Oke: Open Mic Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any 1pm • $2 Coors Lights and TRADE Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 Night Karaoke, 9:30pm- drink, 5-9pm • Multiple JR.’S $3 Skyy (all flavors), all 1410 14th St. NW Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm close TVs showing movies, Birdie La Cage Show, day and night Doors open 2pm • Huge • Monday Night’s A Drag, shows, sports • Expanded 10:30pm • Underground Happy Hour: Any drink hosted by Kristina Kelly JR.’S craft beer selection • No (Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock), NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR normally served in a cock- • Doors open at 10pm • Happy Hour: 2-for-1, Cover 9pm-close • DJ Wes Drag Brunch, hosted by tail glass served in a huge $3 Skyy Cocktails, $8 Skyy 4-9pm • Showtunes Songs Della Volla • 2-for-1, 5pm- Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am- glass for the same price, and Red Bull • $8 Long & Singalongs, 9pm-close ANNIE’S midnight 3pm • $20 Brunch Buffet 2-10pm • Beer and wine Islands • No Cover, 18+ • DJ James • $3 Draft 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • • House Rail Drinks, Zing only $4 Pints, 8pm-midnight $4 Stella Artois, $4 House

METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 41 NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR COBALT/30 DEGREES $4 Vodka ($2 with College Beat the Clock Happy Hour Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 ID or JR.’s Team Shirt) — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of • Wednesday Night NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Beer $15 • Karaoke and Karaoke, hosted by Miss SmartAss Trivia Night, Drag Bingo India Larelle Houston, 8pm and 9pm • Prizes 10pm-2am • $4 Stoli and include bar tabs and tick- NUMBER NINE Stoli Flavors and Miller ets to shows at the 9:30 Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Lite all night • No Cover Club • $15 Buckets of drink, 5-9pm • No Cover • • 21+ Beer for SmartAss Teams Safe Word: A Gay Spelling only • Bring a new team Bee, 8-11pm • Prizes to DC9 members and each get a the top three spellers • 1940 9th St. NW free $10 Dinner After 9pm, $3 Absolut, Happy Hour, 5-8pm • Bulleit & Stella dcnine.com NUMBER NINE Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any TRADE FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR drink, 5-9pm • No Cover 1410 14th St. NW Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • $6 Doors open 5pm • Huge Burgers • Drag Bingo TRADE Happy Hour: Any drink Night, hosted by Ms. 1410 14th St. NW normally served in a cock- Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm Doors open 5pm • Huge tail glass served in a huge • Bingo prizes • Karaoke, Happy Hour: Any drink glass for the same price, 10pm-1am normally served in a cock- 5-10pm • Beer and wine tail glass served in a huge only $4 GREEN LANTERN glass for the same price, Happy Hour all night long, 5-10pm • Beer and wine 4pm-close only $4 WED., 04.20.16 JR.’S ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS 9 1/2 Buy 1, Get 1 Free, 4-9pm All male, nude dancers • Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any • Trivia with MC Jay Ray, Shirtless Night, 10-11pm, drink, 5-9pm • Multiple 8pm • The Feud: Drag 12-12:30am • Military TVs showing movies, Trivia, hosted by Ba’Naka, Night, no cover with shows, sports • Expanded 10-11pm, with a $200 military ID • DJ Don T. in craft beer selection • No prize • $2 JR.’s Drafts and Secrets • 9pm • Cover Cover 21+ l

42 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE 43 scene

The Fireplace Saturday, April 9

scan this tag with your smartphone for bonus scene pics online!

Photography by Ward Morrison

44 SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 45 “I find it incomprehensible that LGBT citizens are being discriminated against in the state of Mississippi.” —BRYAN ADAMS, in a Facebook post announcing that he will be pulling out of a show in Biloxi, Mississippi, to “stand in solidarity with all my LGBT friends to repeal this extremely discriminatory bill.”

“A nation embracing sin and bowing at the feet of godless secularism and political correctness is not progress.” —FRANKLIN GRAHAM, in a Twitter rant after Bruce Springsteen announced he would be pulling out of a show in North Carolina in protest over a recently passed anti-LGBT law. “Bruce @Springsteen, a long-time gay rights activist, has cancelled his North Carolina concert. @Springsteen says #HB2 is going ‘backwards instead of forwards.’ To be honest, we need to go back! Back to God. Back to common sense,” Graham also tweeted.

“There is a great deal of misinformation, misinterpretation, confusion a lot of passion and frankly, selective outrage and hypocrisy, especially against the great state of North Carolina.” —GOVERNOR PAT MCCRORY, announcing an executive order which amends North Carolina’s recent anti-LGBT law HB2. It slightly alters a part of the law which demands that transgender people use the bathroom of their birth gender, now allowing schools and government buildings to provide “reasonable accommodations” for those affected. Lambda Legal called the order a “band-aid.”

“Joel is vehemently opposed to HB 2 and knows there are many in Durham...that share the feeling.” —JOEL MCHALE’s representative, in a statement, after it was revealed the actor had donated proceeds of a show in North Carolina to the LGBTQ Center of Durham. According to attendees, he called HB 2 “fucking crazy” during his act.

“It is inconceivable to force someone to go to a country where they are condemned for being who they are.”

—An excerpt from a petition by an AIR FRANCE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, which demands that the company give gay cabin crew the right to refuse to fly a new route to Iran. Female staff are granted an exemption on the route, but gay members of staff are urging the company to “grant gay crew members the right to refuse to go to a country where they could be killed for who they are.”

46 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM