2 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 3 EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Randy Shulman DECEMBER 3, 2015 ART DIRECTOR Volume 22 / Issue 31 Todd Franson

MANAGING EDITOR Rhuaridh Marr

SENIOR EDITOR NEWS 6 Money Talks John Riley by John Riley CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Doug Rule 8 Separate and Unequal by John Riley SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim SCENE 11 NGLCC’s National Dinner CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR photography by Ward Morrison Scott G. Brooks

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 12 Community Calendar Gordon Ashenhurst, Sean Bugg, Connor J. Hogan, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield

WEBMASTER David Uy FEATURES 17 Douglas Sills Interview by Doug Rule PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Julian Vankim 22 Reopening of the Renwick by Connor J. Hogan SALES & MARKETING

PUBLISHER Randy Shulman OUT ON THE TOWN 26 Cheryl Wheeler BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETING Christopher Cunetto by Tim Rosenberger Cunetto Creative 28 The China National NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media Co. Traditional Orchestra 212-242-6863 by Doug Rule

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER STAGE 33 Kiss Me, Kate Dennis Havrilla by Kate Wingfield

MUSIC 34 Kylie Christmas PATRON SAINT Howard Keel by Gordon Ashenhurst

GAMES 36 Star Wars: Battlefront by Rhuaridh Marr COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Julian Vankim

NIGHTLIFE 39 Number Nine photography by Ward Morrison METRO WEEKLY 1425 K St. NW, Suite 350 Washington, DC 20005 202-638-6830 46 Last Word MetroWeekly.com

All material appearing in Metro Weekly is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publishers. Metro Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials submitted for publication. All such submissions are subject to editing and will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Metro Weekly is supported by many fine advertisers, but we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for materials provided by advertisers or their agents. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or advertising in Metro Weekly is not to be construed as any indication of the of such person or organization. © 2015 Jansi LLC.

4 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 5 Now online at MetroWeekly.com Blood donation deferral for men in UK? NewsLGBT Capital Pride pledges $1K to Rainbow History WEEKLY

METRO Money Talks LGBT organizations champion the link between purchasing power and companies’ embrace of equality

by John Riley

HE DOLLAR IS JUST AS STRONG AS A VOTE AT out one powerful example: Many major companies flexed the ballot box these days,” says Jonathan Lovitz, their political muscle to resist Indiana’s Religious Freedom vice president of external affairs at the National Restoration Act, which was criticized for condoning potential Gay & Chamber of Commerce. “You have against LGBT people. Trights on paper in the name of equality, but your equity is your In recent years, embracing equality measures or being seen economic power. as tolerant and accepting of diversity has become a marketable “So even if it’s just a few dollars spent on stocking-stuffers, trait. Companies can distinguish themselves from competitors, investing that money in pro-LGBT companies, and people who while at the same time appealing to a wider swath of potential support diversity and inclusion, is a powerful statement. You’re customers. But this hasn’t always been the case, even as recently using every cent to make a difference.” as 20 years ago, says Selisse Berry, the founder and CEO of Out Consumers are becoming savvier when it comes to spend- & Equal Workplace Advocates, an organization that promotes ing their hard-earned dollars, particularly as the holiday season policies to create safe and fair workplace environments for approaches. By frequenting stores with pro-LGBT reputations, LGBT employees. equality-minded consumers of all types can pressure companies “When I started, only 5 percent of Fortune 500 companies to use their influence outside of simple commerce. Lovitz points included sexual orientation in their nondiscrimination policies.

6 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 7 LGBTNews

Now, that number is closer to 94, 95 percent,” Berry recalls. Deena Fidas, director of HRC Foundation’s Workplace “People really weren’t talking about at the Equality Program, notes that the LGBT community’s purchas- time, and now, about 54 to 55 percent include gender identity ing power in the United States is estimated to be about $900 in their EEO or nondiscrimination policy as well. Companies billion — an enticing figure for companies that wish to tap understand that LGBT equality is just good for business, and into potential sources of revenue. But she also notes that many discrimination is not good for business.” companies see supporting the LGBT community not just as What’s more, there has been an evolution in companies’ will- a gimmick to appeal to a niche market, but as a policy that ingness to be more vocal in their support of things like nondis- benefits their brand across all markets. For instance, she says, crimination policies, spousal benefits, or sponsorships of major many straight allies of the LGBT community wish to frequent or LGBT-centric events like Pride. Berry attributes this change in spend their money at businesses that they know are not engag- attitude to the efforts of various LGBT organizations, including ing in or condoning discrimination. her own, which hosts a yearly summit to educate employers “Well beyond just adopting policies, you see — quite liter- about fostering an LGBT-supportive workplace environment ally — hundreds of businesses weighing in on LGBT public and the benefits it can bring to the company. When corporate policy,” says Fidas. “Businesses are not shrinking back from leaders realized that their competitors were gaining an advan- being LGBT-inclusive. Far from wanting to be in the shadows, tage by embracing pro-equality policies, they began to recognize or simply quietly deal with being LGBT-inclusive, they see it as they could profit — both financially and in terms of branding or the right thing to do. They see speaking out on matters of equal- reputation — from adopting a similar stance. ity as the right things to do, and also smart for their business.” “In the very beginning, we had a number of companies who Fidas also says the timing of the HRC guide is ideal not only said they’d support us because their employees were really com- for consumers, but for companies who wish to improve their mitted to the cause. And they were committed, but they didn’t rating or learn more about implementing LGBT-friendly policies want anyone else to know,” Berry says. “Obviously, now, I don’t — something HRC can assist them with in developing. The next think we have any closeted sponsors any more. People want to CEI is slated to be released in April 2016, giving those who wish say they’re supportive. Companies are out there, and hoping to improve their standing a few months to begin making changes. you’ll notice.” From a consumer standpoint, resources like the Buying for One way of being noticed has been by getting listed as an Workplace Equality guide can better inform their purchasing LGBT-supportive business by the Human Rights Campaign’s decisions. NGLCC’s Lovitz also recommends that LGBT cus- (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI), which rates businesses tomers do their research before making a purchase, to find and on their LGBT-inclusive workplace policies and practices, as frequent businesses that use LGBT-owned suppliers of goods well as any engagement on public policy. Released annually and services to stock their shelves. That way, he says, the money since 2002, a good CEI score is often touted by businesses as spent by equality-minded consumers will eventually circle back evidence of their commitment to equality. to the LGBT community. Last week, ahead of Black Friday, HRC released its annual “At the same time that you’re looking on the price tag for Buying for Workplace Equality guide, which divides companies the red sticker that says ‘This is a sale,’ also look for the sticker into three separate categories based on their CEI score and that says we’re an NGLCC corporate partner, or even better, [an other data on workplace policies. The top scores, which fall into NGLCC] Certified Business Enterprise,” says Lovitz. “It takes a the “green” category, indicate a demonstrated commitment to little bit of time to do your homework and go online, but social equality, with “yellow” scores given to those making progress, media is your best asset these days, to make sure you and your and “red” scores given to those companies lagging behind or family and friends are shopping at the businesses and buying the who refused to answer the surveys on which the CEI is based. brands that have our community’s back.” l Separate and Unequal A mother’s struggle as the local school district bars her trans children from restrooms

by John Riley

T’S BEEN A TRYING COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR public school thanks to a new policy adopted by the Marionville, Heidi Owens. The mother of five has a 10-year-old trans- Mo., school district. It requires childroom to either gender daughter, DeeDee, and a nine-year-old trans- use the restroom of their biological sex, or use a unisex bath- gender son, Karri, both of whom are being targeted by room near the nurse’s office. discriminatoryI policies at school. Born prematurely, DeeDee has digestive problems that make “My daughter is coming home crying, not understanding it difficult for her to make it to the private unisex bathroom. why she’s punished, because she’s not allowed to use the girls’ Even with a doctor’s note stating that she needs to be able to bathroom now, even though she got to use it before,” says use the closest bathroom, the school is inflexible. As a result, Owens. “‘Mommy, what did I do wrong?’ This is not acceptable, DeeDee has had some accidents, making the experience all the this is not okay.” more humiliating. DeeDee has been barred from using the girl’s restroom in her “This is a daily function: You have to go to the bathroom on

8 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 9 LGBTNews

a daily basis,” says Owens. “I’m already having to take DeeDee which is that school administrators and boards, instead of mak- to a urologist, because for a trans kid, there’s even more fear of ing an effort to understand transgender students, are having a using the bathroom.” knee-jerk reaction to privacy and safety scare tactics from those Owens and her wife Krystel — who is also transgender — who would rather see transgender people ostracized from their moved their family from California to Springfield, Mo., four- communities,” says Rossi. and-a-half years ago, and then from Springfield to Marionville. Rossi has seen local school districts in states throughout the Her children encountered no problems at Springfield schools, country pass policies that attempt to circumvent federal law or but Marionville has not been accepting. Even though the departmental guidelines issued by federal agencies. That includes district has adopted other policies that could be considered a recent ruling by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil transgender-friendly when it comes to name changes, requir- Rights, which stated that an Illinois school that barred a trans- ing teachers and staff to use correct personal pronouns, and gender from the girls’ locker room had violated Title IX by dress code, the district is adamant about keeping her children engaging in sex discrimination. But from the ACLU’s perspective, restricted to either the unisex bathroom or the restroom of their the obligations of school administrators and school boards like biological sex. those in Marionville and other small towns are clear-cut. Even more concerning, she says, is the reaction from other “It’s the duty of school administrators, school boards, and members of the community. People have made jokes about her school staff to make their schools as safe as possible, and give all children or called them “perverts,” she’s received threats and students equal access to all aspects of the school community and hate mail, and some have even suggested that the state should school life,” Rossi says. “If school administrators are scared of a investigate the Owens family because two of their five children backlash from a very vocal but small portion of the community are transgender. who don’t want transgender kids in the school or in their child’s “Nothing’s fishy. We just allow our kids to be who they need P.E. class, that’s something they need to get over. Because their to be,” says Owens. “Is it something wrong because I love my duty is to protect all students, not just the students whose parents children, and I only want the best and the same rights as other are the most vocal, or whose church groups are the most vocal.” children? I only want what’s right, and so does my wife.” Owens has been consulting with the ACLU and intends to Marionville is just one in a string of smaller public school dis- pursue legal action against the school district. It is the only way tricts across the nation that have adopted similar policies when she feels she can force the district to amend its current policy. it comes to restroom or locker room access, notes Sarah Rossi, “They have discriminated against my child, they have humil- the director of policy and advocacy for the ACLU of Missouri. iated my child,” Owens says. “I will go as far as I need to go for “I think what’s happening in Missouri, especially in rural my children. If I have to take it to the Supreme Court, I’m not areas, is the same thing that’s happening across the country, scared. Nothing scares me when it comes to my kids.” l

10 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM scene

NGLCC’s National Dinner at the National Building Museum Friday, November 20

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

Photography by Ward Morrison

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE 11 LGBTCommunityCalendar

WEEKLY EVENTS Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events in the D.C.-area LGBT community, from alternative social events to volunteer opportunities. ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL Event information should be sent by email to [email protected]. HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 Deadline for inclusion is noon of the Friday before Thursday’s publication. p.m., and HIV services (by appoint- ment). 202-291-4707 or andromeda- Questions about the calendar may be directed to the transculturalhealth.org. Metro Weekly office at 202-638-6830 or the calendar email address. BET MISHPACHAH, founded by members of the LGBT community, holds Saturday morning Shabbat ser- vices, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush luncheon. Services in DCJCC Community Room, 1529 16th St. NW. betmish.org.

BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including others interested in Brazilian culture, IDENTITY offers free and confiden- WEEKLY EVENTS meets. For location/time, email brazil- THURSDAY, DEC. 3 tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, [email protected]. 414 East Diamond Ave., and in ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL The DC ANTI-VIOLENCE Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac- PROJECT, formerly known as GLOV, Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. p.m., and HIV services (by appoint- tice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio hosts a holiday party get-together at For appointments other hours, call ment). 202-291-4707, andromeda- Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit Number Nine. Come and meet the Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or transculturalhealth.org. swimdcac.org. people involved with DC AVP and Takoma Park, 301-422-2398.

hear about the work of D.C.’s major DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac- running/walk- all-volunteer organization dedicated METROHEALTH CENTER offers DC FRONT RUNNERS tice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio ing/social club welcomes all levels for to combating hate crimes and anti- free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit exercise in a fun and supportive envi- LGBT violence. 6-8 p.m. 1435 P St. needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. swimdcac.org. ronment, socializing afterward. Meet NW. For more information, contact 202-638-0750. Brant Miller at brant@thedccenter. 9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for a HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker walk; or 10 a.m. for fun run. org or 202-682-2245. SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor dcfrontrunners.org. p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155 WEEKLY EVENTS 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson basketball team or [email protected]. DC SENTINELS Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 meets at Turkey Thicket Recreation ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4 US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman- p.m. For players of all levels, gay or Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., p.m., and HIV services (by appoint- walker.org. straight. teamdcbasketball.org. 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group is ment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit independent of UHU. 202-446-1100. andromedatransculturalhealth.org. METROHEALTH CENTER offers DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment LGBT community, family and friends. WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-the- practice session at Takoma Aquatic INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women, 202-638-0750. Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria. Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9 13-21, interested in leadership devel- All welcome. For more info, visit p.m. swimdcac.org. opment. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT- dignitynova.org. Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163, affirming social group for ages 11-24. [email protected]. DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and les- 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW. GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses bian square-dancing group features Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, critical languages and foreign lan- mainstream through advanced square layc-dc.org. guages. 7 p.m. Nellie’s, 900 U St. NW. dancing at the National City Christian FRIDAY, DEC. 4 RVSP preferred. brendandarcy@ Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30 SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides gmail.com. a social atmosphere for GLBT and p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517, GAY DISTRICT, a group of The DC questioning youth, featuring dance dclambdasquares.org. Center for GBTQQI men from ages IDENTITY offers free and confidential parties, vogue nights, movies and 18-35, meets on the first and third HIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676 games. More info, catherine.chu@ The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Fridays of each month. 8:30-9:30 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walk- smyal.org. Virginia social group meets for happy p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments other hour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810 more information, visit hours, call 301-422-2398. Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor thedccenter.org. SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6 bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestri- p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, angles.com. LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, test- SUNDAY, DEC. 6 adults in Montgomery County offers [email protected]. HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker a safe space to explore Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor and issues of identity. 10-11:30 a.m. WEEKLY EVENTS Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Gaithersburg, Md. For more informa- SATURDAY, DEC. 5 LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 tion, visit thedccenter.org. MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay celebrates Low Mass at 8:30 a.m., call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman- The DC Center’s TRANS SUPPORT volunteer organization, volunteers High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral walker.org. GROUP holds a meeting for those today for Food & Friends and Lost Ave. NW. 202-232-4244, who are transgender, gender non- Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation at Falls allsoulsdc.org. conforming, or identify outside of the Church PetSmart. To participate, visit . 7-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. burgundycrescent.org. BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive NW, Suite 105. For more information, and radically inclusive church holds visit thedccenter.org. services at 11:30 a.m. 2217 Minnesota Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.

12 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac- NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN tice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio CHURCH, inclusive church with Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit GLBT fellowship, offers gospel wor- swimdcac.org. ship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional wor- ship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW. DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic 202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org. Mass for the LGBT community. 6 p.m., St. Margaret’s Church, 1820 RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome. a Christ-centered, interracial, wel- Sign interpreted. For more info, visit coming-and-affirming church, offers dignitynova.org. service at 10 a.m. 680 I St. SW. 202- 554-4330, riversidedc.org. FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes all ST. STEPHEN AND THE to 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G St. NW. INCARNATION, an “interracial, firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317. multi-ethnic Christian Community” offers services in English, 8 a.m. and FRIENDS MEETING OF 10:30 a.m., and in Spanish at 5:15 p.m. WASHINGTON meets for worship, 1525 Newton St. NW. 202-232-0900, 10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW, saintstephensdc.org. Quaker House Living Room (next to Meeting House on Decatur Place), UNITARIAN CHURCH OF 2nd floor. Special welcome to ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcoming- and gays. Handicapped accessible and-affirming congregation, offers from Phelps Place gate. Hearing services at 10 a.m. Virginia Rainbow assistance. quakersdc.org. UU Ministry. 4444 Arlington Blvd. uucava.org. HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes GLBT commu- UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST nity for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130 CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria. invites LGBTQ families and individu- hopeucc.org. als of all creeds and cultures to join the church. Services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT 10309 New Hampshire Ave. uucss.org. GROUP for living in the DC metro area. This group will be meet- UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL ing once a month. For information on MEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcom- location and time, email to not.the. ing and inclusive church. GLBT [email protected]. Interweave social/service group meets monthly. Services at 11 a.m., INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th St. DEVELOPMENT, God-centered new NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org. age church & learning center. Sunday Services and Workshops event. 5419 Sherier Place NW. isd-dc.org. MONDAY, DEC. 7

Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL The DC Center hosts a VOLUNTEER TEMPLE – UNITED CHURCH OF NIGHT for those interested in helping CHRIST for an inclusive, loving and around the Center. Activities include: progressive faith community every sorting through book donations, Sunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW, cleaning up, and taking inventory for near R in Shaw/Logan neighborhood. safe-sex kits. Pizza will be provided. lincolntemple.org. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit LUTHERAN CHURCH OF thedccenter.org. REFORMATION invites all to Sunday worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m. Childcare is WEEKLY EVENTS available at both services. Welcoming LGBT people for 25 years. 212 East DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac- Capitol St. NE. reformationdc.org. tice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY swimdcac.org. CHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA services at 11 a.m., led by Rev. Onetta DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds Brooks. Children’s Sunday School, 11 practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax. Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan- 703-691-0930, mccnova.com. dals.wordpress.com.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C. Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. NW. services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpreted) [email protected]. and 11 a.m. Children’s Sunday School at 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. 202-638- 7373, mccdc.com.

METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 13 HIV Testing at WHITMAN- WALKER HEALTH. At the Elizabeth TUESDAY, DEC. 8 Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max The DC Center hosts a meeting of its Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. monthly COMING OUT DISCUSSION SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appoint- GROUP. Participants will have a con- ment call 202-745-7000. Visit whit- fidential, open space to discuss issues man-walker.org. related to coming out and personal identity. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY NW, Suite 105. For more information, (K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St., visit thedccenter.org. Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIV testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The DC Center’s TRANS SUPPORT 703-823-4401. GROUP holds a second meeting in a week for those who are transgender, METROHEALTH CENTER offers gender non-conforming, or identify free, rapid HIV testing. No appoint- outside of the gender binary. 7-8:30 ment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750. more information, visit thedccenter.org. NOVASALUD offers free HIV test- ing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite WEEKLY EVENTS 200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-789-4467. ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., and HIV services (by appoint- p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for ment). 202-291-4707, andromeda- youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, transculturalhealth.org. 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or test- [email protected]. ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly din- ner in Dupont/Logan Circle area, THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee Drop- 6:30 p.m. [email protected], In for the Senior LGBT Community. afwashington.net. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202- 682-2245, thedccenter.org. DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Takoma Aquatic US HELPING US hosts a black gay Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9 men’s evening affinity group. 3636 p.m. swimdcac.org. Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100. DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walk- WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATER ing/social club serving greater D.C.’s LGBT community and allies hosts an POLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m. evening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org. Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at least basic swimming ability always THE GAY MEN’S HEALTH welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, secre- COLLABORATIVE offers free HIV [email protected], wetskins.org. testing and STI screening and treat- ment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m. WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH Rainbow Tuesday LGBT Clinic, HIV/AIDS Support Group for newly Alexandria Health Department, 4480 diagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m. King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571-214- Registration required. 202-939-7671, 9617. [email protected]. [email protected].

14 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL, Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy Chu, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@ Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 smyal.org. a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman- US HELPING US hosts a support walker.org. group for black gay men 40 and older. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE 202-446-1100. DC CENTER hosts “Packing Party,” where volunteers assemble safe-sex Whitman-Walker Health’s GAY kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m., MEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS/ Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701 14th NW. thedccenter.org. St. NW. Patients are seen on walk-in basis. No-cost screening for HIV, IDENTITY offers free and confiden- syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, Hepatitis and herpes testing available 414 East Diamond Ave., and in for fee. whitman-walker.org. Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments other hours, call Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978 or WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9 Takoma Park at 301-422-2398. RAINBOW RESPONSE, the coali- KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY tion dedicated to combating LGBT intimate partner violence, holds its (K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St., monthly meeting at The DC Center. Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIV 6-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, visit rainbow- 703-823-4401. response.org. METROHEALTH CENTER offers THE LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB meets free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment for Duplicate Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. Center, 721 8th St SE (across from 202-638-0750. Marine Barracks). No reservations needed. All welcome. 202-841-0279 if OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS— you need a partner. LGBT focused meeting every Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. George’s Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave., WEEKLY EVENTS Arlington, just steps from Virginia Square Metro. For more info. call AD LIB, a group for freestyle con- Dick, 703-521-1999. Handicapped versation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m., accessible. Newcomers welcome. Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome. [email protected]. For more information, call Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174. SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, test- p.m., and HIV services (by appoint- [email protected]. ment). 202-291-4707, andromeda- transculturalhealth.org.

METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 15 DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac- JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro- tice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio gram for job entrants and seekers, Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit meets at The DC Center. 6-7:30 p.m. swimdcac.org. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more info, www.centercareers.org. DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison METROHEALTH CENTER offers Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan- free, rapid HIV testing. No appoint- dals.wordpress.com. ment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750. HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m. NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite Washington St., Alexandria. 703-549- 200, Arlington. Appointments: 703- 1450, historicchristchurch.org. 789-4467.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor club for mature gay men, hosts Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, weekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Windows Bar above Dupont Italian Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl, 703- a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment 573-8316. l call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman- walker.org.

IDENTITY offers free and confiden- tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m. For appointments other hours, call Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978. Playing it Straight

16 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM Playing it Straight Kiss Me, Kate’s Douglas Sills is a gay leading man who relishes playing things straight Interview by Doug Rule Photography by Julian Vankim

METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 17 are “filthy, juicy, delicious,” as STC’s music director Doug Peck has put it — full of double-entendres when not directly sexual, and coming out of the mouths of the male but especially the female characters. Kiss Me, Kate isn’t produced very often, according to the show’s director Alan Paul, because it requires a company of EST SIDE STORY CERTAINLY HAS actors who are true “triple-threats” — those who can dance, sing charm, but there’s no Shakespeare in it — and act. “Most importantly,” Paul writes in his Director’s Word it’s just a take off of Romeo and Juliet.” in the program, “you need two actors of extraordinary depth and Douglas Sills has good reason to criticize humor for Fred Graham and Lilli Vanessi. And they have to be the famed musical — at least for its Bardian qualities. The actor is great singers. And they have to be able to handle Shakespeare!” currently starring in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production Certainly, they’ve gotten exactly that with Sills, a classically Wof Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate, a show so steeped in Shakespeare trained actor born and educated in Michigan and a graduate that the theater bills it as “American musical theater’s greatest of the American Conservatory Theater in California. Sills was tribute to the Bard.” even considered to play Fred when Kate was last revived on With entire scenes lifted from Shakespeare’s manuscripts, Broadway, though it was Brian Stokes Mitchell who would go Kiss Me, Kate doesn’t so much reference The Taming of the on to win the Tony Award for that 1999 production. Finally Shrew as it does revel in it. So entrenched in its themes and farci- given the opportunity to step into Fred Graham’s shoes — and cal nature is Kate that celebrated 20th century poet W.H. Auden codpiece — Sills plays opposite Christine Sherrill, whom he calls touted it as an improvement over Shakespeare’s original. That’s his “favorite diva” of the moment because she is “very facile with a tall act for any other Shakespeare-derived work to follow. comedy and a has a very powerful voice.” Shrew is retrograde in its views on women and gender roles. Sills has been playing leading roles on stage for two That’s not nearly as true with Kiss Me, Kate, whose two lead decades now, in shows including , characters are divorced and presented on equal footing. It helps Little Shop of Horrors and The Addams Family — and he has that a woman — Bella Spewack — co-wrote the book and a gay a theory about what “the secret” might be to his success as a man (Porter) composed the music and lyrics. And those lyrics gay man in that realm. rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr METRO WEEKLY: How is Kiss Me, Kate? Taming of the Shrew? DOUGLAS SILLS: It’s a monster — we have everything from an amaz- SILLS: There are some issues that a lot of people have grappled ing tap dance competition to bullwhips and intense fight sequenc- with as they try to reconcile their fondness for Shakespeare — es, major orchestral singing arrangements, big dance numbers, his intellect and his mastery — with what appears to be a sub- Shakespearean themes, big costume changes. It’s a bear! servient role that he’s preaching for women at the end. We have It’s just so fun. It’s up there with my favorites, because the found our way through it, and we think it’s very much in line tunes are incredibly catchy, and the lyrics are Cole Porter at his with what the writers intend. I think, like all marriages, the one finest. He is at the peak of his skills. And he’s showing off, too. who might appear to be wearing the pants, when they’re in pub- I mean, it’s sort of like, you see one of those guys doing a lasso lic, is often not that one when the doors are closed. And anybody or lariat show in the middle of a rodeo — that’s what he’s doing who has been in a long-term relationship knows that there’s give with the words. He’s that good at wordplay. And tremendous and take, otherwise you’re not going to make it. I think we’ve sexual innuendo at every line. And maybe not innuendo — just found our way through it. And we will continue to hunt out the direct, there’s nothing hidden about it sometimes. It’s just plain nuance of how they find each other — and is she really bowing and right out there. down to him at the end, or is she just pretending? MW: Describe the show and especially how Taming of the Shrew MW: So you’ve tried to quell any chauvinism? factors into it. SILLS: In fact I think it’s quite the opposite. I think it demon- SILLS: It’s a company of actors putting on a new musicalized ver- strates the equality in the sexes and how they come together to sion of Taming of the Shrew. You see the actors backstage, and form a whole — a kind of yin-yang. You know, they’re not identi- then you get to see their show, that’s being put on. And it’s the cal, but they fit together well, if they’re communicating. first performance of the show. So things go wrong, and there’s MW: Let’s talk about you. Given coming out is still a struggle for many relationship issues that are bleeding out onstage. You’re seeing actors, it’s impressive that you’ve been out for such a long time. the relationship between the two lead actors, Fred and Lilli, and SILLS: Yeah, I’ve been out since the beginning of my career — I how their relationship and their marital battle is playing out on was never in. I think I was the first actor that let the Los Angeles stage under the guise of the Taming of the Shrew lead characters Times do an interview in my home with my partner. Many, many Kate and Petruchio. It’s a whole show-within-a-show and this years ago, when I was a young man. sort of double meaning going on whenever there’s a Shakespeare MW: Are you still together? scene or a Shakespeare fight sequence, where she’s beating the SILLS: We recently split, about a year and a half ago. We were hell out of me. And that’s really the joy of watching it — it’s like together for 20 years. We’re still friends — good friends. In fact, I that movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. just talked to him the other day, on the anniversary — 18 years — Everybody who sees the movie knows that they’re married in since my Broadway debut, which was in The Scarlet Pimpernel. real life. So when they’re battling, there’s an extra pleasure, sort So I called to reminisce with him. of guilty, juicy pleasure — we’re watching a husband and wife. We were together many times in D.C. We have friends MW: How does Kiss Me, Kate tackle the misogyny inherent in here, we did a show at the Kennedy Center together here

18 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM — the first national tour of The Secret Garden. And I’ve been to the Kennedy Center with four “This was 1980, ’81. shows — in the Sondheim Festival, the first national tour of , It was a very different time. and The Addams Family more recently. So yes, I’m single. I’ve been This was pre-Making Love, out for a long time. Been to the marches here. I can say I’m prob- ably as philanthropic and politi- pre-Will & Grace. cal as they get about that kind of stuff. Pre-everything. MW: With the longevity and breadth of your career, it’s sur- prising that you weren’t sure you would become an actor. THE ONLY KINDS SILLS: Well, I think like a lot of people, when I was leaving col- lege, I thought, I’ll go to law OF IMAGES OF school. And my dad caught me at a very key moment and said, “Listen, you can go to law school any time. If you want to give this acting thing a try, I think you should do it.” And that was really THAT WERE OUT the nudge I needed. So I went to graduate school and proceeded to enroll for a master’s degree at THERE WERE OF a place in San Francisco called ACT — where I frankly hid the fact that I could sing, because I RAPISTS, AND felt, right or wrong, that I would not be taken seriously as an actor if they knew I sang. I think there PSYCHOPATHS was a real bigotry about that, at that time anyway. MW: Was acting part of your child- and child molesters and hood growing up? SILLS: A little bit. It wasn’t the thrust of my life, but I went to miserable, drunk people.” a summer camp for many years where they would do one musi- cal a season. It was very brief, but I saw my brother and sisters rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr doing stuff on stage there, and so cially and logistically. But here I am! It’s been pretty good to me. I did it, too. And in high school, MW: But it was your father who encouraged you to pursue acting? a little bit. But, while I loved it, SILLS: They both encouraged me. Everybody was very encouraging about it. But yeah, I think I just couldn’t quite figure out it was a real achievement for my parents — a badge of honor for them, as progressive Jewish how I was going to be doing it suburban parents — that they did well enough that their children could pursue an artistic path and make a living. I grew up at if they had the ability and the interest. That was a mark of real achievement, to do something a time when The Tonight Show, artistic or intellectual, in that community I think. every actor that would come on MW: As opposed to just being another lawyer. and sit there with Johnny Carson SILLS: Or doctor. Or in the worst-case scenario, an accountant. [Laughs.] So I think to some would say, “Don’t do it. If there’s degree they lived through me, and they enjoyed it. They’re both gone now, but they were both anything else you think that could there when I was nominated for a Tony Award [for The Scarlet Pimpernel], they came to the make you happy, do that. It’s a that year. And it was an incredible experience. miserable career.” [Laughs.] So MW: Was coming out a struggle for you? you know, I didn’t quite know SILLS: Yeah, it was a struggle for me. I was unsure. I sort of was ambisexual for a long how I was going to figure my way time — meaning, sleeping with both. I was very nervous to come out to my folks. But in through it practically — finan- the end, it worked out okay. They were good people. It was a different time, so the fact

METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 19 “I think that being a leading lady is one of the hardest jobs on Broadway. Because YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE TOUGHNESS OF A BULLDOG AND YET THE TENDER FEMININITY OF BILLIE BURKE.” that they came around as quickly as they did is a real credit woman. But oftentimes, gay casting directors said, “Oh no, you to their spirit — their openness. I mean, it wasn’t right away. know, he’s too gay.” But they were seeing themselves. There was There wasn’t a sense of, “Oh, I don’t care, I love you no mat- self-loathing going on. They just thought, no, he can’t pass. Well, ter.” I think there was disappointment. And, “What is it?” You the women in the room never gave it a second thought. But you know, this was 1980, ’81. It was a very different time. This was know, that’s all societal bullshit that we live with. pre-Making Love, pre-Will & Grace. Pre-everything. The only MW: And we still have it, to an extent. kinds of images of homosexuality that were out there were of SILLS: Oh my god yes. Absolutely we still have it. rapists, and psychopaths and child molesters and miserable, MW: Do you feel like you’ve been turned down for roles for gay drunk people. reasons recently? MW: From Cruising to Boys in the Band. SILLS: I don’t know. I think at this point, I’ve been doing it so SILLS: [Laughs.] Boys in the Band was tough to watch for me as a long that it wouldn’t even get that far. Somebody would say kid. That was very tough. “Douglas Sills” and they would think, “No, he’s not right.” So I MW: It was tough to watch when I came out in the ‘90s too. I wouldn’t even get a call. So I wouldn’t know. And I don’t really haven’t gone back to watch it since, so I don’t know if it would be care anymore — you can’t control that stuff anyway. The people easier now. that know me know my work, and that’s one of the joys of being SILLS: I think it would be easier because we’re so far away from as far along as I am. I feel incredibly lucky to have gotten that far. it, but the pain is still — to be in the middle of that, at that time, But I don’t know if I still get turned down. I suppose. was not comforting. Not at all. I don’t think it was intended to be MW: So why do you not get cast for Jewish roles? comforting. But it certainly wasn’t. SILLS: I don’t know! I guess because in people’s minds, they see MW: So you kept your singing underwraps at first — but not more of a Woody Allen type — and I’m 6 foot 2, a little more because you were gay. leading man-ish looking. But that’s changing. [Laughs.] As you SILLS: Oh no, it was just because when I was going to get my get older, things start to drop and you look a little more Jewish. master’s degree. This was a time of David Mamet and Sam MW: Why do you think it is that you’re often the actor directors Shepard. And there weren’t a lot of people crossing over the turn to when trying out a new or revised show? way there are now. There was no Neil Patrick Harris, there SILLS: I think because there aren’t a lot of people who have had was no Kevin Kline, there was no Glenn Close or Patti LuPone. classical training, who can break a character down. Who can break You were either a really serious actor, and tough as nails, or you a scene down into its components. Who can do both comedy and were a singer, a musical theater person. And there wasn’t really, drama — and I’ve been lucky enough to learn from some great ones, in people’s minds, a place to crossover. So I used to keep two to be able to do comedic roles and straight roles. But I think a lot different resumes. That’s how separate the worlds were. I really of times, the extra education that I have — the master’s degree in felt like, people who were looking at my resume for a straight drama, classical theater — allows me to reconceive something from play or a new play wouldn’t know the stuff that I had done. the seed, as opposed to from the template that Robert Preston did That’s how separate the worlds were back then in some ways. in The Music Man. I can reconceive it from the beginning, if the Certainly that’s not the case now. But yes, there was a time. But director wants to do that. And so when you’re creating something pretty quickly it becomes pragmatic, when you get out of gradu- new, you know you’re probably not going to get a version of some- ate school — you realize, if you’re going to make a living, you’re thing else if you hire Sills. He’s going to create it from scratch. And going to be singing. I think that appeals to some people. MW: And you do more singing than not these days. MW: What’s on tap for you after this? Do you have things scheduled? SILLS: You know, it varies quite a bit. I think people come to me SILLS: I don’t. There are a couple of things that have been brew- when they’re trying to refigure a role, or create something new. ing, but I’m sort of waiting for them. There’s a new musical I just finished doing two straight plays in a row, right out of a Cyrano that’s out there, that interests me very much. There are musical, and then right back into another musical. And that’s a couple of Shakespeare roles I’ve told some directors I’d like to exactly the career that I had hoped for. The last show I did was do. I’m getting to an age where some of the Chekhov characters a Broadway play, a new comedy Living On Love — just a few are really interesting to me. And always I’m interested in new months ago. And to go right into this musical, that’s exactly the plays. So those are some of the things in my head. kind of career that I had imagined and wanted for myself. MW: Is there any one thing you would like to do that you haven’t I don’t get asked to play a lot of Jewish guys, even though done yet? I’m Jewish. And I don’t get asked to play a lot of gay guys, even SILLS: Yeah, there’s plenty. I would love to do a straight play and though I’m gay. a musical that highlight each other — in repertory, with the same MW: Why do you think that is? company. So something like Pygmalion and My Fair Lady. Or SILLS: It’s that stupid shit. I’ve had a long career, and I know — Taming of the Shrew and Kiss Me, Kate would be great. Something I’ve been told — I’ve lost parts because I’m out. Or I’m too gay that would illuminate both by having the same company do both, — or not gay enough. Or he’s not Jewish enough — he doesn’t because there aren’t a lot of actors who can do both. look like Woody Allen. You know, that’s just the nature of the I’ve suggested this coupling of shows to a couple of artistic beast. And I think for a long time, gay casting directors, there directors and they were very into it — I’ve been talking to Chris was a time I think they projected onto gay actors. I never had a Ashley at [California’s] about maybe doing problem getting straight roles when the casting director was a something like that. I also talked to Michael Kahn here about

20 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM it, but they had already scheduled Shrew. I didn’t realize that, they already had it on their books. “I don’t get asked to MW: You’ve worked with a lot of great divas. Do you have a particu- play a lot of Jewish lar favorite? SILLS: I’ve been in the business long guys, even enough to know that a happy lead- ing lady is a happy cast. So my though favorite diva is Christine Sherrill, because that’s my current diva. I’m She’s very facile with comedy. And has a very powerful voice. Jewish. I’ve found that the ladies that I’ve worked with have been great And I partners in so many ways. I would say it’s a tie between Christine DON’T Sherrill and, and — gosh, you know I could get myself into a lot of trouble GET here, couldn’t I? [Laughs.] A smart leading man always falls in love ASKED with his current leading lady. So that would be my answer. I would TO PLAY say I’ve learned something from every leading lady I’ve been with. A LOT OF And I’ve been blessed with some of the greatest. So that’s my answer. GAY GUYS, MW: A very diplomatic one. SILLS: My most recent straight play EVEN lady Renee Fleming, and Marin Mazzie, and Jenn Lyon, and Kerry THOUGH Butler have been my favorites. MW: So you have a top five. Do I’M GAY.” you think you appreciate them more than maybe a straight man would? Or do you think you have a bond with them more than maybe a straight actor could? SILLS: That’s interesting. I don’t know. Obviously I can’t be in both places at once — being a straight actor and a gay actor. So I couldn’t answer that, but I think that being a leading lady is one of the hard- est jobs on Broadway. Because you have to have the toughness of a bulldog and yet the tender feminin- ity of Billie Burke. So I think it’s SUCHMAN a very difficult thing to be both a tough, strong business person — for Sills as Petruchio in Kiss Me, Kate yourself — and yet project tremen- SCOTT dous vulnerability and kindness. Kate program, that one of the things she appreciates about you is the fact that you’re “a gentle- So I think it’s a very underrated men [who] believes in chivalry, which is an art form.” and underestimated difficulty. And SILLS: I’m wondering if there’s something about being gay that deals with the ladies differ- I’ve found that everyone is helped ently? I guess what’s different is, they know, no matter how loving I am, as with other gay when the leading lady feels sup- close friends, that they’re safe. And that there won’t be any lines crossed. So there’s that, the ported. And so that’s my goal usu- thing that makes a great bond between a gay man and a straight woman is there. And yet we ally from the first day, no matter get the wonderful opportunity to play lovers and our goal is to be as authentic as possible. who it is — that they know that I So you get the best of both worlds that way. I think that’s the secret of a gay leading man. l know that we are much more for- midable together as a unit than as Douglas Sills stars in Kiss Me, Kate playing now through Jan. 3 at Sidney Harman Hall, two opposing stars. Harman Center for the Arts, 610 F St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $118. Call 202-547-1122 or MW: Sherrill did say, in the Kiss Me, visit shakespeare-theatre.org.

METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 21 Gabriel Dawe, Plexus A1, 2015 Patrick Dougherty, Shindig, 2015 WONDERFUL THINGS In the reopening of the Renwick, visitors will find awe in everyday objects

by Connor J. Hogan // Photography by Ron Blunt, Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

’M FASCINATED BY THE WORLD OF THINGS, AND HOW THOSE THINGS come into being,” says Nicholas R. Bell. “It’s through objects that I think we gain some of our most profound understandings of people.” Bell, Curator-in-Charge of the Renwick Gallery, has a fascination with objects that isn’t just limited to the gallery’s latest exhibit, WONDER. Renwick was the first building in America designed with art in mind, and thus has a storied history. Built in 1859, it has changed hands multiple times over the years — from art lovers to Civil War generals to court officials in the 1950s. Finally, in 1965, at the behest of Jackie Kennedy, the museum was granted to the Smithsonian as a place to exhibit craft and folk art. By 2I013, however, the Renwick was in need of major renovations. “The building was really in a bad way,” says Bell. For two years, they shut the doors to remodel — and reassess. While the primary concern was replacing infrastructural elements, such as insulation and electrical features, the renovation also restored some of the original charm of the building. By opening up long-sealed windows, refinishing marble floors, and revamping lighting, the Victorian-era building got a fresh, modern look — without losing its authentic style. “Ninety percent of the renovation took place behind the scenes,” Bell says. “But it’s that ten percent that people really notice. We restored as much of the building as we could to its original nineteenth century aesthetic, but in a very twenty-first century manner.” For Bell, the Renwick represents a centuries-long struggle in America’s relationship with art. “I look at this building as a sort of didactic map of how strongly we value experiencing culture in

22 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM Patrick Dougherty, Shindig, 2015 Janet Echelman, 1.8, 2015 Tara Donovan, Untitled, 2014

John Grade, Middle Fork, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 23 a public setting,” he says. “As my eye started to wander about the architecture, I started to realize that this building is really the most precious object that we have.” Inspired by the space, the curator was challenged with a unique dilemma: how do you curate an exhibit about the importance of a museum? “I decided to focus the exhi- bition on the building itself. I invited sev- eral contemporary artists to come and visit the building while we were closed,” Bell says. “They walked around the galleries, they saw it completely empty. I said: ‘I want you to react to this architecture.’ We talked about the importance of wonder, about the importance of this place — that people will come and be carried away by something so extraordinary.” With that, the nine artists returned to their studios and got to work, with the unusu- al brief that they take everyday objects and fashion them into something utterly unique. Leo Villareal, Volume (Renwick), 2015 Suspended from the ceiling of the first floor is Gabriel Dawe’s Plexus A1 which consists of thousands of colored embroidery thread hung by hand to create a stunning visual effect. On the same floor towers Tara Donovan’s Untitled, an otherworldly mountain range comprised of thousands of individually glued index cards. And tucked away on the second floor floats John Grade’s Middle Fork, a trib- ute to Renwick’s 150-year-plus history that utilizes 500,000 pieces of reclaimed cedar wood. By combining the work of these dedi- cated artists, WONDER succeeds in evoking its eponymous reaction. “I was looking for people that were passionate about making and material,” Bell says. “And I was looking for people that were explicitly interested in provoking awe in the viewer.” Alongside similar installation exhibits at the Hirshhorn and the National Building Museum, the Renwick’s WONDER finds Jennifer Angus, In the Midnight Garden, 2015 itself in good company in the District. “As people have been walking through the build- ing, I watch their expressions as they turn the corner and see something for the first time,” says Bell. “People are overwhelmed to be in that aesthetic presence. You don’t get that in all art forms.” It is this sense of awe that Bell believes we need more of in America. “Why is it impor- tant that we have a museum right across from the White House?” he comments. “Because we need to have places to go where we com- mune with the arts. This is why museums like the Renwick must continue.” l

The Renwick Gallery is located at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest. It is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. WONDER will be on exhibit until July 2016. Admission Chakaia Booker, ANONYMOUS DONOR, 2015 is free.

24 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM Holiday Gift Guide

Visit the Holiday Gift Guide Online at metroweekly.com/giftguide Compiled by Doug Rule DECEMBER 3 - 10, 2015 Heart Like a Wheeler Folk icon Cheryl Wheeler returns to the Birchmere

O ONE HAS THE BALLS TO STAND UP to the NRA!” Cheryl Wheeler declares. Gun Ncontrol has long been one of her areas of strongest advocacy and she’s not holding back. “Unlike gay rights, gun control is in a terrible place. No one understands the second amendment.” Wheeler goes on to dig at the nuances of the “mili- tia” part of the amendment before adding, “If a boat has a sign that says ‘If ship on fire, jump off and swim ashore,’ does that mean we should all be hitting the water or should we wait to see if there is a fire?” Cheryl sees America’s permissive gun laws as the most nefari- ous example of the death grip that money still has on our political process. It quickly becomes apparent that Wheeler, if no one else, has more than enough balls to stand up to the NRA. The gifted folk singer even gave up royalties on her song “If It Were Up To Me,” which received a great deal of radio play and eventually was involved in a fundraising project for the Brady Campaign. For Wheeler, music is a joyful process, and after she started playing guitar at 10, she knew it was how she wanted to spend her life. She finished high school, did a few years of college, and began making music. “I wasn’t going to sit somewhere I didn’t want to be for 8 hours every day just because it was my job,” she says. Initially, she was broke, but “felt like I had a gift” — and was okay with living spartanly for a few years. The Maryland native is astounded by the progress that America, and specifically this part of the coun- try, has made on gay rights. “My family was support- ive,” she says. “But I never imagined we’d have gay marriage.” In fact, Wheeler is now celebrating 14 years of marriage to her partner, Kathleen. Their marriage, WHEELER amongst the first legal gay marriages in the country, OF surpasses only slightly in longevity the life of their dog, Kitty. “They [Kitty and Finn, her other dog] are

COURTESY the greatest blessings that Kathleen and I share. I just

don’t feel like we’d be done talking if I didn’t mention

PHOTO them.” — Tim Rosenberger

Cheryl Wheeler and John Gorka will be performing at The Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria, Va. on Saturday, December 5th. Tickets are $35. Visit Birchmere.com or call 703-549-7500.

26 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM Holiday Gift Guide

Visit the Holiday Gift Guide Online at metroweekly.com/giftguide SPOTLIGHT

BRIGHT STAR The Kennedy Center offers the limited pre-Broadway engagement of the new musical by an unlikely pair: Comedian and bluegrass musician Steve Martin and folk/pop singer-songwriter Edie Brickell. Bright Star is a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South between World Wars. Broadway vet- ORCHESTRA eran Walter Bobbie directs a large cast including Carmen Cusack, Paul Alexander Nolan, Michael Mulheren, A.J. Shively, Hannah Elless, Stephen TRADITIONAL Bogardus, Dee Hoty, Stephen Lee Anderson, Emily Padgett and Jeff Blumenkrantz. Now to Jan. 2.

NATIONAL Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater.

Tickets are $45 to $175. Call 202-467- 4600 or visit kennedy-center.org. CHINA

OF

EX HEX Guitarist Mary Timony leads this homegrown D.C. powerhouse rock COURTESY trio also featuring drummer Laura Harris and bassist Betsy Wright. The band continues to tour in support of last year’s debut Rips, a punchy collection of timeless rock and roll. Rhapsody in Chinese Joining Ex Hex at the 9:30 Club is Superchunk’s Mac McCaughan + the From the Olympics to orchestras, Wang Chaoge is known for directing Non Believers from North Carolina and Ed Schrader’s Music Beat from musical spectacles Baltimore. Thursday, Dec. 10. Doors at 7 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $18. Call 202-265-0930 or HEN CHINA SPENT $100 MILLION DOLLARS ON THE 2008 OLYMPIC visit 930.com. Games Opening Ceremony, it blew its predecessors out of the water in both scale and spectacle. While the Kennedy Center lacks the budget of the world’s GAY MEN’S CHORUS W OF WASHINGTON most populous nation, it does have one of the co-directors of that record breaking event, who will premiere her latest production, Rediscover Chinese Music, with the China Rewrapped is a concert of familiar holiday songs reworked with the Gay National Traditional Orchestra next week. Men’s Chorus’ usual twist, from “Do “I don’t want to rest on past glory,” Wang Chaoge says when asked if we can expect You Hear What I Hear” to “Christmas any similarities. “I want to produce something new, something innovative, something on Broadway” to “The Nutcracker...In About Three Minutes.” John Moran different, something fresh.” directs the concert and Thea Kano Chaoge worked with composer Jiang Ying to rearrange and reinterpret ten pieces leads the chorus, with choreography of Chinese classical music for modern audiences “to challenge old ideas of Chinese cul- by Maria Watson. Paul Heins will con- ture...and present music different from what they might expect.” The pieces include duct the 21-member GenOUT Chorus, started earlier this year by GMCW as High Mountain and Flowing Water, Silk Road, Blossoms of a Moonlit River in Spring and the area’s first LGBT youth ensemble. Spring Festival Overture. The duo have even worked to challenge ideas of a traditional Performances are Saturday, Dec. 5, classical concert. and Dec. 12, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 6, and Dec. 13, at 3 p.m. Lincoln “We use these elements of lighting, setting, sound, drama — even the musicians act on Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. Tickets are stage,” Chaoge says, all in an effort “to create a new production, very different from what $25 to $63. Call 202-328-6000 or visit we expect in a concert hall.” In fact, the 110-piece orchestra and chorus, which had previ- thelincolndc.com. ously performed in the Concert Hall, will this time perform in the Opera House. Joining HILLWOOD’S HAUTE HOLIDAYS the orchestra as special guest will be the Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School The most stylish eras of the 20th Chorus, comprising 40 auditioned singers from grades 3 to 5. century, as seen in the special exhi- Over the past few months the China National Traditional Orchestra, a 55-year-old bition Ingenue to Icon: 70 Years of institution administered by China’s Ministry of Culture, has performed Rediscover Fashion from the Collection of Marjorie Merriweather Post, are the inspira- Chinese Music throughout their own country. “It has been the hot topic of every city,” tion for glamorous Christmas trees says Xi Qiang, president of CNTO. And that’s precisely the point, according to Chaoge. and festive décor across Hillwood. The “Worldwide, classical music [attendance] is going down,” Chaoge says. “So my produc- “Haute Holidays” festivities include a tour led by Jason Gedeik, Hillwood’s tion of Rediscover Chinese Music [attempts] to find a way to have the new generation head of design, on Thursday, Dec. 3 return to the theater.” — Doug Rule and Dec. 10, and Friday, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, at 12:45 p.m. Next Saturday, The China National Traditional Orchestra performs Rediscover Chinese Music Friday, Dec. 12, and Sunday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hillwood presents Dec. 11, and Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m., at the Kennedy its annual Russian Winter Festival, Center Opera House. Tickets are $20 to $150. Call 202-467-4600 or visit with characters including Grandfather kennedy-center.org. Frost and the Snow Maiden enact- ing the old Russian winter custom of mumming — dressing up in cos- 28 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 29 tume and visiting friends. Now to Dec. LOGAN CIRCLE HOLIDAY he was a male singer who was not THE STOOP STORYTELLING 31. Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean HOUSE TOUR afraid to be vulnerable. He made it SERIES VINTAGE HOLIDAY SHOW Ave. NW. Suggested donation is $12, The former diplomatic headquarters acceptable for male singers to be sensi- Baltimore’s storytelling organization or $18 during the Russian Winter of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, which is in tive.” Friday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. Music the Stoop presents its holiday show Festival. Call 202-686-5807 or visit the process of being restored, a turn- Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman offering personal tales about yuletides HillwoodMuseum.org. of-the-century carriage house and a Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are of yore. The show kicks off with cock- 21st Century green “tiny house” are $55 to $125. Call 301-581-5100 or visit tails and live music from big band Sarah KIM ANN FOXMAN, HONEY SOUND among the dozen properties part of strathmore.org. Sullivan and the New Old Fashioneds SYSTEM, THE NEEDLEXCHANGE this 37th annual tour presented by the and ends with a screening of the classic D.C.’s stellar boutique nightclub Flash Logan Circle Community Association MONICA favorite White Christmas. Wednesday, is offering gay clubgoers an early this Sunday, Dec. 6, which ends in Eight years after headlining D.C. Black Dec. 9, starting at 7 p.m. The Senator Christmas with a de-facto Pride in an annual wassail party at Studio Pride, S.E.I. Entertainment presents a Theatre, 5904 York Rd. Baltimore. December dance party by three acts Theatre. Sunday, Dec. 7, from 1 p.m. return to D.C. from this R&B diva, Tickets are $20. Call 800-838-3006 or who spun at different Capital Pride to 5 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance, born Monica Denise Arnold, tour- visit stoopstorytelling.com events this past June. The headliner or $35 day of, and can be purchased at ing in advance of her eighth studio is Kim Ann Foxman, a veteran sing- Old City Farm and Guild, 925 Rhode album, Code Red, due Dec. 18. Rico THE WASHINGTON REVELS ing member of the great gay neo- Island Ave. NW, at Studio Theatre, Love opens. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at The 75-plus members of this group per- band Hercules & Love Affair 14th and P Streets NW, or online at 8 p.m. Fillmore Silver Spring, 8656 form the annual Christmas Revels, this and a fledgling New York-based logancircle.org. Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets year billed as “A Medieval Celebration deep/underground house DJ/pro- are $29.50. Call 301.960.9999 or visit of the Winter Solstice in Music, Dance ducer. Before Foxman is a set by MICHAEL FEINSTEIN fillmoresilverspring.com. and Drama.” Audience participation is Jason Kendig and Jackie House (aka WITH BIG BAND a hallmark, whether singing, dancing Jacob Sperber, aka DJ P-Play) two “Sinatra Centennial” is a toast to the MOTOWN THE MUSICAL or becoming part of the drama. Opens members of San Francisco collective legendary crooner on eve of the 100th The latest hit Broadway jukebox show Saturday, Dec. 5, at 2 p.m. Weekends Honey Soundsystem, whose focus is anniversary of his birth, led by the man could also be called the Berry Gordy to Dec. 13. GW Lisner, The George on highlighting the origins of known as the Ambassador of the Great Revue. Now ensconced at the National Washington University, 730 21st St. NW. dirty disco and driving house, both American Songbook. Feinstein will be Theatre during its first national tour, Tickets are $12 to $60. Call 202-994-6851 new and old. The party upstairs in the supported by a big band as he channels the musical tells the true American or visit lisner.org. club kicks off with a tag-team set by the spirit, swagger and sensation of dream story of the Motown founder Bil Todd and Tommy Cornelis, two , something the gay musi- and his success in creating an endur- TOTAL VERRUCKT! trendsetting DJs part of the local gay cian confirmed he’s more than capable ing style of American popular music The Baltimore Theatre Project offers an “weirdo-beardo-boys” house collec- of with the Grammy-nominated album and launching the careers of Diana original production focused on Jewish tive known as The NeedlExchange, The Sinatra Project. “Everybody’s been Ross, Michael Jackson and Smokey cabaret artists during the Holocaust or TNX for short. Friday, Dec. 4, after influenced by Frank Sinatra whether Robinson, to name just three. Now and inspired by the diaries of Jewish- 8 p.m. Flash, 645 Florida Ave. NW. they know it or not,” Feinstein told to Jan. 3. National Theatre, 1321 Dutch poet Etty Hillesum and cabaret Tickets are $5 to $12. Call 202-827- Metro Weekly when he last performed Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are stars Max Ehrlich, Johnny & Jones and 8791 or visit flashdc.com. a Sinatra tribute at Strathmore. Sinatra $48 to $98. Call 202-628-6161 or visit Dora Gerson. Joanna Caplan created the “made classic songs not only contem- thenationaldc.org. show and is its one-woman star. Opens porary for current audiences, but also Thursday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. Through

30 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 31 32 DECEMBER 3, 2015 2015 3, DECEMBER METROWEEKLY.COM Hayes Award as Outstanding Emerging Emerging Outstanding as Award Hayes Helen 2014 the includes success pany’s com- the and approach, ensemble an in devised theater puppet exuberant and Reckeweg innovative performing Matt to dedicated and and Kalil Patti by ed found- was Pointless acts. and elves new with year this — band reindeer funky a and improv puppetry, featuring adults for cabaret irreverent annual an Show,” Talent Annual 239th Pole’s North dubs “the it offers show holiday a of Company year another Theatre Pointless SPECTACULAR HOLIDAY POINTLESS VERY A fordstheatre.org. visit or 2787 Ford’s 800-982- Call NW. 31. St. 10th 511 Dec. Theatre, To Schmidt. Stephen and McWilliams Amy McAllister, Hammerly, Kevin Rick Driscoll, Erin William Diggle, Curry, Felicia Agan, Carolyn grace. with cast: the in living stars stage local other Among and back giving of themes and carols familiar effects, spe- cial imaginative featuring staging a Scrooge, in Ebenezer as year seventh his for returns by Gero Edward Baron. Michael directed and Wilson Michael by ed adapt- classic, Dickens the of production music-filled its remounts Theatre Ford’s CAROL CHRISTMAS A STAGE or theatreproject.org. visit 410-752-8558 Call $22. are Tickets Theatre Baltimore. St. Preston Baltimore West 45 Project, 6. Dec. Sunday, or visit theateralliance.com. visit or SE. Place 202-241-2539 Call $50. to $35 are Tickets Shannon 2020 Anacostia 3. Playhouse, choreographer Jan. To Mhoon. Princess and Harper-Short Ruffin, e’Marcus director music Eric by joined is who by directed is Alliance production Theater the year, this Hayes Awards Helen three of winner The ago. anAfrican by American to appear on Broadway 51 years written plays first the of an ensemble cast. ensemble an from storytelling and griot-style with jazz dance, funk, blues, gospel, porating incor- perspective, Afrocentric an from story Christmas Biblical the of retelling Hughes’s Langston of by Alliance production Theater another year, Another NATIVITY BLACK studiotheatre.org. visit or 202-332-3300 P Streets NW. Tickets are $44 to $88. Call & 14th Theatre, Studio 3. Jan. To p.m. 8 at 3, Dec. Thursday, Opens Wilder. Maggie Rowan Vickers, Noah Averbach-Katz and Lapidus, Laura including cast a featuring debut. year this directs, its again once Seiden Serge after year a only run holiday dramedy acerbic Studio Theatre reprises Joshua Harmon’s Already thebest-sellingplayinitshistory, JEWS BAD flashpointdc.org. visit or 315-1310 202- Call $27. to $22 are Tickets NW. St. G 916 Gallery, Flashpoint at Lab Theatre Mead 2. Jan. to Now Company. Theatre Black Nativity Black for another another for Jews Bad l was one one was

SCOTT SUCHMAN stage

Kiss and Tell

company puts on a performance of Shakespeare’s Taming of Shakespeare Theatre’s Kiss Me, the Shrew, the two formerly-married leads, Fred and Lilli, are engaged in an escalating domestic war that quickly spills over Kate is two hours of song, into their roles on stage. At the same time, Lois, the company bombshell, is toying with her boyfriend Bill’s affections on and off stage, while he is busy dodging a couple of gangsters who dance and unstoppable fun have turned up to call in his gambling debts. When Lilli readies to marry a straight-laced military man, Lois appears terminally by KATE WINGFIELD incapable of fidelity, and the gangsters run out of patience, the Shrew and its players look ready to collapse. OUR SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT HOLIDAY Add Porter’s fabulously catchy score, choreographer Michele gift is over: just buy a bunch of tickets to Kiss Lynch’s big song and dance numbers, snazzy tap, and a whole Me, Kate (HHHHH) and start stuffing stockings. boatload of snappy one-liners, and even the biggest curmudgeon Y Superbly executed and tremendous fun, this pro- on your list is going to find something to grin about. duction delivers a full-bore, good old-fashioned, movie-style But, you ask, even a curmudgeon who hates musical theater? musical that simply can’t be beat. In this case it’s still a yes. It’s true that there will be no escaping Written by Samuel and Bella Spewack with music and lyr- some humor that will be too sappy for the sophisticates. And, SUCHMAN ics by Cole Porter, the premise is pure screwball comedy with yes, there will be some “encores” that only the zero-dark-hun-

SCOTT all the silliness and saber wit that comes with it. As an acting continues on page 35

METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 33 music

Christmas Turkey

utilizing her soft and silken pipes on the original material on Australia’s cult disco chanteuse offer. Lovingly produced with all the usual festive trimmings, songs such as “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Let returns. Without the disco. It Snow” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” all blur into one, and are more filler than stocking filler. Predictable arrival “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” isn’t so by GORDON ASHENHURST much a duet with Frank Sinatra as it is Minogue simply sing- ing on top of him. The vintage sound quality of Sinatra cackles YLIE MINOGUE, AUSTRALIA’S CULT DISCO through warmly and richly, which are both comforting qualities chanteuse returns, only this time without the that the Australian pop princess cannot quite match with her disco. Instead of opting for more familiar Minogue own uniquely rich and feathery voice. K arrangements, Kylie Christmas (HHHHH) aims to Seemingly engineered to secure an advertisement campaign please a broader, more casual audience. with a department store, “” is fine for time- The majority of the songs are classically arranged and feature less Christmas covers fans, just not Minogue fans. On “Let lush orchestrations, but they struggle to rekindle the sincer- It Snow,” she might as well be singing “make it stop, make it ity of the originals — as well as the long trail of cover versions stop, make it stop.” Minogue often relies on her overly-stylized BAKER that have come before. When not burdened with injecting life coquettish delivery, and these orchestral Disney-like arrange-

into fairly predictable song choices, the singer is more effective ments heavily emphasize this slightly overcooked persona, WILL

34 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM making them something of an acquired taste. Showing even less ’s , it’s a shame such heart-melting beauty effort, “” was originally recorded 15 years ago, and as and ambition cannot be matched elsewhere. a “gift” to fans, here it is again. Her one woman take on the girl-group pop of “I’m Gonna Name-checking Clooney and Obama, “Oh Santa” is almost Be Warm This Winter” is a breeze, convincingly evoking cozy the same song again, only written by Minogue. That its melody memories of the 1960s as well as the season it’s dedicated to. slips into Jingle Bells highlights its shortcomings. By the time The jaunty “wall of sound” production of “White December” one reads that “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is on sounds like a slowed down, bombastic “Tragedy” by Steps, but the track-list one knows exactly what to expect. with added sleigh bells (this is a good thing). Steering clear of the The obligatory covers detract very little from existing over-sized arrangements elsewhere, “” is a signifi- versions. Therefore, disappointment lies with a lack of origi- cant improvement of cover material. Allowing her velvety vocal nality more than it does any technical accomplishments. Her to emote rather than enact, the soft arrangement works well. If take on the post-punk pop classic “” “Oh Santa” re-wrote “Santa Baby,” then her lovely, co-penned (now with ) makes little use of the juxtaposition of and codependent ballad “Cried Out Christmas” rehashes her Minogue’s crisp and perky delivery and Iggy’s more than a 1990 cover of “Tears On My Pillow.” little merry, deep drawl. Recorded separately, their playful Doing its best to erase the disappointment of most of the interaction is a brief glimpse into how reworking such a ubiq- album, “” (with baby sis Dannii) finally heats things uitous composition could have worked out better. Whereas up and delivers the disco blizzard most of her fan-base would the original benefits from a slightly sarcastic and disconnect- have on their wish lists. Panting as though their lives depended ed delivery, as if conveying the rueful task of cleaning up the on it, the footloose energy sounds not dissimilar to the camp and wreckage of last night’s party with a hangover, Minogue opts frisky musical number Meryl Streep’s Madeline Ashton sang in for a faithful karaoke rendition instead. While one couldn’t the film Death Becomes Her. Ticklishly divine, the commanding realistically expect Iggy to offer up a Christmas collaboration chorus is a Christmas 2015 essential. It’s contrived, clichéd, obvi- equivalent to her duet with Nick Cave, it’s a notable missed ous, and all the better for it. opportunity and an example of the risks not being taken — Overall, the lushly orchestrated Kylie Christmas won’t damp- ones she formerly delighted in taking. en the memory of the songs chosen as cover versions, but all Kylie Christmas isn’t completely free of sparkle. “Only You” but two tracks here would dampen an actual Minogue playlist, (featuring ) transforms the Yazoo classic into a which by and large makes it a regrettable turkey. Only the subtle meditative, inspirational lullaby. And if only every song on this touch of “Everyday’s Like Christmas Day” and the steam-train album were in the same vein as “Every Day’s Like Christmas” — touch of “100 Degrees” deliver an acceptable showcase. l it not only justifies, but strengthens her reputation. Beautiful and lilting, it is truly deserving of future classic status. Written by Kylie Christmas is available now.

and the odd choke when he’s sad. It’s a curious kind of realism continued from page 33 and it gives this Fred a bit of je ne sais quoi. dred bus-to-Broadway crowd will love. But if there is any kind of Oozing leading lady dignity and poise, Christine Sherrill’s musical that a non-musical type will like, it is this Kate. It is just Lilli Vanessi is a believable beau and a formidable foe to this funny enough, the dancing is just good enough, the music just Fred. She offers just the right amount of brittle resolve, mak- punchy enough and, quite simply, the sheer joy of the production ing it very believable that she might just be capable of mar- is just infectious enough that it will win them over. rying out of the theater and into a life of domestic pomp and And as for anyone who already digs the genre, well, they may circumstance. Sherrill may need a song or two to warm up her want to consider a sedative with their pre-theater cocktail. voice, but she certainly brings it home with an attractive and Stealing the show is a stunning Robyn Hurder as the young expressive tone when she pulls out the stops to bemoan the tug and vampy Lois Lane, a vintage pin-up come to life. Hurder has a of war in her heart. voice to die-for: jazzy one minute, lyrical the next, full of sweet- Clyde Alves’ Bill Calhoun is a dancing joy to watch and has a ness and yet she can bring the house down on the money notes. nice chemistry with Hurder’s Lois, while Bev Appleton’s long- And then there is her charisma — Hurder doesn’t just own the suffering stage manager Ralph makes for a memorably-comic stage, she consumes it. Expressing an ideal blend of the bub- straight man even in a small role. As Paul, T. Oliver Reid leads bly with the slightly louche, she skillfully keeps her Lois from the big backstage number “It’s Too Hot” with a gorgeously subtle becoming too much of either. voice and style, while Bob Ari and Raymond Jaramillo McLeod And is there any way to separate her persona from the fact play to the crowd with their gangsters First and Second Man. that she is fabulously curvy and proud of it? It is no small thing to But, in all honesty, prizing the individual performances from realize that a good part of the reason she is just so breathtaking this production will never do it justice, because it’s always going as she dances up a storm and drapes herself over the set (and a to be about the spectacle. And even without a Cecil B. DeMille few people in it), is that we have been so starved of realistic phy- budget, director Alan Paul delivers this show in a whirlwind of siques for so long, it is almost shockingly sexy to see one. beautiful, seamless pacing that results in entertainment far big- Another charismatic stand-out here is Douglas Sills, ger and more bountiful than any of its parts. whose Fred Graham is a kind of charmingly flustered alpha. So give your loved ones — and yourself — the one thing they’ll Convincingly crafting a Fred who looks like he loves the stage never find in a big box store: two live hours of song, dance and but is also verging on an age when he needs a few nights in, it’s unstoppable fun. l easy to see why he realizes he’d rather be with Lilli than trolling backstage for chorus girls. Sills also gives his man some interest- Kiss Me, Kate runs to January 3 at the Sidney Harman Hall, 610 BAKER ing quirks — he may certainly be part swashbuckler, but he also F Street NW. Tickets are $44 to $118. Call 202-547-1122 or visit

WILL tends to interrupt himself with the odd chortle when he’s happy shakespearetheatre.org.

METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 35 games

Battle Tested

But here, on the frozen wastelands of Hoth, I watched as they Battlefront is a beautifully faithful brought down one of our monstrous AT-ATs, beat back our advances on their icy base, and successfully launched two cruis- homage to Star Wars, wrapped ers from the planet’s surface. It was time to call in Lord Vader. What should have happened next is Vader and the 501st Legion storm the rebel base in one of the Empire’s biggest vic- around a fairly traditional shooter tories during the Galactic Civil War. Except, that’s not what happened — what actually took place was much more embar- by RHUARIDH MARR rassing. A few minutes after successfully summoning the clearly asthmatic Darth Vader, I watched as his lifeless body slumped S MY FEET CRUNCHED THROUGH THE into one of the many passageways scarring the surface of the snow, I’d had enough. The Rebel scum were battlefield and a nameless Rebel sharpshooter teabagged him ARTS going to pay for what they’d done. I’d already before running offscreen. A endured the crushing defeat of an Imperial That’s the thrill of Star Wars: Battlefront ( ), a con- squadron of starfighters and only just managed to obliterate the veniently-timed third title in the Battlefront series. Utilizing five

Rebel Alliance in the dry caves and arid landscapes of Tatooine. locations from the Star Wars universe — Hoth, Tatooine, Endor, ELECTRONIC

36 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM Sullust and Jakkum — it allows players to change the narrative Wars-appropriate makeovers. Supremacy tasks either side with course of some of the sci-fi series’ most thrilling large-scale capturing and controlling five key locations, Cargo drops valu- battles. Whether it’s TIE fighters versus X-Wings in the skies able cargo boxes into the battlefield and tasks each team with over Sullust’s lava fields or Leia versus Boba Fett in the jungles stealing them from the other side, Droid Run has teams trying of Endor, Battlefront is both a reimagining and recreation of the to hold onto three Power Droids, and Heroes vs Villains puts intense thrills and gloriously cinematic action of the beloved famous characters from the series onto either team and tasks Star Wars franchise. players with keeping them alive. There’s also Fighter Squadron It helps that developer DICE absolutely nailed the aesthetic. mode, air-based battles (sorry, no space warfare here) featuring Any casual Star Wars fan would instantly recognize the char- intense dogfights (Hero characters here include Vader’s ship acters, ships, guns, explosions and locales on offer here, which and the Millennium Falcon). Arguably the most thrilling modes are all beautifully rendered in a custom-built graphics engine. are the ones with the most players — up to 40 in total during Battlefront is arguably the prettiest shooter currently available, Supremacy and Walker Assault. As ships fly overhead, laser fire from the red and green laser fire that produces just the right fills the screen, and various walkers stomp around, they best cap- amount of sparks on contact, to the slightly wobbly maneuver- ture the chaotic action of the films’ numerous battle sequences. ing of the AT-ATs and smaller AT-STs on the terrain, to the Other modes feel more like standard filler, but what’s here works way your chosen character leaves footprints in the snowfields of — and when it’s on form, it works really well. Hoth, this is a faithfully designed recreation of Star Wars’ vari- If you’re not interested in playing with quite so many other ous worlds. people, you can attempt the closest thing Battlefront has to The sound, too, mostly gets it right. There’s the “pew pew” single player. Training missions ease you into controlling the of laser fire, the almost screaming as a TIE-fighter is shot and game’s various vehicles (the Speeder section on Endor is par- flies out of control before exploding, the deafening crash and ticularly good fun), but it’s Survival and Battles where you’ll rumble of each weighty step by an AT-AT — it’s all here. There’s spend most of your time. Survival is particularly good. Playable even John Williams’ iconic score to fully aid in your nostalgia. either alone or with a friend, you’ll face off against wave after However, DICE has also employed an orchestra to create its wave of increasingly difficult enemies, be they fighters, walkers, own instrumental and interstitial music and, while it’s lovely in or bipeds with guns. These battles change based on location and its own right, it just can’t mesh with the immediately identifiable make for scrappy, intense bouts. Battles are more standard fare, sounds of Williams’ work. Voice acting, too, is about as accurate putting you head-to-head against either a friend or the computer as the series’ Stormtroopers. NPCs and characters added by (plus plenty of bots) in typical deathmatches — though Hero DICE are well-acted, but characters from the films are presented Battles let you play as Luke, Leia, Han Solo and others, which is either with audio taken directly from said films or with terrible a lot of fun if you love a particular character. attempts to mimic them — I can’t tell which, as the quality is so If you’re not the sort who loves the deep customization of bizarrely downgraded in comparison with every other piece of Call of Duty and other shooters, Battlefront is definitely for you. spoken dialogue. There’s an almost paltry number of guns on offer, with lim- Not that you’ll hear a great deal of dialogue, except for when ited scope for changing loadouts beyond picking a firearm and hero characters enter the battlefield and promise to help shift backing it up with a number of secondary weapons — such as the tides of battle. There is no single-player campaign in Star explosives, charges, turrets and other such items. Players can Wars: Battlefront. No cutscenes, no narrative, no connected mis- change the way their character looks and create several differ- sions where you battle through the films like there were in the ent variations of loadouts for different maps, but there’s limited original games from the early ’00s. This is multiplayer only, for depth here — though the levelling system constantly teases more better or worse. powerful items, so there’s definitely an incentive to keep playing. In that regard, though, Star Wars: Battlefront mostly suc- You’ll start with just a gun, but the moment you see someone ceeds. By not getting bogged down with trying to stitch a nar- throw a devastatingly powerful grenade you’ll want to unlock rative together in a universe crammed with films, TV series, it. Scattered around the battlefield are various powerups, too, comics, books and billions of gigabytes of fan fiction, they could which grant temporarily powerful weapons such as rockets with instead try their darndest to create an engaging, addicting mul- limited ammo, shields to defend your allies, or the ability to jump tiplayer experience. What it really boils down to, though, is into the boots of a hero character or into the cockpit of a fighter. whether or not you’re a fan of DICE’s Battlefield franchise. If And that’s really the beauty of Battlefront. It’s not a deep you are, perfect, as what Star Wars: Battlefront represents is a experience, but it’s a fun one. The novelty of the Star Wars uni- watered-down, reskinned version of that long-running Call of verse still hasn’t faded in my time with the game, and jumping Duty rival. into battle as Darth Vader — choke holding and throwing my Again, though, that’s not entirely a bad thing. Battlefield has light saber with gay abandon — or screaming through the skies always excelled in large-scale, vehicle-rich warfare, and that in a X-Wing still elicits a gleeful smile. As I watched Vader lie translates perfectly to Battlefront. There are a plethora of modes lifeless on Hoth, I wasn’t deterred. I wanted to jump back in on offer, from standard team deathmatches where you’ll kill and do more, shoot better, push harder, take the planet for my as many of the opposing team as possible, to more Star Wars- team. As an Imperial Star Destroyer slid into view overhead and inspired modes, such as the aforementioned Hoth battle, known the familiar green beams of my teammates lit up the battlefield, as Walker Assault. Those on the Rebel Alliance will work to I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if the slow the advancement of the Empire forces by bringing down Empire had won. Then, the match finished, the game dropped AT-ATs, activating beacons, and otherwise murdering storm- me into the Rebel Alliance for a slog through Endor’s dense

ARTS troopers. If they can successfully keep the Empire at bay, three woods, and my allegiance instantly switched. Time to see if Luke ships will evacuate and the game will be won. If they fail, well, Skywalker can last any longer. l it’s explosion time for those poor souls.

ELECTRONIC There are other familiar modes that have been given Star Star Wars: Battlefront is available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 37 38 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM NIGHT LIFE LISTINGS

THURS., 12.03.15

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

ANNIE’S/ANNIE’S UPSTAIRS 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella Artois, $4 House Wines, $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, $4 Manhattans and Vodka Martinis

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 • Ripped Hot Body Contest at midnight, hosted by Miss Kristina Kelly and 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 Trainer and Puppy Mosh and Social • Jocks and puppy gear drink free rail and domestic, 8-10pm • Mid-Atlantic Kennel Korps on Club Bar — $2 Draughts at Club Bar

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

METROWEEKLY.COM 39 40 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM scene

Number Nine Saturday, November 28

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

Photography by Ward Morrison

t GREEN LANTERN FRI., 12.04.15 DC9 NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR TOWN PATIO COBALT/30 DEGREES Happy Hour, 4-9pm • 1940 9th St. NW DJ Matt Bailey • Videos, Open 6pm • No Cover Drag Yourself to Brunch at Ladies Drink Free Power 9 1/2 Happy Hour, 5-8pm • Dancing • Beat the Clock before 10pm • Cover after Level One, 11am-2pm and Hour, 4-5pm • Shirtless Open at 5pm • Happy dcnine.com Happy Hour — $2 (5-6pm), 10pm (entry through Town) 2-4pm • Featuring Kristina Thursday, 10-11pm • DJs Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, $3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm) • Kelly and the Ladies of BacK2bACk 5-9pm • Friday Night DC EAGLE Buckets of Beer $15 ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS Illusion • Bottomless Videos with resident DJ Fetish Fridays — $2 off All male, nude dancers, Mimosas and Bloody JR.’S Shea Van Horn • VJ • all prices for guys in their NUMBER NINE hosted by LaTroya Nicole Marys • Happy Hour: All You Can Drink for $15, Expanded craft beer selec- fetish gear • Beltway Open 5pm • Happy Hour: • Ladies of Ziegfeld’s, $3 Miller Lite, $4 Rail, 5-8pm • $3 Rail Vodka tion • No Cover Bears on Club Bar — $2 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm 9pm • Rotating Hosts • $5 Call, 4-9pm • Rumba Highballs, $2 JR.’s drafts, Bud Draughts at Club Bar • No Cover DJ in Secrets • VJ Tre in Latina: Latin Night Dance 8pm-close • Throwback ANNIE’S Ziegfeld’s • Cover 21+ Party, 10pm-close • Drink Thursday featuring rock/ 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR TOWN specials all night • Doors pop retro hits $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • DC Bear Crue Happy open 10pm • $7 cover SAT., 12.05.15 Artois, $4 House Wines, Karaoke, 8pm Hour, 6-11pm • $3 Rail, before midnight, $10 cover NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, $3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles after • 21+ 9 1/2 Beat the Clock Happy Hour $4 Manhattans and Vodka GREEN LANTERN • Free Pizza, 7pm • No Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), Martinis • Upstairs open, Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5 cover before 9:30pm • DC9 drink, 3-9pm • $5 Absolut $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of 5-11pm Smirnoff, all flavors, all 21+ • Drag Show starts at 1940 9th St. NW Beer $15 • Drag Bingo night long • DC Otter Den 10:30pm • Hosted by Lena & Tito’s, $3 Miller Lite Happy Hour, 4-6pm • after 9pm • Expanded COBALT/30 DEGREES presents Otter Crossing Lett and featuring Miss dcnine.com craft beer selection • No NUMBER NINE All You Can Drink Happy DC, 9pm-close • $5 Cover Tatianna, Shi-Queeta- Cover • Music videos Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Hour • $15 Rail and after 10pm Lee, Epiphany B. Lee DC EAGLE featuring various DJs drink, 5-9pm • No Cover Domestic, $21 Call & and Ba’Naka • DJ Wess Centaur MC on Club Bar Imports, 6-9pm • Guys JR.’S upstairs, DJs BacK2bACk — $2 Bud Draughts on ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS Night Out • Free Rail Happy Hour: 2-for-1, downstairs • GoGo Boys Club Bar All male, nude dancers • Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6 4-9pm • $2 Skyy Highballs after 11pm • Doors open Shirtless Thursday • DJ • Belvedere Vodka Drinks all and $2 Drafts, 10pm- at 10pm • For those 21 9pm • Cover 21+ night • DJ MadScience midnight • Retro Friday • and over, $10 • For those upstairs • DJ Keenan Orr $5 Coronas, $8 Vodka Red 18-20, $15 • 18+ downstairs • $10 cover Bulls, 9pm-close 10pm-1am, $5 after 1am • 21+

METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 41 FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR NUMBER NINE SUN., 12.06.15 Broadway Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Brunch, 10am-3pm drink, 3-9pm • No Cover 9 1/2 • Starring Freddie’s Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Broadway Babes • Crazy TOWN drink, 3-9pm • Multiple Hour, 4-7pm • Freddie’s DJ Matt Bailer, 11pm TVs showing movies, Follies Drag Show, • Music and video shows, sports • Expanded 8-10pm, hosted by Miss downstairs by DJ Wess craft beer selection • No Destiny B. Childs • No • CRACK Special Drag Cover Cover Show: Christmas with the Camps, 10pm • Featuring COBALT/30 DEGREES GREEN LANTERN Summer Camp, Chris $4 Stoli, Stoli flavors Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Farris, Karl Marxxx and and Miller Lite all day $5 Bacardi, all flavors, other assorted CRACK • Homowood Karaoke, all night long • Rewind misfits • Doors open 9pm 10pm-close • No Cover Request Line Dance Party: • $12 Cover • 21+ • 21+ Hits of the ‘80s and ‘90s, 9pm-close TOWN PATIO DC9 Open 10pm (entry through 1940 9th St. NW JR.’S Town) • $12 Cover Happy Hour, 2-6pm • $4 Coors, $5 Vodka dcnine.com Highballs, $7 Vodka Red ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS Bulls Men of Secrets, 9pm • DC EAGLE Guest dancers • Ladies Sunday Night at the Meat NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR of Illusion with host Ella Rack — Buffet, 2-7pm Guest DJs • Zing Zang Fitzgerald • Doors at 9 • Sunday Football • DJ Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer, p.m., first show at 11:30 Happy Jack — House and House Rail Drinks and p.m. % DJs • Doors open Techno Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm • 8pm • Cover 21+ Buckets of Beer, $15 FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Champagne Brunch Buffet, 10am-3pm • Crazy Hour,

42 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM 4-7pm • Freddie’s Zodiac NUMBER NINE MON., 12.07.15 DC9 NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR DC9 Monthly Contest, hosted Pop Goes the World with 1940 9th St. NW Beat the Clock Happy Hour 1940 9th St. NW by Miss Regina Jozet Wes Della Volla at 9:30pm 9 1/2 Happy Hour, 5-8pm • — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), Happy Hour, 5-8pm • Adams, 8pm • Karaoke, • Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any dcnine.com $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of dcnine.com 10pm-1am any drink, 3-9pm • No drink, 5-9pm • Multiple Beer $15 • Texas Hold’em Cover TVs showing movies, DC EAGLE Poker, 8pm • Dart Boards FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR GREEN LANTERN shows, sports • Expanded Sports Night • Monday Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Happy Hour, 4-9pm • ROCK HARD SUNDAYS craft beer selection • No Night Football • Happy NUMBER NINE Karaoke, 8pm Mama’s Trailer Park @THE HOUSE Cover Hour, 8-10pm • Jersey Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Karaoke, 9:30pm-close NIGHTCLUB Night — support your drink, 5-9pm • No Cover GREEN LANTERN 3530 Georgia Ave. NW ANNIE’S favorite team • Free Pool Happy Hour all night long, JR.’S Diverse group of all male, 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • all night • $1 Bud and Bud 4pm-close Sunday Funday • Liquid all nude dancers • Doors $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella Light Draughts TUES., 12.08.15 Brunch • Doors open at open 7pm • Shows all Artois, $4 House Wines, JR.’S 1pm • $2 Coors Lights and night until close, starting $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR 9 1/2 Birdie La Cage Show, $3 Skyy (all flavors), all at 7:30pm • $5 Domestic $4 Manhattans and Vodka Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any 10:30pm • Underground day and night Beer, $6 Imports • Happy Martinis Karaoke, 8pm drink, 5-9pm • Multiple (Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock), Hour 7-8pm • $10 cover TVs showing movies, 9pm-close • DJ Wes NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR • For Table Reservations, COBALT/30 DEGREES GREEN LANTERN shows, sports • Expanded Della Volla • 2-for-1, 5pm- Drag Brunch, hosted by 202-487-6646 • rock- Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 Happy Hour all night long craft beer selection • No midnight Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am- harddc.com Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm • Michael’s Open Mic Cover 3pm • $20 Brunch Buffet • 3rd Annual Mr. and Night Karaoke, 9:30pm- NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR • House Rail Drinks, Zing ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS Miss Cobalt Pageant, close ANNIE’S Beat the Clock Happy Hour Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie All male, nude dancers • hosted by Kristina Kelly • 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), Beer and Mimosas, $4, Decades of Dance • DJ $50 Entry Fee • $500 Cash JR.’S $4 Stella Artois, $4 House $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of 11am-close • Buckets of Tim-e in Secrets • Doors Prize • Doors open at Happy Hour: 2-for-1, Wines, $4 Stolichnaya Beer $15 • Karaoke and Beer, $15 9pm • Cover 21+ 10pm • $3 Skyy Cocktails, 4-9pm • Showtunes Songs Cocktails, $4 Manhattans Drag Bingo $8 Skyy and Red Bull • & Singalongs, 9pm-close and Vodka Martinis $8 Long Islands • No • DJ James • $3 Draft NUMBER NINE Cover, 18+ Pints, 8pm-midnight COBALT/30 DEGREES Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Cobalt will be closed drink, 5-9pm • No Cover • for its annual Employee Safe Word: A Gay Spelling Holiday Party Bee, 8-11pm • Prizes to

METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 43 the top three spellers • DC9 NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR After 9pm, $3 Absolut, 1940 9th St. NW SmartAss Trivia Night, Bulleit & Stella Happy Hour, 5-8pm • 8pm and 9pm • Prizes dcnine.com include bar tabs and tick- ets to shows at the 9:30 WED., 12.09.15 FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Club • $15 Buckets of Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • $6 Beer for SmartAss Teams 9 1/2 Burgers • Drag Bingo only • Bring a new team Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Night, hosted by Ms. members and each get a drink, 5-9pm • Multiple Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm free $10 Dinner TVs showing movies, • Bingo prizes • Karaoke, shows, sports • Expanded 10pm-1am NUMBER NINE craft beer selection • No Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Cover GREEN LANTERN drink, 5-9pm • No Cover Happy Hour all night long, ANNIE’S 4pm-close ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • All male, nude dancers • $4 Stella Artois, $4 House JR.’S Shirtless Night, 10-11pm, Wines, $4 Stolichnaya Buy 1, Get 1 Free, 4-9pm 12-12:30am • Military Cocktails, $4 Manhattans • Trivia with MC Jay Ray, Night, no cover with and Vodka Martinis 8pm • The Feud: Drag military ID • DJ Don T. in Trivia, hosted by Ba’Naka, Secrets • 9pm • Cover COBALT/30 DEGREES 10-11pm, with a $200 21+ l Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 prize • $2 JR.’s Drafts and Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm $4 Vodka ($2 with College • Gay Men’s Chorus Open ID or JR.’s Team Shirt) Mic Night and Wednesday Night Karaoke, 10pm • Hosted by Miss India Larelle Houston • $4 Stoli and Stoli Flavors and Miller Lite • No Cover • 21+

44 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 3, 2015 45 “We have made extraordinary progress in the fight against HIV since that time, but much work remains to be done.”

—President BARACK OBAMA, in his annual message marking World AIDS Day. “On this day, let us pay tribute to those whom HIV/AIDS took from us too soon,” he continued, “and let us recognize those who continue to fight for a world free from AIDS.”

“I don’t have it... Do you?” —Ronald Reagan’s Deputy Press Secretary LARRY SPEAKES, responding in 1982 to a question from Lester Kinsolving about AIDS, which had killed almost 1,000 people by that point. Speakes and other journalists then laugh about “gay plague.” It would take three more years for President Reagan to publicly address the issue. The exchange is part of the documentary When AIDS Was Funny posted by Variety.

“For those of us who watched helplessly as thousands died, the opportunity to try to develop an HIV cure is truly amazing.”

—PAUL VOLBERDING, Professor of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco, who will direct amfAR’s new Institute program, a $20 million initiative which will support scientists in developing a cure for HIV.

“The fact that two thirds of the men we polled said that stigma was strongest in the gay community really saddens me.” —SHAUN GRIFFIN, executive director for external affairs at the Terrence Higgins Trust, in a statement following a poll that revealed two-thirds of British HIV positive men had experienced stigma from the LGBTI community.

“I haven’t come out because I am out. I live out.”

—Two and a Half Men star HOLLAND TAYLOR, speaking with WNYC. The actress confirmed that she is in a relationship with a woman — “the most wonderful, extraordinary thing that could have ever possibly happened in my life” — and that most of her relationships have been with women.

46 DECEMBER 3, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM