Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Randy Shulman
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
Volume 22 / Issue 39
ART DIRECTOR
Todd Franson
MANAGING EDITOR
Rhuaridh Marr
SENIOR EDITOR
John Riley
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Doug Rule
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim
NEWS
10
by John Riley
by Doug Rule
Community Calendar
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS
Scott G. Brooks, Christopher Cunetto
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Gordon Ashenhurst, Sean Bugg, Connor J. Hogan,
Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield
WEBMASTER
David Uy
FEATURES
14
Doug Schantz
Interview by John Riley
20
22
24
by Doug Rule
STAGE
31
the
by Doug Rule
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Julian Vankim
PATRON SAINT
Eric Thomas
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Todd Franson
METRO WEEKLY
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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 sexual orientation of
such person or organization.
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
by Doug Rule
Folgers
A Midsummer Nights Dream
by Kate Wingfield
GAMES
33
NIGHTLIFE
37
SCENE
44
46
Last Word
by Rhuaridh Marr
LGBT
News
Angelo
Gay Republicans
React to IOWA
Whether hoping for a Rubio surge or a Trump
rebound, LGBT issues bear little weight on gay
Republicans choice of candidate
by John Riley
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
LGBTNews
such as, Dr. Ben Carson sat on several boards of directors at a
time when they passed LGBT nondiscrimination policies.
Its important to point out that Donald Trump is on record
as saying he supports amending the Civil Rights Act to include
sexual orientation nondiscrimination.... You have Gov. Kasich,
who has attended a same-sex marriage. All of those things show,
at the very least, a sympathy for and an understanding of some
nuances with LGBT rights, even if candidates are not supportive
of, say, marriage equality.
But Angelo also notes that most LGBT conservatives are
not single-issue voters, swayed only by a candidates support
for pro-equality initiatives. Its a common refrain among many
gays who identify with the GOP on bigger issues ranging from
national security to taxes to health care.
Matthew Shuman, 27, of Washington, is a Rubio supporter
who says the senators outreach to millennial voters and his
reasonable stance on immigration, compared to other GOP
candidates, won him over. Rubios performance in Iowa met
his expectations, though he also adds that even a poor showing
would not have changed his candidate preference.
Sen. Rubio could come last in Iowa, and I would still support him, Shuman says. After all, Santorum won the Iowa
caucus, and, fortunately, he is not in the White House.
When it comes to LGBT issues, Shuman notes Rubio believes
sexual preference is something youre born with, even though
he also believes that the definition of marriage should be
between one man and one woman. But Rubios stance is consistent with Shumans own upbringing as a Christian conservative. Furthermore, he adds, Rubio believes that states should be
able to define marriage for themselves, without intrusion from
federal courts.
Sen. Rubio gives respect to all, and when he met me, an
openly gay Republican, he had no issues with that, Shuman
says. I think Marco Rubio is a very sincere and genuine man.
I dont think he is going to undo any of the pro-LGBT policies
that have come out the past few years. He did come out and
make a statement that he doesnt believe the courts should be
legislating, and I agree with that. I think many people in the gay
Arena, Constellation, the Shakespeare and Signature are among the most
nominated for the 2016 Helen Hayes Awards
By Doug Rule
ONSTELLATION THEATRE COMPANYS GAYfriendly puppet musical Avenue Q, a sold-out phenomenon over the summer, is now a Helen Hayes
Award-nominated phenomenon, too. The gay-friendly puppet musical snagged 14 nods, more than any other show
in the 2016 slate, announced Monday, Feb. 1, a week late due to
winter storm Jonas.
Avenue Q dominated in the Helen categories in this years
8
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
LGBTCommunityCalendar
Metro Weeklys Community Calendar highlights important events in the D.C.-area
LGBT community, from alternative social events to volunteer opportunities.
Event information should be sent by email to calendar@MetroWeekly.com.
Deadline for inclusion is noon of the Friday before Thursdays publication.
Questions about the calendar may be directed to the
Metro Weekly office at 202-638-6830 or
the calendar email address.
THURSDAY, FEB. 4
FRIDAY, FEB. 5
SATURDAY, FEB. 6
WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
WOMENS LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women,
13-21, interested in leadership development. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth
Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163,
catherine.chu@smyal.org.
10
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice
session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr.
SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5
SUNDAY, FEB. 7
ADVENTURING outdoors group
hikes an easy 3.5 miles along the
Georgetown Branch Trail between
the Bethesda and Silver Spring Metro
Stations. Refreshments in Silver
Spring follow. Bring beverages, lunch,
$2 trip fee. Meet at 11 a.m. at the top
of the Bethesda Metro escalators, at
the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue
and Old Georgetown Road. Craig, 202462-0535. adventuring.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive
and radically inclusive church holds
services at 11:30 a.m. 2217 Minnesota
Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice
session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr.,
SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
FRIENDS MEETING OF
WASHINGTON meets for worship,
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
11
metro area. This group will be meeting once a month. For information on
location and time, visit H2gether.com.
Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee DropIn for the Senior LGBT Community.
10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202682-2245, thedccenter.org.
GLBT fellowship, offers gospel worship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional worship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW.
202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING
invites LGBTQ families and individuals of all creeds and cultures to join
the church. Services 9:15 and 11:15
a.m. 10309 New Hampshire Ave.
uucss.org.
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH
TUESDAY, FEB. 9
The DC Center holds a meeting of its
MONDAY, FEB. 8
WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio
Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
METROWEEKLY.COM
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
WEEKLY EVENTS
12
testing and STI screening and treatment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
LGBT focused meeting every
Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. Georges
Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave.,
Arlington, just steps from Virginia
Square Metro. For more info. call
Dick, 703-521-1999. Handicapped
accessible. Newcomers welcome.
liveandletliveoa@gmail.com.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5
p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for
youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,
410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@smyal.org.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ
YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL,
410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy
Chu, 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10
RAINBOW RESPONSE, a coalition dedicated to combating LGBTQ
intimate partner violence, holds its
monthly meeting at The DC Center
on the second Wednesday of every
month. 6-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
WEEKLY EVENTS
AD LIB, a group for freestyle conversation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,
Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome.
For more information, call Fausto
Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
13
Neighborhood
trophy
In 2007, Doug Schantz shelved a career in advertising to open a gay sports bar.
Nine years later, Nellies is a thriving, U Street institution.
Inter view by John Riley
Photography by Todd Franson
ELLIES OWNER DOUG SCHANTZ KEEPS THE ATMOsphere at his bar upbeat and lively. But even he was unprepared for the how rowdy his patrons became when Barack
Obama was elected president over John McCain in 2008.
We had only been open a year, and we were just hitting our
stride, says Schantz. And people knew we had thirty TVs.
We were packed to the point that there were people standing
on the stairs. [Obama] won, and everyone ran out in the street,
not paying their tabs, taking all of my glassware, with beer
bottles, running down the street, screaming.
After the revelry subsided, Schantz was able to herd the
tab-skippers back inside. He wasnt so lucky when it came to
the glassware.
We found some five days later, down the street, like, Hey,
theres a Nellies cup, he laughs.
In the nine years since Nellies first opened, Schantz has
emphasized its versatility. Besides beer and spirits, Nellies
touts its full-time kitchen staff and a menu that goes beyond
fried finger food. Patrons can also take part in a variety of
nightly events, each bringing their own unique crowds. Mondays
belong to poker players and drag bingo and karaoke have a foothold
on Tuesdays. Wednesdays draw the brainy and the quick-witted for
weekly trivia night. Saturdays and Sundays offer the famous drag
brunches, sold out a month in advance.
The thing about Nellies that I didnt expect to be so successful
is that every night is busy, but with a completely different group
of people, Schantz says. We just did, with that snowstorm that
happened, a What the Duck? onesie party. It was packed here.
And the people who you havent seen for a while were here, lining
up, just wearing onesies. And walking out in the snow in onesies.
Meanwhile, in the dining room, were watching this exciting
playoff game between the Patriots and the Broncos. Off the charts
14
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
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FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
I said, I can fly back to Emporia and tell Dad if you want.
And she said, No, let me do it. And when she told him, he was
fine with it. So Im very, very lucky. I have a very loving, close
family. So many people dont, and thats sad. Not lately, not as
many, but Ive heard some really sad things. And I know friends
who have bad situations.
I also have one brother that Im incredibly close to, Tim. And
I had told him earlier. My partner and I lived in a fantastic house
that had two bedrooms, and one bedroom was made up like it
was my room, and it actually was not. And my brother came into
the house, walked right to the back room, because theres a big
master bedroom where we clearly slept, and the back bedroom
had a little bed that was almost a cot. He sat down and said, So,
this is your room and fell through. And he looked at me and
said, Yeah, you sleep here. And thats basically how I told my
brother.
MW: Tell me about your first experience in a gay bar.
SCHANTZ: That was very uneasy, because I wasnt out. It was in
Chicago, called Sidetrack. And Roscoes I actually went to
both that night. It was frightening, but it was also enlightening.
It was just refreshing to see that there were people who were gay
and having a good time.
MW: How long was your first relationship?
SCHANTZ: I was working on advertising for Ace Hardware. And
I met a guy who was my first boyfriend Tim about a month
into it. We just started to hang out together, and became a
couple. We moved after about a year to New York together, as a
couple. And so, throughout the time I lived in New York, for six
years, I was coupled with this person.
In New York, we had a great life. We went to all of the different clubs there, it was an exciting time to live in New York the
Roxy and all these places were just opening up. It was a very
club-oriented, edgy time. Wed go out to the Hamptons, wed go
out to Fire Island, and I had a great experience, right off the bat.
But I had never really experienced the single life, as a new
gay. We are still very close, but we just decided to part. He ended
up staying in New York, and I moved here to D.C. in 1995.
MW: What was your first impression of Washington?
SCHANTZ: I loved it. When we broke up, I wanted to move back to
a city like Chicago, but that wasnt so cold. I wanted rowhouses
and such. So I came here. Tim actually came first, and thought he
might move here and work on a political campaign. Then I came
and fell in love with the city. I got a job at Earle Palmer Brown,
and then I got a job at RTC Direct, which is in Georgetown. And
loved it, and loved the gay scene.
When I decided to move here, I lived at 17th and Q. I could
literally see Trumpets from my window. And JR.s was right
around the corner. Cobalt had just opened up. It was really fun,
we went all the time. I probably went to JR.s five days a week,
just to hang out there. I had lots of friends. Id throw parties all
the time. I was famous for Sunday brunches where people would
come, but wed never have any food. It was just a huge vat of
Bloody Mary mix. That was breakfast.
The way I met some of my best friends, who are still my
friends 21 years later, is I walked through JR.s the second week I
lived here, and handed out my card, and said, Im going to have
a brunch. Please come.
MW: When did you first decide you wanted to go into the nightlife
business?
SCHANTZ: Well, back in the day when I was in my fraternity, even
when I was in high school, I was very social. I was the Social
Chairman for my fraternity for two-and-a-half years, and youre
only supposed to be it for one semester. But I was good at it.
and they like your bar, you win. So one of the strategies behind
Nellies was to open a sports bar that would have a captive audience.
When I started to really look at the sports bars in D.C., there
were none. Back when I opened Nellies in 2007 though I
started in 2005 there was ESPN Zone and all the big ones
downtown, and there were several in Virginia, but none of them
had the personality that I wanted to portray.
MW: What were you aiming for?
SCHANTZ: More of a neighborhood bar, with good food. You
know, fresh salads, and creative items and wraps, and no one
had that. We also have 25 to 50 people call in for carry-out. I
guarantee you other sports bars, besides for big events, dont
have that as a regular restaurant-type thing. That was my sports
bar idea, overlapping the neighborhood idea, capitalizing on the
Chicago things I saw, and so this is a perfect opportunity to have
this corner bar, here in D.C., where the neighborhood literally
grew up around it.
MW: Where did the name Nellies originate from?
SCHANTZ: Nellie is actually my great-grandmother. Shes my
grandfathers mother. I did not know her. She came from another time. Her mothers name was actually Nellie, and they were
a high Victorian family. Nellie was a total character in terms of
social [situations], and just had a lot of fun in life. Aunt Bertha,
her younger sister, would tell me stories about that.
Also, the name Nellie, you know, if youre nelly, youre not
good at sports, and I thought, This is fabulous. I can name it
after a real person, and it can also have a secondary meaning
thats fun. Now, I will say, when I first opened Nellies, there
were a couple of people who emailed me or wrote me that I
was taking gay sports back a step. Because insinuating that gay
sports people are nelly. And I wrote back: Im proud of my
great-grandmothers name, and hope to see you at Nellies. You
cant argue with them. Ironically, one of those people [who complained] is now one of our better customers.
MW: Some sports bars make money, others dont. What is it that
sets Nellies apart that allows this business model to flourish,
beyond what youve already mentioned?
SCHANTZ: Basically, Nellies is a gay neighborhood sports bar. So
we have captured all three of those audiences, and given that my
background is marketing, in the gay aspect, Im gay, I have gay
friends, and its name speaks for itself. The neighborhood aspect,
were in this neighborhood and its become a place for people
to have dinner, watch TV, socialize with their friends. So thats
another group of people who may not be gay, but also fill seats.
And the sports bar aspect, I didnt hang my hat on just that. So
the first two help to balance the entire business model.
I tell my staff Were not ever advertising for the Super Bowl,
were not advertising on New Years Eve, were not advertising
on playoffs. We dont need to put ads in a magazine saying,
Come to Nellies for the Super Bowl. Because we dont need
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
17
to, thats low-hanging fruit. But, like you said, Saturday mornings
in the middle of June are pretty dead, theres not a lot of sports
going on. So you have to fill that with other things, which are the
neighborhood aspect, or whatever we have going on.
MW: What do you attribute to your success? Do you feel you have
to compete for customers with other gay bars?
SCHANTZ: The key to success of a marketer is not to convince
people who arent your target to become your target. Its to identify your target, and get their friends or like-minded persons to
come. So thats what we do. As far as competition goes, I focus
on what Nellies purpose is. Of course Im aware of whats going
on outside of my business, but I dont consider any of the gay bar
or any of the neighborhood bars or any of the sports bars specific
competition.
Look at the neighborhood. This was a field, now its luxury
condos over here. Weve got a movie theater, theres a Whole
Foods going in. So we definitely arent the lone cruise ship out
here, weve got to adapt to what the clientele is, and what the
neighborhood is. You want to make sure youre keeping up with
wildly successful. And Team DC has grown with us. And thats
a very good example of a group that benefitted from Nellies
being open, and us benefitting from all the leagues they come in
contact with.
MW: What do you see in the future? Is there any project you have
your eye on, or something that you think is a good idea on the
horizon?
SCHANTZ: Yes, I think that Im a very conservative person in
terms of opening a lot of people are saying you should open
a second or third Nellies, or in a different city, or what have
you and I look back over the nine years, and we have this solid
business model. In the nine years, Ive purchased the building,
Ive paid back all the investors. Im set, probably, to do something else, and I have a few ideas. There are things in the works.
MW: Is that still on the table, the idea of opening in another city?
SCHANTZ: It could be. It could be. I have different options. Its
nice to have options.
MW: Whats the best party youve ever thrown?
SCHANTZ: The best party would be theres a lot that were
unique but I guess Nats Night OUT is a good
one. That basically brought all these people
here, who were coming from a game, and leavTheres cer tain par ts of Nellies that are just
ing together, and having a great time. In the
magical. When people are gathered together
summertime, we did Guil-Tea, the tea dance,
that was a really good one. And that was with
in the dining room, and theres an exciting
Shea Van Horn, whos incredibly talented and
game, and everyones chanting and
a good friend, and we hit it out of the part with
Guil-Tea. It was just a timely party.
screaming its just amazing.
MW: And the worst?
SCHANTZ: We were giving away a free piece of
pie Thanksgiving week, with a promotion of
the times, and what youre offering. If were just a sports bar, we Just come in, and youll get a free piece of pie. And so I bought
probably wouldnt have drag bingo, because thats really not a 300 pies. [Laughs.] And I thought for sure it would work. I gave
sport. But you have to adapt and listen to your customer base and away like three slices.
see what their needs are.
So every time a friend would come over, or the kitchen crew
was leaving, or the servers, Id say, Take a pie with you. And
MW: On the topic of adaptation, what do you say to people who
comment that Nellies is attracting an increasingly straight crowd? they were everywhere, all over the walk-in, they were back in
SCHANTZ: Well, Marketing 101 is first you want to make sure
the food cabinets. We had pies left over for about two weeks. It
you have a solid customer base. Everybody who works here was a nightmare. And so my friend, Eric Thomas, who passed
has worked here a long time. So what we do with Nellies is we away, was one of my dear best friends. He was just very to the
deliver great service, a friendly atmosphere, great food, all that. point. He turned and said, They cant all be winners. [Laughs.]
Thats going to appeal to, hopefully, everybody.
MW: Everyone was on their diet.
We have a thing called Join Our Team, where people fill SCHANTZ: Now, if they come up with a vodka pie, Im going to go
out their name, their address, their birthday. And its a very back to that promotion, and do a free slice of vodka pie. And itll
successful program. We send out about 1,500 birthday cards be fantastic.
a month, and we get about 35 to 40 percent of them back. My MW: What are your plans for Super Bowl Sunday?
mother and I and our friends who were helping me during those SCHANTZ: Were going to be open. We have $15 buckets all day.
first few days were saying, when people were coming in to fill Theres not a lot to say. Were out there. People know were here
them out, were opening a straight-friendly gay bar. So if Im as a sports bar. I just hope its an exciting game. Like the first
going to open something thats a neighborhood bar, its going to playoff game versus the second playoff game, its fun when its
include all types of people. And the customer base here mirrors really exciting.
the staff: theres women, theres men, every minority. Every walk
Theres certain parts of Nellies that are just magical, and one
of life is represented in both the staff and our customer base.
of them is when people are gathered together in the dining room,
MW: Whats your relationship like with Team DC?
and theres an exciting game, like the World Cup or something,
SCHANTZ: Its very good. Brent Minor and I are friends. Hes and everyones chanting and screaming its just amazing. I
someone who, at the beginning, when I opened, the first thing meet people on the street who know that I own Nellies, and
we did was Nats Night OUT, and we were packed, and we didnt theyll say, I just go there, and Im happy. Its a happy, fun
know what we were doing. It was a disaster. [Laughs.] It wasnt a place. l
disaster it was just fun, pure fun. Weve done Nats Night OUT
for nine years in a row. I invested in t-shirts so that everybodys Nellies Sports Bar is located at 900 U St. NW, and will be open
wearing Nellies one, to get the Nellies name and brand out on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. For more
there, and two, to let people proudly walk around at the Nats information and daily hours, call 202-332-6355 or visit nelliessgame to be identified as a group that came here. And it was portsbar.com.
18
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
Creating a Legacy
At MetroStage, Thomas W. Jones II develops profound, engaging works that embrace the African American experience
By Doug Rule // Photography by Chris Banks
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
works has blossomed into a home, and a place where I get to work with friends, amazing artists
who dont always get a chance to be out there, says Jones. This family of artists includes composers William Hubbard and William Knowles, as well as tap legend Maurice Hines and actress
Roz White. We all kind of migrated here, he says. We kind of nested here creatively.
This nesting of talent has resulted in what Griffin refers to as many shows about groundbreaking African-American musical icons, from Cool Papas Party to Three Sistahs, from Pearl Bailey...
by request to Ladies Swing the Blues, the shows.
[These shows] have great entertainment value and very significant meaning in the historical,
sociocultural, political, racial life of the 20th century, says Griffin. There was no greater plan
that created this. It just evolved because I, as the artistic director, get to choose what we do. And
these are the stories Im interested in, and the music Im interested in, and the artists Im interested in showcasing.
To celebrate her association with Jones, Griffin asked him to develop a new show that synthesized his work for MetroStage. The resulting production, Shake Loose: An Evening of Moods, Blues
& Icons, is more than a musical revue.
Its not a jukebox musical, she says. These are songs and scenes that take you from start to
finish through the 20th Century. It covers everything all the stories, all the eras, all the decades, all
the events that were iconic events in our lives in the 20th Century through the prism of AfricanAmerican artists. Four singers longtime Jones collaborator White, Lori Williams, Anthony
Manough and Rayshun Lamarr perform the evenings 37 songs with accompaniment by a fivepiece band led by Knowles. Anybody who has been to a MetroStage musical over the years will
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
21
SPOTLIGHT
LPIMAGERY
CARMEN:
AN AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ MUSICAL
Bizet
in
Havana
The Washington Ballet stages a Cuban-based, cross-genre collaboration with The InSeries
UBA IS A COMMON THREAD RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE LIFE AND WORK OF SEPTIME
Webre. The first work he developed as artistic director of the Washington Ballet traced his Cuban
roots, and Webre, who grew up in Texas, also led the company on a tour of the communist country
in 2000 making it the first American ballet to perform there in 40 years.
So when the idea came up to stage Bizets Carmen in a cross-genre collaboration with the music-oriented
InSeries, Webre decided to give it a Cuban twist.
Carmen has been told in so many different ways and this seemed to be an interesting in to illuminate a
new facet of Carmen, by invoking Havana in the 1920s, he says. You know, Carmen in a tobacco factory,
and including music from the island kind of blending Spanish and Cuban culture.
Webre has co-staged the production with the ballets associate artistic director David Palmer, creating original choreography set to balleros popularized by the film Buena Vista Social Club. Webre has also
reworked choreography from his 2000 ballet Juanita y Alicia. Yet the bulk of the movement comes from his
dance adaptation of Carmen in 2001, set to the Spanish-inflected score by French composer Georges Bizet.
Music director and pianist Carlos C. Rodriguez whom Webre calls a really fine musician will render
the music live, accompanied by percussionists Ivan Navas and Gary Sosias.
Carmen in Havana is the sixth collaboration in ten years between the ballet and presenting organization
the In Series. Previous productions explored topics ranging from Mozarts childhood to the art songs and
chansons of mid-century France. Its essentially a blending of genres, opera and dance, Webre says. It is
both a classical music experience and a dance experience, with singers and dancers integrated fully.
Six singers perform Bizets classic tragedy, including the great Anamer Castrello in the role of Carmen
and theyre complemented by nearly 20 dancers from the Washington Ballets Studio Company, an ensemble
of aspiring dancers aged 18 to 22. Really powerful dancers, great technique, very international from
Brazil, China, South Africa, France, the United States, Canada, really all over the world, Webre says. They
bring a kind of fresh energy to the project.
By looking at Carmen, this important work of theater and opera, in a new way, he continues, we hope
to illuminate some aspects of the production that havent been seen before. Doug Rule
Bizets Carmen in Havana will be performed Friday, Feb. 5, and Saturday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m., and
Sunday, Feb. 7, at 4 p.m. Lang Theatre at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE.
Tickets are $46. Call 202-204-7763 or visit inseries.org.
22
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
JOE GOODE
PERFORMANCE GROUP
MAESTRO
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
23
SCOTT SUCHMAN
SENORITA Y MADAME
Reflective Menagerie
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
STORY DISTRICT
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
25
FILM
HAIL, CAESAR!
STAGE
AGENTS OF AZEROTH
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
AS YOU LIKE IT
BACK TO METHUSELAH
Yet another boisterous and unflinchingly dark comedy from Stephen Adly
Guirgis, whose play The Motherfucker
with the Hat received much critical
praise at Studio Theatre a few years
ago. Between Riverside and Crazy
was the winner of the 2015 Pulitzer
Prize for Drama and is focused on an
ex-cop who is facing eviction, battling City Hall and struggling over
the recent death of his wife. To Feb.
28. Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets
NW. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
EQUUS
FIRST CITIZEN
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
27
Edible cakes in crazy shapes human body parts, say or decorated in wild
themes, including tributes to gay icons, activities and proclivities, are par for
the course at Scarlets Bake Sale. Thats the DC Eagles annual cake auction
fundraiser started 45 years ago by Ed Scarlet Nesbitt and Neil Mei Ling
Redman. All manner of people bake and donate the cakes, from commercial
companies to leather clubs to individual bakers. This years theme is Show
Us Your True Colors, with awards given out for Best Club Entry and
Best Individual Entry. Proceeds from the auction of baked goods and other
assorted leather items go to Pets-DC and a new scholarship program by the
Scarlets Foundation for college juniors and seniors. Sunday, Feb. 7, from 1 to
7 p.m. Cake donations should be made by 3 p.m., with the auction starting at
3:30 p.m. DC Eagle, 3700 Benning Rd. NE. Visit dceagle.com.
STONE TAPE PARTY
SWEAT
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
COMMUNITY STAGE
THE LARAMIE PROJECT
OUR TOWN
MUSIC
21ST CENTURY CONSORT
METROWEEKLY.COM
ALAN CUMMING
BROOKLYN RIDER,
GABRIEL KAHANE
HEY MARSEILLES
KID CUDI
LUPE FIASCO
NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC
SOLAS
DANCE
33RD ANNUAL
CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
29
ALVIN AILEY
AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
30
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
CONTRA-TIEMPO
METROWEEKLY.COM
COMEDY
RICKY VELEZ
A BURLESQUE TRIBUTE
TO DAVID BOWIE
stage
Bottoms Up
The true phenomenon in Aaron Posners
gloriously irreverent Midsummer Nights
Dream is Holly Twyfords Bottom
by KATE WINGFIELD
TERESA WOOD
power with his comment that his actors brought their own
hearts, minds and spirits to the roles. They truly do, even if its
within Posners own enthralling and entertaining architecture.
Not everyone likes their Shakespeare messed with and some
shrink from the Gap styles and OMG demeanors, but its worth
the open mind. Not only is it almost endlessly giggle-worthy,
it makes for an attractive contrast with Posners fairy realm: a
cooler, more sensual place in which Jethro Tull (the band, that
is) might have happily frolicked.
And these are choices that also cleverly acknowledge that
Midsummer is a circus of a play: first with its quartet of histrionic, would-be lovers and the adults getting in their way, and then
with the mercurial fairies whose tempestuous personal politics
quickly overflow into the human world. It may be controlled
chaos, but it needs a ringmaster and Shakespeare offers Puck as
fairy guide and interloper.
In this key role, Erin Weaver makes for an interesting
choice. She may exude an all-American vibe with her fresh face,
polished pixie-coif and personal trainer pecs and abs, but she
quickly commands the dark-carved intimacy of the Folger with
a fierce intensity, inventive moves and seriously-slick streetmagician skills. This is a Puck who, true to nature, cannot be
contained on her fairy world. But as she mixes it up with the lovers and the audience it is with an attachment and affection
that makes her one of the most intriguing and intimate Pucks
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
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FEBRUARY 4, 2016
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games
Hardly Marvellous
Lego Marvels Avengers is tired,
boring and not worth your time
watch the films instead
by RHUARIDH MARR
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
33
and the cartoony style of the sets can make certain scenes far
too busy. Details can be lost and objectives would be easily
missed were it not for the series nagging identifiers. There are
also invisible walls everywhere, some impede player movement
simply to force them to take a predetermined path. Why cant
I fly Iron Man over that tiny bump? Why do I have to walk ten
steps around it?
Cutscenes, however, are glorious. Lego Marvels Avengers
nails the plastic sheen that The Lego Movie evoked so well. Even
in comparison to Lego Jurassic World, theres a complexity and
tactility to the plastic Marvel characters and a richness to the
animation that made rewatching scenes from films weve all
seen before a treat.
Well, almost. Of course, it would be ludicrous to expect the
original actors to reprise their roles just to repeat their lines for a
game, but Ill never be satisfied with Legos penchant for culling
audio directly from films for use in their games. Its always too
muffled, or robotic, or echoey, or at complete odds with the crisp
audio of properly dubbed in-game characters. Cobie Smulders
(Maria Hill), Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson) and Hayley Atwell
(Peggy Carter) recorded original audio for Marvels Avengers,
and while its welcome, it only makes the differences with the
culled audio that much more obvious. Plus, the editing and
shoehorning to fit with the games slightly altered plots can be
downright painful at times.
What also doesnt help is that Marvels Avengers delivers
perhaps the the franchises weakest humor to date. Hindering
them greatly is that Joss Whedon did such an incredible job of
peppering both Avengers films with witty, humorous dialogue.
Theres little Lego can do to increase the comedy. Attempts
such as Nick Fury constantly sucking on a pink slushie
34
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
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FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
NIGHT
LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 02.04.16
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection
Music videos featuring
DJ Wess
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite,
$4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Stonewall Darts Season
3, Game Day 4, 6-10pm
$3 Rail Drinks, 10pmmidnight, $5 Red Bull,
Gatorade and Frozen
Virgin Drinks Locker
Room Thursday Nights
DJs Sean Morris and
MadScience Best
Package Contest at midnight, hosted by BaNaka
$200 Cash Prize Doors
open 10pm, 18+ $5
Cover under 21 and free
with college ID
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call
Mid-Atlantic Kennel Korps
on Club Bar, 9pm-midnight
$2 Draughts, Jello Shots
and Raffle Puppy Mosh
No Cover 21+
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk
METROWEEKLY.COM
37
38
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
scene
NYC Invades DC at Cobalt
Saturday, January 30
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Throwback
Thursday featuring rock/
pop retro hits
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
THE PINCH
3548 14th St. NW
The DC Gurly Show burlesque troupe presents:
Heartbreakers! Doors
open at 8:30pm, show
starts at 9pm Tickets $9
if purchased online or $12
at the door To purchase,
visit dcgurlyshow.com
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
5-9pm Friday Night
Videos with resident DJ
Shea Van Horn VJ
Expanded craft beer selection No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
All You Can Drink Happy
Hour $15 Rail and
Domestic, $21 Call &
Imports, 6-9pm Guys
Night Out Free Rail
Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6
Belvedere Vodka Drinks all
night DJ MadScience
upstairs DJ Keenan Orr
downstairs $10 cover
10pm-1am, $5 after 1am
21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call
Fetish Friday men in
biker jackets get special
prices No Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night long OtterDen DC
presents Otter Crossing,
9pm-close $5 Cover
after 10pm
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm $2 Skyy Highballs
and $2 Drafts, 10pmmidnight Retro Friday
$5 Coronas, $8 Vodka Red
Bulls, 9pm-close
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm $5 Absolut
& Titos, $3 Miller Lite
after 9pm Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover Music videos
featuring various DJs
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Drag Yourself to Brunch
at Level One, 11am-2pm
and 2-4pm Featuring
Kristina Kelly and the
Ladies of Illusion
Bottomless Mimosas and
Bloody Marys Happy
Hour: $3 Miller Lite, $4
Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
39
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
$5 Bacardi, all flavors,
all night long Rewind:
Request Line, an 80s/90s
Dance Party, 9pm-close
Feautring DJ Darryl
Strickland No Cover
JR.S
$4 Coors, $5 Vodka
Highballs, $7 Vodka Red
Bulls
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Guest DJs Zing Zang
Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer,
House Rail Drinks and
Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm
Buckets of Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm No Cover
TOWN
DC Rawhides host Town
& Country: Two-Step,
Line Dancing, Waltz and
West Coast Swing, $5
Cover to stay all night
Doors open 6:45pm,
Lessons 7-8pm, Open
dance 8-10:30pm
Mardi Gras, featuring DJ
40
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
SUN., 02.07.16
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
$4 Stoli, Stoli flavors
and Miller Lite all day
Homowood Karaoke,
hosted by Robert Bise,
10pm-close 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 2-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 12pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call
Buffet, 2-7pm Like on
Facebook for menu options
45th Annual Scarlets
Bake Sale come bid
on confections for charity,
3-6:30pm Super Bowl
NUMBER NINE
Pop Goes the World with
Wes Della Volla at 9:30pm
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on
any drink, 3-9pm No
Cover
ROCK HARD SUNDAYS
@THE HOUSE
NIGHTCLUB
3530 Georgia Ave. NW
Diverse group of all male,
all nude dancers Doors
open 8pm Shows all
night until close, starting
at 8:30pm $5 Domestic
Beer, $6 Imports
$10 cover For Table
Reservations, 202-4876646 rockharddc.com
TOWN
Flip Out DC League Flip
Cup games, 4pm Doors
open 3:30pm 21+
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 2pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
2-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
9pm Cover 21+
MON., 02.08.16
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
ANNIES
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: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Monday Nights A Drag,
hosted by Kristina Kelly
Doors open at 10pm
$3 Skyy Cocktails, $8 Skyy
and Red Bull $8 Long
Islands No Cover, 18+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$1 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts Free Pool all
day and night Men in
DC Eagle T-Shirts get
Happy Hour, 8pm-close
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long
Michaels Open Mic
Night Karaoke, 9:30pmclose
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm Showtunes Songs
& Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ James $3 Draft
Pints, 8pm-midnight
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
METROWEEKLY.COM
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
SIN Service Industry
Night $1 Rail Drinks
all night
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Birdie La Cage Show,
10:30pm Underground
(Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock),
9pm-close DJ Wes
Della Volla 2-for-1, 5pmmidnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
41
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
42
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
JR.S
Buy 1, Get 1 Free, 4-9pm
Trivia with MC Jay Ray,
8pm The Feud: Drag
Trivia, hosted by BaNaka,
10-11pm, with a $200
prize $2 JR.s Drafts and
$4 Vodka ($2 with College
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Night, 10-11pm,
12-12:30am Military
Night, no cover with
military ID DJ Don T. in
Secrets 9pm Cover
21+ l
43
scene
Wig Night Out
Fundraiser for the
Point Foundation
at JR.s
Saturday, January 30
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
44
METROWEEKLY.COM
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
45
Hard work is how we passed health care reform and how we expanded Social Security its how
we fought for civil rights, voting rights, workers rights,
womens rights, and LGBT rights.
HILLARY CLINTON, in an email to supporters of her campaign thanking them after she narrowly beat
Senator Bernie Sanders in the Iowa Caucus.
PATTI DAVIS, daughter of President Ronald Reagan, in an interview with James Duke Mason. Davis contended that part of
the blame in Reagans delayed response to the AIDS crisis lay with his advisors. There were people around him
who did not want him dealing with the AIDS crisis, she said.
TitanMen has a history of signing iconically handsome men with both brains and brawn, and
Aaron Schock fits that profile to a T.
KEITH WEBB, Vice President of porn studio TitanMen, announcing that they have offered boyishly handsome and muscular
disgraced congressman Aaron Schock $1 million to star in a series of hardcore gay porn films.
Olympic skier GUS KENWORTHY, speaking with Rolling Stone about Anderson Cooper. The pair have become friends after
Kenworthy came out last year. He reached out and offered advice after I came out. Basically, he said,
If you need anything, just ask. I understand what its like to be out in the public eye.
46
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM