Kennedy Center debut

Andersson Dance
Artistic Director, Örjan Andersson

in collaboration with
Kennedy Center debut

Scottish Ensemble
Artistic Director, Jonathan Morton

Goldberg Variations—ternary patterns for insomnia

Photo by Hugh Carswell

(Andersson /Bach, Sitkovetsky)

Johann Sebastian Bach’s sparkling masterpiece comes to stunning life through a whirlwind of movement
and sound in this entrancing collaboration.

April 26–28 | Eisenhower Theater

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! International Programming at the Kennedy Center
is made possible through the generosity of the

KENNEDY-CENTER.ORG | (202) 467-4600

Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

Tickets also available at the Box Office. Groups call (202) 416-8400.
For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.
 CONTENTS
APRIL 12, 2018 Volume 24 Issue 48

20 TURNING THE TABLES

One of the circuit’s best house music DJs,
Tom Stephan almost pursued a career in film.
Then music called.

By Doug Rule

MEDIUM AT LARGE
Tyler Henry has turned his psychic abilities into a
hit TV show. But all the gay “Hollywood Medium”
really wants is to leave every person he meets
“better than I found them.”

Interview by Randy Shulman

30
35 BLOOD AND LIPSTICK
Roz and Ray filters the AIDS crisis through
a medical uncertainty, while Paper Dolls offers
humor, empathy, and karaoke

By André Hereford

SPOTLIGHT: CHERRY 2018 p.9 OUT ON THE TOWN p.13 STRING FLING: WELL-STRUNG p.16
TURNING THE TABLES: TOM STEPHAN p.20 THE FEED p.23 COMMUNITY: HAVING A ROW p.27
SCENE: ASK RAYCEEN MINIBALL p.29 COVER STORY: MEDIUM AT LARGE p.30
STAGE: ROZ AND RAY / PAPER DOLLS p.35
STAGE: TWO TRAINS / UNDERGROUND RAILROAD GAME p.37
NIGHTLIFE p.39 SCENE: FREDDIE’S 17TH ANNIVERSARY p.39 LISTINGS p.40
SCENE: TOWN CELEBRATES KYLIE p.45 LAST WORD p.46
Real LGBTQ News and Entertainment since 1994
Editorial Editor-in-Chief Randy Shulman Art Director Todd Franson Managing Editor Rhuaridh Marr Senior Editor John Riley Contributing Editor Doug Rule
Senior Photographers Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim Contributing Illustrator Scott G. Brooks Contributing Writers André Hereford,
Sean Maunier, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield Webmaster David Uy Production Assistant Julian Vankim
Sales & Marketing Publisher Randy Shulman National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 Distribution Manager Dennis Havrilla
Patron Saint Miss Cleo Cover Photography Sharon Mor Yosef

Metro Weekly 1775 I St. NW, Suite 1150 Washington, DC 20006 202-638-6830
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 sexual orientation of such person or organization.
© 2017 Jansi LLC.

APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 7

Now Playing! Through May 12
book by William F. Brown; music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls; from the story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by
L. Frank Baum; choreographed by Dell Howlett; directed by Kent Gash
Lead Sponsor: Altria Group
Production Sponsors: ConocoPhillips; Lockheed Martin Corporation;
Fluor Corporation; United Technologies Corporation
www.fords.org
Season Sponsors: The Home Depot; Chevron Tickets: (888) 616-0270
Photo of Christopher Michael Richardson, Ines Nassara, Hasani Allen and Kevin McAllister by Carol Rosegg.
 Spotlight
WARD MORRISON / FILE PHOTO
Cherry 2018: Kaleidoscope
L
AUNCHED OVER TWO DECADES AGO AS CHERRY
Jubilee, D.C.’s annual LGBTQ fundraising circuit party
has settled into a steady, satisfying groove. One of
the circuit’s newer stars, Italian DJ Danny Verde, kicks
things off with an opening set by New York DJ Kenneth
Rivera. Thursday, April 12, starting at 9 p.m. Cobalt, 1639
R St. NW. The party really comes into focus the next night
with Synergy, featuring two star veteran house DJs, Victor
Calderone and Tom Stephan, in a nearly unprecedented joint
pairing at Echostage, a venue recently ranked by industry
arbiter DJ Mag as the No. 1 nightclub in the U.S. Friday, April
13, starting at 9 p.m. Echostage, 2135 Queens Chapel Road NE.
The weekend lineup continues with Moodin Rouge with
DJ Joe Gauthreaux, the annual afternoon tea dance celebrat-
ing the hallowed birth of the beloved Dr. Moody Mustafa.
Saturday, April 14, starting at 2 p.m. Town Danceboutique,
2009 8th St. NW. That night at Town comes the Main Event
— Chroma with Berlin DJ Micky Friedmann and an opening
Cherry 2017 at Town
set by nationally recognized local DJ X Gonzalez, providing
the soundtrack to the last-ever Cherry Main Event at Town.
Saturday, April 14, starting at 10 p.m.
Mirage/Aurora, a “2 Parties in 1” After-Hours features
DJs Eddie Martinez and Alex Acosta on the main level until
9:30 a.m. and DJ Isaac Escalante until noon on the Roof
Top. Sunday, April 15, at Flash, 645 Florida Ave. NW. Things
don’t end there: Iris, a daytime soiree hosted by LaFantasy
Productions boasts New York DJ Joe Pacheco, on Sunday,
starting at 2 p.m. L8, 727 15th St. NW. Finally, there’s Infinity
featuring music from drag DJ Nina Flowers and Cherry vet-
eran Alain Jackinsky at downtown D.C.’s celebrated under-
ground nightclub. Sunday, April 15, at 9 p.m. Soundcheck,
1420 K St. NW. Tickets range from $20 to $75 per party,
$185 to $225 for Weekend Passes offering express entry to all
events, with various combo tickets and transportation options
available. See this magazine’s Nightlife Section or visit cher-
ryfund.org for full details. —Doug Rule
APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 9
 Spotlight
SIMONE DINNERSTEIN
WITH THE FSO
The star New York-based pianist and Sony
Classical artist joins with the Fairfax Symphony
Orchestra to perform the regional premiere of
a new concerto written for her by renowned
composer Philip Glass, his Piano Concerto No.
3. “There are almost no concertos written for
piano and strings since Bach’s time,” Dinnerstein
says in the program’s official note, explaining the
significance of Glass’ work, and the reason it’s
paired with Bach’s Keyboard Concerto in G Minor,
to show “how his music impacts us today [and]
enabling the listener to create bridges between
the old and new.” Christopher Zimmerman con-
ducts a program also including Vaughan Williams’
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and Elgar’s
Introduction and Allegro for Strings. Saturday,
LISA-MARIE MAZZUCCO

April 21, at 8 p.m. George Mason University

Center for the Arts, 4373 Mason Pond Drive,
Fairfax. Tickets are $39 to $65. Call 703-563-1990
or visit fairfaxsymphony.org.

BIRD & BLOSSOM

As a nod to the cherry blossoms,
EatWell’s poultry-focused restaurant
in Shaw offers a culinary tour to cele-
brate Hanami, the traditional Japanese
party focused on the transient beauty
of flowers. A five-course tasting menu
spotlights fowl and fresh vegetables
paired with cocktails and wines high-
lighting the subtle, unique flavors of
Japan. To Sunday, April 15. The Bird,
1337 11th St. NW. Five-course menu
is $50, plus $20 with drink pairings,

HERAN MANE
available by reservation only. Call 202-
518-3609 or visit thebirddc.com

POTTED POTTER
Co-written and co-performed by Daniel Clarkson
and Jefferson Turner, this “Unauthorized Harry
Experience” is a loving parody of Hogwarts. “What
we attempt to do is condense all seven Harry Potter
books into 70 minutes,” Clarkson told Metro Weekly
during a previous tour of the show. With Turner
in the titular role, Clarkson is left to assume all the
360 other characters, plus they even throw in “a
PHOTO COURTESY OF POTTED POTTER

live game of Quidditch.” A critical and commercial

success everywhere it’s played after its launch at
the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Potted Potter returns
for another local run presented by the Shakespeare
Theatre Company. Now to April 22. Sidney Harman
Hall, Harman Center for the Arts, 610 F St. NW. Call
202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org.

10 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 Spotlight
A MOMENT IN THE REEDS
This month’s Reel Affirmations Xtra screening is an intimate
drama about the chance encounter of two men by a Finnish
lakeside. Among the first queer-themed feature films made
in Finland, Mikko Makela’s A Moment in the Reeds focuses
on Leevi, who returns home from studying abroad to help
renovate the family lake house with his father and hired help
Tareq, a Syrian asylum seeker. Leevi and Tareq proceed to
give into their mutual attraction and discover one another.
Rayceen Pendarvis of The Ask Rayceen Show hosts the screen-
ing, which is preceded by a Cocktails and Cinema Open Bar
Happy Hour with DJ Honey. Friday, April 20, starting at 6 p.m.
HRC Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Tickets are
$12, or a VIP Pass for $25 including reserved seating, a compli-
mentary cocktail, and candy or popcorn. Visit thedccenter.org.

AMERICAN COLLEGE
THEATER FESTIVAL
All week long, the Kennedy Center has been hosting
outstanding theater students from universities across
the nation as part of this annual national festival,
which offers master classes and visits to leading
D.C. theater companies. The festival concludes with
a public performance of the finalists in the Irene
Ryan Acting Scholarships. Eighteen students from
eight regions of the U.S. audition before a panel of
theater experts, who will determine the winners of
$3,000 in scholarships. “You really get blown away
by these kids,” marvels Gregg Henry, a former Irene
Ryan finalist from 1979 who now runs the festival for
the Kennedy Center. The first half of the evening is
straight plays, while the second is dedicated to musi-
cal theater. Friday, April 13, at 7 p.m. Kennedy Center
Terrace Theater. Tickets are $25. Call 202-467-4600
or visit kennedy-center.org.

JOKES THAT GIVE BACK

Once a month, Baltimore comedian Nicki
Fuchs offers a standup comedy show featuring
comics from the area and beyond as a fund-
raiser for a different charity each month. A
portion of proceeds from the April edition will
go to the D.C. chapter of Engineers Without
Borders, which works to improve the quality of
life by resolving particular infrastructure needs
in developing communities both locally and
internationally. Fuchs hosts a show featuring
Violet Gray, Mike Engle, Sheila Wenz, Davine
Ker, and Shelley Kim. Wednesday, April 19, at
7 p.m. Drafthouse Comedy, 1100 13th St. NW.
Tickets are $10. Call 202-750-6411 or visit
drafthousecomedy.com.

APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 11

HELEN HAUSMANN
Out On The Town

MAMA’S BLACK SHEEP

Ashland Miller and Laura Cerulli, who together make up the soulful folk-pop band Mama’s Black Sheep, both felt like the
black sheep of their respective families. Why? Because they’re struggling artists, pursuing their artistic dreams. “We’re
still [just] pickin’ and a grinnin’ in the beer joint, as my father likes to put it,” Miller joked to Metro Weekly when they
performed at Capital Pride. Whatever you call them, just see them live — they’re really good. And they keep good com-
pany, too: Mama’s Black Sheep tours the country on the sixth “Sirens of Spring Tour,” a heady lesbian folk double-bill
with Christine Havrilla and her rock/blues/country band, Gypsy Fuzz, which will preview new songs from a forthcoming
release. Wednesday, April 18. Doors at 6 p.m. Jammin Java, 227 Maple Ave. E. Vienna. Tickets are $15 to $25. Call 703-255-
3747 or visit jamminjava.com.

Compiled by Doug Rule
FILM
13TH ANNUAL HUMP!
FILM FESTIVAL
Sex advice columnist Dan Savage
offers up a sex-positive, rough-
around-the-edges assortment
of homemade pornography —
gay, straight, fetish, you name it.
“Hump!” is less erotic than it is
avant garde. While definitely not
soft-core, it’s less about titillation
than breaking down sexual barri-
ers. Savage has curated the annual
festival since 2005, with each year
bringing a new batch of shorts, each
clocking in at less than five min-
utes, featuring amateurs revelling in
sexual expression. Thursday, April
19. Doors at 7 p.m. Also Friday,
April 20, and Saturday, April 21.
Doors at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Black
Cat Mainstage, 1811 14th St. NW.
Tickets are $20. Call 202-667-4490
or visit humpfilmfest.com.
A STAR IS BORN
Judy Garland plays a young singer
who saves a famous star — an alco-
holic whose career is on the wane
— from making a fool of himself
on stage. The irony is rich in this
classic directed by George Cukor
starring the gay icon who would
go on to make a fool of herself
on stage. A Star Is Born screens
as part of Landmark’s West End
Cinema Capital Classics weekly
series. Wednesday, April 18, at 1:30,
4:30, and 7:30 p.m., 2301 M St. NW.
Happy hour from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10 to $12.50. Call 202-
534-1907 or visit landmarktheatres.
com.
AARDVARK
Brian Shoaf’s drama stars Zachary
Quinto — also a producer of the film
— as a troubled man who has lived
in the shadow of his brother (Jon
Hamm) for so long, he starts see-
ing that shadow everywhere. Enter
Jenny Slate as a young therapist
charged with caring for Quinto’s
character, who gets entangled in
her patient’s obsession instead. (It
currently has just 22 percent on
Rotten Tomatoes, so you may want
to obsess over something else.)
Opens Friday, April 13. Area the-
aters, including the Angelika Pop-
Up at Union Market, 550 Penn St.
NE, Unit E. Call 800-680-9095 or
visit angelikapopup.com.
STAGE
AFTER THE REHEARSAL
AND PERSONA
Celebrated Belgian director Ivo
van Hove (the recent, stunning
Broadway revival of A View From
The Bridge) has brilliantly reimag-
ined for the stage two Ingmar
Bergman screenplays for a theat-
rical double-bill delving into the
messy lives of stage artists. The
Kennedy Center presents van
Hove and his acclaimed ensemble
Toneelgroep Amsterdam perform-
ing in Dutch with projected English
titles as part of the “Bergman 100
Celebration” honoring the leg-
endary Swedish artist, considered
one of the most accomplished
and influential auteurs of all time.
Opens Thursday, April 19, at 8
p.m. To April 22. Kennedy Center
Eisenhower Theater. Tickets are
$29 to $59. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.
FLY BY NIGHT
Kim Rosenstock conceived of this
darkly comic rock fable, developed
with Will Connolly and Michael
Mitnick, set during a New York
City blackout in 1965 and focused
on a man who becomes enchant-
ed with two sisters. Kathryn Chase
Bryer directs a local production of
the bittersweet romance, a sweep-
ing ode to young love, featuring
Aaron Bliden, Tiziano D’Affuso,
Ryan Manning, Sasha Olinick,
Farrell Parker, Jamie Smithson, and
Caroline Wolfson. Walter “Bobby”
McCoy serves as musical director.
Opens in previews Thursday, April
12. Weekends to May 6. 1st Stage,
1524 Spring Hill Rd. Tysons, Va.
Tickets are $38. Call 703-854-1856
or visit 1ststage.org.

APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 13

 Caucasian Chalk Circle finds the
heroism of a woman who saves an
abandoned baby put on trial during
a time of corruption and violence in
the Caucasus Mountains. To May
13. Source Theatre, 1835 14th St.
NW. Tickets are $25 to $45. Call
202-204-7741 or visit constellation-
theatre.org.

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD

Quirky Landless Theatre is testing
“its mettle and metal” approach
with Rupert Holmes’ The Mystery
of Edwin Drood. The 1986 choose-
your-own-ending musical is a
dark tale of deception, based on
the unfinished novel by Charles
Dickens. Landless brings together
artists from the theater and music
worlds to help give the show the
power and punch of a rock con-
cert. Melissa Baughman directs Lily
CONOR KELLEY

Hoy in the title role. With Steve

Wannall, Melissa LaMartina, and
Andrew Lloyd Baughman. To April
29. Trinidad Theatre in the Logan
Fringe Art Space, 1358 Florida Ave.
NE. Tickets are $25. Call 202-737-
TOP AND BOTTOM 7230 or visit landlesstheatre.com.
Five years after its formation, the LGBTQ-focused Rainbow Theatre Project’s strong
work is not going unnoticed — and as evidenced by being nominated as an Outstanding WITCH
Stephen Gregory Smith and Matt
Emerging Theatre Company at this year’s Helen Hayes Awards. The company closes out Conner debut their fourth musical
its current season with a recent hit at the New York Fringe Festival exploring intimacy developed as part of the Bold New
and identity in a gay world of labels and stereotypes. A comedy by Kevin Michael West Works for Intimate Stages series for
Virginia theater company Creative
(The DOMA Diaries), Top and Bottom focuses on an encounter between two guys who Cauldron. With a book and lyrics by
want to explore their sexual bondage fantasies, but they’re a bit klutzy, a bit nerdy, and a Smith set to music by Conner, the
bit unsure of what they’re doing, and as a result everything goes a bit awry. Dimitri Gann insightful, provocative Witch chan-
and Ryan Townsend star. Production contains full male nudity. To April 29. District of nels the current #MeToo zeitgeist
while also examining the roots of
Columbia Arts Center (DCAC), 2438 18th St. NW. Tickets are $35. Call 202-462-7833 or misogyny and inequality across cen-
visit dcartscenter.org. turies and cultures. Well-regarded
local actors Florence Lacey and
Iyona Blake lead an all-female cast
also featuring Susan Derry and
GIRLFRIEND raft of lovable characters as she of “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” on
weaves tales about encounters The Ed Sullivan Show to hits from Catherine Purcell, plus student
In 1993, Matthew Sweet toured
with three Lennys. Opens Friday, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club actors. To May 6. ArtSpace Falls
as an opening act for newly out
April 13. To April 29. 1201 North Band and Abbey Road. The second Church, 410 South Maple Ave. in
lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge.
Royal St., Alexandria. Tickets are half is styled as a Beatles reunion Falls Church. Tickets are $20 to
Sweet’s power-pop tunes — includ-
$45. Call 703-548-9044 or visit performance, where the crowd $30. Call 703-436-9948 or visit cre-
ing 1991 alt-rock album Girlfriend
metrostage.org. goes wild — as it did in previous ativecauldron.org.
— continue their LGBTQ appeal
and connection, soundtracking a runs on Broadway and London’s
gay coming-of-age theatrical tale set JOHN
A quietly suspenseful and trans-
West End. Saturday, April 14, at 3
and 8 p.m. National Theatre, 1321
MUSIC
in ’90s-era small-town Nebraska.
Matthew Gardiner directs Lukas fixing work by Annie Baker, Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are D.C.’S DIFFERENT DRUMMERS:
James Miller and Jimmy Mavrikes one of today’s most celebrated $45 to $85. Call 202-628-6161 or DC SWING!
as a college-bound jock and his up-and-coming playwrights. Joe visit thenationaldc.org. “Groovin’, Soulin’, and Swingin’” is
first boyfriend in the D.C. premiere Calarco directs legendary local the name of the game for the the
of a chamber musical with music actress Nancy Robinette as a slight- THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE swing and jazz band part of the
and lyrics by Sweet and a book ly kooky innkeeper in Gettysburg, Few companies do epic adventure LGBTQ musical umbrella organi-
by Todd Almond. Opens in pre- where a New York couple has taken on an intimate scale as fantastically zation Different Drummers. The
views Tuesday, April 17. To June up refuge to escape the hubbub of as Constellation Theatre Company. Big Band Era-loving ensemble per-
10. The Ark, 4200 Campbell Ave., the holidays — only to be disturbed Bertolt Brecht’s story, with its vivid forms a special Sunday afternoon
Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or visit by a pesky ghost. Jonathan Feuer, characters, high-stakes scenari- show out in the ’burbs of Virginia.
sigtheatre.org. Anna Moon, and Ilona Dulaski os, and live music, should put that Sunday, April 22, at 2 p.m. Jammin
also star. To April 29 at Signature award-winning theatrical sleight Java, 227 Maple Ave. E. Vienna.
I DID IT MY WAY IN YIDDISH Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., of hand into sharp relief. Allison Tickets are $10. Call 703-255-3747
(IN ENGLISH) Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or visit Arkell Stockman directs 14 actors or visit jamminjava.com.
MetroStage concludes its Spring sigtheatre.org. playing more than 60 characters
Solo Series — “celebrating work in a 360-degree theatrical experi- GMCW: SMALL ENSEMBLES
by women, about women, star- LET IT BE: A CELEBRATION OF ence — “no curtain, no back wall, EXTRAVAGANZA
ring women,” as a nod to the THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES no proscenium” — propelled by All four of the select adult groups of
now-wrapped Women’s Voices What if the Fab Four had reunited a an original rock-inspired score by the chorus — Potomac Fever, Rock
Theater Festival — with a show decade after their break-up? That’s Brian Lotter and Matthew Schleigh Creek Singers, Seasons of Love,
by Canadian/New Zealand the premise behind this theatrical and performed live by a three- and 17th Street Dance — take the
comic/musician Deb Filler, who romp through the Beatles’ reper- piece band. Based on an English stage together for the first time for
strums her guitar and portrays a toire, from the seminal performance translation by Alistair Beaton, The a concert of amazing music and

14 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 dance in Wolf Trap’s intimate,
acoustically rich confines. But like
any Gay Men’s Chorus production,
expect a mix of everything from
gospel and pop to Broadway and
Fosse — “I Want It That Way” by
the Backstreet Boys to “Waving
Through A Window” from Dear
Evan Hansen,” to cite but two
examples. Saturday, April 14, at 4
and 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap,
1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are
$40 to $45. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or
visit wolftrap.org.

MANSIONAIR,
MIKKY EKKO, NOMBE
PHOTO COURTESY OF WELL STRUNG

SiriusXM presents Alt Nation’s

Advanced Placement Tour, and all
three artists on the triple bill are
certainly deserving of wider rec-
ognition. Sydney’s synth-pop trio
Mansionair, featuring the ethereal
falsetto of Jack Froggatt, has opened
for Chvrches and Florence + The
Machine, while Mikky Ekko, who
you no doubt know from his stun-
ning hit duet “Stay” with Rihanna a
few years ago, will open for Fitz and

STRING FLING
the Tantrums and X Ambassadors
in June at Wolf Trap. Just one spin
through Ekko’s dramatic, melodi-
cally rich hip-pop tunes and you’ll
Well-Strung is bringing its unique take on classical music to this year’s wonder why it took you so long
to come around. Finally there’s
Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. NoMBe, Chaka Khan’s godson
who has just released his impres-

C
sive tribute to women and femi-
HRIS MARCHANT AND TREVOR WADLEIGH FINISHED SEVENTH ON THE nism, They Might’ve Even Loved Me.
most recent season of The Amazing Race. While disappointed they didn’t win, Friday, April 13. Doors at 6:30 p.m.
Union Stage, 740 Water St. SW.
Wadleigh notes they had the “time of our lives, literally.” Tickets are $13 to $23. Call 877-987-
The pair, who work and live together, seem as close as two people can possibly be, but, 6487 or visit unionstage.com.
as Marchant points outs, “We’re not a couple.”
What they are is two members of Well-Strung, the gay classical crossover group. And NEW ORCHESTRA
OF WASHINGTON
their next outing will be significantly more sedate compared to the CBS reality show: the The small chamber ensemble, led by
string quartet will be part of this Saturday’s National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on the husband-and-wife team of artis-
Constitution Avenue. tic director Alejandro Hernandez-
Valdez and executive director and
Marchant attributes the group’s success to its ability to look beyond the customary pianist Grace Cho, presents its res-
classical realm. “We just get more and more exploratory,” says second violinist Marchant. ident company the Aeolus Quartet
“We’ve married the world of pop and classical, and really give people a solid taste of both. performing Antonín Dvořák’s
Hopefully [we] give them some ear candy that will inspire them to continue listening to String Quartet No. 12, nicknamed
the “American Quartet.” And that’s
both.” Unlike a traditional classical quartet, all four members sing. the kickoff to a program of three
“In other realms we’ve worked — in classical music or in musical/Broadway-type works celebrating the sounds of
productions — there’s such a standard for how you pursue and move through a career,” America, at least early America, as
it was heard by two towering com-
says Wadleigh, who plays viola. “We really were lucky to have been able to invent that for posers from the last two centuries:
ourselves.” Dvořák and George Gershwin. In
Both credit Provincetown for — well, essentially everything. a new arrangement for chamber
“We actually owe quite a lot of our continued success to Provincetown,” Marchant orchestra, Iain Farrington puts a
modern twist on one of the most
says, noting the group will be coming up on its sixth summer at the Massachusetts resort. iconic American folk operas with
“They were so supportive in the beginning while we were trying to figure out what the his Fantasy on Gershwin’s Porgy
hell it is we were aiming to do.... And that’s how we started touring in the first place: and Bess. Finally, a second Dvořák
work — heard via another new
People who saw us in Provincetown on vacation would then bring us to their hometowns arrangement by Farrington — is
for benefits or concerts.” the centerpiece of the program,
Before setting sail for Cape Cod, though, Well-Strung will release its third album. Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9. One of
Wadleigh singles out one classical/pop mashup as a particular highlight. “We just put the most popular of all symphonies,
the Czech composer’s work, known
together Bach and Ed Sheeran,” he says. “A little get-together of those two spanning 333 as the “New World Symphony,” is
years.” —Doug Rule notable for incorporating American
folk elements, such as melodies
drawn from African-American
Well-Strung appears in the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on Saturday, spirituals and rhythms and har-
April 14, from 10 a.m. to noon, on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets NW. monies evoking Native-American
Visit nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

16 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 THE HILLBENDERS PRESENT
THE WHO’S
SUMMER
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
TOMMY
A BLUEGRASS OPRY
SUN, APR 22
W/ ELLIS DYSON & THE SHAMBLES
ALAN DOYLE THURDAY APR 12
W/ FORTUNATE ONES

TUE, APR 24
A BENEFIT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS
AND ESSIE JUSTICE GROUP INDIGO GIRLS
THE WAR & TREATY
HALSEY
JESSIE REYEZ
JUSTICEAID JUL 10 HOPELESS FOUNTAIN KINGDOM
JUL 15
FEAT. CECILE McLORIN SALVANT, ALL GOOD PRESENTS
PAULA COLE & DOM FLEMONS, An evening with
KELLER
MARSHALL CRENSHAW, AND KANDACE SPRINGS

WED, APR 25
HAYLEY ORRANTIA WILLIAMS
W/ BRENNLEY BROWN FRIDAY APR 13

THURS, APR 26 THE LIFE TOUR ALANIS MORISSETTE

ROBERTO FONSECA BOY GEORGE & CULTURE CLUB
THE B-52S
THOMPSON TWINS’ TOM BAILEY
SEP 6

JUL 18
SAT, APR 28
DWEEZIL ZAPPA
THE CHOICE CUTS TOUR RED NILE RODGERS & CHIC
CHAKA KHAN
JUN 5

FRI, MAY 4 MOLLY

W/ MARC DOUGLAS BERARDO HARRY CONNICK JR.
AN EVENING WITH SATURDAY APR 14
A NEW ORLEANS TRICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
JUN 14
WHITE FORD BRONCO
STEVEN TYLER AND
SAT, MAY 5 THE LOVING MARY BAND
THE CALIFORNIA THE SISTERHOOD BAND
JUN 21
HONEYDROPS
W/ CHARLIE HUNTER CASINO ROYALE IN CONCERT
SUN, MAY 6
STEEP NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
JUL 22

GOGO PENGUIN CANYON DISNEY BEAUTY &

WED, MAY 9
RANGERS THE BEAST IN CONCERT
FILM WITH LIVE
THURDAY APR 19
ROBBEN FORD ORCHESTRA & SINGERS
AUG 8 + 9
FRI, MAY 11
THE BUMPER JACKSONS Premier Sponsor
2018 Summer Season

SAT, MAY 12
NEWMYER FLYER PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH
THE BEST OF JANIS JOPLIN
& JIMI HENDRIX
VOICEPLAY
APR 20
FRIDAY CASINO ROYALE LICENSED BY MGM. CASINO ROYALE © 2006 DANJAQ,
UNITED ARTISTS. AND RELATED JAMES BOND TRADEMARKS, TM
DANJAQ. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
FREE LATE-NIGHT MUSIC IN THE LOFT EVERY FRI & SAT
 music. Sunday, April 15, at 5 p.m.
National Presbyterian Church, 4101
Nebraska Ave. NW. Tickets are $15
to $30. Call 240-745-6587 or visit
neworchestraofwashington.org.
NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC:
SCHOOL FOR LOVERS
Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte is per-
formed in a concert opera pro-
duction by Strathmore’s resident
orchestra led by Piotr Gajewski.
Rising Washington-area native
soprano Danielle Talamantes leads
a roster of guest vocalists taking
on roles in this delightful and ele-
gant opera buffa, a tale of mistaken
identities, love, trust, deceit, and
reconciliation and featuring some
of Mozart’s most beautiful music.
The production also includes
soloists Shirin Eskandani, Trevor
Scheunemann, Norman Shankle,
Arianna Zukerman, and Kenneth
Kellogg. Saturday, April 14, at 8 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Tickets are $30 to $76. Call 301-581-
5100 or visit strathmore.org.
PERPETUAL GROOVE W/CBDB
Variously described as a band
playing “improv rock” and “trance
arena rock,” the Athens, Ga.-based
Perpetual Groove has become pop-
ular on the rock festival circuit with
its funky blend of jazz, psychede-
lia, R&B, trance, progressive rock
and anthemic pop. Opening for
the collective is a kindred group,
Alabama’s progressive rock/jam
band CBDB, which has christened
its style Joyfunk. Friday, April 13.
Doors at 8 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815 V St.
NW. Tickets are $20. Call 202-265-
0930 or visit 930.com.
P!NK W/BLEACHERS
Five years ago, the singer-songwrit-
er-cum-trapeze artist Alecia Moore
swung through town twice on her
Truth About Love Tour, which the
Hollywood Reporter dubbed “pop’s
biggest spectacle.” All indications
are the artist is still up to her spec-
tacular show tricks, and she’s cer-
tainly still got the goods to support
it, with last year’s accomplished
Beautiful Trauma another showcase
18 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
for her power — from vocal pipes to
melodic hooks to dramatic lyrics. In
addition to DJ Kid Cut Up, the main
opening act for P!NK is Bleachers,
the band fronted by fun. and Ally
Coalition co-founder Jack Antonoff
that stirred up the crowd at last
year’s All Things Go Fall Classic
with its own power anthems as well
as its own spectacle of a show. All of
which is to say, this is one stadium
show not to be missed. Monday,
April 16, and Tuesday, April 17, at
7:30 p.m. Capital One Arena (for-
merly Verizon Center), 601 F St.
NW. Call 202-628-3200 or visit cap-
italonearena.com.
SHIFT: A FESTIVAL
OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS
The Kennedy Center and WPA
co-present this second annual
series highlighting classical music
organizations striving to go beyond
the classics and the status quo. The
two remaining main performances
in the Concert Hall are: Krzysztof
Urbański leading the Indianapolis
Symphony Orchestra in an all-ages
program mixing classic and con-
temporary Polish works inspired
by the music director’s heritage
— Witold Lutoslawski’s Concerto
for Cello and Orchestra featuring
superstar cellist Alisa Weilerstein,
and Krzysztof Penderecki’s Credo
featuring five singers and two
Indianapolis choirs — on Friday,
April 13, at 8 p.m.; and Gianandrea
Noseda leading the National
Symphony Orchestra in a “Russian/
Italian Inspirations” program nod-
ding to Noseda’s Italian pedigree
and longtime experience in Russia
— Stravinsky’s Pulcinella featur-
ing vocal soloists and the Russian
solo piano works Islamey by Mily
Balakirev and 5 Études-Tableaux by
Sergei Rachmaninoff per orchestra-
tions by two Italians, Alfredo Casella
and Ottorino Respighi, respectively
— on Saturday, April 14, at 8 p.m.
The festival also includes free per-
formances on the Kennedy Center
Millennium Stage as well as at other
area locales, from the Hamilton to
the Anacostia Community Museum
to the National Zoo. Shift runs
through Sunday, April 15. Tickets
are $25 for each main concert. Call
202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-cen-
ter.org.
SOFI TUKKER
One year after putting on a rau-
cous sold-out show at U Street
Music Hall, Sophie Hawley-Weld
and Tucker Halpern now return
as bona fide hitmakers in the U.S.,
with a song that also served as the
soundtrack to last fall’s iPhone X
launch. The jerky, playful popper
“Best Friend” is a tribute to friend-
ship and the power of platonic two-
somes also featuring another set
of New York house hipsters, the
Knocks, as well as Australian EDM
DJ duo and twin sisters Nervo. The
duo, which garnered a Grammy
nomination for samba-infused
Portuguese jam “Drinkee,” kick off a
new tour in support of just-released
debut full-length Treehouse. Kah-
Lo and LP Giobbi open. Wednesday,
April 18. Doors at 7 p.m. 9:30 Club,
815 V St. NW. Tickets are $26. Call
202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.
THE WASHINGTON CHORUS:
CARMEN IN CONCERT
Experience the famous story
through the eyes of the killer’s
mother in John Constable’s wick-
edly smart narration of the famous
opéra comique. The Washington
Chorus’s new Artistic Director
Christopher Bell leads a concert
version of Bizet’s masterpiece star-
ring mezzo-soprano Aleks Romano
and featuring the Washington
National Opera Orchestra and
members of the Domingo-Cafritz
Young Artist Program. Saturday,
April 21, at 2 p.m. Kennedy Center
Concert Hall. Tickets are $18 to $72.
Call 202-467-4600 or visit kenne-
dy-center.org.
EXHIBITS
IN BLOOM: A PHOTOGRAPHIC
CELEBRATION OF THE CHERRY
BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
The Blind Whino SW Arts Club, the
repurposed art/event space former-
ly the Friendship Baptist Church,
hosts a free showcase of the incred-
ible work of local photographers
in covering the beauty of the cher-
ry blossoms and vibrant festival
displays last year. The exhibition
originates from an open call for
submissions organized and judged
by engaged members of IGDC, the
Washington Instagram community.
Hours are Wednesdays from 5 to
8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays
from 12 to 5 p.m. Through April 29.
Blind Whino, 700 Delaware Ave.
SW. Free. Call 202-554-0103 or visit
swartsclub.org.
FOOD & DINING
BAR ROUBAIX:
SASSY DRAG BRUNCH
Over the past few months or so
there’s been an explosion of new
venues from the Hilton Bros.,
who’ve expanded well beyond
Marvin and The Brixton and their
original U Street base. None of
the additions, however, stand out
as much as Bar Roubaix, which
opened in the former Acre 121
space in Columbia Heights, given
its biker bar theme, with bike
chains dangling behind the bar
and bike wheels serving as light
fixtures. Named after the French
city sponsoring one of the world’s
oldest and most iconic profession-
al bike races, Roubaix features a
menu of European-inspired bites
from Chef Rafael Nunez (formerly
of Eatonville). And now, Roubaix
stands out even more thanks to
hosting a drag brunch the third
Sunday of every month and orga-
nized by Josael Abraham Gutierrez.
Sassy Drag Brunch features host
Latina diva Sylvanna Douvel,
Desiree Dik, Laronica Vegas, and
other special guests. Drink specials
include unlimited mimosas for $18.
Sunday, April 15, from 12:30 to 2
p.m. 1400 Irving St. NW. Ste. 109.
Tickets are $21 including show plus
one entree and 18-percent gratuity,
or $10 for show with no food. Call
202-560-5721 or search “Sassy Drag
Brunch” on eventbrite.com.
TAQUERIA DEL BARRIO:
DRAG BRUNCH
The Petworth Mexican eatery from
the DC Empanadas crew now offers
its popular Saturday drag brunch
twice monthly, hosted by Kristina
Kelly and featuring a cast of local
performers all while guests enjoy
French toast, chilaquiles, and
Taqueria’s signature tacos, among
other dishes, all washed down
with mimosas, Bloody Marys, and
Absolut vodka cocktails. But any day
of the week is a treat at Chef/Owner
Anna Bran-Leis Mexican retreat,
whether eating in a colorful dining
room, at the horseshoe bar, or on
one of the sunny sidewalk tables.
Drag brunch is served next on April
14 and April 28 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
821 Upshur St. NW. Reservations
required. Call 202-723-0200 or visit
taqueriadelbarrio.com.

ABOVE
AND BEYOND
LIGHT CITY BALTIMORE
Also called “A Festival of Light,
Music and Innovation,” Light City
returns for a third year to illuminate
Charm City as the first, free, large-
scale international light festival in
the U.S. The main part of the festival
takes place on a winding, 1.5-mile
stretch of the Inner Harbor and
Harbor East and featuring 21 large-
scale, temporary light installations
brand new to Light City developed
by national and international artists,
including 10 from Baltimore. One
such display is truly mobile and will
be seen all around: Chinese artist
Cai Guo-Qiang’s Fireflies, with 900
handcrafted lanterns attached to
the top of 27 pedicabs transport-
ing festivalgoers around the BGE
Light Art Walk, which can also be
explored this year on self-guid-
ed audio tours offering detailed
descriptions of the light installa-
tions by Live Baltimore. The festival
kicks off with an Opening Night
Parade featuring various commu-
nity and school marching bands
Saturday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m.
Highlights among free performanc-
es this year include Grandmaster
Flash on Saturday, April 14, G. Love
& Special Sauce on Friday, April 20,
and Kimbra on the festival’s clos-
ing day Saturday, April 21. Display
hours are 7 to 11 p.m. weeknights,
7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and
Saturdays. The final four days of
the festival also includes the Labs@
LightCity series of social innova-
SHAWN SHORT

tion conferences grouped by sub-

ject area, from EduLab to SocialLab,
MakerLab to FoodLab. Wednesday
April 18, to Saturday, April 21, from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 410-752-8632
or visit lightcity.org for a map and DISSONANCE DANCE THEATRE: ALLOY
details on all events.
The celebrated gay-run dance company offers a mixed-bill concert of riveting contem-
MARYLAND PSYCHIC FAIR porary ballet featuring world premieres by urban dance-inspired classical choreographer
Late last summer ushered in a Kameron N. Saunders and Shawn Short, Dissonance’s principal choreographer. The pro-
Maryland Paranormal Conference
gram bonds classical form with present-day creative innovation. Saturday, April 21, at 7:30
in a small, tucked away town out-
side of Baltimore. Now, the very p.m. The Sprenger Theatre in the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are
same Elks Lodge welcomes back $15 to $30. Call 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.

APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 19

 all of those interested in activi-
ties and phenomena going beyond
explanations of science (and rea-
son). This time around, the focus is
on psychics, mediums, and healers
and those interested in readings,
sessions, and discussions, or in
buying related crafts, books, oils,
crystals, and ephemera. More than
30 vendors are scheduled to par-
ticipate, including: Anne Miller &
Tony Stevens of the readings-fo-
cused Spiritual Information Center;
Rev. Ella Fales, “Healing & Spirit
Messages with Ella”; Intuitive Life
Coach and Clairvoyant Dr. Gwen
MacGregor aka The Medium of
Maryland; Baltimore-based diora-
ma artist Jim Doran; mystic Joanne
Amorosi of Mary Magdalene
Medicine; mixed-media tarot deck
artist Jo Offduty; Reiki master/
reader Lou Foster and her Herb
Fancy line of healing teas, soaps,

TURNING THE TABLES

and jewelry; angel readings/heal-
ings from Rev. Mary Perry of
Wings Unfurled; Robin Strom of
the Delaware Paranormal Research
One of the circuit’s best house music DJs, Tom Stephan almost Group and author of Anatomy
of a Ghost: A Guide to Analyzing
pursued a career in film. Then music called. By Doug Rule the Dead; Rosalyn Kincaid of
the Karmic Wellness Center in

H
Woodbridge, Va.; and mediums
E JUST CAME TO HEAR ME THAT ONE TIME,” SAYS TOM STEPHAN. “I THINK Terri Rodabaugh, Sharon Galloway,
because he must have known it would be such a dream for me to say, ‘Oh yes, I took John and Rhonda Russo giving collec-
Waters to my DJ gig.’” Hanging out with Waters ranks high among what turns out to be tive “The Haunted View” readings.
Sunday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 5
many little-known and interesting asides in the life and times of Tom Stephan, who also dated Pet p.m. Bowie Elks Lodge No. 2309,
Shop Boys lead singer Neil Tennant for a while. 1506 Defense Highway, Gambrills,
“I was a psycho fan of his,” says Stephan, who grew up in New York but has called London Md. Tickets are $5 plus $1.22 in
service fees bought in advance, or
home since the early ’90s. His first record, “Filthy Hetero,” featured vocal samples from Waters’s $10 in cash only at the door. Call
film Female Trouble, and the spare house track eventually became his calling card with Baltimore’s 301-261-3260 or visit maryland-psy-
“Pope of Trash.” “I get very Cindy Brady around him,” he says, recalling a time when he had dinner chic-fair.eventbrite.com.
with a friend in Waters’ Baltimore home. “The whole night I couldn’t speak. [My friend] had to
TALES FROM THE ROUND
talk. I just sat there drooling.” WORLD: I HEARD THE MUSE
Stephan was very nearly a filmmaker himself. Instead of music production he studied film in TODAY, OH BOY
college, and the course culminated in a 10-minute documentary entitled 21st Century Nuns, about Sprung nearly three years ago from
the zany mind of Chris Griffin
the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in Britain. aka Lucrezia Blozia, the live pod-
“The school hated it,” he laughs. “[They] thought that I was making fun of the Sisters.” Smarting cast/radio show Tales From The
from the experience, he decided, “I’m running off to be a DJ.” The film, however, hasn’t been for- Round World incorporates circus,
gotten, and is due to screen at a British LGBTQ film festival in the near future. sideshow, and burlesque into its
scripted productions. Griffin and
“The reason that it’s surfaced now is because I interviewed Derek Jarman in it, and he died a ragtag group of writers and per-
shortly after from complications of AIDS,” he says. “I understand the value in the short film is formers return with another char-
really about him and the sisters. It certainly isn’t my documentary [skills], that’s for sure.” ity-benefiting storytelling podcast
performed live, this time focused
Stephan currently ranks as one of the best DJs on the international house music circuit. And, on “stories behind the number one
this Friday, April 13, the man also known by the alias Superchumbo returns to D.C. to spin for his hits you’ve never heard by world-fa-
third Cherry event, in a starry double-bill with New York’s legendary Victor Calderone. mous musicians you’ve never heard
“It’s a really exciting idea for something maybe a little bit different for a circuit weekend,” of” — artists with names such as
bitchcraft, Anne Bonny from the
Stephan says of the pairing. “Victor’s gone a lot more in the techno direction since we last played Big Bootyed Buccaneer Bitches,
together, and I’ve gone more in the circuit direction. I’m kind of straddling the divides — I think and Sassy Summers of Sweet Sassy
that’s why it’ll work with the two of us playing together.” Stephan hints he may premiere his remix and the Molassees. Interstitial
burlesque will come from Delilah
of “Beat for the Gods” by Orange Is The New Black’s Laverne Cox, and he’s almost certain to trot Dentata, Miss Fanny Tittington, and
out his sassy, fierce remix of Beyonce’s “Partition.” Chris Mess Jacobs, with music by
“I just feel lucky to still be doing what I love doing,” Stephan says. “I realize that there are new Sarah Azzara. Saturday, April 14,
people coming up all the time, and they’re going to bump me out of the way at some point. As long at 9:30 p.m. Black Cat Backstage,
1811 14th St. NW. Tickets are $12
as people are listening and dancing, then I’m going to carry on.” in advance or $15 at the door. Call
202-667-4490 or visit facebook.
com/butthecircus. l
Tom Stephan DJs at Cherry’s Synergy party on Friday, April 13, starting at 9 p.m. at Echostage,
2135 Queens Chapel Road NE. Tickets are $35 or included in Cherry Weekend Passes starting at
$185; a round-trip shuttle between Dupont’s Embassy Row Hotel and Echostage is $25.
Visit cherryfund.org for more information.

20 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 theFeed
FRAUD FIGHTERS
California lawmakers want to declare conversion therapy
a form of “consumer fraud.” By John Riley
C
ALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS ARE ADVANCING A
bill that would call conversion therapy a “fraudu-
lent practice.” If the bill is successful, anyone who
practices conversion therapy will be promising a product —
change in sexual orientation or gender identity — that they
knowingly cannot deliver. That means that state can step in
to effectively shut down the practice by using complaints,
fines, or other actions to prevent licensed therapists or coun-
selors from carrying out the therapy.
Assembly Bill 2943, sponsored by openly gay
Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Cupertino), received bipar-
tisan support as it passed through two Assembly committes.
The bill is expected to receive a floor vote in the coming
weeks, and will likely pass.
“There is nothing wrong with who I am or who any of my
brothers and sisters are in the LGBT community,” Low said
in a statement. “It’s time to treat everyone with the human
dignity that we all deserve, while celebrating our identities.”
California already outlaws the practice of conversion
therapy on minors, as do several other states and jurisdic-
tions. But no state currently bans the practice on adults,
who legally can subject themselves to whatever therapies
or practices they choose. Supporters of the bill cite a 2009
report from the American Psychological Association which
found that conversion therapy “poses critical health risks”
and contributes to anti-LGBTQ stigma by characterizing
homosexuality as a mental illness.
Several anti-LGBTQ groups, including Alliance
Defending Freedom, the Family Research Council, and
Liberty Counsel, as well as two pro-conversion therapy
NORTHERN FIGHTS
Anchorage voters reject a ballot measure seeking to restrict transgender people’s
access to public facilities. By John Riley
V
OTERS IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, HAVE DEFEAT-
ed a ballot measure that sought to remove non-
discrimination protections for transgender people.
While the results may not be certified for a few weeks, it is
all but mathematically impossible for the measure, known
as Proposition 1, to succeed, as the “No” campaign leads by
52.7% to 47.3%, or approximately 4,000 votes, with 100% of
precincts reporting.
The win for the Fair Anchorage campaign, which led
opposition to the measure, is historic, as it marks the first
time that an American jurisdiction has upheld transgender
protections as part of a standalone ballot measure.
Fair Anchorage ran a campaign focusing heavily on
groups, are trying to marshal voters against the bill by calling
it “anti-Christian” and a form of government censorship of
free speech — even alleging it may be unconstitutional.
Matt Sharp, a lawyer for ADF, appeared on ABC 7 News
in San Francisco and claimed that the bill discriminates
against people who disagree with homosexuality.
“You can’t question it. You can’t explore whether there’s
other options,” he said. “Or even from the perspective of
religious individuals, telling them, ‘You can’t talk about the
moral issues implicated with sexual orientation and gender
identity, unless it’s the government’s approval on it.’”
Peter Sprigg, of the Family Research Council, even com-
pared the bill to torture in a blog post for FRC’s regularly
occurring “Washington Update,” saying: “Some extremists
like to call this kind of therapy ‘torture.’ But the real torture
is telling people who want help they can’t have it.”
But proponents say conservatives are misrepresenting
what the bill does, that it’s really about protecting LGBTQ
people from being conned into paying for therapy that will
fail to change their sexual orientation or gender identity.
“Even today, both young people and adults are often
swindled by unscrupulous practitioners who falsely claim
that they can cure a person from being gay or transgender,”
Carolyn Reyes, of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said
in a statement. “People who go through conversion therapy,
whether with a licensed therapist or an unlicensed organiza-
tion, frequently find that they have wasted years of their lives
and thousands of dollars on these false promises. This legisla-
tion confirms what courts have already decided: Practicing or
advertising conversion therapy is a form of consumer fraud.” l
local Anchorage residents who would be negatively affect-
ed by the rescission of the protections for transgender
people. They particularly stressed the local angle after it
was revealed that one of the women in the “Yes on 1” cam-
paign’s advertisements was an anti-transgender activist
from Minnesota.
“This groundbreaking, first-of-its kind victory could
never have happened without the hard work and courage
of transgender people and their families in Anchorage who
shared their experiences and stories of how Prop 1 would
impact them,” Kati Ward, the campaign manager for Fair
Anchorage, said in a statement. “When we learned last year
that Proposition 1 might be on the ballot, we began to create
APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 23
 theFeed
a coalition like our city has never seen before.
“We brought together a powerful alliance of bipartisan
elected officials, businesses, faith leaders, safety advocates,
women, educators, and families to send the message that
PERSECUTION COMPLEX
Australian rugby player Israel Folau won’t be disciplined for saying
all gay people will go to hell. By John Riley
A
N AUSTRALIAN RUGBY PLAYER WHO CAME UNDER
fire for making homophobic comments on Instagram
will not be disciplined, the CEO of Rugby Australia has
confirmed. Israel Folau, a devout Christian, was harshly criti-
cized after he said that God’s plan for gay people was “HELL..
Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God.” Facing
intense backlash over his comments, Folau then tried to play
the victim card by comparing himself to a “persecuted proph-
et,” including quoting a part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
In response to Metro Weekly’s story, LGBTQ rights advo-
cate and Pennsylvania state representative Brian Sims shut
down Folau’s attempt to paint himself as a victim of a politi-
cally correct backlash.
“Persecution is when you have less rights, less say, less
protection from abuse, less representation, less support,
and less ability to have wrongs against you corrected,” Sims
24 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
Anchorage values freedom for all,” Ward continued. “This
is a victory not only for transgender people, but for their
allies and everyone who is proud to call Anchorage a wel-
coming place.” l
tweeted. “Getting backlash for being an idiot isn’t persecu-
tion, it’s justice.”
Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle summoned Folau to
a meeting to discuss his comments, but later confirmed that
he would not be punished for them — and even called him a
“strong role model.”
“We’re proud of the fact that he’s a strong believer and
he’s prepared to stand up for what he believes in,” Castle said
in a statement, adding, “He is a great player, he has delivered
some great outcomes for us and has been a really strong role
model in the Pacific Islander community and we would like
to see he stays in rugby.”
Addressing the controversy his comments generated,
Castle said, “I think Israel has acknowledged that maybe he
could have put a positive spin on that same message and done
it in a more respectful way.” l

THURSDAY, April 12
Rayceen Pendarvis holds
“RAYCEEN, FIX ME UP,” an
evening of ice breaker games
and other get-to-know-you
activities for single bisexual
people. Light refreshments will
be served. Free and open to
the public, but pre-registration
is encouraged. 6-8 p.m. Shaw
Library, 1630 7th St. NW. Visit
teamrayceen.eventbrite.com.
The DC Center holds an ASL
NIGHT EVENT for people to
learn about deaf culture, learn
some basic American Sign lan-
guage and LGBTQ terminology,
and socialize with people from
D.C.’s LGBTQ deaf community.
6-8 p.. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
105. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
Weekly Events
ANDROMEDA
TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH
offers free HIV testing and HIV
services (by appointment). 9
a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center,
1400 Decatur St. NW. To
arrange an appointment, call
202-291-4707, or visit androm-
edatransculturalhealth.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB practice
session at Takoma Aquatic
Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more infor-
mation, visit swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS run-
ning/walking/social club
welcomes runners of all ability
levels for exercise in a fun and
supportive environment, with
socializing afterward. Route
distance is 3-6 miles. Meet at
7 p.m. at 23rd & P Streets NW.
For more information, visit
dcfrontrunners.org.
DC LAMBDA SQUARES, D.C.’s
gay and lesbian square-dancing
group, features mainstream
through advanced square
dancing at the National City
Christian Church. Please dress
casually. 7-9:30 p.m. 5 Thomas
Circle NW. 202-930-1058,
dclambdasquares.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
practice. The team is always
looking for new members. All
welcome. 7:30-9:30 p.m. King
Greenleaf Recreation Center,
201 N St. SW. For more infor-
mation, visit scandalsrfc.org or
dcscandals@gmail.com.
THE DULLES TRIANGLES
Northern Virginia social
group meets for happy hour at
Sheraton in Reston. All wel-
come. 7-9 p.m. 11810 Sunrise
Community Valley Drive, second-floor bar.
For more information, visit
dullestriangles.com.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-
Walker Health. 9 a.m.-12:30
p.m. and from 2-5 p.m. at 1525
14th St. NW, and 9 a.m-12
p.m. and 2-5 p.m. at the Max
Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr.
Ave. SE. For an appointment
call 202-745-7000 or visit whit-
man-walker.org.
IDENTITY offers free and
confidential HIV testing at
two separate locations. Walk-
PHOTO COURTESY DC ROW
ins accepted from 2-6 p.m.,
by appointment for all other
hours. 414 East Diamond Ave.,
Gaithersburg, Md. or 7676
New Hampshire Ave., Suite
411, Takoma Park, Md. To set
up an appointment or for more
information, call Gaithersburg,
HAVING A ROW
301-300-9978, or Takoma Park,
301-422-2398.
METROHEALTH CENTER
offers free, rapid HIV testing.
D.C.’s newest fitness studio transforms rowing Appointment needed. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. To arrange
into a satisfying full-body workout. an appointment, call 202-638-
R
0750.
OWING IS MORE THAN JUST AN EXERCISE, IT’S
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing,
a lifestyle,” says Brittany Bunch, studio manager of DC 3-5 p.m., by appointment and
Row, D.C.’s first-of-its-kind indoor fitness studio solely walk-in, for youth 21 and
dedicated to rowing. younger. Youth Center, 410 7th
The studio, located on the Wharf in Southwest D.C., hous- St. SE. 202-567-3155 or test-
es 20 water rowing machines that simulate the resistance you ing@smyal.org.
would feel if you were outside on the Potomac. But DC Row
STI TESTING at Whitman-
isn’t only about repeatedly pulling a crossbar to your chest. In
Walker Health. 10 a.m.-12:30
between sets, instructors guide rowers through stretches, exer- p.m. and 2-3 p.m. at both 1525
cises, crunches, and modified push-ups using the seat of the 14th St. NW and the Max
machine. When you return to the rower, you’ll work through a Robinson Center, 2301 Martin
series of exercises targeting areas including the triceps, biceps, Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE.
legs, and obliques, to ensure you get a full-body workout. Testing is intended for those
without symptoms. For an
“You can lose up to 800 calories in a 50-minute session,”
appointment call 202-745-7000
Bunch says. “It’s very good for people with arthritis or osteopo- or visit whitman-walker.org.
rosis, because it’s very low-impact on your limbs and ligaments. It
boosts cardiovascular health, releases endorphins, which boosts US HELPING US hosts a
mood, and induces excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, Narcotics Anonymous Meeting.
The group is independent of
which allows your body to burn calories after you work out.”
UHU. 6:30-7:30 p.m., 3636
DC Row offers three morning classes, two mid-day classes,
Georgia Ave. NW. For more
and three evening classes during weekdays, and four morning information, call 202-446-1100.
and three afternoon classes on weekdays. Each class costs $35,
though there’s discounted “packs” ranging from 3 classes for WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
$100 to 30 classes for $900. “Some of those numbers may seem INSTITUTE for young LBTQ
like a lot,” Bunch says, “but it’s about the investment that you put women, 13-21, interested in
leadership development. 5-6:30
into your health.”
p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410
DC Row also offers opportunities for individuals to get 1-on-1 7th St. SE. For more informa-
training or small group instruction, including corporate team tion, call 202-567-3163, or email
building events or wedding bootcamps. catherine.chu@smyal.org.
“We’re a mixed level [studio], so our instructors will make
modifications for those who aren’t as physically fit,” Bunch says. FRIDAY, April 13
“We have an emphasis on form, so you don’t have to go fast to get
an effective workout. The more form-centric you are, the more GAMMA is a confidential, vol-
untary, peer-support group
isolated you are in your motions, the better the exercise will be
for men who are gay, bisexual,
for you.” —John Riley questioning and who are now
DC Row is located at 790 Maine Ave. SW. For more information, or who have been in a relation-
ship with a woman. 7:30-9:30
or to purchase a pack of classes, call 202-683-4055,
p.m. Luther Place Memorial
visit dcrow.co, or email info@dcrow.co.
APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 27
 Church, 1226 Vermont Ave NW.
GAMMA meetings are also held in
Vienna, Va., and in Frederick, Md.
For more information, visit gam-
maindc.org.
WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES
(AND THIRTIES), a social discus-
sion and activity group for queer
women, meets at The DC Center
on the second and fourth Friday of
each month. Group social activity
to follow the meeting. 8-9:30 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
more information, visit thedccen-
ter.org.
Weekly Events
BET MISHPACHAH, founded by
members of the LGBT community,
holds Friday evening Shabbat ser-
vices in the DC Jewish Community
Center’s Community Room. 8 p.m.
1529 16th St. NW. For more infor-
mation, visit betmish.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a prac-
tice session at Howard University.
6:30-8 p.m. Burr Gymnasium, 2400
6th St. NW. For more information,
visit swimdcac.org.
PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-
affirming social group for ages
11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road
NW. Contact Tamara, 202-319-
0422, layc-dc.org.
SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides a
social atmosphere for LGBT and
questioning youth, featuring dance
parties, vogue nights, movies and
games. For more info, email cather-
ine.chu@smyal.org.
SATURDAY, April 14
ADVENTURING outdoors group
hikes 7.4 moderate miles in Prince
William Forest near Quantico, Va.
Bring beverages, lunch, bug spray,
sturdy boots, and about $10 for
fees. Carpool at 9 a.m. from parking
lot on Army-Navy Drive, across
from Pentagon City Mall. For more
information, contact Jerry, 571-241-
3787, or visit adventuring.org.
The DC Center hosts a monthly
meeting of UNIVERSAL PRIDE,
a group to support and empower
LGBTQIA people with disabili-
ties, offer perspectives on dating
and relationships, and create
greater access in public spaces for
LGBTQIA PWDs. 1-2:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, contact Andy Arias,
andyarias09@gmail.com.
Weekly Events
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a prac-
tice session at Montgomery College
Aquatics Club. 8:30-10 a.m. 7600
Takoma Ave., Takoma, Md. For more
information, visit swimdcac.org.
28 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
walking/social club welcomes run-
ners of all ability levels for exercise
in a fun and supportive environ-
ment, with socializing afterward.
Route distance will be 3-6 miles.
Walker meet at 9:30 a.m. and run-
ners at 10 a.m. at 23rd & P Streets
NW. For more information, visit
dcfrontrunners.org.
DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for
LGBT community, family and
friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel
Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary
Road, Alexandria. All welcome. For
more info, visit dignitynova.org.
SUNDAY, April 15
CHRYSALIS arts & culture group
visits the Newseum, a museum
dedicated to the history of journal-
ism. Admission is $25 for adults,
$20 for seniors. Lunch in cafe to
follow. Meet at 10 a.m. by the box
office inside the main entrance,
at 6th Street and Pennsylvania
Avenue NW. For more information,
contact Jeff, 301-775-9660 or jef-
freyhughes@me.com.
Volunteers are needed to help
with CASA RUBY’S MONTHLY
DINNER. Held on the third Sunday
of each month, in conjunction with
The DC Center, the event provides
a hot meal to those housed at Casa
Ruby. Homemade or store bought
meals welcome. 7-8 p.m. Casa
Ruby, 3530 Georgia Ave. NW. For
more information, contact lamar@
thedccenter.org, jon@thedccenter.
org, or visit casaruby.org.
MONDAY, April 16
The Metro D.C. chapter of PFLAG,
a support group for parents, family
members and allies of the LGBTQ
community, holds its monthly
meeting at The DC Center. 7-9 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
more information, visit thedccen-
ter.org.
Weekly Events
NOVASALUD offers free HIV test-
ing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite
200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-
789-4467.
The DC Center hosts COFFEE
DROP-IN FOR THE SENIOR LGBT
COMMUNITY. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000
14th St. NW. For more information,
call 202-682-2245 or visit thedc-
center.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay
men’s evening affinity group for
GBT black men. Light refreshments
provided. 7-9 p.m. 3636 Georgia
Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
p.m. Newcomers with at least basic
swimming ability always welcome.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more informa-
tion, contact Tom, 703-299-0504
or secretary@wetskins.org, or visit
wetskins.org.
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH
HIV/AIDS SUPPORT GROUP
for newly diagnosed individuals,
meets 7 p.m. Registration required.
202-939-7671, hivsupport@whit-
man-walker.org.
TUESDAY, April 17
CENTER BI, a group of The DC
Center, hosts a monthly roundtable
discussion around issues of bisex-
uality. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. Visit thedccenter.org.
Join The DC Center as it hosts
TERRIFIC TUESDAY, a series of
social events partnering with local
restaurants and businesses, at BKK
Cookshop. BKK Cookshop offers
Thai food, draft cocktails, Asian beer,
wines and sake, with a comfortable
patio. BKK Cookshop will donate 10%
of dinner sales to The DC Center’s
ongoing programming. 7-9:30 p.m.
1700 New Jersey Ave. NW. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org or
bkkcookshop.com.
THE HIV WORKING GROUP of
THE DC CENTER hosts a “Packing
Party,” where volunteers assemble
safe-sex kits of condoms and lube.
7-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
105. Visit thedccenter.org.
Weekly Events
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds prac-
tice. The team is always looking for
new members. All welcome. 7:30-
9:30 p.m. King Greenleaf Recreation
Center, 201 N St. SW. For more
information, visit scandalsrfc.org or
dcscandals@gmail.com.
THE GAY MEN’S HEALTH
COLLABORATIVE offers free
HIV testing and STI screening
and treatment every Tuesday.
5-6:30 p.m. Rainbow Tuesday
LGBT Clinic, Alexandria Health
Department, 4480 King St. 703-
746-4986 or text 571-214-9617.
james.leslie@inova.org.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
holds an LGBT-focused meet-
ing every Tuesday, 7 p.m. at St.
George’s Episcopal Church, 915
Oakland Ave., Arlington, just steps
from Virginia Square Metro. For
more info. call Dick, 703-521-
1999. Handicapped accessible.
Newcomers welcome. liveandletli-
veoa@gmail.com.
Support group for LGBTQ youth
ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL. 5-6:30
p.m. 410 7th St. SE. For more
information, contact Cathy Chu,
202-567-3163, or catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
US HELPING US hosts a support
group for black gay men 40 and
older. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave.
NW. 202-446-1100.
Whitman-Walker Health holds its
weekly GAY MEN’S HEALTH AND
WELLNESS/STD CLINIC. Patients
are seen on walk-in basis. No-cost
screening for HIV, syphilis, gon-
orrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis
and herpes testing available for fee.
Testing starts at 6 p.m, but should
arrive early to ensure a spot. 1525
14th St. NW. For more information,
visit whitman-walker.org.
WEDNESDAY, April 18
BOOKMEN DC, an informal men’s
gay literature group, discusses
Kevin Elyot’s play, My Night with
Reg, at The DC Center. All are
welcome. 7:30 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more info, visit
bookmendc.blogspot.com.
The TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL
BRIDGE CLUB meets for Social
Bridge at the Dignity Center, across
from the Marine Barracks. No
partner needed. 7:30 p.m. 721 8th
St. SE. Call 301-345-1571 for more
information.
Weekly Events
AD LIB, a group for freestyle con-
versation, meets about 6-6:30 p.m.,
Steam, 17th and R NW. All wel-
come. For more information, call
Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
FREEDOM FROM SMOKING, a
group for LGBT people looking
to quit cigarettes and tobacco use,
holds a weekly support meeting at
The DC Center. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more infor-
mation, visit thedccenter.org.
HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH
offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.
and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.
Washington St., Alexandria. 703-
549-1450, historicchristchurch.org.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV
testing. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N.
15th St., Suite 200, Arlington.
Appointments: 703-789-4467.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
p.m. Newcomers with at least basic
swimming ability always welcome.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more informa-
tion, contact Tom, 703-299-0504
or secretary@wetskins.org, or visit
wetskins.org. l
Scene
The Ask Rayceen Show’s Annual Mini Ball at HRC
Wednesday, April 4 • Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 29

Medium at Large
Tyler Henry has turned psychic readings — heralded by some, derided by others — into a hit
TV show. But all the gay “Hollywood Medium” really wants is to leave every person he meets
“better than I found them.”
Interview by R andy Shulman
W
HEN IT COMES TO TYLER HENRY, YOU HAVE
a choice. You can either choose to believe that he’s able to com-
municate with the so-called spirit world, or you can choose to
believe that it’s all an elaborate trick, one based on cold readings
and prior research.
Whatever you believe, there’s no denying the gay clairvoyant,
whose hit series Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry is now
in the midst of its third season on E!, fully believes in his own
abilities.
Television is littered with shows on the paranormal, and crit-
ics are especially quick to point out that mediums, in particular,
prey on the vulnerabilities of others. It’s why they’re often called
“grief vampires.” The world of psychics is a huge market, its
customers often looking for hope, comfort, and signs that there
is something beyond this mortal coil.
Unlike other television mediums, 22-year-old Henry has
latched onto a profitable niche: celebrities. Even if you don’t
believe a moment of his readings, it’s hard not to watch with
fascination how various stars react to news that a dead brother
may not have committed suicide, a deceased parent is remorseful
over gambling transgressions, or a passed loved one just wants to
say one final goodbye. There’s even a twist: Henry doesn’t know
ahead of time who he’s going to do a reading for, an aspect the
show’s executive producer, Michael Corbett, forcefully backs up.
“The one thing we are absolute sticklers on is we are very
secretive,” says Corbett. “We never let Tyler know who he’s
going to read. It’s never written down anywhere. Even though
people claim he ‘googled’ the celebrity, it’s not possible because
he doesn’t know who he’s going to read until he opens the door.
That’s the reality.”
Prior to developing the show, Corbett had an encounter with
Henry that opened his mind. He had met him at a party and, for
fun, hired him to do a reading. “I tested him,” says Corbett. “I
gave him some objects of some friends of mine, and one by one
he told me exactly how that person died and exactly what was
going on with them at the time of their death.... I was shocked. I
mean, I gave him a name — just a first name of someone and an
object — and he just went on and told me every detail. I thought
to myself, this kid’s the real deal. From there I thought, I want to
create a show with this kid.”
Celebrities seem eager to buy into the Tyler Henry phenom-
enon, and the show has attracted the stars as varied as RuPaul,
LaToya Jackson, Taye Diggs, Margaret Cho, David and Rosanna
Arquette, Jim Parsons, Selma Blair, Tituss Burgess, and even
Olympian Gus Kenworthy. While the readings are edited down
from about an hour to 15 minutes, to fit the show’s time con-
30 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
straints, the celebrity reactions come through loud and clear.
“It’s really fascinating to see the range of reactions, because
some are very emotional, and others will just be very stoic,” says
Henry during the course of an hour-long phone conversation.
“I’ve found that shock has a lot of different reactions. Some peo-
ple burst into tears, other people just kind of stay silent and sit
there and process. They really have to think about it.”
If Henry has a built-in wariness of the press, it’s not out-
wardly evident. He’s bright, chipper, infinitely personable, and
instinctively charismatic. He’s also extremely well-rehearsed
in answering any question lobbed at him — the kind of pre-
cision that comes with extensive media training. Plus, he’s
nice. Genuinely so. You instantly see why so many people are
taken with the reedy, handsome blonde who bears a striking
resemblance to a young Macaulay Culkin — “He’s the nicest kid
you’d want to meet,” says Corbett — but it’s impossible, upon
reflection, to not wonder if Henry is being fully genuine with his
answers. It’s one thing to say you’re getting messages from enti-
ties in another realm. It’s another thing to offer hard proof. And,
apart from noting that the only way a person can truly believe
in what he does is to undergo one of his readings, Henry has no
scientific evidence of his abilities.
Still, he seems unfazed over the vitriol and criticism he gets
from cynics (Queerty has been especially brutal, labeling him a
“scam artist”), preferring it to roll off his back.
“I respect that everybody inherently is allowed to believe
what they want,” he says. “I think if you’re really secure in who
you are, you don’t waiver when other people are upset at who
you are or what they perceive you as being.
“It’s a very controversial career,” he continues. “But I really
just don’t focus on having to defend myself. I don’t even really
feel like I actively defend myself. I feel like I just share my expe-
rience — and what I do and what I know — and that’s that.... I just
try to be as honest and forthright with my experiences as I can,
and people can do with that what they will.”
METRO WEEKLY: In most interviews, I’ll start with, “When did you
first come out?” But my first question to you instead is when did
you first realize that you were able to connect with those who have
passed away?
TYLER HENRY: This all started for me when I was ten years old. I
grew up in a pretty conservative Christian household in a pretty
small town. One night I went to bed and woke up shortly before
midnight and felt this memory of my grandmother’s passing.
It felt like a knowingness, it was as if I was just recollecting
an event that already happened. But it didn’t make any sense
because when I had gone to bed, my grandmother was alive.
YU TSAI
I went to explain this to my mom — I was very upset — and as
“I really take my work seriously. In the same way you wouldn’t call a 1-800 number to get your heart checked,
I was explaining, her phone rang. It was the news that my grand-
mother had just died. That was really the catalyst that set my life
on this path. From there, one thing led to another and eventually
I started doing readings.
MW: Prior to that, you had not felt anything like this?
HENRY: Not anything as evident as that premonition. I had little
experiences here and there as a child, but that experience really
opened the floodgates and information started coming through, a lot.
As time went on, from the ages of 10 to 13, at school, I would
walk the P.E. track. And for some reason, when I was walk-
ing the track, that was always when
I would pick up on information. One
day, I looked over at a kid and said,
“Do you have an uncle named Sal, or
Salvador?” He said, “Yes, I do, how did
you know that?” It ended up being this
kid’s uncle. It basically just happened
like that. I would be able to interact
with people and just recollect infor-
mation there was no way I could have
possibly known. These little intuitive
hunches would come through, and it
just happened increasingly as I got
older.
MW: Is it something you actively worked
on, like exercised or developed?
HENRY: Eventually. When I made it
a career at the age of 16, I really put
it into practice. I had to really dive in
and see the capabilities of the ability.
But from the ages of 10 to 16, it was
just more something that would hap-
pen to me.
MW: When did you come out as gay?
HENRY: I never actually quite had a
coming out. I was always gay. My fam-
ily always had some form of an incli-
nation one way or another. It was many conversations, and it
was something that I always had. It was always a part of me. If
anything, I think coming out of the psychic closet was more the
dramatic aspect of my life.
MW: It was more difficult telling people you were psychic?
HENRY: I would say so. Religious opposition from very early on
was probably the most challenging. And there were other gay
kids in my town, but there weren’t any other mediums, so when
it came to being ridiculed, I was a target.
MW: You were bullied?
HENRY: I was, but it really had more to do with the medium side
of things. Word of mouth spread about what I was able to do,
and what I was able to share. While many people embraced it, a
lot of people were really upset by it from a religious perspective
in my little town. They even went so far as having a prayer circle
done for me when I was 10 years old. When I heard about it, I
was absolutely devastated, because at 10 years old, you’re still a
child, you’re still trying to figure out who you are, and you hear
of this group trying to save my soul.
MW: Were you raised religious?
HENRY: I was. My extended family was more religious than my
immediate, but I did go to church. We were Presbyterian, so
we were a little bit more open-minded than some of the other
denominations. But there was definitely some stigma.
32 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
MW: I take it communicating with the dead is frowned upon in
most religions?
HENRY: Yeah. There are verses in the Bible, typically not in the
most positive of lights. But it’s important to understand the
historical context of the bible, of course. With gay people, the
same thing applies. The terms that they used back then are not
necessarily applicable to our lifestyle in this day and age. What
a medium was in biblical times was very different from what a
modern day medium is.
MW: Is there a difference between a medium and a psychic?
HENRY: I would say so, but it is kind
of semantics. Being a medium is a
psychic ability. However, psychics,
and the word psychic, tend to have a
connotation of being able to tell the
future. I just consider a psychic ability
to be a spiritual ability. I’m primarily
a medium, so my job is really more
focused with connecting people with
loved ones and relaying impressions
and feelings from their energy. That’s
the essence of what I do.
MW: Why don’t we all have this ability?
HENRY: I think we do. I think we all
have an intuition. If you look at the
word intuition — inner-tuition — it
means inner knowledge. I think most
people shut their intuition down.
There’s so many times in our lives
where we kick ourselves because we
don’t go with our gut. I think everyone
can relate to that in some way. But
I think it’s something that requires
practice to refine. In my life, I’ve really
had to make a conscious decision to be
able to tune in and focus and be pres-
ent. That’s how I’m able to pick up on
a lot of these subtleties that come through in readings, because
I’m just super present and I’m able to put my own thoughts and
feelings and emotions to the side.
MW: How do psychics and mediums evaluate one another to distin-
guish between being gifted versus being fake? I’m thinking of the
psychic hotlines out there.
HENRY: Validation is really the defining factor. In my readings,
I put a heavy emphasis on validation, which means bringing
forward information — specifically, detailed information — that
is private and can be verified from the client as making sense in
the context of the person coming through. But I really liken what
I do to be a practice, much like how a doctor is a practitioner. I
really take my work seriously. I think that in the same way you
wouldn’t call a 1-800 number to get your heart checked, you
probably shouldn’t call a 1-800 number to get a psychic reading.
I’ve had a lot of experiences with psychics, mediums, self-pro-
claimed and legitimate, and I’ve had over 200 readings personal-
ly, and have been able to see when a person is valid and when a
person is just guessing, or being general, or being vague, or read-
ing from a script. They shouldn’t have to ask a million questions.
SHARON MOR YOSEF
They should be able to bring forward details and specifics with
some degree of knowingness. My goal as a medium is really just
to redefine what people think of when they think of a medium,
because it’s really about the validation and getting the specifics.
YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN’T CALL A 1-800 NUMBER TO GET A PSYCHIC READING.”
That maintains the integrity of the experience.
MW: Why do you think people use your services?
HENRY: Everyone comes with a different reason. I have found
through my work that fundamentally everybody is looking for
a lot of the same thing. Typically, that revolves around closure,
clarity, insights — or some derivative of the three.
MW: Let’s talk about your show, Hollywood Medium. The setup is
relatively simple. You go from reading to reading, and yet within
the readings themselves, there is variance in terms of the way
people emotionally respond. Some respond with a tremendous out-
pouring of emotion. Some seem to visibly hold back. Yet all seem
to get something out of the experience. Now, you’re not a psychol-
ogist, but there’s clearly psychology behind what you do. Do you
see yourself as someone who helps shepherd people through grief?
HENRY: I would say readings aren’t a cure for grief, but they can
help provide the necessary validation that our loved ones are still
around and connected to us in some way. My hope is that when
I do a reading, it helps initiate a dialogue with the client about
what they’re going through and how they’re feeling, and that, in
and of itself, can really help a person go through their path of
grief, and hopefully be inspired to go to the professional means
of seeing a therapist and getting that help and consultation. My
goal is really just to make sure that with every person I meet, I
leave them better than I found them.
MW: Is there a difference between how celebrities on the show react
and your everyday, non-celebrity clients?
HENRY: As far as reactions go, no. I guess celebrities can be a bit
more guarded, understandably, as they’re public figures, and it is
a very private thing, and you never know what’s going to come
out. But one of the beautiful things of the show is that it really
shows the universality of human emotion — everybody is looking
for the same thing. Regardless of a person’s lifestyle or recog-
nizability, we all are going to experience loss. We’re all going to
have the same questions. That’s an all-encompassing thing. It’s
really interesting to see it first-hand.
MW: What happens if during a reading for the show nothing comes?
HENRY: I’ve never had nothing come. Thankfully. Thankfully,
thankfully. I’ve done over 164 readings for the show, and every
single time something has came through. It may not be neces-
sarily what the client was anticipating. It could be someone
connected to someone the client brought with them and is in the
other room, but something tends to always come through when I
start tuning into the energy of my surroundings. My job is really
just to kind of stick to the message and do my job, and deliver it
as eloquently as I can.
MW: Do messages come to you randomly that you can’t control?
HENRY: I have no control at all. When I do a reading, it really
is on the terms of whatever’s coming through. I’m not making
these messages up, they’re coming from a different source, so
I have to basically just be aware of the stream of information.
Sometimes that stream is really strong. Other times that stream
is not as strong and I have to work with whatever type of a com-
municator I’m working with.
MW: But walking down the street in New York City, for instance,
with thousands of people around you, would you get bombarded by
stray messages? Do the psychic floodgates burst open?
HENRY: Definitely. I do try to consciously turn it on and off as
best I can, but it is very difficult. I’ve been to New York probably
over ten times, and it’s still difficult every single time because
I’m not used to living in such a high concentrated area. I grew up
in a very rural, small town, and even where I live now is actually
in a rural area. So when I am in high concentrations of groups of
people, it can get very intense. I may not necessarily be having all
of these people’s loved ones coming through, but people do carry
an inherent energy that is unique to them and their personality,
and what they’re going through in that moment. So when I’m
in a crowd, I do get pulls in certain directions. I’ll get stimulus
feelings and it can be very overwhelming.
MW: How do you cope with that?
HENRY: I consciously try to navigate it as best I can. There
have been times where I’ve shared impressions that have come
through randomly in public. One instance, there was a woman
in a supermarket. I came up to her — I was in my teens — and
I had this vision of this older man coming through, and he was
choking. I kept hearing, “I love you. I love you. I love you.” I
stopped this woman and I explained that I was a medium and
that I had a message for her. I said, “For some reason, he’s just
having me say I love you, and he’s showing me his throat and
that he was choking right before he passed.” She said her father
died of throat cancer and was trying to get his last words out, but
he wasn’t able to communicate them before he passed. When he
came through, he validated that he was just trying to tell her that
he loved her one last time.
This was in a supermarket. And this woman broke down cry-
ing on aisle five, and I was just left thinking about the fact that
this can have a massive impact on people’s lives, and there’s a
time and a place to do it. I really prefer that people reach out to
me for readings, versus just doing it randomly.
MW: Are there spirits or entities that scare you?
HENRY: No.
MW: No? Most Hollywood horror films are based on spirits that are
not friendly. They’re evil. Rarely do you get a super-friendly ghost.
HENRY: There are a lot of misconceptions, ironically from
Hollywood, about mediums and spirituality and the afterlife
and all that. If anything, I’ve found that my experiences with
the other side and everything that’s came through has been
comforting and has given me a deeper understanding of my life
and my life purpose, and all of our purpose. I have not have any
major, major experiences in recent memory of anything really
frightening, evil, or anything along those lines.
MW: But there are evil people out there — bad people who do bad
things. They die. Don’t they carry whatever made them bad in this
world forward?
HENRY: I believe it gets processed. I’ve done over 1,000 readings,
and so I’ve had people of all different lifestyles and behavioral
types come through. A lot of people come through who may
have not been the best, or did certain things to hurt other people.
Every single person that’s come through has acknowledged that
upon transitioning, they process something called the ego. The
ego is a belief that I’ve really defined as the belief systems that
we dictate our lives by — the beliefs that we accept about our-
selves, our place in the world, our perception of others. When
we transition, we realize that we are so much more than our
beliefs and our opinions and our thoughts. This allows people a
big picture perspective, which can give people a greater under-
standing and come forward and take accountability.
Like with my reading with RuPaul. His father passed away,
and his father never was able in life to take accountability for
being a gambling addict. But on the other side, his dad knew
of the impact that his addiction had on his family, and it was
something he was never able to take accountability for when he
was here. Because he saw that from where he was now at — his
APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 33
widened perspective — he was able to heal not only his process
and his soul, but also help lend that forgiveness and opportunity
for RuPaul. It’s pretty profound.
I think if anything, accountability is a really big message that
comes through. People understand the ripple effect and how
they made others feel. In our lives, it’s sometimes easy for us to
get wrapped up in our own heads, in our own consciousness, and
in our own perceptions, and when we take ourselves out of that,
we see that our lives are lived through other people, and have a
ripple effect, their actions. So it’s a big thing.
MW: Do dead people watch us? Are they around us all the time?
HENRY: That’s a tricky question, because I think it gets in the
conversation of physicality and we as human beings are in one
place at one time. The awareness of a soul, I think, is over my
head. I think it’s over all our heads, and it’s very complex. But
what I have seen is that clearly, when I sit across from people,
I’m able to relay information that happens to be connected to
them. So I believe that our loved ones are connected to our
energy, to our existence in some way. I don’t believe that they’re
watching us shower or necessarily always around in a physical
sense, but I definitely have seen that they have an awareness of
what we do after they pass away.
MW: But they’re not watching when we’re engaged in, shall we say,
intimate business?
HENRY: [Laughs.] Oh man. Good question. I have not ever had
that really come through, except for one instance. I did a reading
for Tituss Burgess. His grandmother came through and basically
acknowledged that he had had a spiritual experience where he
thought he saw her in the room at an intimate time. I don’t feel
like his grandmother was obviously around all the time in that
context, but it was just an instance that he noticed, and she came
through and validated it.
MW: Do the spirits judge us? Do they have opinions about what’s
going on in the world?
HENRY: I think when they process their ego, they realize the
unimportance of having these strong convictions, because these
are things that are important — political opinions, and personal
opinions — in a physical sense, in a physical world. When we
transition, I think our priorities change. I find that even the most
judgemental people in life, they come through with a greater
awareness of the purpose of their life served and how it impact-
ed those around them. They really see that.
MW: But they’re not tangibly active in this world?
HENRY: I would say that obviously, yes, in a physical sense, we
as physical human beings have a lot more of an ability to connect
in this realm than they do to this realm. I do think they still have
a connection to us, but where they go is an entirely different
place. It’s an entirely different realm,, it’s an existence that I
really think is impossible for us, as human beings, to understand.
I liken it to trying to explain arithmetic to a cockroach, in a sense
that a cockroach isn’t going to understand arithmetic in the same
way we, as human beings, are able to understand the magnitude
of the afterlife and existence of the whole in the universe. I really
think it’s above our heads.
MW: I imagine that you’re probably always on the defensive. There
are a lot of skeptics, and there are a lot of people who say you’re a
fraud. How do you deal with the negativity thrown at you?
HENRY: It really doesn’t bother me. It might sound kind of
bizarre to think that I would not be upset by criticism, but I
know every single day that the work that I do is real. The clients
that I read, and the people I’m able to help and heal, see that
validation, and they know it. For me, I know that I can only help
the people that I can help. I understand that what I do is not for
everyone. And I don’t force what I do on others. I wish that that
34 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
respect was mutual, and I wish that those who didn’t approve of
what I do were more understanding and open-minded, but I also
realize that there’s seven billion people in this world. Out of that
seven billion, there are people who are going to be cynical about
anything and everything, and especially being a public figure in
any form of context.
MW: I watched a YouTube video that pretty much debunked every-
thing you do by putting forth plausible explanations. What would
you say to the person who thinks they’ve got it all figured out, that
there is no possible way that you are doing this, and this is all just
an elaborate illusion?
HENRY: I would say look at the readings. I’ve done over 1,000
— 164 that have aired — and I think they speak for themselves.
I think that it’s a bit of a stretch to say that specific information
can be deduced from body language in the extent that I’ve been
able to bring forward specific information. Celebrities know of
the public details that are out there about them because of the
interviews they do. The celebrities are the first people to know
what’s on Google. They’re the first people to Google themselves.
And so these people know when they sit across from me what’s
coming through and the specifics that they’ve never shared with
anyone. Unless you’re in that seat, it’s really impossible to fully
understand the magnitude of the experience. But it certainly
doesn’t warrant being judgemental of it.
MW: If you really can talk to dead people, wouldn’t that be the
ultimate scientific discovery? To the best of my knowledge, you
haven’t sat down with scientists and said, “Look, I’m channeling
dead people here. This is something. This is pointing to the fact that
we don’t just die. We go somewhere.”
HENRY: Well, I’ve just never been asked, to be honest. I’ve never
had an authentic scientist or scientific foundation come for-
ward and ask to sit down in a way with me that was in any way
open-minded or understanding. If anything, I think those who
are more scientific are often times discouraging of psychics and
mediums. But those are not the people who are interested in
actually sitting us down in a lab and seeing any form of authen-
ticity and what may or may not come of it. They’re simply there
to criticize. I absolutely hope to be able to in some form quantify
what I’m able to do in a scientific way. But it requires someone
who’s going to have an understanding of how this works in some
capacity — or at least be open to understanding.
I think science is often times trying to gauge and quantify
things in a physical sense, and it’s very hard to apply those stan-
dards to non-physical things. That’s obviously the big challenge
and where one would have to have a conversation with a scien-
tist to really be able to figure out how do we quantify things that
are not physical?
MW: Has this ability changed the way you view death?
HENRY: Absolutely. Absolutely. I think more than anything, it’s
changed how I live my life. It’s changed what I’ve chosen to focus
on, what’s important and what’s not. We’re all going to die some
day. For me, it’s really helped provide a sense of comfort knowing
that there is something more. I think it’s just really important to
know what makes us unique, and know that that’s our super-
power. If we can stick to what makes us unique, and be ourselves
unapologetically, that can really change the world and inspire
people to be themselves as well. I think there’s a power in that.
MW: So you don’t fear death?
HENRY: I would say, yeah, I don’t fear death. But I don’t want to
go anywhere. I’m still going to try to live for as long as I can. l
Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
ET, on E! Television. Check local cable listings. Visit tylerhenryhol-
lywoodmedium.com. Follow him on Twitter at @tyhenrymedium.
C. STANLEY PHOTOGRAPHY
Stage

Roz and Ray

knee or cuts a finger. Yes, as the doctor

explains, both cryo and factor VIII are

Blood and Lipstick

derived from donated blood, but factor
offers a more concentrated dose of the
vital coagulant protein that can prevent
Ray’s boys from bleeding to death. They
Roz and Ray filters the AIDS crisis through a medical uncertainty, need this.
while Paper Dolls offers humor, empathy, Not until the early ’80s, reading about
and karaoke By André Hereford the terrifying new “gay bug,” does Dr.
Roz or anyone else start to worry that

O
the factor VIII supply might be tainted.
VER THE COURSE OF A DECADE AND A HALF, TWO ALLIES BECOME Testing for this unfamiliar virus is still
adversaries in the midst of an AIDS crisis that threatens to overtake both them new and unreliable, so Dr. Roz counsels
and the rest of the world. Dr. Roz Kagan and Ray Leon meet in 1977, when the Ray to continue treating his sons with
distraught single father of two brings his twin hemophiliac boys, Ray-Ray and Mikey, factor VIII, despite the enormous risks.
to Roz for care. Ray’s boys, like many hemophiliacs, have been dependent on painful, It’s an ethical, clinical game of Russian
time-consuming infusions of a clotting agent known as cryoprecipitate to stall any roulette, with Ray-Ray’s and Mikey’s
bleeding. lives in the balance.
But Dr. Kagan, an esteemed hematologist and oncologist at San Diego Children’s Karen Hartman’s penetrating, cathar-
Hospital, is excited about the recent innovation of a more concentrated clotting agent, tic drama, Roz and Ray ( ) has
factor VIII. She introduces Ray and the boys (who never appear onstage) to this mirac- a lot of work to do, constructing from
ulous treatment, even pricking herself with a syringe to teach Ray-Ray and Mikey how the performances of just two actors —
to inject the factor VIII themselves. Tom Story and Susan Rome — a complex,
Factor VIII augurs a new independence for Ray’s family, who will no longer need time-shifting narrative steeped in history
to rush to the hospital for a lengthy cryo infusion every time one of the boys skins his and further complicated by an abundance

APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 35

of medical jargon. Yet, in its East Coast premiere, directed by
Adam Immerwahr, the drama flows smoothly.
Led by gripping performances from Story and Rome, the pro-
duction cogently organizes an expanding universe of personal,
political, scientific, ethical, and romantic concerns into one gut-
punch of a weighty narrative. Both performers carry that weight,
playing out Roz and Ray’s years-long partnership in struggle as
a double-edge sword that benefits as much as it corrupts the
doctor-patient relationship.
Rome’s Roz is a dream physician: authoritative, knowledge-
able, and caring. But when the doctor’s knowledge fails her,
outpaced by a bug that launches an epidemic, Rome succinctly
and convincingly essays the expert’s diminished confidence.
It’s an admirably compact performance, effective especially in
moments that expose the intensity of Dr. Roz’s fear and guilt,
as evidence mounts that factor VIII might be more poison than
remedy.
Rome is less effective in conveying the doctor’s halting
attraction to loving lug of a dad, Ray. It’s certainly possible for
a straight woman and a bisexual man, as Ray appears to be, to
engage in lustful romance, but that additive element, meant to
complicate doctor-patient ethics even further, doesn’t spark on
either side of the equation. Even if the audience should guess
right away that these two are merely passing ships, their clinches
are more plot contrivance than dearly felt.
The put-on romance shouldn’t be necessary in an otherwise
fiery journey through the certain hell of parenting two vulner-
able, factor VIII-dependent children through the early days of
the AIDS crisis. Story brings that journey powerfully full-circle,
from the play’s introduction of Ray as a cheerful transplanted
Texan, worried about his kids and wary of Dr. Roz, to the man
who could love her for saving them, then hate her for possibly
dooming them.
The performance unfolds in harmony with the play to reveal
Ray as someone wounded by his often futile attempts to be
the manly protector of his brood that his dad taught him to be.
Despite the cowboy boots and forced bravado, he’s a man whose
wife left him, who might be gay, and who finds himself in con-
stant fear of losing one or both of his two fragile little boys. The
righteous anger he bares in protest could singe the seats of the
theater.
The story feels deeply personal. Maybe it should, as the play-
wright, inspired by the career of her hematologist/oncologist
father, grapples with a subject of life-changing meaning to her
own family. Wonderfully, the production transfuses a potent
dose of that meaning to this tale of one woman, one man, and
two boys that the audience will care for as much as if they were
present in flesh and blood.
PHILIP HIMBERG’S PAPER DOLLS ( ) illuminates
a unique immigrant experience with humor and empathy.
The play with music is based on a 2006 documentary about
five transgender Filipinos living in Israel, who care for elderly
Orthodox Jewish men by day and perform as a drag troupe by
night.
The drag karaoke musical numbers might be the main draw
for Mosaic Theater’s production, but they’re not the highlight.
While the delightful drag stylings capture the buoyant let’s-put-
on-a-show spirit of The Full Monty, the dramatic performances
Paper Dolls runs to April 29 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $20 to $60.
Call 202-399-7993, ext. 2 or visit MosaicTheater.org.
Roz and Ray runs to April 29, at Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. Tickets are $39 to $69. Call 202-777-3210, or visit theaterj.org.
36 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
of the Paper Dolls themselves are what elevate this fictionalized
account from enjoyable entertainment to something profoundly
moving.
First, there’s Sally, rendered brilliantly by Ariel Felix as
the loving mother of two houses. As one of approximately
300,000 foreign service workers brought to Israel on strictly
limited work visas, Sally has become more than just a nurse to
her charge, widower Chaim (Christopher Bloch). She’s also a
dear companion, embraced practically as the lady of the house,
much to the distress of Chaim’s visiting daughter Adina (Lise
Bruneau), who lives in New York and wants to take her father
back there to stay with her.
Felix and Bloch convey facets of the struggle and growth that
must have preceded the stable relationship Sally and Chaim now
enjoy. Over time, they’ve carved out an affectionate domesticity
that resists Adina’s attempts to impose her will. Similarly, Sally
resists Adina’s or anyone’s attempts to impose upon her their
definitions of gender. She knows the answer to queries of wheth-
er she’s a man, woman, or drag queen is simply that she is truly
herself. In the play, the Dolls represent a spectrum of LGBTQ
experiences, from proudly gay to unapologetically trans.
Felix embodies Sally as a person who commands respect
regardless of any judgments of her gender presentation. Treating a
gender nonconforming person like a person, not a set of problems,
will seem a fundamental concept to many, but present-day politics
drive home the necessity of depicting the skeptical Adina’s arc of
learning to see Sally for the valuable caregiver she is.
Among the Dolls, Sally is admired for her wisdom and com-
posure, and for the upright example she sets for Cheska (Rafael
Sebastian), Zhan (Evan D’Angeles), and Chiqui (Kevin Shen).
Chiqui’s younger brother Giorgio (Jon Norman Schneider), the
most recently arrived in this sisterhood of queer immigrants,
could stand to learn some of Sally’s people skills.
Schneider brings a bracing restlessness to diva-esque Giorgio,
who introduces the group to Israeli filmmaker Etai (John
Bambery), an ambitious hustler chasing his dreams in Tel Aviv.
Exhibiting little regard for the effects his actions might have on
the Dolls’ security, livelihood, or immigration status, Etai must
learn a few lessons. Despite a “very-special-episode” formula to
the script’s messaging, the cast manages to put across the various
life lessons with panache — or chutzpah, as the case may be with
the chorus of dancing rabbis.
D’Angeles, who offers a broad, if fairly thin, characterization
as attention-seeking Zhan, serves up a healthy dose of comic
relief, both in scenes of the Dolls kibitzing around their dressing
room, and in their musical numbers. His singing and showman-
ship add ballast to those performances, which, since the char-
acters are only semi-professionals, are supposed to appear not
uniformly polished. Indeed, these girls, for the most part, aren’t
Drag Race-ready, yet Brokaw and his ensemble find myriad ways
to make the Dolls’ amateur artistry amusing. The troupe receives
a major assist from Frank Labovitz’s jaunty costumes, some of
which are literally made of paper.
The paper dresses register more dimension and creativi-
ty than a couple of the characterizations, at least as written.
Thankfully, as the Paper Dolls dance around some of their sisters’
limitations, so too does the cast — Felix, Bloch, and Bruneau, in
particular — maneuver adroitly around the script’s limitations to
portray a delicate, fragile and life-changing friendship. l
NATE WATTERS FOR SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE
Stage

fresh out of jail and eager to carry on hus-

Trains of Thought
tling, not just for money, but for life. To
the older men, he represents reckless —
perhaps dangerous — youth. To Wolf, he
is rival to his vague interest in Lee’s one
Two Trains Running reflects the complexity of the black experience, and only waitress, the disaffected Risa.
while Underground Railroad Game tries to add Embracing the Malcolm X movement
to the conversation By Kate Wingfield as well as the often-reviled Hambone,
Sterling is a free radical — the question is:

R
will he build or destroy?
ICHLY HONEST AND AUTHENTIC, ARENA AND SEATTLE REPERTORY Thus, Wilson sets his parts into motion
Theatre’s Two Trains Running (HHHHH) brings the evergreen August Wilson and as they turn, ever more is revealed.
powerfully to life. One of Wilson’s many deep-dives into the experience of work- Again, it’s not about the earth-shattering,
ing class black Americans, this is not about grand acts, it’s about the potent realities and it’s about the coping and the small choices
private dreams of day-to-day life. It is funny, angry, stoic and unaccountably hopeful. made in the throes of mundane life. The
Set in a 1960s Pennsylvania diner — depicted in simple, atmospheric brushstrokes joy here is in Wilson’s everyday patter, the
via Misha Kachman’s retro set — Wilson’s characters converge for coffee and company. comfortable routines, the secret souls. But
But as the days unfold, the textures of their lives emerge. They are enduring the physi- it is also about the complexity of the black
cal and emotional perils of poverty and the sometimes subtle, sometimes brutal burdens experience. Characters argue, differ and
of relentless racism. Somewhere, in between these crucibles, they are looking for love, diverge on how best to navigate what it is
stability, purpose and meaning. to be black in America. In that sense, the
Prime mover in this microcosm is Memphis Lee, longtime owner of the diner and its play is positively ageless.
most dedicated employee. Faced with eminent domain as the city buys up the block for It is also very much an ensemble
development, Lee wants a healthy return on a place in which he has invested so much piece and this cast, under the pitch-per-
of himself, for so long. But he’s carrying some other, more private baggage: he’s been fect vision of director Juliette Carrillo, is
robbed by the white establishment before. superb. At the play’s heart is the powerful
But if Lee has courage and conviction, the cards are stacked against him. He’s just quartet of Lee, Holloway, Risa and Wolf,
one small business owner against city hall and, truth be told, he’s not exactly running and the players here couldn’t be stronger.
a roaring trade. His best customers do little more than buy a cup of coffee or a bowl of As Memphis Lee, Eugene Lee delivers
beans. There is the elderly, pontificating Holloway rooted in his favorite seat, the restless Wilson’s language with a kind of gruff
young Wolf not-so-surreptitiously using the diner as a base for his bookie operation, and musicality matching perfectly this deeply
there is the mentally ill, often distraught Hambone, arriving daily to bellow for a ham credible man of quiet but immense forti-
he thinks he’s owed. Lee knows it’s time to quit, he just wants to do it on his own terms. tude. As Holloway, David Emerson Toney
As the pressure builds behind the scenes, change comes in the form of Sterling, offers tremendously wry comic timing,

APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 37

but also a deep command of his Wilson, especially when it comes
to the man’s secret fires. In the role of the bookie Wolf, Reginald
Andre Jackson is stellar, masterfully bringing dimension and
life — and plenty of comedy — to an unassuming man just trying
to get by and find a few pleasures. Finally, there is Nicole Lewis
as the listless Risa, a refuge from her own life and keeper of the
saddest of hearts. Carrillo makes space for a quietly potent char-
acter and Lewis captures with much understatement and silent
repose just how close she is to the abyss.
Outside the inner core, but pushing in are West, the wealthy
funeral home director who wants to buy Lee’s property, and the
young Sterling. As West, William Hall, Jr., is nothing short of
priceless, giving him an ideal blend of smooth and determined and
capturing it all with a gorgeous command of Wilson’s way with
words. In the role of Sterling, Carlton Byrd brings all the necessary
disruptive energy, but he is the least comfortable with the music in
the language here and at his best when his pace is slower and less
on broadcast. As Hambone, Frank Riley III does an excellent job of
expressing his volatility without gilding the lily.
Seeing Wilson brought to life with such depth and energy is a
reminder that the “conversation” on race was alive and kicking
long before the arrival of the hashtag — and it is a whole lot more
nuanced than a Tweet.
SCOTT SUCHMAN
VAGUELY UNHINGED AND OCCASIONALLY exciting,
Jennifer Kidwell, Scott R. Sheppard, and Lightning Rod Special’s
Underground Railroad Game (HHHHH) is reminiscent of the
kind of childhood dress-up game that gets wilder and weirder
the longer it goes unsupervised.
The irony here is that the protagonists, portrayed by Kidwell
and Sheppard, are a pair of responsible middle-school teachers
trying to use a typically artless scholastic exercise to educate
students (aka the audience) on the nature of the underground
railroad. The twist is that, when they are not cheering or cajoling
the students, the pair are losing themselves in their own psy-
cho-sexual game of race relations. It’s original and provocative,
but with a public conversation already so raw and rigorous, the
question has to be: what does it add?
To some degree, with so much here delivered as an open
Underground Railroad Game runs to April 29 at Woolly Mammoth, 641 D Street NW. Tickets are $20 to $109.
Call 202-393-3939 or visit woollymammoth.net.
Two Trains Running runs to April 29 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth Street SW. Tickets are $71 to $111.
Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.
38 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
challenge or provocation, the answer will reside largely in the
heart and mind of the beholder Suffice to say, every angle raised
and toyed with is interesting, the depictions at times clever and
insightful, but if it makes you think, it doesn’t necessarily make
you think it through. Still, that counts for something, especially
on a topic that can be over-simplified and under-examined.
Of course, the auteurs aren’t about spoon-feeding a mes-
sage. Though there is a narrative, the private interludes with
the teachers fly into all kinds of exploratory territory, tongue
sometimes firmly in cheek. But if some of this outré adventur-
ing works, some of it also breaks the mood and thwarts our
immersion. Put simply, if the nudity and sexualization gets you
marveling at the bravery and abandon of the actors, you have
left the experience. It’s on the playwrights to anticipate this
effect and decide where to find the balance. Here, for all but the
most unflappable, it will be a serious distraction. So much so that
true contemplation can only come after the show is over, when
there is space to contemplate in the cooler rooms of memory.
Ultimately, arguably, some power — if not value — is lost.
Still, if much here shocks for shock’s sake, there are other
moments that are magically sublime. Take, for example, the
extraordinary interlude in which, Kidwell, embodying a carica-
ture of a black, female “house” slave, appears in striking, surreal
silhouette. As the male teacher (portrayed by Sheppard) begins
delivering yet another anodyne lecture to the class, she increas-
ingly interrupts him until she has completely co-opted the con-
versation. Their exchange becomes stranger and more sinister
and it is all quite riveting — at least until it spins off into the strato-
sphere. It’s a stunning mood and moment, one that might hail
from another, far subtler and more insidiously dangerous piece.
And, truth be told, as pedestrian as it sounds one can’t help
wishing the playwrights had “settled” for something a tad more
conventional in this tale of a tortured love affair. There are just
enough humorous, touchy exchanges, just enough sense of the
inanities of middle school life to feel that this would have made
for a very clever and entertaining play — the kind that plays
around with its cynicism and hope, leaving plenty of ambiguity.
No doubt it would lose its deeply subversive thrust, but it might
invite a few more people into its turbulent heart.
Kidwell and Sheppard capture this daring vision fearless-
ly, seamlessly moving between the real and the surreal with
equal investment and subtlety. As the woman teacher and slave
women, Kidwell is magnetic, her face a study in irony, cynicism
and the perpetually irked. She writes it little and large as need-
ed, pushing and provoking without ever being obvious. As the
male teacher (and Quaker), Sheppard captures the right blend of
earnest, bewildered and bewildering in his complicated attempt
to connect with Kidwell’s woman. Together, they make for an
intriguing kind of tension.
A challenging piece to keep cohesive and accessible, director
Taibi Magar largely paces it right, keeping the suspense intact,
allowing the necessary and nicely choreographed chaos to reign
as required.
This is Woolly Mammoth giving bold voice to issues of the
day, and with expectations aligned, it will move in one way or
another. For the odd Cherry Blossom tourist expecting a play
about American history? It will certainly make for a trip to
remember. l
NightLife Photography by
Ward Morrison

APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 39


DrinksDragDJsEtc...
Thursday,
April 12
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
BALTIMORE EAGLE
Happy Hour, 3-9pm, all
liquors, beers and wines up
to 50% off • $5 Pitchers
of Miller Lite all night long
• $3 Well Drinks in Nest
until 11pm, $3 in Tavern
all day • RuPaul’s Drag
Race Viewing, hosted
by Washington Heights,
Whimsy Thrift and Anita
Minute, 7-10pm, in the
Nest • Underwear Night,
9pm-2am • For men in
40 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
Scene
Freddie’s Beach Bar’s 17th Anniversary - Saturday, March 31
Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR SHAW’S TAVERN Friday, CHERRY SYNERGY
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3 @Echostage
Karaoke, 9pm Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, April 13 2135 Queens Chapel
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail RD. NE
underwear, all well drinks
$2, 9pm-12am • Best
GREEN LANTERN Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas 9 1/2 DJs Victor Calderone and
Underwear Contest at
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
• Shirtless Thursday,
and Select Appetizers
• All-You-Can-Eat Ribs,
Open at 5pm • Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
Tom Stephan • $35 •
Visit cherryfund.org for
Midnight • Code enforced
10-11pm • Men in $24.95, 5-10pm • $4 5-9pm • Friday Night tickets and weekend pass
in Code Bar after 9pm •
Underwear Drink Free, Heineken and Corona all Videos, 9:30pm • Rotating information
College Night Thursdays,
12-12:30am • DJs night • Dining Out for DJs • Expanded craft beer
9pm-2am • EDM Dance
BacK2bACk Life: 25% of dinner will be selection • No Cover FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Party, 10pm-2am • Free
donated to Food & Friends’ Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
admission to the Tavern •
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR annual campaign BALTIMORE EAGLE Karaoke, 9pm
Admission to the Nest is
Beat the Clock Happy Hour Baltimore Bear Happy
free until 10:30pm • After
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), TRADE Hour, 3-9pm, all liquors, GREEN LANTERN
10:30pm, $5 Cover for
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Doors open 5pm • Huge beers and wines up to 50% Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5
21 and up, $10 Cover for
Beer $15 • All Leagues Happy Hour: Any drink off • Bad Bears After Dark Svedka, all flavors, all night
18-20 • thebaltimoreea-
Night normally served in a cock- in the Code Bar, 9pm • $5 long • HybridNine pres-
gle.com
tail glass served in a huge Cover • Shigella Brown’s ents Bulge, 10pm-close
NUMBER NINE glass for the same price, Bottom-more Review in • DJ Ryan Doubleyou
CHERRY CATALYST
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any 5-10pm • Beer and wine the Nest, 10pm • $7.50 in spinning • Best Wet
@Cobalt
drink, 5-9pm • No Cover only $4 advance online, $10 at the Bulge Contest • Hosted
1639 R St. NW
door • Elyx Vodka and Any by Anita Minett and Abbi
Cherry 2018 Opening Party
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS Red Bull Flavor for $7 all Kadabra • Win weekend
• DJ Danny Verde and
All male, nude dancers • day long • thebaltimoreea- passes to D4AC Weekend
DJ Kenneth Rivera • $20
DJ • 9pm • Cover 21+ gle.com in Baltimore featuring
• Visit cherryfund.org for
Ultra Naté
tickets and weekend pass
information
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Open 3pm • Guest DJs •
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of
Beer $15
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm • Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
• No Cover • Friday Night
Piano with Chris, 7:30pm
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers
TOWN
Patio open 6pm • DC Bear
Crue Happy Hour, 6-11pm
• $3 Rail, $3 Draft, $3 Bud
Bottles • Free Pizza, 7pm
• No cover before 9:30pm
• 21+ • Drag Show starts
at 10:30pm • Hosted by
Lena Lett and featuring
Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee,
Riley Knoxx and Ba’Naka
• DJ Wess upstairs, DJs
BacK2bACk downstairs
following the show •
GoGo Boys after 11pm •
Doors open at 10pm • For
those 21 and over, $12 •
For those 18-20, $15
TRADE
Doors open 5pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm •
Guest dancers • Rotating
DJs • Ladies of Illusion
Drag Show • Doors at
9pm, Shows at 11:30pm
and 1:30am • DJ Don T. in
Ziegfeld’s • Cover 21+
APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 41
 Saturday, CHERRY CHROMA
@Town Danceboutique
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted
TRADE
Doors open 2pm • Huge
suggested and can be
made online beforehand •
CHERRY INFINITY
@Soundcheck
April 14 Cherry’s Main Event, 10pm by Chanel Devereaux, Happy Hour: Any drink Furry Happy Hour, 4-9pm 1420 K St. NW
• DJs X Gonzalez and 10:30am-12:30pm and normally served in a cock- • Sunday Fun-Day, 4-9pm DJs Nina Flowers and
9 1/2 Micky Friedmann • $20 1-3pm • House Rail Drinks, tail glass served in a huge • From 2-8pm, buy a cup Alain Jackinsky, 9pm-4am
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any • $95 package includes Zing Zang Bloody Marys, glass for the same price, for $5 and fill it with any • $30 • Visit cherryfund.
drink, 2-9pm • $5 Absolut afterhours party at Flash Nellie Beer and Mimosas, 2-10pm • Beer and wine Absolut Flavor and Mixer org for tickets and week-
and $5 Bulleit Bourbon, • Visit cherryfund.org for $4, 11am-close • Buckets only $4 for $3 each time (excluding end pass information
9pm-close • Expanded advance tickets and week- of Beer, $15 • Guest DJs energy drink mixers) •
craft beer selection • end pass information ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS thebaltimoreeagle.com DISTRKT C
No Cover NUMBER NINE Men of Secrets, 9pm-4am @Decades
DISTRKT C Doors open 2pm • Happy • Guest dancers • Ladies CHERRY MIRAGE/ 1219 Connecticut Ave. NW
BALTIMORE EAGLE @The DC Eagle Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, of Illusion Drag Show AURORA Bruce Yelk’s 50th Birthday
Happy Hour, 3-9pm • Bruce Yelk’s 50th Birthday 2-9pm • $5 Absolut and $5 with host Ella Fitzgerald @Flash Celebration After-Hours
March Madness National Celebration, 10pm-6:30am Bulleit Bourbon, 9pm-close • Doors at 9pm, Shows 645 Florida Ave. NW Party, 6am-noon • DJ
Semi-Finals/Final Four • DJs GSP and Ed Wood • Pop Tarts, featuring DJs at 11:30pm and 1:30am “2 Parties in 1” After- Manny Lehman on the Roof
• Leather and Fetish • Performance by Brasil’s BaCk2bACk, 9:30pm • DJ Don T. in Ziegfeld’s Hours Party, 3:30am-Noon Top • DJ Carl Michaels
Saturdays, Code Bar, Amannda • Special guests • DJ Steve Henderson in • DJs Eddie Martinez and and special guests in the
8pm-2am • Code enforced Boomer Banks, Ray Diesel, SHAW’S TAVERN Secrets • Cover 21+ Alex Acosta on the main Disco Room • Free admis-
after 9pm in the Code Bar Eddie Danger, Michael $15 Bottomless Mimosas, level, 3:30-9:30am • DJs sion with Distrkt C ticket
• Back to the ‘80s Dance Roman, and Billy Santoro 10am-3pm • Happy Hour, Steve Sidewalk and Isaac from Saturday’s event •
Party, featuring DJs Vince • $60 at door or $50 in 5-7pm • $3 Miller Lite, Escalante on the rooftop, Visit Distrktc.com
Christopher, Kuhmeleon,
and special guest DJs,
advance at DistrktC.com $4 Blue Moon, $5 House
Wines, $5 Rail Drinks •
Sunday, 6am-Noon • $70 (or $95
includes Chroma at Town) FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
10pm-2am • $5 Cover • FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Half-Priced Pizzas and April 15 • $40 for Aurora rooftop Champagne Brunch Buffet,
thebaltimoreeagle.com Saturday Breakfast Buffet, Select Appetizers party only • Visit cherry- 10am-3pm • $24.99 with
10am-3pm • $14.99 with 9 1/2 fund.org for tickets and four glasses of champagne
CHERRY MOODIN one glass of champagne TOWN Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any weekend pass information or mimosas, 1 Bloody
ROUGE TEA DANCE or coffee, soda or juice • Upstairs: Cherry Chroma drink, 2-9pm • $5 Absolut Mary, or coffee, soda or
@Town Danceboutique Additional champagne $2 Main Event (see separate and $5 Bulleit Bourbon, CHERRY IRIS juice • Crazy Hour, 4-8pm
Moodin Rouge Tea Dance, per glass • World Tavern listing) • Downstairs: 9pm-close • Multiple TVs @L8 • Karaoke, 9pm-close
2-7pm • Moody’s annual Poker Tournament, 1-3pm Music and video by DJ showing movies, shows, 727 15th St. NW
birthday party • DJ Joe • Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Wess • Drag Show starts sports • Expanded craft Presented by LaFantasy GREEN LANTERN
Gauthreaux • $35 • Visit Freddie’s Follies Drag at 10:30pm • Drag Show beer selection • No Cover Productions • DJ Joe Happy Hour, 4-9pm •
cherryfund.org for advance Show, hosted by Miss starts at 10:30pm • Hosted Pacheco, 2-7pm • $25• Karaoke with Kevin down-
tickets and weekend pass Destiny B. Childs, 8-10pm by Lena Lett and featuring BALTIMORE EAGLE Visit cherryfund.org for stairs, 9:30pm-close
information • Karaoke, 10pm-close Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee, Lizzie Beaumont and tickets and weekend pass
Riley Knoxx and Ba’Naka Betty Whitecastle present information NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
GREEN LANTERN • $20 • Visit TownDC. Queens Who Brunch, Drag Brunch, hosted
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5 com • 21+ 12-2pm • $34 per person by Chanel Devereaux,
Bacardi, all flavors, all includes All You Can 10:30am-12:30pm and
night long • Saturday Star Eat • Free pitcher of 1-3pm • House Rail Drinks,
Search, hosted by Kristina Mimosas per 4 admissions Zing Zang Bloody Marys,
Kelly, 11:30pm-close • • Reservations highly Nellie Beer and Mimosas,
$100 Cash Prize • $5 $4, 11am-close • Buckets
Cover • 21+ of Beer, $15

42 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on
any drink, 2-9pm • $5
Absolut and $5 Bulleit
Bourbon, 9pm-close • Pop
Goes the World with Wes
Della Volla at 9:30pm •
No Cover
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 5-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers
• Dinner-n-Drag, with
Miss Kristina Kelly, 7pm
• For reservations, email
shawsdinnerdragshow@
gmail.com
TRADE
Doors open 2pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
2-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4
Monday,
April 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
BALTIMORE EAGLE
Happy Hour, 3-9pm, all
liquors, beers and wines up
to 50% off • Micro Brew
Draft/Bottle Mondays —
$4 all day • SIN: Service
Industry Night, 11pm-2am
• First Well Drink or
Domestic Beer Free • 10%
off your Food Order all day
• thebaltimoreeagle.com
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Singles Night • Half-Priced
Pasta Dishes • Poker Night
— 7pm and 9pm games •
Karaoke, 9pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm •
$3 rail cocktails and
domestic beers all night
long • Singing with the
Sisters: Open Mic Karaoke
Night with the Sisters
of Perpetual Indulgence,
9:30pm-close
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of
Beer $15 • Texas Hold’em
Poker, 8pm • Dart Boards
• Paint Nite, 7pm • Two
Ping-Pong Tables
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm • No Cover
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers •
Shaw Nuff Trivia, with
Jeremy, 7:30pm
TRADE
Doors open 5pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4
Tuesday,
April 17
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
BALTIMORE EAGLE
Happy Hour, 3-9pm, all
liquors, beers and wines
up to 50% off • Fibbage
Tuesdays, 8pm — How
good are you at fibbing?
• Free to play with your
smartphone • $6 Any
Flavor Martinis and $7
Manhattans (call liquors) •
thebaltimoreeagle.com
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Taco
Tuesday • Poker Night —
7pm and 9pm games •
Karaoke, 9pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4pm-9pm
• $3 rail cocktails and
domestic beers all night
long
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of
Beer $15 • Karaoke and
Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm • No Cover
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers •
Half-Priced Burgers and
Pizzas all night with $5
House Wines and Sam
Adams
APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
TRADE
Doors open 5pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4
Wednesday,
April 18
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
BALTIMORE EAGLE
Happy Hour, 3-9pm, all
liquors, beers and wines
up to 50% off • Domestic
Bottles are $3 all day •
Team Trivia, 8-10pm •
thebaltimoreeagle.com
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • $6
Burgers • Beach Blanket
Drag Bingo Night, hosted
by Ms. Regina Jozet
Adams, 8pm • Bingo prizes
• Karaoke, 10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4pm-9pm •
Bear Yoga with Greg Leo,
6:30-7:30pm • $10 per
class • Upstairs opens
9pm • Lantern GoGo
Dancers, 10pm-2am • $3
rail cocktails and domestic
beers all night long
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
SmartAss Trivia Night,
8pm and 9pm • Prizes
include bar tabs and
tickets to shows at the
9:30 Club • $15 Buckets of
Beer for SmartAss Teams
only • Snatched Drag
Show, hosted by Brooklyn
Heights, 9pm
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm • No Cover
SHAW’S TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
and Select Appetizers •
Piano Bar with Jill, 8pm
TRADE
Doors open 5pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4 l
43
Scene
A Celebration of Kylie at Town - Saturday, April 7
Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 45

 LastWord.
People say the queerest things

“ We probably provoked them because

we were walking together, holding hands.”
— DMITRY LOGUNOV, speaking to Miami’s WTVJ after he and his partner Rene Charlarca were victims of a vicious assault following
the city’s Gay Pride Parade. The couple were left with cuts and bruises after four men pushed and repeatedly punched them,
while a good samaritan who tried to help the couple was knocked unconscious and required stitches. The attackers,
who shouted anti-gay slurs during the attack, have since surrendered themselves to police.

“They just see us as a sailor and his spouse,

”
serving this country.

— U.S. Navy servicemember MATTHEW ALVARADO, thanking the Department of Defense and U.S. Navy for taking
“great strides over the past few years to be accepting and loving” towards Alvarado and his husband Brian. The couple
appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show after Brian Alvarado won Armed Forces Insurance’s Navy Spouse of the Year,
making him the first LGBTQ spouse to be nominated for the award.

“In early transition, when my presentation was not as good,

I would receive abuse on the street.”
— PHILLIPPA YORK, television presenter and former winner of the Tour de France, discussing her transition with Britain’s The
Telegraph. York was one of the U.K.’s most successful cyclists, but vanished from public life in 2000. She said she’d “completely
had enough” of presenting as male. “It was making me deeply unhappy,” York continued. “I didn’t hate myself, [but] the whole
level of unhappiness wasn’t worth trying to continue to pretend that I was going to fit into what everybody expected of me.”

“Being a part of the LGBT community...has been

an incredible source of strength for me.”

— RONAN FARROW, journalist and son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, who in 2017 uncovered the sexual abuse allegations against
Harvey Weinstein, coming out as LGBTQ while accepting an honor from the Point Foundation. “Each and every LGBT person
who has to go through a process of accepting themselves and turning rejection and isolation into strength is richer
and more creative and more determined for that journey,” Farrow said.

“It’s our old friend, that lumbering beast,

the white, straight man.”
— British TV producer RUSSELL T. DAVIES (Queer as Folk, Doctor Who), speaking with The Guardian about Love, Simon
and why it took so long for film to catch up with TV in championing gay characters. Davies also noted that money is a factor,
with executives unwilling to take risks on queer content. “That’s why a vast empire like the Marvel Cinematic Universe
is devoid of gay characters,” he said. “And that’s why Pixar has only managed
the horrific camp of the Ken Doll in Toy Story 3.”

46 APRIL 12, 2018 • METROWEEKLY