CONTENTS

MAY 10, 2018 Volume 25 Issue 1

14 OPTIMISM DURING WARTIME David Byrne finds “reasons to be cheerful”

in an increasingly somber, cheerless world.

By Randy Shulman

MICHAEL J. BOBBITT’S
GREAT ADVENTURE
This year’s co-host of the Helen Hayes Awards is committed to
diversifying theater for both children and adults alike.

Interview by Doug Rule

26
35
Photography by Todd Franson

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE

Bloodlight and Bami garbles the biographical details
but offers a prime glimpse of the legendary Grace Jones at work.

by André Hereford

SPOTLIGHT: SANDRA BERNHARD p.9 OUT ON THE TOWN p.12

OPTIMISM DURING WARTIME: DAVID BYRNE p.14
QUEERING THE CANON: SINGLE CARROT THEATRE p.18
COMMUNITY: MILITARY MANEUVER p.21 SCENE: GAY DAY AT THE ZOO p.24
COVER STORY: MICHAEL J. BOBBITT’S GREAT ADVENTURE p.26
GALLERY: BODIES ADAPT p.33 FILM: GRACE JONES p.35 NIGHTLIFE p.37
SCENE: TRADE p.37 LISTINGS p.38 SCENE: DIK BAR p.45 LAST WORD p.46

Real LGBTQ News and Entertainment since 1994

Editorial Editor-in-Chief Randy Shulman Art Director Todd Franson Online Editor at metroweekly.com Rhuaridh Marr Senior Editor John Riley
Contributing Editors André Hereford, Doug Rule Senior Photographers Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim Contributing Illustrator Scott G. Brooks
Contributing Writers Sean Maunier, Troy Petenbrink, Bailey Vogt, 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 Judy Frosh Cover Photography Todd Franson Clothing by Stitched, MGM National Harbor

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4 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 Spotlight
Sandra Bernhard
I
LIKE MY WORK TO BE A PERSONAL INTRODUCTION
into the day-to-day life of Sandy, and weave [a] little journey
to take people away from being pummeled every day by the
obvious things in the news,” says Sandra Bernard, who brings
her latest show — complete with band — Sandemonium, to the
sparkling new City Winery this Saturday. “I’m bringing you
out of the mundane, into a new world. It’s everything that
you expect from an evening of entertainment. It’s fun and it’s
emotional and the music is rocking and it’s glamorous. Nobody
wants a draggy night of boring political commentary. You want
to be taken to the next level. And that’s what I do when I hit
the stage.”
Bernhard, who identifies as bisexual, is forthright when
asked about the #MeToo movement. “I never saw it coming the
way it did, and I think it’s fabulous because any woman who has
been in this business has had to put up with that sort of behav-
ior, whether it’s as far as the Harvey Weinstein experiences or
Sandra Bernhard appears in Sandemonium at City Winery, 1350 Okie St. NE, on Saturday, May 12, at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $45 to $58. Visit citywinery.com or call 202-250-2531.
JORDAN GRAHAM
just the sort of day-to-day small minded stupidity of how people
treat each other.”
She points out, however, that “everybody has got to find a
way to settle back in and still be able to be flirtatious in the right
settings, because that’s the nature of life. That’s different from
grabbing or groping somebody or, god forbid, raping them.”
Bernhard, who recently revived her role of the groundbreak-
ing lesbian character Nancy Bartlett on ABC’s Roseanne reboot,
won’t directly comment on Roseanne’s unabashed support of
President Trump. “I know where I stand — I’m a liberal, I’m a
lefty,” she says. “I believe in social justice, and I believe in peo-
ple having total autonomy over their lives and support from the
government. The current water system should be replaced. The
infrastructure should be replaced. We should stop talking about
all this divisive crap and go back to what matters, and that’s
where I stand. How anybody else feels is not my problem. I just
get on my pony and ride.” —Randy Shulman
MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 9
 Spotlight
JUKEBOX THE GHOST
Ben Thornewill, Tommy Siegel, and Jesse
Kristin met while attending George Washington
University and quickly started making music
together. A dozen years later, the clever, pure-
pop trio returns in support of its fifth studio
album Off To The Races, mixing modern pop,
retro vocals, and classic rock indulgence like a
modern-day variant of Queen — or like a kin-
dred spirit of Mika. The Greeting Committee
opens — and with a name like that, of course
it does. Thursday, May 17. Doors at 7 p.m. 9:30
Club, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $40. Call 202-
265-0930 or visit 930.com.

NATIONAL SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
Music Director Gianandrea Noseda
takes to the NSO podium for his final
appearances this season, leading three
concerts featuring music composed or
influenced by J. S. Bach — including
Berio’s completion of Bach’s unfin-
ished Contrapunctus XIX, Berg’s Violin
Concerto featuring violinist James
Ehnes, and Brahms’s Symphony No.
4. Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m., Friday,
May 18, at 9 p.m., and Saturday, May
19, at 8 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert
Hall. Tickets are $15 to $89. Call 202-
467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

STRAWBERRY JATI LINDSAY

AND CHOCOLATE
A flamboyant gay artist and a straight and
straight-laced communist become unlike-
ly friends in this Oscar-nominated Cuban
drama from 1994 also known by its Spanish
title Fresa y Chocolate. The film screens as
part of the Kennedy Center’s Artes de Cuba
festival, by virtue of being selected as one
of six chosen to highlight the history of the
Havana Film Festival, the celebrated show-
case of Latin American cinema celebrating its
40th anniversary this year. Sunday, May 13,
at 1 p.m. Family Theater. Tickets are $10. Call
202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

10 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 Spotlight
BULLITT
Steve McQueen stars as a San Francisco police
lieutenant going after the mob in this 1968 thrill-
er from Peter Yates featuring one of the most
famous, thrilling car chases ever committed
to film. Robert Vaughn and Jacqueline Bisset
co-star. Watch for Robert Duvall in a bit part
as a cab driver. Bullitt was added to the Library
of Congress’s National Film Registry in 2007.
Part of Landmark’s West End Cinema Capital
Classics series. Wednesday, May 16, 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.

THE BITTER TEARS

OF PETRA VON KANT
Havana’s Teatro El Público pres-
ents founding director Carlos Díaz’s
take on Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
The story follows Petra Von Kant,
an arrogant fashion designer in the
mold of Amanda Priestley, who
falls in love with an icy young
beauty who wants to be a model.
The male actors don drag to take
on the female roles. Wednesday,
May 16, and Thursday, May 17, at
7:30 p.m. Family Theater. Tickets
are $19 to $39. Call 202-467-4600

WALDEK ZELAZEWSKI
or visit kennedy-center.org.

ATHLETE ALLY FUNDRAISER

Morning talk show hosts Tommy McFly, Kelly
Collis, and Jen Richer from 94.7 Fresh FM’s
The Tommy Show (pictured) serve as emcees for
Vida’s fourth annual fundraiser for Athlete Ally.
Former Team USA gymnast Josh Dixon will be
on hand at the benefit representing the nonprofit,
which works to fight homophobia and trans-
phobia and support LGBTQ equality in sports
nationwide. Cocktail attire is required. Music
by DJ Chad Raymond. Friday, May 11, from 6 to
9 p.m. Vida’s Penthouse Pool Club at the Yards,
1212 4th St. SE. Tickets are $30 in advance or $40
at the door, or $1,000 for 10 tickets and access to
94.7 FRESH FM

a cabana suite with complimentary bottle service

all evening. Visit athleteally.org/vida-fundraiser.

MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 11

DAVID CLAYPOOL

Out On The Town

DRAG BRUNCH FUNDRAISER FOR WIT

Dubbed “Grig’in’ w/ The Gurls 2,” the Housewives of Improv (Ugh) will host and perform a soiree benefiting Washington
Improv Theater, serving face (and body) and lip-syncing for their lives during brunch served by the diner staff and
soundtracked by DJ Khelan Bhatia. Just who are these performing drag vixens? Dan Milliken aka Febreze, Adam Koussari-
Amin aka Kiana, Denny Johnson as Regyna, and Ryan Krull as Vicki, with “surprise” visits from two husbands, Bryce
Slinger as Chad C. and Darnell Eaton as Chad P. Additional guests include Bill Huff aka Anne G. O’Plasty, David Lloyd
Olson aka DivaD, Von Gerik Allena aka Mindy Nao, and Melv Thom aka Judy from HR. There will also be drink specials
— mimosa pitchers! — all day. At the 18th & U Duplex Diner, 2004 18th St. NW, Saturday, May 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets,
including one select brunch entree of your choice and one champagne cocktail or glass of “Ramona-approved” Pinot Grigio,
are $45. Call 202-265-9599 or visit duplexdiner.com.

Compiled by Doug Rule
FILM
WASHINGTON JEWISH
FILM FESTIVAL
In its final weekend, the festival
presents two films in the category
Rated LGBTQ, co-presented by Reel
Affirmations and GLOE: Saving Neta,
acclaimed Israeli filmmaker Nir
Bergman’s evocative, richly imag-
ined ode to femininity, parenthood,
and human connection (Sunday,
May 13, at 2:15 p.m., at the DCJCC)
and The Cakemaker, a drama about
a gay German baker who travels to
Jerusalem to secretly connect with
the female widow of his Israeli lover
(Saturday, May 12, at 4:30 p.m., at
AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville
Rd.) The Invisibles, German director
Claus Räfle’s rendering of Jews who
survived the Nazis while in hiding in
Berlin closes the festival on Sunday,
May 13, at 7 p.m. Call 202-777-3210
or visit wjff.org.
WILD COMBINATION: A
PORTRAIT OF ARTHUR RUSSELL
Matt Wolf offers a visually absorb-
ing film that looks at the seminal
avant-garde composer/musician/
producer who died from AIDS-
related complications in 1992 and
only became known chiefly for his
experimental post-disco/new wave
work in the past decade. The AFI
Silver Theatre offers a 10th anni-
versary screening of this visual tone
poem as part of its two-month-long
Rock Doc series. Tuesday, May 15,
at 9:30 p.m. 8633 Colesville Road,
Silver Spring. Tickets are $13 gener-
al admission. Call 301-495-6720 or
visit afi.com/Silver.
STAGE
FLOOD CITY
Set amid the Great Flood of
Pennsylvania in 1889 as well as the
drying up of the state’s steel industry
a century later, Gabrielle Reisman’s
hopeful dark comedy traverses time
and space to look at the impacts
disasters and corporate irresponsi-
bility have on a community. Flood
City shines a light on the commu-
nity’s resilience in the wake of the
unimaginable. Jenna Duncan directs
the Theater Alliance production.
Opens Thursday, May 10. To June 17.
Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon
Place SE. Call 202-241-2539 or visit
theateralliance.com.
GIRLFRIEND
In 1993, Matthew Sweet toured as
an opening act for newly out lesbian
rocker Melissa Etheridge. Sweet’s
power-pop tunes — including 1991
alt-rock album Girlfriend — contin-
ue their LGBTQ appeal and connec-
tion, soundtracking a gay coming-
of-age theatrical tale set in ’90s-era
small-town Nebraska. Lukas James
Miller and Jimmy Mavrikes star
as a college-bound jock and his
first boyfriend. Directed by Matt
Gardiner. Pride Night is Friday,
May 11. To June 10. The Ark, 4200
Campbell Ave., Arlington. Call 703-
820-9771 or visit sigtheatre.org.
HOODED,
OR BEING BLACK FOR DUMMIES
A nominee for the Charles
MacArthur Award for Outstanding
Original New Play at the upcoming
Helen Hayes Awards, this irrev-
erent comedy is being remounted
by Mosaic Theater Company after
its original sold-out run last year.
All but one of the cast members as
well as all of the designers return
to the show, a deft examination of
two young black teens from vast-
ly different circumstances. Metro
Weekly’s André Hereford praised
the voice of playwright Tearrance
Arvelle Chisholm as “authentic and
original,” further noting the “smart,
funny staging” of director Serge
Seiden. But he heaped the most
praise on lead actor Jeremy Keith
Hunter as “the engine that keeps
the show humming along.” To June
3. The Sprenger Theatre in the Atlas
Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St.
NE. Tickets are $20 to $65. Call
202-399-7993 or visit mosaicthe-
ater.org.

12 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 a tribute, I think, that human beings can change, that their points
of view can change, that their attitudes actually can change.”
Byrne’s latest album, American Utopia, is a stunning con-
tinuation of his unique musical aesthetic. More than a mere
assemblage of songs, it’s a cohesive, vibrant journey, featuring a
conglomerate of styles that blend effortlessly to create a vibrant
whole. Byrne deploys techniques that informed much of the
best work by the Heads, notably elaborate, complex rhythmic
arrangements (“I’m very much drawn to rhythm — I find it lib-
erating. It’s helped me get through life.”) and piercing, provoca-
tive vocals. He’s currently on a critically-acclaimed world tour,
featuring an 11-piece band in nearly perpetual motion, that will
see him in our area twice, first at The Anthem this Saturday, and
again in late July at Merriweather.
Though American Utopia has political and social underpin-
nings, Byrne didn’t initially set out to make a statement with the
record. “I didn’t consciously think about it,” he says. “And then,
as it began to emerge, I realized, ‘Yeah, this is what I’m doing.’ I
felt like I needed to do it in a way that’s not super-obvious or spe-
cific. I can talk about someone dying from a bullet wound, and
their life ebbing from them...and I don’t have to refer to recent
JODY ROGAC

events in the news. It’s enough to be as a reminder of what hap-

pens when somebody’s shot.”
Byrne feels popular music can be an important component

OPTIMISM
in our social toolbox. “It doesn’t answer questions,” he con-
cedes. “And I don’t think music can, in most cases, affect spe-
cific change around specific issues. But it can help people come
together as a community, and it can give them a kind of solace

DURING WARTIME
David Byrne finds “reasons to be cheerful” in an
increasingly somber, cheerless world.
that allows them to go on.”
Despite the current political climes of the country — indeed,
the world — Byrne remains a staunch optimist, evident to any-
one who visits davidbyrne.com, where they are immediately
confronted by a bright orange banner linking to reasonstobe-

D
ID WE HAVE A FOLLOWING?” WONDERS DAVID
Byrne. “I was not aware.” But, of course, you don’t get
to be one of the most influential bands in modern musical
history without some kind of an LGBTQ fan base. Still, the iconic
former frontman of the Talking Heads seems genuinely unaware.
“I mean, I was aware of friends and colleagues and collabora-
tors and everything else, but I was not aware of a gay following,”
says the 65-year-old, his once jet-black mane now blazing, bril-
liant white, his demeanor surprisingly cheerful and gentle. “But
there were other acts that I knew had a huge gay following that
were part of my world.” (The B-52s, anyone?)
“These days, I have to say, despite everything, it’s really
refreshing how much society has changed,” he continues.
“We’ve got a long ways to go, but when you think of the idea of
gay marriage — it just was inconceivable decades ago. It’s really
cheerful.world.
“A couple years ago, I started collecting news of things that I
felt were hopeful,” he says. “I eventually called it ‘Reasons to Be
Cheerful.’ These are things happening around the world, often
in local places — in a city here, or a small country there — where
they have managed to find a solution to something that seems to
be intractable in other places. Somebody has found a way to fix
it. And if they can do it, then anybody can do it. So, I find little
pockets of hope around the world. And I’m kind of clinging to
that at the moment.” —Randy Shulman
David Byrne’s American Utopia Tour comes to The Anthem on
Saturday, May 12. The show is sold out, but tickets are still avail-
able for the Merriweather Post Pavilion appearance on Saturday,
July 28. Tickets are $60 to $130. Visit merriweathermusic.com or
call 877-435-9849.

SOUL THE STAX MUSICAL
Kwame Kwei-Armah concludes
his tenure as artistic director of
Baltimore Center Stage with a
world-premiere musical about
the storied Memphis-based label
Stax Records, which created the
very foundation of American
Soul Music through its star ros-
ter. Stax launched the careers of
Otis Redding, the Staple Singers,
Isaac Hayes, Wilson Pickett, and
Booker T & the MG’s. Matthew
Benjamin wrote the book for what
is essentially a jukebox musical
featuring a huge 21-member cast.
Choreography by Chase Brock.
To June 10. 700 North Calvert St.,
Baltimore. Tickets are $20 to $79.
Call 410-332-0033 or visit center-
stage.org.
THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE
A woman saves an abandoned baby
put on trial during a time of corrup-
tion and violence in the Caucasus
Mountains in Bertolt Brecht’s
drama. Allison Arkell Stockman
directs 14 actors playing more than
60 characters in a 360-degree the-
atrical experience — “no curtain, no
back wall, no proscenium” — pro-
pelled by an original rock-inspired
score by Brian Lotter and Matthew
Schleigh. To May 13. Source
Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW. Tickets
are $25 to $45. Call 202-204-7741 or
visit constellationtheatre.org.
THE UNDENIABLE SOUND
OF RIGHT NOW
A hilarious and heartbreaking work
by Laura Eason, the focus is on a
Chicago man trying to keep his leg-
endary rock club afloat. Set during
the early 1990s, when grunge was
popular but DJs and electronic/
dance music were ascending,
Keegan’s production stars Chris
Stezin, Susan Marie Rhea, Josh
Sticklin, and Ryan Sellers. To May
27. 1742 Church St. NW. Tickets
are $35 to $45. Call 202-265-3768
or visit keegantheatre.com.
TITUS ANDRONICUS
Synetic founder Paata Tsikurishvili
tackles the revenge-driven tragedy
as the 13th entry in the company’s
celebrated “Silent Shakespeare”

14 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 WASHINGTON NATIONAL
OPERA: CANDIDE
Straddling the divide between
musical theater and opera, and as
complicated and tricky as you’d
expect from composer Leonard
Bernstein, this funny, fast-paced
take on Voltaire’s biting satire is not
produced as often we’d like. The
WNO’s Francesca Zambello directs
a production from the Glimmerglass
Festival for the Kennedy Center’s
“Leonard Bernstein at 100” series.
Denyce Graves stars as The Old
Lady alongside Alek Shrader in
the title role, Emily Pogorelc as
Cunegonde, and Wynn Harmon
as Pangloss/Voltaire. Lyrics by
Richard Wilbur, plus additional
lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John
Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy
Parker, and Bernstein himself.
Select dates to May 26. Kennedy
REX DAUGHERTY

Center Opera House. Tickets are

$45 to $275. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.

READINGS
THE FREDERICK DOUGLASS PROJECT CAROL BURNETT: AN EVENING
Solas Nua, billed as the nation’s only organization exclusively dedicated to contempo- OF LAUGHTER AND REFLECTION
rary Irish arts, commissioned this site-specific production to commemorate Douglass’s The comedy pioneer and dynamic
1845 voyage to Ireland as well as the bicentennial of his birth. To be staged on a wharf in entertainer puts herself on the spot,
taking questions from the audience,
Southeast, just a stone’s throw from his historic home at Cedar Hill, the project includes just as she did in the intro to every
live music and dancing in a blend of African-American and Irish culture. It consists of two episode of The Carol Burnett Show.
short plays offering a dual perspective on the trip to Ireland: An Eloquent Fugitive Slave The focus of the 90-minute “Laughter
and Reflection” program is on the
Flees to Ireland by budding local theater artist Psalmayene 24, and Wild Notes by Irish
85-year-old’s performing career,
playwright Deirdre Kinahan. To May 24. The Yards Marina, 1492 4th St. SE. Tickets are which was launched into superstar-
$35. Call 202-484-0309 or visit solasnua.org. dom with a 1959 Tony-nominated
role in Once Upon A Mattress. More
recently she’s been heralded not once
but twice by the Kennedy Center,
series — meaning no words, all Weekends to May 19. Theatre Two loveliest and cheekiest songs com- as an Honoree in 2003 and as the
fiery action, energy, and violence, in Gunston Arts Center, 2700 South posed and written by legendary gay 2013 recipient of the Mark Twain
with choreography led by Irina Lang St. Arlington. Tickets are $25. composer Cole Porter (“Anything Prize for Humor. Friday, May 11, at
Tsikurishvili, who also portrays Call 571-DS-SHOWS or visit domin- Goes”). The concert also features 8 p.m. Concert Hall. Tickets are $59
Tamora. Philip Fletcher is Titus in ionstage.org. musical luminaries Liz Callaway, to $149. Call 202-467-4600 or visit
the large ensemble show including Ali Ewoldt, Bobby Smith, Vishal kennedy-center.org.
Irina Kavsadze, Audrey Tchoukoua, PRISCILLA QUEEN Vaidya, and Luke Hawkins. Kelly
Dallas Tolentino, and Alex Mills. OF THE DESERT Crandall D’Amboise directs the MICHAEL POLLAN: HOW TO
To May 27. 1800 South Bell St., It’s not the Outback, but Kensington, show, which also includes dramatic CHANGE YOUR MIND
Arlington. Tickets are $15 to $55. the leafy Maryland suburb, is a pret- readings from over-the-top online After a decade spent focused on the
Call 800-494-8497 or visit synet- ty unexpected place to find drag dating profiles. Saturday, May 19, at way we eat now that started with
ictheater.org. queens all the same. Yet that’s 8 p.m. Fichandler Stage in the Mead his critically acclaimed best-sell-
exactly what you’ll find on stage at Center for American Theater, 1101 er The Omnivore’s Dilemma, this
the Kensington Arts Theatre this 6th St. SW. Tickets are $20 to $110. author and journalist sets out in a
COMMUNITY month, starring Larry Munsey as
Bernadette, Gregory Wilczynski as
Call 202-488-3300 or visit theamer-
icanpops.org.
new direction with a focus on drugs.
How to Change Your Mind: What
the New Science of Psychedelics
STAGE
Tick, and Jon Simmons as Adam
in the community-based compa- CAPITAL CITY SYMPHONY: FROM Teaches Us About Consciousness,
ny’s production, directed by John SEA TO SHINING SEA Dying, Addiction, Depression, and
HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE Nunemaker, of the hit Broadway The orchestra concludes its 50th Transcendence reviews the science
The metaphor of driving is used musical — based of course on season with a global exploration into mind-altering medicine and
by noted playwright Paula Vogel the hilarious cult Australian film of national identity expressed what it reveals about the human
in her Pulitzer Prize-winning from 1994. Opens Friday, May 11. through music, a program led by mind, the self, and our connec-
drama focused on an adolescent Weekends to May 26. 3710 Mitchell Artistic Director Victoria Gau and tion to the natural world and to
girl and her struggles to get past a St., Kensington, Md. Tickets are $19 including Shostakovich’s power- each other. Pollan will discuss his
strained, sexual relationship with to $27. Call 206-888-6642 or visit ful Symphony No. 5, Russell Peck’s new book with NPR’s Alix Spiegel.
her step-uncle. The play has lighter katonline.org. tone poem Peace Overture, Arturo Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m. Sixth
moments, but due to its tackling of Marquez’s Danzón No. 2, and Joan & I Historic Synagogue. 600 I St.
serious issues — from pedophilia
MUSIC Tower’s Made in America, a work NW. Tickets are $15, or $33 with
and incest to manipulation and con- centered around the melodic theme one book. Call 202-408-3100 or visit
trol — it’s ultimately best for only of “America the Beautiful.” Sunday, sixthandi.org.
those aged 17 and up, and hardly AMERICAN POPS: May 13, at 5 p.m. Atlas Performing
typical fare for a community the- COLE PORTER AFTER DARK Arts Center, Lang Theatre, 1333 H
ater company, even one with the Betty Who will make her orchestral St. NE. Tickets are $25. Call 202-
tagline “Anything But Predictable.” debut with a tribute to some of the 399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.

16 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

FOOD AND DRINK
EVENTS DC EMBASSY
CHEF CHALLENGE
Now in its 10th year, the challenge
celebrates culinary diplomacy, pro-
viding an only-in-D.C. opportunity
to taste authentic food and drinks
from embassy chefs from all regions
of the world — all while interna-
tional musicians and dancers per-
form. A panel of experts will honor
the best chefs with their Judges’
Choice awards, with one chef earn-
ing the Golden Pineapple trophy as
the People’s Choice winner. Among
competing chefs this year are those
representing Iraq, the Philippines,
Ethiopia, Ghana, Belgium, the
Slovak Republic, Canada, Colombia,
El Salvador, and Haiti. Thursday,
May 17. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Atrium
of the Ronald Reagan Building, 1300
Pennsylvania Ave. NW. General
Admission tickets start at $90,
while VIP, including early entry and
an After Party, costs $175; a ticket
to just the After Party with an open
bar and DJ is $50. Visit eventsd-

MARK SELIGER
cembassychefchallenge.com.

OCCIDENTAL GRILL & SEAFOOD:

MOTHER’S DAY SPECIALS
Where else but in Washington
could you treat your mother on her
special day to a restaurant serv-
ing dishes inspired by First Ladies?
Occidental’s Executive Chef Jake
Addeo reviewed old cookbooks
to create a special Mother’s Day
menu at the 112-year-old D.C. insti-
tution located only a block from
the White House. Among the
options: Michelle Obama’s Minted
Spring Pea Salad ($12), Martha
Washington’s Crab Soup ($12),
Jackie Kennedy’s Gingery Salmon
with grilled peaches, pickled red
onions, and arugula ($26), and Lou
Henry Hoover’s “Caramel” Tomato
Toast ($10). In addition, the venue’s
Bar Manager Frankie Jones hon-
ors the late Barbara Bush with his
First Impression of a First Lady,
a sweet and creamy beverage that
nods to her love of chocolate chip
cookies and apparently tastes like
liquid cookie dough ($11). Sunday,
May 13, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 1475
Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Call 202-
783-1475 or visit occidentaldc.com.
PIZZERIA PARADISO
HYATTSVILLE: SPRING BEER
FEST
The Hyattsville location of Pizzeria
Paradiso presents the first in a
four-season series celebrating all
things pizza and craft beer, as well
as the local diverse, artistic commu-
nity. Saturday, May 12, from 12 to
5 p.m. The parking lot area behind
the restaurant and the Art Works
Now building will be bustling with
music from live acts and a DJ, local
BETTYE LAVETTE
Very little has been straight, traditional, or predictable in the life of LaVette, who grew up
in Motown-era Detroit and became a recording artist at 16. She even had what she calls
“dalliances” with other women when she was young — something that has given her “keen
insight” into the LGBTQ experience, as well as several enduring LGBTQ friendships. “I
have a complete understanding and comfortability with people who are not necessarily,
quote-unquote, straight,” she told Metro Weekly last fall. The good-humored soul singer
is in what she refers to as her “fifth career,” capped by Things Have Changed, her album of
Bob Dylan covers released in March by Verve Records. “Now, I don’t have any thoughts
of becoming Justin Bieber,” she laughs, “but I certainly would like to see [her memoir]
turned into documentary form, and I would like to see what’s going to happen over the
hurdle with this new CD. All the ducks are in a row right now for the very first time in my
entire career. So if this shit don’t work, I’m going to start taking it personally.” Saturday,
May 19. Doors at 6:30 p.m., at The Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $50. Call
202-787-1000 or visit thehamiltondc.com.
arts and craft vendors, an area for are the core elements to celebrat- choice of hot beverage as part of the
lawn games, a mobile pizza oven, ing Mother’s Day in Pentagon City. rather gracelessly named “Mommy
and of course a bevy of indepen- The brunch options also include a and Me” Afternoon Tea. Saturday,
dent breweries offering tastings, children’s buffet as well as stations May 12, and Sunday, May 13, from
including lesbian-owned Denizens, for coloring and cake decorating, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The tea costs $38
Manor Hill, Streetcar 82, Heavy allowing kids to draw and design per adult or $16 per child. Fyve,
Seas, Flying Dog, DC Brau, Charm a treat for mom. Sunday, May 13, 1250 S. Hayes St., Arlington. Call
City Meadworks, Union Craft, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cost is 703-412-2762 or visit ritzcarlton.
Right Proper, Diamondback, Stone, $89 per person or $40 for children com.
RAR, and Captain Lawrence. 4800 under 12, exclusive of tax and gra-
Rhode Island Ave., Hyattsville, Md. tuity, but inclusive of valet parking. SHAW’S TAVERN: DINNER-N-
Tickets are $20 to $25 for three 6 oz Naturally, brunch could be followed DRAG, SERVED!
pours, or $50 to $55 for unlimited. by taking mom on a shopping stroll Sometimes you’re dragging and
Call 240-467-3210 or eatyourpizza. through the adjoining Fashion you just can’t make it to brunch.
com. Centre. Stay a little longer in the And sometimes you want a regular,
complex for more live music and more traditional kind of meal — you
RITZ-CARLTON PENTAGON CITY: homemade pastries served with a know, at night, over wine. Well,
MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH & TEA these days, you can have just that
A selection of artisan meats and with one of D.C.’s leading ladies of
cheeses, an elaborate seafood dis- drag. Every Sunday night at Shaw’s
play, and a classic omelet station
— accompanied by live music —

MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 17

 Tavern, Kristina Kelly hosts a show
over supper with half-priced bot-
tles of wine and different dinner
specials each week. Seating at 7
p.m., show at 8 p.m. 520 Florida
Ave. NW. Reservations required via
shawsdinnerdragshow@gmail.com.
Call 202-518-4092 or visit shaw-
stavern.com.

NIGHTLIFE
DC LEATHER PRIDE 2018
Originally organized during Capital
Pride, this locally focused leather
weekend event successfully moved
last year to the month prior, a pat-
tern followed with this year’s line-
up, which kicks off Thursday, May
11, with the popular weekly pro-
BRITT OLSEN-ECKER

motion enticing men to strip their

shirts for free drinks from 10 to 11
p.m., and again for those willing to
strip to their underwear from 12 to
12:30 a.m., at Green Lantern, 1335
Green Ct. NW. The next evening,
Friday, May 11, starts at 6 p.m. with
Bear Happy Hour at Town, and

QUEERING THE CANON

ends with a Play Party from 10 p.m.
to 2 a.m. at the Crucible, 412 V St.
NE. The DC Eagle is the destina-
tion for events Saturday, May 12,
starting with the Kink Du Soleil
Baltimore’s Single Carrot Theatre presents a new adaptation of Peter Pan Expo with demos, from 1 to 6 p.m.,
developed with the local LGBTQ community. followed by a Rubber Gear Social
from 8 p.m. to midnight, and con-

S
cluding with the monthly DistrktC
O MANY [LGBTQ] PEOPLE WE MET TOLD US THAT FROM CHILDHOOD PETER PAN Dance Party in the Exile upstairs
is the one fairytale they have connected with,” says Single Carrot Theatre’s Ben Kleymeyer. from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Kristina Kelly
kickstarts the final day, returning
“To be able to give it back to the community in a way that more specifically reflects their lives as emcee for the Drag Out Your
and their stories is really powerful.” Leather event, this time offered
Kleymeyer is the community liaison for the Baltimore theater troupe, as well as a member of its over brunch with fellow drag enter-
acting ensemble. He’s starring as Peter Pan in its latest production. tainers including Tula, Moka Loka
Latte, Ashley Madison Kuter, and
“In many ways it’s the same Peter Pan story that people know,” says director Tristan Powell. Pam d’Ammonia, and served with
“The difference is that we’ve incorporated a bunch of different queer narratives for the characters bottomless mimosas and food pro-
so that, for example, Tink is a character who pines after Peter and desperately wants to be with vided by Mason Dixie Biscuit Co.
Sunday, May 13, from 11 a.m. to 2:30
Peter — is in love with Peter, wants to sleep with Peter, but can’t because her body is too small. p.m. Cobalt, 1639 R St. NW. Later
Hook and Smee [also] have a relationship.” comes the Closing Beer Blast fea-
Los Angeles-based playwright Joshua Conkel developed his queer adaptation — which he titled turing $10 pitchers of Trade Lager
Wendy, Peter. Peter, Wendy — through the community engagement initiative of Single Carrot. and XL Happy Hour drinks, from
3 to 8 p.m. Trade, 1410 14th St.
Conkel and the company held meetings and workshops with LGBTQ service organizations, busi- NW. A Weekend Pass is $70. Visit
nesses, and community members. “Their stories became the source material for what’s onstage,” facebook.com/DCLeatherPride for
says Kleymeyer. more information.
Some of those same community members auditioned and now perform in the work. “This is
a really unique project for a number of reasons,” says Powell, a New York-based theater artist.
ABOVE
“Definitely that we’re queering the canon, and also that several of the performers have no experi-
ence whatsoever... That was a little new on my end as a director.” AND BEYOND
“There’s a lot more flexibility about who you can be in Neverland — and how you can change
and how people will relate to you once you’ve changed,” Powell continues. “There are tensions RAYCEEN, FIX ME UP! SINGLES’
MIXER
between the different groups of Neverland, just as there are tensions within the queer community Rayceen Pendarvis hosts an evening
between different populations.” of ice-breaker games as he attempts
Finally, there’s the relationship at the heart of the tale, that between Peter and Wendy, two kids to play matchmaker between eligi-
“questioning and navigating who they are.” ble singles. The free event is pre-
sented by Team Rayceen and We
Says Powell, “Where they go and what happens to them in their journey, flying to Neverland and the People, as one event in the com-
coming home, changes them. The tail end of our story is radically different from the original and munity photo project’s “May Is?
offers a completely new interpretation of the characters.” —Doug Rule All About Trans” series. Thursday,
March 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. Lower
Level Meeting Room, Shaw
Neighborhood Library, 1630 7th St.
Wendy, Peter. Peter, Wendy runs to May 20 at Single Carrot Theatre, 2600 N Howard St., NW. Free, including light refresh-
in Baltimore. Tickets are $25 to $29. Call 443-844-9253 or visit singlecarrot.com. ments. Call 202-727-1288 or visit
teamrayceen.eventbrite.com. l

18 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 Community
THURSDAY, May 10
The DC Center celebrates the
successes of its Center Global
group and looks to the future at
the annual CENTER GLOBAL
RECEPTION. The evening
includes hors d’oeuvres, drinks,
music, a silent auction of local
services and hospitality, and
awards for Outstanding Global
Advocates. All money raise
directly benefits Center Global’s
work with LGBTQ asylees and
refugees. General admission is
$20. 6-8 p.m. Room & Board,
1840 14th St. NW. To purchase
tickets or for more info, visit
thedccenter.org.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMPA

OutWrite presents THE

FUTURE IS STILL QUEER, an
event bringing together four
LGBTQ+ writers from the local
community to share a unique
queer perspective on specula-
tive fiction writing. This year’s
guests include Kellan Szpara,

MILITARY MANEUVER
Na’amen Tilahun, Ruthanna
Emrys, and Rashid Darden.
Moderated by Marianne
Kirby. 6:30-8:30 p.m. East City
Bookshop, 645 Pennsylvania
The American Military Partner Association wants to help familiarize Ave. SE. RSVP via Facebook at
the American public with LGBTQ-led military families facebook.com/outwritedc or

W
visit thedccenter.org for more
information.
E HAVE ABOUT 600 PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
coming to our fifth annual gala,” says Ashley Broadway-Mack, president Weekly Events
of the American Military Partners Association. “Not just members of
the LGBTQ community, but a great number of allies. Everything is focused on cel- ANDROMEDA
TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH
ebrating and honoring our service members and their spouses for their sacrifice, offers free HIV testing and HIV
while also focusing on the challenges we have ahead.” services (by appointment). 9
The nation’s largest LGBTQ military event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center,
1400 Decatur St. NW. To
May 19 at the Washington Hilton with a cocktail reception, followed by a dinner arrange an appointment, call
program and after-party. For the second year in a row, AMPA will give out Military 202-291-4707, or visit androm-
Spouse Scholarships, which allow spouses of military members to pursue higher edatransculturalhealth.org.
education.
DC AQUATICS CLUB practice
To say that the past year-and-a-half has been trying for LGBTQ service mem- session at Takoma Aquatic
bers — particularly those who are transgender — would be a gross understatement. Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 300 Van
As President Trump attempts to limit transgender people from serving in the Buren St. NW. For more infor-
mation, visit swimdcac.org.
Armed Forces, AMPA has found itself partnering with Lambda Legal to sue the
administration and block them from carrying out the proposed ban. DC FRONT RUNNERS run-
While that lawsuit works its way through the courts, AMPA remains commit- ning/walking/social club
ted to its mission of providing support and resources to military members, veter- welcomes runners of all ability
levels for exercise in a fun and
ans, their spouses, and children, including LGBTQ children of straight military supportive environment, with
members. AMPA also partners with outside military and LGBTQ organizations to socializing afterward. Route
advocate on behalf of LGBTQ-led families, and familiarize the broader public with distance is 3-6 miles. Meet at
7 p.m. at 23rd & P Streets NW.
their existence. For more information, visit
“It’s extremely important for us as an organization to be able to highlight these dcfrontrunners.org.
families in a very positive manner so mainstream America can learn that these
families are just like any other military family,” says Broadway-Mack. “We saw DC LAMBDA SQUARES, D.C.’s
gay and lesbian square-dancing
that after the repeal of DADT, when families started coming out in the open. So I group, features mainstream
think it’s important that all of our community, no matter what they identify as, that through advanced square
they’re out and about and visible.” —John Riley dancing at the National City
Christian Church. Please dress
casually. 7-9:30 p.m. 5 Thomas
AMPA’s 5th Annual National Gala is Saturday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Circle NW. 202-930-1058,
dclambdasquares.org.
Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW. Black-tie formal.
Visit militarypartners.org/gala.

MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 21

 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 DULLES TRIANGLES
Northern Virginia social group
meets for happy hour at Sheraton
in Reston. All welcome. 7-9 p.m.
11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, sec-
ond-floor bar. For more informa-
tion, 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 confi-
dential HIV testing at two separate
locations. Walk-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 appoint-
ment or for more information, call
Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or
Takoma Park, 301-422-2398.
METROHEALTH CENTER
offers free, rapid HIV testing.
Appointment needed. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. To arrange an
appointment, call 202-638-0750.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5
p.m., by appointment and walk-in,
for youth 21 and younger. Youth
Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-
3155 or testing@smyal.org.
STI TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2-3
p.m. at both 1525 14th St. NW and
the Max Robinson Center, 2301
Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE.
Testing is intended for those with-
out symptoms. For an appointment
call 202-745-7000 or visit whit-
man-walker.org.
US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics
Anonymous Meeting. The group is
independent of UHU. 6:30-7:30 p.m.,
3636 Georgia Ave. NW. For more
information, call 202-446-1100.
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ
women, 13-21, interested in lead-
ership development. 5-6:30 p.m.
SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th St.
SE. For more information, call 202-
567-3163, or email catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
FRIDAY, May 11
GAMMA is a confidential, volun-
tary, peer-support group for men
who are gay, bisexual, questioning
22 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
and who are now or who have been
in a relationship with a woman.
7:30-9:30 p.m. Luther Place
Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont
Ave NW. GAMMA meetings are
also held in Vienna, Va., and in
Frederick, Md. For more informa-
tion, visit gammaindc.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.
SATURDAY, May 12
CHRYSALIS arts & culture group
visits Winterthur, a lavish DuPont
family estate near Wilmington,
Del., to tour the 175-room home
and to enjoy the extensive gardens.
Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for
seniors. Dinner in restaurant next
to Susquehanna River in Havre de
Grace, Md., afterwards. Carpool
at 9 a.m. from the Forest Glen
Metro Kiss & Ride lot. Return after
dark. For more info, contact Jeff,
301-775-9660 or jeffreyhughes@
me.com.
DC LEATHER PRIDE presents the
KINK DU SOLEIL EXPO, featuring
an afternoon of kink demonstra-
tions and information on the kink
community, at The DC Eagle. 1-6
p.m. 3701 Benning Rd. NE. For
more information and listings of
other Leather Pride events, visit
dcleatherpride.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.
SUNDAY, May 13
Weekly Events
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS
MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
celebrates Low Mass at 8:30
a.m., High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300
Cathedral Ave. NW. 202-232-4244,
allsoulsdc.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a
practice session at Wilson Aquatic
Center. 9:30-11 a.m. 4551 Fort Dr.
NW. For more information, visit
swimdcac.org.
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 will be a distance run of 8, 10
or 12 miles. Meet at 9 a.m. at 23rd
& P Streets NW. For more informa-
tion, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
DIGNITYUSA offers Roman
Catholic Mass for the LGBT
community. All welcome. Sign
interpreted. 6 p.m. St. Margaret’s
Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave.
NW. For more info, visit dignity-
washington.org.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
welcomes all to 10:30 a.m. service,
945 G St. NW. firstuccdc.org or
202-628-4317.
FRIENDS MEETING OF
WASHINGTON meets for worship,
10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW,
Quaker House Living Room (next
to Meeting House on Decatur
Place), 2nd floor. Special welcome
to lesbians and gays. Handicapped
accessible from Phelps Place gate.
Hearing assistance. quakersdc.org.
HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT
GROUP for gay men living in the
DC metro area. This group will be
meeting once a month. For infor-
mation on location and time, visit
H2gether.com.
INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL
DEVELOPMENT, God-centered
new age church & learning center.
Sunday Services and Workshops
event. 5419 Sherier Place NW. isd-
dc.org.
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF
REFORMATION invites all to
Sunday worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m.
Childcare is available at both ser-
vices. Welcoming LGBT people for
25 years. 212 East Capitol St. NE.
reformationdc.org.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpret-
ed) and 11 a.m. Children’s Sunday
School at 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW.
202-638-7373, mccdc.com.
RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH,
a Christ-centered, interracial,
welcoming-and-affirming church,
offers service at 10 a.m. 680 I St.
SW. 202-554-4330, riversidedc.org.
UNITARIAN CHURCH OF
ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcom-
ing-and-affirming congregation,
offers services at 10 a.m. Virginia
Rainbow UU Ministry. 4444
Arlington Blvd. uucava.org.
UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL
MEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcom-
ing and inclusive church. GLBT
Interweave social/service group
meets monthly. Services at 11 a.m.,
Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th
St. NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.
org.
MONDAY, May 14
The YOUTH WORKING GROUP
of The DC Center holds a monthly
meeting to discuss upcoming pro-
gramming options. Light snacks
will be provided. 6-7:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. Visit thed-
ccenter.org.
TUESDAY, May 15
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.
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.
WEDNESDAY, May 16
BOOKMEN DC, an informal men’s
gay literature group, discusses
From Macho to Mariposa: Gay
Latino Fiction,” edited by Charles
Rice-Gonzalez and Charlie
Vasquez, at the DC Center. All are
welcome. 7:30 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. 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.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
holds a practice session at Dunbar
Aquatic Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 101 N
St. NW. For more information, visit
swimdcac.org.
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.
JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-
gram for job entrants and seekers,
meets at The DC Center. 6-7:30
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more info, centercareers.org. l
MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 23
 Scene
Gay Day at the Zoo - Sunday, May 6
Photography by Randy Shulman
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

24 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 25
 Michael J. Bobbitt’s
Great
Adventure

This year’s co-host of the Helen Hayes Awards

is committed to diversifying theater
for both children and adults alike.

Interview by Doug Rule

Photography by Todd Franson

Styling by Gregory R. Michael

of Stitched at MGM National Harbor

I
T’S ALWAYS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY YEAR WHEN I
get to dwell in the Michael Bobbitt Experience,” says Peter
Flynn. “I’m healthier, I’m smarter, I’m better at my job when
I’m working with him.
“He starts outside of the box, and the box either becomes
prettier or a sports car,” says the director. “It’s either the best
version of what we were going for, or something completely
unrecognizable that is even better.” Flynn cites their collabora-
tion on Ragtime at Ford’s Theatre, nominated for seven awards
at this year’s Helen Hayes ceremony. “Ragtime was really
Michael’s canvas of innovation.”
Flynn is currently planning his fourth collaboration with
Bobbitt: Into The Woods, set for next spring at Ford’s. “Michael
walks in tall, powerful, very gentle, and not just with a smile on
his face, just this constant aura of goodwill and kindness,” he
says. “And then he’s this font of imagination, and joy-filled inno-
vation, really smart collaboration, and a good day.... I hope that
we continue to be collaborators for a very long time.”
Bobbitt, the artistic director of Adventure Theatre-MTC, is
gearing up to expand his imprint next season by directing and
choreographing shows at several theaters around town. Currently,
however, his focus is on co-hosting the 2018 Helen Hayes Awards

26 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 27
on Monday, May 14. Washington’s answer to the Tonys celebrates
a thriving theater scene that, by some measures, is second only
to Broadway, and this year will be held at The Anthem, the new
entertainment anchor of the Southwest Waterfront.
“I’m so excited about it,” Bobbitt says. “To be asked to
co-host is a huge, huge honor that I don’t take lightly.” He’ll
share the spotlight with actress Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan, who is
“extremely honored to be representing my theater community
alongside Michael.”
“He’s a beautiful human being,” she says. “He’s constantly
striving to be a bigger and better person — for himself, for his
family, and for his community. “The more I get to know him, the
more and more I admire him.”
“Alyssa and I are gonna have a lot of fun,” Bobbitt says, as he
settles in for an interview focused on his life, work, and health
and wellness at the age of 45 — all from front-row seats in
Adventure’s main theater space in Glen Echo Park. “I’m going
to try my best to make people laugh. There’s nothing happier
and healthier than laughing.... Even during the heavy part of my
transition and life change, laughing helped.”
METRO WEEKLY: Tell me about your upbringing. You’re from the
area, right?
MICHAEL J. BOBBITT: I’m D.C.-born and raised. I grew up in
lower Northwest D.C., near Howard University. Went to D.C.
public schools until 8th grade, and then transferred to Gonzaga
College Preparatory High School.
MW: Was coming out a struggle?
BOBBITT: I don’t know how much of a struggle it was. In high
school, at Gonzaga, I had a black, gay counselor –
MW: Wait. Seriously?
BOBBITT: I know, at a Jesuit high school. I was going through
a whole bunch of stuff with my family.
I was pulled out of the culture that I
knew and put into this new culture “I wasn’t eating
where I was one of the few black people.
I didn’t identify with the black kids at a lot of food,
my school. I’m in this new environment,
with all these people that have different
family situations and different cultures,
but I was eating
and I was intrigued by that. But at the
same time, I didn’t want to be part of my
food that I was
family, because we didn’t have money
and we didn’t do things the way my
allergic to and
white friends did it. So I was just con-
fused and really struggling, and some of didn’t know it. I
that brought on some depression, and
some need for attention. Really weird was eating lots of
things manifested in high school. And
when I went to this counselor to talk
about these things, he actually asked,
ice cream, lots of
“Do you think you’re gay?” I said, “No!
No way! Never!” I don’t think I really
breads and pastas.
knew what it meant.
MW: It’s kind of amazing that he was bold I WAS EATING
enough to broach the topic with a high
schooler like that. FOOD THAT
BOBBITT: Yeah, he could have gotten in
WAS ACTUALLY
a lot of trouble. As a kid, I was teased
and called “sissy” all the time. And then
in college, I was in theater and with
dancers and the arts, so I knew lots of
MAKING ME SICK.”
28 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
people that were also called “sissy” and “gay.” But when I came
back to D.C., that’s when I realized that it was true. I found
myself being drawn to Dupont Circle. I joined a men’s choir
that wasn’t even a gay choir, but it rehearsed in Dupont Circle,
the Washington Men’s Camerata. I remember walking past and
seeing the bars, and grabbing the print publications, taking them
home, being intrigued by them. This would have been in ‘92, at
19. And then I remember my first encounter — when I had my
first kiss with a guy. It was like an electric bolt, it was so visceral.
“Oh! Oh! Yeah, that makes sense.”
MW: How’s your family with it?
BOBBITT: They’re fine. I think initially, it was — this is circum-
spect — “Michael is doing his thing, he’s doing something dif-
ferent. We’re all into sports and he’s into the arts, so of course.”
But I think it made sense for all of them. There was no big drama
around it. My grandma had a bit of a hard time — she suggested
that I just become a hermit — but then she was fine.
They had a close relationship with my ex, and even before
I was with him, I brought a couple of guys that I was dating
around, and there was no weirdness. They all adore my new
partner, Steve, so it’s totally a non-issue.
MW: Speaking of family, tell me about your son, Sang.
BOBBITT: He was adopted from Vietnam when he was eight
months old. In a month, he’ll be 17. Having so many teens in my
life at [the Adventure-MTC] academy, and at the theater, I can
say I have an easy, easy, easy kid. He’s always been very jovial
and happy and fun, and we have a nice, intimate, fun relation-
ship. We like to make fun of each other. But in the last couple
of years, he has gotten even happier. And I see him growing
into this really awesome, mature, kind, caring, thoughtful kid.
Outside of his room getting a little messy, there are no problems.
And with things like learning how to drive, and managing his
schedule, and now we’re into college planning — to see him take
the lead on that stuff and get excited
about it, it makes me super proud.
MW: Is he interested in following you into
theater?
BOBBITT: Sang does not aspire to be a
theater artist. I was gonna say he hates
theater, because that probably is some-
what of the truth. He grew up around it
all the time.
MW: Have you visited Vietnam since
adopting him?
BOBBITT: When he graduates from high
school next year, part of the celebration
will be to go to Vietnam for a few weeks
and then hopefully see if we can find
some of his birth family. He hasn’t been
to Vietnam yet, but he went to Japan for
a month two summers ago. That’s his
second obsession after marine biology,
Japanese.
My partner Steve studied Japanese
in college, and lived in Asia for many
years, so they’ve bonded over Japan.
In fact, the first day they met, Steve
brought Sang bags and bags of Japanese
food. They have a great relationship.
And they make fun of me in Japanese.
They point at me and laugh.
MW: How long have you been with Steve?
BOBBITT: About 19 months. We have an
MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 29
apartment in Bethesda.
MW: Before you met, you initiated a process that transformed you
in more ways than just the physical, but that’s perhaps the most
telltale sign. What inspired your weight loss?
BOBBITT: I was getting to a place where it was time to get
healthy. One, my [previous] relationship was coming to an end.
So it was time to really think about health and happiness, and
what I wanted out of the rest of my life. I don’t know where the
constitution to stick to it came from. I just knew that I wanted
to be happy. And the good thing is that I was able to focus on
not only the physical, but the spiritual, and the mental, and the
emotional. I had to figure out why I was so unhappy, and what
made me stay in a relationship for so long that was not happy.
It was a combination of seeing my doctor, and getting a list
of all the things that were wrong, and taking care of those one at
a time, going to a nutritionist and finding out more about food,
and going to a therapist, and getting involved with Buddhism
and yoga and mindfulness. And then really, really aggressively
pursuing a lot of self-care.
Slowly but surely, the feelings of happiness kept growing and
growing and growing and growing, and confidence came back.
MW: What kind of timespan are we talking about?
BOBBITT: Well, I lost 90 pounds in about six months. I did an
extreme weight loss program called the HCG diet. It was med-
ically monitored through the Nava Wellness Center. I worked
with a nutritionist. Only about a third of the weight loss came
from that. I also learned that I was allergic to gluten and dairy,
so a lot of the weight came off from that.
From my research, no human should consume gluten. We’ve
only been farming for about, what, 12,000 years? Before that,
it was all hunter-gatherer stuff. The processing of grains is not
something that the human body really should do and could do.
But I got tested and learned that I was highly allergic to it.
MW: What do you mean by highly allergic?
BOBBITT: My body gets inflamed. Much of the weight was
inflammation. I remember the doctor said, “We think you’re
pre-arthritic.” I had tons of joint pain, I thought it was from all
the years of dancing. And I couldn’t believe that after I got it out
of my system, it all went away. I have no joint pain. The only
soreness my body has is after I have a really intense workout. I
have no physical pain.
MW: So now you can do moves that you weren’t able to do previously?
BOBBITT: Well, I’m still older. But yeah, I don’t have the physical
ailments that I used to have. But I had severely low Vitamin D, I
had high fat in my liver, I had an arrhythmia.
I went to my primary [doctor], I got a full, exhaustive physi-
cal, and then he sent me to a whole bunch of specialists that deal
with all the pains. It was a lot of work, but the other thing that
I did was really start focusing. When I learned I was allergic to
gluten and dairy, I thought, “Shit, what can I eat?” And started
really exploring and learning a lot about food.
MW: Were you eating poorly before, or is it that you just didn’t
know you were allergic?
BOBBITT: I wasn’t eating a lot of food, but I was eating food that I
was allergic to and didn’t know it. I was eating lots of ice cream,
lots of breads and pastas and stuff like that. A lot of vegetables
and meats, but I was also eating food that was actually making
me sick. Apparently there’s a bacteria that helps you process the
gluten in your body, and when you get gluten out of your system,
the bacteria goes away. So, that made me even more allergic to it.
And now within a minute of eating something that has gluten in
it, I can feel it — the room starts spinning a little bit.
MW: The weight loss was all natural? No surgery?
30 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
BOBBITT: No. The HGC is probably the only unnatural thing I
did.
MW: What was your maximum weight?
BOBBITT: The last time I got on the scale [at my heaviest] I can
remember was 296. At the moment I’m hanging at about 210.
With not a lot of effort, I’m 6’2”. I had lost an inch, but I’ve gotten
it back from the yoga and working out again.
MW: You mentioned Buddhism. Is that part of your spiritual renewal?
BOBBITT: I wouldn’t call myself a Buddhist, but the practices of
Buddhism, the philosophies, I’ve found very, very useful as I’ve
gone through so much change in my life. Everything from what
forgiveness looks like, and why forgiveness is there. One of the
beliefs is that everyone suffers, it just depends on what you do
with it. I also feel like I’ve lost the emotion of anger, because of
Buddhism.
MW: You don’t get angry?
BOBBITT: I don’t. When I am tested, or something is going
wrong, even if the feelings get stirred up, if there’s a solution
for the problem, why get angry? If there’s no solution for the
problem, why get angry? It’s really a useless emotion. It’s hard to
identify with anger. I see the benefit of not having it. But I really
think mindfulness, too, has been especially great. To not think
about the past, or not stress about the future.
I wouldn’t call myself a Buddhist, because I don’t sit and
meditate, I don’t do all the teachings everyday, but I do find
myself listening to a podcast now and then, or listening to the
teachings, or occasionally going to a sitting. Last month I went
to a weekend Buddhist retreat.
MW: Just you, or you and your partner?
BOBBITT: Myself. I can’t get the two of them into it. I really
think my success, and the reason why the weight is staying off,
is that I really went back and looked at all the reasons why I was
unhealthy. And I worked through most of them, but I’m still
working through a little bit of them. And all of that has given
me a big sense of peace and quiet, and happiness and joy. It feels
really genuine now. Some people, they pretend to be happy, but
they’re still suffering and struggling. My suffering is minimal,
and I know exactly what I have to work on, and I am working
on it.
MW: How different do you think you are as a person? You seem pret-
ty open, but is that how you’ve always been, or has that changed?
BOBBITT: Oh, I think I’ve always been fairly vulnerable about
insecurities and problems. But the number of people I see that
say, “You seem so different, and so happy and at peace,” and
they’re seeing it, and it feels genuine. I can talk to my therapist
now about the fact that it feels genuine, but I’m nervous that
it’s not real, that I’m making it up, or I’m pretending, or kidding
myself, making myself believe that I feel this way. But I do, I
wake up feeling happy, I go to bed feeling happy. Really, really
feeling happy.
MW: Your freelance work with area theaters is not primarily in
children’s theater, is it?
BOBBITT: It is not. My background is in musical theater and
dance, for the most part. I love musical theater, I love it, love it,
love it. And I’ve always maintained a love of adult theater, espe-
cially musical theater.
Next season is kind of a crazy one for me. I have a lot coming
up, and I’m excited about it, and nervous about managing it all,
because I also have to get my kid in college. But I’ll be directing
Aida at Constellation. We’ve cast all people of color. It’s a really
good and talented cast.
MW: Will you also be the choreographer for Aida?
BOBBITT: No. Tony Thomas, one of our instructors at the
[Adventure Theatre-MTC] Academy, is. He’s
very good. I think it’s gonna have a huge impact “We’ve always been
in their small space. I gotta figure out how to
tell this intimate, pretty visceral story. very intentional
That’s in the fall. And then I’m directing Elf about making
at Olney. It’s a big, winter, happy holiday/fami- sure we have
ly show. And then I’m choreographing Into the
Woods at Ford’s. And then after Into the Woods, representation at
I’ll have a tiny bit of a break, then I’ll be direct- Adventure-MTC.
ing Legally Blonde at Keegan Theatre. I was criticized in
MW: You’re really branching out.
BOBBITT: Yeah, I had long talks with Leon the beginning when
[Seemann], my Managing Director at I CAST FAMILIES
Adventure, and my board about this. I think THAT HAD AN ASIAN
the benefit of me working outside Adventure
is that I bring ideas from other theaters in how DAD, A LATINO
they run their business, I bring artists, I bring KID, AND A BLACK
new producers, and then the visibility of the MOTHER.”
company grows because Michael Bobbitt and
Adventure Theatre are well associated with
each other. So I don’t feel like it’s just me, I feel
like it’s me and Adventure Theatre out there
in the community. I think we’re seeing the
benefit. Some of the artists that work here, I
think work here because they are aware of the
reputation of the theater, but also of my work
and the quality of my work.
MW: When is Legally Blonde?
BOBBITT: Summer ‘19. What I’m hoping to
bring to these organizations is my desire to see
more equity and diversity on the stage.
MW: Even with a show called Legally Blonde?
BOBBITT: Beyoncé is blonde. So there’s no rea-
son why it has to be a Caucasian. My hope is to
have a really diverse cast, and part of my own
personal desire is to see at least fifty percent
representation on stage.
I’ve committed Adventure to that, fifty per-
cent representation in productions. So for the
whole team — actors, designers, directors —
next season, we’re making sure we have fifty percent represen- with the original writers. And Huck and Jim are gonna be the
tation. same age — in a cast of eight. Jim will be African-American — as
MW: Is that a leap? one of the roles in the show written to be African-American. But
BOBBITT: It’s not much of a leap. My family is like a Benetton the other roles can be whomever is best for the part. I’m really
ad, so diversity is part of my DNA. We’ve always been very, very, going in with the intention to try to diversify that show. We have
very intentional about making sure we have representation at so much talent in the area among people of color, we need to
Adventure-MTC. I was criticized in the beginning when I [cast] showcase them.
families that had an Asian dad, a Latino kid, and a black mother. I know that in my family, my kid loves experiencing other
“Hey, that’s my family.” people’s cultures. And that’s why he’s got such a wonderful
There was a show we did at Adventure called Stuart Little, array of friendships, and a broad sense of the world. So another
and if I remember, one of the mice moms was Latina, the mice person from a different culture is not scary to him, therefore not
dad was black, and the mouse kid was Asian. And we got some a threat. And certainly maybe in utopia, race can become a good
letters. word, as opposed to a bad word. I think the way we get there is
MW: I imagine: “That’s not genetically possible.” by celebrating each other, celebrating the diversities, and not
BOBBITT: Well, first of all, they’re mice. And also, it’s theater. saying that, because you’re different, you’d bad. l
But when the kid looks at the mother and calls her “Mom,”
there’s no confusion about the relationship. So to me, unless The 34th Annual Helen Hayes Awards are Monday, May 14,
race is a plot point, you can cast whomever. I’m excited about starting at 7:30 p.m., at The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. Tickets
the fact that Hamilton has broken down that barrier. So we can are $100, including a post-show party. Call 202-888-0020 or visit
kind of explore. The next season, one of the shows we’re doing theanthemdc.com.
at Adventure-MTC is Big River. So we’ve got this full-length
Broadway show with Huck Finn and Jim the slave, going down Adventure Theatre MTC is located at 7300 MacArthur Blvd., in Glen
the Mississippi. We’ve actually pared that show down to one act Echo Park, Md. Call 301-634-2270 or visit adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 31

 Gallery
Hannah Chertock: Bodies Adapt
A
SPECIFIC BODY PART — THE BRAIN, THE HEART
— is often the focus of the art pieces by this local mul-
timedia artist, who aims to heighten awareness and
appreciation of human anatomy, natural resiliency, and the
medical sciences. For example, see Chertok’s series of anatom-
ically-inspired, three-dimensional, intricately layered, hand cut
paper art. These are DIY pieces down to their core: she starts by
making her own colored paper, sourced from commonly found
organic materials, including fruit, grass, and recycled paper.
Metallic or glitter material is then added to “stitch up” the work,
a nod to the way medicine and surgery can aid our bodies. A 2016
graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Arts,
Chertock sells some of her wares at BodiesAdapt.Etsy.com. To
learn more about the artist, visit bodiesadapt.com. l
MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 33
Movies

Grace
Far removed from that joy, but just as
understandable, is the apparent pain and
catharsis felt when Jones and family dis-

Under Pressure
cuss the abusive nature of her grandfather,
the man everyone called “Mas P.”
The film dangles the thread that Jones
might see some of Mas P’s rage in herself.
Bloodlight and Bami garbles the biographical details but offers a prime “Don’t make me lose it!” she yells at one
glimpse of the legendary Grace Jones at work. By André Hereford member of her team. It doesn’t appear to
take much for her to lose it, at least when

G
the matter pertains to her work. On more
RACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI (HHHHH) IS NOT A PRIMER than one occasion, Fiennes captures that
on the singularly stylish and provocative Ms. Jones. Rather, the intimate Grace Jones’ patience runs eternally thin
documentary — directed, shot, and edited by Sophie Fiennes — immerses the when it comes to someone or something
audience in Jones’ world for a return visit to her native Jamaica, during the recording potentially compromising her artistic
of her 2008 album, Hurricane. The editing and chronology are fluid, and demand that vision or bottom line.
viewers just keep up. On the other hand, where family and
Kinetic concert footage, featured throughout, places viewers front-row for perfor- home are concerned, Jones exercis-
mances of the artist’s Hurricane World Tour, but the film unspools no helpful montage es a refreshing calmness and openness.
listing the lady’s accomplishments. There are no “Grace is...” testimonials from those Onstage, of course, she also exercises a cer-
who know her best. Fiennes doesn’t use captions to identify anyone on screen, which, tain grace. The starkly lit concert footage,
frankly, would be helpful, since context is everything. shot mostly at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre,
Watching Jones in conversation with one longtime collaborator, the sense of inti- looks and sounds great, with Jones still a
macy is powerful, but for those who don’t recognize photographer Jean-Paul Goude master of the rhythm, in an array of stun-
on sight (most people, that is), there would be no way to know she’s talking to perhaps ning Philip Treacy headpieces.
her most important collaborator, the father of her only child. Grace and Goude have One particularly illuminating sequence
produced other great work together as well, though that’s not specifically the topic of tracks the inception of her song “Love
their on screen conversation. You to Life,” from just a bass-line that
Fiennes keeps the audience in the room, but not necessarily in the know, as Jones a producer plays for Jones, to her later
treks around Jamaica visiting old friends and distant kin. Her family and associates recording the vocal, then finally delivering
toss around stories and first names willy-nilly. It’s easy to get lost trying to follow the a fiery performance of the finished song in
family history exchanges between Jones, her mother, and other relatives about who concert. What this film does well is cap-
went where and when. ture the artist at work.
Some family stories do come through loud and clear, however, even without clarifi- Bloodlight and Bami delivers a real rush
cation. Jones in Paris, happy to see her newborn granddaughter, needs no explanation. showing Jones being the boss in every

34 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY


aspect of her business, whether marshaling legendary musicians
Sly & Robbie to show up for a recording session, or standing up
to the producers of a French TV show.
The sequence at the French studio, perhaps more than any
other in the film, demonstrates what nerve it takes to be Grace
Jones, (or any pop star, for that matter). For a studio perfor-
mance of Jones’ classic disco-lite rendition of “La Vie en Rose,”
the TV show’s director insists on surrounding her with a harem
Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami is not rated, and opens at the Landmark E Street Cinema on Friday, May 11.
Visit landmarktheatres.com.
36 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
of scantily clad female dancers.
Jones deems the whole concept
“tacky,” and is particularly upset that
the staging implies she’s a bordello
madame offering her wares. Based on
what’s shown, she isn’t wrong, but she
really has to put her foot down to get
anywhere persuading the defensive pro-
ducer to change the concept. She knows
she’ll be the name held responsible for
how the performance is perceived, just
as she acknowledges that she’ll take the
blame from the dancers if she gets her
way and they’re cut from the number.
But the artist wants what she wants.
Grace Jones is, and has always been,
willing to fight to present the concepts,
looks, and sounds that excite her. The
film doesn’t shy away from her fighting
spirit.
Yet, it also relishes the positive energy she exudes, and the
success she’s earned for her artistry and her defiance. The lady
enjoys a life of champagne and oysters, late nights out on dance
floors from New York to Barcelona, and visits with her grand-
child. She returns home to Jamaica bearing new hats for her
mother. Grace Jones is made real, and she even gleefully quotes
Dolores Claiborne: “Sometimes you have to be a high-riding bitch
to survive.” l
NightLife
Photography by
Ward Morrison

MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 37


DrinksDragDJsEtc...
Thursday,
May 10
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
38 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
Scene
Trade - Thursday, May 3
Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene
Men in Underwear Drink tail glass served in a huge in the Code Bar, 9pm • $5 NUMBER NINE
Free, 12-12:30am • DJs glass for the same price, Cover • Elyx Vodka and Open 5pm • Happy Hour:
BacK2bACk 5-10pm • Beer and wine Any Red Bull Flavor for $7 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
only $4 • RuPaul’s Drag all day long • thebalti- • No Cover • Friday Night
Nest • Underwear Night,
9pm-2am • For men in
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Race Viewing Party moreeagle.com Piano with Chris, 7:30pm
underwear, all well drinks
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS DC LEATHER PRIDE SHAW’S TAVERN
$2, 9pm-12am • Best
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of All male, nude dancers • @The Crucible Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
Underwear Contest at
Beer $15 • All Leagues DJ • 9pm • Cover 21+ 412 V St. NE Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
Midnight • Code enforced
Night “Under the Big Top” Play $5 House Wines, $5 Rail
in Code Bar after 9pm •
Party, 10pm-2am • Pre- Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas
College Night Thursdays,
NUMBER NINE registration required at and Select Appetizers •
9pm-2am • EDM Dance
Party, 10pm-2am • Free
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm • No Cover
Friday, the-crucible.com The 19th Street Band, 9pm
• No Cover
admission to the Tavern •
Admission to the Nest is
May 11 FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
SHAW’S TAVERN Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • TOWN
free until 10:30pm • After
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3 9 1/2 Karaoke, 9pm Patio open 6pm • DC Bear
10:30pm, $5 Cover for
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, Open at 5pm • Happy Crue Happy Hour, 6-11pm
21 and up, $10 Cover for
$5 House Wines, $5 Rail Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, GREEN LANTERN • $3 Rail, $3 Draft, $3 Bud
18-20 • thebaltimoreea-
Drinks • Half-Priced Pizzas 5-9pm • Friday Night Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5 Bottles • Free Pizza, 7pm
gle.com
and Select Appetizers Videos, 9:30pm • Rotating Svedka, all flavors, all • No cover before 9:30pm
• All-You-Can-Eat Ribs, DJs • Expanded craft beer night long • 21+ • Jail and Bail
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
$24.95, 5-10pm • $4 selection • No Cover Fundraiser for LGBT Fallen
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Heineken and Corona NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Heroes Fund, hosted by DC
Karaoke, 9pm
all night BALTIMORE EAGLE Open 3pm • Guest DJs • Leather Pride, Centaur MC,
Doors open at noon • Beat the Clock Happy Hour and MAUL, 6-11p • Drag
GREEN LANTERN
TRADE Baltimore Bear Happy — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), Show starts at 10:30pm •
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • DC
Doors open 5pm • Huge Hour, 3-9pm, all liquors, $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Hosted by Lena Lett and
Leather Pride Opening
Happy Hour: Any drink beers and wines up to 50% Beer $15 featuring Tatianna, Shi-
Party, 9pm-2am • Shirtless
normally served in a cock- off • Bad Bears After Dark
Thursday, 10-11pm •
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+
Saturday,
May 12
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 2-9pm • $5 Absolut
and $5 Bulleit Bourbon,
9pm-close • Expanded
craft beer selection •
No Cover
BALTIMORE EAGLE
Doors open at noon
• Happy Hour, 3-9pm
• Leather and Fetish
Saturdays, Code Bar,
8pm-2am • Code enforced
after 9pm in the Code
Bar • Retro Saturdays
Dance Party in the Nest,
9:30pm-2am • $5 Cover
• Drink Specials in the
Nest • Long Island Leather
Saturdays — $5 Long
Islands all day • thebalti-
moreeagle.com
MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 39
DC LEATHER PRIDE
@The DC Eagle
3701 Benning Rd. NE
Kink du Soleil Expo, 1-6pm
• Kink Demos, Resource
Fair, Live Performances,
Karaoke and more • Food
trucks on site to keep you
full • $20 Day Membership
Pass • Mid-Atlantic
Rubber Collective at the
Club Bar — Rubber Social,
8pm-12am • Jello Shots,
Ice Pops, and Draft Beers
on sale for fundraiser •
Distrkt C in the Exile Bar,
10pm-6am • Featuring DJs
Sean Morris and Erez Ben
Ishay, plus GoGo Dancers
Aleks Buldocek, Jonah
Fontana and Lorenzo Flex
• $30 in advance online,
$40 at the door
40 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Saturday Breakfast Buffet,
NUMBER NINE
Doors open 2pm • Happy
10am-3pm • $14.99 with Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
one glass of champagne 2-9pm • $5 Absolut and $5
or coffee, soda or juice • Bulleit Bourbon, 9pm-close
Additional champagne $2 • Pop Tarts, featuring DJs
per glass • World Tavern BaCk2bACk, 9:30pm
Poker Tournament, 1-3pm
• Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • SHAW’S TAVERN
Freddie’s Follies Drag $15 Bottomless Mimosas,
Show, hosted by Miss 10am-3pm • Happy Hour,
Destiny B. Childs, 8-10pm 5-7pm • $3 Miller Lite,
• Karaoke, 10pm-close $4 Blue Moon, $5 House
Wines, $5 Rail Drinks •
GREEN LANTERN Half-Priced Pizzas and
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5 Select Appetizers • The
Bacardi, all flavors, all Harvey Sometimes Band,
night long 9pm
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR TOWN
Drag Brunch, hosted Doors open 10pm •
by Chanel Devereaux, Upstairs: WTF: The Final
10:30am-12:30pm and F**k, 10pm • Featuring
1-3pm • House Rail Drinks, DJs Aaron Riggins and
Zing Zang Bloody Marys, Ed Bailey • Special
Nellie Beer and Mimosas, performances by Jaxknife,
$4, 11am-close • Buckets Salvadora Dali, and
of Beer, $15 • Guest DJs Ba’Naka • Downstairs:
Music and video by DJ
Wess • Drag Show starts
at 10:30pm • Drag Show
starts at 10:30pm • Hosted
by Lena Lett and featuring
Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee,
Riley Knoxx and Ba’Naka •
$15 Cover from 10pm-mid-
night, $12 after midnight •
Visit TownDC.com • 21+
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
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm-4am
• Guest dancers • Ladies
of Illusion Drag Show
with host Ella Fitzgerald
• Doors at 9pm, Shows
at 11:30pm and 1:30am
• DJ Don T. in Ziegfeld’s
• DJ Steve Henderson in
Secrets • Cover 21+
Sunday,
May 13
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 2-9pm • $5 Absolut
and $5 Bulleit Bourbon,
9pm-close • Multiple TVs
showing movies, shows,
sports • Expanded craft
beer selection • No Cover
BALTIMORE EAGLE
Lizzie Beaumont and
Betty Whitecastle present
Queens Who Brunch,
12-2pm • $34 per person
includes All You Can
Eat • Free pitcher of
Mimosas per 4 admissions
• Reservations highly
suggested and can be
made online beforehand
• Sunday Fun-Day, 4-9pm
• From 2-8pm, buy a cup
for $5 and fill it with any
Absolut Flavor and Mixer
for $3 each time (excluding
energy drink mixers) •
thebaltimoreeagle.com
DC LEATHER PRIDE
@Cobalt
1639 R St. NW
Drag Out Your Leather
Brunch Fundraiser for
Mr. DC Eagle 2018, 11
am-2:30pm • Bottomless
Mimosas and Food $35
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
10am-3pm • $24.99 with
four glasses of champagne
or mimosas, 1 Bloody
Mary, or coffee, soda or
juice • Crazy Hour, 4-8pm
• Karaoke, 9pm-close
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm •
Karaoke with Kevin down-
stairs, 9:30pm-close
 NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted
by Chanel Devereaux,
10:30am-12:30pm and
1-3pm • House Rail Drinks,
Zing Zang Bloody Marys,
Nellie Beer and Mimosas,
$4, 11am-close • Buckets
of Beer, $15
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
Mother’s Day Brunch with
Bottomless Mimosas,
10am-3pm • Meredith
Rounsley singing live,
11:30am • 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 • DC Leather Pride
Closing Party, 3-9pm • $10
Trade Lager pitchers
42 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
Monday,
May 14
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,
May 15
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 $5 Sam
Adams
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,
May 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 • 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
MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 43
 Scene
DIK Bar - Saturday, April 28
Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

44 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 LastWord.
People say the queerest things

“[Andrew Cuomo’s] history of cutthroat campaigns helped inspire my campaign’s new slogan:
‘Vote for the homo, not for Cuomo.’”
— CYNTHIA NIXON, who is running for governor of New York, joking about a potential new campaign slogan in a speech at the
Legislative Correspondents Association show in Albany. Nixon was referencing the infamous “Vote for Cuomo, not for the homo”
slogan that arose while Mario Cuomo, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s father, was running for NYC Mayor in 1977.

“My dad’s the mayor

you fucking faggot.”
— JORDAN HANCOCK, son of Denver, Colorado Mayor Michael Hancock, shouting at a traffic cop who pulled him over for speeding.
Hancock was captured on body cam footage making the homophobic comments, including threatening to have the officer fired.
Mayor Hancock issued a statement on Twitter saying “we don’t support nor condone his inexcusable actions & words.”

“There are other people in many other places who, yes, do still need to see this….
How many straight rom-coms do we need?
When is it ‘too late’ for them?”
— JIM PARSONS, speaking on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, rebutting critics who said that the gay rom-com Love, Simon’s
coming out story arrived “too late” were wrong. Parsons is currently starring in The Boys in the Band on Broadway alongside
other out gay actors, including Zachary Quinto and Matt Bomer. “To be in a room, filled with nothing but eight other gay actors,
it was tonally different immediately,” he told Colbert.

“ If someone happens to have a vagina or a penis,

I’m not going to let that count out me falling in love with somebody

just because of their body parts.”

— RuPaul’s Drag Race star COURTNEY ACT, in a video for PinkNews explaining her pansexuality. Act, whose real name
is Shane Jenek, identifies as gender-fluid, and said, “I’m not going to conform to some societal expectation of being a man
or being a woman, and that I’m just going to be me — dress how I want to dress, act how I want to act.”

“Mr. Cross Coburn has publicly demonstrated actions unbecoming a Public Official,
compromising the integrity of his office.”
— WILLIAM HOWLETT, resident of Groves, Texas, in a petition asking that 19-year-old Councilmember Cross Coburn be removed
from office. Coburn’s “unbecoming” actions are presumably being gay and using Grindr. In March, someone sent
Coburn’s Grindr profile and private photos to City Hall with an anonymous note asking “Is this in any way proper behavior
of a councilman to represent himself online or a ‘dating’ app?”

46 MAY 10, 2018 • METROWEEKLY