Metro Weekly - 05-05-16 - 22nd Anniversary GMCW 35th

8/17/2019 Metro Weekly - 05-05-16 - 22nd Anniversary GMCW 35th

1/56


2/56


3/56


4/56

4 MAY 5, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFRandy Shulman

ART DIRECTORTodd Franson

MANAGING EDITORRhuaridh Marr

SENIOR EDITORJohn Riley

CONTRIBUTING EDITORDoug Rule

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERSWard Morrison, Julian Vankim

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORScott G. Brooks

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSGordon Ashenhurst, Sean Bugg, Fallon Forbush,Sean Maunier, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield

WEBMASTERDavid Uy

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTJulian Vankim

SALES & MARKETING

PUBLISHERRandy Shulman

NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVERivendell Media Co.

212-242-6863

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Dennis Havrilla

PATRON SAINTRobert Wonneberger

COVER PHOTOGRAPhy Julian Vankim

COVER MODELCharles Ramsey

METRO WEEKLY1775 I St. NW, Suite 1150Washington, DC 20006

202-638-6830

MetroWeekly.com

All material appearing in Metro Weekly is protected by federal copyright law and may not be

reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publishers. Metro Weekly assumes noresponsibility 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 claimsmade 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 oradvertising in Metro Weekly is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of

such person or organization.

© 2016 Jansi LLC.

4

MAY 5, 2016Volume 23 / Issue 1

NEWS 6

SEEKING SAFETY by John Riley

8 COUNSELING CRISIS

by John Riley

10 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

FEATURE 15 V OX POPULI

Interviews by Randy Shulman

Photography by

Julian Vankim

OUT ON THE TOWN 26 DANCING QUEEN

by Doug Rule

30 HUMP

by Randy Shulman

FILM 35 C APTAIN A MERICA: C IVIL W AR

by Rhuaridh Marr

STAGE 37 D ISGRACED

by Kate Wingfield

MUSIC 39 C YNDI LAUPER ’S D ETOUR

by Gordon Ashenhurst

OPERA 41 WNO’S R ING CYCLE

by Kate Wingfield

NIGHTLIFE 47 ZIEGFELD’S / SECRETS Photography by Ward Morrison

54 LAST WORD


5/56

5METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 5, 2016


6/56


Seeking Safety Local asylum seekers share their stories following the deaths of two LGBT

activists in Bangladesh

MICHAEL NAMELUM HAS A BOUNTY ON HIS

head if he ever returns to Azerbaijan.The 34-year-old’s father and male relatives

have sworn to kill him because he is gay and wasonce engaged to a man in the United States. And it’s not just

an empty threat: the men previously killed an older cousin ofhis who was suspected of being gay when Namelum was just a

child.His father has even targeted his mother and 16-year-old sis-

ter because of his sexual orientation.“My father found out, and he targeted my mother for pro-

ducing a gay child. And he blamed her, as if she knew what I

was, and didn’t tell him. He tried to burn my mom’s hands. Heliterally dragged her to the kitchen, turned the stove on, and lit

her hands on fire. And my sister came to help her, and that was

how they escaped,” Namelum says. “They are hiding in terrorbecause my father could find them at any time. In fact, as we’re

talking right now, they might be getting killed.”Namelum, a human rights activist, had twice been

attacked while in Azerbaijan. Once, in the mid-2000s, he wasblackmailed by a police officer who tried to extort money

from him. That officer ended up raping and torturing him. In2011, Namelum was attacked and gang-raped by three men

for his activism on HIV/AIDS prevention among men who

have sex with men (MSM) and on LGBT rights, including hisinvolvement with a group that supported LGBT Americans

abroad in Azerbaijan.Namelum came to the United States and reunited with a for-

L G B TNews Now online at MetroWeekly.comSaudi Cleric: Homosexuals shouldn’t be punishedRepublicans clash over Eric Fanning’s stalled nomination

by John Riley

D A N I E L F E L A


7/56



8/56

8

mer boyfriend — he had previously lived here for a year in 2006

— and the two began talking about getting married. Then, justweeks before their wedding, they broke up, leaving Namelum

in the lurch.At the time, Namelum was based in Dallas with his ex-fiance.

He knew he couldn’t return home because of the threats against

him, so he decided to apply for asylum. But first, he had to getout of Texas — he had been warned that he would be more likely

to have his application rejected coming from an anti-gay state.

So he moved cross-country to live with friends in Washington,D.C., sleeping on their couch for about a year.

Upon moving to D.C., Namelum began forming ties with fel-

low asylum seekers and torture survivors. He became involved

with both Center Global, a program of The DC Center, and theTorture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC),

and applied for asylum. Because government regulations pro-hibit asylum seekers from even applying to obtain a work permit

for six months after they initially apply, he was unable to work,having to rely on charity and limited support from groups like

Center Global in the form of gift cards for food and prepaidMetro cards for transportation.

With the help of a pro bono lawyer, Lindsey Wilkes,

Namelum was able to expedite his case, having it heard withinsix months. He calls it a “miracle,” particularly considering that

most asylum seekers can wait years before even being granted ahearing to see if they will be granted asylum.

That’s currently the situation facing Michael Ivanov, a

31-year-old asylum seeker from the Crimea region of Ukraine.Ivanov, who was a scientist in his home country, is currently

in school because he has not yet been scheduled for a hearingregarding his application, due to a massive backlog in processing

applications from those seeking asylum.

Ivanov’s mistreatment began as a child, when he was bullied,harassed and picked on by his classmates and neighbors because

they suspected he was gay. When he was 14 or 15, a classmate

even threw a lit firework into his backpack, but was never pun-ished for it.

Ivanov, who contracted HIV from an untested blood trans-

fusion in 2010, was also denied medical treatment because of

his HIV status. This denial of treatment continued even after a2012 incident that left him seriously injured and hospitalized.

During that incident, Ivanov was contacted by a man namedAndrey, who he began corresponding with for about a month.

They agreed to meet at a local park one evening, but it turnedout to be a set-up: five men wearing surgical masks descended

upon Ivanov and began beating him until he lost consciousness.He was left lying in a puddle of blood until a passerby called an

ambulance. Ivanov received such poor treatment at the hands of

hospital staff that they discharged him even though he still hadbroken bones, severe lacerations, and damage to his right eye.

Unfortunately, such mistreatment of LGBT people is notuncommon in many regions throughout the world. The recent

MAY 5, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM

Counseling Crisis Mental health professionals balk at Tennessee bill allowing therapists and

counselors to reject LGBT clients

IT’S OUTRAGEOUS,” SAYS DR. GORDON COHEN.

The D.C.-based psychologist is talking about a recentlypassed bill in Tennessee — and his reaction is far from

overstated. As written, it allows therapists and counselorsto refuse treatment to potential clients if their lifestyle or iden-

tity violates the therapist’s “sincerely held principles.”“My partner is originally from Tennessee, and he was so

upset he’s thinking we shouldn’t go back any longer to visit his

family,” says Cohen. “And I’m saying, ‘Well, we’re not going todo that.’ But it really does upset me a lot that Tennessee is doing

this right now.”Supporters of the bill, which was signed into law by Gov.

Bill Haslam (R) last week, have argued that it was essentialto protect the religious liberty of therapists and counselors.

Specifically, they objected to a 2014 change to the AmericanCounseling Association’s (ACA) code of ethics, which instructs

counselors not to turn away clients based solely on a number

of different characteristics such as race or religion, as well assexual orientation and gender identity.

The bill granted the exemption based on a therapist’s “sin-cerely held religious beliefs,” but was later amended to the

much broader — and, critics contend, ill-defined — language of

“sincerely held principles.”“This bill could so easily be expanded to other groups,” says

Joshua Riley, a certified counselor who serves as director ofcommunity relations and external affairs at Whitman-Walker

Health. “Someone could say, ‘Okay, I’m racist, so I’m not goingto see a person of color.’ Or, ‘I’m a pacifist, so I’m not going

to work with someone in the military.’ You name it. There’s a

whole number of places where this bill could go.”Haslam argued that the bill contains two provisions that will

ensure those seeking counseling or treatment will still be able toobtain it. The first provision says that the religious exemption

“shall not apply” when a client is in “imminent danger of harm-ing themselves or others.” The second requires the therapist or

counselor objecting to providing treatment to refer that client orpatient to another counselor or therapist who is willing to work

with them.

Kris Oseth, a psychotherapist and licensed professionalcounselor, says the provisions referenced by Haslam may not

be sufficient.“Just because someone is not in ‘imminent danger’ of

by John Riley


9/56

LGBTNews


news of two LGBT rights activists who were hacked to death with

machetes in Bangladesh highlights the severity of the threats thatmany LGBT people face abroad, particularly in countries where

homosexuality is criminalized. For many asylum seekers, fleeing

to another country, such as the United States, becomes the onlyviable option if they wish to remain alive.

Daniel Tendai, another asylum seeker, says his involvementwith the LGBT group Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)

placed him on the government’s radar as a potential threat to its

anti-LGBT stances. But it was an interview that he did while at aU.S. conference, in which he suggested that the United States do

more to help the LGBT community in Zimbabwe, that becamethe turning point.

“I got messages from people telling me that it had goneviral,” says Tendai. “And, to me, that meant that something

could get really bad if I tried to go back home. They would bewaiting for me.”

Tendai has since been living with a friend in Rockville, Md.while he waits for a pending hearing date to review his applica-

tion for asylum. He is receiving help from a pro bono lawyer, but

realizes it may take years before he is officially granted asylum.“I would want to return to Zimbabwe, if and only if the sys-

tem changed. But I cannot go to Zimbabwe right now because ofthe very strict laws [against homosexuality] there,” Tendai says.

“I will not be free and I do not know what would happen to me....I want to live a normal life, where I am free and my rights are

protected, and I can be who I am.”

Despite the obstacles that LGBT asylum seekers face uponarriving in the United States, there can be positive outcomes

for some. Namelum has since obtained a steady job with an

international research institute that focuses on women’s rights,along with private health insurance. He has continued speaking

out on behalf of LGBT rights, lobbying Congress on issues fromthe importance of making the position of Special Envoy for the

Human Rights of LGBTI Persons permanent to speaking up for

immigrant transgender women who have been detained in maledetention centers. He has even met with House Minority Leader

Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on two separate occasions.“I am an activist. You guys created a monster,” he says. “I make

speeches, I give interviews. Being an activist gives me strength, itgives me power. It helps me to heal.... I feel empowered to stand

up for people who are currently being tortured and killed, inRussia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Uganda, all over Africa.”

Due to how quickly he was able to obtain a hearing on hisasylum status, Namelum is just two months shy of being eligible

to apply for a green card, which will make him, in legal terms, a

lawful permanent resident of the United States.“America has become home for a lot of LGBT people who

came here, and America saved their lives by providing themshelter and a new home,” says Namelum. “D.C. is my home. This

is my country now. And I’m proud to be here, to be alive, andthankful.” l

harming themselves, in thatmoment, on that particular

day, does not mean that theyare not at risk of being a dan-

ger to themselves or others

later on,” she says. “The timethat it takes the counselor

and client to find anothersource of therapy could be

detrimental to someone whois having chronic suicidal ide-

ation, or homicidal ideation,

or psychosis.”While the bill does not spe-

cifically target LGBT people,allowing counselors and thera-

pists to reject clients could endup having an equally negative

impact on that community.“We know from the studies

and the statistics that LGBT

folks experience higher levelsof depression and anxiety,” he

says. “Suicide rates are off thecharts, particularly for young

people and trans-identified people. So LGBT people’s mentalhealth needs are certainly on par with, but sometimes greater

than, the needs of other groups.”

For Cohen, the idea of rejecting a client because of per-sonal views or beliefs is a gross violation of the code of ethics

for anybody in the mental health profession. Each profes-sion’s code of ethics already contains provisions that allow

therapists to refer a client to another clinician if they feeluncomfortable working with that client. As a result, it makes

the exemption bill “completely redundant and unnecessary.”“You wouldn’t want a counselor to work with a transgender

person if they weren’t going to be helpful, or were going to beharmful to them,” Cohen says. “But that clause is already written

into the code of ethics. You already have an out. If there was a

counselor in Tennessee who felt uncomfortable for that reason,they could simply let the client know that. They have that right.

You don’t have to legislate over it with yet another law, whichbasically codifies discrimination.” l

Tennessee State Capitol P H O T O . U A


10/56


SATURDAY, MAY 7CENTER GLOBAL, a group focusingon LGBT rights abroad that workswith LGBT asylum seekers and refu-gees, holds its monthly meetings onthe first Saturday of each month atThe DC Center. 12-2 p.m. 2000 14th

St. NW, Suite 105. For more informa-tion, visit thedccenter.org.

CHRYSALIS arts & culture grouptours world (i.e., non-EuropeanUnion) embassies on annual OpenHouse Weekend. Free. Meet at 9:30a.m. at top of Metro escalators at 20th& Q Streets NW. Craig, 202-462-0535. [email protected].

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURALHEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5p.m., and HIV services (by appoint-

ment). 202-291-4707 or andromeda-transculturalhealth.org.

BET MISHPACHAH, founded bymembers of the LGBT community,holds Saturday morning Shabbatservices, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddushluncheon. Services in DCJCCCommunity Room, 1529 16th St. NW. betmish.org.

BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, includ-ing others interested in Brazilian cul-ture, meets. For location/time, email [email protected].

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice

session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr.,SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/ walking/social club welcomes alllevels for exercise in a fun and sup-portive environment, socializingafterward. Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & PStreets NW, for a walk; or 10 a.m. forfun run. dcfrontrunners.org.

DC SENTINELS basketball teammeets at Turkey Thicket RecreationCenter, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4p.m. For players of all levels, gay orstraight. teamdcbasketball.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 6GAY DISTRICT, a group for GBTQImen between the ages of 18-35, meetson the first and third Fridays of eachmonth. 8:30-9:30 p.m. 2000 14th St.NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit gaydistrict.org.

LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP foradults in Montgomery County offersa safe space to explore coming outand issues of identity. 10-11:30 a.m.16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512,Gaithersburg, Md. For more informa-tion, visit thedccenter.org.

The DC Center hosts a meeting of

its TRANS SUPPORT GROUP fortransgender people and those whoidentify outside of the gender binary.7-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.For more information, visit thedc-center.org.

The Trevor Project presents its

annual fundraiser, “A NIGHT OUTFOR TREVOR,” at the Kimpton HotelMonaco. 7 p.m. 700 F St. NW. Formore information, visit thetrevorpro- ject.org. For tickets, cities.thetrevor-project.org/event/a-night-out-for-trevor-d-c-2016.

WEEKLY EVENTS

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practicesession at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr.SW. 6:30-8 p.m. 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 providesa social atmosphere for GLBT andquestioning youth, featuring danceparties, vogue nights, movies andgames. More info, [email protected].

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, [email protected].

THURSDAY, MAY 5GAMMA, a confidential supportgroup for men who are gay, bisexual,questioning and who are marriedor involved with a woman, meets inFrederick, Md., on the first Thursdayof every month. GAMMA also offers

additional meetings in Northern Virginia and Washington. 6:30-8:30p.m. Grace United Church of Christ,25 E. 2nd St., Frederick, Md. Formore information or to RSVP, visitGAMMAinDC.org or meetup.com/ GAMMAinDC.

WEEKLY EVENTS

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)practice session at Takoma AquaticCenter, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and les-

bian square-dancing group featuresmainstream through advanced squaredancing at the National City ChristianChurch, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517,dclambdasquares.org.

The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Virginia social group meets for happyhour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestri-angles.com.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155

or [email protected].

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m.,3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group isindependent of UHU. 202-446-1100.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIPINSTITUTE for young LBTQ women,13-21, interested in leadership devel-opment. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL YouthCenter, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163,[email protected].

Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events in the D.C.-area

LGBT community, from alternative social events to volunteer opportunities.

Event information should be sent by email to [email protected].

Deadline for inclusion is noon of the Friday before Thursday’s publication.

Questions about the calendar may be directed to the

Metro Weekly office at 202-638-6830 or

the calendar email address.

LGBTCommunityCalendarDIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass forLGBT community, family and friends.6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria. All welcome. For more info, visit dig-nitynova.org.

GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discussescritical languages and foreign lan-guages. 7 p.m. Nellie’s, 900 U St. NW.

RVSP preferred. [email protected].

IDENTITY offers free and confidentialHIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments otherhours, call 301-422-2398.

SUNDAY, MAY 8ADVENTURING outdoors group takesa 6.5-mile urban trek from LoganCircle to Tenleytown via ColumbiaHeights and Rock Creek Park, stop-

ping at eight murals along the way.Bring beverages, lunch, sunscreen, bug spray, sensible walking shoes andthe $2 trip fee. Meet at 10 a.m. in frontof Dolcezza Coffee Shop, 1421 14thStreet NW, at P Street. Jay, 415-203-7498. adventuring.org.

BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay vol-unteer organization, volunteers todayfor DC Central Kitchen. To partici-pate, visit burgundycrescent.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressiveand radically inclusive church holdsservices at 11:30 a.m. 2217 Minnesota Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practicesession at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr.,SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITEDCHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes allto 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G St. NW.firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317.

HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRISTwelcomes GLBT community for wor-ship. 10:30 a.m., 6130 Old TelegraphRoad, Alexandria. hopeucc.org.

HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORTGROUP for gay men living in the DCmetro area. This group will be meet-ing once a month. For information onlocation and time, visit H2gether.com.

Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONALTEMPLE – UNITED CHURCH OFCHRIST for an inclusive, loving andprogressive faith community everySunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW,near R in Shaw/Logan neighborhood.lincolntemple.org.


11/56


METROPOLITAN COMMUNITYCHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA services at 11 a.m., led by Rev. EmmaChattin. Children’s Sunday School, 11a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax.703-691-0930, mccnova.com.

NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIANCHURCH, inclusive church withGLBT fellowship, offers gospel wor-ship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional wor-

ship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW.202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.

ST. STEPHEN AND THEINCARNATION, an “interracial,multi-ethnic Christian Community”offers services in English, 8 a.m. and10:30 a.m., and in Spanish at 5:15 p.m.1525 Newton St. NW. 202-232-0900,saintstephensdc.org.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTCHURCH OF SILVER SPRING invites LGBTQ families and individu-als of all creeds and cultures to jointhe church. Services 9:15 and 11:15

a.m. 10309 New Hampshire Ave.uucss.org.

MONDAY, MAY 9

WEEKLY EVENTS

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-tice session at Hains Point, 927 OhioDr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holdspractice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. GarrisonElementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan-dals.wordpress.com.

GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. atQuaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. [email protected].

HIV Testing at WHITMAN-WALKERHEALTH. At the Elizabeth TaylorMedical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max RobinsonCenter, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointmentcall 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-789-

4467.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or test-

[email protected].

THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee Drop-In for the Senior LGBT Community.10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202-682-2245, thedccenter.org.

US HELPING US hosts a black gaymen’s evening affinity group. 3636

Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.

WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATERPOLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m.Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 VanBuren St. NW. Newcomers with atleast basic swimming ability alwayswelcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, [email protected], wetskins.org.

WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTHHIV/AIDS Support Group for newlydiagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m.

Registration required. 202-939-7671,[email protected].

TUESDAY, MAY 10The DC Center holds a meeting of its

COMING OUT DISCUSSION GROUPfor those navigating issues associatedwith coming out and personal identity.7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite105. For more information, visit thedc-center.org.

The DC Center hosts a meeting of its

TRANS SUPPORT GROUP for trans-

gender people and those who identifyoutside of the gender binary. 7-9 p.m.2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For moreinformation, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURALHEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5p.m., and HIV services (by appoint-ment). 202-291-4707, andromeda-transculturalhealth.org.

ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly dinnerin Dupont/Logan Circle area, 6:30 [email protected], afwashington.net.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)practice session at Takoma AquaticCenter, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walk-ing/social club serving greater D.C.’sLGBT community and allies hosts anevening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org.

THE GAY MEN’S HEALTHCOLLABORATIVE offers free HIVtesting and STI screening and treat-ment 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. [email protected].

HIV TESTING at Whitman-WalkerHealth. At the Elizabeth TaylorMedical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max RobinsonCenter, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THEDC CENTER hosts “Packing Party,”where volunteers assemble safe-sexkits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m.,Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court NW.thedccenter.org.


12/56


KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY(K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St., Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIVtesting and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.703-823-4401.

METROHEALTH CENTER offersfree, rapid HIV testing. Appointmentneeded. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.202-638-0750.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS—LGBT focused meeting everyTuesday, 7 p.m. St. George’sEpiscopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave., Arlington, just steps from VirginiaSquare Metro. For more info. callDick, 703-521-1999. Handicappedaccessible. Newcomers [email protected].

SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL,410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. CathyChu, 202-567-3163, [email protected].

US HELPING US hosts a supportgroup for black gay men 40 andolder. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave.NW. 202-446-1100.

Whitman-Walker Health’s GAYMEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS/STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 170114th St. NW. Patients are seen onwalk-in basis. No-cost screening forHIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chla-mydia. Hepatitis and herpes testingavailable for fee. whitman-walker.org.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11BIG GAY BOOK GROUP meet todiscuss, “What Belongs to You” byGarth Greenwell. 7 p.m. 1155 F Street,NW, Suite 200, near Metro Centerin Downtown Washington, DC.For more information, [email protected] or biggaybook-group.com. Newcomers are alwayswelcome.

RAINBOW RESPONSE, a coalitiondedicated to combating LGBTQintimate partner violence, holds itsmonthly meeting at The DC Centeron the second Wednesday of everymonth. 6-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,

Suite 105. For more information, visitrainbowresponse.org.

THE LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB meets for Duplicate Bridge. 7:30 p.m.Dignity Center, 721 8th St SE (acrossfrom Marine Barracks). No reserva-tions needed. All welcome. 202-841-0279 if you need a partner.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington presents the second session

of BECOMING A TRANS* ALLY, afour-part series looking at the trans-gender community. The topic for thenight is “Gender Justice,” presented

by Bri Sanders, Camden Hargrove andKathleen Campisano, of the NationalLGBTQ Task Force. 7-8:30 p.m. 4444 Arlington Blvd., Arlington, Va. Formore information, visit hrc.org orpofev.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

AD LIB, a group for freestyle con- versation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,

Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome.For more information, call FaustoFernandez, 703-732-5174.

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURALHEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5p.m., and HIV services (by appoint-ment). 202-291-4707, andromeda-transculturalhealth.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-tice session at Hains Point, 927 OhioDr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holdspractice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan-dals.wordpress.com.

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.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-WalkerHealth. At the Elizabeth TaylorMedical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max RobinsonCenter, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

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

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, www.centercareers.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offersfree, rapid HIV testing. No appoint-ment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14thSt. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-789-4467.

PRIME TIMERS OF DC, socialclub for mature gay men, hostsweekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,Windows Bar above Dupont ItalianKitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl, 703-573-8316.l


13/56



14/56


15/56


As the Gay Men’s Chorus

of Washington turns 35,its members reflect on

a life well sung

Paul Negron - Baritone

V OX POPULIInterviews by Randy Shulman

Photography by Julian P. Vankim


16/56


A

GE IS JUST A NUMBER. AND WHEN THAT NUM-

ber is affixed to an entity, the larger that numbergrows, either one of two things happen.

The entity becomes stale, set in its ways, lifeless,a dinosaur lumbering, with fatalistic inevitability, toward the

tar pits.

Or....The entity evolves. It grows. Flourishes. It puts faith in

its own time-honored traditions while forging new ones. Itbecomes a necessity that extends beyond the reaches of its own

community.It becomes iconic.

After 35 years, it’s safe to say that the Gay Men’s Chorus of

Washington is a local artistic and cultural icon. And yet, thisis a humble organization, warm, welcoming, sociable, fueled

by camaraderie and love. It’s an entity whose embrace of thearts is driven by a sense of purpose — though one with a nota-

bly flamboyant joie de vivre. The GMCW is a gay organizationdetermined to change minds, open hearts, elicit smiles, soothe

troubled souls, foster tolerance over hate — all through thepower of song.

Two hundred voices strong, with an active membership that

ranges in age from early 20s to late 70s, GMCW is the LGBTcommunity’s national cultural emissary. There are other incred-

ible gay men’s choruses out there, sure. But they’re not based inthe heart of Washington. They weren’t gathered, at a moment’s

notice, voices rising, on the steps of the Supreme Court the daymarriage equality became law of the land. They weren’t sing-

ing with Josh Groban and Heather Headley at the inauguration

of the country’s first African-American president on a frigid

January day. And they weren’t recently in Cuba, building bridges

with song, showing the residents of a closed-off Communistsociety that in order to be truly proud, one must be fully out.

These other choruses might be good — great, even — but theyare not iconic. And they are not ours.

“Years ago, LGBT choruses were thought of as either maud-

lin or silly,” says Robert Agnello, a 46-year-old baritone who hassung with the chorus for 14 years. “But the quality in all LGBT

choruses has raised in the last decade. The movement has trulymatured. And we are enjoying amazing music as a result. GMCW

has led this effort, especially being here, at the political forefront,in D.C.”

We wanted to celebrate 35 years of the Gay Men’s Chorus

by turning our eyes and ears to its membership, to the men whogive it voice (and the woman who so capably shapes that voice).

Thirty-six members participated in an open photo call at theWonder Bread Factory last Sunday afternoon, a few hours prior

to rehearsing for this Sunday’s 35th Anniversary concert at theKennedy Center, featuring an appearance by Gallim Dance. We

also asked the membership to talk about their time in the chorusand what it means to them. We found that even as individuals

their voices are as one, evoking a perfect unifying sentiment,

beautifully summed up by Cliff Gilbert, 56, who has performedwith the chorus since 2008.

“When people think of the chorus,” says Gilbert, “I hope theythink about equality, justice and freedom for all minority groups

in our backyard, and also worldwide. I want people to think weare a progressive group rich with diverse values, race, religious

beliefs and, surprisingly, political affiliations.”

Music to our ears.

(L-R) Tim Gillham - Tenor 1, Jack Reiffer - Tenor 1, Thomas Schmitt - Baritone 1 and Bob Klein - support section leader / house manager


17/56


METRO WEEKLY: What prompt-ed you join the Gay Men’s

Chorus of Washington?

MIKE ALLEN (34, 6 YEARS,BASS): I saw the chorus givean amazingly powerful per-

formance at Church of theEpiphany back in 2010. Right

then and there I said, “I have to

sing with this group!”

PATRICK NELSON (48, 7 YEARS,BARITONE): I was not a mem-ber, but I was dating a memberwho passed away. While I had

a few friends in GMCW at

the time, I was overwhelmed

at how many of the guys thatI didn’t know reached out to

me to make sure I was doing

okay after Derek’s death. Theyinvited me to their homes, to

dinner, to a rehearsal. About a

year later, a member who had

become a close friend told me it

was time to audition.

TODD PAUL (50, 22 YEARS,BASS): I’ve always loved per-forming and doing theater,

so when a friend who was a

member of the chorus’ fun-

draising arm said he had thefeeling it would be a perfect fit,

I thought, “What the heck? I’ll

audition.” I got in and 21 yearslater, it still means as much to

me as it did then.

PAUL NEGRON (35, 2 YEARS,BARITONE): I moved to D.C. in2013, and I was initially looking

to make new friends and get

back to one of my loves, singing.

Joining the chorus has been

such an amazing experience.

I’ve made some of the best

friends I’ve ever had in my life— and I get to perform in some

of the best venues in the city.

BEN HARRIS : I was looking fora chorus where I could sing

both contemporary and clas-

sical choral music in a settingwhere I felt comfortable being

who I was.

LUCAS REGNER (25, 1 YEAR,TENOR 2): Many members willsay “community.” For me, it

wasn’t that at all — communitywas a fun by-product. I really

wanted to learn more about

music. About the songs thateveryone seems to know, but

people like myself never heard

of. And I wanted to learn howto read music. Yes, you can pass

the audition without knowing

how to read music. And yes, I

now spend double the time try-ing to learn it.

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON (32, 2 YEARS, TENOR 2): I saw GMCWperform at Lisner a few years ago

and I was intrigued — I wanted

to be a part of a group that show-

cased my talents and allowedme to be comfortable in my own

skin. In February 2014, I wenton a date with a guy who told me

he was auditioning. He sent me

the info. He did not make it in,

but a week later I auditioned and

got in. We stopped dating a shorttime after.

MW: The chorus is known for itssignature baubles. What’s your

favorite bauble?

JOSH WILLETT (26, 2 YEARS,BASS): Every new member has

a buddy to chaperone them to

make sure they are comfortable.For your first concert, your

buddy gives you a bauble. Even

though I know it’s somethingevery new member receives, my

first one was still very heart-

warming.

LUCAS REGNER: Oh man, Iknow the baubles are an impor-

tant part — I just haven’t quite

gotten it. For my first perfor-

mance, I remade my Swedish

military tag into a bauble, think-

ing it would suffice. Luckily, a

member had a spare bauble toloan me.

BEN HARRIS (35, 1 YEAR,BARITONE): My favorite is asimple heart shape that really

resonates with me. That bauble

reminds me that putting loveinto everything we do doesn’t

have to be difficult.

JOHN-PAUL HAYWORTH (37, 11 YEARS, BASS): I have a lot ofbaubles — I tend to buy them in

bulk or at auctions. I love beingable to share them with my

(L-R) Jim Orrell - Baritone, Guy Bosworth - Tenor 2, Dan Kaufman - Bass and Jayson Scirratt - Tenor 2


18/56


chorus brothers. I often neversee them again, but the point is

the camaraderie of sharing.

MATT HOLLAND (42, 7 YEARS,TENOR 1): A large, rhinestone-covered Decepticon bauble

from the Transformers cartoon.I’m a little bit evil, and I’m okay

with that.

CHARLES BUTLER (63, 35 YEARS, TENOR 1): A seahorsebauble given to me by my wife.

The seahorse is the only malewho gives birth, so it’s become a

sort of totem for our household,

as my wife is transgender.

PATRICK NELSON: The year I joined there were several of

us that went shopping for a

bauble. We all decided to buymatching sparkly snowflakes.

Seven years later, I buy one for

my buddies and they buy the

same one for theirs. It’s become

a tradition in my “family line”

of buddies.

JAY BALL (57, 15 YEARS, TENOR2): My favorite bauble is a rela-

tively simple sunburst. I boughtit at a sales booth run by a les-

bian couple at a Gay Rodeo in

Oklahoma City.

THEA KANO (50, 12 YEARS,ARTISTIC DIRECTOR): MySwarovski crystal stilettos.One of our very talented for-

mer members, Soo Park, cre-

ated them.

JIM WILLIAMS (58, 22 YEARS,TENOR 1): A Star Trek com-municator bauble. Because I’ma nerd.

DONALD MCARTHUR (79, 10

YEARS, TENOR 2): My baublewas on sale at CVS for three

bucks but looks like a million

dollars.

D’ARCEE NEAL (30, 4 YEARS,BARITONE): I have an oversized,lopsided crystal heart bauble

that I love, because it symbol-

izes how I felt about the chorus.

I came to D.C. without a job,

without friends, struggling, andin the chorus I found an instant

family. As a gay disabled person

of color, I also feel so conspicu-ous whenever we’re performing

like I’m the only one there. The

bauble reminds me that every-

one here is loved.

MW: The chorus has performedat several historic occasions.What was the most memorable

for you?

CHRISTOPHER GRIEDER(52, 26 YEARS, BARITONE): The “We Are One” perfor-

mance for President Obama’sInauguration in 2009. It was

a 15-degree day and Heather

Headley and Josh Groban sang

in front of a wall separatingus. It slid away to reveal us as

we joined them in singing. The

thousands of people gathered,

as well as those watching, andthe president being right there,

made for a once-in-a-lifetime

experience.

JIM WILLIAMS: When we sangat President Obama’s inaugural

concert, I glanced briefly at theObamas while we were singing.

Mrs. Obama was busy with the

girls, getting their coats off, andnone of them were paying any

attention to us. I didn’t care

in the least. It was still a great

honor to be there!

DAN KAUFMAN (50, 26 YEARS,BASS): We were backstageat the “We Are One” concert

when the music started for our

number with Josh Groban and

Heather Headley, and I started

to panic. The stage manager

yelled “GO!” and a hundred of

us ran, single file, up the narrowscaffold stairs. About a half-sec-

ond before the rolling wall was

pulled back to reveal us, the last

member got in place. There wasno time to be nervous by then.

JIM GRUSCHUS (50, 21 YEARS,BASS): At Obama’s inaugura-tion it was cold — very cold. We

gave Ms. Headley some of the

chemical hand-warmer packets

organizers were giving out.

She thanked us profusely and

stuffed them right into her bra.

BRIAN DAY (42, 11 YEARS, TENOR1): I was there singing with

(L-R) Jim Tavenner - Tenor 2, Michael Gottlieb - Baritone, Paul Negron - Baritone and Charles Ramsey - Baritone


19/56


my chorus brothers when theSupreme Court announced

Marriage Equality for all. I had

never been so proud, not to be

just a gay — and married — man,

but also to be a part of GMCW

and to put into song the many

feelings and emotions manyof us had on that historic day.

Sometimes we, as humans, are

better at expressing ourselves in

song than any other medium.

CHARLES BUTLER: The antici-pation of the Supreme Courtdecision on the steps of the

SCOTUS was palpable. We

arrived early, it was very hot,

and we sang more than a dozentimes, “Make Them Hear You.”

Very few hecklers were there,

though one soul just stood there

with a sign — a silent witnessto a differing opinion. We sang,

it seemed, every 10 minutes for

two hours until an aide brought

word of the decision.

D’ARCEE NEAL: At the SupremeCourt, as we moved to the stepsto sing, I got yelled at and spit

on by a few of the protesters

screaming in my face. I liter-ally had to stop for a moment

as these people stood around

me screaming that I should

burn in Hell or die. I thought,

“Is this what my parents went

through during the Civil Rights

movement?” It was a surrealmoment.

CHIPPER DEAN (40, 4 YEARS,BASS): We’ve sung our NationalAnthem countless times in

our lives, but it took on a new,

personal meaning to sing it atSCOTUS in 2013 when DOMA

was overturned and again in

2015 when marriage equality

was affirmed. We sang laterthat evening in 2015 on the

Town Patio and inside, where

patrons joined us to sing the

Anthem and listened quietly,some crying, as we sang “Make

Them Hear You.”

MIKE FILA (31, 4 YEARS, BASS):I hadn’t directly participated in

any historic event for the LGBT

community until the decisionon marriage equality. Singing

with the chorus on the steps of

the Supreme Court was sucha galvanizing experience. I

felt so connected to the LGBT

community and so proud to be

there with people I love, sing-

ing about something deeply

personal. It made me feel a part

of something so much biggerthan myself.

JAMI RODGERS (36, 3 YEARS,TENOR 2): Singing on the stepsof the Supreme Court was

definitely a memorable experi-

ence. This was really my firstmoment witnessing how our

message of equality and the

power of music can impact a

perfect stranger. So many inthe crowd showed so much

emotion in anticipation of the

ruling. I remember that it was

difficult to sing with a lump inmy throat, being overcome by

the joy of the moment.

DON GRIESHEIMER (58, 16 YEARS, TENOR 2): My heartpumps faster and fills with

pride each time I set foot on theinfield at National Stadium to

sing the national anthem.

TODD PAUL: In June of 1998,GMCW went on a performance

tour of Scandinavia. We sang in

Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen,

the hall in Oslo where MLK

received his Nobel Peace Prize,and in Stockholm, Sweden. The

experience of seeing how we

were received was amazing!

KEVIN MORRIS (39, 2 YEARS,BARITONE): I was part of thegroup that went to Cuba last

year. It’s hard to articulate justhow life changing that experi-

ence was. To be invited by

[Fidel Castro’s niece] Mariela

Castro to promote LGBTQ

equality in a communist coun-try is very surreal. But meeting

the people of Havana, many ofthem elderly, who, with tears in

their eyes, said things like, “I’ve

been waiting 60 years for you”

had a lasting, profound impact.

PATRICK NELSON: Cuba was anunbelievable experience. We

sang for the Ambassador andfor Mariela Castro. We sang

at a senior center and a com-

munity center in the barrios of

(L-R) Timothy Allmond - Tenor 1, Kyle Holland - Tenor 2, Jim Madigan - Tenor 2 and David Jonas - Tenor 2


20/56


Havana. But the most intense

experience was sitting at the

very first concert where a youth

chorus opened the show withthe Cuban Anthem then tran-

sitioned into the Star Spangled

Banner. What we were doing

became very real.

CHASE MAGGIANO (32, 3 YEARS, EXECUTIVE DIREC-

TOR): I was fortunate to be inCuba with GMCW the same

week that diplomatic relations

were being restored. We were

embraced not only because

we were gay — though that

certainly was part of it — but

because we were American. Itmay have been the first time

that GMCW’s identity was not

LGBT-focused first.

JAY BALL: The most memorablemoment I recall was at the

2002 Kennedy Center Honors

when we sang “That’s What

Friends Are For” with Dionne

Warwick and Burt Bacharachto Elizabeth Taylor. At the end

of the song, Ms. Taylor stood

when she barely could and blew

kisses to the stage. Though

there were many luminaries

there, including the President

and First Lady, there was no

doubt who was the “star” thatnight.

JERRY BLACKMON (37, 6 YEARS, TENOR 1): Everythingthe chorus does is historic,

honestly. We perform regularly

in Lincoln Theatre in the heartof “black Broadway.” We sing

on the same stage where Ella

Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington

performed. We’re part of the

pantheon of the District.

STU GOLDSTONE (42, 15 YEARS,BARITONE): We’ve had theprivilege of performing atmany high-profile events, such

as Obama’s inauguration, the

(L-R) Larry Cohen - Baritone, Matt Graf - Baritone, D’Arcee Neal - Baritone and Ethan Chiang - Bass


21/56

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 5, 2016 21

Kennedy Center Honors, and so

on. But to me the most impor-

tant times are when we sing to

honor our own fallen members.Performing for Thom Gibb’s

memorial in 2011, for Michael

Baker in 2010, for Peter Fox in

2012, for Bob Wonneberger in

2002. These are more special to

me than those “historic” events.

MW: Recall your most memo-rable role or performance.

STU GOLDSTONE: Two monthsafter I joined the chorus, I was

cast as Dorothy in our all-male

production of The Wizard of Oz .I had been pretty quiet up until

that point, so when the cast was

announced, I think a lot of cho-

rus members were like, “Who?”

JOHN KNAPP (55, 2 YEARS,

BASS): Singing the opening soloin “Bare Necessities” backed bya line of bears. It was my sec-

ond concert with GMCW.

JOSH WILLETT: The Pride 2015concert. In March 2015, myolder brother unexpectedly

passed away. He loved music,

and loved to rap. As a way to

honor him, I decided to audi-

tion for a rap solo to “Glory”

by Common and John Legend.

Before every performance, Iwould think about my brother

and perform the song as if hewere the one performing.

CLIFF GILBERT (56, 8 YEARS,BARITONE): When ChristopherPeterson was doing a spot-on

imitation of Judy Garland anddid some on stage improvisa-

tion as he was losing his voice.

He was so accurate, it was if I

had a chance to perform “Get

Happy” with Judy.

D’ARCEE NEAL: Playing the

role of Ursula, the Sea Witchin our “When You Wish” con-

cert. When it was announced,

I disregarded even audition-

ing because the role called for

drag makeup, a giant dress,

heels. And I thought with my

wheelchair and my disability I

wouldn’t be able to do it. But Itried out and when I won the

role, it really exposed me to a

different side of performance

that I’ll never forget.

MATT HOLLAND: For me, it was

probably when I sang “If YouWere Gay” from Avenue Q at

the Kennedy Center a few years

ago. There I am, in my big solo

debut at the Kennedy Center,

with one hand inside a puppet,

and the other making jerk-off

motions with its puppet hand.That’s high-class entertainment

right there, folks!

JERRY BLACKMON: Grease. I’venever experienced a show as

chaotic as that one. Injuries,

ambulances called, seat of thepants management. It wastotally thrilling. Thing of the

past now. I’ve helped to profes-

sionalize the management side

of productions.

JAMI RODGERS: My first con-cert was the 2013 holiday show.My mother had just passed

away and Christmas was her

favorite holiday. I invited my

father, his two sisters, and my

sister and her husband. As we

fanned out into the Lincoln

Theatre’s aisles to sing “OCome All Ye Faithful” while

holding candles, I felt her pres-ence and imagined how proud

she must be that I was affirming

who I was and doing something

I love in making music.

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON: Our recent Holiday show

“ReWrapped.” I didn’t sing

with the full chorus, but I had five dance numbers. I was

dressed as “Rudolph” in high

heels, kissed a guy in another

number, and in just my boxers

for the opening. My mom wasin the second row for one of

those shows. Just eight weeks

prior, we weren’t speaking due

to differences with my sexual-

ity. Having her there meant

everything.

JIM GRUSCHUS: Charlie Brown. Metro Weekly wrote a great

review.

DARRYL WALLER (54, 1 YEAR,TENOR 1): Being from a conser-

vative area, I remember duringthe Spring concert, “When You

Wish,” the duet between two

members and they were to kiss

at the end of the selection. I

thought, “This is the place for

me.” It gave me permission to

be who I really am.

PAUL NEGRON: I was honoredto be part of our cabaret show

this year, “The S* Show.”

I’m singing “That’s Life,”

(L-R) Rob Finn - Bass, Walker Green - Tenor 2,W. Eric Balthrop - Bass Upper and Ralph Alston - Baritone


22/56


which epitomizes some of the

struggles and ups and downsI’ve gone through in my life. I

endured a rather rocky coming

out process that involved get-ting kicked out of my fraternity

for being gay. Getting to tell my

story and then sing this song

in front of my parents at theKennedy Center was a dream.

ROB FINN (39, 2 YEARS, BASS): Singing “True Colors” to an

audience of hundreds of senior

citizens, mostly women, at a

huge senior center in Havana,

Cuba, last summer was anexperience I will cherish for the

rest of my life. The love com-ing from that crowd, knowing

we are Americans, knowing

we are gay, was overwhelm-

ing. They remembered a time

before the blockade. They sangand danced for and with us, too.

Unforgettable.

MW: The Gay Men’s Chorus has performed with some huge guest

stars. Do you have a backstage

anecdote to share?

TOM BOEKE (56, 10 YEARS,TENOR 1): I remember singingat the Kennedy Center for Jerry

Herman, and during rehearsal,

we were lined up behind theamazing Broadway talent in

front of us. When it came time

for us to start singing at theend of the number, the wall of

sound coming at them made all

of them turn around and just

look at us in amazement. We

could tell they were all think-

ing “WOW!” That was pretty

special.

MARIO SENGCO (44, 3 YEARS,TENOR 1): Singing with Laura

Benanti was a gift. Not only isshe a great talent, what made

it special was her personal

connection to the chorus. Her[late] uncle, Bob Wonneberger,

was a founding member. From

the moment she stepped out to

greet us, we knew how she felt

about GMCW — there was an

immediate connection with her.

It also made [artistic director]

Jeff Buhrman’s departure evenmore poignant for me. It was

one of the best performances.

THEA KANO: When I told LauraBenanti that I had seen her 6

times front row center in Gypsy

on Broadway — I could read

her thought bubble as “great,another stalker.”

KIRK SOBELL (33, 2 YEARS,BARITONE): Laura Benanti. Shewas so warm, high-spirited, and

supportive of the chorus. She

wasn’t just a guest star, she was

family. Plus, she made a vagina

joke on stage at the Kennedy

Center. Pretty badass, if youask me.

ROMM GATONGAY (39, 2 YEARS,

BASS): Maiya Sykes, who wasa contestant on The Voice and

is now a powerhouse singer

with Postmodern Jukebox. Shesang John Legend’s portion of

“Glory” while I rapped a verse.

She was so gracious and friend-

ly. At the end of our last perfor-

mance, she grabbed my hand

and encouraged me to take a

bow. That is just one example

of the kind of encouragementthat I get from this wonderful

organization.

CHARLES BUTLER: Seventhanniversary concert at the

Kennedy Center. Maureen

Forrester, a Canadian opera

singer, was our guest soloist.She was standing in the hall-

way, and I commented on her

dress. Her response was “I wassewn into this costume, I can’t

sit down or it would split wide

open.” She was regal and funny

and charming and put everyone

at ease.

DAN KAUFMAN: When werehearsed with Barbara Cook,

we were told in no uncertain

terms that we were to clear the

hall after our numbers with herso that she could rehearse with

her pianist. We were just about

to leave the stage when we sawher whisper to Jeff, our direc-

tor at the time. He then said

that, if we wanted to, we could

sit quietly in the audience while

she rehearsed. We wanted to —

and did!

CHRISTOPHER GRIEDER: Aninstrumentalist who traveled

with Ellen Greene had just

(L-R) Yoshi Nishio - Bass 2, Robert T. Boaz - Baritone, John Knapp - Bass 2 and Brett Kessler - Baritone


23/56

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 5, 2016 23

come backstage after a truly

horrendous sound check beforeour show with her. He said, and

I quote, “Does anyone have a

gun?” Ellen is famous for beingdifficult and, boy, did she show

that on stage for the sound

check. I don’t think anyone

who performed with her backthen would deny the level of

insanity.

RUSS CAPPS (50, 17 YEARS,BASS): Well, Ellen Greene wasa complete trainwreck and

quite possibly certifiably insane,

but you didn’t hear thatfrom me.

MW: Talk about why the Gay Men’s Chorus is so relevant to

our LGBT culture.

BRIAN DAY: We are able toreach audiences who otherwise

may not have had much inter-

action with the LGBT commu-

nity. We sing everywhere, from

homeless shelters and public

libraries to retirement com-

munities. The outreach we doto help educate others on LGBT

issues is tremendous. Not to

mention our GenOUT Chorus,made up entirely of high

school-aged children. I love that

about GMCW.

ROBERT AGNELLO (46, 14 YEARS, BARITONE): The fightisn’t over. We have marriageand adoption, but no laws

against discrimination in

employment, housing, com-

merce. Our voice still needs to

be heard not only for us, but

for civil rights, women’s rights,

disabled rights, workers’ rights.

With every concert we makethe weak stronger, the hard

softer, and the stranger ourfriend.

DON GRIESHEIMER: Thoughprogress can be seen through-

out the United States, thereare still those who live in areas

where to be visible is to risk life

and limb. It’s those residents

and their neighbors that we

need to show our love through

song.

ROBERT BOAZ (45, 19 YEARS,BARITONE): We hear aboutLGBT discrimination every day.

Maybe not always here in D.C.,

although hate crimes continueto be committed on our broth-

ers and sisters here. In other

parts of the U.S. and in othercountries, LGBT people are

still experiencing discrimina-

tion and hate. GMCW will be

relevant until those things stop.

Even then, there will always be

a reason to sing.

JERRY BLACKMON: GMCWreaches people through music,

which is one of the most pow-

erful, resonant and deepestways to move a person. The

songs the chorus sings impact

people at a guttural level. Wespeak to souls and move the

spirit. There aren’t many other

groups quite so influential.

SAM LEE (32, 2 YEARS, BASS): We sing for those whose voice

has been silenced. The voices

we lost to suicide and violenceagainst them. No amount of

social progress will bring back

that silenced voice, so it’s our

mission to make sure they areheard. That’s why “Make Them

Hear You” is our anthem.

TOM BOEKE: There are still somany people that need to hear

our strong and proud voice

for equality. You can see oureffect in the faces of the young

GenOUT singers who see a

brighter future for themselves.

You can see it in the faces of

fans at a Nats Game after the

National Anthem, who likely

have never been to one of our

concerts, but always remark“That was amazing” as we walk

off the field.

CHRISTOPHER GRIEDER: It isan affinity group that presents

the gay experience to people

who wouldn’t otherwise knowof it. It brings awareness of gay

people to communities which

don’t have a gay community. It

reinforces to the gay commu-

nity that we do things worthy of

pride, worthy of acknowledge-

(L-R) Lucas Regnér - Tenor 2, Jim Williams - Tenor 1, Romm Gatongay - Bass and Shawn Morris - Baritone 2


24/56


ment, and supportive of morethan just gay people. It has a

place even if the world fully

integrates.

DAN KAUFMAN: We still havestories to tell, we still have

fights to fight. I can’t tell youhow many guys have used their

participation in the chorus as a

catalyst and conduit for coming

out to their families. Political

gains are one thing, and they’re

awesome. But we will always be

coming out, always be needing totell our stories, always growing.

SHAWN MORRIS (40, 1 YEAR,

BARITONE): Not only is it superimportant to the community we

serve, but also to the gay men

that need it. There are men in

the chorus that will tell youthat in one way or another the

chorus saved their life, or at

the very least, changed it. I’m

one of those. The chorus has

been a real life changer for me,

and most probably a life saver

as well.

ROB FINN: The story of ourcommunity’s progress is still

being written. Battles are still

being fought. It would be tragic

to become complacent now,

and even more tragic to forgetour history. So many struggled

and sacrificed so much to

achieve this tremendous prog-

ress. We owe it to them to keep

telling their stories and to make

sure that nobody forgets where

we’ve come from.

THEA KANO: We have madetremendous progress, but there

are still so many people who

need and want to hear us. Each

time we go beyond the Beltwaywe are reminded of that. Until

all minds are open to equalityfor all, our work will not be

done.

JJ VERA (25, 2 YEARS, TENOR2): To say that there has beentremendous progress is an

understatement, but at the same

time, to say the work is done ishardly true. There are millions

of people that need to hear our

message, and we’re getting tothem one by one. Our audience

is slowly growing, but to touch

the soul of even one person has

always been the goal.

LUCAS REGNER: I daresay thata majority of people in the cho-rus, and people who see our

shows, weren’t born and raised

in D.C. So the 23-year-old grad

who just moved to D.C. from

Alabama might find messages

of love and acceptance in our

show that the governor failedto communicate to him back

home. We’re here for him.

JAMI RODGERS: As long asthere is bias, hatred, and

inequality, we will continue

the push to change hearts and

minds through our music.For every divisive law that is

passed, child that is bullied, or

demeaning joke that is told, we

will raise our voices in song to

counteract hatred. In the end,

we could all use a little more

love in the world.

KEN WOODHOUSE (35, 2 YEARS,TENOR 2): As Thea alwaystells us before a performance,

“Never miss an opportunity to

make an impact. Someone in

our audience needs to hear youtoday.”

JIM GRUSCHUS: We’re ambas-sadors of gay fabulousness.

Society needs us.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of

Washington’s 35th AnniversaryConcert, featuring guests Gallim

Dance and the New York City

Master Chorale, is Sunday,

May 8 at 8 p.m. at the Kennedy

Center Concert Hall. Tickets are$25 to $81. Call 202-467-4600 or

visit kennedy-center.org. l

(L-R) Jay Michal - Tenor 2, Praddy Banerjee - Tenor 2, Todd Paul - Bass and Matt Holland - Tenor 1


25/56



26/56


MAY 5 - 12, 2016Compiled by Doug Rule

D E A N A L E X A N D E R

gay Freddie Mercury, by two noted gay choreogra-

phers — Liang and Trey McIntyre.

“I’m really happy and humbled to be a part of thesame program as Trey, and I have a lot of respect for

his work,” Liang says. “My piece is not as pyrotech-nic. It’s a more intimate look at dance.” Liang’s work

includes a few of Bowie’s songs threaded together byan original composition from Gabriel Gaffney Smith

featuring electric violin and electric cello, performed

live by Machiko Ozawa.McIntyre’s Mercury Half-Life is “epic, operatic

in scale,” says its choreographer. “It’s an incredibly

athletic, very high-energy piece.” This will be the firstperformance of the ballet since McIntyre shut downhis celebrated dance company a few years ago.

“It is some of the most exacting choreography I’veever made,” he says. It’s also the first of his works to

incorporate tap dancing, which is “the only reason I

went to a ballet class in the first place.... There’s beenthis tap that’s been wanting to get out of me my entire

life and it finally had a place to exist.” Mercury Half-Life was inspired by contrasts,

including the fact that Queen’s songs are “rockanthems that can move sports arenas” — and yet

Mercury was gay and flamboyant. “Those two things,

especially in the time period, didn’t seem congruentto me,” McIntyre says. The title is inspired by the

fact that Mercury’s life was cut short from AIDS-related complications. “It’s particularly poignant

with Freddie Mercury, how that music still resonatestoday.” And yet, he adds, “There could have been so

much more.” – Doug Rule

Bowie & Queen opens Thursday, May 5, at 7:30 p.m.,

and is performed this weekend and next at the KennedyCenter Eisenhower Theater. Tickets are $32.25 to $130.

Call 202-467-4600 or visit washingtonballet.org.

winning powerhouse. Friday, May 6,at 8 p.m. GW Lisner, The GeorgeWashington University, 730 21st St.NW. Tickets are $35 to $65. Call 202-994-6851 or visit lisner.org.

CITYDANCE’S DREAMSCAPECityDance presents its annual galaperformance co-produced with RastaThomas, in which Thomas and danc-ers with the CityDance Conservatoryand students from its Dream pro-gram appear alongside guest art-ists: Matthew Golding of the RoyalBallet, Anna Tsygankova of the DutchNational Ballet, Pete Walker of AspenSanta Fe Ballet, Anna Gerberich of the

Joffrey Ballet, Cartier Williams DanceTheatre, Gallim Dance and more.Saturday, May 7, at 8 p.m. LincolnTheatre, 1215 U St. NW. Tickets are$25 to $38. Call 202-328-6000 or visitcitydance.net.

JANINE BRITOTouted as a rising star on the SanFrancisco scene, this lesbian comicoffers “a sarcastic, snarky smart bombof comedy funk straight from the ‘80s.”Thursday, May 12, at 9 p.m., Friday,May 13, at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., andSaturday, May 14, at 7 p.m. DrafthouseComedy, 1100 13th St. NW. Tickets are$25. Call 202-750-6411 or visit draft-

housecomedy.com.

THE BODY OF AN AMERICANTheater J presents the regional pre-miere of Dan O’Brien’s breathtak-ingly provocative drama, based on atrue story, about the friendship thatdevelops between a playwright and aphotographer and traverses Rwanda, Afghanistan and the Canadian Arctic.Jose Carrasquillo directs a productionfeaturing Eric Hissom and ThomasKeegan. Pride Night is Thursday,May 12, at 7:30 p.m. Runs to May22. The Aaron and Cecile GoldmanTheater, Washington, D.C.’s JewishCommunity Center, 1529 16th St. NW.Call 202-777-3210 or visit theaterj.org.

SPOTLIGHTAMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRAWITH ERIK ALTEMUS,NOVA PEYTONLocal musical theater perform-ers Nicholas Rodriguez and HayleyTravers are guests for “Make SomeoneHappy,” a concert featuring showtunes and pop songs from the 1960s.Mark Frazier closes out the inaugu-ral season of this local orchestra withheadliners Erik Altemus, best knownfor playing Lewis in the recent reviv-al of Pippin on Broadway, and NovaPeyton, the local Helen Hayes Award-

DancingQueenThe Washington Balletpresents works inspiredby Freddie Mercury andDavid Bowie

WHEN YOU HEAR THIS MUSIC,” CHOREOGRAPHEREdwaard Liang says, “you start tapping your pen, you start

patting your leg, you start swaying a little bit.”The power of David Bowie’s music to inspire movement is reflected

in a new ballet, which Liang debuted last fall at the Ballet Met inColumbus, Oh. “The storyline is really about what the song ‘Dancing in

the Streets’ is saying,” Liang says. “About how infectious dance is, and just different scenarios of dancing in the streets.”

Initially proposed by Septime Webre, Washington Ballet’s outgoing

artistic director, Liang’s work will be performed by the company thisweekend and next at the Kennedy Center. Dancing In The Streets is

part of a program celebrating the bisexual Bowie as well as the all-out


27/56



28/56

28

story inspired by the real-life discov-ery of Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter by folklorist John Lomax. SandraHolloway directs this MetroStageproduction featuring Roz White as Alberta “Pearl” Johnson and TeresaCastracane as Susannah Mullally. ToMay 29. MetroStage, 1201 North RoyalSt., Alexandria. Tickets are $55. Call800-494-8497 or visit metrostage.org.

BROUHAHA

Local theater company HappenstanceTheater presents another run of itsdevised clown-esque piece focusedon an ensemble of eccentrics on theprecipice at the end of the world.Happenstance co-founders and mar-ried team Sabrina Mandell and MarkJaster direct and perform among thecast. ”What we actually do, nobodyis doing...and it’s hard to describe,”Mandell told Metro Weekly two yearsago. Each devised theater show is builtfrom scratch by the entire ensemble,working as a collective from scriptstart to finished performance. OpensThursday, May 5, at 8 p.m. To May 22.Baltimore Theatre Project, 45 West

Preston St. Baltimore. Tickets are $22.Call 410-752-8558 or visit happen-stancetheater.com.

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Virginia’s fledgling theater companyCreative Cauldron presents a produc-tion of Tony Kushner and JeanineTesori’s coming-of-age musical set inracially and politically charged 1960sLouisiana. Now in previews. OpeningNight is Saturday, May 7, at 8 p.m. ToMay 29. ArtSpace Falls Church, 410South Maple Ave. in Falls Church.Tickets are $26, or $50 for openingnight. Call 703-436-9948 or visit cre-ativecauldron.org.

CHRONICLE OFA DEATH FORETOLDGabriel Garcia Marquez’s novella isthe source for another stage adapta-tion, though this time as a straightplay, unlike the 1995 Tony-nominatedmusical. Jose Zayas directs GALATheatre’s production of the tale abouta murderous mission of revenge by a band of brothers in Colombia, adapt-ed by Jorge Triana and performed inSpanish with English surtitles. Closesthis Sunday, May 8. GALA Theatreat Tivoli Square, 3333 14th St. NW.Tickets are $20 to $42. Call 202-234-7174 or visit galatheatre.org.

DETROIT ‘67Center Stage offers a production ofDominique Morisseau’s sharp-eyeddrama about racial and generationaldifferences during the riots of theMotown era. Kamilah Forbes directsthis co-production with DetroitPublic Theatre and offered at TowsonUniversity, while Center Stage reno- vates its downtown Baltimore venue.Closes this Sunday, May 8. Mainstageat Towson University’s Center for the Arts, 1 Fine Arts Dr., Towson, Md.Tickets are $10 to $59. Call 410-986-4000 or visit centerstage.org.


THE CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY WITHRENEE FLEMING, NORM LEWISScott Tucker helps the full 190-member-strong Choral Arts Society ofWashington celebrate the Americanmusical — specifically the outputof Rodgers and Hammerstein, with“Some Enchanted Evening.” ReneeFleming, American opera superstardubbed “the people’s diva,” and NormLewis, the Tony-nominated Broadway baritone ( The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess )

join to sing through the hits. Sunday,May 15, at 8 p.m. Kennedy CenterConcert Hall. Tickets are $25 to $94.Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

FILM

HOLLYWOOD ON TRIALThis season’s “Seeing Red Film Series” atthe Hill Center, with hosts New Yorkerstaff writer Margaret Talbot and moviecritic Nell Minow, continues with 1947’s Body and Soul, a classic parable of temp-tation, corruption and redemption set inthe gritty world of boxing and inspired by the real-life story of fighter BarneyRoss. Left-wing actor John Garfield starsalong with the soon-to-be blacklisted Anne Revere, who plays Ross’ mother.This is the rare pre-1960s film treat-ing an African-American character,played by Canada Lee, with dignity andrespect. The film is also noted for itsnoir cinematography by James WongHowe and Oscar-nominated screenplay by Abraham Polonsky. Sunday, May 8,at 4 p.m. Hill Center, Old Navy Hospital,921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Free. Call 202-549-4172 or visit HillCenterDC.org.

THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITYMatthew Brown directs Dev Patelstarring as the real-life SrinivasaRamanjuan, a poor Indian math-ematician who pioneered theories atCambridge University during WorldWar I. Jeremy Irons, Stephen Fry,Jeremy Northam and Toby Jones alsostar in this British biopic based onRobert Kanigel’s 1991 book of the samename. Opens Friday, May 6. Area the-aters. Visit fandango.com.

STAGE

110 IN THE SHADEMarcia Milgrom Dodge directs and

choreographs a new production ofthis old-fashioned musical, set dur-ing a sweltering Texas summer in themid-1950s and featuring a lively scorefrom the creators of The Fantasticks. The focus is on a self-proclaimed rain-maker who promises to reverse for-tunes in the drought-stricken town,to say nothing of its leading spinster,played by Tracy Lynn Olivera. To May14. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW.Tickets are $28 to $69. Call 800-982-2787 or visit fordstheatre.org.

BLACK PEARL SINGS!Over 20 American folk and spiritu-al songs factor into Frank Higgins’


29/56


30/56

30

Trinidad Theatre, 1358 Florida Ave.NE. Tickets are $20 to $25. Call 202-733-6321 or visit pointlesstheatre.com.

JOURNEY TO THE WESTConstellation Theatre Company’s

Allison Arkell Stockman directs thefanciful global tale adapted by MaryZimmerman from an ancient Chinesenovel about a Buddhist monk whotravels in search of sacred scriptures,meeting a monkey, a pig, a river mon-ster and a monk along the way. TomTeasley returns to Constellation toprovide his percussive-based worldmusic style of live accompaniment.To May 22. Source Theatre, 1835 14thSt. NW. Tickets are $35 to $45. Call202-204-7741 or visit constellation-theatre.org.

EMPEROR’S NIGHTINGALE Adventure Theatre MTC presents are-imagining of the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale about an aim-less prince who ultimately becomesking. Natsu Onoda Power directs

Damon Chua’s adaptation. To May30. Adventure Theatre MTC, 7300MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Ticketsare $19. Call 301-634-2270 or visitadventuretheatre-mtc.org.

HUGO BALL: A SUPERSPECTACULAR DADA ADVENTURE A one-of-a-kind performance loosely based on the life of one of the found-ers of the Dada anti-art movement.Pointless Theatre Company’s latestexperimental, multi-disciplinary pup-pet theater piece explores art, loveand faith — and contains “puppetsexuality, profanity and violence.” ToMay 14. Logan Fringe Arts Space’s

PHAETONTaffety Punk Theater Company,whose tagline is “We Will Rock You”and styles itself as a theatrical rock band, presents Michael Milligan’sretelling of the classic Greek myth,

exploring the failure of society to liveup to the promise of its visionariesand the repercussions of that failure.Marcus Kyd directs a large cast featur-ing company members Dan Crane andHelen Hayes Award-winner KimberlyGilbert and James Flanagan in thetitle role, with choreography by KellyKing. Opens Saturday, May 7, at 7:30p.m. To May 28. Capitol Hill ArtsWorkshop, 545 7th St. SE. Tickets are$15. Call 202-547-6839 or visit taf-fetypunk.com.


THE ELECTRIC BABYKnown for ambitious stagings ofeccentric or out-there tales, RorschachTheatre presents Stefanie Zadravec’slyrical play exploring the theme of losswith humor and folklore. Reviewinganother production, a critic for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was both“charmed” and “enthralled” by “itsdelicacy and its strength.” Randy Bakerdirects a production featuring William Aitken, J. Shawn Durham, Jennifer

J. Hopkins, Cam Magee, KiernanMcGowan and Sarah Taurchini. ToMay 15. Atlas Performing Arts Center,1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $15 to $30.Call 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.

THE MYSTERY OF LOVE & SEXSignature Theatre offers this playfrom Bathsheba Doran, a writer bet-ter known for his work on premiumcable, from HBO’s Boardwalk Empireand Showtime’s Masters of Sex. The Mystery of Love & Sex is an unex-pected story of an evolving friendship between a man and a woman, whoaren’t quite straight and aren’t quitein love with each other — but they

consider romance anyway, for the sakeof the parents. Closes Sunday, May8. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org.

TRANSMISSION A three-year-old D.C.-based play-writing collective, and one of this year’s Helen Hayes Award winnersas Outstanding Emerging TheatreCompany, the Welders offers its latestproduction, an immersive, participa-tory “performance play” written andperformed by Gwydion Suilebhan.Devised for a small audience of 20people, all seated in 1930s armchairs

clustered around period radios,Transmission focuses on the viral evo-lution of culture, from the radio age tothe present day. Touted as part-jazz,part-science lecture and part-”ritualinvocation”, the show investigateswhat it means to be inundated in ouralways-connected, always-sharingculture, which demands skepticismand inquisitiveness. To May 28. AtlasPerforming Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE.Tickets are $15 to $30. Call 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S LONGLOST FIRST PLAY (ABRIDGED)The Reduced Shakespeare Company

returns to Folger Theatre with thisworld premiere written and directed by two of the world’s most famousShakespearean comedians, AustinTichenor and Reed Martin, who throwthemselves into a funny, punny physicalfrenzy. Joining Tichenor and Martin toperform the work as a comedic trio isTeddy Spencer. Closes Sunday, May 8.Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE.Tickets are $35 to $75. Call 202-544-7077 or visit folger.edu.

HIPSTER PORNFor those of you who miss the good old days where we enjoyed our porn in theatrical settings —albeit ones plagued by perpetually masturbating strangers wearing beige raincoats — Dan Savagepresents the 2016 Hump! Film festival ( ). A sex-positive, rough-around-the-edges assort-ment of homemade pornongraphy — gay, straight, fetish, you name it — Hump! is less erotic thanit is avant garde. Think of watching people pound, probe, lick and stick each other, but to hippermusic. While it’s definitely not soft-core, it’s also far from erotic. And yet it seems less designed totitillate and more intent on breaking down sexual barriers. The 22 short films on display are some-times funny, frequently bizarre, occasionally clever, with the quality varying considerably. Thereare a few standouts buried deep within the festival. Film Bonoir, riffing off a famous skit in the’70s classic The Groove Tube, uses semi-erect penises, googly button eyes, and adorable little felthats to uproarious effect, even though the filmmaker clearly runs out of ideas before the — ahem— climax. Then there’s Let’s Try to Fuck, a dead-on parody of 1950s educational films. It’s balls-out

hilarious. Level Up is a clumsy parody of video games that salvages itself with a full-blown orgy,emphasis on the word blown. The strangest film of the bunch is The Collector, in which a veryunusual man shows off his even more unusual assortment of semen-filled jars culled from varioussources. Whether or not he’s seeking mail-in donations is never quite made clear. Hump! playsFriday, May 6th and Saturday, May 7th at the Black Cat Main Stage, 1811 14th St. NW at 7 and 9:30p.m. each night. Tickets are $20. Visit blackcatdc.com or call 202-667-4490. For more info on thefestival, visit humpfilmfest.com. — Randy Shulman


31/56

MUSIC

ARTURO SANDOVAL A protégé of the legendary jazz mas-ter Dizzy Gillespie, the Cuban-bornSandoval was granted political asy-lum in the U.S. decades ago. He’srevered as one of the world’s best jazz trumpeters and flugelhorn play-ers, as well as a renowned pianist andcomposer. Thursday, May 5, through

Sunday, May 8, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW.Tickets are $50 to $55, plus $10 mini-mum purchase. Call 202-337-4141 or visit bluesalley.com.

CAPITAL CITY SYMPHONY“Great Masters, Young Stars” fea-tures Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F Major and Brahms’ Violin Concertoin D Major, the latter performed withLara Boschkor, the winner of theJohansen International Competition.Sunday, May 8, at 5 p.m. AtlasPerforming Arts Center, 1333 H St.NE. Tickets are $15 to $25. Call 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.

CANTATE CHAMBER SINGERSLive at 10th and G presents the thirdconcert of the season by this local

ensemble. “Patterns and Lines” is amultimedia composition celebratingthe work of world-traveling photog-raphers Judy and Wayne Guenther,with poetry by Roberto Ifill and music by Andrew Earle Simpson. Also on the bill are works by Samuel Barber andJohn Corigliano. Saturday, May 14,at 7:30 p.m. Live! at 10th and G, 945G ST. NW. Tickets are $35, or $45 forpremium seating. Call 202-628-4317or visit facebook.com/liveat10thandg.

CHOPTEETHThe Washington Post has called this12-piece band “a storming pow-erhouse of big-band African funk...smart, tight and relentlessly driv-ing.” Chopteeth has already won anumber of Washington Area Music Association Awards — otherwiseknown as Wammies, including the Artist of the Year accolade in 2008. And now the Afrobeat-driven groupreturns to Strathmore’s cabaret venue.Saturday, May 14, at 8 p.m. Amp byStrathmore, 11810 Grand Park Ave.North Bethesda. Tickets are $20 to$30. Call 301-581-5100 or visit amp- bystrathmore.com.

GAY MEN’S CHORUS OFWASHINGTON WITHGALLIM DANCEEverybody’s favorite local chorusgroup celebrates 35 years of singingfor equality with a retrospective con-cert at the Kennedy Center. The firsthalf of the evening offers Carl Orff’sspringtime masterpiece Carmina Burana. Thea Kano will lead thechorus and additional singers fromthe New York City Master Choralein a performance of the work, andacclaimed Brooklyn-based companyGallim Dance will make its KennedyCenter debut with a new work as part


of the program. Sunday, May 8, at 8p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall.Tickets are $25 to $81. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

ITZHAK PERLMAN ANDEMANUEL AXWashington Performing Arts presentsa concert by two celebrated states-men of classical music, touring in sup-port of a new Deutsche Grammophonrecording of Faure and Strauss violin

sonatas. This is the rescheduled datefor the concert, originally scheduledin September but postponed due toPerlman’s emergency gallbladdersurgery. Tuesday, May 10, at 7 p.m.Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Ticketsare $55 to $135. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

THE RE-LIVES: A TRIBUTETO LUTHER VANDROSSWilliam “Smooth” Wardlaw, said to be the spitting image and sound of theman known as “The Velvet Voice,” willlead this tribute performance to thelate R&B superstar. Friday, May 6, at 8p.m. Amp by Strathmore, 11810 Grand

Park Ave. North Bethesda. Tickets are$25 to $35. Call 301-581-5100 or visitampbystrathmore.com.

X AMBASSADORS After opening for Muse at the VerizonCenter in January, the upstate New York quartet returns to town to offeranother round of its emotional, blue-sy, syncopated chants (“Renegades,”“Hang On,” “Nervous”) that you’ve nodoubt heard in commercials. Maybe you’ve seen images of the band’s leadsinger Sam Harris, whose as easy onthe eyes — bald and bearded — ashis voice is on the ears. Los Angeles- based dance-pop provocateur Robert

DeLong opens along with SaraHartman. Thursday, May 12, at 7 p.m.Echostage, 2135 Queens Chapel Rd.NE. Tickets are $35. Call 202-503-2330or visit echostage.com.

COMEDY

JULIA SCOTTI ANDKEVIN MEANEY A night of “Out-standing comedy”featuring transgender comedian JuliaScotti and Kevin Meaney, a stand-up comic and actor from both TVand Broadway — rescheduled after

Snowzilla postponed the debut at Amp by Strathmore. Friday, May 13, at 8p.m. Amp by Strathmore, 11810 GrandPark Ave. North Bethesda. Tickets are$20 to $30. Call 301-581-5100 or visitampbystrathmore.com.

WILL DURST, BOB NELSON,MAUREEN LANGANWolf Trap closes out the winter sea-son in the

Metro Weekly - 05-05-16 - 22nd Anniversary GMCW 35th

Documents

Transcript of Metro Weekly - 05-05-16 - 22nd Anniversary GMCW 35th