Arts & Entertainment
Calendar for May 14
Friday, May 14
Bearded Ladies-Motley Bear Crüe one-year anniversary. See the Motley staff and your friends in campy bearded drag. $100 cash prize to the campiest bearded lady. The party is from 5 p.m.-3 a.m. Motley Bar is located above EFN Lounge at 1318 9th St., N.W.
Baby Got Back Latino Dance Party at Apex Nightclub, 1415 22nd St., N.W. Doors open at 9 p.m. with music from DJ Michael Brandon. 18 to enter and 21 to drink.
Honeysuckle Hype with Natalie E. Illum: A one-woman queer burlesque performance at Phase 1, 525 8th St. S.E., the performance begins at 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 15
Every Saturday at Phase 1, Pop Rocks from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Music from DJ LS. Phase 1 is located at 525 8th St., S.E.
Burgundy Crescent volunteers today for the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation. To participate, visit burgundycrescent.org.
Celebrate EFN Lounge’s one-year anniversary with resident DJs Shea Van Horn & Matt Bailer with MIXTAPE. MIXTAPE is an alterna-gay-disco-electro-pop-indie dance party for queers, gays, lesbians, trans, queens, kings, boys, girls, birls, goys, whatever. $5 cover, 21+ to enter. EFN Lounge is located at 1318 9th St., N.W.
Join the Latino History Project at the DC Center, 1810 14th St., N.W., from 3-6 p.m. to celebrate the opening of their new office and learn about their mission and goals and how you can get involved in preserving LGBT Latino history in the District. The event will showcase the new office space, feature some LHP exhibits, include a short presentation on how you can volunteer for the project and provide light refreshments. For details visit latinoglbthistory.com
The 135th running of the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, is held at Baltimore’s Pimlico racetrack. Beer returns to the infield this year; $20 buys you all you can drink. O.A.R. and Zack Brown Band perform in the infield. Gates open at 10 a.m.; main race at 6 p.m. Infield tickets $40 at ticketmaster.com.
BARE, dedicated to our men and women in blue at Cobalt, 1639 R St., N.W. In honor of National Police Week (May 8-15), The Ladies of LURe are showing their appreciation to the men and women in blue and raising money for two organizations. This month get ready for a jam packed evening to benefit Gays & Lesbians Opposing Violence and Concerns of Police Survivors. The event is for 21+, doors open at 10 p.m., $5 before midnight, $8 after (admission waived for police officers). GLOV and C.O.P.S. officials will be on-site.
DC Front Runners newcomers Fun Run/Walk. The DC Front Runners will be holding a Fun Run/Walk for newcomers on the National Mall starting at Union Station. Walkers meet at 9:30 a.m. and runners gather at 10 a.m. for a 3, 4 or 6-mile run. Meet up at the plaza directly in front of Union Station. Afterwards, grab a bite to eat and socialize.
Right Round, an ‘80s alt-pop dance party at the Black Cat, 1811 14th St., N.W., with DJ lil’e, $7.
Sunday, May 16
Ruby Slipper Drag Brunch from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Tabaq Bistro’s Red Room, 1336 U St., N.W. Music by DJs Jason Horswill and DJ C-Dubz. Each will have a rotating cast of performers. The May 16 lineup is Destiny B. Childs, Regina Jozet Adams, and Ashlee Jozet Adams. Reservations via opentable.com or call 202-265-0965.
“A Celebration of Life” tea dance event at Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th St., N.W., from 4-8 p.m. Part of the “POZ” event family, a weekly HIV+ Mixer for those living with HIV & those who are supportive. Music from a six-DJ lineup and sponsored in part by POZIAM.com, HOPE DC, DC Young Poz Socials and the DC Center.
The Ushers Theatre Going Group will attend the musical VIOLET, at Kensington Arts Theatre in Kensington, Md. Tickets are $18. There will be a post-performance discussion with the cast moderated by the Ushers’ Joel Markowitz. Dinner follows the discussion. For more information, and to reserve your tickets, call Joel at 703-447-8805 or visit http:/ushers.us
Monday, May 17
Burgundy Crescent kicks up its heels at Remingtons. To participate, visit burgundycrescent.org.
Tuesday, May 18
The DC Center and the Capital Area Vaccine Effort invite you to a presentation on the basics of HIV Vaccine Research. This free lunch presentation takes place on HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, May 18 at 12:30 p.m. at the DC Center, 1810 14th St., N.W. Learn about a new HIV vaccine study that is recruiting gay and bisexual men and transgender women.
She Scenes Ladies Night with music from DJ K-oz at EFN Lounge, 1318 9th St., N.W.
Bet Mishpachah: Shavuot Services from 7-10:30 p.m. at the Washington, D.C., Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St., N.W. An observance of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. The evening will start with a dairy/vegetarian potluck dinner. E-mail [email protected] for details. There will be an evening festival service followed by a study session on a topic to be announced.
Wednesday, May 19
The Tom Davaron Social Bridge Club will meet at 7:30 p.m., at the Dignity Center, 721 8th St., S.E. (across from Marine Barracks) for Social Bridge. No partner needed. Visit lambdabridge.com; click “Social Bridge in Washington, D.C.”
Thursday, May 20
Hunks in Trunks swimsuit fashion show to benefit Equality Maryland featuring gay model Ronnie Kroell, 7:30 p.m. at Red Maple, 930 N. Charles St., Baltimore. Tickets $22 at hunksintrunks.net.
Stonewall Democrats Capital Champions awards reception, Gompers Room, AFL-CIO, 815 16th St., N.W., 6-8 p.m. Frank Kameny and Rep. Tammy Baldwin are among the honorees. General admission tickets $125 at stonewalldemocrats.org.
The DC Center and the Capital Area Vaccine Effort host an HIV Vaccine Awareness Day outreach night. Meet at the DC Center, 1810 14th St., N.W., at 7 p.m. for pizza and a brief presentation on HIV vaccine research. We will then go out into the community to conduct HIV Vaccine Awareness Day outreach at LGBT bars and clubs, finishing up at Town Danceboutique. RSVP to [email protected].
Friday, May 21
The 4th annual Washington Blade summer kickoff party in Rehoboth! Join us to celebrate the arrival of beach season at Blue Moon, 35 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE, 6-8 p.m.
Team DC, the umbrella organization for LGBTQ-friendly sports teams and leagues in the D.C. area, held its annual Night of Champions Awards Gala on Saturday, April 20 at the Hilton National Mall. The organization gave out scholarships to area LGBTQ student athletes as well as awards to the Different Drummers, Kelly Laczko of Duplex Diner, Stacy Smith of the Edmund Burke School, Bryan Frank of Triout, JC Adams of DCG Basketball and the DC Gay Flag Football League.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The 2024 National Cannabis Festival was held at the Fields at RFK Stadium on April 19-20.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Covering the @NatlCannaFest at RFK Stadium for @WashBlade . Stop by the LGBTQ+ booth and pick up a paper if you are here. pic.twitter.com/is7hnsaPns
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) April 20, 2024
Theater
‘Amm(i)gone’ explores family, queerness, and faith
A ‘fully autobiographical’ work from out artist Adil Mansoor
‘Amm(i)gone’
Thorough May 12
Woolly Mammoth Theatre
641 D St., N.W.
$60-$70
Woollymammoth.net
“Fully and utterly autobiographical.” That’s how Adil Mansoor describes “Amm(i)gone,” his one-man work currently playing at Woolly Mammoth Theatre.
Both created and performed by out artist Mansoor, it’s his story about inviting his Pakistani mother to translate Sophocles’s Greek tragedy “Antigone” into Urdu. Throughout the journey, there’s an exploration of family, queerness, and faith,as well as references to teachings from the Quran, and audio conversations with his Muslim mother.
Mansoor, 38, grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and is now based in Pittsburgh where he’s a busy theater maker. He’s also the founding member of Pittsburgh’s Hatch Arts Collective and the former artistic director of Dreams of Hope, an LGBTQ youth arts organization.
WASHINGTON BLADE: What spurred you to create “Amm(i)gone”?
ADIL MANSOOR: I was reading a translation of “Antigone” a few years back and found myself emotionally overwhelmed. A Theban princess buries her brother knowing it will cost her, her own life. It’s about a person for whom all aspirations are in the afterlife. And what does that do to the living when all of your hopes and dreams have to be reserved for the afterlife?
I found grant funding to pay my mom to do the translation. I wanted to engage in learning. I wanted to share theater but especially this ancient tragedy. My mother appreciated the characters were struggling between loving one another and their beliefs.
BLADE: Are you more director than actor?
MANSOOR: I’m primarily a director with an MFA in directing from Carnegie Mellon. I wrote, directed, and performed in this show, and had been working on it for four years. I’ve done different versions including Zoom. Woolly’s is a new production with the same team who’ve been involved since the beginning.
I love solo performance. I’ve produced and now teach solo performance and believe in its power. And I definitely lean toward “performance” and I haven’t “acted” since I was in college. I feel good on stage. I was a tour guide and do a lot of public speaking. I enjoy the attention.
BLADE: Describe your mom.
MANSOOR: My mom is a wonderfully devout Muslim, single mother, social worker who discovered my queerness on Google. And she prays for me.
She and I are similar, the way we look at things, the way we laugh. But different too. And those are among the questions I ask in this show. Our relationship is both beautiful and complicated.
BLADE: So, you weren’t exactly hiding your sexuality?
MANSOOR: In my mid-20s, I took time to talk with friends about our being queer with relation to our careers. My sexuality is essential to the work. As the artistic director at Dreams of Hope, part of the work was to model what it means to be public. If I’m in a room with queer and trans teenagers, part of what I’m doing is modeling queer adulthood. The way they see me in the world is part of what I’m putting out there. And I want that to be expansive and full.
So much of my work involves fundraising and being a face in schools. Being out is about making safe space for queer young folks.
BLADE: Have you encountered much Islamophobia?
MANSOOR: When 9/11 happened, I was a sophomore in high school, so yes. I faced a lot then and now. I’ve been egged on the street in the last four months. I see it in the classroom. It shows up in all sorts of ways.
BLADE: What prompted you to lead your creative life in Pittsburgh?
MANSOOR: I’ve been here for 14 years. I breathe with ease in Pittsburgh. The hills and the valleys and the rust of the city do something to me. It’s beautiful, it’ affordable, and there is support for local artists. There’s a lot of opportunity.
Still, the plan was to move to New York in September of 2020 but that was cancelled. Then the pandemic showed me that I could live in Pittsburgh and still have a nationally viable career.
BLADE: What are you trying to achieve with “Amm(i)gone”?
MANSOOR: What I’m sharing in the show is so very specific but I hear people from other backgrounds say I totally see my mom in that. My partner is Catholic and we share so much in relation to this.
I hope the work is embracing the fullness of queerness and how means so many things. And I hope the show makes audiences want to call their parents or squeeze their partners.
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