Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: Nov. 18

Parties, concerts, exhibits and more through Thanksgiving day

Published

13 years ago

November 17, 2011

‘Bougie Party of Two You Can Now Be Seated’ is one of the paintings feauted in Anthony Dortch's ‘Privileged Series’ on display at Touchstone Gallery. (Image courtesy Touchstone)

Today (Friday)

Out singer/songwriter Catie Curtis plays Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd.) in Vienna, Va., tonight at 8 p.m. with special guest Meg Hutchinson. Tickets are $22 and can be purchased online at wolftrap.org.

Green Lantern’s (1335 Green Court, N.W.) Fahrenheit presents “Leche” tonight from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. featuring DJ Michael Brandon. There’s a $7 cover after 10 p.m. and free rail vodka upstairs from 10 to 11 p.m.

Out comedian Jason Stuart plays Riot Act Theater tonight at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at riotactcomedy.com. He will also perform Saturday night at the same times.

The Lambda Divers are having their monthly happy hour tonight at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) from 5 to 7 p.m. Also tonight is the Ski Bums Blizzard Bash, a party for LGBT skiers and snowboarders starting at 7 p.m.

Gay District is having its third annual Thanksgiving potluck dinner tonight from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal (1830 Connecticut Ave., N.W.). Attendees can coordinate with Justin to find out What may be needed, by emailing him directly at[email protected] or Facebook message. For more information, visit gaydistrict.org.

Gay/Bash!, a “queer night of rock and pop gems” with DJ Joshua is tonight at the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.). This is a free event and doors open at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 19

Kate Clinton brings her tour “The Glee Party” to the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave.) in Alexandria tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased online atticketmaster.com.

Sulu D.C. is celebrating its second year of presenting Asian-American and Pacific Islander performance artists with a special fundraiser and awards show tonight at Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd.) in Arlington, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. hosted by Regie Cabico. Tickets are $20 and are available online at tickets.artisphere.com. For more information on Sulu, visit suludc.com.

Dulles Triangles is celebrating its 20th anniversary “Gayla” tonight at the Marriott Dulles (45020 Aviation Dr.) in Dulles from 7 p.m. to midnight featuring music by Crys Matthews and more. Tickets are $65 and are available online at dullestriangles.com.

Team D.C. is having a casino night tonight at Buffalo Billiards (1330 19th St., N.W.) from 8 to 11 p.m. There’s a $10 entry fee which gives attendees chips to play poker and blackjack or enter a pool tournament. There will also be prizes and drink specials. For more information, visit teamdc.org.

Green Lantern (1335 Greent Court, N.W.) presents “Black and White Interracial Underwear Party” tonight from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. featuring DJ tONE, a “Best Booty” contest and more.

The Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) has two events going on backstage today. First up is the free event, Hellmouth Happy Hour, featuring an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and drinks specials at 7 p.m. This week’s episode is “Faith, Hope & Trick.” Then DJ lil’e takes over the space for her ‘80s Alt-Pop Dance night, Right Round. Tickets are $7 and doors open at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 20

“Masters of Illusion Live!” will be at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane) in North Bethesda today at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $65 and can be purchased online at strathmore.org.

The Grammy Award-winning group Manhattan Transfer plays the Kennedy Center tonight at 7 p.m. with Jon Hendricks and two collegiate a cappella groups. Tickets range from $20 to $65 and can be purchased online. For more information and to get tickets, visit kennedy-center.org.

Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) has two exhibits on display, one is an all member show and the other is “The Privileged Series” by Anthony Dortch. Both exhibits will be on display through Nov. 27. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit touchstonegallery.com.

Monday, Nov. 21

WEAVE, a support group for LGBT survivors of intimate partner violence/abuse will be meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Lighthouse Center for Healing (5321 First Place, N.E.). For more information and to register, call 202-280-6391.

Busboys & Poets presents “Other People’s Poetry” tonight its Shirlington location (4251 S Campbell Ave.) in Arlington at 8 p.m. hosted by Rebecca Dupas. Admission wristbands are $4 and will be sold all day in the Global Exchange store beginning at 10 a.m. until sold out.

Tuesday, Nov. 22

Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) presents its “Glee” watch party tonight at 8 p.m. on the deck in the pub room.

The Chesapeake Squares are having a mainstream-through-advanced club night tonight at the Waxter Center (1000 Cathedral St.) in Baltimore from 8 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit chesapeakesquares.org.

Wednesday, Nov. 23

The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsboro is hosting a special “Gobble Gobbler”Thanksgiving Eve bash tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with music provided by DJ Christopher Butler and DJXO. There’s no cover and drink specials all night including $5 Long Island Pint Size ReFreshers.

JD Razor ‘n Guido is at Cobalt (1639 R Street, N.W.) tonight accompanied by DJ Sean Morris. Cover is $8; open to 18-and-up with ID. Their set starts at 10 p.m.

The D.C. Gurly Show is putting on a special show tonight with “Black Friday: The Recession Show” at Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) featuring Velvet Kensington, Anna Steasya, Private Tails and more. The event starts at 10 p.m. There will be a $5 cover and all attendees must be 21 or older.

Thursday, Nov. 24

Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) will be opening at 11 a.m. today in time for the football games and every customer can get a free slice of pie. Visit nelliesportsbar.com or NFL.com for the game schedule.

Arts & Entertainment

Win a pair of tickets to Grace Jones & Janelle Monáe @ The Anthem on June 5, 2025!

Published

24 hours ago

April 14, 2025

Staff reports

Enter by filling out the form below or by clicking HERE. Purchase tickets HERE.

Photos

PHOTOS: Cherry ‘Fire’

Detox of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ meets with fans

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2025

Michael Key

Cherry's "Fire" party is held at Betty on Saturday, April 12. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Cherry Weekend main event party was “Fire” at Betty (1235 W Street, N.E.) on Saturday, April 12. Detox of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” met with fans.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Theater

STC’s ‘Vanya’ puts pleasing twist on Chekhov classic

Hugh Bonneville shines in title role

Published

2 days ago

April 13, 2025

Patrick Folliard

Hugh Bonneville and Melanie Field in ‘Uncle Vanya’ at STC. (Photo by DJ Corey Photography)

‘Uncle Vanya’
Through April 20
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Harman Hall
610 F St., N.W.
Shakespearetheatre.org

Shakespeare Theatre Company’s “Uncle Vanya” freshly rendered by director Simon Godwin and starring Hugh Bonneville in the title role, puts a pleasing twist on Chekhov’s tragicomic classic.

As disheveled, disheartened, and overworked Vanya, Bonneville is terrific. Though very different from the actor’s fame making role as Downton Abbey’s Lord Grantham, a proud, fastidiously turned-out aristocrat who presides over a manicured country estate peopled by a large staff, his Vanya is equally compelling

For “Uncle Vanya,” Chekhov imagines a house on a ragged estate in the Russian forest whose inhabitants display varying degrees of discontent brought on by the realization that they’re leading wasted lives. Middle-aged Vanya’s dissatisfaction and disappointment have been tempered by years of hard work. But all of that is about to be challenged.

With his plain and steadfast niece Sonya (Melanie Field), Vanya keeps the place going. And while barely putting aside a kopek for himself, he’s ensured that proceeds have gone to Sonya’s father Alexandre, a querulous academic (Tom Nelis), and his alluring, much younger second wife Yelena (Ito Aghayere) who live in the city.

When called to retire, the self-important professor and his wife economize by joining the family in the country. Overcome by the intense boredom brought on by provincial isolation, they’re not happy. Turns out, life in the sticks isn’t for them.

At the same time, the urban couple’s presence generates quite an effect on the rural household, changing the mood from one of regular work to idleness. What’s more, Vanya and family friend Mikhaíl Ástrov (John Benjamin Hickey), an unusually eco-aware, country doctor, are both bewitched by Yelena.

Meanwhile, young Sonya, who’s long carried an unrequited torch for Ástrov grows increasingly smitten. And while Yelena, who’s bored with her aging husband, expresses teasing tenderness with Vanya, she feels something more serious for Ástrov. It’s a whole lot for one house.

Superbly staged by Simon Godwin, STC’s artistic director, and performed by a topnotch cast, the very human production begins on an unfinished stage cluttered with costume racks and assorted props, all assembled by crew in black and actors in street clothes. We first see them arranging pillows and rugs for an outside scene. Throughout the play, the actors continue to assist with set changes accompanied by an underscore of melancholic cello strings.

With each subsequent scene, the work moves deeper into Chekhov’s late 19th century Russian world from the kitchen to the drawing room thanks in part to scenic designer Robert Brill’s subtle sets and Susan Hilferty and Heather C. Freedman’s period costumes as well as Jen Schriever’s emotive lighting design.

In moments of stillness, the set with its painterly muted tones and spare furnishings is a domestic interior from a moment in time. It’s really something.

Adapted by contemporary Irish playwright Conor McPherson, the work is infused with mordant wit, ribald comedy, and sadness. Like McPherson’s 2006 play “The Seafarer” in which the action unfolds among family, friends and others in a modest house filled with confrontation, laughter, resentment, and sadness. All on brand.

For much of “Uncle Vanya,” McPherson’s script leans into humor, funny slights, the professor’s pretentions, and Vanya’s delicious snarky asides; but after the interval, the play’s stakes become perilously heightened ready to explode with resentment and feelings of wasted potential, particularly frustrations expressed by Vanya and his intelligent but unfulfilled mother (Sharon Lockwood).

When it appears that mismatched couple Alexandre and Yelena are poised to depart, the house is struck with a sense of both relief and gloom.

Not everyone is disturbed. In fact, the family’s old nanny Nana (Nancy Robinette), and Waffles (Craig Wallace), a former landowner and now lodger on the estate, are elated. Both are eager to return to the pre-professor schedule of an early breakfast and midday lunch, and menus featuring simpler fare. They long for the return of the humble Russian noodle.

“Uncle Vanya”melds cynicism and hope. Like life, it’s a grasp at fulfillment.