Metro Weekly - 08-13-15 - Dear Evan Hansen

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AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Randy Shulman
AUGUST 13, 2015

Volume 22 / Issue 15
ART DIRECTOR
Todd Franson
MANAGING EDITOR
Rhuaridh Marr
SENIOR EDITOR
John Riley
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Doug Rule
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR
Scott G. Brooks
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Sean Bugg, Chris Heller, Connor J. Hogan,
Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield
WEBMASTER
David Uy
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Julian Vankim
SALES & MARKETING

PUBLISHER
Randy Shulman
BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETING
Christopher Cunetto
Cunetto Creative
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
Rivendell Media Co.
212-242-6863
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Dennis Havrilla
PATRON SAINT
Rodgers & Hammerstein
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
dirty sugar photography
NEWS

Discounting Trump
Pride and Prejudice
by John Riley
by John Riley

8
Gay Man Eyeing
Oranges Council Seat

by John Riley
Intro to an Introvert
10
Community Calendar
by Sean Bugg

FEATURES
14
Perfectly Composed
Interview by Doug Rule

16
Letter Perfect
by Doug Rule

19
New Plateau
OUT ON THE TOWN

22

ABBA The Concert
24

Pancakes and Booze Art Show
FILM

28

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
GAMES

30

Rare Replay
GEARS

32

Better Connected?
NIGHTLIFE

35

DIK Bar
by Rhuaridh Marr
by Doug Rule
by Chris Heller
by Rhuaridh Marr
by Rhuaridh Marr
photography by Ward Morrison
SCENE
42
Rock Hard Sundays at
The House Nightclub

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SCENE
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Otter Crossing at
The Green Lantern
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Last Word
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Walker wouldnt change transgender military service ban
South Carolina church drops Boy Scout troop after gay vote
Trump
Discounting Trump
Local activists react to Trumps post-debate shenanigans, reaching
the same conclusion
by John Riley
ONALD TRUMP, FRONTRUNNER FOR THE

Republican presidential nomination, has yet again
grabbed the spotlight from his fellow competitors.
Following last Thursdays debate, Trump disparaged FOX News host Megyn Kelly for asking him what he felt
were unfair questions, ones designed to attack.
You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood
coming out of her wherever, Trump said to CNNs Don Lemon
on Friday regarding Kellys line of questioning that called the
candidate to task for using words like pigs, dogs and slobs
to describe women.
Trump later said he was referring to her nose and ears, not
6
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
to her menstrual cycle, as some have alleged. He then stated

that Kelly should be the one to offer up an apology for Thursday
nights conflict.
I certainly will not apologize for doing good journalism,
Kelly responded on her show. So Ill continue doing my job
without fear or favor.
Remarkably, Trump remains strong in the polls. A recent
Morning Consult poll of self-identified Republicans and GOPleaning independents has him winning 32% of the Republican
primary vote, up 7 points from the groups last poll. However,
many local LGBT pundits and political figures believe Trumps
verbal onslaught is merely a smokescreen meant to distract
LGBTNews
from serious issues.
His attempt at inflammatory remarks might work on reality
shows, but Im beginning to wonder if hes purposely trying to
distract the media, and perhaps voters, from his lack of substance,
says Rea Carey, executive director of the LGBT Task Force. Like
other smart voters in this country who are women, theyre more
interested in candidates policy stances and what theyre going to
do for the country, than their juvenile and anti-woman remarks.
I want to say that its typical sexist bullshit, but I think its
actually typical Trump bullshit, says Tiffany Joslyn, former
president of the Virginia Partisans. When anyone challenges
him, he takes it personally. Hes like, Poor me. Somebodys asking me a hard question. He cant defend his record or explain
himself, because he doesnt have the record. Hes basically like
an actor, putting on a performance.
Carey also supports Kellys line of questioning during the
debate. She was doing her job as a journalist. And, again, I think
he is trying, for some reason, to distract from a lack of concrete
policy ideas that we would expect all candidates to have. Ive
found that on a number of occasions, and on that occasion in
particular, just how out of touch and anti-woman he is. It makes
him sound like a man from another century.
Jessica Pierce, treasurer of the Gertrude Stein Democratic
Club, agrees, calling Kellys questions completely valid, given
the style of the debate and the adversarial nature that moderators are almost obliged to have with candidates.
I dont think she was stepping out of line, or asking him
something he couldnt answer, Pierce says. And his response
was completely characteristic of what we see from him in this
campaign he is an equal opportunist when it comes to offending everybody outside of upper-middle-class straight white
men. So it was not surprising, because Megyn Kelly is a woman.
Pierce called Trumps bleeding comment ridiculous but
also instructive in that he went for a cheap shot. But to Pierce,

the bigger issue may be the reaction Trump got when he tried
to dismiss Kellys questioning during the debate, joking that
lesbian comic Rosie ODonnell was the only one he had called a
pig and a slob.
I think it goes to another element of what is scary about the
GOP candidates, she says. Its not just about them being bad
on race issues, or about issues of the working class, or on LGBT
issues, or womens health issues. Its literally that if you are
anything outside the majority of people who were cheering and
chanting back in that moment, then you are not somebody who
theyre interested in representing.
Other locals said the debate was just a show of Republicans
doubling down on the most hardline of positions, whether on
LGBT rights, womens rights, opposition to exceptions for abortion, or opposition to government in general.
What struck me the most was how completely off the rails
the RNC has gone with this crop of candidates, says Dana
Beyer, who adds the GOP has appeared to learn nothing from
their 2012 primary debacle. A lot of this is just bluster and pandering to the Tea Party base. They know they need to moderate
their positions on immigration and women for the general election, but nobody seems willing to position themselves towards
the center. Its surprising, because Republicans are usually so
good at showing restraint.
The amazing thing about the debate is they didnt talk
about any substantive issues, says Earl Fowlkes, president of
the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club. When you pull back the
curtain and the biggest issue being discussed is where Megyn
Kelly is bleeding from, it...demonstrates what the Republicans
are so good at pick some emotional issue to focus on and keep
talking about that, but forget about the real solutions needed to
turn things around. l
Pride and Prejudice
Response to the Jerusalem Pride parade stabbings bridges ideological divides

within Judaism over LGBT issues
by John Riley
T WAS A TRAGEDY THAT UNITED ALL SEGMENTS

of the Jewish community, both in Israel and the United
States. When a crazed ideologue attacked attendees of
Jerusalem Pride, disparate communities from across the
ideological spectrum condemned it.
On July 30th, Yishai Schlissel, an Orthodox Jewish man,
stabbed six people at Pride, leading to the death of 16-year-old
Shira Banki. A number of Jewish leaders expressed outrage
at the attack, from influential rabbis to Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, who promised to pursue justice for
those responsible. The Times of Israel even reported that a
delegation of haredi Orthodox Jews visited an LGBT center
in Tel Aviv to express solidarity with the LGBT community

following the attack.
Such strong condemnation is significant, because Israels
Jewish community is often divided along ideological lines.
Israel is a very interesting society, because its deeply,
deeply polarized between an often times radically secularized
society on the one hand, and a radically religious society on
the other, says Rabbi Gil Steinlauf of Adas Israel Synagogue in
Washington. So theres a Pride parade in Tel Aviv and theres
a pride parade in Jerusalem. The Pride parade in Tel Aviv was
earlier, in June. Its this huge, incredible thing. Its something
to see, an incredible celebration for the LGBT community. Its
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
KIKARNEWS
LGBTNews
Schlissel
really a celebration for the whole city. You know why? Because
Tel Aviv is really the secular capital for Israel.
On the other hand, in Jerusalem, theres a growing number
of ultra-Orthodox Jews, and theyre in a totally insular environment.... And theres a cynicism between the two polarities of
the society, Steinlauf continues. So Israel, on the one hand, is
this extraordinary place for progressive values of all types. But
theres a powerful ultra-Orthodox bloc. Voices of moderation...
are the dominant voices here in the United States, but we are a
very small minority in Israel.
Arthur Slepian, founder and executive director of A Wider
Bridge which seeks to build connections between LGBT
Israelis and LGBT Americans says that Israel has largely been
ahead of the United States when it comes to passing legal protections for LGBT individuals. But the social mores and degree of
acceptability among more conservative groups within the coun-
try have not necessarily kept pace with the laws, meaning there
are still segments of the society where homophobia is prevalent.
It has been great to see the country rally around in condemnation of this murder, says Slepian. But a lot of that condemnation is coming from people who, on a daily basis, still promote
prejudice and bigotry towards LGBT people.
To that end, The Jerusalem Post reported that police have
launched an investigation into dozens of posters, distributed by
a group called The Faithful Jewry in several ultra-Orthodox
neighborhoods that have praised the attack and Bankis murder.
The posters feature quotes and references to the Old Testament
that hold up Schlissel as a hero. Police say they are questioning
suspects and plan to make arrests related to the proliferation of
the posters.
Slepian notes that such a stance celebrating the death of
a fellow Jew would be considered extreme and would not be
embraced by many, even within ultra-Orthodox circles. And it
certainly would be rejected by the majority of Israelis.
Similarly, Steinlauf says that outside of the ultra-Orthodox
community, theres a tremendous amount of tolerance and support for LGBT rights within Judaism, both in Israel and the
United States. And that tolerance is fairly widespread because
its based on the values of justice and compassion that are
central to Judaism. Pointing to his own life, Steinlauf notes
that when he came out as gay, even though he is the head of a
Conservative synagogue, he was fully accepted by the members
of his congregation.
I think youre seeing a much stronger embrace of LGBT
community inside of the Jewish community, adds Slepian. Its
not uniform, and theres still a ways to go, but there has been an
enormous amount of progress. l
Gay Man Eyeing Oranges

Council Seat
Former ANC Commissioner David Garber says hell seek
the seat held by Vincent Orange
By John Riley
FTER THE ABSENCE OF AN OPENLY LGBT

member on the D.C. Council for what will have been
almost two years come November 2016, an out gay
man has announced he will seek the Democratic
nomination for one of the Councils four at-large seats.
David Garber, a former ANC commissioner from Ward 6,
officially announced last week that he will be running for the
at-large seat occupied by Councilmember Vincent Orange (D).
Garbers candidacy is notable because, if elected, he would
become the Councils only openly gay member, following the
defeats of former Councilmembers Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) in
the Democratic primary, and David Catania (I-At-Large) in the
2014 mayors race.
In an email announcing his candidacy, Garber said he was
running because Ive worked directly with residents in com8
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
munities across the District as both a citizen advocate and an

elected leader, and this election is an opportunity to become an
even more effective advocate on the issues that matter most to
individuals and families across the District.
Garbers campaign has also put out an introductory video in
which he rattles off his accomplishments as an ANC commissioner and qualifications for the job, while also taking a jab at Orange,
decrying corruption and backroom deals for personal gain.
While I applaud the incumbent for his long tenure in D.C.
government, we simply deserve better, Garber says in the
video. Councilmember Orange was the first councilmember to
ever be publicly reprimanded by the D.C. Board of Ethics and
Government Accountability for using his influence to get this
stop a health inspection of an insect- and rat-infested grocery
store owned by one of his largest campaign contributors. Im
LGBTNews
stepping up to run for an At-Large seat on the Council because
as District residents, you deserve a councilmember who is
focused on you and your communities.
In the incident referenced by Garber, Orange was accused
of interfering with health inspectors who were trying to close
down the Sam Wang Produce market in Northeast D.C. after
finding signs of rat infestation and other sanitation problems. A
spokesman for Orange issued a statement, but did not directly
address Garbers allegations.
Councilmember Orange looks forward to addressing his
insurmountable record of achievement, including providing a
$11.50 per hour minimum wage, sick leave pay, laws prohibiting
Intro to an
Introvert
I know you really want to chat, but

cant you let me read in peace?
by Sean Bugg
VE GIVEN UP TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE IM

shy because it feels pointless when no one believes me.
Its understandable, because most of those who dont
believe me speak to me at public events, parties, pride
fairs, networking events, and a host of other things that Ive been
professionally obliged to attend.
To me, being able to engage in basic human functions
at a social event in no way negates ones essential shyness.
After all these decades living as a responsible, occasionally
respected adult, the idea of walking into a room full of unfamiliar people fills my stomach with dread and the fear of
being judged by strangers.
I can share one little trick Ive learned that can help any shy
person get through social events: Live in the same city for 25
years. At that point, pretty much anywhere you go youll see at
least one person you know who can serve as your lifeline.
discrimination against pregnant workers and transgenders (sic),

books for our children, and creating jobs and business opportunities for D.C. residents.
Orange, who has not yet announced whether he will seek reelection, has previously experienced tight races in his last two
campaigns. He won by only 2% over Republican Patrick Mara
in a 2011 special election and edged challenger Sekou Biddle by
only 3%in the 2012 Democratic primary.
Bob Summersgill, treasurer of Garbers campaign, said Garber
will hold an official campaign kickoff later in September after the
campaign has filed all the appropriate paperwork with the D.C.
Board of Elections and Ethics. l
I know, thats a rather long-term approach. I didnt say it was
the type of trick I can spin out into a self-help book.
Anyway, I dont bother explaining that Im shy anymore
because these days Im an introvert, which is basically shyness
for the Facebook age. The same way that the gluten-free craze
has driven Americas restaurant servers insane with demands for
free bread to go with no-grain entrees, legions of fair weather
introverts are filling your social media feeds with OMG this
list of 13 Ways the Cast of Maude Reveals Your Inner Introvert
really nails how I feel!
Odds are thats why youre reading this right now.
I kid, a little. I actually am more introverted than shy I
enjoy seeing and talking with people I know, and even enjoy
being introduced to new people (as long as Im not left to die in
a get-to-know you conversation of awkward questions and twoword answers). When you see me at one of those social events I
mentioned, I actually am glad to see you unless youre on my
short-list of people Im never happy to see, in which case you
already know that.
The point is, Im there because I want to interact with others
even if doesnt come as naturally to me as it does to the extroverts this town seems to be drowning in. You just wont see me
again for a few days afterward because Im going to need some
time to recharge. I need alone time like a socialite needs cocktail
parties its what gives me the energy to keep going.
A few weeks ago, I found myself out of town on a vacation
Id not particularly been looking forward to, but ended up being
exactly what I needed. While the husband and nephew biked
a couple of miles to the beach, I marched myself down to the
nearly deserted pool, fired up my Kindle, and read. Seriously,
throw in some beer and an occasional video game break and
youre basically looking at my idea of heaven.
Naturally, an extrovert showed up and was compelled to
make conversation because staring intently through reading
glasses at my screen wasnt enough of a hint that I was occupied.
Neither were my non-committal answers (I did not leave D.C. to
sit by a pool and get drawn into a conversation about tax policy
with a fifty-something white male Floridian, because I know
where that was going).
I had two choices. One, head back to the condo to read in
air-conditioned quiet while mentally kicking myself for being
chased out of my own inner peace. Or, two, tell the guy I dont
feel like talking and then lie there distracted from my book by my
feelings of guilt for being rude. I went back to the condo because
I really hate being rude.
So, all you extroverts out there, please be sure to pay attention to all the subtle and not-so-subtle ways our introverted eyes
are screaming Leave me alone! Otherwise, Im just going to have
to learn to live with being rude. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
LGBTCommunityCalendar
Metro Weeklys 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 calendar@MetroWeekly.com.
Deadline for inclusion is noon of the Friday before Thursdays publication.
Questions about the calendar may be directed to the
Metro Weekly office at 202-638-6830 or
the calendar email address.
The DC Center hosts its monthly
LGBT ASYLUM SEEKERS/

ASYLEES FORUM for LGBT asylum
seekers, refugees, their supporters and

host families. 7-9 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5
p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707 or andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5
METROHEALTH CENTER offers
p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for

youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155
or testing@smyal.org.
free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment

needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.
202-638-0750.
PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-
WEEKLY EVENTS
US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics

Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m.,
3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group is
independent of UHU. 202-446-1100.
WOMENS LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women,
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13
BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today
for Food & Friends. To participate,
visit burgundycrescent.org.
p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit

andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
13-21, interested in leadership development. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth

Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163,
catherine.chu@smyal.org.
SMYALS REC NIGHT provides

a social atmosphere for GLBT and
questioning youth, featuring dance
parties, vogue nights, movies and
games. More info, catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
practice session at Takoma Aquatic

Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9
p.m. swimdcac.org.
DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and les-
bian square-dancing group features

mainstream through advanced square
dancing at the National City Christian
Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30
p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517,
dclambdasquares.org.
The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern
Virginia social group meets for happy
hour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810
Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor
bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor
Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,
9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9
a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment
call 202-745-7000. Visit whitmanwalker.org.
IDENTITY offers free and confiden-
tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,

414 East Diamond Ave., and in
Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire
Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m.
For appointments other hours, call
Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or
Takoma Park, 301-422-2398.

202-638-0750.
10
AUGUST 13, 2015
affirming social group for ages 11-24.

4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW.
Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, laycdc.org.
LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for

adults in Montgomery County offers
a safe space to explore coming out
and issues of identity. 10-11:30 a.m.
16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512,
Gaithersburg, Md. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES, a
social discussion and activity group for

LBT women, meets on the second and
fourth Fridays of each month at The
DC Center. Social activity to immediately follow meeting. 8-9:30 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
tice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio

Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit swimdcac.
org.
ing/social club welcomes all levels for

exercise in a fun and supportive environment, socializing afterward. Meet
9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for a
walk; or 10 a.m. for fun run. dcfrontrunners.org.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
DC SENTINELS basketball team
ART THERAPY SUPPORT GROUP
meets on the third Saturday of every

month, starting Aug. 15. explore
therapeutic techniques using artwork
and the creative process to explore
feelings and emotional conflicts. First
come, first serve, upper limit of 8 people. Led by Antonio Pineda. 1-3 p.m.
The DC Center, 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. To sign up, visit thedccenter.org/volunteer_event.html.
BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-
DC METRO CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
METROWEEKLY.COM
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-

youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,
410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@smyal.org.
p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9
a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment
call 202-745-7000. Visit whitmanwalker.org.
BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including

others interested in Brazilian culture,
meets. For location/time, email braziliangaygroup@yahoo.com.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walk-
volunteer organization, volunteers

today for Lost Dog & Cat Rescue
Foundation at Falls Church PetSmart.
To participate, visit burgundycrescent.org.
tice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio

Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit swimdcac.
org.
BET MISHPACHAH, founded by

members of the LGBT community,
holds Saturday morning Shabbat services, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush
luncheon. Services in DCJCC
Community Room, 1529 16th St. NW.
betmish.org.
hosts an LGBTQ-friendly day-long

picnic inside Rock Creek Park. Bring
your own food, drinks and grills.
Music, dancing and games provided.
12-7 p.m. Rock Creek Park, Picnic
Area #6, Beach Drive NW. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
KHUSH DC SUPPORT GROUP, a
group for South Asian queer people

and their allies, meets at The DC
Center. 1-3 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
meets at Turkey Thicket Recreation

Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4
p.m. For players of all levels, gay or
straight. teamdcbasketball.org.
DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for
LGBT community, family and friends.

6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-theHill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria.
All welcome. For more info, visit dignitynova.org.
GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses

critical languages and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellies, 900 U St. NW.
RVSP preferred. brendandarcy@
gmail.com.
IDENTITY offers free and confidential
HIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676

New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walkins 12-3 p.m. For appointments other
hours, call 301-422-2398.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16
WEEKLY EVENTS
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS
MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
celebrates Low Mass at 8:30 a.m., High
Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral Ave.

NW. 202-232-4244, allsoulsdc.org.
available at both services. Welcoming

LGBT people for 25 years. 212 East
Capitol St. NE. reformationdc.org.
BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive

and radically inclusive church holds
services at 11:30 a.m. 2217 Minnesota
Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice

session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr.,
SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic

Mass for the LGBT community. 6
p.m., St. Margarets Church, 1820
Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome.
Sign interpreted. For more info, visit
dignitynova.org.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED

CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes all
to 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G St. NW.
firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317.
FRIENDS MEETING OF
WASHINGTON meets for worship,
10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW,

Quaker House Living Room (next to
Meeting House on Decatur Place),
2nd floor. Special welcome to lesbians
and gays. Handicapped accessible
from Phelps Place gate. Hearing
assistance. quakersdc.org.
HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF

CHRIST welcomes GLBT commu-
nity for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130

Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria.
hopeucc.org.
services at 11 a.m., led by Rev. Onetta

Brooks. Childrens Sunday School, 11
a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax.
703-691-0930, mccnova.com.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpreted)

and 11 a.m. Childrens Sunday School
at 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. 202-6387373, mccdc.com.
NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN

CHURCH, inclusive church with
GLBT fellowship, offers gospel worship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional worship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW.
202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.
NEW HSV-2 SOCIAL AND

SUPPORT GROUP for gay men living
in the DC metro area. This group will

be meeting once a month. For information on location and time, email to
not.the.only.one.dc@gmail.com.
RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH,

a Christ-centered, interracial, welcoming-and-affirming church, offers
service at 10 a.m. 680 I St. SW. 202554-4330, riversidedc.org.
ST. STEPHEN AND THE
INCARNATION, an interracial,
INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL

DEVELOPMENT, God-centered new
multi-ethnic Christian Community

offers services in English, 8 a.m. and
10:30 a.m., and in Spanish at 5:15 p.m.
1525 Newton St. NW. 202-232-0900,
saintstephensdc.org.
Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL
UNITARIAN CHURCH OF
ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcoming-
age church & learning center. Sunday

Services and Workshops event. 5419
Sherier Place NW. isd-dc.org.
TEMPLE UNITED CHURCH OF

CHRIST for an inclusive, loving and
progressive faith community every

Sunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW,
near R in Shaw/Logan neighborhood.
lincolntemple.org.
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF
REFORMATION invites all to Sunday
worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m. Childcare is
and-affirming congregation, offers

services at 10 a.m. Virginia Rainbow
UU Ministry. 4444 Arlington Blvd.
uucava.org.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING
invites LGBTQ families and individuals of all creeds and cultures to join
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
11
the church. Services 9:15 and 11:15

a.m. 10309 New Hampshire Ave.
uucss.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay

mens evening affinity group. 3636
Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL
MEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcom-
WASHINGTON WETSKINS Water

Polo Team practices 7-9 p.m. Takoma
Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St.
NW. Newcomers with at least basic
swimming ability always welcome.
Tom, 703-299-0504, secretary@
wetskins.org, wetskins.org.
ing and inclusive church. GLBT

Interweave social/service group
meets monthly. Services at 11 a.m.,
Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th St.
NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org.
MONDAY, AUGUST 17
CENTER FAITH, a program for
LGBT individuals, their allies and

LGBT-affirming faith traditions,
holds its monthly meeting at The DC
Center. 6-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio
Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.
GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at
Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. NW.

getequal.wdc@gmail.com.
HIV Testing at WHITMANWALKER HEALTH. At the Elizabeth
Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th
St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max
Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave.
SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

(K.I.) Services, 3333 Duke St.,
Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV

testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
703-823-4401.

free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV test-
ing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite

200, Arlington. Appointments: 703789-4467.

410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or testing@smyal.org.
THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee Drop-
In for the Senior LGBT Community.

10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202682-2245, thedccenter.org.
12
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
Whitman-Walker Health HIV/

AIDS SUPPORT GROUP for newly
diagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m.
Registration required. 202-939-7671,
hivsupport@whitman-walker.org.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18
CENTER BI, a group of The DC
Center, hosts a monthly roundtable

discussion where people can discuss
bisexuality or life as bi individuals in a
private setting. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly dinner

in Dupont/Logan Circle area, 6:30 p.m.
afwash@aol.com, afwashington.net.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
practice session at Takoma Aquatic

Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9
p.m. swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social club serving greater D.C.s

LGBT community and allies hosts an
evening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org.
THE GAY MENS HEALTH

COLLABORATIVE offers free HIV
testing and STI screening and treatment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m.
Rainbow Tuesday LGBT Clinic,
Alexandria Health Department, 4480
King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571-2149617. james.leslie@inova.org.

Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.
THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE
DC CENTER hosts Packing Party,
where volunteers assemble safe-sex

kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m.,
Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court NW.
thedccenter.org.
tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,

414 East Diamond Ave., and in
Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire
Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m.
Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978 or
Takoma Park at
301-422-2398.
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

(K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St.,
Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV

testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
703-823-4401.

202-638-0750.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
LGBT focused meeting every

Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. Georges
Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave.,
Arlington, just steps from Virginia
Square Metro. For more info. call
Dick, 703-521-1999. Handicapped
accessible. Newcomers welcome.
liveandletliveoa@gmail.com.

410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@smyal.org.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ

YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL,
410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy
Chu, 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
US HELPING US hosts a support

group for black gay men 40 and older.
7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202446-1100.
Whitman-Walker Healths GAY
MENS HEALTH AND WELLNESS/

STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701
14th St. NW. Patients are seen on

walk-in basis. No-cost screening for
HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis and herpes testing
available for fee. whitman-walker.org.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19
BOOKMEN DC, an informal mens
gay-literature group, discusses Gay

American Autobiography: Writings
from Whitman to Sedaris by David
Bergman, editor 7:30 p.m. DC Center,
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. All are
welcome. bookmendc.blogspot.com
THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL

BRIDGE CLUB meets for Social
Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity Center, 721

8th St. SE, across from the Marine
Barracks. No reservation and partner
needed. 301-345-1571 for more information.
WOMAN TO WOMAN: A SUPPORT

GROUP FOR HIV-POSITIVE
WOMEN WHO LOVE WOMEN meets
on the third Wednesday of every
month at The Womens Collective.
Light refreshments served. 5:30-7 p.m.
1331 Rhode Island Ave. NE. For more
information, contact June Pollydore,
202-483-7003.
WEEKLY EVENTS
AD LIB, a group for freestyle conversation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,
Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome.
For more information, call Fausto
Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio

Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.
HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH
offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.

and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.
Washington St., Alexandria. 703-5491450, historicchristchurch.org.

Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.
tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414

East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m.
Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978.
JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-
gram for job entrants and seekers,

meets at The DC Center. 6 p.m.-7:30
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
More info, www.centercareers.org.
free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite
200, Arlington. Appointments: 703789-4467.
PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social

club for mature gay men, hosts
weekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,
Windows Bar above Dupont Italian
Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl, 703573-8316. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
13
PerfectlyComp
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul have been touted as the future
of the American musical, and Dear Evan Hansen proves why

Photography by dirty sugar photography
14
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
mposed
B
ENJ PASEK AND JUSTIN PAUL ARE BOTH

just 30 years old, but the songwriting duo have
long been touted as the future of the American
musical. Specifically, the heirs to Rodgers and
Hammerstein, as Vanity Fair put it in 2012.
That was after Pasek and Paul made a splash Off-Broadway
with the musical Dogfight, based on the 1991 cult film starring River Phoenix and Lili Taylor.
The following year, the pair earned Tony nominations for Best Musical and Best Original Score for their
Broadway debut with an adaptation of A Christmas
Story, The Musical. Pasek and Paul have since branched
out into film and television, composing songs for NBCs
Smash and films, including the forthcoming La La
Land, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.
Right now, the duo are generating significant buzz
in Washington. Arena Stage is debuting Pasek and
Pauls newest work Dear Evan Hansen, featuring a
book by Steven Levenson, in a world premiere production. Its a show that has come completely from
our own heads, Pasek explains, and so its riskier
than other things that weve tried in the past.
The work is informed by the different lives and
experiences of its creators the gay, Jewish Pasek
from Philadelphia, and the straight, Christian
Paul from Connecticut. Paul is the more musical
Pasek (L) and Paul
of the two He is a musical genius, I would proclaim to the

world, Pasek says while Pasek is more lyrical, focused on
words, concepts and characters. We develop these songs and
develop these characters and we do it as a really joint effort,
Pasek says. We view it very much as a collaboration.
METRO WEEKLY: Lets start with when you became a songwriting
duo. You met in college, right?

BENJ PASEK: We both went to the University of Michigan for
musical theater. We went there to be actors. For a lot of people

who love the theater, when youre young, acting is your way in.
But halfway through school we realized maybe were not cut out
to be performers. It was not exactly working out for us. After
many failed attempts to get good roles in our school shows, we
saw the writing on the wall and thought, Why dont we write
our own show, and see what we can make of that?
MW: Was there a moment when you realized you were on to something by working together?
PASEK: We just started doing it for fun. We were freshmen in
college when we began tinkering. We were in a practice room at
the School of Music, and we just began to write songs together.
It was fun to develop songs thinking from characters perspectives. We decided to string some of these songs together and
make a song cycle our sophomore year. People were receptive. I
think before we even knew what was happening we had begun
a collaboration.
MW: Did either of you write songs growing up?
JUSTIN PAUL: I didnt, no. But in addition to being a performer, I
always wanted to be in the pit orchestra, playing piano or percussion. I always saw myself being involved on the musical side
of things in musical theater, I just always figured it would be
interpreting and teaching and working out other peoples music.
I hadnt really planned on it being my own music.
MW: Were your families musically oriented?
PAUL: I grew up in a pretty musical household. Neither of my
parents are professional musicians, but theyre very, very musical. My dad and my mom both would sit down and play the
piano. I grew up playing a lot of music in church, and singing
with my parents. I started taking piano lessons when I was
seven. So they were always very encouraging and they knew that
I had a love for it and a knack for it.
PASEK: My mom created a bunch of kids albums where she
would document whatever we were doing growing up and she
would turn those moments into songs. She had a childrens
music group in our local area in Philadelphia. So I grew up just
witnessing my mom whos a psychologist, not a professional
musician turning life moments into song. Thats essentially
what we do every day, when we try to create theater. Watching
her interpret things that were happening in the world, or in my
world as a kid, and setting them to music I think that really
sparked an interest in writing and creating and interpreting life
moments into song lyrics.
MW: How would you say the gay/straight dynamic of your partnership impacts your work?
PASEK: Beyond just being gay and straight, I think that we come
from very different family environments and different ways of
growing up. I think that thats been hugely advantageous for
us as a collaborative partnership. We approach the world from
really different perspectives on what we see and how we
view lots of situations. I think that were able to explore human
behavior in a way that sparks a debate and where we question
things, and we talk internally about why would somebody do
something, or what would be the motivation behind that. We
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
15
Our character is not written

to be gay, but I do think that
THE STRUGGLE OF COMING
OUT IS THE SAME AS A LOT
OF STRUGGLES THAT HUMAN
BEINGS HAVE, which is
exposing truths. Benj Pasek
end up having really interesting discussions about the world,

about human behavior. And I think it leads to hopefully a more
interesting result in what we choose to write about and how we
choose to write about different topics.
MW: Justin, you mentioned you grew up singing in church. Did you
come from a very religious or conservative background?
PAUL: I dont know if I would say conservative background, but
my father is a minister and I come from a long line of folks with
a church background my father, my fathers father, my moms
father.
MW: Which denomination?
PAUL: Its Christian, but its non-denominational. The churches
that I grew up in were more urban environments. A lot of gospel
music, that sort of thing. It was always a very fun and vibrant
experience.
MW: Do you remember the first person in your life you knew as
gay?
PAUL: I think it was probably in middle school and high school,
the theater teacher of mine. I grew up in a fairly progressive
town in Connecticut, so it was not really a big deal or big reveal
in any certain way. And then, being in theater your whole life,
youre sort of accustomed to that and you find yourself in that
world very early on, so its a very natural, very ordinary part of
life. The wonderful thing about being in theater is that youre
exposed to so many different types of people.
MW: Benj, was coming out difficult for you?
PASEK: I grew up in a pretty liberal environment on the East
Coast, with a very liberal Jewish family. So it wasnt as big of a
deal as I imagine it would be for other people who grew up in
different circumstances. I do think, though, that the world has
changed in a huge way since I was in high school. I remember
feeling like I was the only gay kid in my school. I definitely didnt
feel like I could be completely out and proud. And I see kids now
who are part of the Gay-Straight Alliances at their schools it is
very, very different from when I was a kid, and my experience is
very, very different from I think a generation older than me. Its
been pretty amazing to see it continue and progress. Being gay
and being open about your sexuality is less and less of an issue.
Thats pretty phenomenal.
MW: Have you ever written a gay character?
PASEK: I dont think we have. I do think that the feeling of being
an outsider, or feeling like you arent a part of a norm, is a thread
throughout a lot of our work. Especially with Dogfight, a musical
about a girl who is perceived not to be attractive. And about a
guy who asks her out as a joke. One of the reasons it relates to a
16
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
lot of women but also a lot of gay men is because thats how a lot
of gay men feel a sense of worthlessness. Or a sense that they
arent enough. In Dear Evan Hansen, the character is not gay but
the sense of being lonely, the sense of feeling like an outsider,
or feeling like youre not a part of the world, or that the world
doesnt want you to be a part of it, is a theme that, being a gay
writer, I relate to.
MW: The premise of Dear Evan Hansen could serve as an elaborate
metaphor for coming out.
PASEK: In a way it is. Our character is not written to be gay, but
I do think that the struggle of coming out is the same as a lot
of struggles that human beings have, which is exposing truths,
being truthful. And we all are on a journey. I think gay men have
it harder than a lot of other people because the world tells you
that you arent good enough. I think a lot of minorities have this.
Theres the bit in the show about Evan feeling on the outside,
always looking in. And anyone who feels that way, and feels that
they are not part of the world, it seems to resonate, because I
think a lot of us feel that way that we are outsiders.
MW: I understand the idea for Dear Evan Hansen originates from
an experience of yours in high school.
PASEK: There was a student who was sort of anonymous. He
died of a drug overdose, and it was sort of unclear whether it
was intentional or not. After he passed away the student body
became very, very close to him. Everybody sort of claimed him
as their best friend after he died, and began to write their college
essays about him, and began to talk about how amazing he was
and how important he was in their lives.
When Justin and I met in college, and we began to write
musicals, this moment from my high school days continued to
be fascinating. We talked about exploring it in a musical. Since
Letter
Perfect
Arena Stages Dear Evan Hansen is a smart,
complicated, thoroughly affecting show
By Doug Rule
ear Evan Hansen is a smart, complicated and thoroughly affecting show. And its presented by Arena
Stage in a smart, complicated and thoroughly captivating world premiere production, featuring a stellar cast
led by Ben Platt of Pitch Perfect fame.
The musical, by the songwriting team of Benj Pasek
and Justin Paul with book writer Steven Levenson, isnt an
instant smash you have to get past a slightly disheartening, disturbing, somewhat creepy part. Which just so happens to be all of Act I. We meet Evan Hansen as a painfully
shy, insecure, unhappy kid. Before you know it, hes become
confident, agreeable as well as a habitual liar and an elaborate fabricator, overstating his relationship with classmate
and occasional bully Connor Murphy (Mike Faist) after
Connor commits suicide. Evan says the two were secret
friends though not gay, he stresses initially to help
assuage the Murphy familys grief over the fact that no one
seemed to know their son.
The lie leads to a work of fiction, a series of letters supposedly between the secret friends. Perversely, the more
maybe more traditional musical theater characters. With both of

those shows, we view them as experiments, and well let critics
and audiences be the judge of whether or not we have succeeded
or failed. But its definitely been an exciting challenge to produce
characters that are more complicated.
MW: How did Ben Platt come into the picture?
PASEK: Ben Platt actually auditioned for Dogfight back in 2011
or 2012. He would have been I guess 17 at that time. And we
saw this insanely talented kid come in and blow us away with
his acting, blow us away with his singing. He was a little bit too
young for the role that he was auditioning for, but he stuck in our
minds. And when we were developing Dear Evan Hansen, when
we were beginning to think about who could accurately portray
this character, Ben was somebody who kept coming up for us.
We were lucky enough to see him in The Book of Mormon right at
the time when we were beginning to cast our first reading, so we
invited him to be our first Evan Hansen, the very first time that
we heard any of the material out loud. And within half an hour of
that first day, we kind of looked at each other we couldnt even
believe how fantastic he was and how much he brought to the
role. The nuances in the performance that he was already creating within a half hour of seeing the material for the first time. We
knew that we had found the guy to be Evan Hansen.
MW: Dear Evan Hansen may have been spurred from personal
experience, but the work isnt based in reality, right?
PASEK: I dont think that any art is 100-percent factual, you
know? I think that everything that you create, especially with
something thats not a documentary or an autobiography, it
doesnt really matter what the facts are. It matters what the
truth is. I dont know that the actual events that will ever take
place in the real world will fit into a two-and-a-half hour story
MARGOT SCHULMAN
then, weve brought up a lot of other themes that we wanted to

talk about theres a sort of need to connect, the need to be a
part of a community, the need to be a part of something larger
than yourself, especially in this digital, isolated age that we now
find ourselves in. We began to explore how we could take those
themes and turn it into a musical. And thats when the amazing
Steven Levenson came into the picture and helped us churn our
ideas into an actual plot.
MW: The character of Evan Hansen is a risky, unusual protagonist.
PAUL: Its definitely an unusual one in that hes riddled with
issues and anxieties, and with lots of self-esteem issues and a lot
of other things. But I think thats what makes him very accessible
and identifiable and relatable. Hopefully everyone can go and
see the show and see a little bit of Evan in themselves, and feel
like they can connect with him, or at least connect with the situations that he finds himself in he doesnt know the right thing
to say to people, or how to fit into a conversation, or how to be
himself and not try to create or embellish a story about himself
that is better than what he thinks his real life is. Its a different
sort of character and maybe not your typical musical theater
leading man, but thats definitely what we were hoping to write
a contemporary and relevant and accessible character.
PASEK: Traditionally, in Musical Theater 101, you learn to try to
write a protagonist that people like, and that you go and you root
for them to achieve whatever they want on their journey. Thats
the thing youre always looking for in a musical. With both Dear
Evan Hansen and with Dogfight, we have protagonists who do
things that are really morally questionable. Its our jobs as writers to try to get the audience to identify with them and to support
why theyre doing what theyre doing. We wanted to try to create
characters that were more complex and more nuanced than
Evan embellishes, the more things improve for him socially and the same goes for the Murphys,
including daughter Zoe (a charming Laura Dreyfuss), who eventually falls for Evan. Soon enough,
everyone in school is following Evans lead, posting comments to an online tribute to Connor in
which they embellish their feelings about the sullen Goth loner. Everyone wants to fit in and feel a
part of something, even if its all predicated on a lie.
That online tribute is projected onto a transparent scrim on stage by designer Peter Nigrini, who
at other times projects images drawn from various social media sites and apps. Its often difficult to
decipher the details or get the full effect of what were seeing. Its an ingenuous addition to David
Korinss already elaborate set: a reflection of todays exhausting, over-stimulating media culture.
Pasek and Paul incorporate clear influences from the pop music of today, occasionally coloring
outside the musical theater lines, though never in a gaudy or jarring manner. The musical ends with
a wallop, stacked with the most emotionally stirring numbers, starting with Words Fail, a heavy-
hearted song that comes after

Evan finally confesses to his
deceit. Evans largely absent
mother stirs up new emotions
while lifting her sons spirits
and the audiences with So
Big/So Small. The number
is actress Rachel Bay Joness
one true chance to shine as a
singer and shine she does,
making you wish the mother
could have been more present
throughout.
Platt keeps you sympathetic to his character even when
up to his neck in deceit and
denial. The actor fully immerses himself in his role and conjures up challenging emotions
at will. He may be just 21, but
Platt already knows how to be
the kind of actor people cant
stop watching.
Dear Evan Hansen runs to
Aug. 23rd in the Kreeger
Theater at Arena Stage, 1101
6th St. SW. Tickets are $40 to
$90. Call 202-488-3300 or visit
arenastage.org. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
17
I dont know that the

actual events that will ever
take place in the real world
will fit into a two-and-a-half
hour story with songs. ITS
OUR JOB TO TRANSLATE
THAT INTO AN ART
FORM. Benj Pasek
with songs. Its our job just to identify what it is from the real
world that people can connect to and to translate that into an art
form. Something were proud of with Dear Evan Hansen is that
people seem to be leaving the theater every night moved, seeing
elements of themselves on stage. And we definitely hear lots of
sniffles in the audience during the last 15 minutes of the show.
MW: The show really does pack an emotional punch in its last 15
minutes.
PASEK: [Laughs.] Its not that we want to make everybody cry.
But I get emotional when I watch the show still. And it was emotional to write those things. It gets to that emotional truth, even
in me, that are hard to acknowledge, that sometimes I can feel
alone or sometimes I can feel like Im not worthy. I think that
thats a huge part of the psychology of growing up gay, that you
question your own sense of self-worth. And whether or not you
are worthy of love and whether or not anyone will really love you
for who you really are.
MW: What are your thoughts on the state of musical theater and
its future?
PASEK: The state of the American musical is in pretty great shape.
I mean the new musical Hamilton is being received enormously,
incredibly well right now on Broadway. And I think that it, along
with shows like Next to Normal and Spring Awakening shows
that have pushed the sort of boundaries of what musicals could
be all contribute to audiences being receptive and open to
new kinds of stories being told through musical theater, and the
musical theater form. We hope that Dear Evan Hansen can be a
part of that and were excited to continue to create works that
sort of challenge and push boundaries and represent different
types of characters on stage, and different types of stories. We
view ourselves very much as a part of a generation that is trying
to do that.
MW: Dear Evan Hansen could become your second show to make it
to Broadway. You managed to snag a Tony nomination your first
time around, with A Christmas Story, The Musical. What brought
you to that production?
PASEK: We found out that they were looking for writers on that,
so we basically auditioned to get the part we wrote some
songs on spec and submitted them. And our songs were chosen.
They said, Heres the deal: Right now its March, and we have
a production that goes into rehearsal at the end of September.
So we need you guys to write the show now and fast. And we
thought, oh my gosh, what did we get ourselves into? Maybe the
reason that we were chosen is because we were the only ones
18
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
foolish enough to actually take on the assignment. I think when

we signed on, we knew it had a production in Seattle at the 5th
Avenue Theatre. We just thought, wow, to have a show in a
theater of that size and that prestigious, thats huge and thats
everything. And that was the endgame on that.
I dont want to say A Christmas Story is the little show that
could, because its based on a huge property and its a big show in
terms of its scope and size, but it did continue to keep surprising
us. We never imagined it would take us beyond 5th Avenue to be
on tour, and then into New York and onto Broadway and then to
the Tony Awards.
It was definitely a surprise on that April morning when we
were watching in our bathrobes and saw that we were going to
get to go to the Tony Awards that year for a show that had long
closed on Broadway. It closed at the end of December, because
it couldnt really run past the holiday season.
MW: And it continues to have legs, with productions every season
around the country.
PASEK: Yeah, it was on tour last year, itll be on tour again this
year, probably the next couple of years. And also it has productions everything from big, original theaters, to schools and
community theaters throughout the country. And that is a really
special gift to know the thing that we wrote has now gone out
to the world and is having a life of its own and being produced
around the country. And with any luck, itll be produced in perpetuity.
MW: Do you consider Rodgers and Hammerstein to be inspirations
on your work?
PASEK: Definitely Rodgers and Hammerstein, but also more
contemporary musical composers like Stephen Schwartz,
Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Jeff Marx and Robert
Lopez. Those are more like direct mentors. Obviously Stephen
Sondheim has been a huge influence on us. Were firm believers of looking in the past to solve the problems of the future.
Sometimes when we dont know what lyrics to write, or what a
good song might be, you dont just look at contemporary musical
theater. The Sherman Brothers, who did a lot of the Disney films,
Mary Poppins and all that, were such fantastic creative writers.
Sometimes the solution to a problem exists in one of their songs
that was written in 1960, you know? Frank Loesser just a ton
of people throughout musical theater history. And I think were
very, very influenced by modern writers as well. I think were as
influenced by Stephen Sondheim as we are by Taylor Swift and
John Mayer and Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel and Elton John.
A lot of these writers who are in more of the pop vein tend to
be people who care about the story, and care about narrative. I
think theres a spectrum of pop writers, and those who are more
in the sort of narrative vein are people that we really look to to
try to blend modern music with storytelling. And all of those
folks have been really influential to us.
Were really trying to write things that feel like theyre moving the story forward but that theyre also accessible and that
they feel like, theyre a mix between what you would hear on the
radio and what you would hear on a traditional Broadway stage.
And just trying to meet in the middle.
Dear Evan Hansen runs to Aug. 23 in the Kreeger Theater at
Arena Stage, 1101 6th St. SW. Tickets are $40 to $90. Call 202-4883300 or visit arenastage.org.
Dogfight opens Saturday, Aug. 22, at 8 p.m., at the Keegan Theatre,
1742 Church St. NW. Tickets are $35 to $45. Call 703-892-0202 or
visit keegantheatre.com. l
New
P lateau
Pitch Perfect was his breakthrough, but its
Dear Evan Hansen that will make Ben Platt a star
by Doug Rule // Photography by Joan Marcus
E REALLY DIDNT HAVE

any idea it was going to be
what it was, Ben Platt says
of the Pitch Perfect franchise.
And so it was very pleasant
and a lucky surprise that the first film I worked
on became such a phenomenon.
In the three years since the 21-year-old Platt
came to fame as the nerdy-cute Benji Applebaum,
the Los Angeles native has gone on to star on stage
as Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon. While
hopeful that his Treblemaker character will return for
Pitch Perfect 3, scheduled for release in summer of
2017, Platts focus for the near future is on his
acclaimed work in the title role of Dear
Evan Hansen. I dont know
exactly what the plan
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
19
is, he says, about the musicals future, but were very hopeful
that itll move forward somewhere. And wherever that place is,
Ill be there.
part of something and to be sort of accepted. I think everybody

kind of has that in them. I would consider myself a little bit more
socially sufficient in terms of my ability to speak to people. I had
to base his social awkwardness more on people Ive encoun-
MW: Evan is not necessarily likable, and yet you manage to somehow keep us on your side.
PLATT: That was definitely the danger and the fear of the creative
team. He makes a lot of morally ambiguous choices, and this
is the hero of the story. And hes not always doing necessarily
whats right. I think the reason its so successful is because they
make sure that you are fully aware of what Evan is thinking at all
times and what his intentions are in every moment. I feel like if
there was ever a moment where you feel like you couldnt really
see inside him, you may not necessarily stay with him or stay on
his side. So the fact that its written so fully from Evans perspec-
tered in my life, the way that I may feel in certain situations, and
how I might manifest my anxiety were I not better at keeping
it squelched, because I do have my fair share of anxiety. I come
from a big Jewish family and we all have our neuroses and our
anxieties. And Ive definitely had experiences in the past having
to deal with that in terms of therapy and that sort of thing.
MW: You definitely are immersing yourself in the role, showing a
wide range of emotions. Is it exhausting?
PLATT: Yes, its certainly draining. And I do have to give all of
myself during those two hours. But its really a joy to feel like
youre using everything at your disposal and all the tools in your
box. Ive had a lot of experience in the preceding years playing
characters that are very marginalized and specific. Of course,
Ive loved all the projects that Ive been able to work on, but in
doing them for so long it can get exhausting because youre using
the same facilities over and over again. Whereas with Evan,
while it may be draining night to night, its just incredibly fulfilling. I can experience the full range of emotions, use all the parts
of my voice, use my whole body, and live a whole story.
tive, and that you really feel like you know this kid, helps you to
stay with him.
MW: Is it correct that youve been acting for more than half your life?
PLATT: I started working professionally when I was nine years
old mostly musical theater, and a bit of straight theater. And
on camera starting with Pitch Perfect when I was 18. Yeah, I
really cant remember a time before I wanted to be on stage.
MW: Do you come from a family of actors and singers?
PLATT: My father is a producer, so hes in the business. All of
my siblings and I grew up doing musical theater programs in
terms of after-school stuff and being in the school musicals.
Were a very Jewish family, so we would sing a lot in synagogue,
and at any bar mitzvah or wedding we always do a song together.
Were definitely a musical family, but Im sort of the only one
thats pursued it, a professional life. Ive been studying voice
with a teacher since I was 11 or 12.
MW: So were not going to be seeing other Platts to come?
PLATT: Well, my older brother Jonah is in the business. He does
a little bit of musical theater, but hes primarily a comedian
METRO WEEKLY: How much do you identify with the character of
Evan Hansen?
MARGOT SCHULMAN
BEN PLATT: I can certainly relate to the feeling of wanting to be
20
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
With Evan, while it may be draining night

to night, I can experience the full range of
emotions, use all the parts of my voice, use my
whole body, and LIVE A WHOLE STORY.
start to play characters that are a little more fully realized.
MW: Do you aspire to be a singer or a recording artist?
PLATT: I dont think that anything gives me quite the sort of fulfillment that being a character does. Certainly on the side Ive
done a few solo cabaret type of things, where Ive sung. And
maybe one day Ill find that I want to record some sort of album,
but I dont think that Ill ever be just a singer. I really like to use
that part of myself in tandem with acting.
MW: And it must be great to be in a strong cast like the one youre
in now.
PLATT: Oh, its like a dream. First of all, just having such a
small group, its really special because we all get to really
bond. And working with people like Rachel Bay Jones and
Michael Park and Jennifer Laura Thompson, who are veterans and are so well-respected and so talented and so experienced, its really special. l
MARGOT SCHULMAN
and writer. My two sisters, one of them is a teacher and one of

them is a head programmer for a Jewish summer camp. And my
younger brother is in high school, so well see.
MW: Is there anything specifically you hope to achieve in your
career?
PLATT: In terms of theater, I would like to originate a role on
Broadway hopefully one day this role, or any role. And just
sort of establishing myself further into the theater community
has always been my biggest dream. In terms of on camera, I
would love to start to play characters with a little more breadth
and range, like the ones that Ive been fortunate enough to play
on stage, so I can have a bit more experience with fully crafting
a person on camera. Because I feel like so far, Ive had the opportunity to play more caricature-like people on camera sidekicky, sort of off-center kind of guys. I think that the only way for
me to feel as comfortable on camera as I do on stage would be to
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
21
AUGUST 13 - 20, 2015
Compiled by Doug Rule
ABBA
Fab
ABBA The Concert is the closest well get to
seeing the Swedish supergroup on stage again
22
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
RON ELKMAN
hether you like it or not, everyone has heard

Dancing Queen at least once, says Christian
Fast.
The lead guitarist for ABBA The Concert, an ABBA tribute act, has no reason to doubt that fact. ABBA is the secondhighest selling pop group of all time, behind only The Beatles.
The Swedish groups songs have inspired a musical, a film
based on said musical, and kept 70s discos thriving across
the globe. And all this from just eight studio albums released
over the bands short ten-year career. The reason for their
enduring success?
Its pop evergreen, says Fast. Benny Andersson is so
advanced harmonically, hes very innovative when it comes
to creating melodies. You can hear its all well-crafted songwriting. If you redress the songs today with modern production, they would still stand the test of time.
That enduring quality of ABBAs music is replicated in the
success ABBA The Concert have enjoyed with their tribute
act. Fast was one of the groups founding members in 1996,
and since then, theyve played to crowds in over thirty countries and regularly sell out venues such as the Hollywood
Bowl and Wolf Trap, where theyll perform this weekend.
We benefit from them not being around anymore, Fast
acknowledges, noting that the real ABBA completed just
three tours only one of which visited the U.S. and have
refused to reunite since their split in 1982. But the concerts
success hasnt come simply because of a dearth of official
ABBA performances. We get good reviews and word of
mouth. Most people who come to our concerts want to
remember the 70s, and now theyre bringing their kids.
This is the closest thing they can get to ABBA. We have fun
on stage. Its not just a couple of mannequins playing. Its
the real deal.
After twenty years of non-stop ABBA, Fast has understandably tired of a couple of songs. One song, Ring Ring,
Ive had it with that, he acknowledges with a laugh. But Fast
keeps his love for the biggest hits alive with his burgeoning
songwriting career hes penned tracks for Australian artist
Tina Arena, South Korean boy band EXO, and has enjoyed
five million record sales in Japan from artists using his
tracks. That second career, the gravy on top of performing
as ABBA, allows him to continue to appreciate their music.
Perhaps appropriately, Fasts favorite track is one from

near the end of ABBAs career, which signalled that the
groups personal troubles were insurmountable.
I would say When All Is Said and Done, he says. I
really love that song. Its a nice moment in our concerts.

Rhuaridh Marr
ABBA The Concert plays Sunday, Aug. 16, at 8 p.m. at The
Filene Center at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets
are $25 to $42. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
23
SPOTLIGHT
LITTLE BLACK BOOKS: ARCHIVES
OF AMERICAN ART
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PANCAKES & BOOZE ART SHOW
An exhibition that would be harder and less interesting to pull off in

todays mobile-based culture, Little
Black Books: Address Books from
the Archives of American Art features a handful of personal address
books of influential American artists.
Pocket volumes of scrawled names
and numbers on display come from
artists including Jackson Pollock,
Lee Krasner, Joseph Cornell and
Ad Reinhardt. Now through Nov. 1.
Smithsonians Archives of American
Art, 8th and F Streets. NW. Call 202633-7940 or visit aaa.si.edu.
LOCAL BREWS LOCAL GROOVES
Griddle
Art
Pancakes and Booze Art Show showcases over 50 emerging local artists
alongside syrupy treats and alcohol
VER WANTED TO GRAB A DRINK OR LISTEN TO HOUSE MUSIC WHILE

perusing some art? What about scarf pancakes? This weekend, at the Pancakes and
Booze Art Show, you can do just that while enjoying the art of dozens of indie artists.
Just make sure you dont spill maple syrup on the artwork.
Tom Kirlin held the first Pancakes and Booze Art Show in 2009 at his unoccupied photography studio in Los Angeles, Calif. I had all this space and great walls for hanging art,
he says. But he didnt want it to be just a regular art space. He wanted it to bring people
together. And thats where the pancakes come in.
When I was in college, the only place that was open after a night of drinking was IHOP,
Kirlin says. I always had this silly idea to make a pancake restaurant with a full bar. So with
the Art Show, I just merged the two ideas together.
Six years later, the Pancakes and Booze Art Show has been to over twenty cities and featured thousands of artists from across the country. We attract a lot of young artists, Kirlin
says. Or artists that might not have ever shown their work before. The gallery system is so
hard to get into its so snobby. Our show is non-pretentious, and its a cool way to exhibit
these young artists work.
One such artist is Jae Martin Cox. A native of New York City, Martin learned his art on the
streets. I was a pretty unknown graffitist, he admits. Now, his work combines the bright colors of graffiti and the block shapes of abstract style to create a new genre he calls graffstract.
Says the Philadelphia-based artist, Graffiti is always evolving. I want to capture that feeling
of motion and put it down on canvas.
Pancakes and Booze gives artists like Cox the opportunity to not only showcase their great
work, but to hang out with a diverse group of artists. Its so open, he says. No one is segregated. No one is better than anyone else. Once youre there, youre just having fun. Kirlin
agrees. Some people come for the art, some for the music, and some just for the pancakes,
he says. Regardless, youre going to have a good time. Connor J. Hogan
The Pancake and Booze Art Show will be held on Thursday, August 20th at 7 p.m. at Penn
Social, 801 E St NW. Tickets are $5. Visit pancakesandbooze.com for more information.
24
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
Billed as the Ultimate Craft Beer and

Music Festival, Fillmore Silver Spring
hosts this DC Beer Week event where
over 50 beers from more than 18 local
breweries will be sampled while local
bands and DJs perform on stage. The
Washington City Paper presents this
event featuring music by Kristen and
the Noise, the Blatant Eighties, Jimi
Smooth & Hittime, the Regal Beagles,
Ozker, Lancedontdance and Billy Doll.
Saturday, Aug. 15, at 4 p.m. Fillmore
Silver Spring, 8656 Colesville Road,
Silver Spring. Tickets are $10 to $30,
or $60 for VIP including early entry
for exclusive tastings. Call 301-9609999 or visit fillmoresilverspring.com.
ONCE
HHHHH
Once is one of those quiet, understated shows that will sneak up and
surprise you. Featuring a book by celebrated Irish playwright Enda Walsh,
Once focuses on a man, Guy (Stuart
Ward), who is about to give up on
his music until a mysterious woman,
Girl (Dani De Waal), enters the picture and becomes his muse. Soon the
pair are making hauntingly beautiful
music together, which is all the more
powerful because it expresses their
love for each other in a way that they
never fully realize otherwise. Music
becomes the couples primary outlet
for conveying their feelings toward
one another. And several of Glen
Hansard and Marketa Irglovas dramatic folk-inflected rock songs here
would be chart-toppers if there were
any justice in the pop music world
or at least if this were an earlier
era when musicals had that kind of
mainstream sway. Every actor in Once
plays an instrument, and the ensemble
becomes the shows orchestra, sitting
on the edge of Bob Crowleys set tugging on strings when not part of the
central action. The effect is as subtly smart and seamless as everything
else about this show, including Steven
Hoggetts graceful choreography.
Closes this Sunday, Aug. 16. Kennedy
Center Eisenhower Theater. Tickets
are $65 to $160. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org. (Doug Rule)
SILENCE! THE MUSICAL
HHHHH
Perhaps youve heard the buzz about
Jon Kaplan and Alan Kaplans musical, with a book by Hunter Bell. Yes,
this is that show, the unauthorized
parody of the 24-year-old cinematic classic The Silence of the Lambs.
Silence! strips away the films focus
on horror, replacing it with nutty, offkilter, sexualized humor. Featuring
lewd sight gags, uproariously perverse rounds of dialogue and gleefully vulgar songs, its about as wild
and whacked out as a professional
show ever gets. Alan Paul directs this
90-minute, intermission-less show at
Studio Theatre, set in the companys
intimate upper-level Stage 4 space
with a full bar. Laura Jordan earns
the biggest applause for her deadpan work in the tricky role of Clarice
Starling, the aspiring FBI agent and
West Virginia hick with a comically exaggerated lisp. And Tom Story
manages to make Buffalo Bill a more
multi-dimensional character than the
films one-note transgressive transsexual. And then theres the ensemble
adorned with white ears and hoofs,
gamboling around the stage and into
the crowd. These little lambs will
make you laugh and smile, and then
laugh some more. Extended to Aug.
23. Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets
NW. Tickets are $40 to $45. Call 202332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.
(Doug Rule)
SUMMER HUMMER IV: FOREPLAY
About four years ago, theatreWashington, which serves the regions thriving
theater community and organizes the
annual Helen Hayes Awards, started
the Taking Care of Our Own initiative to support theater artists in times
of financial need. Its annual Summer
Hummer has become a key way of
showing support, raising upwards of
$25,000 for the cause. Youll see some
skin, burlesque and other ribald antics
at this years Summer Hummer, hosted at Signature Theatre and directed
by the companys Eric Schaeffer and
Matthew Gardiner. Nova Payton,
Nicholas Rodriguez, Tracy Lynn
Olivera, Sherri L. Edelen and Carolyn
Cole perform along with stripteases
by the Jockstrap Boys and Foreplay
Pasties. featuring some 60 local performers. Monday, Aug. 17, at 7:30 p.m.
and 9:30 p.m., at Signature Theatre,
4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington.
Tickets are $35, or $100 for VIP
reserved seating. Call 202-337-4572 or
visit theatrewashington.org.
TOM TEASLEY: THE

ADVENTURES OF PRINCE
ACHMED
Constellation Theatre Company offers

four screenings of Lotte Reinigers
1926 visually spectacular film The
Adventures of Prince Achmed the
first full-length animated film to boot
here enhanced with live music, an
original score by Helen Hayes Awardwinning composer and world music

percussionist Tom Teasley. Based on
The Arabian Nights, the film has its
heroic prince riding a magical flying
horse into wondrous adventures and
falling in love with Princess Peri Banu
though he must defeat an army of
demons to win her heart. Teasley will
accompany the screening in a presentation that Constellation hopes to
make an annual offering of its theater
season.
Thursday, Aug. 13 and Friday, Aug. 14,
at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 15, at 3
p.m. and 8 p.m. Source Theatre, 1835
14th St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $45.
Call 202-204-7741 or visit constellationtheatre.org.
UKEFEST 2015
Grammy Award-winning folk musicians Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer,

partners in music and life, present the
seventh annual UkeFest at Strathmore
featuring several events, all devoted
to the signature Hawaiian instrument
the ukulele. The festival includes:
a Uke and Guitar Summit for established or aspiring string musicians
featuring jam sessions, concerts and
music workshops, on Saturday, Aug.
15, at 9 a.m.; and the free capstone
event, the UkeFest itself, featuring
performances by Fink and Marxer,
James Hill & Anne Janelle, Jeff
Peterson and Del Rey, on Wednesday,
Aug. 19, at 7 p.m. Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.

No tickets required for UkeFest, the
Summit costs $370. Call 301-581-5100
or visit strathmore.org.
ZAC BROWN BAND WITH THE

AVETT BROTHERS
An eight-piece band from Georgia

straddling the Southern rock/country
divide, the Zac Brown Band is led by
its namesake vocalist/guitarist but also
includes Jimmy De Martini, who doubles as a violinist/fiddler, John Driskell
Hopkins, a bassist/ukulele player, and
two percussionists, Chris Fryar and
Daniel de los Reyes. Live Nation presents the bands Jekyll + Hyde Tour
at Nationals Park. It features another Southern band straddling a sonic
divide, North Carolina-based the
Avett Brothers, who merge bluegrass
and rock. Friday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m.
Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol St.
NE. Tickets are $51.50 to $108.50. Call
202-675-6287 or visit livenation.com.
FILM
AMY
HHHHH
A new documentary about the late
singer Amy Winehouse, Amy interrogates the tragic side of performance
and public identity. Directed by Asif
Kapadia, a filmmaker known for the
2010 biography Senna, the movie earnestly charts Winehouses rise from
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
25
early adolescence in Londons suburbs

to the crushing pressure of worldwide
acclaim, accompanied by the drug
addictions that ultimately killed her
at age 27. Amy isnt a hagiography,
very far from it, but it never hesitates
to laud Winehouses talent. The triumph of Amy is Winehouses wit and
charm away from the microphone.
Shes shown to be whip-smart, a wily
thinker with little patience for nonsense. Again and again, Kapadia uses
Winehouses own words to frame the
irony of her career. Winehouse died
four years ago. Kapadias documentary is one of the first major attempts to
define her legacy. Now playing. Area
theaters. Visit fandango.com. (Chris
Heller)
BUGS BUNNY CARTOONS: 75TH

ANNIVERSARY SCREENING
In honor of its 75th anniversary,

the American Film Institutes Silver
Theatre treats fans of the cartoon
Bugs Bunny and who isnt a fan?
to a selection of some of the best.
The animated shorts are grouped into
different programs, with remaining
screen times Saturday, Aug. 15, and
Sunday, Aug. 16, at 11:30 a.m. AFI
Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road,
Silver Spring. Tickets are $5. Call 301495-6720 or visit afi.com/Silver.
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
F. Gary Gray directs this biopic following the rise and fall of N.W.A., the
group featuring Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and
the late Easy-E that revolutionized
hip-hop and pioneered the gangsta
rap style all through documenting the
violently dangerous surroundings of
its hometown of Compton, California.
Opens Friday, Aug. 14. Area theaters.
Visit fandango.com.
THE ROCKY HORROR

PICTURE SHOW
Every Friday and Saturday Landmarks

E Street Cinema shows films at midnight that are more risqu or campy
than the usual fare. And, no surprise,
once a month brings screenings of
a certain cult classic. Each screening is accompanied by the shadow
cast Sonic Transducers, who act out
the film in front of the screen with
props and costumes. Friday, Aug. 14,
and Saturday, Aug. 15, at midnight.
Landmarks E Street Cinema, 555 11th
St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or visit
landmarktheatres.com.
STAGE
26 PEBBLES: PLAY READING
The March on Washington for Gun

Control presents a benefit reading of a
Newtown documentary theater piece
by Eric Ulloa. Named in honor of
the 26 children killed at Sandy Hook
Elementary in 2012, 26 Pebbles is based
on interviews with Newtown residents. Edward Gero, Naomi Jacobson,
Dorea Schmidt, Lise Bruneau, Hannah
Willman and Joshua Morgan participate in this reading organized and
hosted by Molly Smith, the artistic
26
AUGUST 13, 2015
director of Arena Stage. Monday,

Aug. 24, at 8 p.m. Mead Center for
American Theater, 1101 6th St. SW.
Tickets are $20. Call 202-488-3300 or
visit arenastage.org.
JULIUS CAESAR
Founded shortly after World War

II, the National Players has helped
launch the careers of many young
stage and performance artists, often
giving them their debut in professional work out of college. This national
touring company offers two shows on
the Historic Stage at its home base of
Olney Theatre, including a production
next month of Charles Dickenss A
Tale of Two Cities. But first up is the
Bards masterful, timeless examination of conspiracy and assassination,
and the political fallout that results.
Colin Hovde directs this Julius
Caesar. Closes this Sunday, Aug. 16.
Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md.
visit olneytheatre.org.
OLIVER!
Adventure Theatre MTC offers a production at Bethesdas Round House

Theatre of Lionel Barts bittersweet
classic musical, based on the Dickens
novel, about the porridge-demanding orphan. Joseph Ritsch directs a
cast including local knockouts Rick
Hammerly and Felicia Curry. Closes
this Sunday, Aug. 16. Round House
Theatre, 4545 East-West Highway,
Bethesda. Tickets are $50 to $60. Call
240-644-1100 or visit adventuretheatre-mtc.org.
PSYCHO BEACH PARTY
The Richmond Triangle Players

offer the perfect summer stage show,
Charles Buschs campy ode to the
original surfer flicks imagine Gidget
crossed with Mommie Dearest. Penny
Ayn Maas directs. Closes this Sunday,
Aug. 15. Richmond Triangle Players,
1300 Altamont Ave. Richmond. Call
804-346-8113 or visit rtriangle.org.
THE BOOK OF MORMON
Yes indeed, the biggest show on

Broadway in the last decade returns
to the Kennedy Center after 2013s
initial sold out run. Tickets are thankfully easier to come by the second
time around, particularly since it
now runs for two months. Written
by South Parks Trey Parker and Matt
Stone, the riotously funny, audacious
musical, which won a whopping nine
Tony Awards, is both cutting edge in
shocking substance yet traditional in
style. The Book of Mormon may weave
in unexpected and provocative plot
twists and scenes as well as convey
extremely modern sensibilities about
life, culture and organized religion.
Yet it still hews to the standard musical mold, from repeated musical lines
and lyrics, to boisterous sing-along
group anthems, to sharp group choreography and a tap number. Closes
this Sunday, Aug. 16. Kennedy Center
Opera House. Tickets are $43 to $250.
Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedycenter.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
THE FIX
Signature Theatre opens its 20152016 season with a revival of John

Dempsey and Dana P. Rowes insideWashington musical satire. It comes
17 years after the company staged the
shows U.S. premiere and after presenting its composers other works,
from Brother Russia to The Witches
of Eastwick. Mark Evans, Lawrence
Redmond, Christine Sherrill and
Bobby Smith lead the cast for this
scandalous, rock-laced show with the
tagline Whatever it takes to win,
about a woman who strives to make
her son president after her husband,
a popular presidential candidate, dies
in his mistresss arms. Now to Sept.
20. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell
Ave., Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or
visit signature-theatre.org.
MUSIC
DJ EDDIE ELIAS
AT SHORTFUZE AFTERHOURS
This weekend, 14th Streets subterranean club Tropicalia hosts another

gay-oriented party, the ShortFuze
AfterHours, which welcomes one of
New Yorks best afterhours DJs, Eddie
Elias. Elias hosts and spins the popular Verve party in New York after the
special Sundays Alegria event. While
straight, Elias told Metro Weekly a few
years ago before his debut at Town: I
just love the energy that the gay crowd
brings. The gay crowd, they come out
for the music and the DJ. The straight
crowd, theyre not really paying attention. Sunday, Aug. 16, from 3 a.m. to
9 a.m. Tropicalia, 2001 14th St. NW.
visit tropicaliadc.com.
EMPRESARIOS, BLACK MASALA
Arlingtons own Tropicaliente band

is gaining increasing international
attention with its urban blend of Latin
funk, cumbia, dub and reggaeton. The
Empresarios return to the Hamilton
for a concert with Black Masala, an
eight-piece D.C. band featuring members from Thievery Corporation.
Friday, Aug. 21. Doors at 7 p.m. The
Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW. Tickets
are $15 to $20. Call 202-787-1000 or
visit thehamiltondc.com.
GLADYS KNIGHT
AND THE OJAYS
All aboard the Midnight Train to

Wolf Trap next Saturday, Aug. 22,
when Gladys Knight Empress of
Soul performs with 70s-minted
Philadelphia soul group The OJays,
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.
Saturday, Aug. 22, at 8 p.m. The Filene
Center at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road,
Vienna. Tickets are $30 to $60. Call
877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.
HOWARD JONES
The British electronic-pop pioneer

returns to put on another fascinating
D.C. show, this time at the Hamilton.
Live, Howard Jones proves himself a good if eccentric singer with
equally good, eccentric instrumenta-
tion, including an expansive electronic

drum kit even some large electronic
thundersticks he hits the floor with.
Accompanied by two other electronic
instrumentalists, Jones will perform
his 80s-minted hits, from the touching
No One Is To Blame to the rousing
Things Can Only Get Better. Thirtytwo-year-old Russian-born American
pop artist Marina V opens. Tuesday,
Aug. 18. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The
Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW. Tickets
are $30 to $35. Call 202-787-1000 or
visit thehamiltondc.com.
OVERDOZ.
Drawing comparisons to Outkast,

Funkadelic
and
the
Digital
Underground, OverDoz. is a new hiphop/R&B group out of Los Angeles.
The 9:30 Club presents the groups
D.C. debut in a concert at U Street
Music Hall. Saturday, Aug. 15. Doors
at 7 p.m. U Street Music Hall, 1115A U
St. NW. Tickets are $15. Call 202-5881880 or visit ustreetmusichall.com.
PONCHO SANCHEZ
AND HIS LATIN JAZZ BAND
The Texas-born conga player and salsa

singer got his start 40 years ago performing in Cal Tjaders famed Latin
jazz ensemble, but has lead his own
Grammy-winning Latin jazz band for
23 years now. Latin jazz is the worlds
greatest music, Sanchez boasts. With
music this rousing, its hard to disagree.
Friday, Aug. 14, through Sunday, Aug.
16, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Blues Alley,
1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Tickets are
$40, plus $12 minimum purchase. Call
202-337-4141 or visit bluesalley.com.
THE BUMPER JACKSONS
As part of its free nightly Millennium

Stage programming, the Kennedy
Center presents a concert by this local
folk/roots six-piece fronted by vocalist/clarinetist Jess Eliot Myhre. The
Bumper Jacksons tour in support of its
new album Too Big World. Wednesday,
Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center
Millennium Stage. Free. Call 202-4674600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
WOLF TRAP ORCHESTRA:

DISNEY IN CONCERT
Magical Music from the Movies

is the focus of this concert featuring songs from Frozen, Aladdin, The
Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and
many more. Dirk Hillyer conducts the
Wolf Trap Orchestra as synchronized
images from the films are displayed on
huge screens. Friday, Aug. 21, at 8 p.m.
The Filene Center at Wolf Trap, 1551
Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $25
to $60. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit
wolftrap.org.
COMEDY
JON LOVITZ
The Saturday Night Live alum and

character actor, known for Big and
A League of Their Own, returns to
Arlington for another weekend run of
his standup. Friday, Aug. 21, at 7:30
p.m. and 10 p.m., and Saturday, Aug.

22, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Arlington
Cinema N Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia
Pike, Arlington. Tickets are $30. Call
703-486-2345 or visit arlingtondrafthouse.com.
FIVE MINUTES TO FUNNY

GRADUATION SHOWCASE
Instructor Chris Coccia leads this

regular showcase of graduates of
the four-week DC Improv Comedy
School. This months edition features
Catalino Cuadrado III, Lee Gimpel,
Frank James, Mike Litt, Valerie Perry,
Vic Torre, Clinton Smith, Aaron
Tessler, Katelyn Vermeyen and Alan
Wilbur. Thursday, Aug. 20, at 8 p.m.
DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave.
NW. Tickets are $10, plus a two-item
minimum. Call 202-296-7008 or visit
dcimprov.com.
GALLERIES
INGENUE TO ICON: HILLWOODS
FASHION EXHIBITION
Subtitled 70 Years of Fashion from the

Collection of Marjorie Merriweather
Post, the Hillwood Museum offers a
special exhibition focused on the elegant fashions and sumptuous fabrics
documenting the evolution of 20th
Century fashion and all drawn, naturally, from the late Hillwood owner
who gave the place so much style.
Through Dec. 31. Hillwood Estate,
4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested

donation is $12. Call 202-686-5807 or
visit HillwoodMuseum.org.
JONATHAN WEINER: A JOURNEY

DOWN THE POTOMAC
The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop presents a selection of photographs from

local artist Jonathan Weiners threeyear endeavor tracing the Potomac
River, from its humble origin in the
Appalachian Mountains to its grand
joining with the Cheseapeake Bay
with stops along the way, naturally
including its run through the nations
capital. Closes this Saturday, Aug.
15. The Gallery at Capitol Hill Arts
Workshop, 545 7th St. SE. Call 202547-6839 or visit chaw.org.
ONE LIFE: DOLORES HUERTA
The National Portrait Gallery offers

its first exhibition devoted to a Latino
figure. Dolores Heurta co-founded the
National Farm Workers Association
with Cesar Chavez in 1962 and fought
for the passage of the California
Agricultural Labor Relations Act of
1975. Taina Caragol curated an exhibition that vividly traces the 13 years
between those two actions. Through
May 15. National Portrait Gallery, 8th
and F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300
or visit npg.si.edu.
UNDER A SUMMER SUN
Del Ray Artisans offers this summer-themed art exhibit as part of

its Gallery Without Walls program
and presented at the Vola Lawson
Animal Shelter. Participating artists donate 40 percent of each sale
to be shared equally by the nonprofit
arts group and the Animal Welfare
League of Alexandria. Through Sept.
27. Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, 4101
Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria.
VANESSA BELLS HOGARTH

PRESS DESIGNS
Virginia Woolfs younger sister was

one of Englands most famous postimpressionist painters. Vanessa
Bell helped start what became the
Bloomsbury Group of writers, artists
and intellectuals in London between
World Wars. But she also designed
many of the book covers for Hogarth
Press, simple arts-and-crafts designs,
with recurrent geometries and lowercase lettering, and featured in this
exhibition. Through Nov. 13. National
Museum of Women in the Arts. 1250
New York Ave NW. Admission is $10.
Call 202-783-5000 or visit nmwa.org.
ABOVE AND BEYOND
tribute to musicals with fellow zany

drag and variety show performers
Charlie Artful, Glittery Ass-ettes,
Venessa Chevelle and Jezabelle Von
Jane, with Aerial Gypsy Burlesque.
Saturday, Aug. 15. Doors at 9 p.m.
Bier Baron Tavern, 1523 22nd St. NW.
Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at
the door. Call 202-293-1887 or visit
inlovewithbier.com.
LA-TI-DO
Regie Cabico and Don Mike Mendozas

La-Ti-Do variety show is neither karaoke nor simply cabaret. In addition
to higher-quality singing than most
impromptu karaoke, Cabico and cohost Mendoza also select storytellers
who offer spoken-word poetry and
comedy. Now held at James Hobans
on Dupont Circle, the shows in August
feature accompanist Alex Tang, affiliated with the Gay Mens Chorus of
Washington, Hilary Morrow and other
DC Actors for Animals performers
who have either rescued or fostered
an animal. Next Monday, Aug. 17, the
Washington Humane Society will
offer two rescues available for adoption.. Monday nights at 8 p.m. James
Hobans Irish Restaurant & Bar, 1
Dupont Circle NW. Tickets are $15, or
only $7 if you eat dinner at the restaurant beforehand. Call 202-223-8440 or
visit latidodc.wix.com/latidodc. l
BROADWAY BOMBSHELLS: A
VARIETY SHOW TRIBUTE
Glit-o-Rama Productions, led by Chris

Griffin aka Lucrezia Blozia, hosts a
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
27
film
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

is all style, no substance
and thats a good thing
by CHRIS HELLER
EMEMBER WHEN SPY MOVIES WERE FUN?

Before every Bond flick was treated as high art?
Before Daniel Craig? Remember The Spy Who
Loved Me, a very silly movie that believed Roger
Moore could fight baddies on the ski slopes and turn a car into
a submarine? That particular style of hammy self-awareness has
been a key feature of the spy movie since its inception, but you
wouldnt know it by watching Skyfall.
Thats not to say Craigs Bond isnt riveting, or that his movies arent great. But the genre has been due for a course correc28
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
tion for some time, and its finally arrived. Kingsman: The Secret
Service established a beachhead last year, and now, The Man
From U.N.C.L.E. is storming in.
U.N.C.L.E. is all style, no substance. And thats meant as a
compliment. Each character is dressed handsomely, as if they
just stepped off a Milan catwalk. The story itself is a little wisp
of diddly squat it involves rogue nuclear technology, or something but thankfully, no one seems all too interested in it. Not
the actors, not the screenwriters, and certainly not the director,
Guy Ritchie. Yes, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is exactly what it
should be: a cool, stylish, fun caper. And Ritchie, despite his
flaws, is the right man to pull it off.
Set in 1963, along the border of the Iron Curtain, The Man
From U.N.C.L.E. pairs American spy Napoleon Solo (Henry
Cavill), with Soviet spy Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer). A thief
turned international man of mystery, Solo is something of a debonair cad. He quips; he seduces; his hair always looks fantastic.
Kuryakin is a brute in comparison. Hes a large man, awkward
around women, and about as subtle as Hammers ridiculous
accent. Their mission? Protect Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander),
DANIEL SMITH
Spy Games
daughter of Hitlers favorite rocket scientist, and thwart the

plans of Victoria Vinciguerra (Elizabeth Debicki), a fascist hellbent on destabilizing the Cold War with a nuclear warhead or
something along those lines. Again: The story isnt important.
All you need to know is that Solo and Kuryakin are forced to
team up. Its a classic sort of odd couple pairing, and The Man
From U.N.C.L.E. mines it for a lot of physical comedy. (A boat
chase, staged midway through the movie, is Ritchies slyest
visual joke in years.) Cavill and Hammer dont build a comfortable rapport with each other certainly not as well as Robery
Downey Jr. and Jude Law did in Ritchies Sherlock Holmes
series so theres a hard limit to how well they work on-screen
together. The actors are fun, but theyre all working in their own
glass boxes. Vikander isnt given much to do at all, so shes stuck
bouncing between tart damsel and mysterious threat. Debicki
is a fantastic villain, all sharp edges and smoky eyes, but shes
rarely given the chance to play against anyone else. Thats the
problem with a cool movie: everyone is ice cold.
And yes, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is very, very cool. Its
preoccupied with its own coolness. The suits are impeccably
tailored; the mod dresses impossibly stylish; the actors impiously
beautiful. Costume designer Joanna Johnston clearly had a field
day with the project. As the story jetsets across Europe, from
Berlin to Rome, Daniel Pembertos groovy score pipes in with
snippets of Ennio Morricone, Nine Simone, and Tom Z. Its all
just so cool. Maybe too cool: at times, it seems like Ritchie cant
decide if he wants to crib from Soderbergh or Leone. This is a
movie for people who like to look at, and listen to, pretty things.
Is that enough to overcome The Man From U.N.C.L.E.s
flaws? Cavill isnt exactly a bore, as his reputation would suggest, but hes not as charming as he needs to be. Richie stumbles
whenever he tries to deploy dramatic irony several scenes

hide crucial twists from the audience, only to reveal them, toothlessly, minutes afterward and late in the second act, he nearly
derails everything with a bizarre, incredibly distasteful montage
about the Holocaust. When The Man From U.N.C.L.E. sticks
with the slick, the cartoonish, and the superficial, its a treat.
When it doesnt, the gilding flakes off fast.
Still, its a welcome change for the genre. And its a relief to
see Ritchie offer an alternative to grit and realism, to watch as he
injects self-awareness into a movie thats begging to tease itself.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. doesnt set out to be the next great spy
movie, and because of that, its a perfectly good one. l
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (HHHHH) is rated PG-13 and runs 116
minutes. Opens Friday in area theaters.
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
29
games
Rare Gem
Rare Replay offers a mixed bag
of games, but its a staggering
amount of content for the money
by RHUARIDH MARR
OR A MERE $30, GAMERS CAN ENJOY OVER

thirty years of nostalgia, wit, charm and incredible
gameplay from one of gamings most storied and
venerated studios. From the pixelated glory days of
the ZX Spectrum through to the high-definition Xbox 360, Rare
Replay is a compilation of Rares wares spanning the developers
thirty-two-year history.
Exclusive to the Xbox One Microsoft snapped up Rare in
the early 00s there are thirty games crammed into the collection. Not all are on the disc, however, should you choose a
physical copy. While the disc only demands 11 GB of space on
your Xbox, eight titles originally released on Xbox 360 have to
be downloaded to your console such are the requirements
of Microsofts backwards compatibility system. In total, Rare
Replay will consume 50 GB of space, 38 of which youll need to
download. Youd better have a speedy internet connection.
Once everything has downloaded and installed, however,
the experience is (mostly) seamless. Rare has gone to incredible
lengths with this collection, particularly on the presentation
front. Boot up Rare Replay and youll be greeted with an all-sing30
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
ing, all-dancing musical number featuring dozens of characters

from the companys games, extolling the virtues of their various
franchises. Its marvellous I watched it every time I reloaded
the game, its that good. It also establishes nicely Rares theme
for presenting the games: a theater, with every title contained
within. You scroll through animated posters for each game, complete with unique effects and soundtracks, while clicking on a
specific poster will throw giant red curtains onto the screen that
then open to reveal your game of choice.
Its incredibly slick, however the games that are pulled in
from the Xbox 360 live in their own separate worlds you can
access them from within Rare Replay, but youll then boot into
Microsofts emulation software for 360 titles. Its jarring, but
the ease with which you can move back into Rare Replay proper
negates any ill effects.
What, though, of the actual content of the thirty games Rare
and Microsoft has procured for this collection? Well, for starters, dont get your hopes up for all of Rares Nintendo classics to
be here. Donkey Kong and GoldenEye are nowhere to be found,
as Nintendo still owns their rights, while dozens of other titles
from Rares glory days on the NES are missing. Replay is, instead,
more of a highlights reel of the studios history, rather than an
exhaustive list of their accomplishments. Unfortunately, however, that highlights reel is a little faded in places.
Nostalgia fans will get the biggest kick out of this bundle.
There are several classic titles here that helped define the 80s
gaming scene. Rares first game, when they were known as
Ultimate Play The Game (theres a mouthful), was released back
in 1983. Jetpac was critically acclaimed in its day. Its deceptively simple gameplay an astronaut floating around a small
stage, collecting pieces for his rocket as aliens attack him was
bolstered by a steep difficulty curve, while graphics and sound
effects were highly polished (for the time). Or take 84s Knight
Lore, a game that used isometric 3D to such a great effect that it
helped popularize the genre and spawned a number of clones,
while its use of a world rather than fixed stages was notable
at the time. And of course theres Sabre Wulf, whose beautiful
graphics, maze adventure gameplay and punishing difficulty
made it a fan favorite and sales success in 84.
However, what these games all have in common is the
simple and, yes obvious fact that they are now very dated.
With the possible exception of Jetpac, the first seven games in
Rare Replay are incredibly frustrating to play. Yes, theyre difficult, but its their outdated control schemes that really hinder
progress. Knight Lore, in particular, is almost unplayable, given
the inaccurate placement of its character within its isometric
world. Theres also a notable amount of repetition in gameplay
themes while each game has its own unique identity, several
simply blend together in their core objectives. Of course, its
harsh to critique them from a modern viewpoint after decades
of refinement and progress, but it should be noted that while
fun to drop into theres only a small minority who will actually
complete these first few games.
Get into the NES-era, though, and things improve remarkably. These titles have stood the test of time, both in graphics
and gameplay. R.C. Pro Am and its sequel feel remarkably tight
as you throw its R.C. cars around tight bends and over jumps.
Cobra Triangle is an utterly magnificent game that constantly
switches from racer to combat to puzzle to challenge as you pilot
your speedboat its graphics also scream Classic NES. Solar
Jetman is as difficult as ever, but keeping your spacecraft aloft
with its surprisingly mature physics feels as good as it did
in 1990. Then theres Battletoads. Famed for its punishing difficulty, crude humor, incredible graphics and constantly changing gameplay, if youre one of the few skilled/mad enough to
complete it, you have my infinite respect. (Ive always preferred
Battletoads Arcade, which is included here its a more direct
beat-em-up game, but it feels stupendously good to play despite
releasing over twenty years ago.)
Really, Rare should be commended for all of these releases.
Theyre presented in 1080p, with every crisp pixel squeezed
into the original 4:3 aspect ratio (a stylized border surrounds
each game to fill out widescreen displays, though this can be
deactivated). For purists, theres even a CRT filter that can be
activated to mimic the style of old CRT televisions. Its eerily
accurate, complete with lined screen and bulging sides, but most
will ignore it. Rare has also included an auto-save feature and
a VCR-style Rewind feature that lets players go back seven
seconds in each of these sixteen titles, offering a redo of sorts for
any egregious errors.
Clearly a lot of effort went into making these old games look
their best on our modern, Ultra HD screens. However, the same
cant be said of some of Rares N64 efforts. Yes, theres 1080p
resolution and the Xboxs anti-aliasing and extra oomph means
that theyre looking their best but Rare has made no attempt
to update graphics or improve textures, something that really
stands out in 3D games far more than on 2D NES titles. These
are the games as we all remember them, but thats not always a
good thing.
Killer Instinct Golds 2D sprites looked blurry and outdated
back in 1996, so theres no reason this fighting game will look
any better in 2014 stretched across 50-inches (your size will
of course vary). Plus, the original SNES game was much bet-
ter (your opinions will of course vary). Blast Corps, however,

remains as explosively good fun today as ever. Tasked with
clearing the route for a nuclear missile carrier, youll bash your
way through buildings, bridge gaps and jump between vehicles.
Sure, the destruction engine is rudimentary by todays standards,
but the gameplay keeps it feeling fresh.
Jet Force Gemini, meanwhile, is a reminder that you dont
have to go back to the 80s to find a truly unusable control
scheme. Just like on the N64, I gave up almost immediately on
Rares third-person shooter. Back in 97, its control scheme was
obtuse by modern shooter standards, but mapped to the Xbox
One it just doesnt work. Whereas the original used the N64s
C buttons, Rare inexplicably mapped the same controls to the
right analogue stick youll be flicking up to jump and down to
crouch, while moving left and right causes you to strafe. So many
complained that Rare have patched in Modern controls the
thumbsticks now (mostly) do what youd expect.
Another title than could really benefit from a patch is
Conkers Bad Fur Day. Rares glorious masterpiece, which mixed
toilet humor, curse words and cartoon gore into one incredible
game featuring a hungover squirrel is still an excellent game to
this day. However, this is the N64 version, not the Xbox remake,
Live and Reloaded. That means 4:3 presentation, inferior graphics and wonkier controls (who the hell inverts the cameras
horizontal plane?). Sure, the Xbox version was heavily censored,
but its controls and its widescreen, updated graphics made it a
much easier game to play. Its still a great game to play through,
but why Rare couldnt remove the censoring on the Xbox version and chuck that in instead is anyones guess.
Its all the more jarring given that Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie
and Perfect Dark all benefitted from HD remakes for the Xbox
360, so they look pretty incredible compared with the other N64
games. Perfect Dark in particular is gloriously crisp, but all three
shine in their own ways. The Banjo games in particular are typical Rare, crammed with humor, strong gameplay and loveable,
memorable characters.
Jump into the Xbox era and opinions will start to split.
Nintendo refused to buy Rare in the early 00s, which led to
Microsoft grabbing the studio for its first-party lineup. Since
then, gamers have been divided on Rares output, but its here
that the Rare Replay bundle really starts to shine in terms of
value. If you ignore the utterly average Grabbed by the Ghoulies
(as most did when it launched in 2003), there are seven high
quality titles to play and enjoy. From action beat-em-up Kameo
to the polarizing Perfect Dark Zero to another Banjo-Kazooie
game, theres a lot on offer here.
A personal favorite is Viva Piata. Rares farm simulation
swapped animals for colorful piata, each with their own candythemed name. It was slow, designed for casual gamers, tasking
players with turning a barren piece of land into a beautiful,
piata-filled farm. I loved it, playing the first one and its sequel
(also included) for many hours on the 360. Almost a decade
later, Viva Piata is still disarmingly pretty, while its relaxing
gameplay is the perfect way to end a long session with some of
Replays many other titles.
It did, however, throw up one of several issues I had with
Rare Replay. With this many games, it was never going to be perfect, but its the separation of the Xbox 360 titles that can cause
the most issues. Jumping into 360 games could occasionally
lead to crashes, or freezing, or the games not loading properly.
Viva Piata failed to detect my profile properly the first time I
Games continues on page 33
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
31
gears
Better Connected?
Cars are becoming increasingly
exposed to hackers as we
demand greater connectivity
from our vehicles
by RHUARIDH MARR
S CONSUMERS DEMAND EVER MORE SOphisticated infotainment systems in their cars,

the likelihood that they like our computers
and smartphones will be vulnerable to hacking
increases. Its a legitimate fear, as no one wants some aspect of
their vehicle controlled by a mysterious force, whether its the
air conditioning or the braking system.
However, most major hacking scandals that have affected
32
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
cars in recent years have demanded a pretty specific set of circumstances such as the hacker to be in said car. Not any more.
Take Chryslers blunder this summer.
Wireds Andy Greenberg reported last month on a serious
security flaw in Chryslers UConnect infotainment system, used
in a large number of Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler and Fiat cars. While
driving a Jeep Cherokee near St. Louis, Greenberg lost all control of his vehicle. The vents blasted freezing cold air, the ventilated seats activated, the radio played at full volume, the wipers
switched on and washer fluid coated the windscreen. Suddenly,
an image of two men appeared on the 8.4-inch center display
well-known hackers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek. Then,
they cut the Jeeps transmission, removing all power control
from Greenberg.
Thankfully, this was a controlled experiment, but it highlighted a serious flaw in the Jeeps systems. All the more troubling was that Miller and Valasek werent in the Jeep at the time
they were sitting ten miles away using a laptop. With a specific
code the two had developed, they could remotely take control
of most of the Jeeps systems via the internet. That included
the brakes, the steering, as well as tracking the Jeep via its GPS
system. The reason? The Cherokee utilizes internet connected
apps via Sprints network. Using a cars unique IP address,
the hackers could locate and take control of the vehicle using
their custom-written code. The vulnerability in the UConnect
software was so egregious that they could locate any Chrysler
vehicle with the right UConnect system across America.
From an attackers perspective, its a super nice vulnerability, Miller told Wired. [But] this might be the kind of software
bug most likely to kill someone.
When I saw we could do it anywhere, over the Internet, I
freaked out, Valasek added. I was frightened. It was like, holy
fuck, thats a vehicle on a highway in the middle of the country.
Car hacking got real, right then.
Chrysler was forced to recall 1.4 million vehicles in total,
offering an update to fix the exploit. The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation against
Harman Kardon, who manufactured the software for Chrysler.
Suddenly everyone was talking about how secure their cars are.
While the Chrysler hack required a certain infotainment
system, what if you could hack into a vehicle using something
a simpler method? What if you could take control of a car
with a text message? Thats exactly what researchers from the
University of San Diego accomplished. At the Usenix security
conference, they detailed that they had successfully taken control of a Chevrolet Corvette via a series of texts. Not to any infotainment system instead, they were sent to something millions
of Americans have: a small dongle from your insurance company
that tracks driving habits.
The dongles are plugged into the diagnostics ports of vehicles
and provide data to insurance companies that allows them to
adjust premiums depending on driving style. We acquired
some of these things, reverse-engineered them, and along the
way found that they had a whole bunch of security deficiencies,
Stefan Savage, computer security professor and the projects
leader, told Wired. Specifically, they were dongles by Mobile
Devices, used by insurance company Metromile Uber is a
customer for its pay-per-mile insurance plans, The Guardian
reports.
Mobile Devices shipped the dongles in developer mode, an
insecure software version that allows access to a vehicles critical systems. A lack of security protocols in the dongle enabled
the researchers to control just about anything on the vehicle
they were connected to, according to Savage. That included
wipers, brakes, transmission, steering, and even unlocking the
vehicle. A determined hacker could easily hijack a car with the
right text message.
Metromile has apparently updated the dongles to fix the flaw,
but its not a unique problem. Earlier this year, similar dongles
by Progressive were also proven hackable what would Flo say
about that? For consumers, it begs the question as to whether
companies are testing every aspect of their connected systems
to the same extent we expect from PC and smartphone makers
(though the recent flaws in iOS and Android would suggest that
no company is perfect).
Its something Tesla is taking seriously. Its Model S electric
sedan is essentially a giant, moving computer it is internet connected, always on and several functions can be controlled by the
owner from their smartphone. This June, they launched a bug
bounty program, offering cash incentives to hackers who could
expose flaws in their systems. Initial sums were a reported $25
to $1,000. That has now increased to $10,000 for specific vulnerabilities related to Teslas hardware, software and infrastructure
including their website and Powerwall home battery system.
Its already paying dividends. Mobile security company
Lookout identified six vulnerabilities in Teslas Model S that
allowed them to take control of the infotainment system and
utilize commands that can be carried out by the Tesla smartphone app. They could even unlock the doors, open the power
trunks (the Model S has two, front and rear) and start the electric motor. Two weeks after Tesla was notified, an update was
pushed to every Model S wirelessly to address the fix. Teslas
ability to remotely update an owners car without bringing it to a
dealer allows for fast and easy fixes.
Compare that to Chrysler: of the 1.4 million owners who need
their cars updated, its estimated that only a fraction will actually
do so. Last year, the LA Times reported that just 40% of recalled
vehicles were fixed. Thats an awful lot of cars on American
roads just waiting to be hacked. l
Games continued from page 31
played I spent two hours cultivating a garden only to realize
I couldnt save my progress. A couple of times, particularly in
the N64 titles, sound effects or audio also wouldnt play. These
occurrences have been rare (excuse the pun), but thats the tradeoff for this much content.
Speaking of which, for true Rare fans and there are lots of
them theyve has included several documentaries and features
about the studio and the makings of certain games. They are
fascinating insights into the history and backstory of some of
your favorite titles, but are oddly locked behind a unlockables
system. Playing games and completing certain milestones in the
games of Rare Replay will unlock stamps (there is also 10,000
Gamerscore on offer. Yes, really). These stamps will gradually
unlock the various featurettes about Rare. Sure, it encourages
you to play through the games, but for some of the older, more
frustrating titles, one wonders how many will be denied the
chance to see a film because they couldnt be bothered battling
with Knight Lores controls.
Theres still more to enjoy, though. Outside of the main
games, Rare has included Snapshots. These are bite-size chunks
of the first 16 titles, offered as individual challenges for players
to compete against one another in, including playlists, offering
rapid challenges in quick succession. Battletoads Turbo Tunnel
section is transformed into an endless runner, for instance,
while Jetpac will task you with killing a certain number of aliens
within a time limit. Snapshots are an interesting addition, one
which undoubtedly adds to each games replay value it also
offers quick, drop-in gameplay to those who dont want to commit to playing through a full game.
Really, though, that gamers have this much choice is nothing
short of astounding. Sure, not every game is a classic and some
are nigh on unplayable (curse you, early control schemes), but
theres still an incredible wealth of content here. Whats more,
Rare is polling gamers to see if there are any other games theyd
like to be released as DLC, so there could be even more to play
in the near future. That its all available for $30 is perhaps the
sweetest part of the deal Microsoft could have easily charged
full price and it would still be something of a bargain. For a dollar per game and with hundreds of hours of potential gameplay,
Rare Replay is an incredible dedication to one of gamings greatest developers. l
Rare Replay (HHHHH) is available now on Xbox One.
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
33
NIGHT
LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 08.13.15
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection
Music videos featuring
DJ Wess
ANNIES/ANNIES
UPSTAIRS
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Small Plates, $4 Stella
Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite,
$4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
$3 Rail Drinks, 10pmmidnight, $5 Red Bull,
Gatorade and Frozen
Virgin Drinks Stonewall
Darts Games Locker
Room Thursday Nights
DJs Sean Morris and
MadScience Ripped Hot
Body Contest at midnight,
hosted by Sasha J. Adams
and BaNaka $200 Cash
Prize Doors open 10pm,
18+ $5 Cover under 21
and free with college ID
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Hot Jock Contest, hosted
by Highwaymen TNT
Contest at 11:30pm
$100 Prize Package
Highwaymen TNT on
Club Bar
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
METROWEEKLY.COM
35
36
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
scene
DIK Bar
Saturday, August 8
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Throwback
Thursday featuring rock/
pop retro hits
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
$4 Drinks and $3 Draughts,
6-9pm
ZIEGFELDS SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
Tim-e in Secrets 9pm
Cover 21+
FRI., 08.14.15
9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
5-9pm Friday Night
Videos with resident DJ
Shea Van Horn VJ
Expanded craft beer selection No Cover
ANNIES
Martinis Upstairs open,
5-11pm
COBALT/30 DEGREES
All You Can Drink Happy
Hour $15 Rail and
Domestic, $21 Call &
Imports, 6-9pm Guys
Night Out Free Rail
Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6
Belvedere Vodka Drinks
all night Watch your
favorite music videos with
DJ MadScience in the
lounge DJ Keenan Orr
downstairs $10 cover
10pm-1am, $5 after 1am
21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
ShipMates of Baltimore on
Club Bar, 10pm-close $2
Draughts/Jello Shots
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night long The Men
of ONYX Mid-Atlantic
presents Uncover Your
Fetish, 10pm-2am
Featuring DJ Theo Storm
Go-Go Boys, Jello
Shots, Demonstrations
$5 Cover
JR.S
$2 Skyy Highballs and $2
Drafts, 10pm-midnight
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm Retro Friday
$5 Coronas, $8 Vodka Red
Bulls, 9pm-close
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

DJ Matt Bailey Videos,
Dancing Beat the Clock
Happy Hour $2 (5-6pm),
$3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm)
Buckets of Beer $15
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover
TOWN
DC Bear Crue Happy
Hour, 6-11pm $3 Rail,
$3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles
Free Pizza, 7pm No
cover before 9:30pm
21+ Drag Show starts at
10:30pm Hosted by Lena
Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-QueetaLee, Epiphany B. Lee
and BaNaka DJ Wess
upstairs, DJs BacK2bACk
downstairs GoGo Boys
after 11pm Doors open
at 10pm For those 21
and over, $5 from 10-11pm
and $10 after pm For
those 18-20, $12 all night
18+
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
before 10pm Cover after
10pm (entry through Town)
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers,
hosted by LaTroya Nicole
Ladies of Ziegfelds,
9pm Hosted by Miss
Destiny B. Childs DJ
Darryl Strickland in Secrets
VJ Tre in Ziegfelds
Cover 21+
SAT., 08.15.15
9 1/2
drink, 3-9pm $5 Absolut
& Titos, $3 Miller Lite
after 9pm Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover Music videos
featuring various DJs
METROWEEKLY.COM
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Drag Yourself to Brunch at
Level One, 11am-2pm and
2-4pm Featuring Kristina
Kelly and the Ladies of
Illusion Bottomless
Mimosas and Bloody
Marys Happy Hour:
$3 Miller Lite, $4 Rail,
$5 Call, 4-9pm Ladies
of LURe present BARE,
10pm-close Featuring
DJs Rosie and Keenan Orr
Drink specials all night
Doors open 10pm $5
before midnight, $7 after
21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 4-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Mr. DC Eagle 2015 - Dan
Ronneberg - hosting on
Club Bar, 10pm-close
$2 Draughts, Famous Jello
Shots
AUGUST 13, 2015
37
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Diner-style Breakfast
Buffet, 10am-3pm
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Freddies Follies Drag
Show, 8-10pm, hosted by
Miss Destiny B. Childs
No Cover
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long 495 Bears
presents Bears Can Dance,
9pm No Cover
JR.S
$4 Coors, $5 Vodka
Highballs, $7 Vodka Red
Bulls
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Guest DJs Zing Zang
Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer,
House Rail Drinks and
Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm
Buckets of Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
38
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
TOWN
DJ Billy Lace, 10pm-close
Music and video downstairs by DJ Wess Drag
Show starts at 10:30pm
Featuring special guest
Summer Camp in the show
Hosted by Lena Lett and
featuring Miss Tatianna,
Shi-Queeta-Lee, Epiphany
B. Lee and BaNaka
Doors open 10pm Cover
$10 from 10-11pm and $12
after 11pm 21+
TOWN PATIO
Open 2pm No Cover
before 9:30pm Cover
after 10pm (entry through
Town)
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion with host
Ella Fitzgerald, 9pm
DJ Steve Henderson in
Secrets DJ Don T. in
Ziegfelds Doors open
8pm Cover 21+
SUN., 08.16.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
$4 Stoli, Stoli flavors
and Miller Lite all day
Homowood Karaoke,
10pm-close No Cover
21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 2-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open noon
Barbecue Buffet with
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
10am-3pm Crazy Hour,
4-7pm Karaoke, 8pm1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Mamas Trailer Park
Karaoke, 9:30pm-close
JR.S
Sunday Funday Liquid
Brunch Doors open at
1pm $2 Coors Lights and
$3 Skyy (all flavors), all
day and night
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted by
Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am3pm $20 Brunch Buffet
House Rail Drinks, Zing
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
Beer and Mimosas, $4,
11am-close Buckets of
Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
Pop Goes the World with
Wes Della Volla at 9:30pm
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on
any drink, 3-9pm No
Cover
ROCK HARD SUNDAYS

@THE HOUSE
NIGHTCLUB
3530 Georgia Ave. NW
All male, all nude dancers
Appearing: Fernando
from Mexico City Shows
at 8 and 10pm $5
Domestic Beer, $6 Imports
Happy Hour 7-8pm
$10 cover rockharddc.
com
TOWN PATIO
Open 2pm No Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
8pm Cover 21+
MON., 08.17.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
ANNIES
Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail,
$3 Miller Lite, $5 Call,
4-9pm RuPauls Drag
Race Viewing and Drag
Show hosted by Kristina
Kelly Alexis Mateo
from RuPauls Drag Race
appears in the drag show
Doors open at 10pm,
show starts at 11pm
$3 Skyy Cocktails, $8
Skyy and Red Bull No
Cover, 18+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long
Michaels Open Mic
Night Karaoke, 9:30pmclose
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm Showtunes Songs
& Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ James $3 Draft
Pints, 8pm-midnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Texas Holdem
Poker, 8pm Dart Boards
NUMBER NINE
TUES., 08.18.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
ANNIES
$4 Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
SIN Industry Night
Half-price Cocktails, 10pmclose
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
METROWEEKLY.COM
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Birdie La Cage Show,
10:30pm Underground
(Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock),
9pm-close DJ Wes
Della Volla 2-for-1, 5pmmidnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Karaoke and
Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
Safe Word: A Gay Spelling
Bee, 8-11pm Prizes to
the top three spellers
After 9pm, $3 Absolut,
Bulleit & Stella
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
Yappy Hour: Happy Hour
for Dogs and their best
friends $4 Drinks and
$4 Draughts
AUGUST 13, 2015
39
40
SEE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE
WED., 08.19.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
ANNIES
$4 Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Stonewall Darts Playoffs
Wednesday Night
Karaoke downstairs, 10pm
Hosted by Miss Sasha
Adams $4 Stoli and Stoli
Flavors and Miller Lite
No Cover 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
Burgers Drag Bingo
Night, hosted by Ms.
Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm
Bingo prizes Karaoke,
10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close The Boys of
HUMP upstairs, 9pm
JR.S
Trivia with MC Jay Ray,
8pm The Queen Amateur
Drag Competition, hosted
by BaNaka, 10-11pm, with
a $200 prize Buy 1, Get
1 Free, 4-9pm $2 JR.s
Drafts and $4 Vodka ($2
with College ID or JR.s
Team Shirt)
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

SmartAss Trivia Night,
8pm and 9pm Prizes
include bar tabs and tickets to shows at the 9:30
Club $15 Buckets of
Beer for SmartAss Teams
only Bring a new team
members and each get a
free $10 Dinner
NUMBER NINE
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
Half-Price Hump Day
half-price drinks all day
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Shirtless Night, 10-11pm,
12-12:30am Military
Night, no cover with
military ID DJ Don T. in
Secrets 9pm Cover
21+
THURS., 08.20.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
craft beer selection
Music videos featuring
DJ Wess
ANNIES/ANNIES
UPSTAIRS
Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite,
$4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
$3 Rail Drinks, 10pmmidnight, $5 Red Bull,
Gatorade and Frozen
Virgin Drinks all night
Stonewall Darts Playoffs
Locker Room Thursday
Nights DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Ripped
Hot Body Contest at
midnight, hosted by Sasha
J. Adams and BaNaka

$200 Cash Prize Doors
open 10pm, 18+ $5
Cover under 21 and free
with college ID
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Hot Jock Night men in
jocks drink free rail and
domestic, 8-10pm $2
Draughts Highwaymen
TNT on Club Bar, 10pmclose
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk
METROWEEKLY.COM
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Throwback
Thursday featuring rock/
pop retro hits
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
$4 Drinks and $3 Draughts,
6-9pm
ZIEGFELDS SECRETS
Shirtless Thursday DJ
Tim-e in Secrets 9pm
Cover 21+ l
AUGUST 13, 2015
41
scene
Rock Hard Sundays at
The House Nightclub
Sunday, July 26
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
42
SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
43
scene
Otter Crossing at the
Green Lantern
Friday, August 7
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
44
45
Its not something that you get over

losing a huge part of my blood family is hard to comprehend.
DANIEL PIERCE, whose video a year ago of his family physically attacking him for his sexuality went viral, speaking with
GLAAD. Pierce was kicked out of his family home, but donations from horrified viewers allowed him to find accommodation
and regain a sense of normalcy. Through hard work with a therapist, I have come to an understanding
with reality and what happened almost a year ago, he said.
We are confronting right now a tide of evil

that is like nothing that any of us have seen before.
Televangelist PAT ROBERTSON, speaking on his show The 700 Club. Robertson told viewers to stay away from any churches
that support homosexuality and decried the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage.
He said, If I dealt with that issue

I wouldnt be able to deal with any issue
because I would be canceled.
GEORGE TAKEI, recalling a conversation he had with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry about including gay and lesbian
characters on the show. Roddenberry was a sophisticated man, mindful of that, but faced immense pressure to tread
a fine tight wire after the shows biracial kiss faced intense criticism from southern states.
In a region where the media landscape is polarized, we are trying to create

a space where a diversity of perspectives can co-exist.
Huffington Post executive international editor NICHOLAS SABLOFF, speaking with Buzzfeed. Huffington Post has drawn
criticism for its Arabic-language site, HuffPost Arabi, for an article by a columnist decrying a press conference for gays in the
heart of Cairo, which used several gay slurs, while another post decried the diseases and the viruses
of the Western world affecting Arabic culture.
we take action immediately.
We have a zero tolerance policy

and whenever there is a situation where there is an allegation and that allegation is found to be well-founded,
Director of the CIA JOHN BRENNAN, speaking with ABC News. Brennan was responding to Brett Jones, a former Navy SEAL
and CIA contractor, who last month told ABC News that he had experienced such severe homophobia from other
contractors while working in Afghanistan that he feared for his life.
46
AUGUST 13, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
METROWEEKLY.COM
AUGUST 13, 2015
47

Metro Weekly - 08-13-15 - Dear Evan Hansen

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2

AUGUST 13, 2015

AUGUST 13, 2015

AUGUST 13, 2015

SALES & MARKETING

Pride and Prejudice

ABBA The Concert

Pancakes and Booze Art Show

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

photography by Ward Morrison

2015 Jansi LLC.

AUGUST 13, 2015

photography by Ward Morrison

photography by Ward Morrison

AUGUST 13, 2015

Now online at MetroWeekly.com

ONALD TRUMP, FRONTRUNNER FOR THE

AUGUST 13, 2015

to her menstrual cycle, as some have alleged. He then stated

also instructive in that he went for a cheap shot. But to Pierce,

Pride and Prejudice

Response to the Jerusalem Pride parade stabbings bridges ideological divides

T WAS A TRAGEDY THAT UNITED ALL SEGMENTS

in Tel Aviv to express solidarity with the LGBT community

AUGUST 13, 2015

Gay Man Eyeing Oranges

FTER THE ABSENCE OF AN OPENLY LGBT

AUGUST 13, 2015

munities across the District as both a citizen advocate and an

I know you really want to chat, but

VE GIVEN UP TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE IM

discrimination against pregnant workers and transgenders (sic),

AUGUST 13, 2015

The DC Center hosts its monthly

LGBT ASYLUM SEEKERS/

seekers, refugees, their supporters and

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707 or andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment

PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit

13-21, interested in leadership development. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth

SMYALS REC NIGHT provides

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)

practice session at Takoma Aquatic

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and les-

bian square-dancing group features

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment

AUGUST 13, 2015

affirming social group for ages 11-24.

LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for

social discussion and activity group for

tice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio

ing/social club welcomes all levels for

DC SENTINELS basketball team

ART THERAPY SUPPORT GROUP

meets on the third Saturday of every