Spotlight: OutWrite Book Festival, Bad Moms, Cirque du Soleil and more!
The DC Center presents its 5th annual OutWrite: LGBT Book Fair this weekend, among other events in the District
OUTWRITE: LGBT BOOK FESTIVAL
The DC Center presents its 5th annual OutWrite: LGBT Book Fair this weekend, with readings and workshops happening all day Saturday, Aug. 6. The festival kicks off Friday, Aug. 5, at 7 p.m., with the launch of Love Unites Us: Winning the Freedom to Marry in America, edited by Kevin M. Cathcart and Leslie J. Gabel-Brett, including a panel discussion about the direction of future LGBT activism post-marriage equality and a wine and cheese reception. In addition to exhibitors throughout the weekend, other highlights include readings and discussions on topics ranging from “Queer Journalists” to science fiction and fantasy writing to Queer Brown Voices and “Fuego y Hielo.” Journalists Gregg Shapiro, Wayne Hoffman, Rashod Ollison, and Tim Murphy are among those who will be reading from their works, and there will be workshops on self-publishing for trans authors, writing for multimedia, and a Black Writers Forum. Deacon Maccubbin Young Writer Award winners will also read from their works, and there’s an afternoon OutWrite Open Mic hosted by Regie Cabico. The DC Center for the LGBT Community, 2000 14th St. NW. Call 202-682-2245 or visit thedccenter.org for more details and a full schedule.
BAD MOMS
Christina Applegate has come a long way from playing Kelly Bundy in Married… with Children. In this comedy from Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (The Hangover), she’s a pesky, perfect PTA president, the antagonist of a band of overstressed moms — led by Mila Kunis — who go on a much-needed bender. The movie has stirred up criticism for an unfortunate throwaway joke included in its trailer, about one of Kunis’ bras looking like it came from Boys Don’t Cry — understandably, trans activists aren’t happy with the Brandon Teena reference. Opens Friday, July 29. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
KURIOS – CABINET OF CURIOSITIES
Cirque du Soleil returns with a show set in the latter half of the 19th century, but otherwise unconstrained by time or imagination. It’s a fantasy world developed by writer and director Michel Laprise, a longtime Cirque designer who also directed Madonna’s sensational 2012 Super Bowl halftime show and the MDNA Tour. Kurios, according to a Chicago Tribune critic, is “a dazzling, hyper-detailed, potent, quixotic and generally fantastic show.” Opens Thursday, July 21, at 7:30 p.m. To Sept. 4. The Big Top in Lerner Town Square at Tysons II, 8025 Galleria Dr. Tysons. Tickets are $39 to $170. Call 877-924-7783 or visit cirquedusoleil.com/kurios.
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Knighted stage and screen actor Jonathan Pryce stars as outsider Shylock in this new touring production from Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Jonathan Munby directs the highly charged classic that dramatizes competing claims of tolerance and intolerance, religious law and civil society, justice and mercy. Remaining performances Thursday, July 28, and Friday, July 29, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, July 30, at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Tickets are $69 to $120. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
I.C. MOVEMENT PROJECT
Through the Glass Ceiling is a contemporary ballet about gender inequality, with an original score by George Shaw, presented as part of the debut of a new company led by CityDance Pop! Director Ivy Chow. Performers are Kristina Ancil Edwards, Ryan Carlough, Katherine Creed, Heidi Erickson, Therese Gahl, Elizabeth Gahl, Alexandra Keen, Kevin Pajarillaga, Shannon Quinn, and Kyoko Ruch. Saturday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 7, at 2 p.m. CityDance Studio Theater at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $20 to $30. Call (240) 406-7730 or visit icmovemementproject.com.
BROODS
Brother-sister duo Georgia and Caleb Nott are the reigning young pop act from New Zealand — aside from Lorde, who’s a co-writer on one of the strong synth-pop songs (“Heartlines”) on Broods’ recently released sophomore set Conscious. Swedish sensation Tove-Lo also shows up on “Freak of Nature,” dueting with Georgia, whose breathy voice is similar to Ellie Goulding. The Kiwis are on a headline tour featuring up-and-coming soulful electro-pop Australian artist Jarryd James, whose stirring new single “1000x” offers another duet with Georgia. Hopefully they’ll render it live. Monday, Aug. 1. Doors at 7 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $27.50. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.
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