Washington City Paper
@wcp.bsky.social
Member-supported community newspaper with reporting on Washington, D.C. culture, food, arts, sports, and politics.
Pinned
The People Issue 2025
Get to know a drag king, a rapper, an exotic dance expert, and more.
washingtoncitypaper.com
The People Issue is back: a nomadic chef, a persistent muralist, an exotic dance expert, a lawyer who won’t stay quiet, and one very familiar face weighing a fourth term.
We’re grateful to share their stories with you. Photos by @darrow-m.bsky.social:
We’re grateful to share their stories with you. Photos by @darrow-m.bsky.social:
The eagerly awaited, inescapable, and much shorter Wicked: For Good is here. If you like your Wicked with fewer songs, more wearied resignation, and less Bowen Yang, this one’s for you. The review:
Wicked: For Good Is More Serious and Less Fun Than Its Predecessor. No Wonder I Liked It More.
If you like Wicked with more resignation, less singing, and less Bowen Yang, the shorter, sadder, and visually vivid second act is for you.
buff.ly
November 21, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The eagerly awaited, inescapable, and much shorter Wicked: For Good is here. If you like your Wicked with fewer songs, more wearied resignation, and less Bowen Yang, this one’s for you. The review:
The themes of An Enemy of the People—the pursuit of honesty, ostracization from community, and mob mentality—are just as relevant today as they were in 1882.
Theater J’s production, closing Nov. 23, "conveys the peculiarity of trying to ascertain the truth in any era." Stephanie Rudig reviews:
Theater J’s production, closing Nov. 23, "conveys the peculiarity of trying to ascertain the truth in any era." Stephanie Rudig reviews:
Muddying the Water: An Enemy of the People Continues to Convey the Peculiarity of Truth
Amy Herzog’s reworked script complicates the hero for our current era, when frequently “the worst person you know just made a great point.”
buff.ly
November 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The themes of An Enemy of the People—the pursuit of honesty, ostracization from community, and mob mentality—are just as relevant today as they were in 1882.
Theater J’s production, closing Nov. 23, "conveys the peculiarity of trying to ascertain the truth in any era." Stephanie Rudig reviews:
Theater J’s production, closing Nov. 23, "conveys the peculiarity of trying to ascertain the truth in any era." Stephanie Rudig reviews:
Benoit Blanc is back for his toughest case yet in Wake Up Dead Man, but he can’t crack it without an unlikely partner: priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor). Critic Alan Zilberman reviews the latest Knives Out mystery:
Think Wake Up Dead Man Can’t Top Glass Onion? Have a Little Faith.
Detective Benoit Blanc encounters his most challenging case yet and gets a major assist from an unlikely partner.
buff.ly
November 21, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Benoit Blanc is back for his toughest case yet in Wake Up Dead Man, but he can’t crack it without an unlikely partner: priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor). Critic Alan Zilberman reviews the latest Knives Out mystery:
Mosaic’s A Case for the Existence of God brings two isolated fathers together in small town Idaho.
Strong performances and savvy direction anchor the production, but does the play make its case? The review:
Strong performances and savvy direction anchor the production, but does the play make its case? The review:
Mosaic’s A Case for the Existence of God Offers a Muddled Argument
Despite good direction and solid performances, A Case for the Existence of God is so focused on the divide that it misses the connection.
buff.ly
November 20, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Mosaic’s A Case for the Existence of God brings two isolated fathers together in small town Idaho.
Strong performances and savvy direction anchor the production, but does the play make its case? The review:
Strong performances and savvy direction anchor the production, but does the play make its case? The review:
Joey Schuman, as Jem Wilde, delivers a delicate take on love, life, and feeling out of place.
“Songs have changed my life, and I hope in some way that mine could be a little glitter in somebody else’s.”
Live at the Pocket tonight. Read more:
“Songs have changed my life, and I hope in some way that mine could be a little glitter in somebody else’s.”
Live at the Pocket tonight. Read more:
Jem Wilde Aspires to Be the Songwriter He Never Saw
Joey Schuman, the Baltimore-based dancer and musician behind Jem Wilde, is busy creating art that embraces male femininity.
buff.ly
November 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Joey Schuman, as Jem Wilde, delivers a delicate take on love, life, and feeling out of place.
“Songs have changed my life, and I hope in some way that mine could be a little glitter in somebody else’s.”
Live at the Pocket tonight. Read more:
“Songs have changed my life, and I hope in some way that mine could be a little glitter in somebody else’s.”
Live at the Pocket tonight. Read more:
DHCD failed to spend about $1M allocated for its first-time homebuyer assistance program. The agency told applicants earlier this year that the program ran out of money. Fully story:
The Department of Housing and Community Development Failed to Spend $1 Million in First-Time Homebuyer Funds
The D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development failed to spend about $1 million allocated for its popular first-time homebuyer assistance program, despite what the agency told applicants…
buff.ly
November 20, 2025 at 12:00 AM
DHCD failed to spend about $1M allocated for its first-time homebuyer assistance program. The agency told applicants earlier this year that the program ran out of money. Fully story:
Local trombonist/composer/Duke Ellington School of the Arts teacher Reginald Cyntje is making jazz cool again.
Columnist Michael J. West chats with him about his Nov. 23 gig at Blues Alley, his streaming breakthrough, and the legacy he’s building.
Columnist Michael J. West chats with him about his Nov. 23 gig at Blues Alley, his streaming breakthrough, and the legacy he’s building.
Swing Beat: Reginald Cyntje Refuses to Stand Still
From harnessing streaming success to support live shows to teaching high school musicians how to meet the moment, Reginald Cyntje brings jazz into the modern era.
buff.ly
November 19, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Local trombonist/composer/Duke Ellington School of the Arts teacher Reginald Cyntje is making jazz cool again.
Columnist Michael J. West chats with him about his Nov. 23 gig at Blues Alley, his streaming breakthrough, and the legacy he’s building.
Columnist Michael J. West chats with him about his Nov. 23 gig at Blues Alley, his streaming breakthrough, and the legacy he’s building.
At Washington City Paper, we’re small and scrappy—and we make the most of every dollar from our supporters.
Right now, we’re $26,874 away from reaching our year-end goal of $36,260. Donate today:
Right now, we’re $26,874 away from reaching our year-end goal of $36,260. Donate today:
Join | Washington City Paper
Washington City Paper is supported by people like you. Support Washington City Paper today.
buff.ly
November 19, 2025 at 12:49 PM
At Washington City Paper, we’re small and scrappy—and we make the most of every dollar from our supporters.
Right now, we’re $26,874 away from reaching our year-end goal of $36,260. Donate today:
Right now, we’re $26,874 away from reaching our year-end goal of $36,260. Donate today:
Signature Theatre remounts Fiddler on the Roof in a fun and worthwhile rendition of the iconic musical anchored by a talented cast. Read critic Allison R. Shelly’s review:
Signature Stages a Joyous, Heartfelt Fiddler on the Roof
Even after 60 years, the old stalwart’s book and lyrics still shine—especially in the hands of a talented cast.
buff.ly
November 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Signature Theatre remounts Fiddler on the Roof in a fun and worthwhile rendition of the iconic musical anchored by a talented cast. Read critic Allison R. Shelly’s review:
Renata Naylor reported “rampant sex discrimination” by her boss at DOES. She says agency leaders failed to address her complaints and fired her soon after.
Now she’s suing the District. Full story:
Now she’s suing the District. Full story:
Department of Employment Services Manager Fired After She Alleged Sexual Discrimination and Retaliation
Renata Naylor accused Daniel King of persistent sexual harassment and discrimination. She was fired soon after.
buff.ly
November 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Renata Naylor reported “rampant sex discrimination” by her boss at DOES. She says agency leaders failed to address her complaints and fired her soon after.
Now she’s suing the District. Full story:
Now she’s suing the District. Full story:
“Hello, Dolly! is a master class in musical escapism,” writes critic Melissa Lin Sturges.
Olney’s revival is a wily, nostalgia-fueled romp with a standout local cast—a love letter to the DMV.
Olney’s revival is a wily, nostalgia-fueled romp with a standout local cast—a love letter to the DMV.
Olney Theatre Center’s Hello, Dolly! Feels Like a Love Letter to the DMV
This Dolly revival, starring Nova Y. Payton, is a wily, nostalgia-fueled romp with a self-aware humility that lands like a warm hug.
buff.ly
November 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
“Hello, Dolly! is a master class in musical escapism,” writes critic Melissa Lin Sturges.
Olney’s revival is a wily, nostalgia-fueled romp with a standout local cast—a love letter to the DMV.
Olney’s revival is a wily, nostalgia-fueled romp with a standout local cast—a love letter to the DMV.
Lie Low, Ciara Elizabeth Smyth's subversive and "thrillingly twisted" play, is “a welcome addition to the contemporary feminist theater canon,” writes critic Daniella Ignacio. Read the review:
Lie Low’s Funny, Feminist, and Flawed Truths Are Unforgettable
Solas Nua’s production of Ciara Elizabeth Smyth’s subversive play, Lie Low, will stick with you long after the lights go down.
buff.ly
November 14, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Lie Low, Ciara Elizabeth Smyth's subversive and "thrillingly twisted" play, is “a welcome addition to the contemporary feminist theater canon,” writes critic Daniella Ignacio. Read the review:
“DHCD is a mess.” The agency forfeited roughly $35M in federal affordable housing assistance.
Part of that money went to a “credit swap” used to bail out a well-connected developer. Full story:
Part of that money went to a “credit swap” used to bail out a well-connected developer. Full story:
How DHCD Forfeited $35 Million in Federal Assistance for Affordable Housing and Bailed Out a Well-Connected Developer
DHCD Director Colleen Green failed to disclose the loss of funding when asked during a D.C. Council hearing earlier this year.
buff.ly
November 14, 2025 at 5:50 PM
“DHCD is a mess.” The agency forfeited roughly $35M in federal affordable housing assistance.
Part of that money went to a “credit swap” used to bail out a well-connected developer. Full story:
Part of that money went to a “credit swap” used to bail out a well-connected developer. Full story:
What do Rachel Sennot, Kim Kardashian, and Sarah Snook have in common? They’re all starring in shows columnist Bill Frost says you should stream right now.
What to Stream: New in November
The 2025 TV season isn’t over. From Rachel Sennott’s I Love LA to David Duchovny’s new thriller, here are seven new shows to stream.
buff.ly
November 14, 2025 at 12:00 AM
What do Rachel Sennot, Kim Kardashian, and Sarah Snook have in common? They’re all starring in shows columnist Bill Frost says you should stream right now.
This year, our newsroom showed up when it counted. We broke stories, uplifted local voices, and held power to account.
Every dollar brings us closer to our $36,260 goal. Give today:
Every dollar brings us closer to our $36,260 goal. Give today:
Join | Washington City Paper
Washington City Paper is supported by people like you. Support Washington City Paper today.
buff.ly
November 13, 2025 at 10:01 PM
This year, our newsroom showed up when it counted. We broke stories, uplifted local voices, and held power to account.
Every dollar brings us closer to our $36,260 goal. Give today:
Every dollar brings us closer to our $36,260 goal. Give today:
Victor Salinas and Gabriel de la Cruz are honoring the queer Latine community and sparking conversation with La Pluma Theatre company.
“We cannot be silenced. We have to keep doing this,” Salinas says. “There’s not a better moment to do it.”
“We cannot be silenced. We have to keep doing this,” Salinas says. “There’s not a better moment to do it.”
Underground But Not Hidden: A New Queer Latine Theater Company Uses Art as Resistance
Victor Salinas and Gabriel de la Cruz’s La Pluma Theatre will open the doors for its first show at Dupont Underground this December.
buff.ly
November 13, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Victor Salinas and Gabriel de la Cruz are honoring the queer Latine community and sparking conversation with La Pluma Theatre company.
“We cannot be silenced. We have to keep doing this,” Salinas says. “There’s not a better moment to do it.”
“We cannot be silenced. We have to keep doing this,” Salinas says. “There’s not a better moment to do it.”
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t brings a new generation of magicians together with the Horsemen of yore for the ultimate heist.
It’s a bit overstuffed, writes critic Lydia Wei, but the franchise has still got a few new tricks up its sleeve. The review:
It’s a bit overstuffed, writes critic Lydia Wei, but the franchise has still got a few new tricks up its sleeve. The review:
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t: Can You Teach an Old Franchise New Tricks?
Though sometimes overstuffed, the third Now You See Me is a return to form that introduces a charismatic new generation of illusionists.
buff.ly
November 12, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t brings a new generation of magicians together with the Horsemen of yore for the ultimate heist.
It’s a bit overstuffed, writes critic Lydia Wei, but the franchise has still got a few new tricks up its sleeve. The review:
It’s a bit overstuffed, writes critic Lydia Wei, but the franchise has still got a few new tricks up its sleeve. The review:
At Theater Alliance, Furlough’s Paradise follows cousins reunited to grieve a family loss. They're living different lives, but both are searching for freedom.
The play’s “greatest victory is its dedication to empathy,” writes Douglas Corzine. Read the review:
The play’s “greatest victory is its dedication to empathy,” writes Douglas Corzine. Read the review:
Furlough’s Paradise Offers “Paradise” on Borrowed Time
At Theater Alliance, a.k. payne’s intimate two-hander turns a one-bedroom apartment into a world of grief, tenderness, and fleeting utopia.
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 PM
At Theater Alliance, Furlough’s Paradise follows cousins reunited to grieve a family loss. They're living different lives, but both are searching for freedom.
The play’s “greatest victory is its dedication to empathy,” writes Douglas Corzine. Read the review:
The play’s “greatest victory is its dedication to empathy,” writes Douglas Corzine. Read the review:
Margaret Hutton’s debut novel traces the decades-long relationship between two women who arrive in D.C. to fill the jobs left vacant by men serving in WWII.
Contributor Costa Beavin Pappas chats with Hutton about the local history behind If You Leave:
Contributor Costa Beavin Pappas chats with Hutton about the local history behind If You Leave:
Margaret Hutton on the Forgotten History of D.C. That Inspired Her Debut Novel
Set during World War II in a Washington absent of men, If You Leave charts the lives of two women living autonomously for the first time.
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Margaret Hutton’s debut novel traces the decades-long relationship between two women who arrive in D.C. to fill the jobs left vacant by men serving in WWII.
Contributor Costa Beavin Pappas chats with Hutton about the local history behind If You Leave:
Contributor Costa Beavin Pappas chats with Hutton about the local history behind If You Leave:
Train Dreams is a thoughtful historical drama about the struggles of an ordinary man who modernity threatens to leave behind. Critic Alan Zilberman reviews:
Train Dreams Is About the Kind of Man Who Rarely Gets the Epic Treatment
In this moving adaptation of Denis Johnson’s novella, the filmmakers never strike a false note in a logger’s quiet search for meaning and joy.
buff.ly
November 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Train Dreams is a thoughtful historical drama about the struggles of an ordinary man who modernity threatens to leave behind. Critic Alan Zilberman reviews:
In Predator: Badlands, a bisected bot and a young-and-hungry Yautja take on interstellar capitalism. Somehow, it becomes “a borderline schmaltzy adventure about found families,” writes critic Chris Klimek.
Predator: Badlands: Some Country for No Men
Bisected bot Elle Fanning and a young-and-hungry Yautja take on interstellar capitalism in Predator: Badlands, and it slaps. I just wish I could see it a little better.
buff.ly
November 8, 2025 at 1:00 AM
In Predator: Badlands, a bisected bot and a young-and-hungry Yautja take on interstellar capitalism. Somehow, it becomes “a borderline schmaltzy adventure about found families,” writes critic Chris Klimek.
Paula Vogel, the “frank and fearless” Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, talks to contributor D.R. Lewis about ancient Greece, “mother plays,” and her third play at Studio Theatre. Read their conversation:
Theater Matriarch Paula Vogel Brings Revised The Mother Play to Studio
The DMV native talks to City Paper about the state of the art form, ancient Greece, and the genre of “mother plays.”
buff.ly
November 7, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Paula Vogel, the “frank and fearless” Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, talks to contributor D.R. Lewis about ancient Greece, “mother plays,” and her third play at Studio Theatre. Read their conversation:
The People Issue is back: a nomadic chef, a persistent muralist, an exotic dance expert, a lawyer who won’t stay quiet, and one very familiar face weighing a fourth term.
We’re grateful to share their stories with you. Photos by @darrow-m.bsky.social:
We’re grateful to share their stories with you. Photos by @darrow-m.bsky.social:
The People Issue 2025
Get to know a drag king, a rapper, an exotic dance expert, and more.
washingtoncitypaper.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
The People Issue is back: a nomadic chef, a persistent muralist, an exotic dance expert, a lawyer who won’t stay quiet, and one very familiar face weighing a fourth term.
We’re grateful to share their stories with you. Photos by @darrow-m.bsky.social:
We’re grateful to share their stories with you. Photos by @darrow-m.bsky.social:
Melanie Field opens up about motherhood, playing Gina in The Wild Duck, and her D.C. bucket list. Read the full chat with contributor Serena Zets:
From A League of Their Own to The Wild Duck, Melanie Field Knows How to Transport an Audience
TV actor Melanie Field returns to Shakespeare Theatre Company for the second time in 2025 to take on Henrik Ibsen’s least-produced play.
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Melanie Field opens up about motherhood, playing Gina in The Wild Duck, and her D.C. bucket list. Read the full chat with contributor Serena Zets:
Council Chair Phil Mendelson attended his annual lobbyist-filled fundraiser to replenish his constituent services fund last night. We took a look at spending from each elected official’s fund, and how you can access the dough:
Phil Mendelson Is Back at the Watergate for a Lobbyist-Fueled Fundraiser
Your annual reminder that the slushy constituent services funds are available to help with bills, rent, and plastic leis, apparently.
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Council Chair Phil Mendelson attended his annual lobbyist-filled fundraiser to replenish his constituent services fund last night. We took a look at spending from each elected official’s fund, and how you can access the dough: