Arts news in brief: Nov. 4

Chely Wright at Capital Pride in 2010. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

Wright doc gets local screening tonight

The fifth annual Alexandria Film Festival has already kicked off with “Ed Hardy Tattoo the World,” but it will continue through the weekend with many more films, including a few with LGBT angles.

First up tonight at 9:15 p.m. is “Wish Me Away,” the documentary that tells the story of  Chely Wright and the process she went through to become the first country music star to come out on national television.

Then on Saturday, at 5 p.m. is the East Coast premiere of “Cancerpants,” a documentary that shows Ro Poulson’s battle to survive after being diagnosed with stage III breast cancer with the help of her partner and their friends, family and community.

Both movies will be screened in the north lodge of George Washington Masonic Memorial (101 Callahan Drive). Tickets are $10 for individual screenings or $75 for a Fest Pass. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit alexandriafilm.org.

Signature teases ‘Hairspray’ opening

In celebration of Signature Theatre’s (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington) upcoming production of “Hairspray,” the theater will be transformed for “The Big Hair Ball” on Saturday at 8 p.m.

The party will feature Baltimore favorites like crab cakes, sliders and Natty Boh and attendees can mingle with cast members of the musical as well as take dance classes or get their hair teased at “Big Hair Salon.”

“Hairspray” will play from Nov. 21 to Jan. 29 with Robert Aubry Davis of WETA’s “Around Town” and Sirius/XM Radio making his musical theater stage debut as Edna Turnblad.

Tickets for the ball range from $75 to $250 and can be purchased online at signature-theatre.org.

Several gay films planned for Rehoboth fest

The 14th annual Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival starts Wednesday and runs through next weekend at the Movies at Midway in Rehoboth Beach, Del.

Several gay-themed films are planned including “The Green” with gay actor Cheyenne Jackson which tells the story of a gay couple who face crisis when one of them, a teacher at a private school, is accused of acting inappropriately with a student.

Sundance hit “Circumstances” tells of two teen girls who experiment with their sexuality in a repressive society in Tehran. And “Loose Cannons” is an Italian film about a gay man who comes out to his conservative family in hopes of getting out of joining the family business.

The Chely Wright documentary (see above) will also be shown as well as a documentary on Broadway legend Carl Channing.

Tickets can be purchased in person, by mail or e-mail. E-mail to tickets@rehobothfilm.com or visit rehobothfilm.com for details.