Arts & Entertainment

D.C. arts briefs: April 6

‘Alice in Wonderland’ ballet, Rehoboth Women’s FEST and more

Published

14 years ago

April 5, 2012

The Washington Ballet’s world premiere of Septime Webre’s ‘Alice (in Wonderland)’ starring Jonathan Jordan as the White Rabbit and Maki Onuki as Alice opens Thursday, with a preview on Wednesday. (Photo by Steve Vaccariello; courtesy Washington Ballet)

‘Alice’ ballet debuts at Kennedy Center

The Washington Ballet presents the world premiere of openly gay director Septime Webre’s “Alice (in Wonderland)” at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. with a preview on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

“Alice” starts with the real Alice (Alice Liddell) at home with her family and friend, Lewis Carroll. Webre brings in real people from Liddell’s life, masked as the characters in Carroll’s story. Her mother becomes the Queen of Hearts and her sisters become Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

The show runs through April 15.

Tickets range from $50 to $155 and can be purchased online at washingtonballet.org orkennedy-center.org.

LGBT content among Filmfest D.C. offerings

Filmfest D.C., the Washington International Film Festival, opens Thursday and runs through April 22. The festival will include two films with LGBT themes, “Leave It On the Dance Floor” and “Facing Mirrors.”

“Leave It On the Dance Floor” takes place in Los Angeles and tells the story of Brad, kicked out by his homophobic mother, as he enters of the world of “houses” like those from “Paris is Burning.” It will be shown on April 13 at 6:30 p.m. and April 14 at 9 p.m.

“Facing Mirrors” takes place in contemporary Tehran and tells the story of Rana, a woman driving her jailed husband’s taxi. She picks up a rich, pre-op transgender man on the run from an arranged marriage. It will be shown on April 14 at 6:30 p.m. and April 15 at 2:15 p.m.

Both films will be screened at the Naval Heritage Center (701 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.).

Individual tickets are $11 for general admission. The Director’s Package, which includes 10 tickets, is $80 and the Weekday Package, which includes four tickets, is $33.

For more information, including a complete list of films and ticket information, visitfilmfestdc.org.

Team D.C. to hold sports mingling event

Team D.C. is having its annual Sportsfest at Room and Board Furniture (1840 14^th St., NW.) on Thursday at 7 p.m.

This open house event will give attendees the opportunity to meet and talk to players representing nearly every LGBT sports group in the D.C. area, including D.C. Gay Flag Football League, Capital Area Rainbowlers Association, Washington Renegades, Washington Wetskins and more.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but $10 gets three drink tickets for the beer and vodka bar sponsored by Nellie’s.

Rehoboth Women’s FEST next weekend

CAMP Rehoboth has its Women’s FEST kicks off Thursday and runs through April 15.

The festival started as a one-day event for lesbians. Organizer and Rehoboth Beach lesbian Fay Jacobs says it’s the largest mid-Atlantic lesbian event drawing about 2,000 women each year. This year’s focus is entertainment.

Events will be held at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and other nearby sites. There will be a golf tournament, photo exhibit, workshops on sexuality and women’s health and receptions for several of the resort town’s restaurants and bars.

Among those featured this year are Col. Grethe Cammermeyer, whose coming out story in the military inspired a book and movie, comedians Suzanne Westenhoefer and Poppy Champlin, as well as singer Tret Fure.

Several authors, among them Sally Bellerose, one of this year’s Lambda Literary Award nominees, will be signing books at Proud Books on April 13 and doing additional readings from their books at the Convention Center on April 14.

Ticket prices vary, depending on level of participation but a Women’s FEST pass is available from CAMP Rehoboth for $60. This pass will allow access to most of the events. To purchase tickets or to obtain more information, visit camprehoboth.com.

Sports

Jason Collins dies at 47

First openly gay man to actively play for major sports team battled brain cancer

Published

22 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Michael K. Lavers

Jason Collins (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to actively play for a major professional sports team, died on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 47.

The California native had briefly played for the Washington Wizards in 2013 before coming out in a Sports Illustrated op-ed.

Collins in 2014 became the first openly gay man to play in a game for a major American professional sports league when he played 11 minutes during a Brooklyn Nets game. He wore jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student murdered outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998.

Collins told the Washington Blade in 2014 that his life was “exponentially better” since he came out. Collins the same year retired from the National Basketball Association after 13 seasons.

Collins married his husband, Brunson Green, in May 2025.

The NBA last September announced Collins had begun treatment for a brain tumor. Collins on Dec. 11, 2025, announced he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.

“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” said Collins’s family in a statement the NBA released. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’s “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”

“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador,” said Silver. “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.”

“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” added Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement. “He came out as gay — while still playing — at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation.”

“He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are heartbroken to hear of his passing at the young age of 47,” she said. “Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We will keep fighting on in his honor until the day everyone can be who they are on their terms.”

Photos

PHOTOS: ‘Studio 69’

Glitterati Productions hold party at Bunker

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Michael Key

'Studio 69' was held at Bunker on Friday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Arts & Entertainment

Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week

Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Staff reports

The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.

Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.

“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”

Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.

Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.

Event Details:

📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026

⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP