Arts news in brief: June 1

Dustin Lance Black (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Prop. 8-themed play comes to local theater

Woolly Mammoth Theater (641 D St., N.W.) is hosting a one-night reading of the play 8, written by the award-winning writer Dustin Lance Black, Monday at 7 p.m.

The play is about the federal constitutional challenge against California’s Proposition 8, which did not allow gays or lesbians to marry. Its first premiere in the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City raised $1 million for American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER). Its West Coast premiere was led by an all-star cast with Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Martin Sheen and Theodore B. Olsen and raised $2 million.

Black is widely known for his screenwriting in “Milk” and “J.Edgar.”

Following the reading is a panel with Executive Director Rea Carey from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Maryland State Senator Richard Madaleno, Jr., Brian Moulton from the Human Rights Campaign and Matt Nosanchuk from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

Tickets are $5. They can be purchased at the box office, over the phone at 202-393-3939, or by visiting woollymammoth.net.

For more information about “8,” visit 8theplay.com.

Chorus commemorates men and music

Gay Men’s Chorus is performing “Heart Throbs” Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium (730 21st St., N.W.).

The group will be paying tribute to men and music through fun and flirtatious musical selections by artists like Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Boys II Men, N Sync, Backstreet Boys and The Beatles.  The show presents a montage of fantasy dream dates and boy band crushes that will appeal to all ages and musical preferences.

Tickets range from $15-$50 and can be purchased at gmcw.org.

Rehoboth party celebrates 25 artists

Clear Space Theatre (20 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE) is hosting the Black & White Beach Ball on Sunday evening from 5-8 p.m.

The event brings together 25 invited artists and their juried artwork that includes photography, charcoals, acrylic, oil, watercolor, sculpture and multimedia.  The curators are artist and CAMP Rehoboth President Murray Archibald, Sondra Arkin, Gallery 50 owner Jay Pastore and graphic designer Andres Tremols. Professional auctioneer Lorne Crawford will be selling the artwork in the HeART of the Community Live art auction.

The evening will also include catered food and an open bar. Attendees should dress in black and white casual attire.

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online at camprehoboth.com or at 302-227-5620.

Macy’s to host Pride panel discussion

Macy’s is hosting a panel discussion at its Metro Center location (1201 G Street, NW) Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the furniture gallery on the lower level. A discussion of progress of the LGBT community will include Nicholas Benton of Falls Church News Press; Candace Gingrich-Jones of Human Rights Campaign and Kevin Naff of Washington Blade.

For more information, visit macys.com/pride.

‘Prime’ time for sin

The Collective, a dance group with members representing Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard and Hartford counties, presents “Prime,” part of its 13th performance season, on Saturday at the Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive) at 2 and 8 p.m.

The show will feature seven works laced together with seven short solos built on the seven deadly sins. Themes of these sins will appear throughout the concert work as the dancers portray life with and without sin.

There will also be an encore of Jenny Seye’s “Complex Figures” and guest artist Adrienne Clancy’s “Sisters.”

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit collective-dance.com.

Chenoweth has Baltimore and D.C. shows planned

Kristin Chenoweth, original star of the Broadway musical “Wicked,” plays the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center (12 North Eutaw St.) on June 9 at 8 p.m.

Chenoweth will perform songs from countless performances, including “Wicked” and her new album, “Some Lessons Learned.”

Tickets are $200 and $350. The $350 tickets include a pre-concert buffet beginning at 6:30 p.m., access to the best seats for the concert and a post-show dessert and champagne reception. The $200 ticket includes a post-show dessert and coffee reception.

Chenoweth will also appear at DAR Constitution Hall in D.C. on June 10.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit france-merrickpac.com or kristin-chenoweth.com.

Gay-themed ‘Bent” at Mobtown

Baltimore’s Mobtown Players present Martin Sherman’s “Bent” at the Mobtown Theater at Meadow Hill (3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 114) opening tonight with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and matinees on June 10 and 17 at 4 p.m.

“Bent,” set in Hitler’s Germany, tells the story of Max, a man forced to by fear and shame to hide his sexuality and accepting who he is until he no longer can.

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students.

There will be a special benefit performance on June 10 at 4 p.m. Tickets for that performance are $25 and $15 of every ticket goes directly to Equality Maryland. The price also includes complimentary wine and a talkback session with the cast and crew after the performance.

The show runs through June 23.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit mobtownplayers.net.

Lesbian Md. delegate having birthday party

Democratic Delegate Mary Washington, a lesbian, is celebrating her 50th birthday with “Shake, Shake, Shake,” a dance party at Metro Gallery (1700 North Charles St.) at 7 p.m.

The party will begin with a vintage photo slide show, birthday wishes and cake. At 8:30 p.m. a live DJ will be providing the soundtrack for the dance party with music ranging from the ‘60s to today with drinks and light fare produced by Neopol of Belvedere Square.

Tickets range from $40 for young Democrats to $2,000 for platinum sponsors. Attendees must be 21 or older.

For more information on Washington and to purchase tickets or make a contribution, visit electmarywashington.com.