Arts & Entertainment
D.C. arts briefs: Aug. 3
Idina Menzel at Wolf Trap, ‘Psycho’ on the Mall and more
A still from ‘Married in Spandex,’ featuring rapper Leslie Hall. (Photo courtesy Allison Kole)
Lesbian wedding adventure documentary screens
The gay-themed documentary “Married in Spandex” screens Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Source Theater (1835 14th St., N.W.).
The film is a comedy that delves into issues surrounding gay matrimony, love, relationships and spandex. It was voted audience favorite at QFest in Philadelphia and won “Best Documentary” at Out in the Desert Film Festival.
“Married in Spandex” follows lesbian couple Amanda and Rachel as they travel from Philadelphia to the small town of Ames, Iowa for their wedding. A Q&A with filmmakers Allison Kole and Devin Gallagher will follow the screening.
All proceeds from the event go to the D.C. Center for the LGBT Community. For more information, call Allison Kole at 561-889-2275 or visit marriedinspandex.com.
Signature Theater holds open house
Signature Theater (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, V.A.) holds its annual open house from noon-10 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free and patrons can also get half-price tickets for select Signature Theater performances during the 2012-13 season.
The open house will feature live performances, family events, master classes, the “Signature Idol” competition and a grand finale concert. Tony Award nominees Emily Skinner, Heidi Blickenstaff, Rob Britton Lyons, Chuck Mead and Natascia Diaz are among the event’s performers.
For more details, contact Peter Eramo at Signature Theater at 571-527-1833 or visit signature-theater.org.
‘Psycho’ screens on National Mall
Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller “Psycho” screens Monday night on the National Mall after dusk (usually between 8:30-9 p.m.).
“Psycho” will be the last film featured in this summer’s Screen On the Green series. Screen On the Green has been a city pastime since 1999, allowing Washingtonians to see great films for free on a gigantic screen outside on the National Mall. People often start claiming spots on the lawn as early as 5 p.m.
This week’s film is a highly celebrated forerunner to the slasher movie genre, with a cross-dressing murderer played by late gay actor Anthony Perkins.
For more information on the screening, visit friendsofscreenonthegreen.org.
Idina Menzel performs at Wolf Trap
Tony Award-winning Broadway actress Idina Menzel performs at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Road, Vienna, Va.) on Friday night at 8:15 with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Steven Reineke.
Menzel is best known for her Broadway roles as Elphaba in “Wicked” and Maureen in “Rent,” but she has also appeared in movies and TV shows such as “Enchanted” and “Glee.” The performance is part of her summer tour in which she has been performing with the symphonies of the cities she has visited. It will be her only night in the D.C. area.
The set list will be similar to that featured on Menzel’s recently released DVD “Idina Menzel: Barefoot at the Symphony,” but she will also be singing some material audience members may not expect.
Tickets for the show range from $20-65 and can be purchased on wolftrap.org.
a&e features
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 16.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Photos
PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
Ashley Biden accepts award for Beau Biden at annual Rehoboth fundraiser
The 19th annual Blade Foundation Summer Kickoff Party was held on Friday, May 15 at Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach, Del. An award presentation was held for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Ashley Biden accepted the award on her brother’s behalf and gave remarks. Other speakers included Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff. The event was a fundraiser for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
BREAKING NEWS: Barney Frank dies at 86
Intersex lives, constitutional freedom, and the dangerous future of Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill
Doc on Blade reporter Chibbaro scores Emmy nomination
Don’t let Rehoboth rain deter you, there’s lots to do for Memorial Day
‘The Inheritance’ is most-nominated at this year’s Helen Hayes Awards
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day set for May 18
Calendar: May 15-21
United Night Out set for Saturday
