Arts & Entertainment
Calendar for March 26
Friday, March 26
Pandemonium returns to Cobalt, 1639 R St., N.W., with “Pandemonium’s Sultry Funhouse!” The main attraction is famed circuit DJ Wendy Hunt with a midnight performance by Sue Nami. Doors open at 10 p.m.; 21+ with a $7 cover. Open vodka bar from 11 p.m.-12 a.m.
The Gay Comedy Show is returning to the EFN Lounge, 1318 9th St. N.W., with host Shawn Hollenbach (Logo’s “Gayest Week Ever”). Hollenbach will be accompanied by Paul Case (MTV and here! TV’s “Hot Gay Comics”). There is a $10 admission for the show, which runs from 8- 11 p.m.
The Whitman-Walker HIV Mobile Testing Unit will be at the Giant Food located at 1245 Park Rd., N.W. from 3:30–7 p.m.
Gay District is held from 8:30-10:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Gay District is a weekly, non-church affiliated discussion and social group for GBTQ men between 18 and 35. For more information, e-mail [email protected].
Friday night Erev Shabbat Services are held 8:30–10 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St., N.W. Friday Night Services are followed by an Oneg social. Please use the Q Street entrance.
Women in their Twenties will meet at the DC Center, 1810 14th St., N.W., at 8 p.m. WiTT is a social discussion group for lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and other interested women in the D.C. area. The group is led by several facilitators on a rotational basis. Facilitators lead the group in discussion topics (serious and silly, LGBT-related or not). Newcomers are always welcome.
Saturday, March 27
The 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held beginning today and running through April 11. This year’s festival marks the 98th celebration of the original gift of the 3,000 cherry trees by the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington, D.C., in 1912. Family day and opening ceremony at the National Building Museum, 401 F St., N.W.
The famous DJ duo, The Freemasons, is returning to the states to spin at Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th St. N.W., for a second time. The Freemasons have produced some of the biggest songs played on gay dance floors, including “Million Dollar Bill” by Whitney Houston. Tickets are on sale at the Town box office. Advance tickets are $15; $20 at the door. Tickets can also be purchased at groovetickets.com for $27. Doors will open at 10 p.m. Drag show starts at 10:30 p.m. Music and videos downstairs by Wess; 21 and over.
Comedian Chelsea Handler brings her “Bang Bang” tour to DAR Constitution Hall, 18th & C streets, N.W., at 8 and 10 p.m. Call 202-638-2661 for tickets, which cost $53.50-73.50.
LAMBDA SCI-FI hosts a video party for LGBT science fiction, fantasy and horror fans and their friends. Bring a dish or a non-alcoholic beverage to share, as well as some favorite DVDs, Blue-rays, or AVI files on a USB drive. Noon until 10 p.m., 7015 Sycamore Ave., Takoma Park, MD. For more information, e-mail Teresa at [email protected], call 301-270-6373 or visit lambdasf.org.
Jonatha Brooke and Lori McKenna play the Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $27.50, visit birchmere.com or call 703-549-7500 for information.
Sunday, March 28
“The Wiz” production at University of the District of Columbia, 4200 Connecticut Ave., starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 for general admission, $7.50 for all students, $5 for children 12 & under.
Don’t miss the final performances of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps” at Warner Theater, 13th Street between E&F, N.W., at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Call 202-783-4000 for ticket information.
Wiz Khalifa with Yelawolf and Jasmine Solano play 9:30 club, 815 V St., N.W., at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15; visit 930.com or call 202-265-0930 for information.
Monday, March 29
Substance Abuse Support Group will meet at the Max Robinson Center located at 2301 MLK Ave., S.E. from 5:30 – 6:30 pm.
Relive your big hair ‘80s days as Bon Jovi rocks the Verizon Center, 6th and G streets, N.W., at 7:30 p.m. Visit ticketmaster.com for information and tickets, which range from $49.50 to $503.
Tuesday, March 30
Packing Party at EFN Lounge/Motley Bar, 1318 9th St., N.W., from 7-8 p.m. Volunteers will assemble safer sex kits and enjoy drink specials at Motley.
Wednesday, March 31
Megafaun and Sharon Van Etten play the Black Cat, 1811 14th St., N.W., at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10; visit blackcatdc.com for tickets and information.
Career development at the DC Center, 1810 14th St. N.W., from 3-4 p.m. RSVP to careerdevelopmentthedccenter.org. For more information, contact the Center at 202-682-2245.
Thursday, April 1
The Progressive Dinner Dessert Team will raise money for SMYAL on April Fools’ Day at the Town Tavern, 2323 18th St., N.W., in Adams Morgan from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. A $5 donation per guest at the door is requested, of which 100 percent will go to SMYAL (Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League).
Tom Goss performs live, launching his new marriage equality EP “Politics of Love” at the DC Center, 1810 14th St. N.W., at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and can be purchased at thedccenter.org.
a&e features
Television loses a legend, longtime ‘Will & Grace’ director James Burrows
Iconic hitmaker leaves behind a legacy of telling LGBTQ stories
You don’t have to be a pretentious film major to name 10 movie directors. But naming television directors is not that simple. They’re the unsung heroes of your favorite shows, and the late James Burrows was the television director. He passed on June 19, but his DNA runs through television history.
He directed over 1200 episodes of television and over 50 pilots. He co-created “Cheers” and directed many episodes of long-running series like “Friends,” “Taxi,” “Frasier,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and “Two and a Half Men.” You also may remember him from playing a heightened version of himself on the Lisa Kudrow comedy “The Comeback.”
He has left an indelible mark on the LGBTQ community. As recently as last year, he directed the series run of “Mid-Century Modern” starring Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Linda Lavin. He was also a longtime director of “Will & Grace” and directed every episode of the series revival. He even directed the unaired “Absolutely Fabulous” pilot with Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Johnston, and Zosia Mamet.
Not to mention he’s worked with queer icons throughout history, including Betty White and Stockard Channing on their single-season series, and Jennifer Coolidge in “2 Broke Girls.”
He started his career on shows like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Rhoda,” “Laverne & Shirley,” and the first four seasons of “Taxi.”
He continued to work steadily and directed successful pilots that went to series for “Roc,” “3rd Rock From the Sun,” “Dharma & Greg,” and “Wings.” He directed multiple episodes of “Friends,” “Caroline in the City,” and “Frasier.”
This magic continued into the 2000s with him directing the pilots for “Two and a Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and multiple episodes of “Mike & Molly,” and the entire return series of “Will & Grace.”
What was the secret to his success? He’d enact the “fun clause” in his contract. In his words, “Life is too short to deal with obnoxious leads,” he shared. “So as long as the writing is good and the cast is fun, I’m going to enjoy the experience.”
He had the magic touch, having multiple pilots turned into long-running series. He was nominated for an Emmy 24 times in 26 years and worked consistently until a year before his death.
The secret was the way he brought the cast together. He describes, “it was my job to mold them into an ensemble, and they did round into a group of people who loved each other.”
This earned him 11 Emmy Awards and five Directors Guild of America Awards, including being awarded the inaugural DGA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Television Direction.
In a 2003 interview by the Television Academy, he was asked how he wants to be remembered, and he said, “That every night forever you can tune in somewhere, and there’ll be a show I did.”
He’s survived by his wife, Debbie, four daughters, seven grandchildren, and the countless people whose careers he launched and the countless viewers he inspired with his television legacy.
Photos
PHOTOS: Capital Pride Festival and Concert
Annual LGBTQ celebration held on Pennsylvania Ave.
The 2026 Capital Pride Festival was held on Pennsylvania Ave. on Sunday, June 21.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key and Landon Shackelford)
The 2026 Capital Pride Parade was held in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 20.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key, Robert Rapanut and Landon Shackelford)
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