Arts & Entertainment

Calendar for April 30

Published

15 years ago

April 29, 2010

Friday, April 30

Open Mic Night at the DC Center, 1810 14th St. N.W., at 8 p.m. for a night of queer spoken word and poetry. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come prepared to share your work. This event is free and open to the public.

Equality Forum arrives in Philadelphia this weekend with a packed schedule of panel discussions on the LGBT movement, parties and more. Visit equalityforum.org for a full schedule of events. Blade editor Kevin Naff joins Obama administration officials and GLAAD’s Jarrett Barrios for a Saturday panel on the White House at 1 p.m.

BYT Presents: Christmas In Heaven II: A Cosmic Disco Journey with DJ Shea Van Horn (Mixtape), DJ Cale (BYT) at the Black Cat, 1811 14th St N.W., starting at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 1

Youth Pride, rescheduled from last weekend, takes place in the P Street Beach area (23rd & P streets) from noon-5 p.m. featuring a diverse lineup of musicians, speakers and other performers. The Infatuation dance at Fly Lounge follows from 5-9:30 p.m. Visit youthpridedc.org for more information.

Jam is returning to Mova Lounge with a very special session, Cherry Jam, to benefit The Cherry Fund. Drink specials, prizes and music by DJ Gemz. No cover but donations accepted for The Cherry Fund. The Jam begins at 9 p.m. at Mova Lounge, 1435 P St. N.W.

CODE, returns to Motley Bar above EFN Lounge, 1318 9th St., N.W., for its monthly installment. Gear, rubber, skin, uniform or leather dress code will be strictly enforced. Music provided by DJ Shea Van Horn. Admission is $10. Code is an 18+ event. There will be an open bar from 9-10 p.m.

Who’s Bad, “the world’s greatest Michael Jackson tribute band,” performs at 9 p.m. at Ram’s Head Live, 20 Market Place at Power Plant Live in downtown Baltimore. Tickets are $16.50; call 410-244-1131.

Sunday, May 2

Mamma Mia flash mob with Bowen McCauley Dance and the DC Cowboys Dance Company. Join the DC Cowboys for a dance “flash mob” of Mamma Mia. All you have to do is learn the steps to the Mamma Mia choreography via online tutorials. The public is invited to take part in these flash mob dances that will be performed live. 1 p.m. at Dupont Circle and a second flash mob 3 p.m. at Ballston Common Mall, 4328 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA. Online tutorial of Mamma Mia can be found here on You Tube: http://tinyurl.com/yb65gks

Mark Knopfler brings his “Get Lucky” tour to Warner Theatre, 13th Street between E&F streets, N.W., at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range $75.50-105.50; call 202-783-4000.

Monday, May 3

Country-Western dance lessons at Remingtons, 639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. (half block west of Eastern Market Metro) from 8:30-9:30 p.m., $5 per person, per lesson (dance class participants should wear boots or shoes with leather soles).

Tuesday, May 4

Volunteers will be assembling safer sex kits and enjoying great drink specials at Motley, 7-10:30 p.m. Motley is the upstairs bar at EFN Lounge, located at 1318 9th St., N.W.

Drag bingo at Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St., N.W., hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee, every Tuesday starting at 8 p.m. Free to play.

Sia performs at the 9:30 club, 815 V St., N.W., at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25; visit 930.com for information.

Wednesday, May 5

The Tom Davaron Social Bridge Club will meet at 7:30 p.m., at the Dignity Center, 721 8th St., S.E. (across from Marine Barracks) for social bridge. No partner needed. Visit lambdabridge.com.

Each Wednesday at the Green Lantern is POZ Wednesday. Starting at 8 p.m., POZ mixers provide a supportive atmosphere for those who are HIV positive and those who want to help eradicate the stigma surrounding HIV. The Green Lantern is located at 1335 Green Ct., N.W.

General Program Wednesdays 7-8:30 p.m. at the Vajroyogini Buddhist Center,1803 Connecticut Ave., N.W., 2nd floor, $12. How can we learn to love without pain? Through these teachings, we will learn to enjoy our relationships and in turn benefit others. For more information visit meditation-dc.org, call 202-986-2257 or e-mail [email protected].

Thursday, May 6

The Point Foundation’s annual Washington, D.C., reception is held from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W. Tickets are $75.

Johnny Blazes performs live at the DC Center. Johnny Blazes’ show is an evening-length performance that blends cabaret arts with theater to create a semi-narrative series of vignettes. The performance will begin at 8 p.m. in the DC Center Activity Room, 1810 14th St. N.W. Tickets $10 now or $15 at the door. Light refreshments will be served. Visit thedccenter.org for more information.

Final Capital Pride general meeting will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Volunteer sign-up, mixer and raffle. The meeting will be held at the Madison Hotel, 1177 15th St., N.W., near Farragut North and McPherson Square Metro stations. That evening, the full schedule of events and the headlining act for Capital Pride’s 35th anniversary celebration, “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!” will be announced. Volunteers interested in being a part of Capital Pride’s 35th anniversary celebration are encouraged to attend. Visit capitalpride.org or call 202-719-5304 for information.

Photos

PHOTOS: Silver Pride

Rayceen Pendarvis serves as emcee

Published

1 hour ago

May 25, 2025

Michael Key

Rayceen Pendarvis was the emcee of Silver Pride 2025. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The 2025 Silver Pride Resource Fair and Tea Dance was held at the Eaton Hotel on Wednesday, May 21.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Out & About

Queer film festival comes to D.C.

DC/DOX to showcase LGBTQ documentaries made by LGBTQ filmmakers

Published

2 hours ago

May 25, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

DC/DOX film festival will take place in D.C. on June 12.

DC/DOX will host a film festival beginning on Thursday, June 12, at the Regal Gallery Place, Eaton Cinema, and the U.S. Navy Memorial Burke Theatre.

This festival will premier LGBTQ documentaries made by LGBTQ filmmakers. Each screening will be followed by in-person Q&As with the filmmakers.

For more details, visit dcdoxfest.com

Movies

Gay director on revealing the authentic Pee-wee Herman

New HBO doc positions Reubens as ‘groundbreaking’ performance artist

Published

2 hours ago

May 25, 2025

Susan Hornik

The HBO Original two-part documentary ‘PEE-WEE AS HIMSELF,’ directed by Matt Wolf), debuts Friday, May 23 (8 p.m.-11:20 p.m. ET/PT) with both parts airing back-to-back on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. (Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.)

In the new HBO two-part documentary, “Pee-wee as Himself,” director Matt Wolf gives viewers a never-before-seen look into the personal life of Paul Reubens, the comedic actor behind the much loved television persona, Pee-wee Herman.

Filmed before Reubens passed away in 2023 from cancer, Wolf and his creative team created the riveting documentary, interspersing several interviews, more than 1,000 hours of archival footage, and tens of thousands of personal photos.

Determined to set the record straight about what really happened, Reubens discussed his diverse influences, growing up in the circus town of Sarasota, Fla., and his avant-garde theater training at the California Institute of the Arts.

Ruebens joined the Groundlings improv group, where he created the charismatic Pee-wee Herman. He played the quirky character during the Saturday morning show, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” and in numerous movies, like “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” and “Big Top Pee-wee.” He also brought Pee-wee to Broadway, with “The Pee-wee Herman Show.”

To get an enigma such as Reubens to open up was no easy task for Wolf.

“I felt determined to get Paul to open up and to be his authentic self,” acknowledged Wolf at a recent press conference. “And I was being tested and I wanted to meet my match in a way so I didn’t feel frustrated or exhausted, I felt determined but I also, it was thrilling to go this deep. I’ve never been able, or I don’t know if I ever will, go this deep with another human being to interview them in an intimate way for over 40 hours.”

Wolf described the collaborative interview experience as a dream, “like we were in a bubble where time didn’t matter.” he also felt a deep connection to the material, having come of age watching “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”

“I wouldn’t have been able to put words to it at the time, but I think it was my first encounter with art that I felt emotionally involved in,” noted Wolf.

“He continued: “I recognize that that show created a space for a certain kind of radical acceptance where creativity thrives. And as a gay filmmaker, I also recognize things like Pee-wee Herman marrying a bowl of fruit salad at a slumber party or dancing in high heels to the song, ‘Fever.’ That stuff spoke to me. So that was my connection to it.”

During the documentary, Reubens comes out as a gay man.

“Paul went into this process wanting to come out,” said Wolf. “That was a decision he had made. He was aware that I was a gay filmmaker and had made portraits of other gay artists. That was the work of mine he was attracted to, as I understood. And I wanted, as a younger person, to support him in that process, but he also was intensely sensitive that the film would overly emphasize that; or, focused entirely from the lens of sexuality when looking at his story.”

Their complicated dynamic had an aspect of “push and pull” between them.

“I think that generational difference was both a source of connection and affinity and tension. And I do think that the level to which Paul discusses his relationships and intimacy and vulnerability and the poignant decision he made to go back into the closet. I do have to believe to some extent he shared that because of our connection.”

Wolf hopes that the “Pee-wee as Himself” positions Reubens as one of the most “groundbreaking” performance artists of his generation who in a singular way broke through into mainstream pop culture.

“I know he transformed me. He transformed how I see the world and where I went as a creative person. And it’s so clear that I am not alone in that feeling. For me, it was fairly abstract. I couldn’t necessarily put words to it. I think people who grew up on Pee-wee or were big fans of Pee-wee, seeing the film, I hope, will help them tap into intangible and specific ways how transformative his work was for them. It really is a gift to revisit early seminal experiences you had and to see how they reverberate in you.”

He added: “So, to me, this isn’t so much about saying Paul Reubens is a genius. I mean, that’s overly idealizing and I don’t like hero worship. It’s more about understanding why many of us have connected to his work and understanding where he lives within a legacy of performance art, television, and also, broader pop culture.”