Arts & Entertainment
Sounds of the season
Local holiday concert offerings wildly eclectic

The Kinsey Sicks, a drag singing ensemble, will be at the D.C. JCC in December. (Photo courtesy of the Kinsey Sicks)
The Duke Ellington School of Arts (3500 R St., N.W.) will be performing “Dreamgirls” in December. Evening performances will be at 7:30 from Dec. 2 through Dec. 18. There will be afternoon performances at 2 p.m. on Dec. 4, 11 and 18. A special gala night will be held Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. featuring original Dreamgirl, Jennifer Holliday. Tickets for the evening and afternoon shows are $25, $30 or $35 and can be purchased by calling 202-337-4825 or visiting ww.ellingtonschool.org. Tickets for the gala can be purchased by emailing [email protected] or by calling 202-333-2555, ext. 2101.
The Kinsey Sicks, a “dragapella beautyshop quartet,” will be performing “Oy Vey in a Manger” from Dec. 18 to Jan. 2 at Theater J in the Washington DCJCC’s Aaron and Cecile Goldman Theater (1529 16th St., N.W.). Regular performances will be on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 and 7:30 p.m. There will be two preview shows, one on Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. and the other on Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. There will also be a special matinee before the official opening on Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. Other performances will be on Dec. 21 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $60 and can be purchased by calling 800-494-TIXS or visiting boxofficetickets.com.
The Washington National Cathedral has several holiday events happening this season. On Nov. 22, its annual “O Come Let Us Adore Him” exhibit of nativity scenes opens to the public. It will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Cathedral’s choirs will also be performing Handel’s “Messiah” on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 4 and Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $85. The Cathedrals Joy of Christmas concert will be Dec. 11 and 12 at 4 p.m. featuring a grand procession and several well-known favorites from holiday standards. Tickets range from $25 to $85. A Christmas pageant will be held on Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. That same day, the Cathedral will be hosting carols by candlelight at 6 p.m. as well as on Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. Visit nationalcathedral.org to purchase tickets for any event.
Strathmore has many holiday events coming up this season. On Nov. 27, at the Music Center at Strathmore, the Mormon Orchestra and Chorus of Washington will be performing their holiday concert, “O Come Let Us Adore Him.” A sold out Hanukkah tea will be served at the Mansion at Strathmore on Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. Dec. 1 brings the King’s Singers to the Music Center at 8 p.m. with a holiday program. The 2010 Kenny G Holiday Show is on Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. at the Music Center. A child-friendly “Mrs. Claus Tea” will be served on Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Mansion. “A Smooth Jazz Christmas” will be at the Music Center on Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. with Dave Koz and Friends. For tickets information for all events, visit strathmore.org.
The Hylton Performing Arts Center has two holiday events coming up. First up is “A Rockapella Holiday” on Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. in Merchant Hall. Rockapella is a five-man a cappella group best known for its “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” theme song. This program features classics such as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” as well as popular new pieces like “Little Mary Snowflake” and a funky new version of “The Dreidel Song.” On Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. in Merchant Hall, the Center presents “Christmas in Ireland: An Nollaig in Eirinn” featuring the band, Danu. Tickets for both events are $28, $36 or $44 and can be purchased by visiting hyltoncenter.org.
Many different venues will be hosting a production of “The Nutcracker.” The Kennedy Center Opera House will hosts the Joffrey Ballet on Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. The Warner Theatre hosts the Washington Ballet performing the family classic on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. The Music Center at Strathmore has another production by the Moscow Ballet on Dec. 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. The Manassas Ballet Theater will be performing the show on Dec. 11 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. The Gay Men’s Chorus will perform its own rendition of the Nutcracker, “Men in Tights: A Pink Nutcracker” at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University on Dec. 17 at 8 p.m., Dec. 18 at 3 and 8 p.m. and Dec. 19 at 3 p.m.
The Metropolitan Community Church of Washington will have its Christmas concert on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. The Church will have two Christmas Eve worship services, one at 8 p.m. and the other at 11 p.m.
D.C.’s Different Drummers will be marching in Fredericksburg, Va., holiday parade on Dec. 4 at noon. They will also have a holiday concert on Dec. 12 from 3 to 5 p.m. A location for the concert has not been announced yet.

You’ve done your share of marching.
You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.
You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.
Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.
You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.
Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.
If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.
Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.
Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.
Music & Concerts
Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall
Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall.
The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts.

Friday, June 13
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach bar and Restaurant. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, June 14
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 16
“Center Aging Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook.
Tuesday, June 17
Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Wednesday, June 18
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website.
Thursday, June 19
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
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