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.
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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)














