Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: events through next weekend

Published

16 years ago

December 9, 2010

The Roches, a sister act from New Jersey, play the Birchmere Dec. 17. (Photo courtesy of the Roches)

Friday

Trumpet Grrrl will be live at Baked & Wired (1052 Thomas Jefferson St.) from 7 to 9 p.m. This will be the first time Trumpet Grrrl performs with a full band. This is a free event.

Mautner Project will be hosting a dance and learn fundraiser at the Chevy Chase Ballroom and DanceSport Center (5207 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) today from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Admission is $15 and will go to Mautner Project for all attendees who say they are there for the organization. Mini-classes in salsa, swing, waltz or fox trot argentine tango, will be offered.

She.Rex will be at Chief Ike’s (1725 Columbia Rd., N.W.) tonight from 9:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. This is a free event.

Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) presents Club Christmas, a holiday dance party with DJ Randy White. Attendees can sit on shirtless Santa’s lap and get a free photo. There is a $10 cover.

Secrets and MightyMen.com present “Big Brother” reality TV star and gay rodeo champion-turned-porn star, Steven Daigle, live tonight at 9 p.m. VIP passes will be available for $20 and include access to the VIP lounge, access to a waiter, a complimentary drink, a meet and greet with Daigle and a special performance. Visit secretsdc.com to sign up for a VIP pass. There will be a $5 cover before 10:30 p.m. and $10 after.

The Bethesda Art Walk is tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. and features 10 galleries that will stay open late in downtown Bethesda.

Kandi from “Real Housewives of Atlanta” will be at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight. Town is also having its monthly So You Think You’re a Drag Queen contest tonight. Contestants should arrive at 10 p.m. Cover is $5 before 11 p.m. for those who are 21 and over and $10 after. It’s $10 all night for those 18-20.

Saturday, Dec. 11

AQUA D.C. will be holding its annual holiday party and membership meeting tonight at 1829 Phelps Place, N.W., from 7 to 10 p.m. E-mail [email protected] or call Andrew at 202-294-3456 or DeeJay at 571-292-7966 with questions.

Cosponsored by Domku Bar & Café and CoreHaus D.C., the Upshur Street Arts Fair is today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the 800 block of Upshur St., N.W.

Girls Rock! D.C. is hosting a cheap art sale today from 1 to 8 p.m. at La Casa (3166 Mt. Pleasant St., N.W.). All art will be $50 or less and 50 percent of the proceeds will be donated to Girls Rock! D.C. For more information, visit girlsrockdc.org or e-mail [email protected]

Pamala Stanley will be performing at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) tonight at 9 p.m. There will be a $7 cover.

Ten LGBT groups are co-hosting a “Mega Skate Night and Social” tonight at 5:45 p.m. at the Ballston Common Mall in Arlington. The event will start with an hour of skating at the Capitals Complex and then move onto Bailey’s Pub in the mall. All beers will be $1 off and the pool tables will be free to use. Skating costs $8 plus $3 for skate rental. For more information, visit DCIceBreakers.org.

The Proud Bookstore (39 Baltimore Ave.) in Rehoboth will be hosting a five-author book signing today from 3 to 5 p.m. The authors scheduled to appear are Renee Bess, Lisa Gitlin, Sheri Reynolds, Stefani Deoul and Fay Jacobs.

DJs Ralphi Rosario and Abel will be at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight for Winter Wonderland. Doors open at 10 p.m. and the drag show starts at 10:30. Cover is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 after.

Allie Wilson and Jacob Nathaniel Pring present “Cotton Candy” at Green Lantern (1335 Greem Court, N.W.) tonight at 10 p.m. DJs David Merrill and Bryan Yamasaki will be providing music. This is a 18 and older party and admission is $5.

Sunday, Dec. 12

The D.C. Center is partnering with Human Rights Campaign for its National Capital Area holiday party at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight from 7 to 10 p.m.

Pocket Gays is hosting its monthly party, Cake Face Sunday School today from 3 to 9 p.m. on the rooftop of Local 16. This month is in celebration of pocket Devon’s birthday. The roof is enclosed and heated. Music will be provided by DJ Keenan. This is a free event.

Church of the Holy City (1611 16th St., N.W.) will have a Christmas art concert today at 3:30 p.m. The concert will feature Gilda Kornhauser, Aman Shankardass and teenage musicians and singers. A reception will follow. This is a free event. For more information, visit swedenborgcenter.org.

Georgetown jingle is tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington. There will be a VIP/Sponsor reception from 4 to 5 p.m. There will be a silent auction, a performance by Pamala Stanley and more. Tickets can be purchased at georgetownjingle.com and range from $50 to $350.

Monday, Dec. 13

The Choral Arts Society of Washington presents “Christmas Music: The Treasured Holiday Tradition” at the Kennedy Center concert hall (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. This event will be followed by the CASW 30th annual Holiday Gala. Tickets range from $15 to $65 and can be purchased at kennedy-center.org.

The American City Diner (5532 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) will be showing the film “Pretty Woman” starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. The movie starts at 8 p.m. The full menu will be available. Admission is free. For more information, visit americancitydiner.com.

Tuesday, Dec. 14

SpeakeasyDC will be hosting an open mic night tonight at 8 p.m. at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) featuring stories about being a guest, having guests and hospitality. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. This event will be catered by Nellie’s.

Join Burgundy Crescent Volunteers to help pack safer sex kits from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at FUK!T’s new packing location Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct., N.W.

Street/Studio 2.0 is an exhibit which showcases artists who work in unconventional sites and media. It will be on display at Irvine Contemporary (1412 14th St., N.W.) The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or by appointment.

Wednesday, Dec. 15

SAGE Metro D.C. is hosting “LGBT and Home for the Holidays: designing and remodeling your home to stay independent for the holidays and beyond,” today at Residences at Thomas Circle from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Bill Millholland, executive vice president of Case Design and Remodeling will be the featured speaker.

The Studio Theatre presents “Superior Donuts” by Tracy Letts and starring Richard Cotovsky and Johnny Ramey, in his Studio Theatre debut, tonight at 8 p.m. Donuts is about a hippie who owns a donut shop and how a new employee changes his life. Tickets range from $35 to $50 and can be purchased at studiotheatre.org.

Thursday, Dec. 16

Penn State LGBTA Alumni Association will be having a holiday happy hour tonight at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) at 6 p.m.

The Philips Collection (1600 21st St., N.W.) will have conservator Dana Hemmenway tonight for “TruthBeauty: Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845-1945” at 6:30 p.m. The discussion is included in admission to the exhibit. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for students and visitors 62 and over and free for members and visitors 18 and under.

A John Waters Christmas will be having an encore performance tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Birchmere in Alexandria. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased at birchmere.com.

Friday, Dec. 17

The Roches will be performing at the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave.) in Alexandria tonight at 7:30 p.m. Lucy Wainwright Roche will be opening. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at birchmere.com.

The Gay Men’s Chorus production “Men in Tights: A Pink Nutcracker” opens tonight at 8 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University.

Saturday, Dec. 18

Dan Noel will be celebrating his 50th birthday and has chosen Mautner Project as a beneficiary for his birthday benefit at Cloud 9 (234 Rehoboth Ave.) in Rehoboth tonight at 9 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10 and the proceeds will go to Mautner Project and AIDS Delaware.

Sunday, Dec. 19

Eatonville Restaurant (2121 14th St., N.W.) will be holding another installation of its monthly series, Food and Folklore, which intertwines storytelling and food, tonight at 6:30 p.m. This month is Gullah with Charlotte Jenkins, author of “Gullah Cuisine.” To purchase tickets, visit eatonvillerestaurant.com

Lambda Divers will be having its monthly happy hour at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. $1 from every Nellie beer sold goes to Lambda Divers.

Celebrity News

Madonna headlines World Pride Music Festival in Amsterdam

Kylie Minogue made surprise appearance alongside gay icon

Published

6 minutes ago

August 2, 2026

Michael K. Lavers

Kylie Minogue with Madonna at the World Pride Music Festival in Amsterdam on Aug. 2, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Cejlon Studio)

AMSTERDAM — Madonna on Sunday headlined the final night of the World Pride Music Festival in Amsterdam.

The gay icon took the stage shortly before 2:30 a.m. local time (8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday) during Club Confessions, a set that MISTR, a telehealth platform that offers free access to PrEP, Doxy PEP, STI testing, and long-term HIV care, organized.

“Mother is here and this is gay heaven,” said Madonna when she took the stage inside Amsterdam’s AFAS Live concert hall that can hold up to 6,000 people.

Stuart Price, who produced Madonna’s 2005 “Confessions on a Dance Floor” album and “Confessions II,” which debuted on July 2, DJed the set.

Kylie Minogue made a surprise appearance. She and Madonna performed a new remix of “Love Sensation” from “Confessions II.”

(Washington Blade video by Michael K. Lavers)

“Throughout my career, I’ve always supported efforts to fight HIV and AIDS, and that fight begins with education and access,” said Madonna in a MISTR press release. “With MISTR, (CEO) Tristan (Schukraft) is expanding access to HIV prevention and sexual healthcare for everyone. Through this work, he’s helping preserve and strengthen LGBTQ+ spaces while investing in the communities and culture that have long sustained us.”

Minogue in an Instagram post thanked Madonna, Price, Schukraft, and MISTR.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kylie Minogue (@kylieminogue)

Madonna appeared at The Abbey in West Hollywood, Calif., in April. Madonna in June celebrated Pride month with a pop-up performance in New York’s Times Square.

Jake Resnicow and Insomniac produced the World Pride Music Festival that also featured Bebe Rexha and Paris Hilton, among others.

“Pride has always been about bringing our community together,” said Resnicow. “At a moment when too many people are being told to hide or make themselves smaller, gathering openly, joyfully, and without apology matters more than ever. I couldn’t be prouder of what this festival brought to life in Amsterdam — one dance floor, completely free.”

Theater

Reggie White relishing first season as artistic director of Woolly Mammoth

First five shows a reminder that ‘pressure is a privilege’

Published

9 hours ago

August 2, 2026

Patrick Folliard

Reggie D. White (Photo by Ambe J. Williams)

Madly talented and preternaturally energetic, Reggie D. White, 38, is about to launch his first season as artistic director of D.C.’s boundary-pushing Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.

White brings a lot to the job. As actor, playwright, and director, his varied resume includes a 2019 Broadway acting debut in Matthew López’s Tony Award–winning play “The Inheritance,” his semi-autobiographic play “Fremont Ave.” that opened to acclaim last season at Arena Stage, and a number of exciting regional directing credits.

A longtime admirer of Woolly, the out theater-maker was selected from a pool of candidates before receiving the offer last November and starting work in January. His season of five world premieres kicks off with gay playwright Steve Yockey’s “Venus” (Sept. 9-Oct. 4), a darkly funny study of modern relationships told through two lesbians looking back on their first encounter.

White was introduced to Woolly Mammoth as a pre-law student at Cal State Hayward in the San Francisco Bay Area, long before he foresaw a life in the arts. “As part of a random theater history course, I was assigned to write a paper on a counterculture company called Woolly Mammoth,” he recalls “Strange name. I was like what the hell is that?”

Nineteen-year-old White was intrigued. Research acquainted him with Howard Shalwitz who co-founded Woolly in 1980, and the company’s commitment to living playwrights and new work. He also learned how theater could be used as a tool for difficult conversations and shape the way people thought about social issues by employing imagination and rigor.

“Never in a million years did young me envision that one day I’d be Woolly’s third artistic director in its 46-year history,” says White. “It’s kind of serendipitously insane.”

WASHINGTON BLADE: Was there a moment when the enormity of the job hit you?

REGGIE D. WHITE: After I’d signed my contract and finished all the paperwork, I got my keys and sat in the theater by myself in the dark and thought about what an incredible honor it is to be trusted with what happens in this beautiful space [in D.C.’s Penn Quarter]. I might have cried. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to remember it’s real.

BLADE: Are you curating the upcoming 2026–2027 season?

WHITE: Yes, I am. It’s very rare that an incoming artistic director gets to program their first season, but I was lucky in terms of time. After being hired late last year, I asked Woolly’s managing director Kimberly E. Douglas, if she thought it would be crazy if I programmed the season. She warned me it would be hard.

I invoked tennis legend Billie Jean King’s maxim “pressure is a privilege” and got to work.

These plays [dubbed White’s “first five”] represent both the kind of theater that Woolly can do really well and speak directly to my voice as curator and how I want to contribute to the larger theatrical conversation in the DMV.

Getting here has meant a lot of late nights. But I knew the juice would be worth the squeeze.

BLADE: As a queer artistic director, what makes you unique?

WHITE: When I was playing in “Inheritance” on Broadway, after a performance, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayer came backstage to meet the cast. She spoke about how her lens on the world as a Puerto Rican woman shapes her decisions. Similarly, because I’m a queer Black man I see through a lens that shapes my work.

I know I’m not the only queer artistic director in town. For me, it influences how I make editorial decisions. Out of this season’s five plays there are explicitly queer characters in four [“Venus,” “Chanukkah Spectacular,” “Ten Grand,” and “Love I Awethu Further”] and I’m directing two [“Venus,” “Ten Grand”].

BLADE: Will we see familiar faces?

WHITE: Every show this season will feature a Woolly Mammoth company member in its cast. Our company also includes designers and directors who we’ll include. I’m invested in continuing to provide a showcase for their work.

BLADE: How do you think queer audiences will receive the season?

WHITE: Very well, I think. For queer people who’ve had to navigate the world subversively and solve problems in unique ways, I think it will be especially interesting. I find theater a potent place for questions.

Like all artistic directors. I’ll show up for the job in my own way. I’m just excited that I’ve been invited to bring the fullness of myself to the role.