Arts & Entertainment

Arts news in brief

Radcliffe goes glam, last weekend for ice show, Fleming at the Kennedy Center and more

Published

15 years ago

January 6, 2011

Radcliffe goes glam in new photo shoot

Still boyish at 21, Daniel Radcliffe may portray the teen wizard as more geeky than gonzo on the big screen as Harry Potter. But now you can see Radcliffe show off his inner wild man, going full wizard indeed to promote his upcoming film, the last of the series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.”

Little Harry has grown up. Check out his cover photo shoot for the feature story “The Boy Magician Shape Shift,” in Dazed and Confused magazine. With festive face and body paint, at times grotesque, at other times glammed to the nines with feathers, Radcliffe is always sensual. He’s shown his wilder side before. A much-ballyhooed nude scene on stage at age 17 in Peter Shaffer’s 1973 play “Equus” happened in 2007 on London’s West End.

Next stop for Radcliffe is a planned 2011 revival of “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” in which he is reportedly seeking to re-sculpt his body, hoping for six-pack slimness for shirtless scenes as the musical’s window-washer.

He also sent a recent message to gay teens as a new spokesman for the Trevor Project, the LGBT youth crisis-prevention 24-hour hotline. Speaking of the recent rash of gay teen suicides, he said that “it has been heart-breaking for me (that) these young people were bullied and tormented by people that should have been their friends.”

(Photo courtesy of Gaylord National Resort)

Last weekend for ‘Grinch’ ice exhibit

This is the last weekend to see the impressive ice-sculpted show ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas” as it closes Sunday. Featuring the artistry of Chinese ice carvings, it’s housed in a special 15,000-square foot pavilion at the waterfront Gaylord National Harbor Resort. It’s near the Beltway at the Wilson Bridge, right across the Potomac River from Old Town Alexandria, and it closes Sunday.

This one is perfect for kids of all ages, an indoor wonderland just 9 degrees above zero inside. Parkas are handed out to keep warm. It features 10 scenes from the 1957 Dr. Seuss classic story of the “Whoville-hating” Grinch, carved from two million pounds of ice, as well as a complete exhibition of the actual storybook artwork and commercial-art illustrations by Theodor Seuss Geisel, the American writer and cartoonist who died in 1991. For tickets and times, go to wefrozethegrinch.com or call 301-965-4000.

From left, Austin Johnson as Fritz, Emily Whitworth as Louise and Dalles Tolentino as the Nutcracker in Synetic's 'Nutcracker,' which continues through Jan. 16. (Photo by Ulia Kriskovets; courtesy of Synetic)

Synetic’s ‘Nutcracker’ features original music

Equally kid-friendly is a striking new twist on this tinseled old favorite — the original E.T.A. Hoffman tale of the enchanted Nutcracker Prince who saves a young girl from a nightmare attack of scampering mice — given it by educator and director Lilia Slavova. This version, which runs through Jan. 16 at the Synetic Family Theater’s Crystal City stage, 1800 S. Bell St. in Arlington, is virtually non-stop action and filled with whimsy and wonder, magic and movement, bright fun and broad farce.

Slavova’s re-imagining is shorn of most of Tchaikovsky’s music from the ballet suite and in its stead music from Synetic in-house composer Konstantine Lortkipandize is heard along with Bach, Beethoven and Stravinsky. For acting and dancing, including credible Russian-style leg-kicks and break-dance stunts, pay special attention to cute 22-year-old Austin Johnson who plays “Fritz” as a goofy 9 year old full of mischief, and lithe and limber Dallas Tolentino as the Nutcracker Prince. Tickets at 800-494-8497 or synetictheater.org.

Katz to speak at Foundry on controversial exhibit

Then there’s visual art, including, of course, the art world’s breakthrough museum show, “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture.” As has been widely reported, this is a display of the depiction of same-sex attraction in American art from the 19th century to today. It closes at the National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F St N.W., on Feb 13.

The show’s co-curator Jonathan Katz, director of the doctoral program in visual studies at the State University of Buffalo, will discuss the firestorm over the recent political intervention in the exhibit to force the removal of the video “A Fire in the Belly,” at D.C.’s Foundry Gallery, 1314 18th St. N.W., Saturday Jan 15 at 4 p.m. Attendance at the lecture is free.

Transformer Gallery began showing the censored video after its removal from the show. Also there is a special exhibit there from through Jan. 30 to celebrate D.C.’s historic passage last year of the same-sex marriage law. The show features a juried selection from an “open call” for entries for visual representations of the theme of gay marriage. One of the artists featured is Bill Travis, a photographer of male nudes and art historian who recently moved to D.C. from New York City and whose show “Bodyscapes” just ended its own run at the D.C. Center on Jan 5. The reception for the show’s opening is tonight from 6 to 8.

Opera legend Renee Fleming plays the Kennedy Center this weekend. (Photo by Andrew Eccles)

Opera diva Fleming in recital this weekend

Grand opera’s sumptuous soprano celebrated by critics for her “creamy, generous tone” is expected to be as gorgeous as ever vocally when she appears in a Kennedy Center Concert Hall recital at 8 p.m. Saturday – a Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) event. Tickets at $47 to $125 are available through wpas.org or 202-785-WPAS.

Known as “the people’s diva,” Fleming sets the bar high for opera and lieder with such signature roles as the Countess Almaviva in Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro” and Desdemona in Verdi’s “Otello.” Fleming also stars on Jan. 31 in another of her great roles, as Violetta in Verdi’s “La traviata,” when “Opera in Cinema” kicks off its new season, now presented at D.C.’s new West End Cinema. Tickets for $20 are at www.westendcinema.com.

‘Seasons’ suites to be heard at Cathedral

Just when cold winter releases its latest icy grip comes a vision from Vivaldi that there are indeed four seasons, celebrated in a centerpiece selection of three masterworks by the Shakespeare Library’s Folger Consort — in concert tonight and Saturday night in the majestic nave of Washington National Cathedral, located at Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues, N.W.

Violinist Julie Andrijeski leads the baroque orchestra in the classic Vivaldi “Four Seasons” and also 17th century English composer Christopher Simpson’s fantasia suites for strings, “The Seasons.”

Rounding out the concert is the atmospheric music for John Cage’s 1947 ballet “The Seasons” — arranged for baroque instruments. American-born Cage, a composer and artist whose romantic partner for most of his life was dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham, died in 1992 at age 78.

Get tickets from $30 at folger.edu/consort or 202-544-7077. Robert Aubry Davis also leads a free pre-concert discussion with Folger Consort artistic directors and musicians tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the cathedral’s Tower auditorium.

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FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM

Calendar

Calendar: March 27-April 2

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

14 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, March 27

Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].

Saturday, March 28

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.

The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website.

Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black Lesbian. For more details, email [email protected].

Monday, March 30

“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 information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

“Tea Time! A Local DC Drag Comedy Show” will be at 3 p.m. at Spark Social. This is a live drag comedy show where drag legends TrevHER & Tiara Missou Sidora host spill all the tea in the DMV. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Tuesday, March 31

Visibili-TEA Party will be at 6 p.m. at Restoration Station. Guests are encouraged to come sip, celebrate, and shine together. This event is a Trans Day of Visibility celebration and a special collaboration between Auntie’s Home and Damien Ministries. This is a boozy tea party with intention and the dress code reflects the vibe. More details are available on Eventbrite.

Wednesday, March 1

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. 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.

Thursday, April 2

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Out & About

Celebrate cherry blossoms the drag way

Unconventional Diner hosts bingo party

Published

14 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

The cherry blossoms are here. Celebrate at a unique event hosted by Unconventional Diner. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Unconventional Diner will host “Cherry Blossom Drag Bingo Party” on Friday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m.

Guests will be treated to an unforgettable night of drag performances, bingo, food and drink and prizes. Highlights of the evening include themed cocktails, drag performances and bingo prizes.

Tickets can be secured via Resy.

Sports

New IOC policy bans trans women from Olympics

New regulation to be in effect at 2028 summer games in Los Angeles

Published

2 days ago

March 26, 2026

Michael K. Lavers

(Photo by Greg Martin; courtesy IOC)

The International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced it will not allow transgender women from competing in female events at the Olympics.

“For all disciplines on the Sports Program of an IOC event, including individual and team sports, eligibility for any Female Category is limited to biological females,” reads the new policy.

The policy states “eligibility for the Female Category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY Gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY Gene.”

“On the basis of the scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the SRY (sex-determining Region Y) Gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced or will experience male sex development,” it reads. “Furthermore, the IOC considers that SRY Gene screening via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample is unintrusive compared to other possible methods. Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the Female Category.”

The policy states the test “will be a once-in-a-lifetime test” unless “there is reason to believe a negative reading is in error.”

The new regulation will be in place for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

“I understand that this a very sensitive topic,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday in a video. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition.”

“The policy that we have announced is based on science and it has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart. The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advances in sport that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” she added. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”

(Video courtesy of the IOC)

Laurel Hubbard, a weightlifter from New Zealand, in 2021 became the first trans woman to compete at the Olympics.

Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Khelif later sued JK Rowling and Elon Musk for cyberstalking after they questioned her gender identity.

Ellis Lundholm, a mogul skier from Sweden, this year became the first openly trans athlete to compete in any Winter Olympics when he participated in Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.

President Donald Trump in February 2025 issued an executive order that bans trans women and girls from female sports teams in the U.S.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee last July banned trans women from competing in female sporting events. Republican lawmakers have demanded the IOC ban trans athletes from women’s athletic competitions.

“I’m grateful the Olympics finally embraced the common sense policy that women’s sports are for women, not for men,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on X.

An IOC spokesperson on Thursday referred the Washington Blade to the press release that announced the new policy.