Arts & Entertainment
High camp fun
No, we mean real camp — as in summer fun for kids. Here are a few of the region’s offerings
(Image courtesy of Rollins)
Imagination Stage, part of Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd.) in Arlington, has many summer camps for children of all ages, starting at 4 and going all the way through high school. There is the Arts Explorer camp for children ages 4 and 5. Children ages 6 and 7 can go to the Arts Adventure camp. The other camps are either four weeks long or a week-long flex camp. There’s also a Filmmaking Camp for children grades five to 12 that last either one or three weeks and dance camps. For more information, visit imaginationstage.org.
Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School, (3500 Woodley Rd., N.W.) has multiple summer programs for different age groups from ages 3 to 11 that run throughout the summer. Costs of the camps vary program to program. Brown bag lunches and snacks will be provided for all-day campers and half-day campers will receive snacks. Children are encouraged to dress comfortably and sock and tennis shoes are required. For more information, visit summer.beauvoirschool.org.
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (545 7th St., S.E.) puts on a summer program called “Island Arts Adventure,” which is two week sessions that run from June 20 to Aug. 12 for children ages 5 to 13. Each session is divided into morning and afternoon camps. In the morning, the campers will focus on an island such as Indonesia or Hawaii and then the afternoon camps are more recreation based. Campers must have turned 5 by June 1 and completed a year of kindergarten or equivalent education. For more information, visit chaw.org.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art has a camp for children ages 5 to 16 called “Camp Creativity.” The camp is divided into four age groups. The groups for children 5 to 10 meet at the Georgetown campus (1801 35th St., N.W.) and the other groups meet at the gallery’s downtown campus (500 17th St., N.W.). Studio A has campers experimenting with a variety of materials as they investigate themes in art. Studio B allows campers to explore a variety of artists and themes while developing their artistic skills. Studio C has campers concentrating on skill development and they get to try out things like fashion illustration and cartooning. Studio D has campers building their skills in figure drawing, digital photography and fashion illustration. Campers can be signed up for one to eight weeks. Prices vary based on age and session. For more information, visit Corcoran.org.
TIC Summer Camp (4620 Dittmar Rd.) in Arlington is a technology- and sports-based camp for children 7 to 16 at three locations. The technology choices are programming, robotics, web design, animation, filmmaking, digital arts and digital music. All campers get a sports period each day and their choices are soccer, basketball, gymnastics, dance, team handball, street hockey, ultimate frisbee, flag football, softball, capture the flag, volleyball and crazy games. Campers can also choose drama or tennis for an additional cost. Campers are expected to provide their own lunch. There are four sessions throughout the summer starting June 20. The base tuition is $820 per session. For more information, visit ticcamp.com.
Woodland Horse Center (16301 New Hampshire Ave.) in Silver Spring has two summer camps available this year. There’s the Pony Pals Summer Camp for children ages 5 to 7 and the Horsemanship Summer Camp for children ages 8 to 15. Horsemanship campers get two riding lessons, horsemanship lessons, interactive lectures and do arts and crafts. A two-week sessions costs $760 and the first session starts June 13. Pony Pals are given a daily riding lesson, horsemanship lessons, interactive lectures and do arts and crafts. A single week costs $380 and the first session starts June 20. Both camps will have special activities such as pizza day and water games day. For more information, visit woodlandhorse.com.
Jonah’s Treehouse (2121 Wisconsin Ave., C-1 Level) has a summer camp for children ages 3 to 6 that runs from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Registration is done by week with a different theme each week. For more information, visit jonahstreehouse.com.
The Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory (1501 14th St., N.W.) has summer workshops for young actors ages 12 to 17. The Young Actors Ensemble will run from June 27 to July 21. The curriculum includes theater games, pantomimes, improvisations, ensemble work, monologues and scene study. Actors acquire better skills in concentration, observation, response and interplay. Placement auditions are June 18 so instructors can better develop individual students to their fullest potential. The program costs $550. Scholarships are available. For more information, visit studiotheatre.org.
Cleveland Park Club (3433 33rd Place, N.W.) has a summer camp that runs from June 13 to Aug. 12 for children ages 5 to 9 and counselors-in-training ages 11 to 16. Campers participate in a variety of activities including stilt-walking, tumbling, kickball and chalk drawing. Camp prices vary based on session and membership in the club. For more information, visit clevelandparkclub.org.
Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week
Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.
The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.
Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.
“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”
Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.
Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.
Event Details:
📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026
⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP
Theater
National tour of ‘Gatsby’ comes to National Theatre
Out actor Edward Staudenmayer talks playing the show’s gangster
‘The Great Gatsby’
May 12-24
The National Theatre
1321 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
$59-$196
Thenationaldc.com
Often dubbed “The Great American Novel” for its depiction of ambition and self-invention alongside the reversals of success, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” says it all in a fast read.
Set against the excesses and energy of the Roaring Twenties, “The Great Gatsby,” novel and now the same-titled hit Broadway musical with a jazz/pop original score by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen, tells the story of Nick Carraway and his friendship with Jay Gatsby, an enigmatic millionaire intent on reuniting with ex-lover, Daisy Buchanan.
It was during a four-month 2025 run in Seoul, South Korea, that out actor Edward Staudenmayer first played the show’s heavy, Meyer Wolfsheim, a gangster who helped Gatsby make his murkily acquired fortune. As Meyer, Staudenmayer opens the second act with, appropriately enough, “Shady.”
Now three months into a year-long North American tour, the show is poised to enjoy a brief run at Washington’s National Theatre (5/12-5/24).
While putting on his eyeliner prior to a recent Wednesday matinee at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre, the upstate New York-based actor shared about Gatsby and a life in theater.
WASHINGTON BLADE: Despite your good looks and terrific voice, you’re rarely the leading the man. How is that?
EDWARD STAUDENMAYER: I’m definitely a character man. I’ve been painting lines on my face to play old men since I was in high school. I was the youngest freshman in college playing old Uncle Sorin [in Chekhov’s “The Seagull”].
There have been many villains. Some darker than others. Meyer Wolfsheim is a very bad guy, but he doesn’t haunt me once I’m offstage. I play a lot of pickleball.
BLADE: Is it true that like so many of Fitzgerald’s characters, Wolfsheim is famously based on someone the writer encountered in life.
STAUDENMEYER: That’s true, Wolfsheim is pretty much a direct portrayal of real-life mobster and 1919 World Series fixer [Arnold Rothstein].
BLADE: When did the 1925 novel first surface on your radar?
STAUDENMAYER: Like many of us, I was assigned “The Great Gatsby” in high school. It was short, and filled with sex and illicit activities. I thought it was great. Definitely wasn’t a Judy Blume novel.
Interestingly, the book wasn’t originally a huge a success for Fitzgerald, but because it was about war and having the girl at home, they gave it to GIs leaving for WWII. After returning, a lot of those guys went on the GI Bill and became English teachers. They assigned the book to their students.
BLADE The idea that the book’s first-person narrator, Nick Carraway, is gay and enamored with Jay Gatsby is long discussed among readers and scholars. Does the musical touch on that?
STAUDENMAYER: Yes, there’s conjecture about Jay and Nick, and it’s implied in our show. It’s also implied about Jordan Baker, Jay’s fleeting romantic interest. Ultimately, she’s a confirmed bachelor, and a professional golfer who only wears pants.
Our performers are really good. Josh Grasso who plays Nick is fantastic. I’ve had to stop watching him in his last scene; it’s not good for Meyer Wolfsheim to take his curtain call crying. Our Gatsby, Jake David Smith, is good too. He’s gorgeous like Superman and sings like an angel.
BLADE: Do you ever imagine backstory for your characters whose sexuality is undefined?
STAUDENMAYER: I do, but not with Wolfsheim. I don’t see it. I’m trying to be as butch as possible with this ruthless killer.
BLADE: Have you had to do that in your career?
STAUDENMAYER: For a long time, I wore a mask to hide my gayness. I worked hard on being believable, that I was into the girl or that I was a tough guy.
It’s a different world now, and it’s so refreshing to be around the younger actors today; they’re remarkably open and comfortable.
BLADE: What was your coming of age like?
STAUDENMAYER: I played high school football in Palm Springs [he chuckles, alluding to the arid gay mecca], and I was pretty good too. But much to the chagrin of my parents and coaches, I quit the team to act in our senior year play. My super butch dad played semi-pro football and he was an ex-cop. I’m named after him. While I didn’t become my dad, I’ve played him often on stage. He was a true Gaston [the bumptious rival in “Beauty and the Beast”]. And like Gaston, he used antlers in all his interior decorating.
BLADE: Did he live to see your success in theater?
STAUDENMAYER: He did. Life was challenging growing up but the last 10 years of his life we couldn’t get off the phone with each other [his voice catches with emotion]. He accepted me entirely, and we became very close.
BLADE: Looking ahead, is there a part you’d especially like to play?
STAUDENMAYER: Like all baritones I’d love to play Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd.” I’ve come close but it hasn’t happened yet. There’s still time.
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