Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: March 25
Parties, exhibits, events and more through March 31
'Blue, Yellow and Green Grasses' is part of an exhibit called 'Grasses' by artist Mary Ott that will be on display starting Wednesday and throughout April at Touchstone Gallery in Washington. Receptions with the artist are planned for April 1 and 10. (Image courtesy of Touchstone Gallery)
TODAY
Caliente Grande is tonight at Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) starting at 9 p.m. DJ Michael Brandon will be spinning the Latin dance party in the main hall. There is a $10 cover charge. Attendees must be 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
Brightest Young Things presents “A Night at the Newseum II: Way Out of Line” at the Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. with DJs Nickodemus and Ancient Astronauts. Tickets are $15 in advanced and drink tickets are $4. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit brightestyoungthings.com.
The New Gay hosts Beat City at Chief Ike’s Mambo Room (1725 Columbia Rd., N.W.) tonight from 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. featuring music from artists such as Joan Jett, Le Tigre, Bloc Party and more. There will also be a giveaway and the winner will get a pair of tickets to see The Raveonettes at Black Cat and a copy of their new record, “Raven in the Grave.” For more information, visit, thenewgay.net.
Women in Their Twenties, a social discussion and dinner group, will be meeting tonight from 8 to 9 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).
Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave.) in Arlington presents “Pride Night” with a performance of “And the Curtain Rises” at 8 p.m. followed by a post-show cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception.
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsoro presents “So You Think You Can Sing!,” a karaoke and dance party, tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with DJ Christy. All participants get a free rail or domestic beer with their first performance. There is a $5 cover.
The “1st Friday of the Month,” a professional women for women social group, is meeting tonight at Beacon Bar & Grill (1615 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) at 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 26
Every fourth Saturday of the month, Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) is hosting Jocks vs. Jocks from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Cover is $5 if wearing sports attire, $7 if not. There’s a trophy and cash prizes for the winning team.
Busboys & Poets (1025 5th St., N.W.) presents “Wake up and Smell the Coffee!: A Community Gathering on D.C. Voting Rights and Statehood” today at 9 a.m. in the Cullen Room. This is a free event.
The Kennedy Center (2700 F. St., N.W.) presents Bowen McCauley Dance’s 15th anniversary season “Red. Hot. Fabulous.” tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Terrace Theater. The show is made up of five different pieces, “Haiku Suite,” “World Premiere,” “Time and Clouds,” “Ozone” and “Telemetry.” Tickets are $36 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Ultrabar (911 F St., N.W.) hosts Ladies Night: Coyote Ugly Edition tonight from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. featuring The House Tribe and DJs Tektronics, Mario and Saam and an open bar from 9 to 10 p.m. on the main floor. Get free and reduced admission passes at dcclubbing.com.
“Shear Madness,” a comedy whodunit, will be performed twice tonight at the Kennedy Center Theater Lab (2700 F St., N.W.) at 6 and 9 p.m. “Madness” takes place in present-day Georgetown, in the Shear Madness Hair Styling Salon. Tickets are $42. Visit kennedy-center.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
The Congressional Chorus presents “Stompin’ at the Savoy: A 1930s Cabaret Ballroom” at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 for general admission. Contact Debby McConnell at 202-399-7993, ext. 182 or [email protected] for information.
Sunday, March 27
The D.C. Jazz Jam, a weekly jam free for both musicians and jazz lovers, is tonight from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Dahlak (1771 U St., N.W.).
Busboys & Poets will be showing the film “The Nine Lives of Marion Barry” tonight at 8 p.m. as part of its “Focus-In! Cinema for a Conscious Community,” at the 5th and K location (1025 5th St., N.W.) and the film “Pushing the Elephant” in the Langston Room at 14th and V location (2021 14th St., N.W.).
Monday, March 28
The GLBTA Resource Center at American University is hosting a workshop entitled “Bisexual 101” today from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Mary Graydon Center, Room 247. The workshop will look at issues related to bisexuality as well as bisexuality across cultures and historical epochs and look at some prominent bisexuals. To RSVP, e-mail [email protected] with your name.
SAGE Metro D.C. is holding its monthly meeting tonight from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).
Professionals in the City and the D.C. Center are hosting a speed dating event for lesbian and bisexual women at Chi-Cha Lounge (1624 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 11 p.m. Attendees will date for about an hour and then be able to mingle with everyone. After the event, matches can be made online. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit prosinthecity.com.
Bears do Yoga at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court N.W.) tonight at 6:30 p.m. Class lasts for an hour and serves as an introduction to yoga for people of all different body types and physical abilities. It’s taught by Michael Brazell. For more information, visit dccenter.org.
Tuesday, March 29
Out musician Kaki King will be performing at the Birchmere (3701 Mt Vernon Ave.) in Alexandria tonight with Joe Robinson. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.
Busboys & Poets (2021 14th St., N.W.) is hosting an open mic poetry night tonight at 9 p.m. in the Langston Room. Wristbands will be on sale in the bookstore for $4 starting at 10 a.m. until they are sold out.
Wednesday, March 30
The reality show “Drag City: D.C.” will be taping a drag show on roller skates tonight from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Temple Hills Skating Center (3132 Branch Ave.) in Temple Hills. The show starts at 8. Admission is $15 with a buffet for an additional $5.
Busboys & Poets (4251 South Campbell Ave.) in Arlington is hosting an organic happy hour today at 4 p.m. featuring Butte Creek IPA Sam Smith Ale cocktails, Eco Mojito Tree-Tini and more.
Thursday, March 31
Adventuring, a D.C. gay and lesbian outdoor group, will be hosting a cherry blossom evening hike. The group will meet at the top of the escalators at Waterfront Metro and leave at 6 p.m. The only required cost if the $2 trip fee. For more information, visit adventuring.org.
Cherry 2011 kicks off tonight at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) with a pre-game and pass pick-up with DJ Nick Centrik Purcell from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. followed by Ignition with DJs Randy Bettis and Jason Horswill at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
The 2025 Silver Pride Resource Fair and Tea Dance was held at the Eaton Hotel on Wednesday, May 21.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Out & About
Queer film festival comes to D.C.
DC/DOX to showcase LGBTQ documentaries made by LGBTQ filmmakers
DC/DOX will host a film festival beginning on Thursday, June 12, at the Regal Gallery Place, Eaton Cinema, and the U.S. Navy Memorial Burke Theatre.
This festival will premier LGBTQ documentaries made by LGBTQ filmmakers. Each screening will be followed by in-person Q&As with the filmmakers.
For more details, visit dcdoxfest.com
Movies
Gay director on revealing the authentic Pee-wee Herman
New HBO doc positions Reubens as ‘groundbreaking’ performance artist
In the new HBO two-part documentary, “Pee-wee as Himself,” director Matt Wolf gives viewers a never-before-seen look into the personal life of Paul Reubens, the comedic actor behind the much loved television persona, Pee-wee Herman.
Filmed before Reubens passed away in 2023 from cancer, Wolf and his creative team created the riveting documentary, interspersing several interviews, more than 1,000 hours of archival footage, and tens of thousands of personal photos.
Determined to set the record straight about what really happened, Reubens discussed his diverse influences, growing up in the circus town of Sarasota, Fla., and his avant-garde theater training at the California Institute of the Arts.
Ruebens joined the Groundlings improv group, where he created the charismatic Pee-wee Herman. He played the quirky character during the Saturday morning show, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” and in numerous movies, like “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” and “Big Top Pee-wee.” He also brought Pee-wee to Broadway, with “The Pee-wee Herman Show.”
To get an enigma such as Reubens to open up was no easy task for Wolf.
“I felt determined to get Paul to open up and to be his authentic self,” acknowledged Wolf at a recent press conference. “And I was being tested and I wanted to meet my match in a way so I didn’t feel frustrated or exhausted, I felt determined but I also, it was thrilling to go this deep. I’ve never been able, or I don’t know if I ever will, go this deep with another human being to interview them in an intimate way for over 40 hours.”
Wolf described the collaborative interview experience as a dream, “like we were in a bubble where time didn’t matter.” he also felt a deep connection to the material, having come of age watching “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”
“I wouldn’t have been able to put words to it at the time, but I think it was my first encounter with art that I felt emotionally involved in,” noted Wolf.
“He continued: “I recognize that that show created a space for a certain kind of radical acceptance where creativity thrives. And as a gay filmmaker, I also recognize things like Pee-wee Herman marrying a bowl of fruit salad at a slumber party or dancing in high heels to the song, ‘Fever.’ That stuff spoke to me. So that was my connection to it.”
During the documentary, Reubens comes out as a gay man.
“Paul went into this process wanting to come out,” said Wolf. “That was a decision he had made. He was aware that I was a gay filmmaker and had made portraits of other gay artists. That was the work of mine he was attracted to, as I understood. And I wanted, as a younger person, to support him in that process, but he also was intensely sensitive that the film would overly emphasize that; or, focused entirely from the lens of sexuality when looking at his story.”
Their complicated dynamic had an aspect of “push and pull” between them.
“I think that generational difference was both a source of connection and affinity and tension. And I do think that the level to which Paul discusses his relationships and intimacy and vulnerability and the poignant decision he made to go back into the closet. I do have to believe to some extent he shared that because of our connection.”
Wolf hopes that the “Pee-wee as Himself” positions Reubens as one of the most “groundbreaking” performance artists of his generation who in a singular way broke through into mainstream pop culture.
“I know he transformed me. He transformed how I see the world and where I went as a creative person. And it’s so clear that I am not alone in that feeling. For me, it was fairly abstract. I couldn’t necessarily put words to it. I think people who grew up on Pee-wee or were big fans of Pee-wee, seeing the film, I hope, will help them tap into intangible and specific ways how transformative his work was for them. It really is a gift to revisit early seminal experiences you had and to see how they reverberate in you.”
He added: “So, to me, this isn’t so much about saying Paul Reubens is a genius. I mean, that’s overly idealizing and I don’t like hero worship. It’s more about understanding why many of us have connected to his work and understanding where he lives within a legacy of performance art, television, and also, broader pop culture.”
PHOTOS: Silver Pride
Queer film festival comes to D.C.
Pride, patriotism, and prosperity
Gay director on revealing the authentic Pee-wee Herman
Sinners and Saints bar vandalized in suspected anti-LGBTQ hate crime
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Wes Moore signs HIV decriminalization bill
D.C. Black Pride 2025: Events, parties, and empowerment
Frank Kameny’s legacy lives on
