Arts & Entertainment
Arts news in brief: April 1
Michigan-based queer folk duo, Nervous but Excited, plays the Black Squirrel in Adams Morgan on Monday. (Photo courtesy of group)
Nervous but Excited to play the Squirrel
Michigan-based, queer folk duo Nervous but Excited play the Black Squirrel (2427 18th St., N.W.) on Monday at 8 p.m. There is a $5 suggested donation.
The duo, comprised of Kate Peterson and Sarah Cleaver, has performed onstage with Ani Difranco, The Butchies, Melissa Ferrick and Girlyman.
This tour is in support of their latest project, a six song EP “Just the Two of Us (Our Duo Doing Duos),” a collection of covers of other famous duos such as the Indigo Girls and Tegan and Sara.
For more information, visit the duo’s website, nervousbutexcited.com.
Ba’Naka hosts pie contest
Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) is having a pie eating contest hosted by Ba’Naka on Wednesday from 7 to 10 p.m. The top three competitors will receive their choice of Nellie’s gear. First place will also receive $100 and second place will also receive a $50 bar tab. The contest costs $10 to enter plus a $1 beer donation.
Ashraf Sewailam as The Bonze and Sandra Lopez as Cio-Cio San in Virginia Opera's production of "Madama Butterfly" being performed Friday and Sunday at George Mason University Center for the Arts Concert Hall in Fairfax. (Photo by Anne M. Peterson)
‘Butterfly’ gets another local production
The Virginia Opera will have two performances of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” starring Sandra Lopez as Cio-Cio San and Brian Jagde as Lt. Pinkerton, tonight at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the George Mason University Center for the Arts Concert Hall in Fairfax.
The opera is performed in Italian with English supertitles.
There will be a free pre-opera discussion before each performance by Glenn Winter, Virginia Opera’s community musical outreach director.
Christine Thompson as Sarah and John Simmons as Todd in Gross National Product's production, 'The Sound of Palin,' part of its new show, 'State of DisUnion' at Atlas. (Photo courtesy of Atlas)
Palin spoof opens at Atlas
Gross National Product comedy group presents “State of DisUnion” at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. starting today through April 22.
Featuring a condensed version of their last show, “The Sound of Palin,” GNP’s new show features sketch comedy and improv mocking the members of Congress and other politicians.
Tickets are $15 for students, $20 for seniors and $25 for general admission and can be purchased online at atlasarts.org (listed as Gross National Product Returns).
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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