Arts & Entertainment
9-11 concerts kick off fall season
Lauper, Dayne, Amos also headed our way
Pink Martini, a retro-fabulous combo featuring gay pianist Thomas Lauderdale, plays the Strathmore in December. (Photo courtesy Heinz Records)
The fall concert season gets off to a somber start with several 9-11 memorial concerts planned for this weekend.
A concert by the Festival Choir of the Lutheran Church of the Reformation under the direction of Thea Kano (who also conducts the Gay Men’s Chorus) and dedicated to the victims of 9-11 will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol Street N.E. (across from the Folger Library). Admission is free but a free-will offering will be taken. The concert will feature the “Requiem of Paul Leavitt,” as well as John Tavener’s “Song for Athene.”
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge Street, N.W.) also has a 9-11 memorial concert planned for Sunday at 3 titled “Faith in Love” featuring the church’s highly regarded gospel choir. Details are at mccdc.com. MCC is the region’s largest mostly gay church and prides itself on inclusion.
And the World Doctors Orchestra plays a memorial concert Sunday at 7 at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda as a benefit for Whitman-Walker Health. Conducted by Stefan Willich, Mahler’s “Resurrection” symphony, a Mozart violin concerto and Barber’s famous “Adagio for Strings” will be performed. Tickets range from $25-$75. Go to Strathmore.org for details.
Switching gears drastically, gay-friendly Taylor Dayne will headline the 15th annual Delaware Pride Festival at Rehoboth Beach on Sept. 17. The festival runs 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 day of event. Dayne is a multi-million-selling performer with several top-10 Billboard pop hits to her credit.
Out singer/songwriter Melissa Ferrick will perform at the Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave) in Alexandria, Va., on Sept. 24 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25 and are going fast. Some of her lyrics deal with lesbian themes. Ferrick’s album “Everything I Need” was named 1999 Album of the Year by the Gay and Lesbian American Music Association.
The multi-talented singer and actress Audra McDonald is scheduled to perform at the Kennedy Center on Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $85. She has earned two Grammy Awards and an unprecedented four Tony Awards. She also stars in the ABC television drama “Private Practice” as Dr. Naomi Bennett.
Openly gay country singer Chely Wright will perform at the Birchmere Music Hall Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Wright came out in 2010.
Grammy Award-winning LGBT rights supporter Cyndi Lauper plays the 9:30 club on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45. Lauper has released 11 albums and about 40 singles, and as of 2008 had sold more than 30 million records worldwide. Lauper’s sister, Ellen, is a lesbian and Lauper considers her a role model.
American Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet and songwriter, Ani DiFranco, will perform at Ram’s Head Live in downtown Baltimore on Oct. 22 at 8. Tickets are $40.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington (GMCW) will perform “Home Cooked Cabaret” on Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Danceboutique. Tickets range from $75-$100 and include both show and dinner. GMCW is one of the oldest LGBT choral organizations in the United States and has 225 singing members.
Out songwriter and singer Catie Curtis will perform at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd.) in Vienna, Va., on Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22 each.
Tori Amos will perform on Dec. 5 at DAR Constitution Hall starting at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $45. As of 2005, Amos had sold 12 million albums worldwide.
Pink Martini plays the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Ln. N.) in Bethesda, Md., on Dec. 12 at 8. Tickets start at $55. This 13-member band, often titled, “little orchestra” draws its inspiration from music from all over the world, including pop, classical and jazz. Pianist Thomas Lauderdale is gay.
The Victory Fund held its National Champagne Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, April 27. Speakers included Tim Gunn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Music & Concerts
Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’
Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.
For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.
Friday, May 2
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at P.F. Chang’s. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, May 3
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.
LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more information and events for LGBTQ People of Color, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
Sunday, May 4
“The Chateau Drag Brunch” will be at 12 p.m. at Chicatana. Enjoy fabulous Mexican food and cocktails while being entertained by a rotating cast of the DMV’s best drag performers. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
“The Bubble: Queer Brooklyn Comics in DC” will be at 5 p.m. at As You Are. Queer comedians Charlie Flynn, Evan Lazarus and Keara Sullivan are coming down from NYC for a night of fun as they split an hour of standup comedy. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Monday, May 5
“Center Aging Monday Coffee & Conversation” 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 details, email [email protected].
Tuesday, May 6
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more details, email [email protected].
Wednesday, May 7
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. 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.
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older queer women can meet and socialize with one another. We will have discussion, activities, and a chance for you to share what you want future events to include. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, May 8
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. 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 with Sarah M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
South Asian Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The peer support group is an outlet for South Asian-identified LGBTQ individuals to come and talk about anything affecting them. It’s a secure, judgment-free environment to discuss relationships, sexuality, health, well-being, identity, culture, religion, or anything that is on your mind. For more details, email [email protected].
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