Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: Sept. 30

Parties, meetings, concerts and more through Oct. 6

Published

15 years ago

September 29, 2011

A reunited Bangles play the 9:30 Club Thursday. Tickets are $25 and were still available as of Blade press time. (Photo courtesy 9:30 Club)

TODAY (Friday)

The Dubstep Dance Party featuring Andre Jetson at Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave., E.) in Vienna, is tonight from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at jamminjava.com.

It’s Swing Night at Remington’s (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) tonight at 8 p.m. An intermediate West Coast Swing lesson will be taught from 8 to 9 p.m. by Michael Frank for $5, then the dance begins 9. For more information, visit reminstonswdc.com.

Jenny Owen Youngs will be performing at the Red Palace (1212 H St., N.E.) tonight with Hank and Cupcakes at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at redpalacedc.com. Attendees must be 18 or older. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) is hosting Fahrenheit tonight from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. with music by DJ and producer, Twisted Dee. There is a $7 after 10 p.m.

Busboys & Poets will be hosting ASL open mic poetry tonight at 11 p.m. in the Langston Room at its 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.). Anyone with sign language knowledge may sign up to recite a poem or sign a song by e-mailing [email protected]. There is a $5 cover.

Saturday, Oct. 1

The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsboro presents “We Love the ‘80s” costume party with DJ Ryan W. Cover is $5 until 11 p.m. when it goes up to $8. No cover if in full costume. The best ‘80s costume contest will take place on the patio at midnight and the winner will get $100. Doors open at 9 p.m.

Deaf Queers of D.C. is hosting a “Last Chance” cookout today from noon to 5 p.m. at Rock Creek Park at Grove 9.

MTV’s “The Real World” is hosting an open casting call for the series 27th season today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.). Applicants must be 20 or older and appear between 20 and 24. Applicants are also asked to bring a recent photo of themselves that will not be returned and a photo ID. For more information, visit bunim-murray.com/rwcasting.

Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents Hellmouth Happy Hour where every week an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” will be screened and drink specials will be offered. This week the episode is “I Only Have Eyes for You.”

Signature Theatre is hosting a post-show panel discussion, “30 Years is Enuf,” tonight at 8 through special arrangement with the Black Gay Men’s Network, Black AIDS Institute and Jane M. Saks to commemorate Gay Men’s HIV Awareness Day. Tickets, which include a dance performance, discussion and meet-and-greet/booking-signing with author and star E. Patrick Johnson, are available at the Signature Box Office for $35 with code word, metro.

Sunday, Oct. 2

A new gay-welcoming Catholic church, St. Hedwig’s Old Catholic Church, has Mass today at 9 a.m. The church meets each Sunday morning at Palisades Community Church (5200 Cathedral Ave., N.W.) in Washington. The church, not affiliated with the Vatican, describes itself as one with “progressive Catholic values” that welcomes those “disaffected by mainstream traditions” and what some consider “politically distorted teachings of Christ” in other faith traditions. Bishop Michael Seneco, who’s gay, is the pastor. Visit sainthedwigs.org for more information. All are welcome.

Busboys & Poets is showing “I Shot Andy Warhol” tonight at 7 p.m. in the Zinn Room at its Hyattsville location (5331 Baltimore Ave., Suite 104) as its October Focus-In! Film of the Month. This is a free screening.

Cameron Mackintosh presents a new 25th anniversary production of “Les Miserables” at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) today at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $39 to $155 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.

Monday, Oct. 3

The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is having its monthly volunteer night tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tonight’s activities could range from sorting through book donations, cleaning up around the center and taking inventory for Fuk!ts, as well as socializing. Pizza will provided.

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) presents “Funkytown,” featuring music of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s by DJ Ed Bailey with performances by the Ladies of Town and The Dance Camp. Doors open at 10 p.m. Cover is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 afterwards. Attendees must be 21 or older.

The Red Palace (1212 H St., N.E.) is hosting the kick-off for the 2011-12 seasons for Theater Alliance and Rorschach Theatre tonight at 7 p.m. Theater Alliance performs at the H Street Playhouse and Rorschach has a new home at Atlas Performing Arts Center. Attendees must be 21 or older.

Tuesday, Oct. 4

Tony Award-winning Broadway legend Audra McDonald plays the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 8. Tickets range from $25 to $85 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.

Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) hosts its weekly “Glee” watch party tonight at 8 p.m. on the deck in the pub room.

Wednesday, Oct. 5

Riot Act Comedy Theater’s (801 E St., N.W.) monthly gay and gay-friendly comedy show “Gay-larious” returns tonight at 8:30 p.m. with Lean Bonnema and Yamaneika. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at riotactcomedy.com.

Thursday, Oct. 6

The Bangles will be performing at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at 930.com. Doors open at 7 p.m.

The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) and Tongue in You Ear present the Brother Tongue Poetry Workshop series. Tonight is the third in a series of four workshops led by Regie Cabico, a three time National Poetry Slam finalist who has appeared on two season of HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam.” All sessions will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 for all four sessions. For more information and to register, visit thedccenter.org.

The second annual east coast tour of black lesbian poets, Revival, returns to D.C. today featuring Love the poet, Solrose and t’ai freedom ford with special guest, Bettina Judd at Lighthouse D.C. (5016 9th St., N.W.) at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at cereusarts.eventbrite.com.

a&e features

Television loses a legend, longtime ‘Will & Grace’ director James Burrows

Iconic hitmaker leaves behind a legacy of telling LGBTQ stories

Published

8 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Christian Cintron

James Burrows (Photo by kathclick/Bigstock)

You don’t have to be a pretentious film major to name 10 movie directors. But naming television directors is not that simple. They’re the unsung heroes of your favorite shows, and the late James Burrows was the television director. He passed on June 19, but his DNA runs through television history.

He directed over 1200 episodes of television and over 50 pilots. He co-created “Cheers” and directed many episodes of long-running series like “Friends,” “Taxi,” “Frasier,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and “Two and a Half Men.” You also may remember him from playing a heightened version of himself on the Lisa Kudrow comedy “The Comeback.”

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He has left an indelible mark on the LGBTQ community. As recently as last year, he directed the series run of “Mid-Century Modern” starring Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Linda Lavin. He was also a longtime director of “Will & Grace” and directed every episode of the series revival. He even directed the unaired “Absolutely Fabulous” pilot with Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Johnston, and Zosia Mamet.

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Not to mention he’s worked with queer icons throughout history, including Betty White and Stockard Channing on their single-season series, and Jennifer Coolidge in “2 Broke Girls.”

He started his career on shows like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Rhoda,” “Laverne & Shirley,” and the first four seasons of “Taxi.”

He continued to work steadily and directed successful pilots that went to series for “Roc,” “3rd Rock From the Sun,” “Dharma & Greg,” and “Wings.” He directed multiple episodes of “Friends,” “Caroline in the City,” and “Frasier.”

This magic continued into the 2000s with him directing the pilots for “Two and a Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and multiple episodes of “Mike & Molly,” and the entire return series of “Will & Grace.”

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What was the secret to his success? He’d enact the “fun clause” in his contract. In his words, “Life is too short to deal with obnoxious leads,” he shared. “So as long as the writing is good and the cast is fun, I’m going to enjoy the experience.”

He had the magic touch, having multiple pilots turned into long-running series. He was nominated for an Emmy 24 times in 26 years and worked consistently until a year before his death.

The secret was the way he brought the cast together. He describes, “it was my job to mold them into an ensemble, and they did round into a group of people who loved each other.”

This earned him 11 Emmy Awards and five Directors Guild of America Awards, including being awarded the inaugural DGA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Television Direction.

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In a 2003 interview by the Television Academy, he was asked how he wants to be remembered, and he said, “That every night forever you can tune in somewhere, and there’ll be a show I did.”

He’s survived by his wife, Debbie, four daughters, seven grandchildren, and the countless people whose careers he launched and the countless viewers he inspired with his television legacy.