Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: Dec. 23

Parties, services, concerts and more through Dec. 29

Published

15 years ago

December 22, 2011

Mallory Lewis, daughter of Sheri Lewis, will be appearing with Lamb Chop as part of a Holiday Vaudeville performance at the Kennedy Center on Thursday. (Photo courtesy Kennedy Center)

TODAY (Friday)

Trixie and Monkey’s seventh annual “Holiday Spectac-U-Thon” is tonight at the Patterson at 8 p.m. The neo-burlesque show will feature acrobatic antics, trapeze and more. Tickets are $22 for general admission and $17 for Creative Alliance members. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit creativealliance.org.

Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents “Bro Ho Ho: A Holiday Music Spectacular” featuring Jessie Elliott, of these United States, Revival, John Bustine, Brandon Butler and more. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at blackcatdc.com. Doors open at 9 p.m.

Basement Batman plays Red Palace (1212 H St., N.E.) tonight at 9 p.m. with Ravenous and ACME. Tickets are $8 and available day of the show. Doors open at 8 p.m.

DJ Dirty Hands spins tonight for “Pop Fridays” at Ultrabar (911 F St., N.W.) from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Also spinning will be resident DJ Geometrix and DJs Suelto, Enemy and Bomba and Kid Lucky.

Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) is having a “Ugly Holiday Sweater Party” tonight. Everyone wearing a festive sweater gets $3 drink specials. There will also be a contest for the ugliest sweater and the winner will received a $50 bar tab. Contest begins at 11:30 p.m. For more information, visit phase1dc.com. Doors open at 9 p.m.

Ladi Lenore and Maxine Blue present “The Empire Christmas Party” tonight at Remingtons (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) at 10 p.m. with a buffet, show and more.

The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents “Messiah” sing-along tonight at 8 p.m. with guest conductor Barry Hemphill leading the Kennedy center Opera House Orchestra, a 200-voice choir, professional soloists and the audience. This is a free event. Tickets are required and will be distributed today starting at 6 p.m. in the Hall of Nations, limit one per person.

Saturday, Dec. 24

K&C Productions presents “Grown & Sexy Saturdays” at Club Mova (newly reopened at 2204 14th Street, NW). No cover and doors open at 10 p.m. Party goes until 3 a.m. A new year’s eve grand opening edition is also planned.

The East Coast Boyz present “Twas the Night Before Christmas” at Tabaq Bistro (1336 U St., NW) tonight from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Prizes and drink specials will be held. Dancers will provide entertainment.

Black Cat’s (1811 14th St., N.W.) weekly Hellmouth Happy Hour will feature a special holiday screening of the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” movie starring Luke Perry and Kristen Swanson. This is a free event and doors open at 7 p.m.

U Street Music Hall (1115 U St., N.W.) has its “U Halliday Party” tonight at 10 p.m. featuring King Tutt, Obeyah, Keenan Orr and more hosted by Marcus Dowling and Reed Rothchild. Tickets for attendees 18 to 20 are $10 and must be purchased in advance atustreetmusichall.com. The party is free all night for those 21 and older.

The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents its production of “Billy Elliot: The Musical” (see our review on page 32) directed by Stephen Daldry and featuring music by Elton John, today at 1:30 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $150 and can be purchased online atkennedy-center.org.

With most of the NFL’s games moved to today, Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) will be showing the Baltimore Ravens take on the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Redskins take on the Minnesota Vikings at 1 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 25

The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents an All-star Christmas Day Jazz Jam featuring Chuck Redd, Robert Redd, Lenny Robinson, James King and Tom and Delores King Williams tonight at 6 p.m. This is a free performance. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents its third annual James Brown “Death-Mas” holiday bash featuring Soul Call Paul. Tickets are $5 and available night of the show. Doors open at 9 p.m.

Ultrabar (911 F St., N.W.) presents “No Nice, All Naughty Sexy Santa Bash” tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. with free admission all night for women dressed in sexy Santa costumes. There will be drink specials all night as well as a rail open bar from 10 to 11 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 26

Busboys & Poets presents Monday night open mic poetry hosted by Drew Law tonight at 8 p.m. at its Shirlington location (4251 South Campbell Ave., Arlington). Wristbands are $4 and will be on sale starting at 10 a.m. in the Global Exchange store until sold out.

SAGE Metro D.C. is celebrating the New Year with a party at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) tonight at 6:30 p.m. with food and music. For more information, visit thedccenter.org or sagemetrodc.org.

Tuesday, Dec. 27

Riot Act Comedy Theater (801 E St., N.W.) presents its weekly trivia night, hosted by Ashley Linder and Lauren Zoltick tonight at 8 p.m. in the upstairs bar. There’s even bonus question worth three extra points online at riotactcomedy.com.

The Chesapeake Squares are having a mainstream-through-advanced club night tonight at the Waxter Center (1000 Cathedral St.) in Baltimore from 8 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit chesapeakesquares.org. The Squares are a gay square dancing group.

Busboys & Poets presents Tuesday night open mic poetry hosted by Henry Mills tonight at 9 p.m. in the Langston room of its 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.). Wristbands are $4 and will be on sale starting at 10 a.m. in bookstore until sold out.

Wednesday, Dec. 28

The Lambda Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., SE — across from Marine Barracks) for duplicate bridge. No reservations needed; newcomers welcome. Visit lambdabridge.com if you need a partner.

Emmy Award-winning actress Holland Taylor comes to the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) with her one-woman play “Ann” tonight at 7:30 p.m. The show tells the story of Ann Richards, the second female governor of Texas. Tickets range from $54 to $95 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.

Busboys & Poets is having its monthly book club meeting at its Shirlington location (4251 South Campbell Ave., Arlington) from 7 to 9 p.m. discussing Rebecca Skloot’s book, “Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks,” which tells the story of a woman who’s cells were taken without her knowledge and have been used in several major medical developments.

Thursday Dec. 29

D.C. Lambda Squares, a local gay square dancing group, has its advanced and challenge club night tonight from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) with Bill Harrison as the caller. For more information, visit dclambdasquares.org.

Cajun cellist Sean Grissom hosts “Holiday Vaudeville” at the Kennedy Center (2700 P St., N.W.) tonight at 6 p.m. with Mallory Lewis, daughter of Shari Lewis, appearing with Lamb Chop, and the Alexandria Kleztet, a modern Klezmer quartet. This is a free performance. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

Theater

Don’t miss summer productions at Clear Space in Rehoboth Beach

‘Cher Show,’ ‘Pretty Woman’ among season’s standouts

Published

3 hours ago

August 10, 2026

Peter Rosenstein

Abby Lynne and Caetano de Sá (Photo by Deny Howeth)

“The Cher Show” at Clear Space Theatre is wonderful. I am always amazed at the talent they attract for their summer series. Kudos to Wes Drummond, the artistic director of the theater. “The Cher Show” is written by Rick Elice. Compliments to the talented director, James FitzSimmons, who brought to life this production. His immensely talented cast includes Shannen Hofheimer as Star, Breanna Lemerise as Lady, Abby Lynne as Babe, and Anya Kay, as young Cher. Each is a pleasure to both watch and listen to. They command the stage. Then more kudos to the entire cast and ensemble. Also, the creative team, which includes among so many who make this show a hit, choreographer Shondelle Graulich; scenic designer, David Chappell; lighting designer Brendan Smith; costume designer Valerie Beardsley; and the entire orchestra led by conductor, Jerry Birl.

But the actor who I was looking forward to seeing in the production, was a young actor I had written about, and reviewed, when I saw him at Clear Space two years ago. In this production he is Sonny Bono, and he definitely didn’t disappoint.

Let me introduce Caetano de Sá. I have written about him before, but his resume is worth repeating. It says; Height: 5’7 ½, Eyes: Brown, Voice part: Tenor G2 – C5, Build: Athletic. All true. Then you add to this he speaks Brazilian Portuguese, is certified in stage combat by the Society of American Fight Directors, and is a 2^nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. Then as his resume of roles confirms, he can act, sing, and dance with the best. He does a great job as Sonny and is fun to watch on stage. Here he displays his talents as a singer and actor, and they are as good as I remembered them when I first met Caetano while he was still in school in 2024, and was starring as Frankie Valli in “Jersey Boys,” at Clear Space. At the time he was a rising senior at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee BFA Musical Theater program. I interviewed him, and Harry Sperduto, who played Tommy Devotee, after seeing them in the show, and being amazed by their talent. Since that time, I have followed their careers. When I heard Caetano was coming back to Clear Space for the summer, I reached out, and he agreed to sit down and chat, which we did. I knew Clear Space Theatre was planning a busy summer season. Their lineup of shows included “The Cher Show,” “Mean Girls,” and “Pretty Woman.” They always have talented casts, including the many college students who are getting their first chance to shine, which was the case for Caetano in 2024. Now he is back as a graduate, with more experience under his belt, a little more established. This season he was going to play Sonny in their production of “The Cher Show,” Martin/Coach Carr, in “Mean Girls,” and Mr. Hollister in “Pretty Woman,” and being a part of the ensemble. He told me he really enjoys being at Clear Space, and that his castmates are all talented. He is a lot more experienced than when he was here before, having performed in productions at the Prairie Repertory Theatre, the Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Firehouse Center for the Arts, and the Sullivan Rep, among others. In productions as diverse as “Oklahoma!,” “Mystic Pizza,” “Hairspray,” and “Rock of Ages.” He now lives in New York City and clearly New York is the perfect place for an aspiring actor. He has an agent at Bramante Artists, who is getting him gigs, like the one he had at 54 Below and even a TV commercial for AFLAC.

“The Cher Show” is the second show I have seen at Clear Space this summer. After our chat I got one of the last tickets available that evening for “Pretty Woman.” In that production he has a smaller role, and is part of the incredibly talented ensemble. It is also an entertaining show and its very talented stars, Abby McDonough as Vivian, and Jaiden Leo Riley as Edward, are a pleasure to watch. Kudos to the talented director, Ashley Williams, and the entire creative team.

For anyone living at the beach, or coming for a visit, I urge you to plan a night at Clear Space. You won’t regret it. But know tickets for all the shows, and Sunday evening cabaret nights, sell out fast. So, I suggest you see what’s available online and buy yours today.

Photos

PHOTOS: World Pride March

LGBTQ rights demonstration held in Amsterdam

Published

2 days ago

August 9, 2026

Michael Key

A scene from the 2026 World Pride March in Amsterdam. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The 2026 World Pride March was held on Saturday, Aug. 8 in Amsterdam. Tens of thousands of participants marched from Martin Luther Kingpark to the grounds of the Pride Village at Museumplein.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)