Arts & Entertainment
Sounds from the stage
LaBelle, Warwick spice up season along with local queer favorites
For overall star power it would be hard to beat 2011, but there are still many highlights slated for the coming months on the D.C. concert scene. Just don’t forget to save some money for your night out with Madonna — tickets are on sale now for her September shows; Sunday night is sold out — and a rumored Cher tour.
Tonight (Friday), out singer Tom Goss performs with Potomac Fever, an a cappella pop ensemble from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H Street N.E.). This performance is part of the Intersections Arts Festival. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at intersectionsdc.org. The Intersections New American Arts Festival runs through March 11 with a wide variety of performances.
Young the Giant, whose powerful song “Cough Syrup” was just featured on “Glee” will be performing at the 9:30 Club on March 11 at 7 p.m. The 9:30 Club (815 V Street N.W.) has tickets available online and at the onsite box office.
The Gay Men’s Chorus presents an all male version of the infamous and untamed musical “Rocky Horror Show” March 16-17 at 8 p.m. and March 18 at 3 p.m. All performances are at the Lisner Auditorium (730 21st Street N.W.). Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased at gmcw.org.
Out singer/actor Will Gartshore brings his show “All The King’s Men: Broken Ballads with a Stiff Upper Lip” to the Round House Theatre Silver Spring (8641 Colesville Road in Silver Spring) March 19 and 26. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at roundhousetheatre.org.
For the club music lovers, legendary DJ Junior Vasquez returns to Washington after a long absence on March 24 to spin at Cobalt at the Official Queer Prom After party. Gay DJ Alyson Calagna, pioneer of the “Omtronica” sound, will also be spinning at Cobalt April 14. Cobalt is at 1639 R Street N.W.
Girlyman, who most recently has been co-writing songs for Margaret Cho’s upcoming CD, will be back in the area again on April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria Va). Tickets are $33.70 and are available at ticketmaster.com.
Patti LaBelle (Image courtesy Strathmore)
Grammy-winning legend Patti LaBelle once again takes the Strathmore stage (10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, Md.) March 30-31 at 8. Tickets are available at strathmore.org.
D.C. Different Drummers, an organization for local LGBT musicians, has its spring concert March 31 at the CHEC Auditorium (3101 16th Street N.W.). For tickets and more information, visit dcdd.org.
Special Agent Galactica (aka Jeffrey Johnson) starts a twice-monthly engagement at Black Fox Lounge (1723 Conn. Ave. N.W.) March 23 and will perform from 6 to 9 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of each month thereafter. The pink-haired one is mixing live singing with lip syncing these days. Details are at pinkhairedone.com. Admission is free.
Joan Osborne brings her “Bring It On Home Tour” with Lera Lynn at The Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Va.) April 4 at 7:30. Tickets are available for $35 at birchmere.com. Look for Osborne’s new blues album of the same name out March 27.
Out singer Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls will be making two appearances with Kaia Wilson in the area this spring as she promotes her new solo album, “Lung of Love.” On April 11, she plays Ram’s Head on Stage in Annapolis (33 West Street, Annapolis, Md.) and on April 13, she’s at IOTA Club and Café (2032 Wilson Blvd., Arlington).
Out singer Anthony Rapp, best know for playing Mark Cohen in the musical “Rent,” will sing with his “Rent” co-star Adam Pascal at the Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria Va.) on April 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39.50 and available at birchmere.com.
Out comedian Wanda Sykes brings her show back to the U.S. from Australia and will open the newly renovated Howard Theatre as part of the grand reopening weekend for the theatre April 12-15. Tickets are not yet available. For more information, visit wandasykes.com or howardtheatre.org.
The legendary Dionne Warwick will be the headliner for the 2012 Spring Gala at the Strathmore (1701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda Md.) on April 21 at 9 p.m. A 2012 Spring Gala Package begins at $500 per person and includes a tax-deductible contribution to the organization, the gala dinner, concert and after party. Contact the Sorelle Group at 202-248-1930 for information on how to reserve gala ticket packages.
Merriweather Post Pavilion (10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia Md.) has its first show of the season on May 11, at 4:30 p.m. with the fourth annual M3 Rock Festival Official Kix off party featuring local favorite band Kix. The festival then continues the next day with Enuff Z’nuff, In the Pink and Let There Be Rock! If you’re ready to party like its 1989, then get your ticket (starting at $45) at ticketfly.com.
Gay favorite Robyn opens for Coldplay at the Verizon Center (601 F Street NW) July 8-9. Tickets are at ticketmaster.com.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony
The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
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PHOTOS: D.C. Trans Pride
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Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
WorldPride events round-up
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