Arts & Entertainment
Kennedy Center unveils new season
Several gay entertainers among roster for upcoming shows
The Kennedy Center
This week Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser announced the Center’s 2012-2013 season, a rich celebration of the arts with an international flair.
Some of the highlights include Nordic Cool 2013, a festival of the Scandinavian arts and cuisine, a holiday performance of “Hansel and Gretel” with performers from the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, and Election Night Jam, a non-partisan evening of jazz music and dancing with the incoming results broadcast on a large screen (no word yet on which network the revelers will be watching).
The Theater Season includes touring production of “The Book of Mormon,” “Anything Goes,” “War Horse” and “Jekyll & Hyde” starring “American Idol” Constantine Maroulis, as well as the sixth season of Barbara Cook’s Spotlight series with cabaret performances by such Broadway stalwarts as Donna Murphy, Terri White (“Follies”), Judy Kuhn, Adam Pascal and Maureen McGovern. “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane joins the NSO Pops for “The Songs of Sammy Cahn,” and the Pops series also includes “The Wizard and I: the Music of Stephen Schwartz” with “Wicked” alumni Julia Murney and Jennifer Laura Thompson.
In addition, the 2012-2013 season combines returning favorites (Opera in the Outfield, A Jazz New Year’s Eve and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre) with new and unconventional programming such as the regional premiere of John Adams’ City Noir, the Kennedy Center debut of the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, a new production of “Show Boat,” the Songs of Conscience concerts exploring the socially conscious music of Bob Marley and Woody Guthrie, and the inauguration of Beyond the Score, a multi-media exploration of key symphonic works.
Other programming of special interest to the LGBT community include the return of openly lesbian opera singer Patricia Racette in the title role of “Manon Lescaut,” the Fats Waller Dance Party featuring Meshell Ndegeocello at the new Supersized Jazz Club, and performances by openly gay artists such as jazz great Fred Hersch and classical pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
Complete information on the Kennedy Center’s 2012-2013 season can be found at kennedy-center.org.
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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WorldPride events round-up
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