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Baltimore arts briefs: May 4

‘Drag Race’ alum at the Hippo, Michael Jackson gets Cirque tribute and more

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Sharon Needles at Hippo

Club Hippo (1 West Eager St.) has several events happening this week.

Deep in the Game presents Sharon Needles from “Rupaul’s Drag Race” performing tonight as part of her “Every Night is Halloween” tour. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 day of the show. Doors open at 9 p.m.

On Saturday, DJ C-Dubs presents Cinco De Mayo starting at 10 p.m. This is a $6 cover.

Wednesday is “BYOMom Bingo” hosted by Roger Dimick at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds from bingo benefit the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore. The night will also act as an album release part for Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright’s newest album, “Out of the Game.”

Cirque du Soleil's ‘Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour’ comes to Baltimore this weekend featuring performance's of Jackson's songs such as ‘Billie Jean.’ (Photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil)

Jackson honored with posthumous Cirque show

Cirque du Soleil’s “Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour” comes to at 1st Mariner Arena (201 West Baltimore St.) on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m.

The show, aimed at both lifelong and new fans of Jackson, takes place in a realm where the audience discovers Jackson’s “Giving Tree.” The driving force behind the show is Jackson’s music and lyrics. Several choreographers are behind the performances including Travis Payne and “So You Think You Can Dance’s” Napolean and Tabitha Dumo.

Tickets range from $52 to $250 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.

For more information on the show and its creators, visit cirquedusoleil.com.

Queer cabaret collective celebrates 10 years

Charm City Kitty Club presents “Kitty Club Episode III: ApocoLez Now!” at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave.) at 8 p.m., with kitty cocktails and pre-show speed dating game at 7 p.m.

This performance wraps a trilogy of performances celebrating the queer cabaret’s 10th anniversary. It will feature New York City poet Charan P. Morris, local queer band The Pushovers, aerialist Nina Charity and a screening of “They,” a film by Ignacio Rivera.

The Club is a collectively run cabaret designed to foster, showcase and celebrate creative expression among lesbian, dyke, bisexual, transgender, transsexual and genderqueer individuals as well as their allies.

For more information on the group, visit charmcitykittyclub.com.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for CA members and can be purchased online at creativealliance.org.

Food orgy next weekend at Hippodrome

The third annual Hippodrome Foodie Experience is May 12 at Hippodrome Theatre (12 North Eutaw St.) starting at 3 p.m.

The event will feature three hours of tasting sample plates from some of Baltimore’s best chefs. Unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks will be provided as well as dishes ranging from bread pudding infused with chocolate-covered grasshoppers, gourmet hot dogs, obscene sweets and more.

Some of the participating restaurants include Alewife, The Jolly Pig, Max’s Empanadas and more. Tickets are $94 for general admission and $250 for VIP. To purchase tickets, visit ticketmaster.com. For more information on the event, visit france-merrick.com.

 

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Celebrity News

Brazilian police arrest two men who allegedly targeted Lady Gaga concert

Authorities say suspects wanted to target LGBTQ Brazilians

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(Screen capture via AP YouTube)

Brazilian police have arrested two people who allegedly sought to detonate explosives at a free Lady Gaga concert that took place on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach on Saturday.

The Associated Press reported Felipe Curi, a spokesperson for the city’s Civil Police, told reporters the men who authorities arrested hours before the concert took place wanted to target LGBTQ Brazilians. Civil Police Chief Luiz Lima said the men posted hate speech and violent content online “aimed at gaining notoriety in order to attract more viewers, more participants — most of them teenagers, many of them children.”

“They were clearly saying that they were planning an attack at Lady Gaga’s concert motivated by sexual orientation,” said Cury, according to the AP.

An estimated 2.5 million people attended the concert.

A Lady Gaga spokesperson told the AP the singer learned about the threats on Sunday from media reports.

“Prior to and during the show, there were no known safety concerns, nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks,” said the spokesperson. “Her team worked closely with law enforcement throughout the planning and execution of the concert and all parties were confident in the safety measures in place.”

Lady Gaga in an Instagram post thanked her Brazilian fans.

“Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show — the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil,” she wrote. “The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. Your heart shines so bright, your culture is so vibrant and special, I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.”

“An estimated 2.5 million people came to see me sing, the biggest crowd for any woman in history. I wish I could share this feeling with the whole world — I know I can’t, but I can say this — if you lose your way, you can find your way back if you believe in yourself and work hard,” added Lady Gaga. “You can give yourself dignity by rehearsing your passion and your craft, pushing yourself to new heights — you can lift yourself up even if it takes some time. Thank you Rio for waiting for me to come back. Thank you little monsters all over the world. I love you. I will never forget this moment. Paws up little monsters. Obrigada. Love, Mother Monster.”

An estimated 1.6 million people attended Madonna’s free concert on Copacabana Beach last May.

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Books

A boy-meets-boy, family-mess story with heat

New book offers a stunning, satisfying love story

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(Book cover image courtesy of Random House)

‘When the Harvest Comes’
By Denne Michele Norris
c.2025, Random House
$28/304 pages

Happy is the bride the sun shines on.

Of all the clichés that exist about weddings, that’s the one that seems to make you smile the most. Just invoking good weather and bright sunshine feels like a cosmic blessing on the newlyweds and their future. It’s a happy omen for bride and groom or, as in the new book “When the Harvest Comes” by Denne Michele Norris, for groom and groom.

Davis Freeman never thought he could love or be loved like this.

He was wildly, wholeheartedly, mind-and-soul smitten with Everett Caldwell, and life was everything that Davis ever wanted. He was a successful symphony musician in New York. They had an apartment they enjoyed and friends they cherished. Now it was their wedding day, a day Davis had planned with the man he adored, the details almost down to the stitches in their attire. He’d even purchased a gorgeous wedding gown that he’d never risk wearing.

He knew that Everett’s family loved him a lot, but Davis didn’t dare tickle the fates with a white dress on their big day. Everett’s dad, just like Davis’s own father, had considerable reservations about his son marrying another man – although Everett’s father seemed to have come to terms with his son’s bisexuality. Davis’s father, whom Davis called the Reverend, never would. Years ago, father and son had a falling-out that destroyed any chance of peace between Davis and his dad; in fact, the door slammed shut to any reconciliation.

But Davis tried not to think about that. Not on his wedding day. Not, unbeknownst to him, as the Reverend was rushing toward the wedding venue, uninvited but not unrepentant. Not when there was an accident and the Reverend was killed, miles away and during the nuptials.

Davis didn’t know that, of course, as he was marrying the love of his life. Neither did Everett, who had familial problems of his own, including homophobic family members who tried (but failed) to pretend otherwise.

Happy is the groom the sun shines on. But when the storm comes, it can be impossible to remain sunny.

What can be said about “When the Harvest Comes?” It’s a romance with a bit of ghost-pepper-like heat that’s not there for the mere sake of titillation. It’s filled with drama, intrigue, hate, characters you want to just slap, and some in bad need of a hug.

In short, this book is quite stunning.

Author Denne Michele Norris offers a love story that’s everything you want in this genre, including partners you genuinely want to get to know, in situations that are real. This is done by putting readers inside the characters’ minds, letting Davis and Everett themselves explain why they acted as they did, mistakes and all. Don’t be surprised if you have to read the last few pages twice to best enjoy how things end. You won’t be sorry.

If you want a complicated, boy-meets-boy, family-mess kind of book with occasional heat, “When the Harvest Comes” is your book. Truly, this novel shines.

The Blade may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via this post.

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Photos

PHOTOS: Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch

LGBTQ politicians gather for annual event

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Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) speaks at the 2025 Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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)

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