Arts & Entertainment

Arts news in brief: June 1

Events for the weekend and beyond in D.C., Baltimore and Rehoboth Beach

Published

14 years ago

May 31, 2012

Staff reports

Dustin Lance Black (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Prop. 8-themed play comes to local theater

Woolly Mammoth Theater (641 D St., N.W.) is hosting a one-night reading of the play 8, written by the award-winning writer Dustin Lance Black, Monday at 7 p.m.

The play is about the federal constitutional challenge against California’s Proposition 8, which did not allow gays or lesbians to marry. Its first premiere in the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City raised $1 million for American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER). Its West Coast premiere was led by an all-star cast with Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Martin Sheen and Theodore B. Olsen and raised $2 million.

Black is widely known for his screenwriting in “Milk” and “J.Edgar.”

Following the reading is a panel with Executive Director Rea Carey from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Maryland State Senator Richard Madaleno, Jr., Brian Moulton from the Human Rights Campaign and Matt Nosanchuk from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

Tickets are $5. They can be purchased at the box office, over the phone at 202-393-3939, or by visiting woollymammoth.net.

For more information about “8,” visit 8theplay.com.

Chorus commemorates men and music

Gay Men’s Chorus is performing “Heart Throbs” Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium (730 21st St., N.W.).

The group will be paying tribute to men and music through fun and flirtatious musical selections by artists like Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Boys II Men, N Sync, Backstreet Boys and The Beatles. The show presents a montage of fantasy dream dates and boy band crushes that will appeal to all ages and musical preferences.

Tickets range from $15-$50 and can be purchased at gmcw.org.

Rehoboth party celebrates 25 artists

Clear Space Theatre (20 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE) is hosting the Black & White Beach Ball on Sunday evening from 5-8 p.m.

The event brings together 25 invited artists and their juried artwork that includes photography, charcoals, acrylic, oil, watercolor, sculpture and multimedia. The curators are artist and CAMP Rehoboth President Murray Archibald, Sondra Arkin, Gallery 50 owner Jay Pastore and graphic designer Andres Tremols. Professional auctioneer Lorne Crawford will be selling the artwork in the HeART of the Community Live art auction.

The evening will also include catered food and an open bar. Attendees should dress in black and white casual attire.

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online at camprehoboth.com or at 302-227-5620.

Macy’s to host Pride panel discussion

Macy’s is hosting a panel discussion at its Metro Center location (1201 G Street, NW) Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the furniture gallery on the lower level. A discussion of progress of the LGBT community will include Nicholas Benton of Falls Church News Press; Candace Gingrich-Jones of Human Rights Campaign and Kevin Naff of Washington Blade.

For more information, visit macys.com/pride.

‘Prime’ time for sin

The Collective, a dance group with members representing Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard and Hartford counties, presents “Prime,” part of its 13th performance season, on Saturday at the Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive) at 2 and 8 p.m.

The show will feature seven works laced together with seven short solos built on the seven deadly sins. Themes of these sins will appear throughout the concert work as the dancers portray life with and without sin.

There will also be an encore of Jenny Seye’s “Complex Figures” and guest artist Adrienne Clancy’s “Sisters.”

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit collective-dance.com.

Chenoweth has Baltimore and D.C. shows planned

Kristin Chenoweth, original star of the Broadway musical “Wicked,” plays the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center (12 North Eutaw St.) on June 9 at 8 p.m.

Chenoweth will perform songs from countless performances, including “Wicked” and her new album, “Some Lessons Learned.”

Tickets are $200 and $350. The $350 tickets include a pre-concert buffet beginning at 6:30 p.m., access to the best seats for the concert and a post-show dessert and champagne reception. The $200 ticket includes a post-show dessert and coffee reception.

Chenoweth will also appear at DAR Constitution Hall in D.C. on June 10.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit france-merrickpac.com or kristin-chenoweth.com.

Gay-themed ‘Bent” at Mobtown

Baltimore’s Mobtown Players present Martin Sherman’s “Bent” at the Mobtown Theater at Meadow Hill (3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 114) opening tonight with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and matinees on June 10 and 17 at 4 p.m.

“Bent,” set in Hitler’s Germany, tells the story of Max, a man forced to by fear and shame to hide his sexuality and accepting who he is until he no longer can.

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students.

There will be a special benefit performance on June 10 at 4 p.m. Tickets for that performance are $25 and $15 of every ticket goes directly to Equality Maryland. The price also includes complimentary wine and a talkback session with the cast and crew after the performance.

The show runs through June 23.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit mobtownplayers.net.

Lesbian Md. delegate having birthday party

Democratic Delegate Mary Washington, a lesbian, is celebrating her 50th birthday with “Shake, Shake, Shake,” a dance party at Metro Gallery (1700 North Charles St.) at 7 p.m.

The party will begin with a vintage photo slide show, birthday wishes and cake. At 8:30 p.m. a live DJ will be providing the soundtrack for the dance party with music ranging from the ‘60s to today with drinks and light fare produced by Neopol of Belvedere Square.

Tickets range from $40 for young Democrats to $2,000 for platinum sponsors. Attendees must be 21 or older.

For more information on Washington and to purchase tickets or make a contribution, visit electmarywashington.com.

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This queer comedy show will warm you up

Catfish Comedy to feature LGBTQ lineup

Published

17 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

(Promotional image via Eventbrite)

Catfish Comedy will host “2026 Queer Kickoff Show” on Thursday, Feb. 5 at A League of Her Own (2319 18th Street, N.W.). This show features D.C.’s funniest LGBTQ and femme comedians. The lineup features performers who regularly take the stage at top clubs like DC Improv and Comedy Loft, with comics who tour nationally.

Tickets are $17.85 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Arts & Entertainment

Catherine O’Hara, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ star and celebrated queer ally, dies at 71

Actress remembered for memorable comedic roles in ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Home Alone’

Published

2 days ago

January 30, 2026

Matt Minton

(Photo courtesy of Pop TV)

Catherine O’Hara, the varied comedic actor known for memorable roles in “Beetlejuice,” “Schitt’s Creek,” and “Home Alone,” has died at 71 on Friday, according to multiple reports. No further details about her death were revealed.

O’Hara’s death comes as a shock to Hollywood, as the Emmy award-winning actor has been recently active, with roles in both “The Studio” and “The Last of Us.” For her work in those two shows, she received Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series and outstanding guest actress in a drama series.

In 2020, O’Hara won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a comedy series award for her work in the celebrated sixth and final season of “Schitt’s Creek.” She was also known as a queer ally and icon for her theatrical and often campy performances over multiple decades. In “Schitt’s Creek,” she played Moira Rose, the wig-loving mother of David Rose (played by series creator Dan Levy). David is pansexual, but the characters around him simply accept him for who he is; the show was embraced by the LGBTQ community with how naturally David’s sexuality was written and portrayed. That show ran from 2015 to 2020 and helped bring O’Hara and her co-stars into a new phase of their careers.

In a 2019 interview with the Gay Times, O’Hara explained why the show got LGBTQ representation right: “Daniel has created a world that he wants to live in, that I want to live in. It’s ridiculous that we live in a world where we don’t know how to respect each other and let each other be. It’s crazy. Other shows should follow suit and present the world and present humans as the best that we can be. It doesn’t mean you can’t laugh, that you can’t be funny in light ways and dark ways. It’s all still possible when you respect and love each other.”

Additional credits include “SCTV Network” (for which O’Hara won a writing Emmy), “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Six Feet Under,” “Best in Show,” “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” and “Dick Tracy.” O’Hara also lent her voice to “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Chicken Little,” “Monster House,” and “Elemental.” O’Hara was expected to return for Season 2 of “The Studio,” which started filming earlier this month.

Calendar

Calendar: January 30-February 5

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

2 days ago

January 30, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, January 30

Friday Tea Time will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Bring your beverage of choice. For more information, contact Mac ([email protected]).

Spark Social will host “RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Watch Party” at 8 p.m. This event will be hosted by local drag queens TrevHER and Grey, who will provide hilarious commentary and make live predictions on who’s staying and who’s going home. Stick around after the show for a live drag performance. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, January 31

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Sunday, February 1

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community and Conversation” at noon at As You Are. This event is for those looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ+ community. Look for the Go Gay DC sign on the long table near the front window. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Monday, February 2

“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam (adamheller@t hedccenter.org).

Tuesday, February 3

Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more information, email [email protected].

Wednesday, February 4

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older LGBTQ+ women can meet and socialize with one another. There will be discussion, activities, and a chance for guests to share what they want future events to include. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Thursday, February 5

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.