Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: June 22

Parties, events, concerts and more through June 28

Published

14 years ago

June 21, 2012

New Wave Singers, gay news, Washington Blade

The New Wave Singers, a choir of gay and straight members, performs Saturday afternoon in Westminster, Md. (Photo courtesy New Wave)

Today, Friday, June 22

D.C. Center is doing outreach at Town’s Bear Happy Hour (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight at 6:30. There is no cover charge. For details, visit thedccenter.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) is hosting its weekly Boy’s Life party tonight at 11. There is no cover charge and the party includes a open bar until midnight. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.

Whitman-Walker Health clinic is having HIV testing at Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) tonight at 10:30. Admission is $3 after 11. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Special Agent Galactica is playing Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) tonight from 6-9. Music includes pieces by Pat Benatar, Judy Garland, Stevie Nicks, Nancy Sinatra and Ray Stevens. Admission is free. For more information, visit pinkhairedone.com.

Phase 1 ( 525 8th St., S.E.) is holding its Vixen Variety Games of Thrones show tonight at 9 p.m. Admission is $10. For details, visit phase1dc.com.

Millennium Stage Performances presents, “Just Tap,” a performance by a D.C.-based tap dance company, tonight at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) starting at 6 p.m. The event is free. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

Saturday, June 23

The New Wave Singers, a chorus of LGBT and straight singers, perform today at Diversity Awareness Weekend hosted by St. Paul’s United Church of Christ (17 Bond St., Westminster) at 3. For more information, visit newwavesingers.org.

Burgundy Crescent is volunteering to set up for the Equality Garden Party: Celebrating Family and Friends today at the Samet Chateau (1000 Parrs Ridge Dr., Spencerville). The party is a fundraiser event by Equality Maryland. Volunteers are needed to set up from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and to work the actual event from 4-10 p.m. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.com.

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) celebrates DJ Randy Bettis’ newest GayDays CD tonight at 10. Cover is $8 before 11 pm and $12 after. For more information, visit towndc.com.

Club Hippo (1 West Eager St., Baltimore) hosts a dance party with DJ Jayson Royce tonight at 10. Cover charge is $6. For more information, visit clubhippo.com.

Sunday, June 24

PrimeTimers of D.C. are hosting an evening on the rooftop of the residences at Thomas Circle (1330 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.) from 4-7 p.m. There is complimentary valet parking and the evening will include drinks and hors d’oeuvres. This event requires attendees to RSVP. For more information, visit thedccenter.org

Busboys and Poets (1025 5th St., N.W.) is hosting a free screening of the film “Pariah” tonight at 8. The movie is focused on a adolescent African-American girl who is accepting her identity as a lesbian. For more information, visit busboysandpoets.com.

Monday, June 25

Author Ezra Nepon appears for a reading and discussion of the people’s history of progressive Jewish activism in the 1980s tonight at 7. The discussion will be at the DCJCC Library (1529 16th St., N.W.). The event is free but RSVP is requested. For details, visit thedccenter.org.

Whitman-Walker Health clinic (1104 8th St., S.E.) is holding its HIV Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. Registration is required to attend. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

Tuesday, June 26

A community conversation about how to promote pride in health is being hosted by the Whitman-Walker Health clinic tonight at the Metropolitan Community Church (474 Ridge Street, NW) starting at 7. The event is free. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Millennium Stage presents Serenade! Washington, D.C. Choral Festival at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 6 p.m. The performance showcases the best talent from around the world including Countermeasure and Imilonji KaNtu Choral Society. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

The FUK!T packing party is tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring friends and see how many FUK!T or TOOLK!TS they can pack in two hours. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) is hosting its weekly Flashback party with DJ Jason Royce tonight. There is no cover; 21 and older. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.

Wednesday, June 27

Whitman-Walker Health clinic is holding HIV testing at Walgreens (3524 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) in honor of National HIV Testing Day today from 3-7 p.m. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Hillyer International Arts and Artists (9 Hillyer Court, N.W.) is hosting a panel discussion of distinguished artists and curators about the Richard Prince legal case tonight at 7, a photo-related case about copyright issues. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit [email protected].

An HIV Prevention Working Group meeting tonight at 7 at the D.C. Center for the LGBT Community (1318 U St., N.W). This event is free. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Chi Cha Lounge (1624 U St., N.W.) is hosting speed dating for gay men in their 20s and 30s tonight at 7. You must be at least 21 to attend. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Lambda Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th Street, S.E., across from the Marine Barracks). No reservations needed and newcomers are welcome. Those needing a partner should visit lambdabridge.com.

Thursday, June 28

Millennium Stage presents “Quetzal” at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 6 p.m. The L.A. group blends Mexican and Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, R&B and rock. This event is free. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) meets tonight at 7 at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.). The goal of this group is to reduce violence against members of the LGBT community. For details, visit thedccenter.org.

The Lambda Sci-Fi book group meets tonight to discuss “God’s War” by Kammeron Hurley. Bring a snack and/or non-alcoholic drink to share. The group meets at 1425 S Street N.W. at 7 p.m. For details, visit lambdascifi.org.

The play “Cut/Uncut” by Steve Langley is being presented tonight at 7 p.m. at the Blackburn Center on the campus of Howard University (2397 Sixth Street, N.W.). It explores how the HIV/AIDS crisis brought disparate people together in the early ‘90s. It’s part of the D.C. Black Theater Festival which continues through July 1 and features several LGBT-themed productions. Ticket information and festival details are at dcbtf.org.

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Reggie White relishing first season as artistic director of Woolly Mammoth

First five shows a reminder that ‘pressure is a privilege’

Published

8 hours ago

August 2, 2026

Patrick Folliard

Reggie D. White (Photo by Ambe J. Williams)

Madly talented and preternaturally energetic, Reggie D. White, 38, is about to launch his first season as artistic director of D.C.’s boundary-pushing Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.

White brings a lot to the job. As actor, playwright, and director, his varied resume includes a 2019 Broadway acting debut in Matthew López’s Tony Award–winning play “The Inheritance,” his semi-autobiographic play “Fremont Ave.” that opened to acclaim last season at Arena Stage, and a number of exciting regional directing credits.

A longtime admirer of Woolly, the out theater-maker was selected from a pool of candidates before receiving the offer last November and starting work in January. His season of five world premieres kicks off with gay playwright Steve Yockey’s “Venus” (Sept. 9-Oct. 4), a darkly funny study of modern relationships told through two lesbians looking back on their first encounter.

White was introduced to Woolly Mammoth as a pre-law student at Cal State Hayward in the San Francisco Bay Area, long before he foresaw a life in the arts. “As part of a random theater history course, I was assigned to write a paper on a counterculture company called Woolly Mammoth,” he recalls “Strange name. I was like what the hell is that?”

Nineteen-year-old White was intrigued. Research acquainted him with Howard Shalwitz who co-founded Woolly in 1980, and the company’s commitment to living playwrights and new work. He also learned how theater could be used as a tool for difficult conversations and shape the way people thought about social issues by employing imagination and rigor.

“Never in a million years did young me envision that one day I’d be Woolly’s third artistic director in its 46-year history,” says White. “It’s kind of serendipitously insane.”

WASHINGTON BLADE: Was there a moment when the enormity of the job hit you?

REGGIE D. WHITE: After I’d signed my contract and finished all the paperwork, I got my keys and sat in the theater by myself in the dark and thought about what an incredible honor it is to be trusted with what happens in this beautiful space [in D.C.’s Penn Quarter]. I might have cried. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to remember it’s real.

BLADE: Are you curating the upcoming 2026–2027 season?

WHITE: Yes, I am. It’s very rare that an incoming artistic director gets to program their first season, but I was lucky in terms of time. After being hired late last year, I asked Woolly’s managing director Kimberly E. Douglas, if she thought it would be crazy if I programmed the season. She warned me it would be hard.

I invoked tennis legend Billie Jean King’s maxim “pressure is a privilege” and got to work.

These plays [dubbed White’s “first five”] represent both the kind of theater that Woolly can do really well and speak directly to my voice as curator and how I want to contribute to the larger theatrical conversation in the DMV.

Getting here has meant a lot of late nights. But I knew the juice would be worth the squeeze.

BLADE: As a queer artistic director, what makes you unique?

WHITE: When I was playing in “Inheritance” on Broadway, after a performance, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayer came backstage to meet the cast. She spoke about how her lens on the world as a Puerto Rican woman shapes her decisions. Similarly, because I’m a queer Black man I see through a lens that shapes my work.

I know I’m not the only queer artistic director in town. For me, it influences how I make editorial decisions. Out of this season’s five plays there are explicitly queer characters in four [“Venus,” “Chanukkah Spectacular,” “Ten Grand,” and “Love I Awethu Further”] and I’m directing two [“Venus,” “Ten Grand”].

BLADE: Will we see familiar faces?

WHITE: Every show this season will feature a Woolly Mammoth company member in its cast. Our company also includes designers and directors who we’ll include. I’m invested in continuing to provide a showcase for their work.

BLADE: How do you think queer audiences will receive the season?

WHITE: Very well, I think. For queer people who’ve had to navigate the world subversively and solve problems in unique ways, I think it will be especially interesting. I find theater a potent place for questions.

Like all artistic directors. I’ll show up for the job in my own way. I’m just excited that I’ve been invited to bring the fullness of myself to the role.

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PHOTOS: Amsterdam Pride Canal Parade

Annual LGBTQ celebration held in Dutch city during World Pride

Published

22 hours ago

August 1, 2026

Michael Key and Michael K. Lavers

A scene from the 2026 Amsterdam Pride Canal Parade. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Editor’s note: International News Editor Michael K. Lavers and Photo Editor Michael Key are on assignment in the Netherlands through Aug. 10.

AMSTERDAM — The 2026 Amsterdam Pride Canal Parade was held on Saturday, Aug. 1.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key and Michael K. Lavers)

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PHOTOS: Lambda Legal in the Pines

Fundraiser held at ‘Normal Heart’ house

Published

2 days ago

July 31, 2026

Guest photographer

A scene from the 'Lambda Legal in the Pines' fundraiser on July 25. (Photo by Santiago Felipe)

The LGBTQ organization Lambda Legal held its annual “Lambda Legal in the Pines” fundraiser on Saturday, July 25. The event was held at a house on Fire Island featured in Ryan Murphy’s 2014 HBO film, “The Normal Heart.”

Organizers say over $500,000 was raised to support Lambda Legal’s national litigation and advocacy work.

(Photos by Santiago Felipe)