Arts & Entertainment
Arts briefs: Baltimore
BSO performance includes fireworks, ‘Big Show’ at Creative Alliance and more
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs for two nights to celebrate America’s independence. Photo courtesy of BSO, credit Chris Lee.
BSO performance includes fireworks
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presents “Star-Spangled Spectacular” on July 3 and 4 at Oregon Ridge (13555 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville) at 8 p.m.
The symphony, conducted by Robert Franz, will perform songs like Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” and more, all choreographed to a fireworks display.
The evening will also feature the BSO’s “Oh, Say Can You Sing” contest winner performing the national anthem.
Tickets range from $9 to $18 and can be purchased online at bsomusic.org.
‘Big Show’ at Creative Alliance
The Creative Alliance at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave.) presents “The Big Show 2012” opening on Friday.
The show will feature 200 pieces of artwork from any CA member who wanted to participate. This annual show was the first project Creative Alliance mounted when it first started.
There will also be a Big Show Big Party that night from 7 to 10 p.m. with the Motorettes. The party is $5 for general audience and free for CA members.
The gallery is free and open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
NOW conference in Baltimore
The National Organization for Women is having its national conference in Baltimore this year at the Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport hotel (1739 West Nursery Rd., Linthicum Heights) starting Friday and running through Sunday.
This year’s conference theme is “Energize! Organize! Stop the War on Women” and attendees can look forward to various speakers, skill-building workshops, issue hearings and networking sessions.
The conference will feature speakers such as MSNBC contributor and former congressional candidate Krystal Ball; former NOW president Patricia Ireland; Sarah E. Reece of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and more, as well as keynote speaker Eve Ensler.
For more information, including a complete list of speakers and workshops, and to register for the conference, visit now.org/organization/conference/2012.
Drag, dance parties at Hippo
Club Hippo (1 West Eager St.) has a couple of events this week.
On Friday, drag queen Alexis Mateo will be performing as well as Alondra Sanchees, Sue Nami, Scarlett Dupry and Brillet Garrison. DJ Dann will be providing music. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 day of show. Doors open at 10 p.m.
Saturday is a dance party with DJ Kuh Meleon starting at 10 p.m. There is a $6 cover and all attendees must be 21 or older.
Thursday is hip-hop night at Hippo with DJ Rosie spinning from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Cover is $6 before 11 p.m. and $8 afterward.
For more information, visit cluphippo.com.
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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