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Summer sizzle

Gay pop culture offerings abound in region and beyond

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Dave Koz, Saxophone, Gay News, Washington Blade

Openly gay saxophonist Dave Koz plays Wolf Trap Aug. 22. (Photo by Greg Allen; courtesy Wolf Trap)

Summer has officially started and there is so much to do. Here’s a preview of things to come during these hot months.

MUSIC

July 4th brings the annual National Symphony Orchestra concert “A Capitol Fourth” at 8 p.m. on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The broadcast will have a new host, Tom Bergeron, and will feature performances by Matthew Broderick, Megan Hilty, Kool & the Gang and more. There will also be a special tribute to Team USA, hosted by Apolo Anton Ohno. Gates open at 3 p.m. for this free event.

The 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) has several concerts coming up this summer. The Scissor Sisters will be there on July 2-3. Tickets are $40. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones will be there on Aug. 7. Tickets are $30. Bob Mould performs on Sep. 8. Tickets are $25. Tickets to all shows are available online at 930.com.

The National Symphony Orchestra has several concerts happening this season at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna). On July 6, the Orchestra will be performing “Broadway ROCKS!” at 8:15 p.m. The show will feature Rob Evan, Morgan James, LaKisha Jones and Doug LaBrecque singing Broadway showstoppers from musicals such as “Mamma Mia!,” “Hairspray” and more. Tickets for this concert range from $20 to $52.

On July 14, NSO will be playing the score to “The Wizard of Oz” as the movie is shown on the huge screens in-house and on the lawn. Tickets for this concert range from $20 to $52. On Aug. 3, NSO will be backing of Broadway star Idina Menzel in a one-night-only exclusive performance with Steven Reineke conducting. The show is at 8:15 p.m. and tickets range from $20-$55.

Wolf Trap will be hosting a bevy of other concerts as well.

The B-52s return to the area on July 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25-$42. Rufus Wainwright and Ingrid Michaelson perform back-to-back on July 24 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $30-$40. On Aug. 22 at 8 p.m., Dave Koz, who’s openly gay, will be performing with BeBe Winans and special guest Average White Band. Tickets range from $25 to $42.

Tickets for Wolf Trap events are available online at wolftrap.org.

Shawn Colvin plays the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria) with Kat Edmonson on July 19 and 20. Ticket are $49.50 and available online at birchmere.com. Kenny Loggins plays there July 26. Tickets are $79.50. Melissa Ferrick will also be playing Birchmere on Sept. 8 with special guest Astra via. Tickets are $25. These concerts are all at 7:30 p.m.

Indie band “Girl in a Coma,” featuring two openly lesbian members, play the Red Palace (1212 H St., N.E.) on July 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 day of show. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Don’t forget the pop music icon Madonna is coming to the D.C. area on Sept. 23-24 for two concerts at the Verizon Center (601 F St., N.W.) at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $93-$358 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.

Concerts are always fun, but sometimes its nice to just sit at home and listen to some new music.

Maroon 5’s newest album, “Overexposed,” with the single “Payphone,” is slated to be released June 26.

Chris Brown has a new album, “Fortune,” coming out July 3. Passion Pit’s “Gossamer” is schedule to be released July 24 and Deadmau5’s “The Veldt” will be released July 25.

MOVIES

There are some big movies coming out this summer.

Channing Tatum’s “Magic Mike,” based on his brief stint as a stripper before getting into acting, opens June 29. The movie also stars Matt Bomer, who recently came out.

The Spider-Man series isn’t over yet. “The Amazing Spider-Man,” starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, opens July 3.

Another comic book hero, Batman, also gets another movie with “The Dark Knight Rises,” starring Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, opening July 20.

August 17 brings the opening of “Sparkle,” starring Jennifer Hudson and the late Whitney Houston.

Ellen DeGeneres may not be getting the sequel to “Finding Nemo” that she wanted, but the film is to be re-released in 3D on Sep. 14.

There’s also the Capital Fringe Festival coming up July 12-29. This year’s festival will feature films such as “Despertar,” “Bareback Ink,” “Stopgap” and more. For a complete list of films, venues and prices, visit capfringe.org.

TELEVISION

A few of the summer series have already started, like ABC Family’s “Pretty Little Liars,” TNT’s reboot of “Dallas” and HBO’s “True Blood,” but there are a few that have yet to premiere.

Eric McCormack of “Will & Grace,” takes on a new role as an eccentric professor helping the FBI in the new TNT series “Perception,” premiering July 9.

Bomer will also be on the small screen when the USA series “White Collar,” premieres July 10 as well as “Covert Affairs” starring Piper Perabo. USA also has a new series “Political Animals,” which premieres July 15 starring Sigourney Weaver playing a former first lady-turned-secretary of state.

Those with DirecTV can watch Chloe Sevigny play a transgender assassin in “Hit and Miss” starting July 11.

For those fans of science fiction, “Warehouse 13” and “Alphas” both premiere their new seasons on SyFy on July 23.

A few reality series also start up over the summer. CBS’s competition “Big Brother” premieres July 12, as does Showtime’s “The Real L Word.”

THEATER

The traveling production of “The Addams Family” comes to D.C. by way of the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.). The show will run from July 10-29, including a theater look-in on July 17 prior to that days performance. Tickets range from $39 to $115. Tickets are available online at kennedy-center.org.

Keegan Theatre (1742 Church St., N.W.) concludes its 2011-2012 season with “August: Osage County” directed by Mark A. Rhea and starring Stan Shulman, Rena Cherry Brown and more. The show runs from Aug. 3-26.

Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington) is putting on its own production of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” opening Aug. 14 and running through Oct. 7.

Kathleen Turner brings her one-woman show “Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins” to Arena Stage (1101 6th St., S.W.) starting Aug. 23. The show will run through Oct. 28. This is the first show of Arena’s 2012/13 season. For more information, visit arenastage.org.

OTHERS

The Queer Queens of Qomedy will be at the Birchmere on Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. featuring Poppy Champlin, Zoe Lewis and Michele Balan. Tickets are $25 and available online at birchmere.com.

The D.C. Center’s (1318 U St., N.W.) OutWrite LGBT Book Fair will run Aug. 3-4 and will feature reading by Wayne Hoffman, David Pratt, Sampson McCormick and more. There will also be discussions on social justice and intersectional activism and gay pulp fiction. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit outwritedc.org.

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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’

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(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.

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Calendar

Calendar: January 30-February 5

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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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@thedccenter.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.  

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D.C. LGBTQ sports bar Pitchers listed for sale

Move follows months of challenges for local businesses in wake of Trump actions

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Pitchers is for sale at an undisclosed price. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

A Santa Monica, Calif.-based commercial real estate company called Zacuto Group has released a 20-page online brochure announcing the sale of the D.C. LGBTQ sports bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own.

 The brochure does not disclose the sale price, and Pitchers owner David Perruzza told the Washington Blade he prefers to hold off on talking about his plans to sell the business at this time.

He said the sale price will be disclosed to “those who are interested.” 

“Matthew Luchs and Matt Ambrose of the Zacuto Group have been selected to exclusively market for sale Pitchers D.C., located at 2317 18th Street, NW in Washington, D.C located in the vibrant and nightlife Adams Morgan neighborhood,” the sales brochure states.

 “Since opening its doors in 2018, Pitchers has quickly become the largest and most prominent LGBTQ+ bar in Washington, D.C., serving as a cornerstone of D.C.’s modern queer nightlife scene,” it says, adding, “The 10,000+ SF building designed as a large-scale inclusive LGBTQ+ sports bar and social hub, offering a welcoming environment for the entire community.”

It points out that the Pitchers building, which has two years remaining on its lease and has a five-year renewal option, is a multi-level venue that features five bar areas, “indoor and outdoor seating, and multiple patios, creating a dynamic and flexible layout that supports a wide range of events and high customer volume.”

“Pitchers D.C. is also home to A League of Her Own, the only dedicated lesbian bar in Washington, D.C., further strengthening its role as a vital and inclusive community space at a time when such venues are increasingly rare nationwide,” the brochure says. 

Zacuto Group sales agent Luchs, who serves as the company’s senior vice president, did not immediately respond to a phone message left by the Blade seeking further information, including the sale price. 

News of Perruzza’s decision to sell Pitchers and A League of Her Own follows his Facebook postings last fall saying Pitchers, like other bars in D.C., was adversely impacted by the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard soldiers on D.C. streets   

In an Oct. 10 Facebook post, Perruzza said he was facing, “probably the worst economy I have seen in a while and everyone in D.C. is dealing with the Trump drama.” He told the Blade in a Nov. 10 interview that Pitchers continued to draw a large customer base, but patrons were not spending as much on drinks.

The Zacuto Group sales brochure says Pitchers currently provides a “rare combination of scale, multiple bars, inclusivity, and established reputation that provides a unique investment opportunity for any buyer seeking a long-term asset with a loyal and consistent customer base,” suggesting that, similar to other D.C. LGBTQ bars, business has returned to normal with less impact from the Trump related issues.

The sales brochure can be accessed here.

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