Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: July 6
Parties, events, concerts and more through July 12
DJ Oren Nizri spins at Town this weekend. (Photo courtesy Nizri)
TODAY (Friday)
The HIV Working Group does outreach tonight for Bear Happy Hour at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) from 7-10 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org or towndc.com.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) hosts a dance party tonight for guests 21 and older with DJ Jay Von Teese from 7:30 p.m.-3 a.m. For more details, visit phase1dc.com.
CaShandra J, a jazz and blues singer, performs tonight at Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 6-9 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Saturday, July 7
DJ Oren Nizri, an Israeli DJ, spins tonight at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.). Doors open for guests 21 and older at 10 p.m. and the drag show starts at 10:30. Admission is $8 from 10-11 p.m. and $12 after 11; $3 drinks will be served before 11. For details, visit towndc.com.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) hosts a “Pop Rocks” party with DJ LS tonight for guests 21 and older from 7:30 p.m.-3 a.m. For details, visit phase1dc.com.
The Mayu Saeki Trio (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.), an alternative Jazz ensemble, perform tonight at Black Fox Lounge from 8-11 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today for the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation at the Falls Church, Va., PetSmart (6100 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church) from 11:45 a.m.-3 p.m. If interested, email [email protected] or visit burgundycrescent.org for more information.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) has free HIV testing today from 4-7 p.m. today. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The Black Cat hosts Hellmouth Happy Hour tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. One episode of the gay cult classic series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” screens and a drink special is served. Admission is free. For more details, visit blackcatdc.com.
The Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.) hosts Code tonight from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Code is a leather, jock gear, uniforms and skin gear party with a strictly enforced dress code. For details, visit codedc.com.
Sunday, July 8
The D.C. Kings perform tonight at Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.). Doors open at 7 p.m. and the performances begin at 9. Tickets are $10 and limited to guests 21 and over. For more information, visit phase1dc.com or dckings.com.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today for the D.C. Central Kitchen (425 2nd St., N.W.) from 9 a.m.-noon. The activity is limited to 15 volunteers. Volunteers will help cook alongside D.C. Kitchen chefs, but prior cooking experience is not required. If interested, email [email protected] or visit burgundycrescent.org for more information.
The Lambda Sci-Fi club hosts its monthly meeting for LGBT science fiction, fantasy and horror fans at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon at 1425 S St., N.W. Guests are encouraged to bring a snack and non-alcoholic drink to share. For more information, visit lambdascifi.org or email [email protected].
Monday, July 9
The D.C. Lambda Squares Beginner Class starts tonight from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.). No prior square dancing experience, special outfits or partners are required to participate. The cost is $100 in advance or $125 at the door for the 16 classes. For details, visit dclambdasquares.org or thedccenter.org.
The Goethe-Institut German Cultural Center (812 7th St., N.W.) screens “The Complaint of an Empress,” a film directed by Pina Bausch, tonight at 6:30 p.m. The film features a collage of scenes of the city of Wuppertal, Germany, and focuses on the human quest for love. For more information, visit goethe.de/washington.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (200 N Boulevard, Richmond) hosts a textile design workshop today from 9 a.m.-noon. Enrollment is limited to 10 people and costs $135 per workshop ($120 for VMFA members). For more information, visit vmfa.museum.
Tuesday, July 10
Dupont Italian Kitchen (1637 17th St., N.W.) hosts the monthly D.C. Bi Women meeting from 7-9 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The D.C. Center hosts a FUK!T Packing Party tonight from 7-9 p.m. at the Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.). Volunteers will help make FUK!T packets and TOOLK!Ts. For more details, visit thedccenter.org.
Cobalt (1638 R St., N.W.) hosts Flashback tonight with DJ Jason Royce from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Dance jams from the ‘70s, ‘80s and early ‘90s play all night. Admission is free and $2 draft beer will be served all night. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) features the opening show of “The Addams Family,” a morbid musical comedy classic, tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $39-$115 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Wednesday, July 11
The Rainbow Response Coalition, a group that addresses intimate partner violence among LGBT people in the greater Washington area, meets tonight from 7-8 p.m. at the D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.). For more information, visit rainbowresponse.org or thedccenter.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts karaoke tonight for guests 21 and older. Doors open at 10 p.m. and admission is free. $5 Absolut and Smirnoff cocktails will be served. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Thursday, July 12
The Art League Gallery (105 North Union St., Alexandria) hosts an opening reception with featured artist Cecily Corcoran for her “Genius Loci” solo exhibition tonight from 6:30-8 p.m. The exhibit has paintings of various Washington landscapes inspired by her daily commute to work. For more information, visit theartleague.org.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers tonight for Food & Friends (219 Riggs Road, N.E.). Volunteers will help with food preparation and chopping vegetables. If interested, email [email protected] or visit burgundycrescent.org for more information.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington host an open mic tonight at Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 8-11 p.m. Admission is free. Participants receive a complimentary drink after their first song. For more details, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Cobalt (1638 R St., N.W.) hosts its weekly best package contest at midnight this evening with DJ MadScience and DJ Sean Morris. Admission is $3 and limited to guests 21 and over. $2 rail drinks will be served from 9-11 p.m. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Crimsyn and Tatianna hosted the new weekly drag show Clash at Trade (1410 14th Street, N.W.) on Feb. 14, 2026. Performers included Aave, Crimsyn, Desiree Dik, and Tatianna.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Theater
Magic is happening for Round House’s out stage manager
Carrie Edick talks long hours, intricacies of ‘Nothing Up My Sleeve’
‘Nothing Up My Sleeve’
Through March 15
Round House Theatre
4545 East-West Highway
Bethesda, Md. 20814
Tickets start at $50
Roundhousetheatre.org
Magic is happening for out stage manager Carrie Edick.
Working on Round House Theatre’s production of “Nothing Up My Sleeve,” Edick quickly learned the ways of magicians, their tricks, and all about the code of honor among those who are privy to their secrets.
The trick-filled, one-man show starring master illusionist Dendy and staged by celebrated director Aaron Posner, is part exciting magic act and part deeply personal journey. The new work promises “captivating storytelling, audience interaction, jaw-dropping tricks, and mind-bending surprises.”
Early in rehearsals, there was talk of signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for production assistants. It didn’t happen, and it wasn’t necessary, explains Edick, 26. “By not having an NDA, Dendy shows a lot of trust in us, and that makes me want to keep the secrets even more.
“Magic is Dendy’s livelihood. He’s sharing a lot and trusting a lot; in return we do the best we can to support him and a large part of that includes keeping his secrets.”
As a production assistant (think assistant stage manager), Edick strives to make things move as smoothly as possible. While she acknowledges perfection is impossible and theater is about storytelling, her pursuit of exactness involves countless checklists and triple checks, again and again. Six day weeks and long hours are common. Stage managers are the first to arrive and last to leave.
This season has been a lot about learning, adds Edick. With “The Inheritance” at Round House (a 22-week long contract), she learned how to do a show in rep which meant changing from Part One to Part Two very quickly; “In Clay” at Signature Theatre introduced her to pottery; and now with “Nothing Up My Sleeve,” she’s undergoing a crash course in magic.
She compares her career to a never-ending education: “Stage managers possess a broad skillset and that makes us that much more malleable and ready to attack the next project. With some productions it hurts my heart a little bit to let it go, but usually I’m ready for something new.”
For Edick, theater is community. (Growing up in Maryland, she was a shy kid whose parents signed her up for theater classes.) Now that community is the DMV theater scene and she considers Round House her artistic home. It’s where she works in different capacities, and it’s the venue in which she and actor/playwright Olivia Luzquinos chose to be married in 2024.
Edick came out in middle school around the time of her bat mitzvah. It’s also around the same time she began stage managing. Throughout high school she was the resident stage manager for student productions, and also successfully participated in county and statewide stage management competitions which led to a scholarship at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) where she focused on technical theater studies.
Edick has always been clear about what she wants. At an early age she mapped out a theater trajectory. Her first professional gig was “Tuesdays with Morrie” at Theatre J in 2021. She’s worked consistently ever since.
Stage managing pays the bills but her resume also includes directing and intimacy choreography (a creative and technical process for creating physical and emotional intimacy on stage). She names Pulitzer Prize winning lesbian playwright Paula Vogel among her favorite artists, and places intimacy choreographing Vogel’s “How I learned to Drive” high on the artistic bucket list.
“To me that play is heightened art that has to do with a lot of triggering content that can be made very beautiful while being built to make you feel uncomfortable; it’s what I love about theater.”
For now, “Nothing Up My Sleeve” keeps Edick more than busy: “For one magic trick, we have to set up 100 needles.”
Ultimately, she says “For stage managers, the show should stay the same each night. What changes are audiences and the energy they bring.”
Friday, February 13
Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at noon at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour Meetup” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Women in their Twenties and Thirties will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for queer women in the D.C. area. For more details, visit the group on Facebook.
Saturday, February 14
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.
The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host a screening of “Love and Pride” at 1:30 p.m. This event is a joy-filled global streaming celebration honoring queer courage, Pride, and the power of love. It’s a bold celebration of courage and community — a fearless reminder of what we’ve overcome, how love is what makes us unstoppable, and how we have always turned fear into fierce. For more details, visit the Center’s website.
Sunday, February 15
LGBTQ+ Community Coffee and Conversation will be at 12 p.m. at As You Are. This event is for people looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ community. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, February 16
Queer Book Club will be at 7:00p.m. on Zoom. This month’s read is “Faebound” by Saara El-Arifi. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
“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 ([email protected]).
Tuesday, February 17
Center Bi+ Roundtable will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting.Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Wednesday, February 18
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.
Thursday, February 19
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. 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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