Arts & Entertainment
Calendar through May 23
A packed trans pride weekend has concerts, parties and more
Comedian Vicki Lawrence comes to Ram’s Head On Stage with her show ‘Vicki Lawrence & Mama’ this weekend. (Photo courtesy the Brokaw Company)
Friday, May 17
Washington Blade hosts its seventh annual Rehoboth Summer Kickoff Party at the Blue Moon (35 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) today at 5 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested and will go toward the Washington Blade Foundation. For more information, visit the Facebook event or washingtonblade.com.
Friends of the Library, Montgomery County and the Latino Gay Lesbian and Transgender History Project host inaugural poet Richard Blanco this evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Rockville Memorial Library (21 Maryland Ave.). Blanco is a Cuban-born writer whose family emigrated to Spain, New York and then eventually settled in Florida. He is the author of three books and a bilingual triptych of poems that were submitted for the inauguration. Tickets are $30-$100. Attendees can buy packages that include a signed book. Visit folmc.org for more information.
Whitman-Walker provides free HIV Testing at Town (2009 8th St., NW) starting at 8 p.m. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Saturday, May 18
The Hagerstown Hopes Pride & Diversity Celebration takes place today from noon-4 p.m. at Doubs Woods Park (1307 South Potomac St., Hagerstown, MD). The event’s goal is to educate, enlighten and entertain the LGBT community. For details, visit pflagcentralmd.org.
Emmy-winning comedian Vicki Lawrence comes to Rams Head On Stage (33 West St., Annapolis, Md.) bringing her show “Vicki Lawrence & Mama, A Two Woman Show” tonight at 8 p.m. One of her most endearing and famous characters, Thelma Harper, also known as “Mama,” was created in the seventh season on “The Carol Burnett Show.” Tickets are $75. For more information, visit ramsheadonstage.com.
The fourth Gaithersburg Book Festival takes place from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on the grounds of City Hall in Old Towne (31 S Summit Ave.). This year coordinators are trying a new format to bring more authors and greater diversity. There will be pairings of authors, panel discussions and one-on-one conversations between authors and critics and industry insiders. Food, drink and ice cream is provided. Admission is free. Visit gaithersburgbookfestival.org for more information.
MOVA (2204 14th St., NW) holds its “Blast from the Past ‘80s Night” tonight hosted by Stormy Vain and music by VJ Tre. There will be drink specials for ‘80s themed drinks all night. For details, visit movalounge.com or the Facebook event.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today for the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation at Falls Church PetSmart (6100 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, Va.) starting at 11:45 a.m. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
Whitman-Walker provides HIV Testing at Capital Trans Pride today from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, NW). The clinic provides testing again at the D.C. Eagle (639 New York Ave., NW). For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
The Green Spring Garden (4603 Green Spring Rd, Alexandria Va.) hosts its Spring Garden Day on today at 9 a.m. The even features 40 vendors of rare and unusual plants. For more information, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring.
A new New Balance shop opens today in Fairfax’s Mosaic District (2910 District Ave., Fairfax) and will carry the entire collection of athletic shoes, casual shoes and athletic apparel. Several discounts, prizes and raffles will be available today and Sunday. The shop is just steps away from the Dunn Loring/Merrifield Metro stop. Store hours today are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Visit nbretail.com for more information.
Sunday, May 19
The D.C. Center and Professionals in the City host Women’s Speed Dating tonight at 7 p.m. at Finn and Porter in the Embassy Suites Hotel (900 10th St., NW). This event is for bisexual and lesbian women in their 20s and 30s. Admission is $30. For more information, visit thedccenter.com.
Monday, May 20
The Shakespeare Theatre Company hosts an installment of its Classic Conversations with Michael Kahn featuring Audra McDonald and Christopher Plummer tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St., NW). The series of discussions covers the topics of classical theater and the craft of acting. McDonald is both and actor and opera singer, while Plummer is a classical actor who is known for his role in “The Sound of Music.” Tickets are $20-$35. Visit shakespearetheatre.org for more information.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., NW) holds coffee drop-in for the senior LGBT community today at 10 a.m.-noon. The Center will provide complimentary coffee and a community to chat with. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Bears do Yoga takes place this evening 6:30 p.m. as part of a series at the Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, NW). This is part of a basic yoga series that takes place every Monday and is open to people of varying body types and experience. There is no charge. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It is a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. Registration is required and attendees must call 202-797-3580 or email [email protected]. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Tuesday, May 21
The Stephen Sondheim production “Company” opens tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va.). The show is about Bobby, a commitment-phobic bachelor, who searches for the answers to love and life in New York City. He observes the joys and pitfalls of marriage from his five couple friends while enjoying the company of the ladies. Sondheim’s award-winning score includes “Being Alive,” “Side By Side,” “Little Things You Do Together,” “Another Hundred People” and “Ladies Who Lunch.” The show runs until June 30. Tickets are $25-$80. For more information, visit signature-theatre.org.
Wednesday, May 22
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It is a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. Registration is required and attendees must call 202-797-3580 or email [email protected]. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Thursday, May 23
Lambda Sci-fi has its book discussion tonight at 7:30 p.m. at 1425 S St., N. Tonight the group will be discussing the book “Kindred” by Octavia Butler. For more information, visit lambdascifi.org.
Celebrity News
Madonna announces release date for new album
‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor
Pop icon Madonna on Wednesday announced that her 15th studio album will be released on July 3.
Titled “Confessions II,” the new album is a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” an Abba and disco-infused hit.
The new album reunites Madonna with producer Stuart Price, who also helmed the original “Confessions” album. It’s her first album of new material since 2019’s “Madame X.”
“We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna said in a press release. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” continued the statement. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions. Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”
Denali (@denalifoxx) of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performed at Pitchers DC on April 9 for the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show. Other performers included Cake Pop!, Brooke N Hymen, Stacy Monique-Max and Silver Ware Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
In an act of artistic defiance, Baltimore Center Stage stays focused on DEI
‘Maybe it’s a triple-down’
By LESLIE GRAY STREETER | I’m always tickled when people complain about artists “going political.” The inherent nature of art, of creation and free expression, is political. This becomes obvious when entire governments try to threaten it out of existence, like in 2025, when the brand-new presidential administration demanded organizations halt so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming or risk federal funding.
Baltimore Center Stage’s response? A resounding and hearty “Nah.” A year later, they’re still doubling down on diversity.
“Maybe it’s a triple-down,” said Ken-Matt Martin, the theater’s producing director, chuckling.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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Comings & Goings
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