Arts & Entertainment
Missionary man
Mormon-skewering Broadway hit at Kennedy Center

Mark Evans, left, and Derrick Williams in ‘The Book of Mormon.’ (Photo by Joan Marcus; courtesy Kennedy Center)
‘The Book of Mormon’
Through Aug. 18
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
$43-$250
kennedy-center.org
You’ve seen them. Those squeaky clean Mormon boys on their post-high school mission, indefatigably going door to door pushing the Latter Day message.
Dressed in their white shirts, black ties and pants, they look lifted from the Eisenhower era. “The Book of Mormon,” the Broadway favorite from “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and “Avenue Q” co-creator Robert Lop, hilariously trades on this iconic image so ripe for lampooning. And now the first national tour of the delectably irreverent musical is parked at the Kennedy Center through late August. Tickets have been in extremely high demand.
The action kicks off in Salt Lake City (imagined here as a flat, pretty colored picture map) with a passel of eager young Mormons honing their proselytizing skills in the very funny opening number “Hello.” Next the young men are paired off and assigned their mission destinations. Mormon poster boy Elder Price (Mark Evans) is matched with unlikely counterpart Elder Cunningham (Christopher John O’Neill). With his perfect hair and no-nonsense demeanor, Price is an admired over achiever; while Cunningham who’s never been able to slog through the Book of Mormon is rumpled and desperate for a friend. Together they’re sent to a remote Ugandan village (Price was hoping for Orlando, Fla.).
In Uganda, Scott Pask’s set morphs into a darker world of ominous skies and broken down huts. A villager casually crosses the stage dragging a life size, bloody donkey carcass. After presenting themselves to some of the leading natives, Price and Cunningham join a group of other young missionaries stationed in the village. They learn that things aren’t going too well, religious conversions aren’t happening. It seems that the understandably jaded local population, tired from dealing with AIDS, forced female genital mutilation and a threatening violent warlord, has little time for far out Bible stories.
Undaunted, Price is determined to do something incredible. But surprisingly, it’s less-than-promising Cunningham, not Price, who connects with the native population. He strikes up a romance with local girl Nabulungi (the sweet and sexy Samantha Marie Ware), and with her help, peddles a watered down version of Mormonism filled with references from his favorite science fiction and fantasy films, and wins loads of converts.
With the creators of “South Park,” nothing is sacred. In the second act’s “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream,” Price sees his father having hot sex with serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Then there’s casual talk of raping babies as a cure for AIDS. One villager routinely complains, “I have maggots in my scrotum.” Yes, it’s a little offensive and very foulmouthed, but it’s also big-hearted and admirably executed.
As Price, sterling-voiced Evans gives a nuanced performance, ably conveying his character’s big ego as well as his decency and likeability. Evans’ stirring rendition of “I Believe” is one of the show’s more memorable moments. And though not as musically blessed as Evans, O’Neill (making his professional debut as Cunningham) oozes comic ability.
Smartly, the show’s creators use musical theater elements including heartrending ballads and big song and dance numbers (delightfully choreographed by co-director Casey Nicholaw) to poke fun. Grey Henson is terrific as the closeted Elder McKinley who likes to think that suppressing his gayness is as simple as turning off a light switch. He and the other Mormons sing about it in a fabulous tap-filled number titled “Turn it Off.”
With “The Guardsman” and “Anything Goes,” the Kennedy Center has been on a roll. And now with “The Book of Mormon,” that winning streak continues for the big boxy landmark on the Potomac.
Friday, March 27
Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. 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+ Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. 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.
Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].
Saturday, March 28
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 “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website.
Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black Lesbian. For more details, email [email protected].
Monday, March 30
“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]).
“Tea Time! A Local DC Drag Comedy Show” will be at 3 p.m. at Spark Social. This is a live drag comedy show where drag legends TrevHER & Tiara Missou Sidora host spill all the tea in the DMV. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Tuesday, March 31
Visibili-TEA Party will be at 6 p.m. at Restoration Station. Guests are encouraged to come sip, celebrate, and shine together. This event is a Trans Day of Visibility celebration and a special collaboration between Auntie’s Home and Damien Ministries. This is a boozy tea party with intention and the dress code reflects the vibe. More details are available on Eventbrite.
Wednesday, March 1
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, April 2
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 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, breathwork 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.
Unconventional Diner will host “Cherry Blossom Drag Bingo Party” on Friday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m.
Guests will be treated to an unforgettable night of drag performances, bingo, food and drink and prizes. Highlights of the evening include themed cocktails, drag performances and bingo prizes.
Tickets can be secured via Resy.
Sports
New IOC policy bans trans women from Olympics
New regulation to be in effect at 2028 summer games in Los Angeles
The International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced it will not allow transgender women from competing in female events at the Olympics.
“For all disciplines on the Sports Program of an IOC event, including individual and team sports, eligibility for any Female Category is limited to biological females,” reads the new policy.
The policy states “eligibility for the Female Category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY Gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY Gene.”
“On the basis of the scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the SRY (sex-determining Region Y) Gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced or will experience male sex development,” it reads. “Furthermore, the IOC considers that SRY Gene screening via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample is unintrusive compared to other possible methods. Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the Female Category.”
The policy states the test “will be a once-in-a-lifetime test” unless “there is reason to believe a negative reading is in error.”
The new regulation will be in place for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
“I understand that this a very sensitive topic,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday in a video. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition.”
“The policy that we have announced is based on science and it has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart. The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advances in sport that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” she added. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”
(Video courtesy of the IOC)
Laurel Hubbard, a weightlifter from New Zealand, in 2021 became the first trans woman to compete at the Olympics.
Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Khelif later sued JK Rowling and Elon Musk for cyberstalking after they questioned her gender identity.
Ellis Lundholm, a mogul skier from Sweden, this year became the first openly trans athlete to compete in any Winter Olympics when he participated in Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.
President Donald Trump in February 2025 issued an executive order that bans trans women and girls from female sports teams in the U.S.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee last July banned trans women from competing in female sporting events. Republican lawmakers have demanded the IOC ban trans athletes from women’s athletic competitions.
“I’m grateful the Olympics finally embraced the common sense policy that women’s sports are for women, not for men,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on X.
An IOC spokesperson on Thursday referred the Washington Blade to the press release that announced the new policy.
-
Poland5 days agoPolish court rules country must recognize same-sex marriages from EU states
-
District of Columbia4 days agoTrans Day of Visibility events planned
-
Virginia4 days agoVirginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ends
-
Federal Government4 days agoMarkwayne Mullin confirmed as next DHS secretary
