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‘Fire and Air’

Classical ballet, modern dance, Cherry weekend and more among season’s dance highlights

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Dustin Kimball, Junichi Fukada, Bowen McCauley Dance, gay news, Washington Blade
Dustin Kimball, Junichi Fukada, Bowen McCauley Dance, gay news, Washington Blade

Dustin Kimball, left, and Junichi Fukada of Bowen McCauley Dance. (Photo by Jeff Malet; courtesy the company)

Washington Ballet, led by gay artistic director Septime Webre, is considered one the country’s finest ballet companies. This spring the company will put on several performances.

From March 5-9, the Ballet will perform “British Invasion: the Beatles and the Rolling Stones” at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater (2700 F St., N.W.). This three-piece production includes Trey McIntyre’s “A Day In the Life,” Christopher Bruce’s “Rooster” and “There Where She Loved.” Tickets start at $25 and are available at kennedy-center.org.

From April 16-25, the company’s “Peter Pan” will take audiences on a highflying adventure to Neverland. This coming-of-age story is told through the vibrant and powerful dances choreographed by Webre. Tickets range from $25-125 and can be purchased at kennedy-center.org.

And on April 23-25, for just three performances, the Washington Ballet will be presenting “Tour-de-Force,” a program that contains provocative and engaging classical and contemporary ballets. The centerpiece of the evening is George Balanchine’s “Themes and Variations,” which evokes the great period in classical dance where Russian Ballet flourished. Tickets are only available to subscribers and start at $35.

Bowen McCauley Dance performs at Atlas Intersections Festival today at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.). The performance will explore the environment’s influence in movement in “Afoot in Vienna” and “Fire and Air.” It also includes a re-imagination of Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra” with a rare performance by Lucy Bowen McCauley herself. To purchase tickets, visit atlasarts.org.

The Atlas Intersections Festival ends Saturday. Intersections allows onlookers and artists to discover the collaborative energy of audiences and artists with eight days of boundary-crossing performances.

From April 1-6, the New York City Ballet performs Balanchine’s dazzling full-length piece “Jewels” at the Kennedy Center Opera House (2700 F St., N.W.). Tickets are on sale now and cost $25-95. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

On April 19 starting at 1 p.m., the gay-led Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company performs a new work at the National Portrait Gallery (8th and F streets, N.W.) where this company maintains its residency and performs regularly. It’s free.

Sean Dorsey Dance performs May 9-10 at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier, Md., with a work called “Secret History of Love,” which reveals the ways that LGBT individuals found love and happiness in decades past. This work by transgender dance director is packed with full throttle dancing, riveting storytelling and truly reveals the strength of the human heart. Tickets are $22.

On May 16-17, Jessica Lang Dance premieres a new work at the Kennedy Center along with the National Symphony Orchestra (2700 F St., N.W.). For tickets visit kennedy-center.org.

Gay choreographer Kyle Abraham and his company Abraham.In.Motion will perform “Live: The Realest MC” on May 17-18 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.). Abraham, who was awarded a 2013 MacArthur Genius Award, has created a production that explores what it means to be a real boy a la Pinocchio. Tickets are $31.50 in advance or $35.50 at the door. Visit atlas arts.org for details.

The Bolshoi Ballet performst at the Kennedy Center May 20-25 with “Giselle,” a powerful piece that deals with betrayal, physical fragility and spiritual strength. Tickets are available by visiting kennedy-center.org.

From June 9-20, gay-helmed Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company partners with Georgetown Day School to allow advanced and intermediate dancers in seventh through 11th grades to have one-on-one instruction with members of the company.

Dance Place (3225 8th St., N.E.) is always the center of dance activity in Washington with performances every weekend as well as dance classes for adults and children.

In radically different dance news, the Chippendales male dance revue — geared to straight women but, like Playgirl, long a gay guilty pleasure — performs March 27 at 9 p.m. at the Fillmore in Silver Spring (8656 Colesville Rd.). Tickets are $25-35 and available at fillmoresilverspring.com.

And D.C.’s trademark benefit circuit party Cherry is the weekend of April 4-6 with DJs Eddie Elias, Paulo, Alain Jackinsky, Joe Gauthreaux, TWiN and Mike Reimer at the various locations throughout the weekend such as Cobalt and Town. This year’s event is dubbed “Metamorphosis.” Visit cherryfund.org for full details.

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Out & About

This queer comedy show will warm you up

Catfish Comedy to feature LGBTQ lineup

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(Promotional image via Eventbrite)

Catfish Comedy will host “2026 Queer Kickoff Show” on Thursday, Feb. 5 at A League of Her Own (2319 18th Street, N.W.). This show features D.C.’s funniest LGBTQ and femme comedians. The lineup features performers who regularly take the stage at top clubs like DC Improv and Comedy Loft, with comics who tour nationally.

Tickets are $17.85 and can be purchased on Eventbrite

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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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