Arts & Entertainment
‘Rent’ returns for 20th anniversary national tour
Tony award winning musical returns
(Screenshot courtesy of YouTube)
“Rent,” the acclaimed Tony Award winning rock musical, will return to stages across the nation in a 20th anniversary tour this fall for the 2016-17 season.
Based on the Giacomo Puccini opera “La bohème,” “Rent” tells the story of seven struggling artists who deal with poverty, squatting, drug addiction and other hardships during the AIDS epidemic in the late ’80s and early ’90s.
The original production premiered Off-Broadway in February 1996 before moving to Broadway in April 1996. The show won the 1997 Tony Award for Best Musical. The cast also featured future entertainment stars such as Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp, Jesse L. Martin, Adam Pascal, Taye Diggs, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Wilson Jermaine Heredia.
According to Playbill, Evan Ensign will direct using the vision of original director Michael Greif. Marlins Yearby will choreograph the new production.
“For the past 20 years, Rent has touched the lives of audiences around the world from Broadway to regional productions to high school auditoriums,” producer Stephen Gabriel said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to introduce a new generation to this timeless story of love, friendship and community.
Dates and cities on the tour will be announced later this year.
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
The fourth annual Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 17.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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