a&e features
Kathleen Turner tackles ‘Magical Thinking’
Stage and screen icon channels Joan Didion in new Arena Stage production
Kathleen Turner as Joan Didion in ‘The Year of Magical Thinking’ at Arena Stage. Turner says the work helped her deal with the loss of her mother. (Photo by Tony Powell; courtesy Arena Stage)
‘The Year of Magical Thinking’
By Joan Didion
Arena Stage
Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle
1101 Sixth St., S.W.
Oct. 7-Nov. 20
$40-90
Kathleen Turner has done one-woman plays before — she played Tallulah Bankhead in “Tallulah” in 2000-2001 and the title role in “Red Hot Patriot: the Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins” at Arena Stage in 2012.
But this time, it’s different. For her latest production — Turner has become almost as well known in recent years for her stage work as her film roles, which date back to 1981’s “Body Heat” — Turner will play legendary author Joan Didion, whose stunningly frank 2005 memoir “The Year of Magical Thinking” told of the aftermath of the loss of her husband, the author John Gregory Dunne who died suddenly in 2003.
The “magical thinking” of the title refers to the phenomenon of the mind in deep stages of grief where rational thought is sometimes circumvented as a coping mechanism. Didion wrote that at times she felt she couldn’t give away Dunne’s shoes, for surely he’d need them upon returning. Didion won the National Book Award in 2005 for the book, something of a career capstone for the author, known for California-centric writing in works like “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” and “The White Album” as well as screenplays she wrote with Dunne.
Didion adapted the book to the stage in 2007 with Vanessa Redgrave. Turner spoke to the Blade last week by phone from Washington where she was in early rehearsals for the Gaye Taylor Upchurch-directed Arena version.
WASHINGTON BLADE: Tell us how you discovered this work and how things are going so far.
KATHLEEN TURNER: We’ve only had one full-day rehearsal, so I think it’s much too soon to say how anything’s going although we had a very nice open reading, just a table reading, the first day that I enjoyed. I was aware of the book, you know, years ago when it was published but I had not thought of it or seen it as a play at all and then I was, well, my mother passed, my mother died last year and it was, oh, it was a life-changing experience. We were close. We had a really wonderful relationship and I knew how much I would miss her. So trying to figure out how all that was going to change, what I could do, how I could handle it and then, of course, I had thought again of “The Year of Magical Thinking” and went back to look at it and discovered the play version and thought, “Well, this is really what I want to put my heart into now.”
BLADE: How old was your mom?
TURNER: Ninety-three so we had a good long time together.
BLADE: Have you met Joan Didion?
TURNER: Yes, I have met Joan over the years. I’ve been in New York and in this business for a very long time now. I think next year will be 40 years that I’ve been doing this professionally. But she’s very frail now. She’s not very well. She won’t be involved, I’m sorry to say, with this.
BLADE: I’ve never met her but she strikes me as very small. A bit of a waif, perhaps, even when she was younger.
TURNER: Oh, not the woman’s mind, honey. No, no, no. This is one of the strongest minds, with the most ruthless thinking. I mean, she’s so clear headed. She says, “To say this correctly and to some of us, myself included, correctness is a big ego point.” She’s very specific. It’s so amazing to see this brilliant mind who locks down details and chooses words so specifically, so exactly, that this mind could adapt and adopt a whole other way of thinking, of reality, it’s extraordinary.
BLADE: I was thinking more in physical terms. She seems rather demure and you seem so formidable. I only know the book, but it doesn’t strike me as obvious casting.
TURNER: Well certainly physically we’re not at all alike. She’s a tiny little thing, but this is not an imitation. I’m not pretending to be Joan Didion in that way. I just don’t really understand. You think I’ll be less believable for that reason? That they’ll expect to see some little waif?
BLADE: No, I just wondered if that sort of factored into your approach at all or where your head is in tackling this.
TURNER: No. I don’t think of Joan’s physicality at all.
BLADE: Great books don’t always adapt well to the stage. How do you feel this adaptation works?
TURNER: No, not necessarily at all, do they. I think the biggest challenge for this, of course, is the incredibly specific word choices that she makes. I really don’t want to fall into any pattern of approximation, of saying words like the words she chose. This is a huge challenge because there’s so much material but I believe there’s a real reason for her word choices. And part of the thing about magical thinking is that it doesn’t really make sense, some of it. It’s not exactly logical, so to follow it, to follow this path of thinking sometimes is a bit challenging.
BLADE: How does it feel returning to Arena?
TURNER: I love being back here, I really do. It’s just such high quality and I love the people. The production values are great, the people are terrific to work with. I actually really like Washington these days. And I’m happy to be here during the election season so that on my days off or during my days once we’re in performance, I might be able to, oh, I don’t know, raise a little hell you know?
BLADE: What was it like doing Molly Ivins during the last election cycle? That must have been fun.
TURNER: Oh, it was great are you kidding? We had to keep cramming in I don’t know how many seats we actually got into the theater. I think we broke all records and had to extend the run as I recall. It was great. I had a ball doing it.
BLADE: Are D.C. audiences different in any perceptible way?
TURNER: One of the things I’ve noticed over the years is that D.C. audiences seem more integrated. I see more non-white, or whatever the correct wording would be, than I do in a lot of other theaters. I like that. It’s a professional class and not based on race.
Edward Albee with Kathleen Turner in Washington in 2011. Albee said Turner brought Martha in his play ‘Virginia Woolf’ alive in a way he hadn’t felt since Uta Hagen originated it in the ‘60s. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
BLADE: I’m almost certain you’re supporting Hillary, right?
TURNER: Of course I’m supporting Hillary. Anything else I think is absolutely unthinkable. I think she’ll be an extraordinary executive in chief. She’s proven that. It’s just such a bizarre time. I just read a wonderful column in the New York Times — I’m trying to think if it was David Brooks or who it was — but the point that seemed so perfect to me was that you can take a die-hard Donald Trump supporter and say, “Donald Trump said this, but here are the actual facts. You know, this is absolutely incorrect. It’s absolutely a lie” and the Trump supporter would probably say, “Well, I don’t feel it’s a lie.” Somewhere along the way in our time, how you feel became just as important as the actual facts or even the idea that they are equatable, you know? I just find that extraordinary, but it’s the only explanation I think.
BLADE: So is that a manner of magical thinking of its own perhaps? Is there a correlation there?
TURNER: There may be. But if you follow Joan’s path of coping, she exposes it to us as magical thinking and there I think is the difference because I don’t think they know they’re doing any sort of magical thinking.
BLADE: Where were you when you heard about the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage last year and how did you feel?
TURNER: I was home in New York City. I’m on the board of People for the American Way for, I think, 31 years now I’ve been working with them and we had a large effort out country wide to support this decision. It was thrilling. Absolutely thrilling.
BLADE: Does any filming experience stand out in your mind as especially memorable?
TURNER: Oh darling, all these years (laughs). Well I always used to love, before I got rheumatoid arthritis, I used to love doing as much of my own stunts as they would allow. I was always just throwing myself around. I always enjoyed things like the adventure films, you know. Things like “Romancing the Stone” or something, they were just such fun for me.
BLADE: How is your daughter and what is she doing these days?
TURNER: She is very well, thank you for asking. She has decided to go back to school and work on pre-law, she says.
BLADE: The line in “Serial Mom” where you berate the woman for her white shoes has become such a gay quotable line. How do you really feel about white shoes after Labor Day?
TURNER: (laughs) Actually no, I won’t wear white shoes after Labor Day. But more than that, I won’t wear white shoes period. I think it’s kind of upstaging. I don’t want people looking at my feet. I just don’t think they’re classy, frankly.
An illustration for Arena Stage’s production of ‘The Year of Magical Thinking’ starring Kathleen Turner as Joan Didion. (Illustration by Montse Bernal; courtesy Arena Stage)
a&e features
Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
a&e features
Looking back at the 10 biggest A&E stories of 2025
‘Wicked,’ Lady Gaga’s new era, ‘Sexy’ Bailey and more
Although 2025 was a year marked by countless attacks on trans rights and political setbacks, the year also saw brilliant queer artists continuing to create art. From Cannes and Sundance Award winners now vying for Oscar consideration to pop icons entering new stages of their careers, queer people persevered to tell their stories through different media.
With the state of the world so uncertain, perhaps there’s no more vital time to celebrate our wins, as seen through some of this year’s top pop culture moments. While there’s no collection of 10 stories that fully encompass “the most important” news, here are some events that got the gays going:
10. ‘Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo’ wins big at Cannes
The Cannes Film Festival has become a crucial start for films hoping to make their way to the Oscars, and first-time director Diego Céspedes won the top Un Certain Regard prize for his intimate western “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo.” The film is set in the ‘80s and is intended as an allegory for the AIDS epidemic. Seeing a film that unpacks vital queer history win one of the most coveted awards at Cannes has been a huge point of pride in the independent filmmaking community.
Since the film bowed at Cannes, it has been selected as Chile’s Oscar entry in the Best International Feature race. Speaking with The Blade during the film’s AFI Fest run in October, Céspedes said: At first, I was kind of scared to have this campaign position in the times that we’re living [in] here. But at the same time, I think the Oscars mean a huge platform — a huge platform for art and politics.”
9. ‘The Last of Us’ returns for an even gayer season 2
While the first season of The Last of Us gave us one of TV’s most heartbreaking queer love stories in the episode “Long, Long Time,” Season 2 doubled down on its commitment to queer storytelling with the blossoming relationship between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced). The show expanded on the pair’s relationship in the original video game, making it perhaps the central dynamic to the entire season. That unfortunately came with more homophobic backlash on the internet, but those who checked out all the episodes saw a tender relationship form amid the show’s post-apocalyptic, often violent backdrop. For their performance, Ramsey was once again nominated for an Emmy, but Merced deserved just as much awards attention.
8. ‘Emilia Pérez’ sparks controversy
Jacques Audiard’s genre-bending trans musical “Emilia Pérez” proved to be an awards season juggernaut this time last year, winning the Golden Globe for Best Musical/Comedy. But when the lead star Karla Sofia Gascón’s racist, sexist, and homophobic old tweets resurfaced, the film’s Oscar campaign became a tough sell, especially after Netflix had tried so hard to sell Emilia Pérez as the “progressive” film to vote for. Mind you, the film had already received significant backlash from LGBTQ+ audiences and the Mexican community for its stereotypical and reductive portrayals, but the Gascón controversy made what was originally just social media backlash impossible to ignore. The only person who seemed to come out of the whole debacle unscathed was Zoe Saldaña, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress over Ariana Grande.
7. ‘Sorry, Baby’ establishes Eva Victor as major talent
Back in January at the Sundance Film Festival, Eva Victor (known by many for her brand of sketch comedy) premiered their directorial debut “Sorry, Baby” to rave reviews, even winning the Waldo Salt Screening Award. Victor shadowed Jane Schoenbrun on the set of “I Saw the TV Glow,” and seeing Victor come into their own and establish such a strong voice immediately made them one of independent cinema’s most exciting new voices. A memorable scene in the film sees the main character, Agnes (played by Victor), struggling to check a box for male or female, just one example of how naturally queerness is woven into the fabric of the story.
Most recently, Victor was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in the film, and she’s represented in a category alongside Jennifer Lawrence (“Die My Love”), Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”), Julia Roberts (“After the Hunt”), Renate Reinsve (“Sentimental Value”) and Tessa Thompson (“Hedda”). The film also received four Independent Spirit Award nominations overall.
6. Paul Reubens comes out in posthumous doc
While Paul Reubens never publicly came out as gay before passing away in 2023, the two-part documentary “Pee-wee as Himself” premiered back in May on HBO Max, giving the legendary comedian a chance to posthumously open up to the world. Directed by Matt Wolf, the documentary explores how Reubens found his alter ego Pee-Wee Herman and why he kept his private life private.
The documentary won an Emmy in the Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special category and remains one of the most critically acclaimed titles of the year with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. Also worth noting, the National Geographic documentary Sally told the posthumous coming out story of Sally Ride through the help of her long-time partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy.
5. Lady Gaga releases ‘Mayhem’
Lady Gaga entered a new phase of her musical career with the release of Mayhem, her seventh album to date. From the frenzy-inducing pop hit Abracadabra to the memorable Bruno Mars duet featured on “Die With a Smile,” seeing Gaga return to her roots and make an album for the most die-hard of fans was especially rewarding after the underwhelming film releases of “House of Gucci” and “Joker: Folie à Deux.” Gaga has been touring with The Mayhem Ball since July, her first arena tour since 2018. She even extended her tour into 2026 with more North American dates, so the party isn’t stopping anytime soon. And Gaga is even set to make an appearance next May in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
4. Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande perform at the Oscars
While “Wicked: For Good” didn’t quite reach the heights of the first film, we will forever have Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s breathtaking live performance that opened the 97th Academy Awards. The pair sang a rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” “Home,” and “Defying Gravity,” paying proper homage to the original 1939 “Wizard of Oz.” Even non-Wicked fans can’t deny how magical and brilliantly staged this performance was. With both Erivo and Grande up for acting Oscars last year, they’re hoping to repeat success and make history with consecutive nominations. Either way, let’s hope there’s another live performance in the making, especially with two new original songs (The Girl in the Bubble and No Place Like Home) in the mix.
3. Indya Moore speaks out against Ryan Murphy
Indya Moore has consistently used social media as a platform for activism, and in September, posted a 30-minute Instagram live speaking out against “Pose” co-creator Ryan Murphy. Moore claimed that Murphy wasn’t being a true activist for trans people. “Ryan Murphy, we need you to do more. You need to address the racism, the violence, and the targeting of people on your productions, Ryan Murphy. You do need to make sure trans people are paid equally. Yes, Janet did the right thing,” Moore said. Murphy was also back in the headlines this year for the critically panned “All’s Fair” and the controversial “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” starring Laurie Metcalf and Charlie Hunnam.
2. Cole Escola wins Tony for Best Leading Actor
Few pop culture moments this year brought us together more than Cole Escola winning a Tony award for “Oh, Mary!” the Broadway show they created, wrote and starred in (we love a triple threat!) Escola made history by becoming the first nonbinary person to win a Tony in the leading actor category, and seeing them excitedly rush to the stage wearing a Bernadette Peters-inspired gown instantly became a viral social media moment.
The cherry on top of Escola’s major moment is the recent news that they are writing a Miss Piggy movie with Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone producing — news that also broke the internet for the better. We cannot wait!
1. Jonathan Bailey makes gay history as ‘Sexiest Man Alive’
The same year as his on-screen roles in blockbusters “Jurassic World Rebirth” and “Wicked: For Good,” Jonathan Bailey made history as the first openly gay man to be named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” The fact that it took 40 years for an openly gay man to earn the title is a signifier of how far we still have to go with queer representation, and seeing Bailey celebrated is just one small step in the right direction.
“There’s so many people that want to do brilliant stuff who feel like they can’t,” he told PEOPLE, “and I know the LGBT sector is under immense threat at the moment. So it’s been amazing to meet people who have the expertise and see potential that I could have only dreamed of.” In 2024, Bailey founded the charity titled The Shameless Fund, which raises money for LGBTQ+ organizations.
a&e features
Your guide to D.C.’s queer New Year’s Eve parties
Ring in 2026 with drag, leather, Champagne, and more
With Christmas in the rear view mirror, we can turn our attention to ringing in a much-anticipated New Year with a slew of local LGBTQ parties. Here’s what’s on tap.
Pitchers
This spacious Adams Morgan bar is hosting the “Pitchers’ Perfect New Year’s Eve.” There will be a midnight Champagne toast, the ball drop on the big screens, and no cover, all night long. The bar doesn’t close until 4 a.m., and the kitchen will be open late (though not until close). All five floors will be open for the party, and party favors are promised.
Trade
D.C.’s hottest bar/club combo is leaning into the Shark motif with its NYE party, “Feeding Frenzy.” The party is a “glitterati-infused Naughty-cal New Year’s Even in the Shark Tank, where the boats are churning and the sharks are circling.” Trade also boasts no cover charge, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the aforementioned Shark Tank opening at 9 p.m.. Four DJs will be spread across the two spaces; midnight hostess is played by Vagenesis and the two sea sirens sensuously calling are Anathema and Justin Williams.
Number Nine
While Trade will have two DJs as part of one party, Number Nine will host two separate parties, one on each floor. The first floor is classic Number Nine, a more casual-style event with the countdown on TVs and a Champagne midnight toast. There will be no cover and doors open at 5 p.m. Upstairs will be hosted by Capital Sapphics for its second annual NYE gathering. Tickets (about $50) include a midnight Champagne toast, curated drink menu, sapphic DJ set by Rijak, and tarot readings by Yooji.
Crush
Crush will kick off NYE with a free drag bingo at 8 p.m. for the early birds. Post-bingo, there will be a cover for the rest of the evening, featuring two DJs. The cover ($20 limited pre-sale that includes line skip until 11 p.m.; $25 at the door after 9 p.m.) includes one free N/A or Crush, a Champagne toast, and party favors (“the legal kind”). More details on Eventbrite.
Bunker
This subterranean lair is hosting a NYE party entitled “Frosted & Fur: Aspen After Dark New Year’s Eve Celebration.” Arriety from Rupaul Season 15 is set to host, with International DJ Alex Lo. Doors open at 9 p.m. and close at 3 p.m.; there is a midnight Champagne toast. Cover is $25, plus an optional $99 all-you-can-drink package.
District Eagle
This leather-focused bar is hosting “Bulge” for its NYE party. Each District Eagle floor will have its own music and vibe. Doors run from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. and cover is $15. There will be a Champagne toast at midnight, as well as drink specials during the event.
Kiki, Shakiki
Kiki and its new sister bar program Shakiki (in the old Shakers space) will have the same type of party on New Year’s Eve. Both bars open their doors at 5 p.m. and stay open until closing time. Both will offer a Champagne toast at midnight. At Kiki, DJ Vodkatrina will play; at Shakiki, it’ll be DJ Alex Love. Kiki keeps the party going on New Year’s Day, opening at 2 p.m., to celebrate Kiki’s fourth anniversary. There will be a drag show at 6 p.m. and an early 2000s dance party 4-8 p.m.
Spark
This bar and its new menu of alcoholic and twin N/A drinks will host a NYE party with music by DJ Emerald Fox. Given this menu, there will be a complimentary toast at midnight, guests can choose either sparkling wine with or without alcohol. No cover, but Spark is also offering optional wristbands at the door for $35 open bar 11 p.m.-1 a.m. (mid-shelf liquor & all NA drinks).
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