Arts & Entertainment
Katy, Gaga, Janet, Kesha, Bruno for starters
Be ready to cough up hundreds for good seats at A-lister shows
This fall brings a massive wealth of talent to the Washington area. There are many shows to choose from with every imaginable genre represented. Here is but a small sampling.
The fall season begins with a bang as pop/R&B superstarĀ the WeekndĀ brings his āStarboy Legend of the Fall 2017 World Tourā to Capital One Arena, formerly the Verizon Center (601 F Street, N.W.), onĀ Friday, Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $39-276 and up. For more information, visitĀ capitalonearena.
MGM National Harbor (101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, Md.) has an impressive lineup of talent slated including famed Bollywood vocalistĀ Shreya Ghoshal. She performs onĀ Friday, Sept. 15 at 8:30 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $80-281 and up, and details are availableĀ mgmnationalharbor.com.
Acclaimed Canadian alternative collectiveĀ Arcade FireĀ and their āInfinite Content 2017 Tourā will play Capital One Arena onĀ Saturday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $26-230 and up.
Popular up and coming alternative popstersĀ Young the GiantĀ appears withĀ Cold War KidsĀ at Merriweather Post Pavilion (10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md.) onĀ Saturday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $35-100. Details atĀ merriweathermusic.com.
OnĀ Sept. 19-20, English pop heartthrobĀ Ed SheeranĀ stops by the Capital One Arena for two sold-out shows.
R&B singerĀ BrandyĀ will appear at the Fillmore Silver Spring (8656 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md.) onĀ Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m.Ā The general admission tickets are priced at $45 with more information available atĀ fillmoresilverspring.com.
Celebrating their 25th anniversary with their āMiddle of Everywhere Tour,ā pop trioĀ HansonĀ will play at the Fillmore Silver Spring onĀ Sunday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m.Ā for a sold-out show.
Pop divaĀ Katy PerryĀ brings āWITNESS: the Tourā to Capital One Arena onĀ Monday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $50-427 and up.
Veteran British popsters Saint Etienne perform at U Street Music Hall (1115 U St., N.W.) onĀ Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.Ā Tickets are $30. Details atĀ ustreetmusichall.com.
As expected, theĀ 9:30Ā Club (815 V Street, N.W.) has an impressive array of talent lined up for its hallowed stage this fall. The versatile electronic hip-hop visionary Thundercat plays a highly anticipated show onĀ Friday, Sept. 29 at 9:30 p.m., with tickets at $25. More information is available atĀ 930.com.
R&B/pop superstarĀ Bruno MarsĀ brings his electrifying ā24K Magic World Tourā to Capital One Arena for two shows Sept. 29-30 at 8 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $188 to as much as $1,180 and higher to see one of the biggest names in music.
One of the most acclaimed electronic groups aroundĀ Crystal CastlesĀ return to theĀ 9:30Ā Club for aĀ Saturday, Sept. 30Ā show that begins atĀ 9:30 p.m.Tickets are $30.
DAR Constitution Hall (18th and C streets N.W.) welcomes former One Direction starĀ Harry StylesĀ for a show onĀ Sunday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $57.70-97.50. For more details, visitĀ dar.org/constitution-hall.
At the Kennedy Center (2700 F Street, N.W.) onĀ Sunday, Oct. 1Ā is an intriguing show called āOrionās Rise: A Special Performanceā withĀ SolangeĀ andĀ the Sun Ra Arkestra. The show begins atĀ 7 p.m.Ā and tickets range from $49-169. More information is available atĀ kennedy-center.org.
Mashrouā Leila, a gay-led rock band from Lebanon, plays the Flex Stage room at the Birchmere onĀ Sunday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m.Ā Tickets are $35. Details atĀ birchmere.com.
Latino starsĀ Enrique IglesiasĀ andĀ PitbullĀ team up for a show at Capital One Arena onĀ Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $39-309 and up.
Hot off a stellar new album,Ā KeshaĀ is back and better than ever with her āRainbow Tour 2017.ā She performs at the Fillmore Silver Spring onĀ Friday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m.Ā Itās sold out.
Half of the Indigo Girls, lesbian folk-pop iconĀ Emily SaliersĀ brings her solo āMurmuration Nation Tourā to The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) onĀ Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m.Ā Tickets are $29.50. Details atĀ birchmere.com.
Foster the People, Young Thug and Galantis headline theĀ 2017 All Things Go Fall ClassicĀ music and food festival at Union MarketĀ Oct. 6-8. Details atĀ allthingsgofallclassic.com.
Local favoriteĀ Dave GrohlĀ and his powerhouse rockersĀ Foo FightersĀ have the honor of opening the new venue on the Waterfront, The Anthem (901 Wharf St., S.W.), for a historic show onĀ Thursday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m.Ā Tickets begin at $100 although it may take some good fortune to find one for this sold-out show. More information is available atĀ theanthemdc.com.
The inspirational transgender vocalistĀ Laura Jane GraceĀ and her cohorts inĀ Against Me!Ā performĀ Friday, Oct. 13Ā at theĀ 9:30Ā Club for aĀ 9:30 p.m.show, with tickets at $25.
The always hilarious and thought-provokingĀ Margaret ChoĀ is back for a performance at Warner Theatre (513 13th Street, N.W.) onĀ Saturday, Oct. 14Ā for her āFresh Off The Bloat Tour.ā Tickets are $27-58. Details atĀ warnertheatredc.com.
Openly gay singer/actorĀ Cheyenne JacksonĀ will be at the Barns at Wolf Trap (1635 Trap Road, Vienna, Va.) onĀ Sunday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m.Ā Tickets are $45-55. Details atĀ wolftrap.org.
The return ofĀ LCD SoundsystemĀ is one of the big musical stories of 2017, and they perform two nights at the AnthemĀ Oct. 17-18 at 8 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $61.75-81.75.
Queens of the Stone AgeĀ and British rockersĀ Royal BloodĀ team up for an exciting show at the Anthem onĀ Friday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $49.50-75.
The popular DJ and electronic producerĀ ZeddĀ is slated for a show at the Anthem onĀ Saturday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $41-76.
One of the most important bands currently recording is undoubtedlyĀ the War on Drugs, and they return to D.C. for a show at the Anthem onĀ Monday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $75-125.
Out comedianĀ Suzanne WestenhoefferĀ plays the Birchmere onĀ Friday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m.Ā Tickets are $45.
Shawn ColvinĀ is celebrating her classic album āA Few Small Repairsā with a 20th Anniversary Tour that will stop at the Birchmere for two highly anticipated shows Oct. 30-31 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $62.50.
Maynard James KeenanĀ andĀ A Perfect CircleĀ bring their dark and heavy rock to EagleBank Arena (4500 Patriot Cir., Fairfax, Va.) onĀ Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $40-276 and up with more information available atĀ eaglebankarena.com.
The following nightĀ Fall Out BoyĀ will also rock out EagleBank Arena. The emo rockers bring their āMANIA Tourā forĀ Thursday, Nov. 2Ā show that begins atĀ 7 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $30-245 and up.
A cappella wondersĀ Straight No ChaserĀ bring their dynamic harmonies to DAR Constitution Hall for aĀ Thursday, Nov. 2Ā show that begins atĀ 7:30 p.m.Ā Tickets are $62 and up.
Legendary singer/songwriter/pianistĀ Tori AmosĀ is always spectacular live and her latest tour in support of new album āNative Invaderā should be no different. Sheās playing at MGM National Harbor onĀ Friday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m., with tickets ranging from $54-216 and up.
Popular ā90s-era alternative rockersĀ the BreedersĀ are back, and will play Lincoln Theatre (1215 U Street, N.W.) onĀ Sunday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m.Ā Tickets are $35. Details atĀ thelincolndc.com.
One of the more intriguing shows of the season promises to be the eclectic and uber-talentedĀ Flying LotusĀ in 3D at Echostage (2135 Queens Chapel Rd., N.E.) onĀ Sunday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.Ā Tickets are $45 and more information is available atĀ echostage.com.
Seattle-based rapperĀ Macklemore, known for his smash āThrift Shopā and his touching āSame Loveā withĀ Ryan LewisĀ andĀ Mary LambertĀ is appearing solo on āThe Gemini Tourā at the Fillmore Silver Spring. TheĀ Saturday, Nov. 11Ā show begins atĀ 8 p.m.Ā and is sold out.
The always entertaining duo of openly gay sistersĀ Tegan and SaraĀ bring their ā10th Anniversary Acoustic Tourā celebrating their album āThe Conā to the Anthem onĀ Saturday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m.Ā Tickets are in the $50.50-76 range.
Legendary dance/pop/R&B iconĀ Janet JacksonĀ is back after delaying her previously scheduled show to have her baby. The new mother brings her āState of the World Tourā to Capital One Arena onĀ Thursday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m., with tickets ranging from $37-337 and higher. She plays Baltimore onĀ Saturday, Nov. 18.
The musically giftedĀ St. VincentĀ is a must-see when she appears at the Anthem onĀ Monday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m.Ā Tickets are $44-60.
R&B songstressĀ Erykah BaduĀ brings her chill groove to the Anthem onĀ Saturday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m.Ā Tickets are $76-126.
One of the most anticipated shows of the fall is undoubtedly the one and onlyĀ Lady Gaga, who brings her āJoanne World Tourā to Capital One Arena onĀ Sunday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $74-587 or more.
Diva extraordinaireĀ Chaka KhanĀ graces the stage of Warner Theatre onĀ Friday, Nov. 24 at 8 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $69-130.
Electro-wizardĀ DiploĀ is at Echostage for aĀ Saturday, Nov. 25Ā for aĀ 9 p.m.Ā show. Tickets are in the $40-50 range for what is certain to be an electrifying performance.
St. Vincent, who eschews labels but believes in gender and sexual āfluidity,ā plays Anthem onĀ Monday, Nov. 27. Tickets are $44-149.
Rap mogulĀ JAY-ZĀ is set to rock the Capital One Arena onĀ Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m.Ā on his ā4:44Ā Tour.ā Tickets range from $50-356 and higher.
The influential duo ofĀ Amanda PalmerĀ andĀ Brian Viglione,Ā the Dresden Dolls, are back for a show at theĀ 9:30Ā Club on Tuesday, Nov. 31 atĀ 9:30 p.m.Ā Tickets are $35.
Longtime favorite pop-folk troubadourĀ Dar WilliamsĀ is back at the BirchmereĀ Dec. 8-9Ā atĀ 7:30 p.m.Ā Tickets are $25 for a concert that will also include readings and discussions from her new book, āWhat I Found in a Thousand Towns.ā
As fall winds to an end, there are worse ways to get into the holiday mood than by seeing the AĀ PentatonixĀ Christmas Tour at the Anthem onĀ Sunday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.Ā Tickets range from $59.50-149.50 for a chance to see the a cappella supergroup.
And as has become an annual event, gay shock- and schlockmeisterĀ John WatersĀ returns to the Birchmere for his Christmas show onĀ Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m.Ā Tickets are $55.
Nightlife
District Eagle a bold new haven for LGBTQ kink communities
U Street speakeasy to open Jan. 22
Last weekend, leather clad members of the LGBTQ community from across the nation braved the snow and cold to venture down Washingtonās New Jersey Avenue to visit a select few hotels participating in the capital cityās largest kink event ā the Mid-Atlantic Leather weekend. As the snow slowly melted away and the weekend ended, the desire for District residents to get hot in their leather (and other kink attire) remained.
Zach RenovĆ”tes, co-founder of nightlife production company Kinetic Presents and co-owner of gay club Bunker, sat down with the Washington Blade to discuss how his most recent project, District Eagle (1357-B U St., N.W.), is harnessing this pro-kink energy Washington has while also celebrating the vibrant diversity of the cityās kink and queer nightlife communities.
āDistrict Eagle is first and foremost, a space designed specifically for our LGBTQ community to include our trans and lesbian brothers and sisters,ā Zach RenovĆ”tes told the Blade. āWe are excited to bring a new space into D.C. that focuses specifically on our kink communities.ā
The District Eagle embraces its mission to celebrate LGBTQ kink communities. From nods to the history of cruising woven into the barās design ā like the cheeky āFruity Candyā machine at the entrance ā to the striking details of ā100-year-old hand-carved wooden foundry patternsā and āincredible custom upholstery and weldingā that bring the theme to life, every element of the space is carefully curated. Kink isnāt just a theme here; itās the heartbeat of the bar.
āTo us, design is foundational and unbelievably important and is what caused this to actually take so long,ā RenovĆ”tes said. āWeāre the only LGBTQ establishment within D.C. that operates as a speakeasy. There’s no external signage. You’re going to have to know where our establishment is to come enjoy it.ā
āIts nature plays to an homage to the history of our marginalized community and the ways in which we had to, by necessity, hide our establishments in the past,ā he added. āWhen customers enter our space, I encourage them to look around and see all of the little, tiny details that have gone into creating a space that is entirely unique from any space they’ve ever seen.ā
Although the bar may be hidden from the outside, the inside was created with admiration, curiosity, and a deep respect for the kink community.
āWe have done outreach to a number of different groups, including the Centaur MC, who we have a close collaboration with for the Mid-Atlantic Leather weekend,ā RenovĆ”tes said. āAs well as members of the pup community, which will see the first [pup] event kicking off on Saturday, Feb. 1, led by Pup Ruby. We are excited to continue collaboration with additional communities and encourage them to reach out to us, either by email or through our social media account.ā
RenovĆ”tes made it clear that although the District Eagleās name does remind some of the former DC Eagle, his bar has āno affiliation or history with the āDC Eagleāā and āsimply pays homage to the international understanding of and what an Eagle concept is.ā
That āEagle concept,ā RenovĆ”tes explained, was created by using feedback from those knowledgeable, and doesnāt stop at being Washingtonās only LGBTQ kink bar. It has a store selling gear for patrons to buy and immediately wear on the dance floor.
āThe District Eagle is the starting point of an idea that we’ve had for a number of years and are excited to bring to fruition,ā he said. āWe have an adult store now, one of the few adult stores within the District of Columbia, and the only one specifically designed exclusively for our LGBTQ community. It is just the starting point for our grand opening weekend, but we will be continuing to listen to customer feedback and stock new and exciting kink and adult items.ā
This mix of gay kink bar and adult store is not just a unique addition to D.C.ās nightlife but also a vital one.
āIt is essential that we as an LGBTQ community continue to support local LGBTQ businesses,ā RenovĆ”tes said. āIt is always unfortunate to see the closure of LGBTQ spaces, because there are so few of them within our city, and so I am filled with hope that this space will provide an additional safe space for an increasingly marginalized community.ā
Images of District Eagleās store posted to its Instagram account showcased harnesses, jockstraps, short shorts, and more. āGrand Opening Weekend is your chance to try on leather, underwear, cock rings, and more,ā the caption teased as a substantial number of anticipatory Washington LGBTQ bar fans liked the post.
In addition to the store, the space has another surprise ā one that doubles the barās capacity from around 116 patrons to 300.
āOur establishment is a single-level establishment. However, we have an agreement with our neighbors upstairs to transform the second floor into āEagle XLā on select nights, including our grand opening weekend. This allows us to dramatically expand the size of our space, which is extremely useful for recurring events that we plan to introduce, as well as for major weekends, such as the upcoming World Pride weekend.ā
RenovĆ”tes went on to say how the vision of District Eagle couldnāt have been executed without the help from a few others who helped make Bunker a success.
āMy fiancĆ© Justin was really fundamental to me being able to open this space,ā RenovĆ”tes said. āHe is the technical director at both the District Eagle and Bunkerā¦ he’s instrumental in helping to create this. Without him, I wouldn’t have been able to do this.ā
āWe are also so fortunate to have had the close collaboration with our designer, Jasin Cadic, who additionally designed Bunker,ā he added. āIt is within that collaboration that we were able to create such a wholly unique space, not only for D.C., but worldwide.ā
āDistrict Eagle will primarily be a no cover establishment,ā he said. āWe are going to be encouraging customers to start off their night at District Eagle and grab a couple of drinks. We will be introducing a new policy that will allow customers who have met a certain minimum to essentially print out their receipts and use that as a cover into Bunker on non-holiday weekends.ā
RenovƔtes hopes that this may ease some potential struggles when going out to multiple places in one night.
āIn this way, we want to encourage individuals who might be desiring to go to Bunker, but it is not within their budget, as it relates to a cover, to be able to enjoy both establishments and avoid paying a cover at Bunker.ā
In addition to the difference in cover charge, RenovƔtes wants to make it clear that the themed nights at District Eagle are intentionally curated.
āWe are designing different nights that have a dress code strongly recommended and we’ll be further encouraging the wearing of dress code for those specific nights through drink specials,ā he said.
With all the varying themes, RenovƔtes wanted to make it clear that anyone who wishes to celebrate their LGBTQ kink pride should feel comfortable doing so at the District Eagle.
āPeople of different kink communities that have varying kink levels should all feel comfortable to come see and experience our space, knowing that certain nights will be designed for certain communities. For communities that want to see something specific, we encourage them to reach out to us.ā
And although the sexy and alluring vibe of the bar does lay the groundwork for a titillating night, safety and consent are at the top of every staff memberās mind while working at District Eagle.
āBoth safety and consent are of the utmost importance to our establishment,ā RenovĆ”tes said. āWe are training our security personnel to both be extremely responsive and direct with all customer issues. We are providing safe-sex materials, as well as signage on site to inform patrons of our policies and to ensure that our establishment strongly enforces the need for consent.ā
District Eagle, located at 1357-B U St., N.W., will host its grand opening on Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. The bar will maintain the same hours on Thursday, extend its Friday hours from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m., and open from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, District Eagle will welcome guests from 2 p.m. to midnight.
Movies
Queer critics announce nominees for Dorian Film Awards
Demi Moore continues to draw raves for āThe Substanceā
We have to admit that, in a week like this one, writing about movies ā or, even more so, movie awards ā feels a little bit irrelevant.
Even so, the Blade would be remiss if we didnāt report that the nominations for the 16th Annual Dorian Awards have been announced by GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, not just in the name of maintaining normalcy but as a reminder of the importance and influence of the āQ+ eyeā within the arts and entertainment sphere. After all, weāve been leading pop culture as tastemakers ever since there has been a pop culture. And while the Dorian votersā choices donāt always line up exactly with those of the higher-profile mainstream awards bodies, they reflect a strong counter-cultural perspective that feels ahead of the curve when it comes to singling out underappreciated gems, seemingly predicting ā or proclaiming ā the trends and topics rising in the public consciousness before the film industry itself seems to catch on.
This yearās crop of nominees especially highlights this āmaverickā insight, omitting many of the front-running choices in the annual awards season in favor of niche-y (but timely) āgenreā films that are typically disregarded by organizations like the Golden Globes or the Oscars. Indeed, the Doriansā two most-nominated titles ā filmmaker Jane Jane Schoenbrunās āI Saw the TV Glowā and Coralie Fargeatās āThe Substanceā ā are horror films, reflecting a growing critical appreciation for the genre among a rising younger generation of queer film commentators, as well as within the larger cinephile community itself.
The Dorian Awards ā named after the title character in āThe Picture of Dorian Gray,ā written by queer literary and theater icon Oscar Wilde, in whose honor the awards are named ā differ from other awards in that they divide the top film prizes into multiple categories, and further offer separate awards in several of those divisions for mainstream or LGBTQ movies. At the same time, the performance awards are not divided by gender; rather, the prizes are designated for lead and supporting performances, with actors of all genders competing together for a single prize in each category. In addition, there are a number of awards unique to the Dorians, such as Best Genre Film, Best Unsung Film, and Campiest Film.
Leading this yearās nominations with a total of nine is āI Saw the TV Glow,ā a surreal, trans-themed horror allegory largely ignored by the other awards groups; with nominations for both Best Film and Best LGBTQ Film, plus nods for Schoenbrunās direction and screenplay and the performances of stars Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Pain in the Lead and Supporting Performance categories, respectively. In addition, itās a contender for the Doriansā āMost Visually Strikingā award, which celebrates the overall ālookā of a filmās design.
Coming in second with eight nods, darkly satirical body-horror thriller āThe Substanceā competes as Best, Campiest, Genre, and Most Visually Striking film, with additional nominations including Best Performance (Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, in Lead and Supporting categories, respectively) and nods for its direction and screenplay as well.
Somewhat surprisingly, acclaimed trans mobster musical āEmilia PĆ©rezā was omitted from the Doriansā Film of the Year category, despite being a front-running contender in other major awards races ā though it still claimed six nominations, including LGBTQ Film, Non-English-Language Film, and LGBTQ Non-English Language Film, and Performance nods for breakout transgender star Karla SofĆa GascĆ³n and co-star Zoe SaldaƱa. Also with six nods is āChallengers,ā Luca Guadagninoās bisexual-themed tennis romance, which scored in both the Best Film and LGBTQ Film, among others; āThe Brutalist,ā director Brady Corbettās epic saga of a Jewish Holocaust survivorās rise to success as an architect in post-WWII America, grabbed five, including nods for Best and Most Visually Striking Film, Corbettās direction, and Adrien Brodyās career-topping lead performance.
Other films with multiple nominations were āChallengersā (five), āAnora,ā āNickel Boys,ā and āWickedā (four each), and āProblemistaā and āQueerā (three each). Guadagnino also helmed the latter, an adaptation of William S. Burroughsā gritty novella about an aging American ex-pat in 1950s Mexico City filmmaker, which scored a Best Lead Performance nom for star Daniel Craig and made the list for both Best LGBTQ Film and LGBTQ Screenplay, but did not earn him a Best Director nomination ā though he did make the cut for the āChallengers.ā
Other noteworthy titles in GALECAās awards lineup include the inventive faux-silent slapstick comedy āHundreds of Beaversā (nominated both as Campiest and Best Unsung Film of the Year); āSing Singā (which earned nods for both its star, out queer actor Colman Domingo, and real-life convict turned movie star Clarence Maclin; Robert Eggersā stylish reimagination of the silent classic āNosferatuā (riding the pro-horror wave to compete in both Best Genre and Most Visually Striking Film categories); and trans-centric competitors āThe Peopleās Joker,ā āNational Anthemā (both up for Unsung LGBTQ Film), and āWill & Harperā (Best Documentary and LGBTQ Documentary), all providing a timely counterpoint to the real-world transphobia currently being deployed as a political wedge in American politics.
Of course, alongside all these queer-themed contenders, there are still plenty of competitors also in the running for the remaining high-profile awards ā such as āWickedā and its leading players, āConclave,ā and the aforementioned āAnoraā and āSing Sing.ā Any of these nominees could end up winners, too, which is part of what makes the Dorians a singular entity in the annual awards race.
In addition to revealing the Dorian nominees, GALECA also announced that it would donate $1,000 to The Los Angeles Press Clubās emergency relief fund, earmarked for entertainment journalists directly affected by the historically devastating wildfires that have destroyed vast swaths LA and left thousands of residents homeless.
In a statement, GALECA Executive Director John Griffiths said, āEntertainment journalists are an obviously integral part of the Hollywood ecosystem, and we want to make sure they arenāt forgotten in whatās already a very tough environment for those in our profession.ā Vice President Diane Anderson-Minshall added, āWe applaud our friends at the Press Club and its sister organization the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards for coming to our brethrenās need.ā
Professional journalists whose main livelihood involves entertainment criticism, editing and/or reportage can apply for help at lapressclub.org. Additional donations may be made there as well.
The winners of the 16th Dorian Film Awards ā which also include signature special awards for Rising Star, Timeless Star, Film Trailblazer, and the Wilde Artist Award ā will be announced on February 13.
GALECA: THE SOCIETY OF LGBTQ ENTERTAINMENT CRITICS
16TH DORIAN FILM AWARDS LIST OF NOMINEES
FILM OF THE YEAR
Anora (Neon)
Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
The Substance (Mubi)
LGBTQ FILM OF THE YEAR
Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
Emilia PerƩz (Netflix)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Love Lies Bleeding (A24)
Queer (A24)
DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist (A24)
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance (Mubi)
Luca Guadagnino, Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
Jane Schoenbrun, I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR
ā Original or adapted
Anora (Neon)
Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
Conclave (Focus Features)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
The Substance (Mubi)
LGBTQ SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR
Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Love Lies Bleeding (A24)
Problemista (A24)
Queer (A24)
NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
All We Imagine as Light (Sideshow / Janus Films)
Emilia PerƩz (Netflix)
Flow (Sideshow / Janus Films)
Iām Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics)
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Neon)
LGBTQ NON-ENGLISH FILM OF THE YEAR
Crossing (Mubi)
Emilia PerƩz (Netflix)
Queendom (Greenwich Entertainment)
Vermiglio (Sideshow / Janus Films)
All Shall Be Well (Strand Releasing)
UNSUNG FILM OF THE YEAR
āTo an exceptional movie worthy of greater attention
Didi (Focus Features)
Hundreds of Beavers (Cineverse, Vinegar Syndrome)
My Old Ass (Amazon MGM Studios)
Problemista (A24)
Thelma (Magnolia)
UNSUNG LGBTQ FILM OF THE YEAR
Femme (Utopia)
My Old Ass (Amazon MGM Studios)
National Anthem (Variance, LD Entertainment)
The Peopleās Joker (Altered Innocence)
Problemista (A24)
FILM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist (A24)
Daniel Craig, Queer (A24)
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing (A24)
Karla SofĆa GascĆ³n, Emilia PerĆ©z (Netflix)
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked (Universal)
Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths (Bleecker Street)
Nicole Kidman, Babygirl (A24)
Mikey Madison, Anora (Neon)
Demi Moore, The Substance (Mubi)
Justice Smith, I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
SUPPORTING FILM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Michele Austin, Hard Truths (Bleecker Street)
Yura Borisov, Anora (Neon)
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain (Searchlight Pictures)
Ariana Grande, Wicked (Universal)
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
Brigette Lundy-Paine, I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing (A24)
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist (A24)
Margaret Qualley, The Substance (Mubi)
Zoe SaldaƱa, Emilia PerƩz (Netflix)
DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
Dahomey (Mubi)
Daughters (Netflix)
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)
Sugarcane (National Geographic)
Will & Harper (Netflix)
LGBTQ DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
Chasing Chasing Amy (Level 33)
Frida (Amazon MGM Studios)
Merchant Ivory (Cohen Media Group)
Queendom (Greenwich Entertainment)
Will & Harper (Netflix)
ANIMATED FILM OF THE YEAR
Flow (Sideshow / Janus Films)
Inside Out 2 (Disney)
Memoir of a Snail (IFC Films)
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Netflix)
The Wild Robot (Universal, DreamWorks)
GENRE FILM OF THE YEAR
For excellence in science fiction, fantasy and horror
Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Nosferatu (Focus Features)
The Substance (Mubi)
Wicked (Universal)
FILM MUSIC OF THE YEAR
The Brutalist (A24)
Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
Emilia PerƩz (Netflix)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Wicked (Universal)
VISUALLY STRIKING FILM OF THE YEAR
The Brutalist (A24)
Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)
Nosferatu (Focus Features)
Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
The Substance (Mubi)
CAMPIEST FLICK
Hundreds of Beavers (Cineverse, Vinegar Syndrome)
Madame Web (Sony)
Megalopolis (Lionsgate)
The Substance (Mubi)
Trap (Warner Bros.)
āWEāRE WILDE ABOUT YOU!ā RISING STAR AWARD
Jonathan Bailey
Vera Drew
Karla SofĆa GascĆ³n
Brigette Lundy-Paine
Mikey Madison
Katy OāBrian
Drew Starkey
WILDE ARTIST AWARD
To a truly groundbreaking force in entertainment
Colman Domingo
Luca Guadagnino
Coralie Fargeat
Jane Schoenbrun
Tilda Swinton
GALECA LGBTQIA+ FILM TRAILBLAZER
For creating art that inspires empathy, truth and equity
Vera Drew
Cynthia Erivo
Luca Guadagnino
Jane Schoenbrun
Julio Torres
TIMELESS STAR (Career achievement award)
Honoring an exemplary career marked by character, wisdom and wit
To be announced February 13 with all winners.
Nomination counts per studio:
Altered Innocence – 1
Amazon/MGM + Orion – 13
A24 – 25
Bleecker Street – 2
Cineverse / Vinegar Syndrome – 2
Cohen Media Group – 1
Disney – 1
Focus Features – 4
Greenwich Entertainment – 2
IFC – 1
Level 33 – 1
Lionsgate – 1
Magnolia – 1
Mubi – 10
National Geographic – 1
Neon – 5
Netflix – 11
Searchlight -1
Sideshow / Janus Films – 4
Sony – 1
Sony Pictures Classics – 1
Strand – 1
Universal – 5
Utopia – 1
Variance / LD Entertainment – 1
Warner Bros. – 3
About GALECA & The Dorian Awards
Formed in 2009, GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics honors the best in film, television and Broadway/Off Broadway, mainstream to LGBTQIA+, via the Dorian Awards. A 501 c 6 nonprofit, GALECA serves to remind bigots, bullies and our own beleaguered communities that the world looks to the informed Q+ eye on entertainment. The organization also advocates for better pay, access and respect for its members, especially those in our most underrepresented and vulnerable segments. GALECAās efforts also include the Crimson Honors, a college film/TV criticism contest for LGBTQ women or nonbinary students of color.
See our members’ latest reviews, commentary and interviews, along with looks at entertainmentās past, on Bluesky and elsewhere @DorianAwards. GALECAās YouTube channel features the group’s past Dorians film and TV Toast awards specials, video chats with filmmakers and performers, plus talks with members about their latest books and more. Find out more at GALECA.org.
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment journalists is a core member of CGEM: Critics Groups for Equality in Media, an alliance of underrepresented entertainment journalists organizations.
Theater
āHand to Godā showcases actors and their puppets
Luke Hartwood serves as designer, coach for Keegan production
āHand to Godā
Feb. 1-March 2
Keegan Theatre
1742 Church St., N.W.
$49-$59
Keegantheatre.org
Luke Hartwood has loved puppets for as long as he can remember.
At 24, heās indulging his passion as puppet designer/coach and properties designer for Keegan Theatreās production of Robert Askinsā āHand to God.ā Itās the Tony-nominated comedy about meek Jason who after the death of his father finds an outlet for his anxiety at the Christian Puppet Ministry in small town Texas.
Puppets begin as a design team collaboration, Hartwood explains, and move on from there. With āHand to God,ā the playwrightās notes describe Jasonās badly behaved puppet Tyrone as looking āElmo-y and shit,ā but beyond that thereās room for some interpretation.
Hartwood, who is gay and Asian American, graduated from George Mason University in May 2023. He majored in theater with a double concentration in performance and design/technology, and minored in graphic design.
āWith all my varied interests thatās what made sense to me,ā he says. āIt wasnāt easy but now Iām a flexible candidate when interviewing for work. Iām skilled in design and the physical fabrication of puppets. And I also act.ā
Based in Northern Virginia, heās been with his partner for six years. Recently, Hartwood shared his thoughts on puppetry and what he wants from the future.
WASHINGTON BLADE: Whatās the attraction to puppets?
LUKE HARTWOOD: Iāve always loved puppets. It started as a kid watching cartoons, Iād pause the TV get out a sheet of paper and draw a character, usually PokĆ©mon and Digimon. I learned to use shapes, rounded or sharp edges depending if I wanted to make it cute or scary. I moved from 2-D to 3-D using cereal boxes to give dimension to the drawings. Once I carved a character into the wood of my momās sideboard. She wasnāt happy.
BLADE: Were puppets your way into theater?
HARTWOOD: Not exactly. Despite some fear, I started acting when I was a sophomore in high school. I was a shy kid, but I wanted to be in theater. With me, I also brought my love of art and soon began working on props. It wasnāt unusual to see me in costume backstage between scenes building props.
BLADE: And you continued in college?
HARTWOOD: Mine was the dreaded COVID college experience and the creation of Zoom theater. When we finally came back to live theater, my stage fright returned too. But I got past that and acted in āYouāre a Good Man, Charlie Brownā [Hartwood was cast as the titular blockhead]. Itās a low-tech show; I did cutouts in the style of Peanuts characters. That was fun.
BLADE: With āHand to Godā at Keegan youāre really multitasking. Tell me a little bit about working with actors.
HARTWOOD: During casting, the actors were asked to bring a sock to use as a puppet. Not to show expertise but to prove some potential.
Actor Drew Sharpe plays both Jason and his puppet Tyrone throughout the show; itās like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time.
We start with basics. But then we retrain the way an actor thinks about a puppet. Not only is he marking up his script with his own blocking and intentions, but heās also doing the same thing for his puppet. Itās playing two roles simultaneously. Iām in awe of how quickly Drew has learned and improved over the last few weeks.
BLADE: Does being queer affect your project choices?
HARTWOOD: I try to incorporate my queerness into theater. For a while I didnāt know how to do that. Iām not writing plays or activist pieces, but Iām selective of what shows I do. I like to dedicate time to shows I care about, particularly those involving the queer and POC communities. Sometimes that means working with a smaller theater and not getting paid as much.
BLADE: Is money a concern?
HARTWOOD: I recently quit my full-time corporate job as a business analyst at a government contracting company to focus fully on theater. If Iām going to spend 40 hours of my week doing something I better love it.
I was picturing myself in 10, 20, or 30 years. If I push my artistry now, thereās more time for me to become successful or to get my big break.
Also, I just graduated from bartending school. That should help pay the bills.
BLADE: How does āHand to Godā jibe with your professional ethos?
HARTWOOD: Really well. Though not explicitly written for the queer community or POC, it explores grief, toxic masculinity and what it means to be āman enough.ā And that resonates with a lot of queer folks.
And, Iām definitely here for the puppets
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