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‘Messiah,’ ‘Nutcracker’ and gay fare among D.C.-area’s 2018 holiday shows
Gay Men’s Chorus, John Waters, several versions of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and more slated
Craig Wallace as Scrooge and James Konicek as Marley in Ford Theatre’s ‘A Christmas Carol.’ (Photo by Scott Suchman; courtesy Ford’s)
Let the festivities begin! From drag queens to Queen Elizabeth I, there are fabulous holiday celebrations happening throughout the D.C. metro area this year.
“A Drag Queen Christmas: The Naughty Tour” comes to the Warner Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 18. Featuring contestants from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” the evening includes holiday songs and fierce drag performances from the catwalk. Details can be found at warnertheatredc.com.
As part of the Smithsonian Ingenuity Festival (smithsonianmag.com/ingenuity), singer-songwriter Jewel will present her “Handmade Holiday Tour”at the Lincoln Theatre on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
The Lincoln Theatre will also host “The Holiday Show” by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington (gmcw.org/season-shows/the-holiday-show). Their annual holiday extravaganza returns with an all-new show, featuring dancing elves, falling snowflakes, soaring vocals and a special visit from Santa Claus. Performances run from Dec. 8-16 and some performances will include ASL interpretation.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s holiday show last year. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
From Dec. 14-23, the Folger Consort (folger.edu/folger-consort), the early music ensemble in residence at the Folger Shakespeare Library will present 12 concerts of “A Christmas Messe: A Banquet of Seasonal English Music.” In addition to seasonal English music from the 14th-17th centuries, celebrated D.C. actor Rick Foucheux will read scenes from a 1619 Christmas comedy.
The Folger Consort in concert. (Photo by Teresa Wood; courtesy Folger Shakespeare Library)
The Folger Shakespeare Library (folger.edu) will also celebrate the season with the annual Emily Dickinson Birthday Tribute. On Monday, Dec. 10, there will be a discussion of Dickinson’s poetry followed by a wine reception featuring slices of Dickinson’s famous black cake.
Since 1983, the Washington Revels have held its annual “Christmas Revels” to celebrate the winter solstice and the “return of the sun.” Presided over by Queen Elizabeth I (Katrina Van Duyn), this year’s festivities will include performances by mummers and “rude mechanicals,” Morris dancing from the all-female Rock Creek Morris Women, performances of children’s singing games and dancing in the aisles for everyone. Performances run Dec. 8-16 at GW’s Lisner Auditorium. Details at revelsdc.org.
A scene from last year’s Christmas Revels show. (Photo courtesy Revels)
D.C. Different Drummers (dcdd.org) will hold their annual holiday concert on Sunday, Dec. 9 at the Church of the Redemption near Union Station.
On Dec. 1-2, the Smithsonian Holiday Film Festival will take place at the Smithsonian’s Warner Bros. Theatre. Screenings will include “A Christmas Story,” “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “Elf” and “Wonder Woman.” More information can be found at si.edu/theaters/holiday-film-festival.
Charles Dickens will of course be making his annual holiday appearance. For a maximalist approach to “A Christmas Carol,” head to Ford’s Theatre (fords.org) where award-winning D.C. actor Craig Wallace leads a large cast in a splendid retelling of the timeless tale.
From Dec. 15-31, the Keegan Theatre (keegantheatre.com) offers a non-traditional adaptation of the classic tale for the adults in the family. Set in modern Dublin, Matthew Keenan’s “An Irish Carol” is about a prosperous pub owner who is forced to reevaluate his life on Christmas Eve.
For a minimalist approach to the Yuletide classic, head to the Olney Theatre (olneytheatre.org) where company member Paul Morella will present his annual solo rendition of “A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas.”
Olney Theatre will also present the musical “Elf the Musical” through Jan. 6. Based on the hit Will Ferrell movie, the warm-hearted family musical tells the story of Buddy, a human accidentally transported to the North Pole as a baby.
In a somewhat jazzier mode, Arena Stage is offering gay composer Cole Porter’s effervescent musical “Anything Goes” this holiday season. Directed by Molly Smith and choreographed by Parker Esse, the madcap musical includes such classics as “Blow, Gabriel Blow,” “You’re the Top,” “I Get a Kick out of You” and the exhilarating title number.
Dragons (and imaginations) soar in Synetic Theatre’s wordless Family Theatre production of “My Father’s Dragon.” Based on the book by Ruth Stiles Gannett, the story centers on a young child and his cat companion as they try to rescue a captive baby dragon (synetictheater.org).
The staff at Wolf Trap says that “the best way to spread holiday cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Attendees at the “Annual Holiday Sing-A-Long”are invited to bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and a candle to participate in the traditional candlelit recessional during the last verse of “Silent Night” Admission is free and details can be found at wolftrap.org/tickets.
From Dec. 14-30, the Atlas Performing Arts Centre on H Street, NE (atlasarts.secure.force.com/ticket) will present Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show. This contemporary holiday tradition features percussive beats, friendly, furry characters, pre-show instrument-making workshops and a dance party hosted by DJ Frosty the Snowman.
From free shows on the Millennium Stage to a diverse array of concerts and shows in several theaters, every corner of the Kennedy Center will be filled with holiday cheer this season. This year’s schedule includes “Love, Factually,” the Second City’s farcical take on the beloved holiday film (Dec. 4-31); NSO Pop’s “A Holiday Pops! Under the Mistletoe with special guest Ashley Brown (who played Mary Poppins on Broadway) (Dec. 14-14); and “The Nutcracker” performed by Utah’s Ballet West (Dec. 5-9).
From Dec. 14-16, the Kennedy Center will also host the Washington National Opera’s annual Family Holiday Opera “The Lion, the Unicorn and Me” based on the book by lesbian author Jeanette Winterson and directed by Francesca Zambello, the out artistic director of the WNO. From Dec. 20-23, the National Symphony Orchestra will present the perennial audience favorite Handel’s “Messiah.” The popular “Sing-Along Messiah” will take place Dec. 23. Free general admission tickets will be distributed starting at 4:30 p.m. the day of the event.
For a full list of holiday events at the Kennedy Center, go to kennedy-center.org.
Fans of “The Nutcracker” can also see the beloved holiday ballet at other venues throughout the area. The Washington Ballet will present “Septime Weber’s The Nutcracker” at THEARC Theatre Nov. 24-25 and at the Warner Theatre Nov. 29-Dec. 28. Set in Georgetown in 1882, the cast includes George Washington, King George III and other historical characters. More information on the 15th anniversary production can be found at washingtonballet.org.
The Strathmore in Bethesda, Md., is presenting two versions of “The Nutcracker.” Featuring authentic Russian costumes and hand-painted sets, the “Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker” (Dec. 16-17) returns the dance to its European roots. With digital scenery and an on-stage DJ, “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” (Dec. 18-19) offers a contemporary take on the classic tale. For other holiday programming at the Strathmore, head to strathmore.org.
Seasonal programming at the legendary Birchmere in Alexandria, Va., (birchmere.com) includes concerts by Melissa Etheridge (Nov. 26-28), Sara Evans (Dec. 8), Judy Collins (Dec. 18-19), John Waters (Dec. 20) and Maysa (Dec. 22).
With beautiful holiday decorations augmenting the legendary stained-glass windows, the Washington National Cathedral (cathedral.org) is a splendid place to celebrate the holiday season. On Dec. 7-9, the Cathedral Choir will sing Handel’s “Messiah,” and on Dec. 8, the chorus will present a special family edition of the “Messiah.” This shortened version of this iconic work focuses on the birth of Jesus and continues the story of his death and resurrection through selected arias and choruses, ending with the famous “Hallelujah Chorus.”
Dance Place in the Brookland neighborhood (danceplace.org) will hold a Kwanzaa Celebration Dec. 15-16. Led by director Sylvia Soumah, the communal event will celebrate the seven principles of the holiday.
On Dec. 28, the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum (anacostia.si.edu) will host an interactive introduction to Kwanzaa with Baba Ras D and the LeSole Dance Project. The audience participatory program includes dancers, singers, music, colorful costumes and lively characters designed for young children and adults alike.
If you’re gorged out on holiday fare and want something different, The Washington Stage Guild presents the world premiere of “All Save One” by local playwright Greg Jones Ellis Nov. 15-Dec. 9. Set in 1950s Hollywood, it’s a witty dramedy that depicts what goes on behind closed doors when a world-famous writer, his actress wife and longtime “secretary” arrive in England only to have their comfortable household disrupted by the arrival of a handsome young priest and a film producer. It’s at The Undercroft Theatre of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church (900 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.). E-mail [email protected] for details.
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Award-winning D.C. chef reaching new culinary heights
Anthony Jones of Marcus DC competing on ‘Top Chef’
In Anthony Jones’s kitchen, all sorts of flags fly, including his own. Executive chef at award-winning restaurant Marcus DC, Jones has reached culinary heights (James Beard Award semifinalist for Emerging Chef, anyone?), yet he’s just getting started.
Briefly stepping away from his award-winning station, Jones took a moment under a different set of lights. Recently, he temporarily gave up his post at the restaurant for a starring small-screen slot on the latest season of “Top Chef,” which debuted in March. (The show airs weekly on Bravo and Peacock).
Before his strategic slice-and-dice competition, however, Jones, who identifies as gay, draws from his deep DMV roots. In the years before “Top Chef” and the top chef spot at Marcus, he was born and raised in Sunderland, Md., in southern Maryland, near the Chesapeake.
Early memories were steeped in afternoons on boats with his dad bonding over fishing, and wandering the garden of his great-grandparents spread with fresh vegetables and a few hogs. “It was Southern, old-school ethics and upbringing,” he said. “Family and food went hand in hand.” Weekends meant grabbing bushels of crabs, dad and grandma would cook and crack them. Family members would host fish fries for extra cash. In this seafood-heavy youth, Jones managed time to sneak in episodes of the “OG” Japanese “Iron Chef” show, which helped inspire him to pursue a career in the kitchen.
Jones moved to D.C. after graduating from college, ending up at lauded Restaurant Eve, and met famed chef Marcus Samuelson, who brought him to Miami to be part of the opening team for Red Rooster Overtown. After three years, Jones moved back to D.C., where he ran Dirty Habit, reinventing and reimagining the menu, integrating West African flavors and ingredients.
Samuelson, however, wouldn’t let a talent like Jones stay away for too long. Pulling Jones back into his orbit, Samuelson elevated Jones to help him open his namesake restaurant Marcus DC, which has been named a top-five restaurant by the Washington Post. Since then, Jones has been nominated as a semifinalist for the RAMMYs Rising Culinary Star in 2026 and won the Eater DC’s Rising Chef award in 2025.
Samuelson’s Marcus is a tour de force interpreting the Black Diaspora on the plate, from the American South to West Africa, along with his signature “Swedopian” touches. Yet it’s Jones who has deeply informed the plate, elevating his own story to date. Marcus DC is primarily a seafood restaurant, which serves Jones well.
“Where I’m from is seafood heavy, and as I’ve progressed in my career, I’ve moved away from meat.” Veggies and fish are hero dishes. His own dish, Mel’s Crab Rice, was not only lauded by the Washington Post, but is framed by his youth carrying home the crustaceans from Mel’s crab truck. It’s a bowl of Carolina rice, layered with pickled okra, uni béarnaise, and crab. Jones also points to a dish on the opening menu, rockfish and brassica, paying respect to a landmark D.C. institution, Ben’s Chili Bowl. Jones reverse engineered a favorite bowl of chili that’s seafood instead of meat forward, leveraging octopus and rockfish along with different riffs of cauliflower: showing his intellectual, creative, and cultural sides.
While “Top Chef” is showing Jones’s spotlight side, he also lets his identity show at work. “In the kitchen, I make sure we’re inclusive. We don’t tolerate discrimination. Everyone that’s here should feel confident to express themselves. There are so many different flags in the kitchen.”
Jones says that he didn’t fully express his gay identity until fairly recently. He felt reluctant coming out to certain family members, “you’re scared to tell them about being different,” he says, and while that anxiety ate at him, “I’m lucky and fortunate to have unconditional love and that weight off my shoulders.”
Today, “I’m me all the time, Monday to Sunday. I’m honest with people, and my staff is honest with me.”
“Being a chef is hard,” he says, “and being a chef of color is even more difficult.”
Yet his LGBTQ identity is a juggling act, he says. “I need to keep that balance, because once someone finds out something about you, their opinion can change, whether you want it or not.”
Being on a whole season of TV cooking competition, however, might mean millions more might have an opinion of him (Jones has appeared on TV already, on an episode of “Chopped”). To prepare, he says, “I’ve just kept a level head. It’s just an honor to be on top chef with amazing people happy to be there.”
Plus, this season is set in the Carolinas, and Jones attended Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, N.C. “It’s a full story of my life, now a monumental moment for me.”
Jones also recently was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award. “JBF has been a north star, a dream for so long. I always had this goal on my wall.”
Being at the top spot at Marcus DC, making waves through his accolades, and cooking on Bravo means that Jones is highly visible. “I think that if someone has a similar background to me, and can see our story, trajectory, and success, they can have more ability to be themselves. This is my goal.”
Back at Marcus, Jones has plenty up his chef’s white’s sleeves. A new spring menu is in the works. He’ll be launching a new tasting menu “dining experience,” he says, and has plans to work on more events and collaborations with chefs and friends to bring in new talent and share the culinary wealth.
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Introducing the Torchbearers Awards honoring queer, trans women and nonbinary people
Meet the Legends and Illuminators lighting new paths
The Torchbearers Awards are more than recognition—they are a continuation of legacy. They honor the quiet architects of progress in our community: those who organize, advocate, build, and protect, often without fanfare but always with purpose. Rooted in a belief in intentional recognition, this honor names those who carry our movements forward—those who make room for others, who remind us that change is both generational and generative. In a time marked by uncertainty and challenge, these leaders push forward with courage, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity and equity.
This year’s honorees reflect the full breadth of our community, spanning generations, backgrounds, identities, and industries. From Legends, with decades of leadership and having created pathways for others, to Illuminators, who are lighting new paths with creativity and innovation, each Torchbearer represents the power of intergenerational leadership and the strength found in our diversity. They are organizers, advocates, artists, policy leaders, healers, and changemakers whose lived experiences shape a shared vision for equity and liberation.
This award is our love letter to queer and trans women and nonbinary people who carry the flame when it would be easier to let it dim. To those who consistently show up, who use their voice and visibility and stand firm, often without recognition, so that others may live more freely and fully. The Torchbearers Awards celebrates not just what has been done, but the enduring spirit, responsibility, and collective care that ensure the work continues, and that the flame is always passed forward.
Co-Creators of the Torchbearers Awards: Shannon Alston, June Crenshaw, Heidi Ellis
Torchbearers Awards Advisory Board: Aditi Hardikar, Lesley Bryant, Jasmine Wilson-Bryant, Stephen Rutgers
ILLUMINATOR AWARDEES
- Representative Sharice Davids (she/her), (D, KS-03)
— U.S. House of Representatives - Greisa Martinez Rosas (she/her/ella)
— Executive Director, United We Dream - Paola Ramos (she/her)
— Journalist & Correspondent - Meagan A. Fitzgerald (she/her)
— Journalist & Correspondent - Jessica L. Lewis (she/her)
— Founder / Producer, Play Play DC - Savannah Wade (she/her)
— Founder, OAR Agency - Suhad Babaa (she/her)
— Filmmaker/ Former Executive Director of Just Vision - Ashlee Davis (she/her)
— Global Head of Inclusive Outcomes, Ancestry - Jazmine Hughes (she/her)
— Journalist and Former Editor at New York Times Magazine - Queen Adesuyi (they/she)
— Policy Advisor & Organizer, ReFrame Health & Justice - Michele Rayner, Esq. (she/her)
— Civil Rights Attorney, State Representative (Florida House of Representatives) - Gaby Vincent (she/her)
— Sports/Cultural Commentator and Community Leader - Jenny Nguyen (she/her)
— Founder & Owner, The Sports Bra - Denice Frohman (she/her)
— Independent Artist, Poet / Performer - Vida Rangel (she/her)
— Founder, Our Trans Capital - Roxanne Anderson (they/them)
— Executive Director, Our Space - Ann Marie Gothard (she/her)
— Co-Founder & President, Pride Live (Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center) - Diana Rodriquez (she/her)
— Co-Founder & CEO, Pride Live (Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center) - Wendi Cooper (she/her)
— Founder / Executive Director, Transcending Women - Toya Matthews (she/her)
— City of San Antonio, Texas - Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones (she/her)
— Sports/Cultural Commentator and Community Leader - Charity Blackwell (she/her)
— Poet, LGBTQ Advocate & Community Leader - Wilhelmina Indermaur (she/her)
— Director of Communications, Tyler Clementi Foundation - Em Chadwick (she/her)
— CMO, For Them & Autostraddle - Kylo Freeman (they/he)
— CEO, For Them & Autostraddle
LEGEND AWARDEES
- Sheila Alexander-Reid (she/her)
— Executive Director, PHL Diversity, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau - Cassandra Cantave Burton (she/her)
— Interim Director of Thought Leadership & Senior Research Advisor, AARP - leigh h. mosley (she/her)
— Photographer / Educator, PhotoFlo Photography - Jenn M. Jackson, PhD (they/them)
— Assistant Professor of Political Science; Author & Columnist, Syracuse University - Jordyn White (she/her)
— COO, Washington Prodigy / VP of Leadership Development & Research, HRC Foundation - AJ Hikes (they/them)
— Deputy Executive Director, ACLU - RaeShanda Lias (she/her)
— Digital Creator, RL Lockhart - Donna Payne-Hardy (she/her)
— Educator, EEO Specialist, Founder of NBJC, Former Leader at the Human Rights Campaign - Courtney R. Snowden (she/her)
— Principal, Blueprint Strategy Group - Gaye Adegbalola (she/her)
— Musician & Activist, Musician / Inductee of the Blues Hall of Fame - Cheryl A. Head (she/her)
— Independent Author, Novelist (Crime Fiction) - Letitia Gomez (she/her)
— The American LGBTQ+ Museum, Board Chair - Lynne Brown (she/her)
— Publisher, Washington Blade - Shay Franco-Clausen (She/Her/Ella/Queen)
— Political Strategist and Organizer - Melissa L. Bradley (she/her)
— Founder & Managing Partner, New Majority Ventures - Meghann Burke (she/her)
— Executive Director, NWSL Players Association - Victoria Kirby York, MPA (she/they)
— Director of Public Policy & Programs, National Black Justice Collective - Joli Angel Robinson (she/her)
— CEO, Center on Halsted - Jeannine Frisby LaRue (she/her)
— CEO, Moxie Strategies - Alice Wu (she/her)
— Film Director (Saving Face, The Half of It) / Screenwriter - Storme Webber (she/her)
— Interdisciplinary Artist / Educator, University of Washington - Kim Stone
— CEO of the Washington Spirit, Washington Spirit - Mickalene Thomas
— American Visual Artist, Mickalene Thomas Studio - Erika Lorshbough (any/they/she)
— Executive Director, interACT - J. Gia Loving (she/ella)
— Co-Executive Director, GSA Network
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D.C. springs back to life with new, returning events
Cherry blossoms, Rehoboth season kickoff, and more on tap
Longer and warmer days are back meaning: It’s time to get out of the house and enjoy Washington D.C.’s many events. Below are a few to check out this spring.
The National Museum of Women in the Arts will host “Making their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection” until Sunday, July 26. This exhibition illustrates women artists’ vital role in abstraction, considers historical contributions, formal and material breakthroughs and intergenerational relationships among women artists over the last eight decades. For more details, visit. NMWA’s website.
Art in the Attic will host a pop-up on Saturday, March 14 at 6 p.m. at 1012 Madison St., Alexandria, Va. There will be a variety of vendors selling products across different modes of art. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Play Play will host “Indoor Recess – The art of play” on Sunday, March 15 at 2 p.m. This event will embody classic recess energy, including opportunities to build and experience community and connections through games, movement, art stations, and creative freedom. Tickets are $12.51 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Spark Social will host “Gay Bar Crawl on U Street” on Friday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. This will be a fun night out in gay D.C. with other gay people, whether you’re visiting D.C., new to the area, or just looking to expand your social circle. Many crawlers have formed lasting friendships and even romantic relationships after just one night out. Tickets are $35.88 and are available on Eventbrite.
Creative Suitland Arts Center will host “EFFERVESCENT: House of Swann” on Saturday, May 30 at 7 p.m. This will be a gay, good time where we will celebrate love, joy, wellness, and visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community. Tickets start at $17.85 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
SWAG Works DC will host “Unapologetically Her” on Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. at 701 E St., S.E. This event is a powerful celebration of womanhood, resilience, creativity, and self-expression in honor of Women’s History Month. This all-women exhibition highlights the diverse voices, stories, and artistic perspectives of women who create boldly, live authentically, and stand confidently in their truth. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
9:30 Club will host “Gimme Gimme Disco: A Dance Party Inspired by ABBA” on Saturday, March 14 at 6 p.m. There will also be a “Donna Summer Power Hour – The Queen of Disco” segment during this event. It’ll be one hour of music with no skips. Tickets are available on 9:30 Club’s website.
Harder Better Faster Stronger will host “Heated Rivalry Rave” on Friday, March 20 at 9 p.m. at Howard Theatre. This event is open to all ages. Tickets are available on the theater’s website.
CAMP Rehoboth hosts its 25th annual Women’s+ FEST, April 9-12 in Rehoboth Beach, Del. Entertainers include headliner Mina Hartong, a comedian, storyteller, and founder of Lez Out Loud; and singer Yoli Mayor. There are dances, dinners, pickleball, and much more. Details and tickets at camprehoboth.org.
Also in Rehoboth Beach, the Washington Blade’s 19th annual Summer Kickoff Party is set for Friday, May 15 featuring Ashley Biden, who will accept an award on behalf of her brother Beau. State Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall will also speak. More speakers and the venue to be announced soon.
The annual D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off March 21 at DAR Constitution Hall and culminates with Petalpalooza on April 4, the day-long, outdoor street party with music and art, stretching across Navy Yard, and ending with fireworks over the Anacostia River.
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