Arts & Entertainment
Queer icon Joey Arias donates archives to Harvard
Queer performance and drag icon Joey Arias has donated a collection of his personal papers to the Harvard Theatre Collection at Houghton, according to the Harvard Gazette.
Arias, whose 40-year career began as a “window dancer” at New York’s Fiorucci designer clothing store, started his rise to fame when he connected with fellow queer performance pioneer Klaus Nomi. The two became collaborators, with Arias singing backup and doing visual designs for Nomi’s shows, culminating in a now-famous appearance on Saturday Night Live in support of musical guest David Bowie in 1979.
In the years since, he became a staple of the New York cabaret and performance art scenes, evolved a drag persona inspired by Billie Holday, performed with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, and toured in “Arias With a Twist,” an acclaimed adult-themed marionette show conceived with puppeteer Basil Twist. He still performs regularly at cabaret venues around the country.
According to Harvard Theatre Collection curator Matt Wittman, the materials donated by Arias include correspondence, artwork, posters from shows, audio materials, and almost 70 boxes of photographs. Materials from Nomi’s archives, which Arias held as sold executor of the late singer’s estate, were also included.
“Joey’s archive illuminates aspects of the performing arts that haven’t previously been represented in our collection,” Wittmann told the Gazette. “Part of my impetus here has been to reflect the diversity of American life and orient the collection more toward current interests.”
As for Arias himself, he admitted, “I don’t know what’s even in some of the boxes.”
Nevertheless, he went on to say, “My archives show a career that’s not just drag. It’s drama, movies, performance art.”
“When you hit the top, there’s nowhere else to go,” he added. “I like to go sideways, where you can transform again and again. I want to still be something unexpected, someone who you’re not sure what you’re going to get.”
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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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.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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