Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: events through Nov. 18
Art, concerts, music, movies and more slated for coming week
Friday, Nov. 12
The Richard Montgomery High School Black Maskers Drama Club presents Moisés Kaufman’s “The Laramie Project,” a play based on interviews with residents of Laramie, Wyo., after the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, tonight at 7 p.m. in the Richard Montgomery Auditorium (250 Richard Montgomery Drive) in Rockville. Tickets may be purchased in advance at richardmontgomerydrama.ticketleap.net or at the door, and are $5 for students and $13 for adults.
Bethesda’s monthly art walk is tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. Ten local galleries will be staying open. Attendees are invited to view the artwork, enjoy free refreshments and to shop. The participating galleries and studios are the Blue House (7770 Woodmont Ave.), Fraser Gallery (7700E. Wisconsin Ave.),
Gallery 360 (4836 Rugby Ave.), Gallery Frame Avenue (4919 Cordell Ave.), Gallery St. Elmo (4938 St. Elmo Ave.), Orchard Gallery (7917 Norfolk Ave.), St. Elmo’s Fire Gallery (4828 St. Elmo Ave.), Upstairs Art Studios (4948 St. Elmo Ave.), Washington School of Photography (4850 Rugby Ave.) and Waverly Street Gallery (4600 East-West Highway.).
Towson University Dance Company presents “Grace and Flow,” an evening of dance tonight at 8 p.m. The program includes the second act of “Swan Lake,” the classical ballet restaged by Runqiao Du, the work of Tim Veach and the choreographed works of the Towson University dance faculty including Jaye Knutson, Nancy Romita, Nicole A. Martinell and Sandra Perez. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors and $10 for students.
Bookmen D.C., an informal group of men interested in gay literature, meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Charles Sumner School and Archives (1201 17th St., N.W.) to discuss selections from “Persistent Voices: Poetry by Writers Lost to AIDS” edited by David Groff and Philip Clark. All are welcome.
The Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive) is hosting “Warhol: the Last Decade,” an exhibit featuring over 50 large-scale works that marked Andy Warhol’s last decade. This is the last stop of a national tour. Some of the works shown include fright wig self-portraits and three variations on Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission ranges from free for children 5 and younger to $15 for adults. For more information, visit warhol.artbma.org.
Saturday, Nov. 13
Shi-Queeta-Lee will be celebrating her 46th birthday today with Cirque Du Soleil’s “Red Party” at Town featuring the release of her 2011 calendar from 6 to 10 p.m. There will be a $10 cover.
The Richard Montgomery High School Black Maskers Drama Club presents Moisés Kaufman’s “The Laramie Project,” a play based on interviews with residents of Laramie, Wyo., after the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, tonight at 7 p.m. in the Richard Montgomery Auditorium (250 Richard Montgomery Drive) in Rockville. Tickets may be purchased in advance at richardmontgomerydrama.ticketleap.net or at the door, and are $5 for students and $13 for adults.
The Birchmere and AM Productions present Straight No Chase, a male a cappella group, performing at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (1212 Cathedral St.) in Baltimore tonight at 8 p.m. For more information on the group, visit sncmusic.com. To purchase tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.
The D.C. Strokes Rowing Club will celebrate 20 years of rowing tonight at Casa Italiana Language School (595 1/2 3rd St., N.W.) from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased by registering at dcstrokes.org.
Folding/Unfolding: Collider, a 3D modeling and interactive exhibit and workshop opens tonight at Artispehere (1101 Wilson Blvd.) in Arlington with an opening reception at 8 p.m. featuring burlesque figure drawing with Velvet Kensington and Private Tails and an after party at 11 p.m. with queer band Rad Pony, who has played at Phasefest the past two years, and DJs Natty Boom and Matt Bailer.
Blowoff, a dance party featuring gay DJs, will be at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight. Doors opens at 11:30 p.m. Attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at 930.com.
Allie Wilson and Jacob Nathaniel Pring present Cotton Candy at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) tonight at 10 p.m. upstairs featuring DJs David Merrill and Bryan Yamasaki. Attendees must be 18 or older to attend. There’s a $5 cover.
Sunday, Nov. 14
D.C. native actress and playwright Ellen McLaughlin, who originated the role of the angel in gay playwright Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America” on Broadway in the early ’90s, will perform her play “Penelope” at the Writer’s Center (4508 Walsh St.) in Bethesda, tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for members and $10 for guests. For more information, call 301-654-8664 or visit writer.org.
GayParazzi will tour the National Arboretum (3501 New York Ave., N.E.) today meeting outside the visitor’s center at 10 a.m. There’s free admission and parking. Sign up at GayParazzi.com.
LAMBDA SCI-FI will have its monthly meeting and social of LGBT science fiction, fantasy and horror fans today at 1:30 p.m. at 1414 17th St., N.W. Call James at 202-232-3141 or e-mail to [email protected] to RSVP. For more information, visit the group’s website lambdascifi.org.
The Pocket Gays will be hosting “Spanksgiving” today on the enclosed and heated roof deck of Local 16 (1602 U St., N.W.) from 3 to 9 p.m. DJ vANNIEty KILLS will be providing the music. This is a free event.
Monday, Nov. 15
The 2010 WTT Smash Hits is tonight at Bender Arena at American University at 7 p.m. Billie Jean King and Sir Elton John will captain teams composed of Andre Agassi, James Blake, Stefanie Graf, Anna Kournikova, Martina Navratilova and more. This event will raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and local D.C. area AIDS charities. Tickets range from $40 to $120. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit wtt.com.
The National Portrait Gallery is showing an exhibit that focuses on sexual differences in the making of modern American portraiture. “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” is the first major museum exhibit of its kind. The museum is open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and admission is free.
Tuesday, Nov. 16
Rainbow History Project will celebrate its 10th anniversary tonight at the Charles Sumner School Museum & Archives (1201 17th St., N.W.) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The reception will feature a one-night-only exhibit of items from RHP’s archives including T-shirts from the collection of the late lesbian archivist Cheryl Spector. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit rainbowhistory.org.
Burgundy Crescent Volunteers needs help packing safer sex kits for FUK!T from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct., N.W.
Wednesday, Nov. 17
Women’s Wednesday will be at Mixology tonight from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mixology is D.C. premier matchmaking service for gays and lesbians. Register at caglcc.org.
The Zenith Gallery (1111 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) opens “Universe” featuring artwork by Anne Marchand and Craig Schaffer tonight. Both artists deal with the abstract, Marchand through paintings and Schaffer through sculpture. The gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Food & Friends Slice of Life and Nellie’s will be hosting a pie-eating contest and bake sale tonight at 7 p.m. The contest is limited to 16 participants and is first come, first entered. For more information, including the rules of the contest, and to register for the event, visit nelliesdc.com.
Thursday, Nov. 18
The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) will be hosting a “theater look-in” for “Hair” today from 5 to 6 p.m. Attendees will get an insider’s look at the production and have the opportunity to ask the artists questions. This event will be in the Terrace Gallery and tickets are $12. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit kennedy-center.org.
There will be a special happy hour at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) to benefit the Trevor Project tonight from 5 to 9 p.m. A $10 donation at the door will go directly to the Trevor Project and Cobalt will honor the donation with a free drink ticket.
Arts & Entertainment
Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier and fireworks show returning June 8
The annual Pride on the Pier Fireworks Show presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation will take place on Saturday, June 8 at 9 p.m.
The Washington Blade, in partnership with LURe DC and The Wharf, is excited to announce the 5th annual Pride on the Pier and fireworks show during D.C. Pride weekend on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 2-10 p.m.
The event will include the annual Pride on the Pier Fireworks Show presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation at 9 p.m.
Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Southwest waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older. Local DJ’s Heat, Eletrox and Honey will perform throughout the event.
3 p.m. – Capital Pride Parade on the Big Screen
3:30 p.m. – Drag Show hosted by Cake Pop!
9 p.m. – Fireworks Show Presented by Leonard-Litz Foundation
The event is free and open to the public. The Dockmasters Building will be home to a VIP experience. To learn more and to purchase tickets go to www.prideonthepier.com/vip. VIP tickets are limited.
Event sponsors include Absolut, Buying Time, Capital Pride, DC Brau, DC Fray, Burney Wealth Management, Infinate Legacy, Leonard-Litz Foundation, Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, MISTR, NBC4, The Wharf. More information regarding activities will be released at www.PrideOnThePier.com
a&e features
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars’ cast visits D.C.
8 queens vie for $200,000 prize for charity in new season, premiering May 17
Donning sparkling and star-studded red, white, and blue attire on a gloomy, humid D.C. Monday, the cast of the latest “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” season sashayed on the National Mall to promote the reality show’s ninth season.
This upcoming season is different than those in the past — eight queens are competing for a donation of $200,000 for the charity of their choosing, rather than a personal cash prize.
Several cast members noted how it felt important to visit the nation’s capital, being authentically themselves and wearing drag. Nina West, who competed in season 11, likened drag to armor.
“We’re here during a really specific time in history, that’s, I would say, markedly dark,” she told the Blade at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. “And there’s an opportunity, as drag has always done, which is for our community as specifically LGBTQI+ people, to stand in our truth and be wonderful — like guardians and fighters for our community.”
She’s competing for the Trevor Project, which is focused on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for young LGBTQ people. This season’s pivot to compete for charity made Nina West want to come back on the show for the All Stars season. She’s been offered the spot two times before this, she said, and this twist aligned with what she wanted to do.
Several of the other queens mentioned that it’s an honor to be featured in this season, including season 5’s Roxxxy Andrews. She also competed in two subsequent All-Stars seasons.
She chose the organization Miracle of Love, which provides HIV/AIDS prevention programming and assistance in central Florida. It’s a smaller, more local organization, which is why Roxxxy Andrews chose it. She wants to make its work more nationally known. Also, vying to win during a charity season makes the competition feel more rewarding, she said.
Plastique Tiara of season 11 also noted it’s different competing for charity. She’s competing for the Asian American Foundation, which launched in 2021 in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate and aims to curb discrimination and violence through education and investments in nonprofits.
“It’s more competitive because then you’re fighting not just only for yourself, but your ideas and the things that you love,” she said.
Vanessa Vanjie of seasons 10 and 11 agreed that competing for charity adds a bit more pressure — she chose the ASPCA. And as onlookers near the Lincoln Memorial took pictures of and with the queens, she said she was relieved.
“I was a little bit worried somebody would yell some slurs at us,” Vanessa Vanjie said. “Nothing happened. Everybody came to take pictures like Santa Claus in the middle of the mall.”
There’s a range of contestants from different seasons for this round of All Stars. Some queens hail from recent seasons, but Shannel competed on the show’s first season. To be a part of this new season is surreal, she said.
She’s competing for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, which she has a close tie to. She’s dealt with anxiety her entire life. The association is focused on increasing awareness and improving diagnosis and treatment.
“I always felt like I just wasn’t normal, sadly,” she said. “And so now being able to be able to do this season and to get back to that organization is like amazing to me.”
Gottmik, from season 13, is competing for Trans Lifeline — a nonprofit providing advocacy, a hotline and grants created by trans people, for trans people. Being able to do drag and give back is the “perfect scenario,” Gottmik said.
Gottmik was the first openly trans man on Drag Race, which was overwhelming when first on the show. Gottmik felt pressure to be the “perfect example,” but later realized that they didn’t have to worry so much.
“I just want to show people that trans people are real people. We can express ourselves however we want to express ourselves, through drag, through whatever it may be,” Gottmik said.
The new season will be available to stream on Paramount+ on May 17.
Photos
PHOTOS: GLSEN Respect Awards
Marcia Gay Harden presented with Advocate Award in New York City ceremony
The LGBTQ advocacy organization GLSEN held its annual Respect Awards at Gotham Hall in New York City on April 29. Special guests included Billy Porter, Wilson Cruz, Nathan Lee Graham and Anthony Rapp. The evening included a live performance by The Scarlet Opera. Peppermint of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” served as host. Marcia Gay Harden was presented with the Advocate Award.
(Photos by Andrew Werner)
Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier and fireworks show returning June 8
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars’ cast visits D.C.
Rosenstein: Vote for Angela Alsobrooks and April McClain-Delaney
PHOTOS: GLSEN Respect Awards
