Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Aug. 12
Parties, events, meetings and more through the 18th
The cast of ‘Grease’ in Olney Theatre Center's production, which runs through Aug. 28. (Photo courtesy of Olney)
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Friday
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsboro presents the first Black and White AIDS Response Effort Music Benefit hosted by Jennifer Warner, Stephanie Michaels and Ashley Bannks with musical numbers by musicians of the Mercy Rock String Quartet, Chad D, Michael Ehlers and DJ Philly Cheze, tonight from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and $25 after 11 p.m. VIP tickets are $50 and include table seating and open bar until 10 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit areblackwhiteparty.eventbrite.com.
Black Cat presents Right Round, an ‘80s alt-pop dance night with DJ lil’e, backstage tonight at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 and available tonight.
Studio Theatre (1501 14th St., N.W.) presents “Pop!” a musical murder mystery by Maggie-Kate Coleman and Anna K. Jacobs which peeks inside the artistic revelry of Andy Warhol’s infamous Factory, today at 8:30 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $50 and can be purchased online. The show has been extended through Aug. 21. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit studiotheatre.org.
The fifth annual Take Five! Baltimore Improv Festival continues tonight with three sessions of improv performances at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave.). Training 4 Prom, Mr. Licorice and Michael Loves Greg go on at 7 p.m. Pop 6, Plan B and Gus go on at 8:30 p.m. Hot and Modest, Student Driver and D.C. Comedy Sportz Blue Show go on at 10 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $15. The festival run through Sunday. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit baltimoreimprovfestival.org.
The GLBT Arts Consortium and the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (545 7th St., S.E.) present Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pinafore” at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling 202-547-6839 or e-mailing [email protected].
Busboys & Poets presents “The 11th Hour” poetry slam hosted by “2Deep” the Poetess, tonight at 11 p.m. in the Langston room at its 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.). There is a $5 admission at the door starting at 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 13
Just Circuit will be at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) tonight featuring Twisted Dee with DJ Kuhmeleon at 10 p.m.
Girls Rock! D.C., a rock ‘n’ roll camp for girls ages 8 to 18, is having a Camper Band Showcase today at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) at 11 a.m. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.
The D.C. Slutwalk is today starting with a rally at 11 a.m. in Lafayette Square. The walk will begin at noon, ending at the National Sylvan Theater where the event continues with several speakers including Dr. Ruth Neustifter, Maryland District 16 Delegate Ariana Kelly and more. There will also be booths set up after the speakers. Slutwalk is a protest, rally and demonstration of “frustration and anger” protesting the blaming of victims of sexual violence based on what they wear, who they associate with and who they are.
There will be free HIV testing at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) today from 4 to 7 p.m.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) presents “Madonnarama” featuring Madonna music and videos by Ed Bailey and a special live performance by the Ladies of Town and the Town Dancers tonight. Doors open at 10 p.m. There is a $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 after. Attendees must be 21 or older.
There will be two performances of the Olney Theatre Center’s (3001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd.) production of “Grease” directed by Bobby Smith today at 2 and 8 p.m. Tickets range from $26 to $49 and can be purchased online at olneytheatre.org. The show has been extended to run through Aug. 28.
Sunday, Aug. 14
Chicago will be performing at Pier Six Pavilion (731 Eastern Ave.) in Baltimore, tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $75 and can be purchased online at tickets.piersixpavilion.com. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. for this all ages show.
Lambda Sci-Fi, an LGBT science fiction, fantasy and horror group, is having its monthly meeting and social today starting at 1:30 p.m. at 1414 17th St., N.W. Participants are asked to bring a snack or a non-alcoholic drink to share. For more information, call James at 202-232-3141, e-mail to [email protected], or visit the group’s website lambdascifi.org.
Zoom Urban Lesbian Excursions is hosting ladies’ kickball on the Mall today at 3 p.m. The group will be meeting between the National Museum of History and the Smithsonian Castle and will be identifiable by the purple balloons. This is a free event. For more information, visit phatgirlchic.com/zoom.
Monday, Aug 15
Celebrating their 30th anniversary, 10,000 Maniacs will be performing at the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave.) in Alexandria, tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at birchmere.com.
D.C. Lambda Squares is hosting an open house tonight from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Scott Hall of the National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.). Partners are not needed and no experience is necessary.
Tuesday, Aug. 16
The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) is having a special theater look-in for Sydney Theatre Company’s production of “Uncle Vanya” today at 5 p.m. featuring company members Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Richard Roxburgh, Hayley McElhinney and John Bell. There will be a performance at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the look-in are $12 and performance tickets range from $59 to $135. For more information and to purchase tickets to either event, visit kennedy-center.org.
Remington’s (639 Pennslyvania Ave., S.E.) is hosting D.C. Drag Idol tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. hosted by Raquel Savage Black. Admission is $5.
Wednesday, Aug. 17
The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets at 7:30 p.m, at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) across from Marine Barracks, for social bridge. No partner is needed. For more informaiton, visit lambdabridge.com and click on “Social Bridge in Washington.”
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is tonight at Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar (1101 H St., N.E.) with The Machine and special guest DJs from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Attendees must be 21 or older for this cover-free event.
Thursday, Aug. 18
The musical “Wicked” will be performed at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. “Wicked” tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch, before Dorothy landed in Oz. Tickets range from $37 to $250 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) has two exhibits on display, MiniSolos@Touchstone, which features the work of 37 area artists and a small companion show, Summer Sampler, which features works by the gallery’s members, which will run through Aug. 27. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Photos
PHOTOS: Fredericksburg Pride March and Festival
LGBTQ celebration held in historic Virginia town
The sixth annual Fredericksburg Pride March was held in downtown Fredericksburg, Va. on Saturday, June 27. Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chair Deuntay Diggs led the march alongside Fredericksburg City Council Member Jannan W. Holmes. The Fredericksburg Pride Festival took place at Riverfront Park after the march. Bree Fram was the featured speaker.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Iran and Egypt on Friday faced off during the World Cup’s “Pride Match” in Seattle.
Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death. Discrimination and persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity is commonplace in Egypt.
Friday’s match coincided with Pride weekend in Seattle. The Egyptian Football Association and the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran both objected to playing in the “Pride Match.”
Egypt and Iran tied 1-1.
FIFA, for its part, allowed Pride flags inside the stadium during the match.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds,” a FIFA spokesperson told the Washington Blade in a statement. “Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events. General statements of human rights, including rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity, are permitted under the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Stadium Code of Conduct and may be displayed inside stadiums provided they are used in a manner consistent with the code.”
Human Rights Watch welcomed FIFA’s decision to allow Pride flags inside the stadium. Outright International, a global LGBTQ and intersex rights group, distributed Pride flags in Seattle on Friday, which was Pride Match Day.
“Visibility matters,” said Outright International Executive Director Maria Sjödin. “Pride is now being celebrated in more than 100 countries, including this weekend in Seattle. For many LGBTIQ people, seeing a Pride flag in public is a reminder that they are not alone, and that their rights and dignity are recognized.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino earlier this year told Die Weltwoche, a Swiss magazine, that “there will be no ‘Pride Match’ at the (FIFA) World Cup.”
“There will be a FIFA World Cup match in Seattle, and on the same day, events organized by external organizations will be taking place in the city,” said Infantino. “But that has nothing to do with the match itself.”
Peter Tatchell, a long-time LGBTQ activist from the U.K. who is director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, was among those who traveled to Seattle for Friday’s match. Tatchell accused FIFA of not vetting World Cup teams — specifically Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Senegal, Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Algeria — over whether they would allow gay players.
“FIFA is protecting LGBT+ visibility in the stands while failing to protect LGBT+ players on the pitch,” said Tatchell.
The second annual Frederick Pride Parade was held in the streets of downtown Frederick, Md. on Friday, June 26.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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