Arts & Entertainment
Slated for the season
Side Show,’ ‘Flashdance,’ ‘Lion King’ and more coming to Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center (Photo by Steve via Wikimedia Commons)
The Kennedy Center has announced its 2013-2014 season, the last under the direction of President Michael M. Kaiser. The schedule displays a remarkable depth and breadth, with several offerings that will be of special interest to the LGBT community and that feature gay and lesbian artists.
The highlight of the theater season is a re-imagining of the cult Broadway musical “Side Show” about the show-business career of the famous Hilton sisters, who were conjoined Siamese twins. Directed by Academy-Award-winning director Bill Condon (“Dreamgirls”), the production will feature extensive revisions by authors Henry Krieger and Bill Russell. Touring productions include “Elf,” “Sister Act,” “Flashdance – The Musical,” “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin,” as well as the returns of two crowd favorites: “Million Dollar Quartet” and “The Lion King.” Barbara Cook’s Spotlight series will include cabaret performances by Megan Hilty (“Smash”), Lucie Arnaz, Patina Miller, Brian d’Arcy James and openly gay musical theater legend Tommy Tune.
Under the direction of openly gay conductor and composer Steven Reineke, the National Symphony Orchestra Pops season includes such guest artists as Matthew Morrison (“Glee”), Matthew Cavanaugh, Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding and a special holiday performance by Brian Stokes Mitchell.
In addition, Reineke will kick-off a month long celebration of hip-hop culture. From March 28 through April 7, 2014, the Kennedy Center will present “One Mic: Hip-Hop Culture Worldwide.” Reineke will work with American rapper Nas to develop a symphonic celebration of the 20th anniversary of Nas’ ground-breaking debut album “Illmatic.” The performance by Nas and the NSO will combine the artist’s original verse with new orchestral arrangements of his music.
The contemporary dance season includes the haunting and clever gothic rewrite of the classic ballet “Sleeping Beauty” by openly gay choreographer Matthew Bourne, as well as return engagements by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance and Ballet Hispanico.
A highlight of the Washington Opera season will be the world premiere of “The Lion, The Unicorn and Me,” based on the 2009 short story by lesbian author Jeanette Winterson. With a score by Jeanine Tesori (“Caroline or Change”), a libretto by renowned poet J.D. McClatchy and direction by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, this family-friendly opera will premiere in December 2013. The delightful work tells the Christmas story from the perspective of a Bethlehem donkey. More traditional operatic fare includes “Tristan and Isolde” with Deborah Voigt, “The Force of Destiny” in a new production directed by Francesca Zambello, “The Elixir of Love” and “The Magic Flute.”
Finally, world-renowned American opera singer Renee Fleming will curate a three-day celebration of American Voices in November. The festival will include performances, master classes and seminars focused on the rich diversity of American singing, including classical, jazz, musical theater, country, gospel and pop. Scheduled performers and presenters include Lawrence Brownlee, Kim Burrell, Kurt Elling, Dianne Reeves, Norm Lewis and Sutton Foster.
More information on the 2013-2014 Kennedy Center Season can be found at kennedy-center.org/programs/newseason/.
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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