Arts & Entertainment

Calendar through April 11

Concerts, parties, gatherings and more to kick off your April showers

Published

12 years ago

April 4, 2013

Erin Durkin

Opera singer Diana Damrau performs at the Kennedy Center on Monday night. (Photo by Eric Richmond)

Friday, April 5

Bowen McCauley Dance returns to the Kennedy Center (2700 F St. NW) tonight at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The group, known for its commitment to live music and collaboration, presents some newly commissioned works along with some older ones, including “Before the Fall,” “Fire and Air,” “Tableau de Province” and a tribute to the centennial of Stravinsky’s work, “Le Sacre du Printemps.” Tickets are $36-$40. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

NoVa Gay and Lesbian Professionals host a spring social at the Pinzimini restaurant in the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel (801 N. Glebe Road) this evening at 6 p.m. There is no cover charge. For more information, visit meetup.com/novaglp.

Phase 1(1415 22^nd Street, NW) hosts the Isis Deverreoux Drag King Race tonight at midnight. Cover is $5. Visit phase1dupont.com for more details.

MOVA Lounge (2204 14^th St., NW) holds its “Catalyst” party with DJs TWiN and Kostas. Cover is $12 at the door. For details, visit cherryfund.org.

Saturday, April 6

Burgundy Crescent members volunteer this morning at Food and Friends (219 Riggs Road, NE) at 8 a.m. Volunteers will help with food preparation and packing groceries. The shifts are limited to 10 per shift. They’ll also be at the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation at Falls Church PetSmart (6100 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, Va.) starting at 11:45 a.m. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.

Equality Virginia holds its Commonwealth Dinner at the Greater Richmond Convention Center (403 N. Third St., Richmond) this evening at 5 p.m. The night will include a silent auction and an after dinner dance. Attendees must register for the event. For more information, visit equalityvirginia.org.

Blowoff, a gay dance party featuring indie rocker Bob Mould and DJ Richard Morel, takes place tonight at the 9:30 Club (815 V St., NW) at 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. Visit 930.com for more details.

Bob Mould discusses the origins of Blowoff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2pIa6PA6Qk

Code DC hosts a Cherry edition gear party tonight at 9 p.m. at the Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, NW). For more information, visit greenlanterndc.com.

Sunday, April 7

Victory Fund’s annual National Champagne Brunch takes place today at the Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Ave., NW) at 11 a.m. The organization works to elect LGBT leaders to help change America’s politics. Individual tickets range from $150-$200. Visit victoryfund.org for more information.

Monday, April 8

The 29^th Helen Hayes Awards takes place this evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Warner Theatre (513 13^th St., NW). The award celebrates the achievements of about 80 professional theaters throughout the Washington metropolitan area. Local gay theater professionals are always a big part of the event. Tickets are $400-$2,000. For more information, visit theatrewashington.org.

Opera star Diana Damrau performs for the Washington National Opera Celebrity Opera Series tonight at 8 p.m. at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., NW). Damrau will be accompanied by French harpist Xavier de Maistre. Tickets are $40-$180. For details, visit kennedy-center.org.

Diana Damrau:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmOgYjYYX6Q

The D.C. Center (1318 U St., NW) holds coffee drop-in for the senior LGBT community today at 10 a.m.-noon. The Center will provide complimentary coffee and a community to chat with. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Bears do Yoga takes place this evening 6:30 p.m. as part of a series at the Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, NW). This is part of a basic yoga series that takes place every Monday and is open to people of varying body types and experience. There is no charge. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14^th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It is a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. Registration is required and attendees must call 202-797-3580 or email [email protected]. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Tuesday, April 9

Fleetwood Mac performs at the Verizon Center (601 F St., NW) as part of its 2013 tour tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $60-$160. Visit verizoncenter.com for details.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LOCAL LGBT RESOURCES WITH OUR BRAND NEW GUIDE

The 2013 Youth Working Group Reception takes place at MOVA Lounge (22014 14^th St., NW) this evening at 5 p.m. The reception provides attendees with the opportunity to meet youth working group members and learn how they work to support the LGBT youth in the area. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

D.C. Bi Women meets tonight at 7 at Dupont Italian Kitchen (1637 17^th St., NW) in the upstairs room. For details, visit thedccenter.org.

Whitman-Walker (1701 14^th St., NW) holds its group Starting Over for Women tonight at 7. The group is for women whose long-term relationship with another woman. Registration is required and attendees must call 202-797-3580 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) hosts its Safer Sex Kit-packing program tonight from 7-10:30. The packing program is looking for more volunteers to help produce the kits because they say they are barely keeping up with demand. Admission is free and volunteers can just show up. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Wednesday, April 10

The Big Gay Book Group meets tonight at 7 p.m. at 1155 F St., NW to discuss “Angels in America: Part II Perestroika” by Tony Kushner. For more information, visit biggaybookgroup.com.

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14^th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It’s a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. Registration is required and attendees must call 202-797-3580 or email [email protected]. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Thursday, April 11

Burgundy Crescent volunteers with this evening with Food and Friends (219 Riggs Road, NE) at 6 p.m. Volunteers will help with food preparation and packing groceries. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.

The Lambda Bridge Club meets at the Dignity Center (721 8^th St., SE) tonight at 7:30 p.m. No reservations are needed ad newcomers are welcome. For details, visit lambdabridge.com.

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its gay men over 50 support group this evening at 6:30 p.m. The group is for gay men entering a new phase of life. Registration is required to attend. Registration is required and attendees must call 202-797-3580 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

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Theater

‘We Are Gathered’ a powerful contemplation of queer equality

Arena production dives fearlessly into many facets of same-sex connection

Published

19 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Patrick Folliard

Nic Ashe (Free) and Kyle Beltran in ‘We Are Gathered.’ (Photo by T Charles Erickson Photography)

‘We Are Gathered’
Through June 15
Arena Stage
1101 Sixth St., S.W.
$70-$110
Arenastage.org

Aptly billed as a queer love story, Tarell Alvin McCraney’s terrific new play “We Are Gathered” (now at Arena Stage) dives deeply and fearlessly into the many facets of a same-sex connection and all that goes with it.

McCraney’s tale of two gay men’s romance unfolds entertainingly over two acts. Wallace Tre (Kyle Beltran), a tense architect, and his younger partner Free (Nic Ashe), a campy and fun-loving musician with a deep sense of quiet and peace are contemplating marriage after five years together, but one of the two isn’t entirely comfortable with the idea of imminent matrimony.

At 14, Wallace Tre (nicknamed Dubs) first learned about gay cruising via renowned British playwright Caryl Churchill’s seminal work “Cloud Nine.” It was an intoxicating introduction that led Dubs to an exciting world of sex and risk.

Soon after, a nearby park became a thrilling constant in his life. It remains a source of excitement, fun, danger, and fulfillment. The local cruising zone is also a constant in McCraney’s play.

One memorable evening, Dubs experienced a special night in the woods, a shadowy hour filled with exhilaration and surprise. That’s when Dubs unpredictably learned something he’d never felt before. That night in the park, he met and fell madly in love with Free.

In addition to being a talented playwright, McCraney is the Academy Award-winning Black and queer screenwriter of “Moonlight,” the 2016 film. He’s happy to be a part of WorldPride 2025, and grateful to Arena for making space for his play on its stage. McCraney says he wrote “We Are Gathered” as a contemplation of queer marriage and the right for same-sex couples, like opposite-sex couples, to marry anywhere in the United States.

For Dubs, it’s important that Free speak openly about how they met in the park. He’d like Free to share the details of their coming together with his supportive grandparents, Pop Pop (Craig Wallace) and Mama Jae (out actor Jade Jones). As far as they know, their grandson met Dubs at a lovely gathering with a nice crowd assembled under a swanky canopy. When in truth it was a park busy with horny guys cruising beneath a canopy of leafy verdure.

Understandably, Free is more than a tad embarrassed to reveal that he enjoyed al fresco sex with Dubs prior to knowing his boyfriend’s name. Clearly, in retrospect, both feel that their initial meeting is a source of discomfort, tinged with awkwardness.

There is a lot more to “We Are Gathered” than cruising. Dubs and Free are ardently liked by friends and family. Both are attractive and smart. Yet, they’re different. Free is quite easy going while Dubs is, at times, pricklier.

While Free is part of a happy family, Dubs’s people aren’t entirely easy. He grew up with a strung-out mother and a cold father (Kevin Mambo). Yet, his sister Punkin (Nikolle Salter), an astronaut, is very caring and close to him. While she doesn’t necessarily like “the gay stuff,” she very much wants to live in a world where there’s room for her gay brother.

Adeptly directed by Kent Gash, the production is memorable, and it’s not his first collaboration with McCraney. Ten years ago, Gash, who’s Black and queer, staged McCraney’s “Choir Boys” at Studio Theatre, another well-written and finely staged work.

“We Are Gathered” is performed in the round in Arena’s cavernous Fichandler Stage. The space is both a forest and various rooms created by designer Jason Sherwood and lighting designer Adam Honoré. It’s a world created by elevating a circular platform surrounded by charming street lamps both hanging overhead and lining the perimeter.

Ultimately, what takes place in “We Are Gathered” is a party, and something even more; it’s a paean to marriage, and a call to a sacrament.

Out & About

Justice-centered theater production comes to D.C.

Mexican Cultural Institute to host ‘La Golondrina’

Published

19 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

(Poster via Mexican Cultural Institute)

The Mexican Cultural Institute will host “La Golondrina” on Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. at its location on 2829 16th St. NW.

“La Golondrina” is a theater production that aims to elevate the conversation around hate crimes and the urgent need for dialogue and healing. It is also a powerful and deeply moving story that brings to the stage the emotional legacy of the Pulse nightclub shooting. The play explores that tragedy through an intimate encounter between two characters, Amelia (Luz Nicolás) and Ramón (Victor), whose connection unveils grief, love, and the enduring shadow of homophobia.

Tickets for this event are available on the Cultural Institute’s website.

Out & About

Celebrate Pride with a thoughtful book club

Second edition of ‘Books and Wine’ held at Urban Grape DC

Published

20 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

(Photo by gOrlica/Bigstock)

Meet the World Image Solutions will host the second edition of “Books and Wine” on Thursday, June 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Urban Grape DC, a Black- and woman-owned winery in Washington, D.C.

The featured authors are: Beautiful Lawson, Chanele Ramos, and Pamela Coleman. All will read from works that reflect love, resilience, and queer identity across genres. For more details, visit Eventbrite.