Local
Roger Ault dies at 85
Military veteran, teacher, passionate fan of theater
Roger Ault
Roger C. Ault, a long-time former resident of the D.C. area, but recently from Rehoboth Beach, died Jan. 7 from kidney failure. He was 85.
Ault was born in Accident, Md., and after graduating in 1946 from Accident High School, attended college at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in Westminster, Md. In later years, he attained a master’s in drama from Catholic University of America in the District.
He taught English for more than 25 years in his hometown and in suburban Maryland junior high schools. Even after retiring to Rehoboth in 1996, he periodically taught English as a Second Language.
A military veteran, he served in the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps in Stuttgart, Germany from 1954-56.
Ault had a passion for theater. His home in Rehoboth Beach was filled with plays and theatrical books, and even days before his death, he would watch movies on Netflix and then write reviews of the movies he had seen.
That passion was seen on stage in a theatrical career that spanned more than five decades. He performed on numerous stages in the D.C. area, including Ford’s Theatre, Olney Theatre and Folger Theatre and toured with Players, Inc. (now National Players) on a national tour and subsequent USO tour of Army bases in Germany as an actor in “The Merchant of Venice.”
He continued to perform in theaters throughout Delaware and was an early member of the Ad Hoc Touring Company of the Possum Point Players out of Georgetown, Del., which focuses on bringing Old Time Radio to life, performing at many senior facilities and other venues. According to Louise White, one of the performers for Ad Hoc, “One of his last endeavors was selecting a play to be read at the monthly reading just days before his hospitalization.”
Longtime LGBT activist Paul Kuntzler, who had a five-decade friendship with Ault, saw him as someone who “was loyal and carried out responsibilities either when he worked for my partner’s reporting company … or on a personal level.” Kuntzler noted that although Ault said he was a Republican, that “Roger would help the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club out, if they needed assistance.”
“Roger was welcoming and supportive of newcomers in his wide circle of friends and regaled us with many escapades and experiences,” White added. “He was independent, strong-willed and had a great sense of timing and a great sense of humor.”
A memorial service is planned at Parsell’s Funeral Home in Lewes, Del., beginning at 11 a.m. on Jan. 24.
District of Columbia
Billy Porter, Keke Palmer, Ava Max to perform at Capital Pride
Concert to be held at annual festival on June 9
The Capital Pride Alliance, the group that organizes D.C.’s annual LGBTQ Pride events, announced this week the lineup of performers for the Sunday, June 9, Capital Pride Concert to be held during the Capital Pride Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. near the U.S. Capitol.
Among the performers will be nationally acclaimed singers and recording artists Billy Porter and Keke Palmer, who will also serve as grand marshals for the Capital Pride Parade set to take place one day earlier on Saturday, June 8.
The Capital Price announcement says the other lead performers will be Ava Max, Sapphira Cristal, and the pop female trio Exposé.
“The beloved pop icons will captivate audiences with upbeat performances coupled with their fierce advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, echoing the vibrant spirit of this year’s theme, ‘Totally Radical,’” according to a statement released by Capital Pride Alliance.
“With Billy Porter and Keke Palmer leading the parade as Grand Marshals, we’re not only honoring their incredible contributions to the LGBTQ+ community but also amplifying their voices as fierce advocates for equality and acceptance,” Capital Pride Alliance Executive Director Ryan Bos said in the statement.
“The concert and festival serve as a platform to showcase the diverse array of LGBTQ+ talent, from the chart-topping hits of Ava Max to the iconic sounds of Exposé and the electrifying performances of Sapphira Cristal,” Bos said in the statement. “Capital Pride 2024 promises to be a celebration like no other.”
The concert will take place from 12-10 p.m. on the main stage and other stages across the four-block long festival site on Pennsylvania Avenue.
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
Maryland
Trone discusses transgender niece
Blade interviewed Md. congressman, Angela Alsobrooks last week
Editor’s note: The Washington Blade last week interviewed both U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. The full interviews with both Democratic candidates for retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.)’s seat will be on the Blade’s website later this week.
Maryland Congressman David Trone last week discussed his transgender niece during an interview with the Washington Blade about his U.S. Senate campaign.
Trone, who is running to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), on May 1 told the Blade during a telephone interview that his niece transitioned when she was in her early 20s. Trone also noted she attended Furman University, a small, liberal arts university in Greenville, S.C.
“I was concerned about how she would be able to transition there,” said Trone.
Trone, who founded Total Wine & More, attended Furman University as an undergrad and is on the school’s board of trustees. Trone told the Blade he donated $10 million to the university to “build out their mental health capacity, which I felt was a way that she could have the best mental health care possible when she worked her way through (her) transition.”
Trone’s niece graduated from the university after she spent five years there.
“She had a great relationship with Furman,” said Trone.
Trone and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks are the leading Democrats running to succeed Cardin. The winner of the May 14 Democratic primary will face former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in November.
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