Arts & Entertainment
Calendar through August 1
From Beyoncé to bears, Gettysburg to Green Lantern
The cast of ‘A Chorus Line,’ which opens next week at Olney Theatre Center in Maryland. The Tony-winning musical features 24 performers and an eight-piece orchestra and will be the largest production in the Center’s history. (Photo by Heater Latiri; courtesy OTC)
Friday, July 26
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) hosts “Frikitona: Musica Latina by Queers for Queers” tonight at 10 p.m. DJ Abichula spins reggaton, bachata, salsa, merengue and electrolatino all night. Admission is $10. Visit the event on Facebook or phase1dc.com for more details.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts Bear Happy Hour tonight from 6-11 p.m. There is no cover charge and admission is limited to guests 21 and over. For details, visit towndc.com.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts a women in their 20s meeting tonight from 8-9:30 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts “Free Vodka Friday” tonight from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Cover is $10 and free vodka rail drinks will be served from 11-midnight. Admission is limited to guests 21 and over. Visit cobaltdc.com for details.
Adventuring, a gay and lesbian outdoor group, lead a Gettysburg walking tour today to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Participants will meet at 9 a.m. at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Station and should bring $12 for transportation and trip fees. For more information, visit adventuring.org.
D.C. Eagle (639 New York Ave., N.W.) hosts its bi-monthly “Jocks and Boots”-themed party tonight from 4 p.m.-3 a.m. For details, visit dceagle.com.
Saturday, July 27
Phase 1 of Dupont (1415 22nd St., N.W.) hosts its weekly “Booty Beach Ladies Dance Party” tonight. The winner of the party’s bikini and board shorts contest will receive cash and prizes. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $5. Visit phase1dc.com for more information.
“Bedroom Mirrors,” a romantic drama directed by Chinita L. Anderson, Pooja Chawla, Misha D. Clive and Gwen Outen, runs today at Fort Fringe (607 New York Ave., N.W.) at 12:30 p.m. as part of the Capital Fringe Festival. The show features a queer trans woman’s quest for intimacy and identity. For more information, visit capitalfringe.org.
Centaur Music presents the “Gay Days Tour with DJ Randy Bettis” tonight at 10 p.m. at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.). The party includes digital download giveaways of the “Gay Days Volume 10” CD. Cover is $8 from 10-11 and $12 after 11. Admission is limited to guests 21 and over. For details, visit towndc.com.
The 2011 French drama film, “Tomboy,” screens at Busboys and Poets (1025 5th St., N.W.) tonight from 6-8 p.m. The film follows the journey of Mikhael, a 10-year old transgender boy. For more information, visit busboysandpoets.com.
Sunday, July 28
Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) hosts karaoke tonight from 9 p.m.-midnight. Cover is $3, and there will also be pool, video gaming systems and cards. For more information, visit bachelorsmill.com.
Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) hosts its weekly Drag Brunch with Shi-Queeta Lee today at 11 a.m. The buffet is $24, including one free mimosa. For more information, visit nelliessportsbar.com.
Perry’s (1811 Columbia Rd., N.W.) hosts its weekly Sunday Drag Brunch today from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The cost is $24.95 for an all-you-can-eat buffet. For details, visit perrysadamsmorgan.com.
Monday, July 29
The Fort Reno Summer Music Series continue tonight at Fort Reno Park (Chesapeake St. and Nebraska Ave., N.W.) from 7:15-9:30 p.m. Tonight’s local bands include Priests, Humble Fire and The Accidentals. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, visit fortreno.com.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts coffee drop-in hours this morning from 10 a.m.-noon for the senior LGBT community. Older LGBT adults can come and enjoy complimentary coffee and conversation with other community members. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The Verizon Center (601 F St., N.W.) hosts “The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour Starring Beyoncé” this evening at 8 p.m. Tickets are sold out. For details, visit verizoncenter.com. She plays a second show Tuesday night which is also sold out.
Coco Montrese performs tonight at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.). Doors open at 10 p.m. and the drag show starts at 11. Admission is free and open to guests 18 and over. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
Tuesday, July 30
Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) hosts an open mic night this evening from 8-11 p.m. Admission is free and performers can bring sheet music or use the music books provided. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Burgundy Crescent Volunteers, a gay volunteer organization, volunteer tonight from 7-10:30 p.m. for a safer sex kit packing program at the Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.). Visit burgundycrescent.org for more information.
Wednesday, July 31
Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) hosts drag bingo during happy hour tonight from 5-7:30 p.m. All drinks are half price and there will also be pool, video gaming systems and cards. Admission is free. For details, visit bachelorsmill.com.
The Dupont Drawing Group meets tonight at 7 p.m. at The Church of the Pilgrims (2201 P St., N.W.) to draw from a live model. The session is self-directed with no formal instruction and no materials are provided. Drawing spots and easels are available on a first come first serve basis, so guests should arrive anytime after 6:45. No reservations are required, and a modest fee to pay the model will be collected. For more information, visit paulreuther.com.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts Job Club from 4-6 p.m. tonight for LGBT individuals seeking employment. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
The Lambda Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for duplicate bridge. Reservations are not needed and newcomers are welcome. Call 703-407-6540 for more information and if you need a partner.
Thursday, Aug. 1
The Fort Reno Summer Music Series continue tonight at Fort Reno Park (Chesapeake St. and Nebraska Ave., N.W.) from 7:15-9:30 p.m. Tonight’s local bands include Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, The Sniffs and Nervous Impulse. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, visit fortreno.com.
“A Chorus Line,” directed by Stephen Nachamie, premieres at 8 p.m. this evening at the Olney Theatre (2001 Olney Sandy Spring Rd., Olney, Md.). Tickets range from $32.50-65, with discounts available for students, seniors, groups and military members. For more information, visit olneytheatre.org.
The D.C. Boys of Leather host a “boys night out” this evening at D.C. Eagle (639 New York Ave., N.W.) at 9 p.m. For more details, visit dceagle.com.
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)
a&e features
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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