Arts & Entertainment
Arts news in brief
Phillips Collection re-opens after serious fire and more
![Rubens_insert](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2011/01/Rubens_insert-200x300.jpg)
'The Finding of Erichthonius,' a 1632 painting by Peter Paul Rubens that's part of the Phillips Collection. None of the art work was damaged or destroyed by last year's fire. (Image courtesy of the Phillips Collection)
Phillips Collection reopens after serious fire
After its disastrous fire Sept. 2, this weekend is the welcome-back celebration/grand reopening of the newly renovated Phillips House, a museum since Duncan Phillips opened its doors in 1921 as America’s first museum of modern art. It’s full of his collection of works by Renoir and Monet, van Gogh and Degas, Picasso and Klee, and more.
The fire was restricted to the roof and a suite of offices directly under it, and the famed art was not harmed, but there was extensive water damage to 12 galleries inside the 1897 building, at 1600 21st St. N.W., in Dupont Circle near 21st and Q.
Now everything is back in place as the museum kicks off its 90th anniversary year under the banner of “90 Years of New,” beginning with this weekend’s reopening when the regular $12 admission charges are waived and complimentary champagne will be uncorked. The museum is open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A host of programs, installations, films and more are promised.
The year’s celebration culminates on Nov. 5 with the 90th-anniversary “birthday bash.” More details are here.
Gay arts group to honor King holiday
A “Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” sponsored by the GLBT Arts Consortium with the Capitol Hills Arts Workshop will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 4th and Independence Avenue, S.E.
Participants include the Rock Creek Singers of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington (GMCW); light jazz, pop and folk music from Not What You Think, a 12-person ensemble from the Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington; and Fortissima, D.C.’s feminist chorus open to “sopranos and altos of all genders,” known as the Bread and Roses Feminist Singers until 2009. Youth will also talk and sing, from the Bokamoso Youth Centre in Winderveldt Township near Pretoria, South Africa. The Centre offers AIDS awareness and other services and each year 12 of the students in its performing arts program receive scholarships for a month-long performance tour in the U.S.
The consortium is a collaboration of varied arts organizations including singers, painters, actors, dancers and filmmakers. For more details, go here or call its co-manager Jill Srachan at 202-547-4102.
St. Marks Players unveil new ‘Inherit the Wind’ production
Also on Capitol Hill beginning today is a new production by the St. Marks Players of “Inherit the Wind,” the play about the famed “Scopes Monkey Trial” of 1925, when a school teacher was tried for the crime of teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution, in contradiction to fundamentalist understandings of biblical creation.
The playwrights, Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee (the same team who wrote “Auntie Mame”), were writing in 1955, and taking specific aim at McCarthyism, according to Blake Cornish, who plays Henry Drummond, the character loosely based on civil liberties lawyer Clarence Darrow who battled but lost in the Tennessee courtroom against three-time presidential candidate and religious fundamentalist William Jennings Bryan.
Cornish, who has sung with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and is a former National Gay and Lesbian Task Force attorney, says the play is relevant in 2011 because it “explores issues around the relationship between religious teachings and secular law, and pertains to LGBT equality in lots of different ways, when people use religious beliefs in ways that many in gay community would find to justify bigotry.”
Performance dates are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. through Jan 29, at St. Marks Episcopal Church, 3rd and A Streets, S.E. For tickets, go here or callĀ 202-546-9670.
‘Pocket operas’ series continue at the Source
Eight-time Helen Hayes award-winning director Joe Banno brings two more of the In Series’ “pocket operas” to the Source Theater weekends (8 p.m. with 3 p.m. matinees) until Jan. 22. The In Series, a small, performing arts organization has specialized for more than 25 years in an eclectic blend of opera, cabaret, theater and dance, and Latino-heritage productions.
This time it’s 19th century Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona’s “Maria la O,” a “Zarzuela,” the Spanish lyric-dramatic genre incorporating operatic and popular song, about a white plantation owner who must choose between the mulatta he loves, the Havana nightclub star Maria, and the aristocratic woman he is expected to wed. Love of course is darkened by betrayal and death. Mezzo soprano Anamer Castrello stars as Maria.
The other opera is Italian composer Ruggiero Leoncavallo’s world-famous 1892 opera “Pagliacci” (Clowns), where a troupe of entertainers visits a village and their show intertwines tragically with real life. The desperately sad clown Canio, destined to make the world laugh while he stands at the brink of self-destruction, is portrayed by tenor Peter Burroughs.
Tickets for $20-$39 at 202-204-7763 or inseries.org.Ā If you must miss this pairing in January, shows have been added in late April/early May at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street N.E.
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/nikki_hiltz_Olympics.jpg)
They ran like the wind, broke the tape at the finish line, and clutched their chest with the broadest smile on their face. Then Nikki Hiltz collapsed to the track, having set a new record in the 1,500-meter race at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials and earned a spot on Team USA.Ā
As the realization sank in that they would be representing the U.S. in Paris as an out transgender nonbinary athlete, what the Paris-bound Olympian did next was to scribble a message of LGBTQ representation on the last day of Pride Month, writing with a red marker upon the glass of the camera that records each athleteās signature on a whiteboard:
āI ā¤ļø the gays,ā they wrote, and above it, they signed their first name.
Hiltz, 29, finished the race on Sunday at the University of Oregonās Hayward Field in first-place with a final time of 3:55:33, breaking third-place finisher Elle St. Pierreās 2021 record of 3:58:03.
Hiltz credited St. Pierre, the top-finishing American and third-place finisher in the womenās 1,500 at the Tokyo Olympics, with motivated them and the other competitors to race faster. With a first lap time of 61 seconds, St. Pierre led the race for the majority of its duration. St. Pierre and Emily Mackay, who placed second, also both earned spots in the Paris Olympics.
āIf someone would have told me this morning that 3:56 doesnāt make the team, I donāt want to know that. Iām just in the race to run it and race it and thatās what I did,ā Hiltz said after the race. The Santa Cruz native who came out in 2021 as trans nonbinary told NBC Sports that the accomplishment is ābigger than just me.ā
āI wanted to run this for my community,ā Hiltz said, āAll of the LGBT folks, yeah, you guys brought me home that last hundred. I could just feel the love and support.ā
On Monday, Hiltz reflected on the race and how they became an Olympian in a post on Instagram.
āWoke up an Olympian. š„¹ Yesterday afternoon in Eugene Oregon a childhood dream of mine came true. Iām not sure when this will fully sink in ā¦ All I know is today Iām waking up just so grateful for my people, overwhelmed by all the love and support, and filled with joy that I get to race people I deeply love and respect around a track for a living. šā
Hiltz also shared a photo with their girlfriend, runner Emma Gee, and captioned it: āRemember in Inside Out 2 when Joy says āmaybe this is what happens when you grow up ā¦ you feel less joyā? Yeah I actually have no idea what sheās talking about. ššš¤ š¦ š„š«š·ā
They shared photos in their new Team USA garb, too.
While they will be the first out trans nonbinary member of the U.S. track and field team, Hiltz will not be the first nonbinary Olympian. That honor goes to Quinn, who played soccer for Canada in Tokyo and holds the record as the only nonbinary athlete to have won a gold medal. So far.
Many of the posts by Hiltz, Team USA and others have been trolled by bigots and ignoramuses who have mistaken them for a trans woman who was presumed to be male at birth and transitioned genders. Right-wing outlets and anti-trans activist Riley Gaines have commented on their victory and questioned their gender identity and decision to compete against cisgender women.
A female who identifies as trans earned a spot on the U.S. women’s Olympic team.
I wonder why she didn’t try out for the men’s team. It’s almost as if she understands she would never be able to compete or succeed at same level against the men.
Tellinghttps://t.co/M5Lj9G0aEi
ā Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) July 2, 2024
But in the spirit of the late Marsha P. Johnson, who famously said the āPā stood for āpay no mindā to the haters, Hiltz shared a photo of a handwritten motivational note to themself, which ends: āI saw a quote online the other week that said, ārespect everybody, fear nobody,ā and thatās exactly how Iām going to approach this final. I can do this.āĀ
And they did.Ā
a&e features
Rehobothās Purple Parrot still soaring after 25 years
Owners Hugh Fuller and Troy Roberts reflect on keys to their success
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240626_Chandler_at_Purple_Parrot_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
Two buildings, one romance, and 25 years later, the Purple Parrot is busy as ever.
If the tropical purple paint covering the outside with rainbow flags and walls covered with love notes, affirmations, and drunk wishes scribbled on dollar bills don’t indicate it already, the Purple Parrot is an institution in Rehoboth. The gay-owned and operated fixture is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.Ā
The Blade sat down with owners Hugh Fuller and Troy Roberts of the Rehoboth establishment to discuss the past 25 years and plans for the future.Ā
Fuller and Roberts, both gay, have been working together since before the Parrot was even an idea. Fuller was a co-owner of the Iguana, another restaurant and bar in the town. Ā
āI was in the Iguana first with another business partner,ā Fuller said. āI was going to get out and move up to Pennsylvania with him [Roberts]. He decided that he was going to come down and said, āWell, what if I go in with you at the Iguana and we do it together?ā And I was like, āAlright,ā so we did, and it just snowballed from there. We were always in the restaurant business together from the beginning.āĀ
āYeah, that was really luck, too,ā Roberts began. āBecause-ā
āBecause Grindr wasnāt around then!ā Fuller interjected, laughing as Roberts began to roll his eyes and smile.Ā
āI had a small place up in York,ā Roberts continued. āSelling that kind of gave us some money to buy the other guy out. We just had friends supporting us and helping us along the way and it just kind of worked.āĀ
āKind of workedā would be an understatement. The pair moved on from the Iguana and opened the Parrot. Then, after opening the Parrot, they decided to shift locations to a larger location down the street to accommodate the growing demand. Then in 2010, the Parrot expanded again, adding the land behind the Rehoboth Avenue location, which provided an additional 950 square feet as well as giving patrons access to Wilmington Avenue.
The bar and restaurant, which serves American cuisine with a beach flair, has always focused on being a welcoming space to all regardless of sexuality, gender, race, nationality, or identity. This, the duo explains, is one of the reasons why the restaurant has had such a lasting impact on the Rehoboth restaurant and gay communities.Ā
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240626_Purple_Parrot_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
āBack in the ā90s when we first opened up, the amount of straight crossdressers that would come were like, āOh, are we allowed to come in? Are we welcomed into a place like that?ā And we were like āEverybody that walks on this planet is welcome here!āā Fuller said. āThose are the kinds of things, you know, where people just felt comfortable. They would get stared at out on the street, but inside they would walk around and feel like they were in their own skin. It was just really cool to see.ā
The feeling of acceptance has been a crucial part of the Parrotās success.
āI got an email a couple of days ago ā probably two weeks ago about a woman bringing her daughter down,ā Roberts said. āShe’s 16 and was bullied through school ā hard times, depression, tried to harm herself a couple of times. It was just really sweet that she reached out and she’s like, āMy daughter was a completely different person when I brought her into your bar. Everybody treated her nice ā the bartenders, the waitstaff, I mean, everybody was friendly. She just doesn’t experience that often being an out 16-year-old lesbian. We just can’t even thank you enough.ā It’s those kinds of things that we get often.ā
ā[The mother] mainly wrote it because we put the Pride flag on the Parrotās Facebook wall,ā Fuller added.
The colorful lights, disco balls, and staggering number of dollar bills stapled to the walls highlight that the Rehoboth community has embraced the Parrot. Itās not uncommon to see a group of gay patrons sitting at the bar in bathing suits sipping on orange crushes and talking about their day at Poodle Beach while a bachelorette party belts out Lady Gaga on karaoke night in the room next door. That is the vibe Fuller and Roberts have curated ā a fun and friendly tropical oasis in the middle of Rehoboth Avenue.
A crucial element of this curated vibe, the pair point out, is treating employees and guests with respect. When asked what they have learned that helped them be so successful over the past 25 years, Fuller and Roberts said the same thing.
āPatience, organization, and treating people well,ā Roberts said.ā I think that’s probably one of the bigger of the three ā you treat them well and they treat you well. I think it’s just a mutual respect.ā
āIt took me about 30 years to learn that it’s not just all about work,ā Fuller said. āI used to bust my butt in there all the time and the focus was [on] the restaurant. I know [Roberts] said patience, I would say mine was being patient too because I learned going in that it’s easier to deal with your employees without shouting at them. It took me a little while to get through that.ā
He added that compensating staff fairly was also one of their keys to success.Ā
āBefore we take a nickel out of our business, we put $1 back into our employeesā pockets,ā Fuller said. We want the business to survive and it has been incredible.ā
Fuller added that this sentiment, of having patience and treating everyone with respect, goes both ways ā it applies to the Parrotās patrons as well.
āIf you leave the Parrot angry, it’s your own decision,ā Fuller explained. āIf we don’t make you happy there, it’s because you’re choosing not to be happy. We will go out of our way to correct anything and everything that we can. So if you leave [unhappy], it’s not because we couldn’t do it. It’s because you didn’t want us to.ā
The two discussed their history together ā anyone who has them interact can see their spirited energy and appreciation for each other.
āTroy and I used to be a couple when we first opened, and we were together for about 10 years,ā Fuller said. āAnd then we kind of went our separate ways, but the restaurant kept us in very close contact. Sometimes I think we’re probably closer than most couples are because of the way that the restaurant has us tied together.ā
āEven during the worst of it, we never stopped communicating on a daily basis,ā Roberts added. āObviously, you can tell by his personality why that all went south,ā he said laughing.
āWell, you can tell by the way that he looks why it went south.ā Fuller jabbed back, also laughing.
āHey!ā Roberts replied.
āI wasn’t gonna continue dating my grandfather!ā Fuller joked.
Despite the end of their romantic relationship, there was still clear evidence of perpetual good energy between the business partners. The two then started to reminisce about the past 25 years and the struggles and successes they overcame to reach this milestone.
The pair mentioned the two biggest struggles they have faced in the past quarter century. One was when Rehoboth Avenue was dug up for the Streetscape improvement project, and the second was the 2008 recession.Ā
āWe were refinancing our houses several times to keep it afloat there for a little while,ā Fuller said.
āBut hey, we got nice sidewalks now!ā Roberts added. āSo that’s good.ā
Itās not just the customers who grew up with the Parrot; so did the staff.
āI mean one of the kids who bussed for us is now our dentist,ā Fuller said.
āOne of the busboys from the Iguana days, he’s our dentist now,ā Roberts explained. āThey actually started dating in high school while working together at the Iguana. One of them followed us to the Parrot and her daughter just worked for us two summers ago as a host. He’s our dentist, and they’re still local. We just sold him a house over in Lewes, because we’re both Realtors on the side. When you look back at that, you’re like, āOh, my God, you were just a kid. And now you have a kid graduating college!ā It goes fast.āĀ
It seems that many of the staff have a soft spot for the Parrot, and for good reason. An important aspect of keeping their employees happy is supporting them. At first, it was trips to Disney World with some of the servers and renting out the local waterpark to give kids time to enjoy the summer. Then it became Christmas bonuses, which are not common in the food service industry.Ā
The Parrot helped raise more than $10,000 for one of their employees dealing with fallout from the war in Ukraine.Ā
āOne of our bartenders being from Ukraine, when all that went down, amazingly, how he was able to bring a lot of his family over,ā Roberts said. āAnd until they actually got grounded, he had places for them to stay all lined up.ā
āThe reason that he was able to get them over is because we did a fundraiser at the restaurant and our customers raised over $10,000 to help sponsor his family and one of our other employees’ families,ā Fuller said. āThey brought them all the way up through Mexico and into the country and now they’re here with citizenship cards and working for us. We got them houses and apartments too.ā
āWe don’t care what they are, whether they’re straight, Black, Chinese, Mexican. It’s like the Benetton of Rehoboth in here,ā Fuller added. āIt’s the United Nations. We support everybody and we’re not afraid to show our support for everybody.ā
In addition to reminiscing about some of the good things the restaurant has done for its employees, they both talked about notable guests of the Parrot.
āMy mind went right to the guys from Manhattan, who would always come down,ā Roberts said when asked if any guests have stuck out to him over the past 25 years. āThey just happened to find us. They had never been to Rehoboth before. They walked into the original Parrot and had every single year after that until two of them passed away. It just became like a yearly week, then it turned into two weeks, and then it turned into two times a year. And it was all just because they came to one bar, and had so much fun. They would sit there all day, all night, go home take a nap, and come back for dinner. And it was just their place.ā
They have faced some objections from those who were not as receptive to their tolerance of different people.
āWe get the same hate that everybody else does ā the same hate that the city got when they put the rainbow crossings in and the flag up,ā Fuller said. āI was just telling Troy about a conversation I had yesterday with a guy. The front of our business for Pride month has flags on it and says āHappy Pride.ā And he said, āI was going to come in here but I see you’re supporting the gay community with your rainbow flags.ā And I said āYes.ā And he goes, āWell, I don’t see why you don’t have flags for veterans.ā And I said,ā Well, as a veteran, I can tell you that we don’t serve to be recognized, we serve to protect and to give you guys your freedom. It’s not something that we want recognition for. But there is a flag, the American flag, that flies over the top of our business every day to represent the veterans of this country.āā
Despite the opinions of some who are less than welcoming of the LGBTQ community, the Purple Parrot will always be a safe space to celebrate, the two affirmed. And celebrate they will.Ā
The Parrot already hosted one party to celebrate the milestone of the bar early in the summer, but will throw an even bigger bash at the end of the season to commemorate the history and hard work that has gone into making the Parrot āfly.ā
āOn May fifth we had a big party,ā Fuller said. āWe’ll have another one at the end of the summer in September. We did one at the beginning and then we’re going to do a really big one at the end of the summer. The first celebration, that weekend, turned out to be a little rainy, and misty so it wasn’t as big as it could have been. It was packed inside but it wasn’t packed outside like it normally is. We usually do a full cookout barbecue, all that stuff and we’ll do that again at the end of the summer. We’ll have another one of those with DJs. I am not sure about a drag show, but we’ll probably have something because the girls are trying to get something together. We don’t want to spoil anything but there will be a surprise.ā
When asked to give their final thoughts on owning and running one of Rehobothās most successful businesses as gay men, the two made it clear that it has to be a safe and welcoming space for all for it to succeed.
āI think you have to be all-inclusive,ā Roberts said. āI don’t think in today’s world you can just really limit it to the gay community. You have to be gay-friendly, and accepting as well. And I think that helps because it gets non-gays in there and everybody just starts to get along. It becomes more accepted and then becomes the norm.ā
Fuller agreed but emphasized being true to oneās character in collaboration with being inclusive is the key to their success.
āBeing gay isn’t who we are, you know, it’s what we are,ā Fuller said. āYou can’t be afraid to be you. ā¦ If you’re going to open up a business, you want to make sure you lean on the community, because the community is going to be your biggest support. And that’s how we definitely lean on the gay community.ā
The Purple Parrot is located at 134 Rehoboth Ave. in Rehoboth Beach and is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and is open from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit their website at ppgrill.com.
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2023/10/Purple_Parrot_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_6_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
The 2024 New York City Pride Parade wound through the streets of Manhattan and past the historic Stonewall Inn on Sunday, June 30.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_21_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_2_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_15_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_12_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_18_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_8_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_13_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_10_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_Eric_Adams_New_York_City_Pride_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_3_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_Frankie_Grande_at_New_York_City_Pride_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_7_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_4_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_16_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_20_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_17_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_5_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_11_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_14_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_9_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_1_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/07/20240630_New_York_City_Pride_insert_19_c_Washington_Blade_by_Daniel_Truitt.jpg)
-
Canada2 days ago
Toronto Pride parade cancelled after pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt it
-
Theater5 days ago
Stephen Mark Lukas makes sublime turn in āFunny Girlā
-
Baltimore4 days ago
Despite record crowds, Baltimore Prideās LGBTQ critics say organizers dropped the ball
-
Sports4 days ago
Haters troll official Olympics Instagram for celebrating gay athlete and boyfriend