Doug Rule

Washington, Washington, D.C.

Freelance writer/editor covering the arts, music, food and culture for various publications, most notably the GLAAD Media Award-winning Metro Weekly

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Articles

LGBTQ Choral Festival Brings the Gift of Song to WorldPride

2 weeks ago | metroweekly.com | Doug Rule

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C.On Presidents Day, a few singers with the Gay Men’s Chorus broke out into song while attending a large anti-authoritarian protest near the Capitol Reflecting Pool. Their a cappella rendition of the national anthem garnered what the New York Times reported as a warm round of applause from the crowd. Thea Kano, director of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, remembers how inspiring the moment was, and one encounter from that day that has stuck with her.
Bisexual Pop Singer Jill Sobule Left a Lasting Queer Legacy

1 month ago | metroweekly.com | Doug Rule

Jill SobuleMay got off to a sad start with news of the death of Jill Sobule, the trailblazing LGBTQ singer/songwriter. The 66-year-old died in a house fire in Woodbury, Minnesota on Thursday morning, May 1. According to a New York Times obituary, Sobule had been staying with friends while rehearsing for upcoming concerts in her home state of Colorado.
Mark Campbell Gives Steve Jobs the Opera Treatment

1 month ago | metroweekly.com | Doug Rule

The (R)Evolution of Steve Jobs“I had the original toaster-like Macintosh in 1984,” says Mark Campbell. “And I have been a devotee of Apple since.” Good thing, then, that he was asked to write the libretto for The [R]evolution of Steve Jobs with composer Mason Bates. Over the past two decades, Campbell has become one of contemporary opera’s leading librettists, winning a Pulitzer Prize and a Grammy Award, among other accolades.
John Grant Happily Talks About Everything and Everyone

2 months ago | metroweekly.com | Doug Rule

John Grant – Photo: HoĢrĆ°ur SveinssonāI was talking to a couple of homosexuals down in Melbourne, and they were talking to me about listening to Kylie,ā John Grant says rather gleefully, clearly relishing this anecdote from his recent tour of Australia. āAnd I was like, āShe came and guested at my show at Royal Albert Hall, and came on stage during āGlacier.āā The Aussiesā response? āThey were just looking at me like I had two heads on my shoulders.
Cherry 2025 Wields the Dance Power of the Elements

2 months ago | metroweekly.com | Doug Rule

Cherry 2024 – Photo: Ward Morrison“We’re expecting it to be more of a local crowd than typical, just because we have WorldPride around the corner,” says Sean Morris of next weekend’s Cherry — dubbed The Cherry Element — which is aiming for a more intimate vibe than usual. “And since it’s going to be a more local crowd,” the board president of the Cherry Fund continues, “we wanted to embrace the local DJ community and give our local DJs more opportunities.
Classical & Choral Music: Spring Arts Preview 2025

2 months ago | metroweekly.com | Doug Rule |Ryan Leeds |Randy Shulman

National Symphony OrchestraThe Spring-into-Summer offerings this year in the classical realm are as rich, diverse, and extensive as ever. There’s even a WorldPride-affiliated event here and there, including a two-day festival that will close out May in surely the gayest way ever up at Strathmore. But don’t think for a second that the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington is gonna take that lying down.
Broadway: Spring Arts Preview 2025

2 months ago | metroweekly.com | Ryan Leeds |Doug Rule |Randy Shulman

The Last Five Years: Nick JonasClassic tales with Hollywood heavy hitters dominate Broadway marquees this spring, along with two musicals about corpses, two other tuners with Latin flair, a beloved animated book character come to life, a singing cave dweller, a show based on a show, a family drama on politics, and a new twist on a Gilbert and Sullivan classic.
Above & Beyond: Spring Arts Preview 2025

2 months ago | metroweekly.com | Doug Rule |John Riley

Hillwood Museum & GardensHard to believe, but WorldPride 2025 is almost upon us. It’s sure to be a pride for the ages, with more — a whole lot more — than any before in our city’s now 50-year history of Pride. Yet, denizens of D.C. and the National Capital Region have plenty of reasons to be prideful all season long, thanks to a steady and ever-flowing stream of LGBTQ and allied artists, authors, comedians, celebrities, drag acts, DJs, storytellers, and extraordinary entertainers galore.
Popular Music: Spring Arts Preview 2025

2 months ago | metroweekly.com | Doug Rule |Randy Shulman |John Riley

Perfume Genius at the 9:30 ClubFor true fans of live music, and the whole concert-going and festival-going experience, Spring 2025 in the DMV is shaping up to be a banner season. And for those who’re also fans of queer music and of seeing LGBTQ performers live in concert? Well, we’re about to experience a real embarrassment of riches in that regard. And no, not just because of all those coming to town for WorldPride 2025.
Dance: Spring Arts Preview 2025

2 months ago | metroweekly.com | André Hereford |Ryan Leeds |Doug Rule |Randy Shulman

Weinberg Center for the Arts: The Great Gatsby – Photo: Will Bucquoy A robust fall/winter for dance in the DMV gives way to a lighter but still bountiful spring, with an impressive variety of utterly inviting events and performances to choose from — from Decolonized Beatz Indigenous World Pride at Atlas Performing Arts, and international troupe Compañía Medusa exploring queer themes at Dance Place, to several collaborators melding tap dance with different genres of movement and music to keep...