Party with Pride
Phillips after 5
Celebrate pride at Phillips after 5 with a fabulous evening of drag, drinks, music, art, and more, developed in partnership with Vagenesis!
- Be dazzled by a performance by Vagenesis, Empress Emeritus de Ardeur.
- Enjoy a live puppet show with Penny Pancakes (adults only, mature content).
- Join us for adult storytime with Dr. Torcher (Limited to 30 seats. Sign up starts at 6 pm, first come, first served. Adults only, mature content.)
- Singer-songwriter Be Steadwell performs in the Music Room.
- As you arrive, be greeted by Anja Dick on roller skates!
- Participate in a special, limited reservation QTBIPOC Soirée. Advance reservation required through Lavender Evolutions
- DJ Duchess from Eaton Radio Workshop will spin a special Pride themed set.
- Customize celebration headbands and sparkling beaded phone charms to bring to Pride festivities.
- Bread Furst specials: lobster and crab rolls in the House galleries; wine, beer, Aperol Spritz, and Orange Crush in the cafe.
- Enjoy Spotlight Talks led by Phillips Educators.
- Sample liqueurs from exclusive tasting partner Spirits & Spice.
Sponsored by
IMAGE: Sonja Sekula, African Moonsun, 1945, Oil on canvas, 24 × 29 7/8 in., Kunstmuseum Luzern, On view in Miró and the United States
Vagenesis
Penny Pancakes and Paige O’Malley
Dr. Torcher
Be Steadwell
Anja
About Vagenesis
Vagenesis is a prominent drag performer in the Washington, DC, area, celebrated for her distinctive blend of comedy, charisma, and activism. DC’s black bearded beauty began her drag career in 2018 and was the third winner of “DC Drag Wars.” Beyond her performances, Vagenesis is a dedicated activist, advocating for diverse forms of drag, queer individuals, and performers of color. She founded Black Label, a showcase highlighting Black queer artistry, and cofounded Highball Productions, a theatre company that produces drag parodies of famous musicals. She is the host of the DC Improv Comedy Club Drag Brunch and the DC-Area lip sync competition, Drag Duels.
About Be Steadwell
Be is a queer composer/filmmaker/author based in Baltimore. Be’s goal as an artist is to write love stories centering Black girlies, introverts and weirdos. Be released their debut romance novel Chocolate Chip City in 2025. Be currently tours their music and works as an adjunct lecturer at Howard University.
About Penny Pancakes
Paige O’Malley has been a professional puppeteer for over 2 decades. She currently works as the puppet mascot for DC Public Schools, voicing their beloved, non-binary character, Scribbles. Paige has performed on stages in 27 different states, during multiple national tours with Swazzle Puppet Studio, who also constructed her original character, Penny Pancakes! Penny is a tasty lil cut-up, a carb queen, and sassy as all get-out. Paige & Penny are regulars at the Puppet Company in Glen Echo, having performed many times in their ‘Witching Hour’ Adult Puppet and Drag show. They are excited to bring their naughty brand of whimsy to the Phillips after 5 this Pride season!
About Dr Torcher
Dr Torcher (they/them) is a DC-based drag king, standup comedian, fireeater, clown and legendary storyteller. They produced and hosted the debauched monthly variety spectacle, the DC Weirdo Show, for four sold-out years. This show was voted Best of Gay DC “Best Queer-Friendly Night Out” by the Washington Blade in 2019. Dr T is now a co-owner, performer and director with the innovative Highball Productions, creating hilariously high-quality drag parody theater. “Dr” is their PhD in Anthropology (seriously!) and “Torcher” is what happens to your heart when they light that flame …and EAT it!
About Anja Dick
Anja Dick is a singing comedian drag queen performing throughout the DMV and beyond. Known for her campy covers of pop, country, and Broadway hits, and her musical parodies and originals, she’s been lighting up the stage for almost 8 years.
