Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: Sept. 23

Parties, support groups, concerts and more through Sept. 29

Published

15 years ago

September 22, 2011

‘Sentinel-I’ is one of the reliefs by Mary H. Lynch on display at Touchstone Gallery. (Image courtesy of Touchstone)

TODAY (Friday)

Beat City, a queer lounge night, is tonight at Chief Ike’s Mambo Room (1725 Columbia Rd., N.W.) from 9:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. There is no cover for this 21-and-older event.

The Baltimore Improv Group will be performing at Creative Alliance at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave.) in Baltimore, tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16 for the general public and $11 for members. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit creativealliance.org.

FYM presents Eighties Mayhem, an ‘80s dance party, tonight at Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) with DJs Steve EP, Missguided, Killa K and Krasty McNasty. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at blackcatdc.com.

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) is having its weekly Bear Happy Hour tonight starting at 6 p.m. There is no cover for this 21 and older event.

Fahrenheit presents “Leche,” a new Latin night at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) featuring DJ Michael Brandon from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. This is a $7 cover after 10.

Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) has two exhibits on display, “The Nature of Joy” featuring pastels by Lou Gagnon and “Off the Square” featuring canvas wall reliefs by Mary H. Lynch. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 24

Raw, hosted by DJs Bil Todd and Shea Van Horn with special guest DJ Matt Bailer, will be at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. There will be an open bar from 10 to 11 p.m. There is a $7 cover. Attendees must be 21 or older.

D.C. VegFest is today at George Washington University at the University Yard from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is a free outdoor festival celebrating the best of everything vegetarian in and around the district. For more information, visit dcvegfest.com.

Today is the first of six square dancing classes being held by D.C. Lambda Squares from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a break for lunch. The classes are $155. For more information, email [email protected].

The National Book Festival starts today from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the National Mall. Normally a one day event, organizers have added an extra day on Sunday from 1 to 5:30 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit loc.gove/bookfest.

Manila Luzon and Carmen Carrera from the last season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will be performing at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) during the regular drag show tonight. Doors open at 10 p.m. and the show starts at 10:30. The cover is $8 until 11 and then $12. All attendees must be 21 or older.

Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents Hellmouth Happy Hour where every week an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” will be screened and drink specials will be offered. This week the episode is “Killed by Death.”

Out singer/songwriter Melissa Ferrick plays the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave.) in Alexandria tonight at 7:30 p.m. with Ria Mae. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at birchmere.com.

Throwback presents “Knock Out,” a ‘90s dance party tonight at Grand Central (1001 N. Charles St.) in Baltimore. DJ Madscience and Grand’s own DJ Arturo will be spinning. Doors open at 10 p.m. and there is a $5 cover.

Hope D.C., a men’s HIV-positive social group, is celebrating its 23rd anniversary at a private residence in Arlington at 7 p.m. tonight. For more details call 202-466-5783 or visit hopedc.org/events.

Sunday, Sept. 25

Ziegfeld’s (1824 Half St., S.W.) is having its 2012 Miss Ziegfeld’s pageant tonight honoring Sue Nami, Miss Ziegfeld’s 2011, and a live performance by Jen Corey, Miss District of Columbia 2009. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) is having a closing party for its weekly Guil-Tea dance party today at 7 p.m. featuring free T-shirts.

Monday, Sept. 26

The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is hosting an inter-generational dialogue between LGBT seniors and LGBT youth tonight starting at 6 p.m. For more information, email [email protected].

Teaching for Change’s Busboy’s & Poets is having an authors Joanne Smith, Meghan Huppuch and Mandy Van Deven to sign and discuss their new book, “Hey Shorty: A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in Schools and on the Streets” tonight at the 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.) at 6:30 p.m.

Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) now has beer pong every Monday from 8 p.m. to midnight upstairs featuring $8 pitchers and $2 drafts.

D.C. Different Drummers Capitol Pride Symphonic Band will rehearse tonight from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Reformation Lutheran Church, Capitol Hill (212 East Capitol St.). For more information, contact [email protected] or visit dcdd.org.

Tuesday, Sept. 27

The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is having a special event tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. for Gay Men’s HIV Awareness Day, honoring those who have been making a difference including author Justin B. Terry-Smith, Paul Kawata, executive director of the National Minority AIDS Council, and Jacob Pring.

Remington’s (639 Pennslyvania Ave., S.E.) is hosting D.C. Drag Idol tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. hosted by Raquel Savage Black. Admission is $5.

Wednesday, Sept. 28

D.C. Different Drummer’s D.C. Swing! group will rehearse tonight from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Reformation Lutheran Church, Capitol Hill (212 East Capitol St.). For more information, contact [email protected] or visit dcdd.org.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is tonight at Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar (1101 H St., N.E.) with The Machine and special guest DJs spinning alternative music and obscure dance tracks from the ‘80s tonight from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Attendees must be 21 or older for this cover-free event.

The Lambda Bridge Club is meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) across from Marine Barracks, for Duplicate Bridge. No reservations are needed and newcomers are welcome. If a partner is needed, visit lambdabridge.com.

Thursday, Sept. 29

The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) and Tongue in You Ear present the Brother Tongue Poetry Workshop series. Tonight is the second in a series of four workshops led by Regie Cabico, a three time National Poetry Slam finalist who has appeared on two season of HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam.” All sessions will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 for all four sessions. For more information and to register, visit thedccenter.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) is hosting a book release part for Aaron Anson’s new book, “Mind Your Own Life,” tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information on Anson and his book, visit his site, aaronanson.com.

Photos

PHOTOS: Capital Pride Festival and Concert

Annual LGBTQ celebration held on Pennsylvania Ave.

Published

14 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Washington Blade photography department

Maren Morris performs at the 2026 Capital Pride Concert on Sunday, June 21. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The 2026 Capital Pride Festival was held on Pennsylvania Ave. on Sunday, June 21.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key and Landon Shackelford)

Photos

PHOTOS: 2026 Capital Pride Parade

Large crowds attend annual LGBTQ march in Washington, D.C.

Published

2 days ago

June 21, 2026

Washington Blade photography department

David Archuleta is one of the Grand Marshals of the 2026 Capital Pride Parade. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The 2026 Capital Pride Parade was held in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 20.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key, Robert Rapanut and Landon Shackelford)

Theater

‘Feeling Afraid’ explores life of a neurotic stand-up comic

Navigating sex, work, and possibly love in London

Published

3 days ago

June 20, 2026

Patrick Folliard

Steven Webb in ‘Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen’ (Photo by DJ Corey)

‘Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen’
Through July 12
Studio Theatre
1501 14th St., N.W.
$55-$102
Studiotheatre.org

Wordily yet rightly titled, solo show “Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen” dives deeply into the world of a neurotic stand-up comic as he navigates sex, work, and possibly love in London.

Busy arranging hookups and dates on “The App,” the 36-year-old gay funnyman juggles a full dance card; still he’s never been in a romantic relationship. While he’s willing to give love a shot, he’s not pressed about it. As he says, he harbors no fear of dying alone.

Currently making its American premiere at Studio Theatre, this darkly humorous Edinburgh Fringe import features terrific out English actor Steven Webb as The Comedian who’s about to explore what it means to spend all his time with one man.

At Studio’s intimate Mead Theatre, Kat Heath’s minimal set says standard comedy club (fluorescent tube lighting, the mic with a long cord, a single stool backed by a rose-colored curtain), but gay playwright Marcelo Dos Santos has conjured something much more than a live comedy set.

Yes, The Comedian bounces onstage in his red Converse high tops, jeans, and pink shirt with a huge mouth emblazoned on the back, but he delivers more than jokes. At times hilariously self-deprecating, then dark, and occasionally a lesson on what makes standup work, this is a layered, well-acted piece.

With Webb (a keen caricaturist of types and voices) playing all the parts while conducting The Comedian’s hilariously frenetic interior monologue, “Feeling Afraid” takes us through a summer of love. It seems after six chaste dates with The American, our nervous hero has found Mr. Right. The American is earnest, smart, hesitant to initiate sex. He’s also well built with a beautiful smile. And strangely, he’s been medically advised not to laugh aloud.

The Comedian delights in the joys of new love: dates, first kisses, sex, and then suddenly spending all of his time with the adored. Visits to art galleries become fun. Eating home cooked meals followed by grim documentaries is a thing. The Comedian is beguiled as his own boyish figure fills out, but something isn’t right. He can’t entirely relax.

Along the way we meet the Aussie doctor, our protagonist’s longtime hookup; a young runner with some exceptional body parts; the random third in a failed threesome; grumpy working comics, male and female; and an ineffectual counselor.

Webb gives a lightning-fast performance that boggles the mind (in terms velocity and virtuosity). He can be impish, very impish. He’s nervous energy incarnate, flashing jazz hands, grimacing but handsome when still. He’s likeable, a necessity when delivering a hilariously rude joke just feet away from two stone-faced audience members. (Perhaps they were laughing on the inside? At any rate, they stayed through the end the show.)

Produced by the team behind Fringe hits “Fleabag” and “Baby Reindeer,” small stage works that were developed into major TV screen successes, “Feeling Afraid” is funny for sure, and it’s also highly confessional, sexually explicit, and raw.

Written by Dos Santos during COVID lockdown, the piece was a smash hit in the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe before finding further success in London. Its depiction of a youngish queer guy navigating the big city rings entirely true. Like so much Fringe stuff, the one-man show is delightfully lewd and standup inspired.

One little moan: the show closes cleverly but too abruptly with its star dashing offstage without sufficiently basking in the admiration and applause of his thoroughly chuffed audience.

They say third time’s a charm, and regarding “Feeling Afraid,” I’d agree. After two performance cancellations (first for laryngitis and the second involving faulty air conditioning on an especially muggy June evening), I made my third trek to Studio where I found both the actor and AC in very fine fettle. And truly, Webb’s work was more than worth the wait.