Connect with us

Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: June 22

Parties, events, concerts and more through June 28

Published

14 years ago

on

New Wave Singers, gay news, Washington Blade

The New Wave Singers, a choir of gay and straight members, performs Saturday afternoon in Westminster, Md. (Photo courtesy New Wave)

Today, Friday, June 22

D.C. Center is doing outreach at Town’s Bear Happy Hour (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight at 6:30. There is no cover charge. For details, visit thedccenter.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) is hosting its weekly Boy’s Life party tonight at 11. There is no cover charge and the party includes a open bar until midnight. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.

Whitman-Walker Health clinic is having HIV testing at Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) tonight at 10:30. Admission is $3 after 11. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Special Agent Galactica is playing Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) tonight from 6-9. Music includes pieces by Pat Benatar, Judy Garland, Stevie Nicks, Nancy Sinatra and Ray Stevens. Admission is free. For more information, visit pinkhairedone.com.

Phase 1 ( 525 8th St., S.E.) is holding its Vixen Variety Games of Thrones show tonight at 9 p.m. Admission is $10. For details, visit phase1dc.com.

Millennium Stage Performances presents, “Just Tap,” a performance by a D.C.-based tap dance company, tonight at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) starting at 6 p.m. The event is free. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

Saturday, June 23

The New Wave Singers, a chorus of LGBT and straight singers, perform today at Diversity Awareness Weekend hosted by St. Paul’s United Church of Christ (17 Bond St., Westminster) at 3. For more information, visit newwavesingers.org.

Burgundy Crescent is volunteering to set up for the Equality Garden Party: Celebrating Family and Friends today at the Samet Chateau (1000 Parrs Ridge Dr., Spencerville). The party is a fundraiser event by Equality Maryland. Volunteers are needed to set up from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and to work the actual event from 4-10 p.m. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.com.

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) celebrates DJ Randy Bettis’ newest GayDays CD tonight at 10. Cover is $8 before 11 pm and $12 after. For more information, visit towndc.com.

Club Hippo (1 West Eager St., Baltimore) hosts a dance party with DJ Jayson Royce tonight at 10. Cover charge is $6. For more information, visit clubhippo.com.

Sunday, June 24

PrimeTimers of D.C. are hosting an evening on the rooftop of the residences at Thomas Circle (1330 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.) from 4-7 p.m. There is complimentary valet parking and the evening will include drinks and hors d’oeuvres. This event requires attendees to RSVP. For more information, visit thedccenter.org

Busboys and Poets (1025 5th St., N.W.) is hosting a free screening of the film “Pariah” tonight at 8. The movie is focused on a adolescent African-American girl who is accepting her identity as a lesbian. For more information, visit busboysandpoets.com.

Monday, June 25

Author Ezra Nepon appears for a reading and discussion of the people’s history of progressive Jewish activism in the 1980s tonight at 7. The discussion will be at the DCJCC Library (1529 16th St., N.W.). The event is free but RSVP is requested. For details, visit thedccenter.org.

Whitman-Walker Health clinic (1104 8th St., S.E.) is holding its HIV Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. Registration is required to attend. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

Tuesday, June 26

A community conversation about how to promote pride in health is being hosted by the Whitman-Walker Health clinic tonight at the Metropolitan Community Church (474 Ridge Street, NW) starting at 7. The event is free. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Millennium Stage presents Serenade! Washington, D.C. Choral Festival at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 6 p.m. The performance showcases the best talent from around the world including Countermeasure and Imilonji KaNtu Choral Society. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

The FUK!T packing party is tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring friends and see how many FUK!T or TOOLK!TS they can pack in two hours. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) is hosting its weekly Flashback party with DJ Jason Royce tonight. There is no cover; 21 and older. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.

Wednesday, June 27

Whitman-Walker Health clinic is holding HIV testing at Walgreens (3524 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) in honor of National HIV Testing Day today from 3-7 p.m. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Hillyer International Arts and Artists (9 Hillyer Court, N.W.) is hosting a panel discussion of distinguished artists and curators about the Richard Prince legal case tonight at 7, a photo-related case about copyright issues. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit [email protected].

An HIV Prevention Working Group meeting tonight at 7 at the D.C. Center for the LGBT Community (1318 U St., N.W). This event is free. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Chi Cha Lounge (1624 U St., N.W.) is hosting speed dating for gay men in their 20s and 30s tonight at 7. You must be at least 21 to attend. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Lambda Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th Street, S.E., across from the Marine Barracks). No reservations needed and newcomers are welcome. Those needing a partner should visit lambdabridge.com.

Thursday, June 28

Millennium Stage presents “Quetzal” at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 6 p.m. The L.A. group blends Mexican and Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, R&B and rock. This event is free. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) meets tonight at 7 at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.). The goal of this group is to reduce violence against members of the LGBT community. For details, visit thedccenter.org.

The Lambda Sci-Fi book group meets tonight to discuss “God’s War” by Kammeron Hurley. Bring a snack and/or non-alcoholic drink to share. The group meets at 1425 S Street N.W. at 7 p.m. For details, visit lambdascifi.org.

The play “Cut/Uncut” by Steve Langley is being presented tonight at 7 p.m. at the Blackburn Center on the campus of Howard University (2397 Sixth Street, N.W.). It explores how the HIV/AIDS crisis brought disparate people together in the early ‘90s. It’s part of the D.C. Black Theater Festival which continues through July 1 and features several LGBT-themed productions. Ticket information and festival details are at dcbtf.org.

Related Topics:
Advertisement
FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM
SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST

Photos

PHOTOS: Capital Pride Festival and Concert

Annual LGBTQ celebration held on Pennsylvania Ave.

Published

14 hours ago

on

June 22, 2026

By

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)

Continue Reading

Photos

PHOTOS: 2026 Capital Pride Parade

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

Published

2 days ago

on

June 21, 2026

By

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)

Continue Reading

Theater

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

Navigating sex, work, and possibly love in London

Published

3 days ago

on

June 20, 2026

By

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.

Continue Reading

Popular