The Real Black Swann: Confessions of America’s First Black Drag Queen

A fearless, funny, and deeply personal solo show that resurrects the lost legacy of William Dorsey Swann—the first known drag performer and queer activist in U.S. history, a formerly enslaved man who in the 1880s crowned himself “The Queen of Drag” and hosted underground balls in Washington, D.C. Creator and performer Les Kurkendaal-Barrett channels Swann’s spirit while reflecting on his own life as a Black, gay performer navigating love, visibility, and the winding road to adoption with his husband.

Tickets $30.00 general, $25.00 seniors and students