The Real Black Swann: Confessions of America’s First Black Drag Queen
Open Space Arts
Open Space Arts
Open Space Arts
Open Space Arts
Open Space Arts
Open Space Arts
One Person Show, Pride
Runs Jul 18 – Jul 27, 2025
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.
Created and Performed by Les Kurkendaal-Barrett
Presented in association with Adam Weinstock Productions