By Winnie McCroy

Black queer playwright Lee Edward Colston II celebrates the West Coast premiere of The First Deep Breath, which follows the aftermath of a Baptist pastor and his family after the death of his daughter. When the eldest son returns from prison, family secrets are finally revealed. When it opened in 2019, this former correctional officer and MMA fighter’s work was named “one of the best Chicago plays of the decade.” Through March 5 at Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets at geffenplayhouse.org Opens Feb. 1

Sam Morrison recounts meeting his late partner at a gay bear festival, and finding hope and humor in grief after his passing in Sugar Daddy, through Feb. 17 at SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St., NYC. $36. Tickets at sohoplayhouse.com/sugar-daddy Opens Feb. 1

Unitard’s Nora Burns puts Our Town through a queer 1970s lens in her acclaimed play, The Village! A Disco Daydream, back by popular demand through Feb. 24 at Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie St., NYC. $20-28. Tickets at Dixonplace.org Opens Feb. 2

Kathleen Warnock presents Rock the Line, a play set in the parking lot of a Rust Belt rock club mid-‘90s, where a group of fans waits to see their idol, rock icon Patti Roxx, up close and personal. Wed-Sat at 7 p.m. at The Flea Theater, 20 Thomas St., NYC. Tickets at redeyetickets.com/rock-the-line Through Feb. 4

GMHC’s Cabaret & Howard Ashman Award  honors the legendary André De Shields for his historic courage in speaking out for decades about being a Black queer man, long-term HIV survivor and a fierce activist for people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, and the LGBTQ+ community. This star-studded event features Broadway actors and celebrities performing beloved Broadway classics and the latest hits. Proceeds from the cabaret will directly support GMHC’s lifesaving programs, which benefit thousands of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS each year. 6 p.m. at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. in NYC. $75-100. Tickets at publictheater.org Feb. 6

I get so emotional, baby, for Kevin Smith Kirkwood’s newest incarnation, Classic Whitney, Alive! The Season of Love Show. Enjoy performances by Ashanti J’Aria as Cece Winans, Nick Drake as Deborah Cox, and Andre Revels as Bobby Brown, with musical director Drew Wutke. $30. 9:30 p.m. at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St., NYC. Tickets at publictheater.org Feb. 7

Xavier Smith's Ladies of Soul Tribute began initially as a cover song Xavier recorded and gifted his friends each Valentine’s Day, along with iconic album art meticulously recreated with Xavier morphing into the artist. The love for these covers spread, and evolved into the tradition of assembling friends, musicians, and fans together each year to celebrate the songs. $30 plus $12 food/drink minimum. Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. in NYC. Tickets at https://publictheater.org Feb. 9

Jill Sobule of “I Kissed A Girl” fame stages her acclaimed new queer musical F*ck7thGrade, a musical memoir of the not-so-good old days. Through Feb. 11 at wild project, 195 E. 3rd St., NYC. $45-55. Tickets at thewildproject.org Through Feb. 11

Based on Thomas Mallon’s 2008 novel, Fellow Travelers dives into the double lives of queer men amid Joe McCarthy’s lavender scare, which aimed to eradicate “sexual subversives” from government employment. Composed by Virginia native Gregory Spears, the opera premiered in June 2016. This is the first time the piece will be performed through Virginia, at assorted venues in Fairfax and Richmond. Tickets at vaopera.org/fellow-travelers Through Feb. 12

Enjoy Two in the Pink, a Valentine’s Day drag cabaret with Pink Pancake and Plasma full of buffoonery, backstory, and butt stuff, featuring the Benjamin Young Quintet. $20-100 plus $20 drink minimum. 7:30 p.m. at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard St. in NYC. Tickets at slipperroom.com Feb. 13

Help raise funds for The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation and BC/EFA at this one night only benefit cabaret with the touring cast of Mean Girls: An Evening of Music & Comedy. Special guests D’Arcy Drollinger and America’s Got Talent star Shawn Ryan. $45-100. 7:30 p.m. at Marines’ Memorial Theater, 609 Sutter St., San Francisco. Tickets at ONO-MeanGirls.eventbrite.com Feb. 13

Lea DeLaria returns to Joe's Pub with her annual celebrated show, Fuck Love, this year featuring Special Guests Kate Rigg and Lilli Cooper. 9 p.m. at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. in NYC. $35. Tickets at publictheater.org Feb. 14

Thirsty Girl Productions presents Filthy Gorgeous Burlesque Valentine’s Spectacular! Join hostess Wilfredo and a bevy of burlesque beauties including Gigi BonBon, Audrey Love, Mr. Gorgeous, Lilin, Alyssa Kitt, Ignacia and Miss Saturn with music by Queen Esther and DJ Momotaro. 8 p.m. at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, NYC. $20-70. Tickets at lpr.com Feb. 14

Playwright Donja R. Love’s play One in Two draws its name from the CDC statistic that half of U.S. Black men who have sex with men will be diagnosed with HIV during their lifetime. Love wrote the piece a decade after his own diagnosis. Through March 19 at Pride Arts, 4139 N. Broadway St., Chicago. $20-25. Tickets at pridearts.org Opens Feb. 16

Justin Vivian Bond Delivers a Julie Valentine in this inspired flight of fancy that finds Mx. Bond creating a play list for Julie London’s imagined, unrecorded record, A Julie Valentine, the follow-up to her under-played, and under-appreciated 1968 pop album, Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, her final release from Liberty Records. $55 6 p.m. at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette Street in NYC. Tickets at publictheater.org Feb. 16-18

The Center's Young Leaders partners with nightlife maven Susanne Bartsch to present New York, New York—A Bartschland Benefit a risqué cabaret extraordinaire from some of the best variety performers New York City has to offer. Hosted by comedian and entertainer Murray Hill, the show will feature iconic performances by Amanda Lepore, Joey Arias, Joseph Graham, Leonid the Magnificent, Lola Von Rox, Neon Calypso, Nina La Voix, Precious, and more. This one-night-only show will benefit the life-saving programs and services that The Center provides to thousands of LGBTQ+ community members throughout the year. $50-275. 9 p.m. at Sony Hall, 235 W. 46th St. in NYC. Tickets at gaycenter.org/newyorknewyork-registration Feb. 28

Tony Award-winning star of stage and screen John Cameron Mitchell joins forces with international cabaret star Amber Martin for Cassette Roulette, a world premiere evening of songs, stories, and characters plus special guest surprises. 6 p.m. at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. in NYC. $55-85. Tickets at publictheater.org Through Feb. 26  

Anthony Rapp’s Without You reimagined what musical theater could be in the 20th century, from his best-selling memoir about his experience into a stage show backed by a five-piece rock band. Through April 30 at New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St. NYC. $134-384. Tickets at withoutyoumusical.com Through April 30