After more than 80 years, Arlington Cinema Drafthouse is the only remaining theater in Arlington County from the 1930s and 1940s cinema boom period.
The theater, which opened on Aug. 15, 1940, is continuing that legacy this summer and fall as it continues to host live shows by comedians with national profiles.
Below are some highlights of the upcoming schedule.
1. Aaron Weber (Aug. 12-13)
Aaron Weber is a stand-up comedian based in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a regular performer at the Grand Ole Opry. Weber headlines comedy clubs across the country and has been named a New Face 2021 at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival.
2. Joe Hill & Friends (Aug. 18)
Joe Hill, a Bronx native, is a stand-up comedian, producer, and writer currently generating buzz on the national comedy scene. Hill has played at various comedy clubs nationally as well as headlined his national comedy tour, “This is Joe Hill.”
3. Punkie Johnson (Aug. 19-20)
Punkie Johnson is a comedian and writer from New Orleans who joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 2020. Johnson was a New Face at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in 2019 and is currently a series regular on the upcoming season of “Love Life” (HBO Max).
4. Shuler King (Aug. 25-27)
Shuler King is a comedian originally from Sumter, South Carolina. King knew at an early age he was destined to be an entertainer, as he was the kid known for cracking jokes. King says, “comedy isn’t about being happy all the time. Comedy is just as much about pain that people endure. When you hear 20,000 people in an arena laugh at a joke it’s because they all can relate to experiencing that same pain.”
5. Paris Sashay (Sept. 2-3) and Paris Sashay and Friends (Sept. 4)
Paris Sashay is a comedian, actor, writer, and producer currently residing in New York. Sashay has highlighted performances at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montréal, along with appearances on Comedy Central, “Pause” on HBO Max, and BET 50 Central. She has performed at The Howard Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Caroline’s on Broadway, Hollywood Improv, The Comedy Store, and is a regular at The Comedy Cellar.
6. Jon “Polar Bear” Gonzalez: Whispanic Causing Panic Tour (Sept. 8)
Jon “Polar Bear” Gonzalez is a stand-up comedian, podcaster, and entertainer living in the heart of Texas. Polar Bear found success through the release of multiple comedy skits which went viral on Facebook and TikTok and have toured all over the country.
7. Chad Daniels (Sept. 16-17)
Chad Daniels is one of the most listened to comedians of all time, with close to a billion streams of his six albums to date. Originally from, and still residing in, Minnesota, Daniels has been touring the country for over 20 years. He has made six late-night appearances to date, and is one of only 13 comedians to be featured on ‘The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.”
8. Pour Minds (Sept. 18)
Drea and Lex, Houstonians residing in Atlanta, navigate their way through life, friendships, and dating together. The two discuss all the hot topics while enjoying their favorite glass of wine — it’s just like a good therapy session with friends.
9. David Koechner (Sept. 22-24) and Office Trivia w/ Real Todd Packer (Sept. 24)
David Koechner is an actor, writer, and producer, known for his roles as Todd Packer on “The Office” and Champ Kind on “Anchorman” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.” Koechner is an alumnus of Chicago’s Second City Theater, receiving his first break as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live.” In addition to live stand-up, Koechner will host an “Office” trivia contest during which teams will compete for mediocre prizes while hearing behind-the-scenes stories from the “Pack-man” himself.
10. More shows coming this fall
Ryan Hamilton, Brandon Broady, Paul Farahvar, Jimmy Dore, Adam Ferrara, Steve Wrigley, Devin Siebold, Desi Alexander, Brian Posehn, Dulce Sloan, Omar Terrell, Rachel Feinstein