Photo by Jonathan Thorpe
(NEWARK, NJ) -- Comedian, writer, and actor Paris Sashay, known from her appearances on Comedy Central, Pause on HBO Max, and BET 50 Central, and her comedy special 'Unprotected Sets on EPIX,' will headline a lineup of LGBTQ comedians at Newark Culture Club on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 9:00pm.
Paris has worked with Michael Che, Dick Gregory, Wanda Sykes, Lil Rel, and Roy Wood Jr., offering her piercing insight on issues of the day. Just to name a few places, she's 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. She recently debuted her comedy album 'My Honest Ignorance' on all streaming platforms, which ranked #1 on Itunes upon release! As well as her viral TikTok comedy video 'I'm Picky With My Gay'.
Also on the bill are comedians Calvin S. Cato and Glo Butler, who were both listed by Time Out New York as LGBTQ+ Comics of Color to Watch. The evening also features Alisha Day and Harmonica Sunbeam, two of the most notable drag performers in the NYC area.
Tickets to the show include admission to an afterparty celebrating disco and house music featuring Newark Culture Club resident DJ BrighterDaze. The proceeds from the show and afterparty will be donated to the Newark LGBTQ Center.
Tickets are $20 and available for purchase online. Newark Culture Club is located at 563 Broad Street Newark, New Jersey.
Host Alisha Day is a Fabulous Drag performer born in Newark, NJ. She is an essential worker by day, working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By night she is a fabulous drag queen. Alisha is known for her high energy performances and fabulous hosting. She performs all throughout the tri-state area. Alisha Day is host and co-producer of Brick City Drag with her business partner Dr. Kareem Willis.
Brooklyn-based comedian Glo Butler has been seen on Comedy Central and at the New York Comedy Festival, and was named one of Time Out Magazine’s LGBTQ POC Comedians You Should Know. She hosts Glo in the City Live, a 10-year Black and POC queer comedy show.
Harmonica Sunbeam, The Comedy Queen, has been delighting audiences at nightclubs, cabarets, and fundraising events throughout the United States and abroad for over 27 years. Miss Sunbeam showcases her unique ability to uplift, encourage and engage children through the Drag Story Hour program where drag queens go into libraries, bookstores, festivals and other events to read books to kids of all ages. Since the inception of DQSH in the New York area, Miss Sunbeam has been featured in the NY Times and also interviewed for a now viral video on Buzzfeed.
Named one of Time Out New York’s LGBTQ Comics of Color to Watch Out For, Calvin S. Cato has dazzled audiences around the world. His on-air and radio appearances include Oxygen, Netflix, Sirius XM, RISK!, WIRED Magazine, and an unaired pilot for Vice Media called Emergency Black Meeting. His comedy has been featured in numerous festivals and events including San Francisco Sketchfest, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Gotham Storytelling Festival, Brooklyn Pride, and FlameCon. In early 2021, Calvin was published in Kweendom, an anthology of essays by queer comedians and entertainers.
Newark Culture Club is your one-stop shop for good times in Downtown Newark, New Jersey. They’re a locally-owned business that prides itself on providing unique, first-class products at affordable prices. Come enjoy their craft cocktails made with award-winning spirits sourced from Newark’s All Points West Distillery and sample their Black-owned beers and wines from Montclair and South Africa. Six days a week, their stage features comedy, music, and variety shows by the best up-and-coming and nationally renowned acts. On late nights, lounge and dance to the sounds of the best DJs in the tri-state area.
