Tim Miller’s first experience in the national spotlight didn’t go so hot. The monologuist/activist made headlines in 1990 as one of the “NEA Four,” a group of artists denied individual grants because of the “questionable” content of their material. Since then, Miller has had the last laugh many times over: He scored a moral victory in a subsequent Supreme Court case, outlasted his nemesis Jesse Helms, and has quietly distilled his observations on gay life and his own quirky childhood into a series of funny, articulate one-man shows. Miller’s relationship with longtime partner Alistair McCartney provides the framework for an exploration of the issues surrounding same-sex marriage in Us. Though his narratives can be hyperpersonal to a fault, Miller remains a shockingly clever performer and incredible motivator; in Us, he simultaneously riffs on the camp quotient in Broadway musicals and builds a defense for marriage equality that’s airtight and urgent. Miller performs at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29, and Saturday, March 1, and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 2, at Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE. $22. (202) 269-1600. —Nick Green