Before the 2022 Capital Fringe Festival wraps up this year, be sure to catch these five women-created plays at the rebooted fest taking place in Georgetown. The festival’s second weekend runs from July 21 to 24.

The Body Show: It’s likely you’ll laugh and cry during this 60-minute performance featuring seven local storytellers discussing their complicated relationships with their bodies. (We’ve all been there, right?) Expect a spectrum of identities—these true stories address disability, trans identity, body size, fat, race, “what is healthy?” and more in an effort to find peace within ourselves and our bodies. The Body Show is composed and produced by local writer (who has previously contributed to City Paper) Mikala Jamison. July 23 at 7 p.m. and July 24 at noon.

Static: Noise of a New Musical: Making its world premiere at this year’s Fringe Fest is the original musical written, directed, and starring D.C.’s very own Tess Rowan. At 17 years old, Rowan created the 90-minute immersive adventure musical Static: Noise of a New Musical, which tells the story of teens Maine (Rowan) and Charlie on a detective mission to find Maine’s father who disappeared on the Appalachian Trail. The story combines musical theater, rock, folk, and—possibly the first ever musical to do so—immersive Morse code. Rowen wrote all 27 songs, and promises the show will feel like “an acoustic campfire sing-along mixed with a true-crime podcast.” July 22 at 6:15 p.m. and July 24 at 4:15 p.m.

I’m Just Doing My Job: One Woman Show by Diana Veiga: Born and raised in Silver Spring, D.C. resident and Spelman College grad Diana Veiga puts her hilarious spin on storytelling to talk about all the odd jobs she’s had over the years—from strip-club waitress to organizer, from bartender to government worker. Paying the bills has never sounded so funny and getting the job done has never felt so good. July 22 at 9:30 p.m. and July 23 at noon.

Strangers with Benefits: Helen Hayes nominee Christina A. Coakley directs this 75-minute provocative story from playwright Shadia Hafiz, in which two strangers attempt an ongoing, no-strings-attached hookup. Together they explore the idea of sexual soulmates, boundaries, kink, and sex as therapy. Hafiz, whose play was part of Keegan Theatre’s 2022 Boiler Room Series, stars alongside Harrison Smith. This one’s rated mature, with simulated sex and kink, partial nudity, and discussions of various traumas. July 23 at 8:15 p.m.

Sadec 1965: A Love Story: Flora Le, a D.C.-based storyteller, has turned her six-week solo trek through Vietnam into a 60-minute, one-woman show exploring love within complicated family dynamics. Le traveled to Vietnam, her estranged father’s homeland, upon learning of his cancer diagnosis, in an attempt to make sense of her memories and their relationship. She describes the show as “Motorcycle Diaries meets Eat, Pray, Love set in Vietnam.” July 23 at 7 p.m. and July 24 at 2:30 p.m.

I promised five, but I’ll give a special shout-out to Motherload by Jenna Hall and Justine Hipsky, in which the two best friends connect and overcome their complicated relationships with their own mothers.

Also, check out critic Ian Thal’s reviews of Green Machine and The Approach, and check our website for more reviews this week.

—Sarah Marloff (tips? smarloff@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• To see today’s COVID-19 data, visit our coronavirus tracker.
• Trump-backed Maryland gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox won the Republican nomination for governor. Cox, who pushed Trump’s false election fraud conspiracy, beat outgoing Gov. Larry Hogan’s pick, Kelly Schulz. Wes Moore is leading a competitive Democratic field, where results may not be available until later this week. [Baltimore Banner, AP]
• The race for Montgomery County executive between incumbent Marc Elrich and David Blair is still too close to call. In Prince George’s County, Angela Alsobrooks cruised to victory in the Democratic primary en route to a second term. [Maryland Matters, WTOP]
• Neo-Confederate activist and Christian nationalist Michael Peroutka won the Republican nomination to be Maryland’s next attorney general. The former Anne Arundel County Council member has refused to renounce the racist group League of the South, where he used to serve on the board. Peroutka will likely face U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown in the general. [Huff Post, Vice]

By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)