Category Archives: Comedy
Out Lesbian Comic Judy Gold at UP COMEDY CLUB March 14-16th
JUDY GOLD! Coming to Chicago
star of the critically acclaimed long-running Off Broadway hit show 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother, for
which she was nominated for a 2006 Drama Desk Award.
Show”. She was nominated twice for The American Comedy Award’s funniest
female stand-up. She has also appeared on Ugly Betty, The Glades, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, Hollywood Squares, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Conan O’Brien Show, to name a few. This funny lady HAS DONE SO MUCH!
Comedian Paula Poundstone Performs at AFC Dinner April 18, 2013
Renowned comedian Paula Poundstone will grace the stage as the guest of honor at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s (AFC) annual Spring Dinner on Thursday, April 18 at the Hilton Chicago.
Armed
with nothing but a stool, a microphone and a can of Diet Pepsi,
Poundstone’s sharp wit and raw honesty promise an evening of
intellectual diversion and unrelenting humor.
This laugh-out-loud event will also honor two of Chicago’s finest philanthropic men, Robert Neubert and Randy Duncan for their commitment to fight against HIV/AIDS.
Funds
raised through the Spring Dinner will support AFC’s policy, outreach
and public education programs. AFC is the largest source of private
HIV/AIDS philanthropic support in the Midwest. To learn more visit www.aidschicago.org.
WHEN: Thursday, April 18
5:30 – 6:15 p.m. Reception
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Dinner and evening program, featuring stand-up performance by Paula Poundstone
8:45 – 10:00 p.m. After hours meet & greet with Paula Poundstone (Premium and VIP guests)
WHERE: Hilton Chicago, Grand Ballroom – 720 South Michigan Ave., Chicago
TICKETS: General admission: $250 — Reception and dinner
Premium admission: $350 — Reception, dinner and after hours meet & greet with Paula Poundstone
VIP
admission: $500 — Reception, dinner, after hours meet & greet with
Paula Poundstone and tickets to exclusive event with renowned
choreographer Randy Duncan (to be held at a later date)
For tickets and information,
www.aidschicago.org/
Queer Comedy Night at Zanies February 26th
Queer
Comedy at Zanies has been named the Advocate.com‘s “9 LGBT Friendly
Comedy Shows You Should Be Supporting,”
Queer Comedy at Zanies favorite Matteo Lane, hosted by Bill Cruz
(Chicago Underground Comedy) and featuring New York based comic Jami
Smith (The Advocate) and Kelsie Huff (Feminine Comique.)
Presented by Outloud Chicago, OutLoud Chicago
is a series created by Adam Guerino to bring queer entertainment to
mainstream Chicago venues. Queer Comedy at Zanies showcases the best
queer and straight comedians of the country who have appeared on Comedy
Central, BET, TBS Just For Laughs, A Night At The Apollo and Last Comic
Standing. Each show has continued to show that no matter if the
comedians or audience members are queer or straight, laughter knows no
sexuality.
Headlined by Queer Comedy at Zanies favorite,
Matteo Lane. When Lane isn’t making murals for President Obama, or
creating storyboards for televised commercials, he is a national
stand-up comedian. He is the host of the show Abigoliahs Bizarre Bazaar
with Matteo Lane in Brooklyn and regularly performs in New York and
Chicago at venues including Zanies, Comedy Bar and more. For more from
Matteo Lane, www.MattLaneArt.com.
Hosted by Bill Cruz. Cruz is a cast-member of Chicago Underground
Comedy and a regular at Zanies comedy club and Mikey O comedy shows.
Outside of Chicago, Bill has been a finalist at the Cleveland Comedy
Festival, a featured performer in the OutLaugh 2005! Los Angeles Gay and
Lesbian Comedy Festival and has been featured in the book Out On The
Edge: America’s Rebel Comics.
Featuring Jami Smith. Comedian
and humorist for Advocate.com, Jami Smith has quickly carved out a space
for herself in the gay comedy scene. She has performed alongside such
as acts as Erin Foley, Dana Goldberg, Jason Dudey, and Sandra Valls and
has been seen in the 2011 Women in Comedy Festival as well as comedy
clubs in New York, DC, and Los Angeles. She also hosts a comedy Twitter
feed for The Advocate called @Gaysayer and was voted one of the “Top 25
Twitter Accounts To Follow” by Gay.com. Follow Jami on Twitter for show
updates and jokes at @jamismithcomic.
And Kelsie Huff. Huff is a
cast member of Comedy Sportz 100 Proof Comedy and teaches Feminine
Comique, an all female stand up class produced by Tight Five Productions
and can be seen performing stand-up comedy at venues such as Zanies,
Chicago’s Laugh Factory, Mayne Stage, and throughout the suburbs as well
as touring her critically acclaimed one-woman shows“Huffs,” and
“Bruiser: Tales from a Traumatized Tomboy.” For more from Kelsie, www.kelsiehuff.com.
Tuesday February 26th at 8:30pm, Zanies Comedy Club 1548 N Wells.
Tickets are $10 in advance (call the club or visit the Zanies website)
or $15 or at the door. Audience members must be ages 21 or over. com.
Double Feature Holiday Shows, NOT TO BE MISSED
Santa’s Dead! &
The company that brought you SNOW WHITE AND
THE SEVEN DRAG QUEENS, TWINKIE AND THE BEAST and ALEX IN WONDERLAND are
premiering something new this holiday season!
Giving homage to classic
noir films and Christmas television specials, MidTangent Productions
presents a dazzling and daring musical double feature like no other!
SANTA’S DEAD!
It was just a few days until Christmas. All over the world, children
anxiously awaited that morning when all their dreams would come true.
The elves at the north pole worked and worked. The reindeer were
groomed, the toys were made, and the candy canes were bent.
All seemed
quite well, but one person wasn’t happy and she was going to make sure
that this Christmas she finally got what she wanted! Mrs. Claus and her
conspiring lover, Bubba, had a plan up their jolly sleeves. The elves
suspected foul play. With the help of a private dick and the Queen of
the North Pole, these elves were going to get to the bottom of this, but
they had to hurry! With just a few hours until Christmas, could Mrs.
Claus and Bubba get away with this horrible crime? Would Santa be
avenged? Would the reindeer survive the cold after being completely
shaved due to scabies infection? These mysteries and more to be solved,
crime-fighters!
DIRTY CAROL’S CHRISTMAS
Welcome to Dirty Carol’s Christmas; a party like no other! Come join us
for a little singin’, a little dancin’, and a lot of drinkin’! Your host
for the evening, Dirty Carol, will keep you entertained while trying
her best to get into anyone’s pants. Both family and friends will stop
by to share some Christmas memories and perhaps a song (or seven). This
isn’t your typical holiday party, so leave the warm fuzzies at home,
because Dirty Carol and her friends will leave you feelin’ Dirty!
Performance Dates:
Fridays and Saturdays: through December 22
All show times 9:00pm
Tickets are $10
Shows are 21+
Written by MTP Artistic Director Tony Lewis and company members Aaron
Michael Adamkiewicz and Karla Meyer, these shows continue MTP’s
dedication to bringing original works with a familiar twist to the
Chicago GLBTQ community. This production features many MTP Artistic
Ensemble members both in front and behind the curtain and will have
surprise guest appearances and live entertainment between these one-act
shows.
HYDRATE 3548 N. Halsted
A Very Mary Christmas with Ru Pauls Drag Race Star MIMI IMFURST
I have been a fan of Mimi Imfurst, long before Ru Paul ever even had his first thought for a drag race show!
I think it was about 2007, I was in New York city and heard about this outrageous queen who did this crazy over-the-top campy holiday show,
“A Very Mary
Christmas.”
Conceived and delivered by writer/performer Mimi Imfurst and
composer/lyricist/arranger Mike Pettry (winner of the 2007 Jonathan Larson and
Fredrick Loewe Awards), the show ran every year at Don’t Tell Mama. It was the holiday MUST SEE SHOW!
“Over 2000 years ago in the little hillside town of Bethlehem a miraculous birth occurred….” You might think you know the real story, but you don’t. At last, Jesus’ mother sets the record straight. ‘A Very Mary Christmas’ is a musical retelling of the months leading up to the birth of Christ, as told by the Virgin Mary. With the help of her sidekicks — the jazz trio The Three Weissmans — Mary also shares the intimate details of her relationship with her boyfriend God, her love for her husband Joey, and her journey to stardom,” explain press notes.
‘A Very Mary Christmas’ features parodies of holiday songs including We Need A Little Christmas, Like A Virgin and Joy To The World. Highlights include a finger puppet show and an audience sing along. Called “worst than the sin of abortion” by religious extremist organizations and hailed as “twisted” by the Catholic Advocacy Coalition, see the show that asks: Do you really know the people you pray to?
MIMI brings her classic Christmas show to Hydrate, Dedc. 13th, 2012. Hydrate and Absolut are proud to present, RuPaul’s All Star Drag Queen, MIMI IMFURST!
Move over Lady Gaga, the Madonna – the Virgin Mary is back after 2000 years and ready to set the record straight, so to speak.
Drag Queen commedianne Mimi Imfurst, plays the Virgin Mother and is
ready to make the yuletide gay! Oy Vey Maria, there’s a stranger in the
manger!
General Admission tickets are only $10! $15 at the door.
$25 VIP includes hosted Absolut bar 8-9pm and preferred seating. THESE WILL GO FAST!
You do not want to miss this hysterical Christmas show!!!
Loni Love comes to Up Comedy Club Dec. 6-9
Loni Love has been a comedy favorite ever since she started spouting witty one-liners on VH1’s flagship I Love the…
series. But now this engineer-turned-comedian has become the go-to
woman for several funny quips and segments taking up space (thankfully
so) on DVRs across the country.
I first fell in love with Loni when she was on Star Search in 2003.
Love has been named by Variety as “one of the top 10 comics to watch”
and regularly appears as a round table panelist on E!’s “Chelsea
Lately.”
Loni has a big gay following and she emceed the Equality Awards for Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth.
” It
was great. I learned a lot — because it was for Long Island, there were
24 senators who actually voted for the marriage equality act. Some of
them were honored there, and it was really like an overall push. They’re
trying to raise funds so that senators that believe in equality can
still stay in office. There are some threats to them for being voted out
of office. A lot of it has to do with them being voted out of office
because they don’t have the money to campaign. It was a really good
event — they also honored a couple of other actors and it was really
nice.”
She IS NOT a lesbian. But when asked, If someone decides to start a lesbian rumor about you, do you think that would mess up your game?
“No,
because in my act everybody knows I talk about the lesbians and how I
feel about them. If they know me and they know my act, they know that it
would be a rumor. I won’t lie — it probably would help me! [Laughs] It would probably help my game.”
Love is not a one-note performer. She has opinions on a multitude of
subjects and puts an amusing spin on politics in particular. In
explaining Barack Obama’s black and white sides, one of the examples she
gives is that he travels with an entourage (white), but they ride in
Cadillac Escalades (black).
An admirer of Obama (except for his dancing [white]), she speaks of
his intelligence and intellectualism. “We went from a president that
would make up words to a president that would make us look up words when he talked.” She frequently tweets her political thoughts.
Loni’s first love is performing for live audiences. She puts it quite simply “I love to make people laugh!” And you can catch her live in Chicago at UP COMEDY CLUB. Dec. 6-9th. Performing 6 shows. $17-$20.
UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave, 3rd Floor
GET TICKETS ONLINE NOW
(312) 662-4562
Judy Tenuta Benefit Sept 6th Laugh Factory
Judy Tenuta,
the accordion-playing comedienne and self-proclaimed “Love Goddess”, is
returning home to Chicago next month as part of her national tour – and
you can support Pride Films and Plays
by purchasing tickets to her opening night on Thursday, September 6, at
the Laugh Factory (3175 N. Broadway). Tickets are only $20, and the
full amount goes to Pride Films and Plays as a donation, courtesy of The
Laugh Factory. The performance begins at 8 pm and features Greg Glienna
and host Bill Cruz. Click here to purchase tickets.
Pride Films and Plays
is dedicated to comprehending the history of great gay writing and
fostering its excellence in new works for the stage and screen. Their
upcoming 2012-13 season will include the world premieres of Sean
Chandler and David Leeper’s play, At The Flash, and Leo Schwartz’s musical, Under a Rainbow Flag, as well as a 20th anniversary revival of Jonathan Harvey’s coming-of-age classic, Beautiful Thing. Click here to purchase season passes.
Gay Comedy Show on Southport at SOPO June 21
A night of Comedy!
$5 Donation $5 Martinis and $5 Wraps and Appetizers!
Thursday June 21 at Sopo Lounge 3418 N. Southport
$5 donation will be benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation!
Fortune Feimster Kicks off Gay Pride Weekend for Back Lot Bash
Back Lot Bash is an outdoor live music and
entertainment festival started in 2004 by three Chicago women. Back Lot
Bash is now one of the most highly anticipated and attended pride weekend
events for lesbians in the country.
Showcasing local and emerging musicians as well as established
performers of different genres, Back Lot Bash highlights unity, equality
and inclusiveness in an environment that is festive and celebratory of
everyone in our community.
Thursday’s Comedy Kickoff event will be held at Mayne Stage Theater
1328 W. Morse Ave in Chicago.
Fri/Sat/Sun will be in the heart of
Chicago’s diverse Andersonville neighborhood at 5238 N. Clark St.,
Chicago 60640. Back Lot Bash is easily accessible by both of Chicago’s
major north side highways and by public transportation.
This years line up is awesome! With 4 days of events!
Lesbian comedian from the Chelsea Lately show, Fortune Feimster makes her Chicago debut on Thursday 21st with a night of comedy.
Get ticket info and complete details at Back Lot Bash Chicago
Second City to offer Writing GLBT Comedy June 25-29
The Second City Training Center
Puts the “Funny” In
“Funny That Way”
Building on the traditional week-long immersions in Improv, Comedy Writing, and Acting held each summer, The Second City Training Center is piloting a new course titled ‘Writing GLBT Comedy’, set to run June 25-29.
Students will explore comedy where ‘gay’ is the given, not the punchline. They will discover their comedic point of view while creating memorable characters, scenes and songs that go beyond easy stereotypes.
From budding writers to experienced performers to working writers, students will take on assignments customized to their interests and experience.
No matter where students fall in the LBGTQIA alphabet, this course will give them the tools to strengthen their comedic voice and take on topics both personal and political.
Taught by Andy Eninger. Monday June 25 to Friday, June 29.
10am-1pm each day.About Andy Eninger:
Andy is the Head of the Writing Program at Second City’s Training Center, and was a founding member of Chicago’s GayCo Productions. This Summer, he will appear in “Steamworks! The Musical” for the Annoyance Theater and, hopefully, finish a screenplay about assassins.
About The Second City:
For fifty years The Second City has created a wealth of comedic material from a legendary group of performers. The Training Center follows the traditions developed by these groundbreaking and innovative men and women while encouraging the continued growth and development of the art forms of comedy and improvisation. Today, The Second City Training Center is the largest school of improvisation and sketch comedy in the world, offerings courses for all ages and experience levels.
JACKIE BEAT Brings NUTCRACKER to Chicago Dec. 9
Drag superstar JACKIE BEAT
has been
entertaining audiences across the U.S. and in Europe for over two
decades with her razor-sharp comedy and hysterical song parodies.
Jackie not only warps hits by Britney Spears, Madonna, Mary J. Blige,
Christina Aguilera, Cher, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Mariah Carey and many
others, but she flawlessly sings her twisted new versions LIVE — hitting
every last note.
Her hilarious music videos on YouTube
are huge hits that have been seen by millions of people. Her one-woman
show “Jackie Beat Is A Whole Lotta’ Love” ran a record 18 months at
NYC’s premiere cabaret, Fez, and she returns to The Big Apple every year
with her award-winning, standing-room-only holiday show.
FRIDAY DEC. 9th
ONE NIGHT ONLY
Jackie brings her outrageous NUTCRACKER to Chicago
@ Hydrate, 8pm.
THIS IS A MUST SEE SHOW!!!
She is one of the Fashion Police in US Magazine. She says, ” It’s always big fun to make fun of people who are younger, thinner and more successful than I am!”
Jackie’s stand-up has been featured in
comedy clubs across the country and on Comedy Central, VH-1 and MTV.
She was a staff writer for the WB comedy series “Hype!”, has written for
the Sci Fi Channel and was one of US Magazine’s Fashion Police top
cops. Her scathing song parodies have been featured on America’s Top
Forty with Ryan Seacrest, The Howard Stern Show, Much Music TV, Yo on E!
and PerezHilton.com.
She has appeared on many TV shows such
as “Sex and the City” and in several movies including “Flawless” with
Robert DeNiro, the MEGA festival hit WIGSTOCK
(with LADY BUNNY and RuPaul) and the camp cult
horror favorite “Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver.”
Jackie has toured with Roseanne Barr as her opening act (including a
7 week run at the New York New York in Las Vegas!), enjoys a sold-out
8-week run in Provincetown every summer, and is lead singer of the
popular electro-rock band DIRTY SANCHEZ .
When asked if Roseanne is Nice? or a Bitch? Jackie jokes, “She’s a real nice bitch!”
Show-stopping, jaw-dropping numbers — of music
and comedy — Jackie Beat is your “girl”!
WORD OF WARNING! If you are lucky enough to meet her, DO NOT KISS HER! “It takes me over 2 hours to put this face on. Do you know that kissing a drag queen is TABOO?! I kindly ask people, Would you go to the Louvre and kiss The Mona Lisa? Well, I took almost as long to paint, as she did!“
Air kisses darling, air kisses!
Miss Jackie Beat
Jackie Beat on Facebook
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 @ 8:00 PM
Hydrate: 3458 North Halsted Street, Chicago IL 60657
VIP tix are only $30 which includes seating in the first three rows and a complimentary cocktail!
General Admission tix are $20!
Doors open @ 7:00PM, showtime @ 8:00PM!
Tickets or more info: Hydratechicago.com
Adam Guerino…LGBT Homelessness to Comedy
Adam has been featured in Timeout Chicago‘s “Joke Of The Week” and played at comedy clubs in Chicago and New York including Zanies, Lincoln Lodge, Lakeshore Theater and The Edge Comedy Club in Chicago and Shock Therapy and Happy Hour at Bartini in New York City. Within a week, I delivered thirty minutes of stand-up material. For those who aren’t familiar with stand-up, a comedian usually goes a year before collecting thirty minutes of material. My process of rapid writing and delivery became a staple of my style—sometimes writing material the day of a show to make sure my material was quirky, confident and raw. That confidence came from jumping head first into comedy. We Are Halsted was created for everyone as a sensational, fabulous and affordable variety show. With $5 tickets, volunteer performers, raffle tickets and inexpensive donated beverages, We Are Halsted is a grass-roots fundraiser and an way to support our community’s homeless youth. We Are Halsted is a one-time special event created to bring our community together, to raise awareness about the challenges LGBTQ homeless youth face and to help support organizations doing such good work. Wednesday, August 31, 2011 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Adam Guerino
is a writer in Chicago who works nationally as a stand-up comedian, mc/host, columnist, cartoonist and producer.
He created Queer Comedy at Zanies as well as Laugh Track at Sidetrack and Beauty Parlour: Comedy Never Looked So Gorgeous.
As a producer, he has produced three seasons of the multimedia comedy show The Sarcastic Squad, two seasons of the performance and networking independent art event Art Haus, the sexy spectacle variety show Nightcaps as well as written and produced the full-length comedic play Mattress Matters and producing the short movies, I’m Gay, Everybody Is Having Sex But Me and Glitter Party.
He says, “I believe a good storyteller retells a journey and a great storyteller takes you on a journey with them. My first stories I told had little to do with my life—they were escapist and fantastical, sending me far away from my town of 4,000 people in Iowa. Beginning in my parents’ basement, I created epic sagas with a huge cast of action figures accompanied with character development, back stories and subplots. By middle school I was committing stories to paper with convoluted, over-wrought science fiction novellas.
I moved to Chicago for college and was a student for two years before dropping out and moving to Hawaii with no job or promise of a place to stay. Friends and family were confused as to how someone with so much passion would quit school, but I figured if I was going to have a hobby it might as well be an exciting one.
I lived in Hawaii for less than six months and in that time went from sleeping on the beach to working at one of the best restaurants in the world. I did interesting things and wrote the entire time.”
His situation fell apart in Hawaii. After moving back to Chicago within the year, he decided to have more stable, trustworthy living accommodations and moved into a college friend’s studio apartment for the last two months of her lease while she lived with her BF down the block. After a few weeks, the landlord thought Adam was party to an unofficial sublease and he was asked to leave. He didn’t tell any of his old college friends that he had no other place to stay and even told his BF at the time that he was going to go for a walk after a date and would stay up all night at diners, fill journals with stories on residential stoops or go home with strangers for a place to stay.
Within a month, Adam celebrated his 21st birthday asking people to buy him food instead of shots and still maintained his homelessness as a secret. Eventually, he began asking for help from friends–seeing if he could stay on their couches etc. After losing many friendships and his relationship because of his uncomfortable lack-of-living situation, Adam slept on a friends couch, found a job and has been gainfully employed and sheltered ever since. Although Adam mostly blames his homelessness on being stubborn, impulsive and stupid about money, he can appreciate the utter terror of homelessness and how it feels to be treated like a second class citizen because of unfortunate events.
COMEDY saved him. “You’re funny, you should do stand-up,” a friend of a friend said to me at a bar. I thanked her. “No, really, I run the comedy night here,” she insisted.
Wednesday, August 31st –
Adam will perform at Center on Halsted!
We Are Halsted is presented and hosted by Adam Guerino with the support of Center on Halsted and the Lakeview Safety and Inclusion Coalition and features music by gender bending belter Vallerie Dolls (Night of 100 Drag Queens), Manny Capozzi and Kyle Greer (Fatally Cool), comedy by Latina lesbian stand-up comedienne Gwen La Roka (Zanies, Amigas Latinas) and dance by a Jerri Blank celebrity impersonator.
There are more than 15,000 + homeless and unaccompanied youth living in Chicago, and according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, more than 20% identify as LGBTQ. It may come as a surprise to many that with so many youth facing these challenges there are only 189 shelter beds specifically provided for youth across the entire city.
Center on Halsted (Hoover-Leppen Theatre)
7pm – 8pm – We Are Halsted pre-party
The We Are Halsted pre-party will take place outside on the rooftop overlooking the city. The pre-party will feature inexpensive donated cocktails and beer and will provide a casual setting for socializing and networking before the start of the show. This portion of the evening is limited to those who are 21+ years of age. IDs are required and will be checked at the door.
PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT THIS CAUSE!
Details online
Adam Guerino.com
FREE TICKETS Dov Davidoff In Chicago with Bryan Callen April 14th
Dov Davidoff grew up in a junkyard,
lost his virginity at the age of twelve
with a prostitute in Mexico,
outed his gay cousin over a turkey leg
and he is incredibly funny (all true).
Combining hyper A.D.D. with an amusingly and acute take on things, Davidoff puts on one of the most high intensity shows in standup making him an audience favorite. It’s Davidoff’s impeccable ability to find common ground with EVERYONE that makes him a truly great comedian. He dissects the irony and problems of the world in a way that makes funny what otherwise isn’t. Dov’s material makes people think and look at themselves, but laugh hysterically while doing so.
Growing up splitting time between a hippie mom’s world travel and his dad’s New Jersey junkyard inspired comedy … and confusion. “I always felt outside the box as a person,” says Dov. “My mother was wrapped up with this commune/cult. I was in India as a kid. You’re around these people with these ethereal ideas … then I’d go back to the junkyard. It was a strange dichotomy. It left me with the desire to figure stuff out.”
He jokes about the largeness of Magnum condoms and how he sort of outed his gay cousin over a game of Pictionary and a Turkey leg!
“We hang out, we’re very close, me and Billy, everyone loves him. But every year my aunt ask’s the same the question…have you met any nice girls? Are you dating?? HE’S WEAR CAPRI PANTS! HE’S GAY! He’s not a little gay! He’s GAY GAY! I love the gay men! I never understood people who don’t like gay people.”
In addition to performing regularly in clubs and colleges throughout the country, Davidoff was recently named as one of VARIETY’S top 10 TO WATCH. Dov has most notably starred opposite Mark Wahlberg in the film “Invincible,” is seen on any number of TV shows, and co-starred with Jeff Goldblum in the NBC drama “Raines.” He is a regular fixture on COMEDY CENTRAL, and a frequent round table co-host on Chelsea Lately.
His hour comedy special aired on COMEDY CENTRAL to great reviews. “Filthy Operation” is coming out soon to DVD. There’s no doubt that Davidoff has established himself as one of the “MUST-SEE” acts on the scene today.
BEST GAY CHICAGO HAS FREE TICKETS!
CALL US at 773-878-5323 – if you want to go!
Catch him in Chicago, at the Congress Theater, April 14th.
Bryan Callen & Dov Davidoff HOLLYWOOD TAKEOVER
2135 North Milwaukee Chicago IL Dov Live
Lesbian Comic Judy Gold in Chicago January 30th
Judy Gold
is an Emmy Award-winning actress, producer and comedienne whose credits include The Rosie O’Donnell Show, The View, The Joy Behar Show and her own hit Off-Broadway production, “25 Questions for a Jewish Mother.”
She can regularly be seen on Comedy Central, LOGO and HBO with her many comedy specials. Judy is currently starring in the Off-Broadway run of “Love, Loss, and What I Wore” and touring for her new stand-up show, “It’s Judy’s Show – My Life As A Sitcom.”
The 6’3″ lesbian got teased a lot in school, she admits,”Six foot three plus marching band equals unpopular. I ended up really kind of hating high school. I was teased incessantly, but I knew deep down inside, I was really cool!”
“I moved to NYC (my dream)… …and lived with a marijuana addicted opera singer and his cat. I started taking acting classes and got a job working at a company that sold ad space on behalf of military base newspapers. It was a riveting job. I can’t believe I ever left.
I met this girl named Sharon there and we became very close friends. After telling Sharon several times how I had done stand-up (I was trying to be cool), she said, “Either do it, or don’t talk about it anymore.” She might regret that she said that because she definitely created a monster. I started doing open mics. I would go onstage anywhere that they did stand-up and try to get on.”
“Performing at clubs all over the country was exhausting and lonely, but there’s really no other way if you want to be a stand-up.” Judy confessed. “TV shows followed, then my first regular part on a sitcom, living in LA, an HBO special, a Cable Ace Award, a child, back to NYC, writing and producing, 2 Emmy awards, another child, and lots more stand-up and TV. I’m a lucky gal!”
Judy is in town this Sunday January 30th 7pm
at the Center on Halsted ! 3656 N Halsted
$40 tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Seating is limited.
Garage parking is available at 808 W. Addison as is street parking.
For more information, call 773.472.6469 ext. 252. Cash bar available.
Opening Act: Betty and Wilma: One Night Only!
Betty and Wilma are legendary recording artists, Broadway stars, and best friends. This is the very first time they’ve ever been on stage together, and possibly the last. This homage to stage divas was developed for the Annoyance Theatre’s Triple Feature Series. Starring Kellen Alexander and Wes Perry. Directed by Christina Boucher. Music by Charles Worth. Accompanied by Andrew Sinko.
VISIT JUDY GOLD ONLINE
Best Gay Chicago.com
GayCo Presents SCREAM If You Love Christmas!
GayCo – Chicago’s premier LGBT-comedy company has more than Kindles and AppleTVs to set beneath the tree this year. Their second original holiday revue, SCREAM IF YOU LOVE CHRISTMAS, unwraps like an explosion of tinsel-laden satire on the one time of year that has everyone shrieking . . . in ecstasy or pain. Hear what it’s like to be on the Dickensian down low. Join the white elephant circle of re-gifting. Share the discomfort of being around your birth family when your loved ones are states away. It’s Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the age of Twitter, Facebook and Grindr. And it will make you scream.
Scream If You Love Christmas
Directed by Katie Watson, Musical Direction by Jeff Poindexter
Written and Performed by Kelly Beeman, Jim Bennett, Kathy Betts, Judy Fabjance, Clay Goodpasture, Vincent Kracht, and Homer Marrs, with additional material by Andy Eninger and John Loos.
Runs
Thursdays @ 8:00 pm, December 9 through 30@
Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640(Broadway at Lawrence, Red Line Lawrence stop, #36 bus to Lawrence)
$15 tickets can be purchased at the door or online at TheAnnoyance.com .
About GayCo Productions: GayCo Productions is the home for comedy where gay is the given, not the punch line. Born at the famed Second City in 1996, GayCo advances the gay agenda through subversive satire by creating high-quality shows for Chicago audiences. GayCo also sends the comedy to the people with a touring ensemble, online videos, and short films. In 2011, GayCo will present a spring revue for the ladies, “Breast in Show,” a new summer revue, and a solo piece on issues related to aging in the gay community. For more information, visit GayCo.com .
Josh Wolf and Chris Franjola – 2 Straight Guys Work Their Comedy at ZANIES Chicago October 15-17
Comics JOSH WOLF and CHRIS FRANJOLA flex their metrosexual muscles for 3 nights of comedy in Chicago at Zanies October 15-17.
Both these guys are straight; allegedly! (Not that there is anything wrong with that…) No really they are! On Josh’s MySpace page , it says so. It also says he is 103 years old. I’m just sayin….
Josh Wolf, with his trademark backwards baseball cap and quick wit, is always a welcome sight on the round table on the Chelsea Lately show on E!
When he’s not appearing in his weekly spot on Chelsea Lately, he’s filming his top rated web series “College Experiment ” for foxsports.com. (It’s sort of a Talk Soup of the Sports News World). Josh Wolf’s unique, honest and high energy style of storytelling has made him a favorite at comedy clubs across the country.
Josh first got on stage when he was 15 years-old. His parents had to drive him to the show at which he was told by a “veteran” comic to “talk about what you know”. Since the only thing he knew was his family, Josh proceeded to do his entire set about how bad his parents’ gas was. The combination of the crowd’s laughter and parents’ humiliation was enough to hook Josh for life.
He currently is writing a feature film for Adam Sandler’s company. You can also see Josh on the road most weekends either opening for Chelsea Handler or Larry the Cable Guy , with the Comedians of Chelsea Lately or at comedy clubs across the country.
In a recent interview Josh was asked..Last year Chelsea Lately did a shirtless round table and if you didn’t know you had a gay following, you probably did after that!
JW: I heard a rumor! You know, when we did that I wasn’t sure…you know, they asked me to do it and I was like ‘Oh, boy…” And the funny thing is they said they wanted me to leave my hat on and they’re going to tape the mic right to my chest so it’s going to be funny. So, as long as we’re going for funny and ridiculous, I’m in. I got a few shirtless autograph pic requests. My response was always, ‘Do you really think I have a shirtless picture of myself? I don’t have a stack of them anywhere.’
I think that’s how we know you’re straight because if you were gay you’d be handing them out to everyone.
JW: [laughs] Did you see the picture of Guy [Branum] holding me in Mexico? I think I get more comments from that than for anything else.
I talked to Guy recently and he said about you, and I quote, ‘that torso is ridiculous.’ Has he been as vocal to you about his appreciation for your attributes?
JW: He told me a couple weeks ago, ‘I get jealous when you’re doing the panel and I feel like you’re flirting with other gay men.’ I said, ‘Guy, you know you’re the only guy for me.’ And he said, ‘I want to let you know as long as you can continue to have the definition of your torso that you’re the guy for me.’ [laughs]
In town performing with Josh, is another Chelsea Lately regular, Chris Franjola. Chris needs a good PR agent, I think! (We’ll discuss this Chris, when we see you next month!) There is very little information about him online!
Chris Franjola is a writer-comedian from Long Island, New York. Chris has been living and working in Los Angeles for the past 12 years in that time he has written on several shows including Family Guy and the original Chelsea Handler Show on E!. Chris is currently a writer and regular performer on Chelsea Lately and he is very excited about being a part of The Comedians of Chelsea Lately tour. Chris also feels weird about writing this bio in the third person.
But seriously, he is a very nice guy. We had the pleasure of meeting him last fall in Atlantic City for the Out in the AC Gay Weekend . He and the totally gay Guy Branum were in town for the 3 day LGBT event.
We asked Chris about the infamous “Topless Roundtables” on Chelsea.
Are there any lines you wouldn’t cross for a laugh?
CF: Umm … yes, I don’t know what they are yet, but I’m sure I’ll know when they’re asked of me. I’ll never do a pantless roundtable … it’s just too cold in the studio!”
JOSH WOLF and CHRIS FRANJOLA at ZANIES in Chicago for 6 shows, October 15-17.
Tickets are on sale now online! Get them while they last!
All 6 shows are expected to sell out! $25 plus a 2 drink minimum.
Josh Wolf website Josh Wolf Facebook Chris Franjola Facebook
The Big Gay Gayco Fun Comedy Show in Uptown July 15th
Remember when summer was fun,
back when “BP” stood for “Brad Pitt” and not a greasy gulf? You can keep your Pride buzz going in July when GayCo Productions presents The Big GayCo Fun Show – a variety show of hot twink talent, babydyke standups, and new twists on old camp classics.
For one night only, GayCo takes over the Annoyance Theatre (4830 N. Broadway, Chicago) to entertain audiences with a cavalcade of entertainment from the talented comedians in the GayCo family. From the fractious to the fabulous, GayCo’s brand of humor wraps vicious wit in glamorous glitter to charm while it goes for the throat.
Performances include:
Your favorite GayCo characters
Standup comedians Stace Crowley and Bradley Baloff
Members of Quixotic Sketch Comedy
Contestants from “Impress These Apes”
Comedian Tim Paul “The Homosexualist”
New short films from GayCo
A full cash bar, raffle prizes, and musical surprises make the evening a steal for the $15 ticket price. And you can feel good about your ticket purchase – GayCo doesn’t just exploit gay stereotypes for cash like network television: proceeds from this event benefit GayCo’s upcoming fall sketch comedy show.
Thursday July 15th, 8PM Tickets $15 at the Door
Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL 60640
About GayCo Productions
GayCo Productions is the home for gay comedy. Born at the famed Second City in 1996, GayCo advances the gay agenda through hilarious, intelligent sketch comedy where gay is the given not the punch line. GayCo is based in Chicago and also sends the comedy to the people with a touring ensemble which has performed nationally, as well as in Canada and Amsterdam. For more information, visit GayCo.com .
Just For Laughs with Ellen in Chicago Plus LUCHA VA VOOM
With over 25 years of experience running the world’s largest and most prestigious comedy festival and a reputation for fresh and innovative thinking, Just For Laughs and TBS will collaborate as TBS presents a “Very Funny” Festival: Just For Laughs. The ground-breaking U.S. comedy festival will hit Chicago June 15-19, 2010. 5 nights, 12 venues, 100+ comedians.
The festival will include more than 70 shows throughout various venues across the Chicago area and will feature performances from the usual suspects such as top-name comedians as Ellen DeGeneres, Cedric the Entertainer, Russell Peters, Denis Leary and Aziz Ansari. From concert events to TV tapings, “Nasty Shows” to cutting-edge talent and homegrown performances featuring the best local Chicago comedians, sketch and improv performers and troupes – the second edition of Just For Laughs Chicago is about to blow you away!
For something far out and REALLY different, there is LUCHA VA VOOM ! at Park West Theatre on June 16th. YOU MUST SEE IT – TO BELIEVE IT! Mexican Masked Wrestling + Burlesque + Comedy = Lucha VaVOOM: a non-stop, action-packed scream-a-thon, where Mexican masked wrestlers flip and fly, performing breathtaking acrobatic feats. WHAT?!
It’s good vs. evil incarnate. It is CRAZY! In between matches, the finest handpicked burlesque acts from around the world delight crowds because Lucha VaVOOM likes a little sexo with their violencia. Plus, for color commentary, they’ve even got comedians thrown into the mix!
The phenomenon began in August 2003 as a one-off event… and el resto es historia. They’ve played venues across the continent, from Vegas to LA to Toronto.
In 2005, they performed at the infamous Sony E3 party at Dodger Stadium and stole the spotlight from the Pussycat Dolls. In 2009, Lucha VaVOOM made its triumphant New York debut at Webster Hall, where the packed house spontaneously chanted “”Ho-ly sh*t!” Heck, even Jack Black commented that “Lucha VaVOOM is the sh*t!”
Rolling Stone magazine said the show is “enough to make even the most jaded Hollywood insider jump up and yell ‘Smackdown!’… so now it’s up to you to see it for yourself and come up with cheeky interjections of your own. ¡Fuacata!
Lucha Va Voom will offer 2 shows on the 16th.
See more Lucha Va Voom online with videos
The festival itself runs June 15th-19th.
Tickets online !
(Photo – His/her name is Karis, and he’s one of the variety act performers who will be part of the Lucha VaVOOM shows on June 16 at the Park West. Karis does an act with hula hoops, often in drag or some sort of boy-drag…hard to categorize, but always gender-bending and fierce!)
Whitney Cummings OUTS a Tv Anchor on WGN? WTF?
If you watch E!s “Chelsea Lately”
you may have seen Whitney Cummings
on the show before.
She was in town recently at Zanies and made at stop at WGN. Some, found her hilarious on the Morning News show, as she pulled Paul Konrad out of his weather closet!
Is GAY that funny?
Apparently.
Brian Drabik of Chicago sent WGN the following letter –
To the Editor:
This morning I turned on WGN Morning News and Whitney Cummings was on.
While on air, she was sitting at Paul Konrad’s spot at the desk and she updated his Facebook status because he had left his computer logged on. She updated it to say “Paul Konrad is gay.”
People in the studio laughed and Robin remarked, while laughing, “I think he’s posted that before.”
This wasn’t enough. You then later re-aired this clip, with the newscasters laughing and then having Paul remark about how many Facebook comments he recieved in response to the status update.
Is it funny to be gay? Am I missing some comedic gem here? I’m shocked that this was allowed and encouraged. Do you know what it’s like to grow up being gay and teased and humiliated for being different than everyone else?
I don’t understand why it’s okay to use a sexual orientation as a joke, on a news broadcast nonetheless. If the “comedian” said “Paul Konrad is black” or “Paul Konrad is a woman,” Asian or Latino, would that be as funny?
And while I know you aren’t responsible for the comments of your guests, I would expect you to have your newscasters keep their bigoted jokes to themselves. Most of all, I am really upset that it was re-aired, put the video online and you Tweeted about it! So clearly no one there understood that this was just out and out wrong.
I never write letters like this complaining, but I had to today, I am personally offended and truly saddened. I can’t watch your show anymore. I certainly don’t want to watch a station that thinks my sexual orientation is laughable.
I know you sit on the float at the Gay Pride Parade every year to show your support, but now I’ll just wonder if you’re there just to laugh at us.
I would appreciate an apology.
– BRIAN DRABIK, CHICAGO
To which WGN responded –
Dear Brian:
Thank you for writing to the WGN Morning News. We always appreciate getting feedback from our viewers.
Our anchors did laugh at the comedian for posting a false message about Paul live on Facebook.
Paul got caught leaving his Facebook page open, and the comedian was able to hijack it for all to see.
It’s unfortunate that what started as an attempt at a joke, ended up as offensive to our viewers.
I agree that as the morning progressed, the “joke” took on a life of its own with little regard for the feelings of our audience.
That was wrong and I sincerely apologize for it.
Your e-mail is an important reminder to us that we need to be vigilant against allowing or encouraging feeble attempts at “humor” that display a lack of respect for others.
I’m also sorry that, as a viewer, we let you down.
It is our goal every morning to provide our viewers with the best news, weather, traffic and entertainment in the morning.
I hope one day you will choose to watch us again, so that we may regain your trust.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
– GREG CAPUTO, NEWS DIRECTOR, WGN-TV
Where do we draw the line? What if it had been a Jew Joke? Paul Konrad is married. Why didn’t Whitney say “Paul’s out banging his mistress this morning!” – instead of PAUL IS GAY?
Watch the video clip on Chicago Now.
Lesbian Comic Vickie Shaw in Chicago for Laugh Out Loud Fridays at Circuit Nightclub
V I C K I E
Lesbian comic VICKIE SHAW
will be doing a show this Friday, February 12th
at Circuit Nighclub. 3641 North Halsted Street.
The evening is part of the Circuit Girl / Laugh Out Loud Fridays.
Seating begins @ 8pm. Show at 9pm.
$10 admission ($5 for members) and hosted by TAMALE!
She looks like the woman next door … All-American with blond hair, lipstick and polished nails. Once she opens her mouth, you’ll know she was born and raised in Texas and you’ll never stop laughing.
Vickie has performed in almost every state in the US over the last five years and has headlined in various venues including: Michigan Womyn’s Festival, National Women’s Music Festival, Monterrey Beach Women’s Festival; and the Dinah & Lina Shore Golf Tournament in Palm Springs.
She can also be seen in The Outlaugh Festival on Wisecrack, The Complete Series
and in her DVD Vickie Shaw: You Can Take The Girl Out of Texas .
The Best of Gay Chicago
