Queer Roast for the Straight Hosts brings big laughs to Chicago stage
Sat. August 8, 2026 10:43 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
photo credit // michael oboza
Producer Andrew Clayton Stier brings his Los Angeles showcase to Stars & Garters in Lakeview
CHICAGO, ILL. -
By Michael Oboza, Special to GoPride.com
Queer Roast for the Straight Hosts hosted queer-inclusive comedy this past Thursday at Stars & Garters, a woman-owned and artist-owned theater in Lakeview founded in 2025 with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and fair pay.
"It was only once I was fully out that I was able to really do comedy, because so much about comedy is being authentic to yourself," producer, host, and comic Andrew Clayton Stier reflects. "And I was very, very closeted for a long time."
Stier shares that living in the closet held back his artistic potential for years.
"In retrospect, I did theater, and I think being closeted really hurt everything about my creative process," Stier shares. "I think engaging in who you are, connecting with yourself and your identity, and figuring out what parts of those you can really bring out and share is such an important part of creating art. So, when I was in the closet, I think it really throttled my progress."
Self-described as a "Los Angeles gay," Stier brought his comedy showcase to Chicago for the first time.
"It's my baby," he said.
"I really wanted a format that naturally integrated straight and queer comics, and I thought of this roast," he continued. "It's inviting straight men into our spaces, and also meeting them where they are at."
He sees roasting as a natural bridge between different experiences.
"I think it's a way that straight men are comfortable bonding with people, because they don't like to be vulnerable and sincere. It's more fun to poke fun at each other," Stier says with a smile. "So, what a fun way to build roads and cross communication between straight and LGBTQ communities."
The showcase structure featured straight comics performing their sets, followed by a roast from a queer comic. That same queer comic then performed their own set, while unapologetically queer shenanigans ensued between performances.
Featured comics included Sonal Aggarwal, Devin Glass, Tory Ward, Connor Smith, Beckett Kenny, and Erhan Caglayan.
Queer Roast for the Straight Hosts hosted queer-inclusive comedy this past Thursday at Stars & Garters, a woman-owned and artist-owned theater in Lakeview founded in 2025 with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and fair pay.
"It was only once I was fully out that I was able to really do comedy, because so much about comedy is being authentic to yourself," producer, host, and comic Andrew Clayton Stier reflects. "And I was very, very closeted for a long time."
Stier shares that living in the closet held back his artistic potential for years.
"In retrospect, I did theater, and I think being closeted really hurt everything about my creative process," Stier shares. "I think engaging in who you are, connecting with yourself and your identity, and figuring out what parts of those you can really bring out and share is such an important part of creating art. So, when I was in the closet, I think it really throttled my progress."
Self-described as a "Los Angeles gay," Stier brought his comedy showcase to Chicago for the first time.
"It's my baby," he said.
"I really wanted a format that naturally integrated straight and queer comics, and I thought of this roast," he continued. "It's inviting straight men into our spaces, and also meeting them where they are at."
He sees roasting as a natural bridge between different experiences.
"I think it's a way that straight men are comfortable bonding with people, because they don't like to be vulnerable and sincere. It's more fun to poke fun at each other," Stier says with a smile. "So, what a fun way to build roads and cross communication between straight and LGBTQ communities."
The showcase structure featured straight comics performing their sets, followed by a roast from a queer comic. That same queer comic then performed their own set, while unapologetically queer shenanigans ensued between performances.
Featured comics included Sonal Aggarwal, Devin Glass, Tory Ward, Connor Smith, Beckett Kenny, and Erhan Caglayan.