adam guerino
Chicago, IL -
On Tuesday, January 29 join host Adam Guerino for the third season opener of Queer Comedy at Zanies. Presented by OutLoud Chicago, Queer Comedy at Zanies brings the best of queer and straight comedians to one of Chicago's favorite comedy clubs for a night which shows, as Guerino's blog reads, "that no matter if the comedians or audience members are queer or straight, laughter knows no sexuality."
"It offers a different perspective but the same quality as other shows -- straight audience members enjoy different perspectives and queer audience members enjoy safe spaces at mainstream venues," Guerino told ChicagoPride.com. "It's a great combination for mixed audiences and with each great show, the audiences only grow as people come back for more."
In the summer of 2011 local comedian, writer and producer Adam Guerino proposed a one-time queer comedy showcase in honor of Gay Pride month and was surprised to find that Zanies was interested in an ongoing show. After taking a month to better launch the first season, Queer Comedy at Zanies premiered that July. It has since been named one of the Advocate.com‘s "9 LGBT Friendly Comedy Shows You Should Be Supporting," and received multiple mentions in both Timeout Chicago‘s "Critic's Pick" and The Redeye's "Do."
The first season focused on spotlighting great queer comedians in Chicago and featured rotating hosts, features and headliners as well as a contest for those just starting out. Season two expanded on the show by adding national headliners. Guerino booked some of the best queer comedians in the country, including Brad Loekle, Chip Pope, Bill Cruz, Cameron Esposito and Chris Doucette. Guerino's comedians have appeared on Comedy Central, BET, TBS Just For Laughs, A Night At The Apollo and Last Comic Standing, among others.
"In the third season, we have national comedians in every show as well as more bisexual and trans comedians that are more rare than gay or lesbian comedians," Guerino told ChicagoPride.com.
Tuesday's premiere is hosted by returning favorite Liza Treyger, a 25-year-old straight comedienne who grew up in Chicagoland after moving from the former Soviet Union as a toddler. In the past year she's performed at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, Laugh Your Asheville Off Festival in Asheville, North Carolina and recently appeared on Comedy Central's "Comics to Watch" show at the New York Comedy Festival.
Treyger describes her comedic style as a more elevated version of her everyday self, focusing on her likes, dislikes and scenes from her life, with the occasional foray into social commentary. She received a standing ovation from the Queer Comedy audience last year and is excited to return to Zanies for season three.
"Everyone is so into the show and enthusiastic and ready to party," Treyger told ChicagoPride.com. "I've experienced that gay crowds are willing to go further and not be offended and really want to laugh. I love doing really controversial material with gay crowds because I'm not nervous for a second that they won't be on board -- I just feel comfortable to push it."
Tuesday's premiere will also feature trans comedian Carey Callhan, who describes themself as a "hipster transexual Bob Newhart, who tells stories about sex party failures and seeking revenge on public transit sexual harassers" all while wearing a sweater vest. Callahan currently lives in Cleveland, but was a fixture of the Chicago stand up scene when they lived in Logan Square from 2007-2011.
"I'm excited to tell stories about the experience of being on testosterone and coming out last year as a trans person. It's been a goldmine of material that has gotten great audience reactions," Callahan told ChicagoPride.com, also adding "I am so proud to be performing in Queer Comedy at Zanies because this show has a sterling rep of only having the very funniest performers. Adam has created such a special show for Chicago's queers, and the quality and lifespan of this show is so inspiring."
Also performing will be returning bisexual favorite Ali Clayton and newbee Archer Coe, whose comedy mixes a theatrical wit with a fly-on-the-wall perspective from his time as a gay bartender and stories of debauchery and scandal.
The season three opener takes place next Tuesday, January 29, at 8:30 p.m. at Zanies Comedy Club in Old Town, 1548 N Wells. Tickets can be purchased for $10 in advance by calling the club or visiting the Zanies website, or for $15 at the door. Audience members must be 21 or over and there is a two item minimum. For more information, check out Adam Guerino's website at adamguerino.com or the event's Facebook page.
"It offers a different perspective but the same quality as other shows -- straight audience members enjoy different perspectives and queer audience members enjoy safe spaces at mainstream venues," Guerino told ChicagoPride.com. "It's a great combination for mixed audiences and with each great show, the audiences only grow as people come back for more."
In the summer of 2011 local comedian, writer and producer Adam Guerino proposed a one-time queer comedy showcase in honor of Gay Pride month and was surprised to find that Zanies was interested in an ongoing show. After taking a month to better launch the first season, Queer Comedy at Zanies premiered that July. It has since been named one of the Advocate.com‘s "9 LGBT Friendly Comedy Shows You Should Be Supporting," and received multiple mentions in both Timeout Chicago‘s "Critic's Pick" and The Redeye's "Do."
The first season focused on spotlighting great queer comedians in Chicago and featured rotating hosts, features and headliners as well as a contest for those just starting out. Season two expanded on the show by adding national headliners. Guerino booked some of the best queer comedians in the country, including Brad Loekle, Chip Pope, Bill Cruz, Cameron Esposito and Chris Doucette. Guerino's comedians have appeared on Comedy Central, BET, TBS Just For Laughs, A Night At The Apollo and Last Comic Standing, among others.
"In the third season, we have national comedians in every show as well as more bisexual and trans comedians that are more rare than gay or lesbian comedians," Guerino told ChicagoPride.com.
Tuesday's premiere is hosted by returning favorite Liza Treyger, a 25-year-old straight comedienne who grew up in Chicagoland after moving from the former Soviet Union as a toddler. In the past year she's performed at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, Laugh Your Asheville Off Festival in Asheville, North Carolina and recently appeared on Comedy Central's "Comics to Watch" show at the New York Comedy Festival.
Treyger describes her comedic style as a more elevated version of her everyday self, focusing on her likes, dislikes and scenes from her life, with the occasional foray into social commentary. She received a standing ovation from the Queer Comedy audience last year and is excited to return to Zanies for season three.
"Everyone is so into the show and enthusiastic and ready to party," Treyger told ChicagoPride.com. "I've experienced that gay crowds are willing to go further and not be offended and really want to laugh. I love doing really controversial material with gay crowds because I'm not nervous for a second that they won't be on board -- I just feel comfortable to push it."
Tuesday's premiere will also feature trans comedian Carey Callhan, who describes themself as a "hipster transexual Bob Newhart, who tells stories about sex party failures and seeking revenge on public transit sexual harassers" all while wearing a sweater vest. Callahan currently lives in Cleveland, but was a fixture of the Chicago stand up scene when they lived in Logan Square from 2007-2011.
"I'm excited to tell stories about the experience of being on testosterone and coming out last year as a trans person. It's been a goldmine of material that has gotten great audience reactions," Callahan told ChicagoPride.com, also adding "I am so proud to be performing in Queer Comedy at Zanies because this show has a sterling rep of only having the very funniest performers. Adam has created such a special show for Chicago's queers, and the quality and lifespan of this show is so inspiring."
Also performing will be returning bisexual favorite Ali Clayton and newbee Archer Coe, whose comedy mixes a theatrical wit with a fly-on-the-wall perspective from his time as a gay bartender and stories of debauchery and scandal.
The season three opener takes place next Tuesday, January 29, at 8:30 p.m. at Zanies Comedy Club in Old Town, 1548 N Wells. Tickets can be purchased for $10 in advance by calling the club or visiting the Zanies website, or for $15 at the door. Audience members must be 21 or over and there is a two item minimum. For more information, check out Adam Guerino's website at adamguerino.com or the event's Facebook page.
