The Rainbow Connection Comedy Tour Launches In Chicago!

The Rainbow Connection Comedy Tour is a new, full-spectrum standup comedy tour from the creator of Stand Out: The National Queer Comedy Search, which was presented by The Advocate Magazine and Absolut Vodka. By combining the comedic talents of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans comedians, we showcase the rainbow of queer comedy. We believe this inclusion reflects the diversity of our community and in turn welcomes the diversity of our audience members. Touring multiple cities, the shows will be headlined by Los Angeles-based comedian Casey Ley, hosted by Adam Guerino, and featuring Marla Depew, Dina Nina Martinez and Rachel McCartney. For the Chicago debut, we welcome straight ally Krista Atkinson. Casey Ley’s comedy is silly. And smart. And dirty. And dark. And handsome. It’s a lot like him, actually. So it is also self-centered and flakey and relatively promiscuous. He is the creator and host of the popular San Francisco comedy game show "Tonic Trivia" and comedy variety show "Some People Like Us." He and his shows have appeared in comedy festivals like SF Sketchfest, the Moontower Comedy and Arts Festival in Austin, TX, Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, OR, and on the radio on the relatively popular NPR station. He has shared the stage with comics you know like Hannibal Buress, Doug Benson, Laura Kightlinger and some other people you've heard of if you like comedy. The readers of SF Weekly voted him best comic in San Francisco in 2012 (which had nothing to do with his homosexuality). In 2013 he was runner-up in The Advocate Magazine's Next Great Queer Comedy competition (which was wholly the result of his homosexuality). Apparently he just wasn't quite gay enough. Last year, at least. Hosted by Adam Guerino. Guerino is a nationally touring standup comedian based in Chicago who has been credited as a “comedian-producer-genius” by Chicago Reader and has opened for comic greats James Adomian, Cameron Esposito, Brad Loekle and Beth Stelling. His sardonic charm makes him an ideal host as he seamlessly interacts with the crowd and comedians to give each show a fun and cohesive pacing as well as blur the lines between audience member and performer. He is the creator of Stand Out: The National Queer Comedy Search which partnered with The Advocate Magazine to give queer comedians national exposure. He is the creator of Outloud Chicago which for over three years has brought queer inclusive entertainment to mainstream Chicago venues most notably Queer Comedy at Zanies. He has been featured in comedy clubs all across the country and in Timeout Chicago’s Joke of The Week, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, The Redeye, Gaper’s Block, Huffington Post and WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. For more info, www.adamguerino.com is a great place to start. Featuring Marla Depew. Depew taps into her sketch comedy background to create rich, wacky characters plucked from both real life and her own head, blending them with sharp observations that challenge conventional thinking. Because of this, her stand-up sets take on a storytelling, theatrical feel complete with physicality and expressive facial movements, whether she’s detailing notes she writes to herself or waxing witty about being the B in GLBT. She is a graduate of the Second City Training Center’s writing program and has studied at iO and The Annoyance in Chicago. Marla has performed at Zanies Comedy Club, Laugh Factory, Second City’s Donny’s Skybox and deMaat Theatre, The Lincoln Lodge, The Lincoln Loft, Studio BE, Stardust Showcase, Hoo HA Comedy, Performance Anxiety Chicago, and The Kates as well as at Chicago Women’s Funny Festival and Gilda’s Laughfest in Grand Rapids, MI. She is a co-producer of Just Dickin’ Around, a women-run, queer-friendly comedy collective that creates supportive, empowering open mics and showcases for female comedians.She is the founder and producer of the monthly showcase Laughs In The Lounge. She is also a founding member of Cell Camp, a sketch troupe that’s performed at various comedy festivals throughout the country, including Chicago SketchFest, L.A. Comedy Fest, and Milwaukee Comedy Festival. Dina Nina Martinez. Martinez is a trans standup comedian and actor from LA who currently resides in Madison, Wisconsin. Her signature blend of disarming sass and charm has been featured in comedy festivals and multiple world-class comedy venues including LA Pride, The Chicago Women’s Funny Festival, LA’s The Comedy Store and Chicago’s Zanies Comedy Club. She is the creator and host of Madison’s first and only queer comedy show Alphabet Soup, “The D Word” podcast, and the forthcoming The Dina Martinez Show. Though LA was cute and she’s certainly got fabulousness to spare, Martinez’s long term goals are to settle down and be a soccer mom. Krista Atkinson grew up in Southern Illinois where the cows and corn are plentiful. As soon as she possibly could she got out of all that fresh air to pursue the life of a Chicago city gal. Don’t let her classy outfits and heels fool you– she has a potty-mouth! Divorce, d**k pics, dating and dashed dreams: it's all fair game for this brassy, brazen, bawdy blonde who has lived a full life and has a lot to say about it. Since her move to Chicago, Krista has trained in Improv at Second City and The Annoyance, stand-up with Feminine Comique, and burlesque at Vaudezilla. Krista is a co-producer of Just Dickin' Around, a women-run, queer-friendly comedy collective that creates supportive, empowering open mics and showcases for female comedians. She has performed at Zanies Comedy Club, Laugh Factory, Chicago Women's Funny Festival, The Lincoln Lodge, Stage 773, The Playground Theatre, Hydrate, Parlour, Halsted’s, The Book Cellar with The Kates, The Underground Lounge, and the Upstairs Gallery to name a few. Check out www.justdickinaround.com! Rachel McCartney is a standup comedian living in Chicago. She is a cast member of 100 Proof Comedy and has performed in Queer Comedy at Zanies and Chigaygo at the Laugh Factory. McCartney is a lesbian who prefers not to label herself. Local legend Peter-john Byrnes has called her "Chicago's foremost grammar comedian," which is a distinction she plans to have carved into her headstone. The Rainbow Connection Comedy Tour, Tuesday August 26th, 9:30pm at Zanies Comedy Club 1548 N Wells. Tickets are $15 with a two drink minimum, audience members must be 21 or over. For more information, hi res photos or a saved seat, contact adam.guerino@gmail.com.