For over three years, Queer Comedy at Zanies has been putting on shows with queer comedians in mainstream Chicago. In its first year, actor turned comedian Joel Kim Booster won the annual queer comedy contest and was a regular favorite in the upcoming years before he departed for New York City. On Tuesday October 21st, Booster returns for the Queer Comedy at Zanies Homecoming edition with host Adam Guerino and featuring Ali Clayton, Archer Coe, Cody Melcher, Dana Austin and Trannika Rex. $15 tic...
For over three years, Queer Comedy at Zanies has been putting on shows with queer comedians in mainstream Chicago. In its first year, actor turned comedian Joel Kim Booster won the annual queer comedy contest and was a regular favorite in the upcoming years before he departed for New York City. On Tuesday October 21st, Booster returns for the Queer Comedy at Zanies Homecoming edition with host Adam Guerino and featuring Ali Clayton, Archer Coe, Cody Melcher, Dana Austin and Trannika Rex. $15 tickets are available online or at the door for the 8:30pm showtime at 1548 N Wells.
Since its inception in 2011, Queer Comedy at Zanies has been named the Advocate.com‘s “9 LGBT Friendly Comedy Shows You Should Be Supporting,†featured in Chicago Tribune’s “Stand-up Scene,†Timeout Chicago‘s “Critic’s Pick,†The Redeye’s “Do†and included in Chicago Reader’s “The Agenda†and “Culture Vulture†with the praise “More, please.â€
Joel Kim Booster is a Chicago bred, Brooklyn based comedian and writer. A veteran of Queer Comedy at Zanies, Joel was the first winner of their annual competition. Since moving to New York Joel has performed at comedy clubs, bars and libraries all over the country and most recently was featured as a New York finalist for NBC’s Stand Up For Diversity showcase at the Gotham Comedy Club. Joel is a proud ensemble member of Chicago’s The New Colony theatre, where he wrote the critically acclaimed comedy “Kate and Sam Are Not Breaking Up†which has since been produced in Charleston and Toronto. Follow Joel on Twitter @Ihatejoelkim. It’s all he has, really.
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, Outloud Chicago which for over three years has brought queer inclusive entertainment to mainstream Chicago venues and The Rainbow Connection Queer Comedy Tour which combined gay, lesbian, bi and trans comedians for a cross-country tour. He has been featured in comedy clubs all across the country and in Timeout Chicago’s Joke of The Week, The Advocate Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, The Redeye, Gaper’s Block, Huffington Post and WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. For more info, @[NjQyMTgzOTU5MjA4MTA3Omh0dHBcYS8vd3d3LmFkYW1ndWVyaW5vLmNvbS86Og==:www.adamguerino.com] is a great place to start.
Ali Clayton is a southern girl and proud of it! After receiving a BA in theatre performance in 2008 she left her home state of NC to pursue her dreams of becoming a comedian. She has been performing stand-up for five years and can been seen all around Chicago talking about her favorite things; her southern family, drinking in the shower, and being bi-sexual. Ali’s one-woman show “I’m Different, Not Dumb†has been featured at the NC Comedy Arts Fest, Chicago Sketch Comedy Fest and Chicago Women’s Funny Fest. Recently the internationally renowned art blog Art F City mentioned “What Am I Looking At?â€; an art review web series hosted by Ali. Watch all the episodes here @[NjQyMTgzOTU5MjA4MTA3Omh0dHBcYS8vY2hhbm5lbHdhaWxhLnR1bWJsci5jb20vOjo=:http://channelwaila.tumblr.com.] She has been honored to be apart of TBS Just for Laughs Chicago for the past four years and to be named one of the 50 Hot Women in Comedy by AfterEllen.com.
Cody Melcher is a witwanton and literary gentleman who weaves a tapestry of obscure observations and personal proclivities designed to delight and enlighten. Based in Chicago, he is a cast member and co-producer of 100 Proof Comedy at ComedySportz, host and producer of the podcast Tomefoolery, co-host and producer of Shindig, and a regular guest of the wild Feast of Fun podcast. He has performed all over the country and in festivals such as SF Sketchfest, The Comedy Exposition of 2014, The Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, and more. He headlined The 2014 Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival, and in 2013 was a finalist in Outloud Chicago and The Advocate’s National Queer Comedy Search. The Chicago Tribune has called him “ridiculously zestyâ€.
Trannika Rex is a drag queen and master of ceremonies in Chicago, she is the regular host of Drag Matinee at Berlin nightclub and Trannika’s Most Wanted at Scarlet Bar. Known for her hilarious and scathing sass, boozy and baudy crowd work, the diva brings her comedy styles to Queer Comedy at Zanies for the third time and this time to host.
Archer Coe was born in the wagon of a traveling show. His momma had to dance for the money they’d throw. Archer Coe’s grandpa would do whatever he could—preach a little gospel, sell a couple bottles of Doctor Good. From there Archer moved to Chicago where he started his awesome bar-tending gig at the best bar on the planet—Sidetrack, which led to stand-up comedy with Laughtrack at Sidetrack. Since then he has performed at the Laugh Factory Chicago, numerous appearances at Zanies Chicago, Hydrate’s “Just Dickin’ Around†and at Sidecar in Rogers Park. From the fly-on-the-wall perspective to stories of debauchery and scandal, his theatrical wit makes for a non-stop mixture of groans, belly laughs and Oh-No-He-Didnt’s.
Dana Austin is a Comic out of Cleveland, Ohio. She has been a member of the Queer Queens Of Qomedy, Showcased form the Queens of Comedy and Toured Comedy Clubs and Colleges in the US and Canada!
Comedians who have appeared at Queer Comedy at Zanies have also appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Chelsea Lately, @Midnight, The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson, BET, TBS Just For Laughs, SXSW, Comedy Bang Bang, The Pete Holmes Show, Last Call With Carson Daly, A Night At The Apollo, and Last Comic Standing. The upcoming show will continue to show that whether audience members are queer or straight, laughter knows no sexuality.
Tuesday October 21st, 8:30pm, $15 tickets available at Chicago.Zanies.com or at the door. Zanies Comedy Club 1548 N Wells. For more information, hi res photos or a saved seat, don’t hesitate to reach out.