The Rainbow Connection Queer Comedy Tour: Homecoming

National Queer Comedy Tour Comes Home To Chicago The Rainbow Connection Comedy Tour, Wednesday March 25th, 9pm at Berlin Nightclub, 954 W Belmont. The Rainbow Connection Comedy Tour is a 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 trans and straight 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 feature Adam Guerino, Marla Depew, Dina Nina Martinez, Rachel McCartney and Krista Atkinson. Adam 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. Marla 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. She is a graduate of the Second City Training Center’s writing program, has studied at iO and The Annoyance in Chicago, and has performed at venues and festivals throughout the Midwest and Los Angeles including Zanies, Laugh Factory, Second City’s Donny’s Skybox and deMaat Theatre, The Lincoln Lodge, Tao Comedy Studio, Akbar, Chicago Women’s Funny Festival, and Gilda’s Laughfest. She is the producer of the monthly showcase Laughs In The Lounge and a co-producer of Just Dickin’ Around, a women-run, queer-friendly comedy collective. 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 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, Wednesday March 25th, 9pm at Berlin Nightclub, 954 W Belmont. Audience members must be 21 or over. For more information, hi res photos or a saved seat, contact adam.guerino@gmail.com.