Comedy Equals Tragedy Plus Time
Funny Now. Funny Then. Funny Future.
If you don’t know me personally, then you may not know that I do standup comedy. Currently, I host a monthly comedy show here in Savannah. I have been hosting the show for almost six years. I bought a PA and a mic from Amazon during the Covid summer of 2020. The first venue was outside. Starland Yard is a food truck park with an outdoor space and it is colorful because they used old container ships to surround the structure of the place. Now, I host the show at a craft beer bar, White Whale Craft Ales.
My comedy history goes way back. When I lived in New York, I started producing a stand up comedy in May of 2004, which is twenty two years ago. I wasn’t planning on performing comedy. My goal was to provide a space for female comedians to perform. I scouted comedians by going to comedy shows all over the city. I even placed an ad on Craigslist which is what people used before social media.
I had the idea. Then I needed a name. An ex-boyfriend who bragged about how good he was at naming things sent me the worst list of names. They were the ABSOLUTE worst. I had to endure reading these names so I had to share them with you.
American Midol
Comedivas
Funny Girls
Laugh Riot-Grrrls
See Jane Joke
PMS In The City
First, I had a rotation of hosts. Then, Carolyn Castiglia wowed me so much. Carolyn became the show’s host and co-producer. Anyway, we ran that show for about five years. This is where I name drop some of the women who performed at Chicks and Giggles.
Lucia Aniello (co-creator of Hacks)
Michelle Buteau
Desiree Burch
Michelle Collins
Ophira Eisenberg
Leighann Lord
Jacqueline Novak
Abby Rosin
Jessimae Peluso
Gina Yashere
There are too many women to name but I would guess that over 50 women performed at the show. At some point, I will create a full list.
Running a comedy show made a feminist. I wrote about it years ago.
This past Tuesday, I began the show with an angry rant about the end of the Voting Rights Act. I am so sad about the gutting of the Voting Rights Act.
“Let the midterms go full term. Don’t abort the vote.”
I asked a local comedian friend if he wanted to perform at my show. He replied that he’s not doing comedy right now. It is hard to make current events funny. They say that “Comedy equals tragedy plus time.” I don’t know if that it true. Life is tough. The world seems especially cruel right now. It is hard to be inspired.
Although it may be hard to find the comedy, hearing laughter is such a release. Laughter is more important even through the tragedy.