Women Share Humorous Love Letters To Themselves For V-Day Comedy Special
By Chicagoist_Guest in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 10, 2016 6:33PM
A group shot of all of the performers in "A Love Letter to Myself," with Women in Comedy's founder Victoria Nones seated at center (photo via Women in Comedy's Instagram)
By Becky Schultz
Local non-profit Women In Comedy celebrated an early, alternative Valentine’s Day Tuesday night at their first annual fundraiser, “A Love Letter To Myself,” hosted at The Laugh Factory.
The show’s tone was perhaps best captured in a tongue-in-cheek musical number from the organization’s executive director and founder, Victoria Elena Nones, about what life could be like for a girl “who lost a little weight.”
“You can make a difference,” Nones sang, “if you only you lose that muffin top.”
Nones founded Women in Comedy in December to empower, connect, and advocate for women in the industry. Her organization has done this by calling out a culture of sexual harassment and assault in the comedy scene with a blog of anonymous stories, but last night highlighted something else: the empowerment and hilarity that can arise in safe performance spaces.
While the acts ranged from traditional stand-up to musical comedy—all interwoven with readings of self-addressed love letters—the theme of self-love (and the sometimes painful journey it takes to get there) ran through the night.
The funny and sentimental love letters came from prominent Chicagoans of all ages and backgrounds, offering a range of jokes and stories of overcoming.
WGN’s Amy Guth’s love letter to herself started with anecdotes about how, “one day you’ll be in the car listening to the radio and wonder why the women only sing about heartbreak while the men sing about everything.” She closed with an empowering story about following intuition—whether that meant breaking up with the guy she “kind of had a bad feeling about,” or quitting her job to make a film.
Other notable love letters came from Janis Lopez (or, as she called herself, “J.Lo”), who was told she “wouldn’t go to college because she’s from West Humboldt Park” Michelle Wood, a tomboy-turned-detective; and Dori McWhorter, CEO of YWCA Metropolitan Chicago (a partner to the event).
The showcase's more sentimental moments were balanced by a wide range stand-up acts, solo improv, sketch comedy, burlesque and musical comedy, which still creatively tackled issues women face.
Sam Gordon, for instance, did a standup routine on her “overdevelopment,” while Ebony Essence Jet portrayed a public school teacher, and musical comedy group The Cupid Players sang a song about the patriarchy.
Becky Schultz spends her days working at a distillery (no, her life isn't just like "Drinking Buddies") and her nights live-tweeting reality TV.