Martini’s Above Fourth in San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood will host the debut installment of “Laugh Out Proud,” an LGBT comedy show featuring gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender comedians and allies to the gay community. The show kicks off this Thursday, April 14 at 8 pm.
This week’s inaugural show will exclusively showcase gay and lesbian comedians, including locals and producers of the “Laugh Out Proud” series Sean Wherley and Sarah Burford and guests Lauren Holiday and Larry Tadlock.
Wherley and Burford, both Midwestern transplants to the San Diego comedy scene, have worked together at several local events in the past and appreciate one another’s respective approaches to the craft of stand-up.
“Sean tends to do a lot of smart observational comedy that kind of makes you think a little bit, and I appreciate that,” Burford said of her partner’s work. “So many younger, newer comics tend to go to the bathroom humor or sex to get a laugh and it’s nice to work with someone who takes the time to write a good joke and to perform it.”
As for Burford’s style, Wherley explains, “Sarah’s style is accessible” and that “audiences can relate to her and her subject matter, and that’s important given that no audience is the same and rarely includes but a smattering of LGBT folks.”
The paucity of LGBT audience members attending comedy shows – even those featuring gay and lesbian comics — got Burford and Wherley thinking; and that’s how “Laugh Out Proud” began to take shape.
Wherley noted that “too often the LGBT community is the butt of comedy, specifically tired stereotypes, and that may discourage them from attending comedy shows,” and “by inviting out comedians to perform in front of a queer audience, it changes the dynamic.”
The series will also include straight comics who are sympathetic to the LGBT community and understand a queer audience – individuals who may have gay family members or friends and who can share a straight perspective without resorting to stereotypes.
Thursday’s event at Martini’s Above Fourth will be free of cover charge, although patrons will be required to purchase two drinks and meet a two menu-item minimum in lieu of cover for the comedy show. Fortunately, this shouldn’t prove a very difficult task: Martini’s offers a happy hour with $2 drink specials and a diverse menu. The venue is located at 3940 4th Avenue, #200 in Hillcrest.
