Your streaming screen is about to get a whole lot gayer. And funnier. “OUT on Stage” is the is the first all-queer stand up comedy series premiering on Thursday, Jan.17 on Dekkoo. But why listen to me talk about how cool it is? The Pride L.A. talked to three of the comedians on the show about what makes “OUT on Stage” awesome. Check it out below.
GLORIA BIGELOW:
In one sentence, what is “Out on Stage?”
Out on Stage is a queer comedic fantasia that is the is the first all queer stand up series ever!
Why participate in the show?
I participated in Out on Stage because it was an opportunity to spread my gay agenda of laughter throughout!
What can viewers expect from the show overall/ your specific episode?
I didn’t know what to expect when I saw it in the theaters, but I can say with a fair amount of confidence, that people can expect to laugh- which is great, because that’s the point.
How do your experiences in the LGBTQ+ community affect/ influence the show?
My experience as an out black lesbian affects every aspect of my life and so therefore, it influences what it is that I want to talk about. That comes out in the show.
Who is the target audience/ who should watch this?
You don’t have to speak gay to watch this show- it’s for anyone who wants to laugh.
KYLE SHIRE:
In one sentence, what is “Out on Stage?”
Out On Stage is a queer stand up series featuring an incredibly diverse batch of up-and-coming comics.
Why create/ participate in the show?
There is a severe lack of queer representation in stand up. While we have come a long way in recent years, and there are now more brilliant, out, queer comedians than ever before, comedy is not a meritocracy. A lot of bookers still look at “straight white cis dudes” as the default template for comics, and if you deviate from that template, and are booked on a line up, than your presence must be balanced by adding other straight white cis dudes to the line up (unless you’re booked on a “theme night”) To them, it doesn’t matter if you’re funnier than every other straight white dude on the line up. As such, it can be hard for queer comics to get their faces out in front of new audiences in new cities. Out On Stage is an unabashedly queer stand up show. It’s a fantastic way to show a bunch of new, interesting queer voices in the stand up world to people who may not get the opportunity to catch the 2 or 3 queer comics their local clubs book per year (if we’re being generous).
What can viewers expect from the show overall/ your specific episode?
Expect to see some queer POVs that have yet to be explored in the realm of stand up. In my episode specifically, you should be ready to expect some shouting, sweating, and some bad, bad, moustachery.
How do your experiences in the LGBTQ+ community affect/ influence the show?
I shout about gay nonsense and people laughed.
Who is the target audience/ who should watch this?
If I had it my way, queer youths would get a free period to watch this in school, and elderly conservatives would be strapped to impounded Hoveround’s with their eyes Clockwork Oranged open, and forced to watch it.
RANEIR POLLARD
In one sentence, what is “Out on Stage?”
Out On Stage is a bunch of lgbt comedians giving the world a taste of the rainbow.
Why create/ participate in the show?
Besides the fact that I’ll do any job that presents a check up front… a lot of comedians I adore are a part of the project so i was happy to be included.
What can viewers expect from the show overall/ your specific episode?
Viewers can expect the entire cliche of expectations presented before every standup specials: hilarious, unexpected and daring!
How do your experiences in the LGBTQ+ community affect/ influence the show?
For a LGBTQ+ person to be proud of who they are, they must fight to overcome all the signals in society telling them they are inherently wrong. Comedians are people that use trauma from their life to create laughter. These two factors make for a great perspective in comedy.
Who is the target audience/ who should watch this?
This movie is for mature audiences anywhere and everywhere!
ANTHONY DESAMITO:
In one sentence, what is “Out on Stage?”
Out on Stage is a fun, new series starring up-and-coming gay comedians who tell jokes about about whatever they want on stage.
Why create/ participate in the show?
Gays tend to support female comedians like Kathy Griffin, Margaret Cho and Lisa Lampanelli but when it comes to gay male comics, they really isn’t much fandom or support. We need more gay male comedic voices besides the Queer Eye’s Fab 5 banter, we need punchlines and well-written jokes. Out on Stage is helping change that in our community.
What can viewers expect from the show overall/ your specific episode?
The show ranges in race, gender and identity, my episode is 3. I’m squeezed in between two lesbians which makes sense because I am wearing a vest and sporting a faux hawk. Our episode is fun, I like it a lot, but I’m biased!
How do your experiences in the LGBTQ+ community affect/ influence the show?
Everyone on the show is out. Maybe we should’ve had a couple of closeted comedians on it to really reflect our society but that would’ve contradicted the name of the show and people would’ve been really confused. We all exist in the world today so we can’t help but to have brought our politics, personal lives and perceptions of the world with us on the show. This show is really a mirror of the gay experience of 2019 told by different unique voices that happen to be funny.
Who is the target audience/ who should watch this?
Probably gay men who thought they were clicking on a gay love story on Dekkoo. Hopefully, gay aspiring comics, comedy fans, allies alike and tired-from-working-all-day lesbian moms. People watch stand-up to connect and I hope people feel represented when they see our stand-up.
JONATHAN CERDA-ROWELL:
In one sentence, what is “Out on Stage?”
It’s a queer comedy thing that we all shot somewhere in Burbank.
Why create/ participate in the show?
Because they paid us and it’s exposure and also we need more queer content in general but especially comedy.
What can viewers expect from the show overall/ your specific episode?
They can expect me to have an amazing tan as well as a ton of very funny comedians who you might never have seen before.
How do your experiences in the LGBTQ+ community affect/ influence the show?
It made me confident enough to be proud faggot onstage for ten minutes.
Who is the target audience/ who should watch this?
Queer people. They need to see themselves in media more. But also straight people, I guess. Just kidding!
AB CASSIDY:
In one sentence, what is “Out on Stage?”
A humorous gay extravaganza for all people.
Why create/ participate in the show?
Because representation matters.
What can viewers expect from the show overall/ your specific episode?
Hopefully to laugh.
How do your experiences in the LGBTQ+ community affect/ influence the show?
I’m a storyteller so I feel like my unique perspective as a queer person always comes in to play with the stories that I tell.
Who is the target audience/ who should watch this?
Everybody!
