Performance Revue

Performance Revue is a show that reveals the creative process behind Chicago’s premier comedians. Each episode features a set, interview, and breakdown of each joke or concept presented in their act. Performance Revue is released as a podcast biannually, with video releases (both with and without commentary) of the sets discussed in each episode.

Outtakes: Amy Sumpter 02/24/2021

Outtakes: Amy Sumpter In these outtakes from Amy Sumpter's episode, we discuss the duplicitous toilets of Manhattan, working a day job, dating as a comedian, and a lot more. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/18071489

Amy Sumpter 02/22/2021

Amy Sumpter Acclaimed Chicago comedy vet and co-founder of The Kates on Broadway, Amy Sumpter goes over her amazing 2019 set at Strip Joker in the season 3 finale! /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/18023309

Outtakes: Brittani Ferguson 02/17/2021

Outtakes: Brittani Ferguson In these outtakes from Brittani Ferguson's episode, we discuss the queer coding within 80's and 90's action films, 'Little House on the Prairie', and, of course, the 'X-Files'. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17979752

Brittani Ferguson 02/15/2021

Brittani Ferguson In the Before Times of Yore, comedian and cast member of The Lincoln Lodge, Brittani Ferguson stopped by to discuss her interesting set at Strip Joker. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17944238

Spencer Blair: Outtakes 02/10/2021

Spencer Blair: Outtakes In these outtakes from Spencer Blair's episode, we discuss the unceremonious closing of Uptown Underground, how he used to cheat audience members into the Chill As Fuck show at Second City, the time I learned about secondary sex mattresses, gay dating app etiquette, and more. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17904149

Spencer Blair 02/08/2021

Spencer Blair In the Before Times of Yore, podcaster/producer/comic Spencer Blair chats about his mostly-improvised hosting set at Strip Joker. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17858723

Outtakes: Jamie Shriner Biddle 02/03/2021

Outtakes: Jamie Shriner Biddle Trigger Warning: Personal Story of Sexual Assault /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17801822

Jamie Shriner Biddle 02/01/2021

Jamie Shriner Biddle In the Before Times of Yore (2019), actor/singer/composer Jamie Shriner Biddle breaks down her hosting set at 'Naughty Thoughts', her monthly Laugh Factory show. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17718830

Outtakes: Devin Middleton 01/27/2021

Outtakes: Devin Middleton In these outtakes from Devin Middleton's episode, we talk about the various reactions of Star wars fans to his set, accountability in the stand-up comedy scene, how the Walt Disney Corporation is destroying public domain, the X-Men comics, and a discussion of queer coding in the Dragonball Z series leads to the foundation of his next project. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17686145

Devin Middleton 01/25/2021

Devin Middleton Devin Middleton engages in a socially-distanced interview about his opening set during KJ Whitehead's 'The Haggard Unicorn' album recording in January 2020. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17624921

Outtakes: Rodescu Hopkins 01/20/2021

Outtakes: Rodescu Hopkins In these outtakes from the Rodescu Hopkins episode, we divulge many personal tales from the Trigger Warning Open Mic (these stories include Rodescu's first time hosting and a man who tried to sell him a fiefdom in Africa), and we cap it off with the full report of his would-be business dealings with Cards Against Humanity. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17624102

Rodescu Hopkins 01/18/2021

Rodescu Hopkins Rodescu Hopkins engages in a socially-distanced interview about his set at We Still Like You in the before times of July 2019. his stories include peeing in a crowded car during Wrestlemania, getting caught stealing from Whole Foods, and discovering his dead father's porn collection. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17542055

Outtakes: Sohrab Forouzesh 01/13/2021

Outtakes: Sohrab Forouzesh Find out why Sohrab's episode sounds the way it does, then enjoy hearing us talk light-night packets, Olympia vs. Seattle, fancy restaurants, and improvise a hobo tasting menu. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17509919

Sohrab Forouzesh 01/11/2021

Sohrab Forouzesh Sohrab Forouzesh engages in a socially-distanced performance review on a set from Strip Joker in 2019. He performed this set wearing a speedo, sunglasses, pasties, a fez, and nothing else. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17496074

Winslow Dumaine - Where Does Comedy Go From Here? 01/04/2021

Winslow Dumaine - Where Does Comedy Go From Here? Winslow Dumaine reveals the myriad of projects he has undertaken during the pandemic, from organizing, donating, and protesting, to taking another deep dive back into his ever-growing Tarot Restless universe.

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Sabeen Sadiq - Where Does Comedy Go From Here? 12/28/2020

Sabeen Sadiq - Where Does Comedy Go From Here? Sabeen Sadiq updates us on her life during the lockdown and takes a stab at the question 'Where Does Comedy Go From Here?'

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Jillian Ebanks - Where Does Comedy Go From Here? 12/21/2020

Jillian Ebanks - Where Does Comedy Go From Here? The first installment of Performance Revue's 'Where Does Comedy Go From Here?' is a conversation/interview/check-in with Jillian Ebanks. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17279075

Season 3 Primer 12/18/2020

Season 3 Primer A short primer for Performance Revue's 3rd season. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/17251049

Outtakes: Marilee 08/07/2019

Outtakes: Marilee The ever-hilarious Marilee discusses Tiffany Haddish, auditioning for 'Empire', creating a fantasy draft for potential husbands, plans for her future wedding, and more! /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/10810583

Marilee! 08/05/2019

Marilee! Marilee Pheniece Dale-Williams, colloquially known as Marilee, can take any premise and push it well beyond anyone’s comfort zone. All with an irreverent, biting, anti-patriarchal edge. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/10781339

Outtakes: Carly Ballerini 07/31/2019

Outtakes: Carly Ballerini Carly Ballerini talks at length about Kyle Kinane’s comedy, we discuss exploring open mics, talk smack about comedian Tyler Snodgrass, get personal about hair loss, and finish up on bad bosses. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/10725584

Carly Ballerini 07/29/2019

Carly Ballerini Carly is a touring comedian who stays extremely active in the Chicago comedy scene. She is a producer of ‘The Gimmie Show’, Space, and the local gem ‘Ladylike’ at café Mustache. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/10696619

Outtakes: Whitney Chitwood 07/24/2019

Outtakes: Whitney Chitwood Whitney Chitwood talks about about the existential crisis that is ‘The Room’, and tells a story about Strip Joker that leads into a discussion about proper dildo etiquette. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/10642925

Whitney Chitwood 07/22/2019

Whitney Chitwood Whitney's style of comedy is quite difficult to master, requiring extreme skill in joke crafting. We discuss growing up with musical theater, how to take on a heckler, the worst first open mic story ever told, and more! /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/10613615

Outtakes: Megan Brennan 07/17/2019

Outtakes: Megan Brennan Megan Brennan discusses issues with weight and appearance, reveals why childhood escapism became necessary, talks about the most assertive person she has ever met, and more. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/10558316

Megan Brennan 07/15/2019

Megan Brennan Megan Brennan is a comedian and producer of the Chicago-based LGBTQ showcase, The Kiki. Her comedy sets are both introspective and playful, as she applies elements of improv into her personal stories. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/10530896

Outtakes: Skyler Higley 07/10/2019

Outtakes: Skyler Higley Skyler discuss growing up with social media, evolving and evaluating jokes (i.e. how to retract terrible things posted on Twitter), we weigh in on both sides of Kevin Hart’s recent controversy, the original concept for these outtakes episodes, and more. /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/10472897

Skyler Higley 07/08/2019

Skyler Higley Skyler Higley is one of the producers for The Young Hustle Show at The Laugh Factory. Skyler shares key moments from his bizarre past, how to constantly evolve material, and sage advice given to him by Felonious Monk! /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/10440896

Season 2: Part 2! 07/07/2019

Season 2: Part 2! We're back from Barcelona and back at the workstation. Apologies for the impromptu production break, and thanks for sticking with the show. Tune in tomorrow for a deep dive into the psyche of rising Chicago comedian Skyler Higley! /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/10431602

Impromptu Break for Season 2! 06/10/2019

Impromptu Break for Season 2! /episode/index/show/performancerevue/id/10109241

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