The Art of Comedy: Inclusivity, Accessibility, and Relatability at Chicago’s Lincoln Lodge
By Bella Kovar
Chicago is a place where many talents come together which forms a city of artists from all backgrounds. With this promising backdrop, the nonprofit Lincoln Lodge, located in Logan Square, has a particular and chucklesome niche. The space is warm, as if lit by candlelight, and is decorated from head to toe with shiny and colorful décor. Amongst a bar for audience members to grab a refreshment before a stand-up show, whimsical light fixtures lining the ceilings, and three theaters for all sorts of performances—the comedy arts community can thrive in this harbor with ease. The night I visited, the largest theater was reserved for a very special occasion: The Fem Com final showcase.
The Lodge offers a plethora of classes and events which encourage Chicagoans with a knack for humor to get involved. Fem Com, one of these opportunities, prioritizes the voices of femme and nonbinary people. In its six week course, the students learn the basics needed to come up with their own five minute stand-up routine. Kelsie Huff and Deanna Ortiz are some of the main contributors to this mission, and highlighted to me their experiences helping make this niche sect of artmaking attainable, fun, and rewarding for all those who wish to be in the spotlight. Huff, the Director of Marketing and Training Center Program Development, emphasized to me the importance of inclusion and creating a space where many identities can be represented, “What we are is an artform that’s really accessible, this idea that comedy is only the Joe Rogans of the world is not the case”. Huff also brought to light the unfortunate debate of whether or not comedy should be considered an art, which is an obstacle in a city with big-name establishments like the Joffrey Ballet and the Lyric Opera House. Ortiz, an instructor at the Lodge for almost ten years, also touched on this topic. With a quippy simile about how coming up with a good joke is like “chipping marble away from the statue”, Ortiz’s natural comical nature came to light in our conversation. She also goes on to explain how comedy is unique because of its ability to convey relatability, “When I perform a joke, and it hits, I think ‘Ah! I knew that wasn’t just funny to me, it’s relatable to everybody’. That’s really the fun for me”.
I attended the end-of-class Fem Com showcase and was able to sit in for all nine routines. Close to a full house, there were little to no seats left—every attendee was attentive and captivated. Each performer was met with sporadic giggles, and the occasional strike of thunderous mirth. A beautiful thing about seeing all of these young comics together is their unique perspectives and relentless individuality. Ortiz told me that the biggest piece of advice she gives students is, “Don’t write about what you think you should be talking about, write about what is fun and exciting to you—that is what will come across on stage.” Katy Humphries, Haley Joyce, Ruby Daniel, Ellie Pate, Ashlyn Quintus, Alejandra Roman, Lydia Osborne, Rhen Pass, and Kath Sain took this passed along knowledge and got to work. From anecdotes about cosplaying as Pittbull to how Lorazepam conjures guardian angels in the form of Amazon delivery drivers to a cat’s verbal recount of the assassination of JFK, the evening was unforgettable and overflowing with support and laughter. On the drive home with my friend Ava, who accompanied me to the Lodge, we deduced that comedy shows can often have a therapeutic effect on both audiences and performers. A space is created for people to express themselves with no judgement and room to throw all the bits they want at the ceiling and see what sticks while simultaneously building community where the sky is truly the limit. Between chuckles, Huff says that at the Lincoln Lodge, “We’re gonna make a show happen even if we have to sit on the floor or finally have to drink Malört.”
Deanna Ortiz - The lead instructor, introducing the talent for the night.
Haley Joyce - Humorously recounting the strange effects of Lorazepam.
Ruby Daniel - Telling the audience a truly once in a lifetime experience about going to a church in Ibiza.
Ellie Pate - Comically reminiscing about her days in the early 00s a ‘scene kid’.
Lydia Osborne - How her crushes turn into dramatic obsessions which contribute to her bit.
