Performance Revue cover art

Performance Revue

Performance Revue

Written by: Robert Littwin
Listen for free

About this listen

 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. Art
Episodes
  • Outtakes: Amy Sumpter

    Outtakes: Amy Sumpter
    Feb 24 2021

    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.

    Timestamps:

    01:00 – Dissecting Comedy at Open Mics

    01:28 – "I love a good poop joke, but…"

    01:58 – The Legend of Kyle Parris

    • Mentions of Doc Martins, Dad Jeans, Elbow Patches, 'The Room', Vaudeville

    03:45 – Selling the Hell Out of a Dad Joke

    04:38 – New York and L.A.

    05:00 – The Toilets of New York

    05:52 – Moving to Chicago to Wait Tables

    07:38 – Reflect on Your Decade

    08:19 – "If you want me, come and get me. You fly me out"

    09:35 – No Shame in Having a Day Job

    11:07 – I Do Not Run Las Locas Comedy (Janice Rodriguez Does)

    • Mentions of 2002, Frosted Tips, Anal Beads, Janice Rodriguez, Vanilla Ice

    13:28 – Entitled White Women at Open Mics

    14:36 – "Everyone feels this ownership of what is funny"

    • Mentions of George Carlin, Checking Your Privilege, Last Comic Standing

    16:50 – Absorbing Positive Messages Before a Performance

    17:54 – Rachel McCartney is a Genius

    18:20 – Relatable Material?

    20:40 – She's Crafty

    20:58 – "So, you're famous, right?"

    21:44 – Building Women Up

    • Mentions of The Kates, Public Speaking

    23:00 – Wisdom vs. Age

    • Mentions of Non-Binary, Gender Norms, Feminism, Patriarchy

    24:36 – The Weird Dating Cycle Redux

    25:37 – Sex and Self-Respect

    26:15 – You Deserve a Sexy, Famous Gentleman

    • Mentions of Jason Momoa, Idris Elba, #metoo, 'Luther', 'Cats', The Rocky Horror Picture Show

    27:45 – I Spill Water on Myself

    28:25 – Brittany Meyer's 'Cats' Story

    28:50 – A Kid Keeps Farting During 'Beauty and the Beast'

    29:38 – Gym Momentum

    30:15 – Hair vs. No Hair

    • Mention of Winslow Dumaine

    30:46 – Wait, You Found Love?

    32:25 – I Don't Want to be Objectified

    33:00 – Tips for Going on a Date with a Comedian

    33:40 – Kelsie Huff Kicks Ass

    • Mentions of Marilee, Laugh Factory, Robin Williams, St. Patrick's Day, Zanies, Scott Duff

    34:32 – "Scott Duff is magic"
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Amy Sumpter

    Amy Sumpter
    Feb 22 2021
    Co-founder of The Kates on Broadway and acclaimed Chicago comedy vet Amy Sumpter goes over her amazing 2019 set at Strip Joker in this season 3 finale! We discuss making space for women in stand-up (and in the world), the time her breast ended up in an old lady's mouth on the subway, and what not to do when your gynecologist shows up to a pelvic exam dressed as a pirate. Timestamps: 01:00 – Set from Strip Joker 14:00 – "I come from a pretty funny family" Mentions of 7th Grade, Mean Girls, High School, Medieval Times, Jewel Osco, Bennigan's 16:35 – "I want to be the weirdo; I want to be the character actor" Mentions of College, Chicago, Second City 17:45 – "…And that's where I met Kelsie Huff" Mentions of Kelsie Huff, The Kates, Bear (The Nephew), Columbia College, Second City Conservatory 18:55 – The Kates Origin Story Mentions of Frankie J's on Broadway, Methadone Clinics, One-Woman Shows, 'Huffs', Tragedy Plus Time, 'Enough is Enough' Webseries 21:40 – "Chicago is very small" 22:25 – "Whenever I have issues [with someone], it's usually a white dude" (SPOILER ALERT) 22:55 – "I have been getting onstage since I was twelve" 23:21 – "Open mics just make me want to quit comedy" 24:37 – "Talk about what you know" 24:54 – "Don't try to emulate your favorite comics" Mentions of Eddie Murphy, Lilly Tomlin, Amy Schumer 25:30 – Bad Sitcom Writing vs. 'The Office' 26:10 – Amy's First Open Mic Story Mentions of Chicago Trolley, Corona Beer, Withered Lady-Boners, Eric Estrada, 'Chips', The Comedy Hole of Shame 32:02 – Moving to Chicago vs. LA 32:42 – 'The Kates' Begins Mentions of Female Representation, Edgewater, Kate The Great's Book Emporium, The Book Cellar, Facebook, Feminism 35:11 – Getting into the Set 35:13 – The High Kick Mentions of Cartwheels, Counseling, Therapy, Macho Man Randy Savage 36:57 – Underwear Covered in Pubic Hair Mentions of Gen-X, Shaving, Litmus Test 37:54 – 3-Year Old Nephew, Bear, Trying to Swear Mentions of Child Psychology, Teaching, Testing Limits 40:11 – The L-Cup and "You're Welcome!" Mentions of Strip Joker, Specialty Bras, Motifs, X-Treme Commercials, Body Positivity, Believe Women 43:40 – Midwestern Politeness 44:20 – The Subway Incident Mentions of Rebirth, Mid-Life Crisis, Hindsight, Turkey Dogs 46:27 – Mom Is Taller Than Dad 48:30 – The Tom Green Digression Mention of 'The Tom Green Show' Season 1, Episode 9: 'Parent Statues'Season 2, Episode 11: 'Best of Special' Mention of Drew Barrymore 50:20 – "I'm not a virgin and that's sad" Mentions of Pound Town, Self Esteem 52:11 – "Why do some people just get to live in Pound Town?" Mentions of Hot Privilege, Serial Monogamy, Relationship Baggage, Chemistry 54:57 – The Gynocologist Mentions of Halloween, Speculums, Tinder, Salvatore Dali, Empowered Vaginas 57:10 – Revealing The Pasty 59:58 – Reviewing the Set 1:01:21 – "I don't necessarily believe in 'suffer for your art'" 1:01:45 – Advice for Aspiring Comedians 1:03:18 – Where Can We Find You? Podcast: 'Shaped'She's Crafty: Chicago's All-Female Beastie Boys Tribute BandThe Kates @ The Book CellarUpcoming Comedy Album 1:04:28 – Final Words
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Outtakes: Brittani Ferguson

    Outtakes: Brittani Ferguson
    Feb 17 2021

    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'.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 – "The Burbs"

    00:48 – Del Close and Sharna

    • Mentions of Second City, Improv, Todd Barry, Steven Wright, Mu

    02:18 – All 80's and 90's Action Films Were Softcore Gay Porn

    • Mentions of Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Dolph Lundgren

    03:16 – "I published an essay in college about all action films as gay romcoms"

    04:32 – Telling Inside Jokes Onstage

    04:56 – The Kyle Parris Story

    • Mentions of Jerry Seinfeld, Trigger Warning Open Mic

    06:47 – "Generally people around the age of thirty just seem to be kind of sad"

    07:08 – "Nobody got their porn from Tumblr"

    07:38 – Little House on the Prairie

    • Mentions of Twitter, Doc Baker, Kevin Hagen, Charles Landon, Winger

    09:36 – A Sexual Awakening to the X-Files

    • Mentions of Divorce, Halloween

    • References to The X-Files Season 2, Episode 7: '3' (1994)

    12:50 – "What do you call fans of Gillian Anderson? Lesbians"

    13:28 – What Happens in Florida Laundry Rooms
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
No reviews yet