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Comedy Mon Sep 19 2011
James Fritz Headlining Queer Comedy At Zanies
James Fritz is one of the most sought-after stand-up comics in Chicago; he has performed with comedy greats such as Doug Stanhope, Jamie Kilstein and TJ Miller. He was featured in the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Chicago and his comedy album, Deflated, was rated number one on iTunes. He was recently voted the number one comic in Chicago by The Chicago Reader and on Tuesday, September 27, Fritz is headlining Queer Comedy at Zanies alongside Ever Mainard, Candy Lawrence, Nyle Fisher and Meg O'Rourke.
Photo Credit: John Sturdy
You're a great ally in the LGBTQ community. What do you think makes you so accessible?
I don't know. Maybe the fact that I grew up in a pretty religiously uptight area in Western Kentucky and took some refuge in a major city. I think of lot of the LGBTQ (good lord, we're adding new letters every day) community can identify with that frustration.
Do you think that primarily gay audiences receive you differently than primarily straight audiences do?
Not really. My act doesn't really change if I'm in from of a straight or gay crowd. I didn't write my gay material thinking "Oh, gays are gonna love this!" It's just my actual opinions. I'd say the same stuff in front of anybody. Onstage or off.
What other projects are you involved in right now?
I'm in the opening stages of starting my own podcast. Doing a lot of pre-recording now...very excited to join the 100,000 comedians who already have a podcast.
Anything coming up?
This 7/11 corn dog roller isn't sitting well. So, maybe that.
Do you have a favorite (or favorites) Chicago comic?
I have a ton. Of the ones that are still here, Adam Burke, Marty DeRosa, Junior Stopka, Cameron Esposito, Mike Lebowitz, Drew Michael, Dan Telfer... I hate that question because you always forget somebody and then you feel shitty.
Favorite comic ever?
That's impossible.
What has been your favorite comedy experience or moment?
Opening for Doug Stanhope at the Lakeshore theater before I was ready was the best. Getting accidentally booked on an all-Muslim showcase at a small college was the best story after the fact.
What gig would you kill for?
I'd kill for a gig that paid a lot of money.
Tickets and information about the show are available on the Zanies website. To learn more about James Fritz, or to become a fan, click here.
