Gay Comedy Jam promises to deliver lots of laughs, cucumbers
By Laura McCarthy
Posted Wednesday, March 15, 2006
The West End Word, St. Louis, MO
Ragged Blade Productions, a local gay theater company based at The Theatre at St. John’s, 5000 Washington Place in the Central West End, presents the St. Louis National Gay Comedy Jam. These comedic performances will run as a three-day event, March 16 through 19, seeking to provide the St. Louis gay community with an entertaining social outlet other than typical nightlife.
And with three nationally recognized comedians and performance artists, Jerry Rabushka, playwright, co-founder of Ragged Blade Productions and mastermind behind the event, promises to deliver the laughs.
Founded in 1996, Ragged Blade Productions is a source for original gay and lesbian theater showing an average of two big productions a year with other smaller projects throughout the year. Rabushka said he wanted to bring in some comedy acts, but got the idea to expand it into a larger event to bring the community together and put Ragged Blade on the mainstream theater radar screen.
The event will feature three different acts by two performance artists and one standup comedian.
Michael Cross Burke, an award-winning New York City-based performance artist and educator (currently on staff at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and has served as artist-in-residence at New York University and New Britain Museum of Art) stars in a one-man show stemming from a bad experience with a date … and cucumbers. He now uses 30 to 40 cucumbers for the main props in his act, which Rabushka says is hilarious and sometimes shocking.
“You will be amazed by all the things he can do with a cucumber,” he said.
And his show boasts an educational value as Burke explores queer identity, conspiracy theories, sexual fantasy, promiscuity, dating and homosexuality in the animal kingdom.
Matthew Crehan Higgins, from Buffalo, N.Y., also an award-winning performer, stars in a one-man show called The Casual Sex Diary, about a man’s journey from pubescent teenager to super-sexually-awakened adult. With frank, unabashed humor, Diary is about those special people who touch one’s life — even if one doesn’t remember his name.
Nick Tarr, a standup comedian from Phoenix, with years of standup, television and radio experience, tours the country with his comedy act and has become quite known for his Church Lady impression. He is also known for his fearless approach on every facet of homosexuality.
“Nick is a standup who can do anything,” Rabushka said. “He can keep it clean or raunchy, and has a lot of experience.”
Rabushka said he is excited to unite the gay — and non-gay — community for this event. “I have found that straight people are often surprised to discover that we all have the same problems and feelings, that we are not all that different.”
He said he is aware that it can seem taboo for a straight person to attend an event for the gay community, but added that “prejudices build when you are not around something or familiar with something.” He also joked that he grew up in a “straight” world watching “straight” TV and was not turned hetero himself.
The point, he said, is “to have a good time and be entertained.” Rabushka said he wants this event to celebrate the lighter side of homosexuality, without the weight of political and social issues.
Gay Comedy Jam showtimes
Michael Cross Burke’s show Cucumber Dreams opens the St. Louis Gay Comedy Jam at 8 p.m. March 16 and continues at 9:30 p.m. March 18 and 3 and 7:30 p.m. March 19. Matthew Crehan Higgins’ show, The Casual Sex Diary, is at 8 p.m. March 17, 4:30 p.m. March 18 and 6 p.m. March 19. Nick Tarr’s standup act, Hot Jammin’ Comedy, is at 9:30 p.m. March 17 and 3 and 8 p.m. March 18.
All performances are at The Theatre at St. John’s, 5000 Washington Place. Call 726-8693 for reservations.
Following Burke’s March 16 performance, there will be a meet and greet at Freddie’s, 4112-4114 Manchester Ave., and following the March 18 and 19 performances, the party will move to Novak’s, 4121 Manchester Ave.
