By Alec Clayton
Local comedian Sam Miller has teamed up with storyteller and StoryOly co-founder Elizabeth Lord to bring to Olympia “Choice Comedy,” an evening of all-female standup comedy to benefit reproductive rights in Alabama. The show will be hosted by Lord and will feature Amanda Biddle from Olympia plus Jill Silva from Tacoma, and Portland’s Tory Ward and Wendy Weiss.
Miller said, “Wendy will be closing out the show. We worked together a lot when I’m in Portland. She’s super talented.”
Weiss has been featured in the All Jane Comedy Festival and is one of the Portland Mercury’s “Undisputable Geniuses of Comedy” and was a finalist in Helium Comedy Club’s “Portland’s Funniest Person Contest.” Silva has performed in Baltimore’s XFest and Seattle’s Highlarious Comedy Fest. Ward was a semi-finalist in Portland’s Funniest last year.
Live music will be provided by HotCabi, a modern funk band.
Lord said, “The evening will be filled with ideas from female comedians. These are performers unafraid to speak up and speak loud about women’s reproductive freedom. Expect thought-provoking jokes that make you laugh and contemplate our predicament as women living today in the United States.”
“I thought a show like this is a good chance to highlight comedians that aren’t dudes,” Added Miller. “When Alabama and other states began to pass these laws I wanted to do something to help beyond talking or posting on social media. I thought that a comedy benefit show might be a great way to raise money and help heal the folks that are affected by these laws as well as the discourse around them.”
Proceeds will be donated to the Yellowhammer Fund in Alabama, which provides funding for anyone seeking care at one of Alabama’s three abortion clinics and will help with other barriers to access.
WHAT
Choice Comedy
WHEN
Saturday, Aug. 31, doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.
WHERE
Rhythm & Rye, 311 N. Capital Way Olympia
HOW MUCH
$10 (benefit – pay more if you can)
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