Tim and Eric and Dr. Steve Brule
Tue 9/23-Wed 9/24, 8 PM, Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, 773-935-6860, athenaeumtheatre.com, 16+, sold out.
Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher
10/14, 7 PM, Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln, 773-525-2501, lincolnhallchicago.com, $15. 21+
Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher both cut their teeth in Chicago’s stand-up scene, and, along the way, grew pretty fond of each other. The pair are now engaged and live in LA, but will be swinging through town on the heels of the release of Esposito’s first album, Same Sex Symbol. —Brianna Wellen
What is it like to be in a relationship with a fellow comedian?
Cameron Esposito: Stand-up comedy really runs in classes, so when Rhea started as a freshman I was like a senior in the Chicago scene. But in our relationship at home we are equals.
Rhea Butcher: There’s just a lot of specific fears and goals and people that you’re meeting that if I was dating an accountant, they’d be like, “What are you talking about?”
CE: If we were dating accountants, we’d have a much easier time on our taxes.
Do you ever find your jokes overlapping?
RB: We have had instances where things happen to us, and we discuss almost immediately, “Oh, that one’s yours.”
CE: Not long ago I told one of Rhea’s jokes on stage accidentally. I knew as it was coming out of my mouth that it was not my joke. I apologized profusely because that’s a nightmare.
You both often open sets with remarks about your sexual orientation. Do you feel that’s something you need to get out of the way?
RB: I talk about the fact that I’m gay and a lesbian because I want to use those words so people hear those words. And I don’t want there to be any question about whether I’m proud.
CE: If I get onstage and I don’t say I’m gay, I think people wonder, and it puts them in their head a little bit. I look . . . half gay, I guess, with the side mullet. I’m a little more on the questionable spectrum, and I don’t want people to think that I’m not able to talk about it.
Which Chicago comedians do you try to check out when you’re in town?
CE: I love Candy Lawrence. Kristin Clifford—she’s a newer face at the Lincoln Lodge, and I really like her stuff. And my longtime collaborator Adam Burke.
RB: Goodrich Gavaart—we actually started on the same night. The two gals who ran the Comedy Exposition, Katie McVay and Stephanie Hasz.
CE: The final thing I would say is just—Chicago, please enjoy your public transit system. It’s amazing!
RB: We miss it so much!
CE: I would love to be jammed up next to some really smelly guy, rattling on the train down to the Loop.
Jerrod Carmichael
Thu 11/13-Sat 11/15. Thu 8 PM, Fri-Sat 8 and 10:30 PM: Up Comedy Club, 230 W. North, upcomedyclub.com, $20.
