Amy Sumpter

Performance Revue

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 Band

• The Kates @ The Book Cellar

• Upcoming Comedy Album

1:04:28 – Final Words