Where Da Party At

A few years ago, when I was going through classes at iO, I wanted to be on a team so badly. To the extent that I even started dressing more nicely and wearing makeup more often because I was RAISING MY GAME UP. Of course, that stuff doesn't necessarily work - funny people make teams regardless of how they look, but I think slobs have a lot more work earning the audience's respect. (Speaking of respect, how about that picture, amiright?!?)

Today, here I am on the iO website as the official show poster for a new show called Where Da Party At? Just seeing this picture on the iO website makes me happy. Mostly because this picture makes me happy. I am my own spirit animal. 

The show opens in a few weeks. It's got a simple premise: each week, a different member of the team will bring a party photo to the show and the audience gets to decide who tells a monologue based off the photo. It could be a picture from a birthday, a Christening, or a fake-bachelorette party like the one above. I like the show concept because it's simple. A photo, a monologue, and some improv. No crazy gimmicks or costumes. We're just here for the party. 

Suggestion: Vaginal Rejuvenation

I'm a member of an all-girls improv group called "Where Da Party At." This week we did a show at the Upstairs Gallery as guests of "Making Out with Wes Perry".  Every third Wednesday, Wes, who sings throughout the show wearing blue-glitter lip stick, invites different artists to perform; there were poets, funny staged readings, stand up comedy, and improv. It was a fantastic night – I loved the variety. And it was lovely to see so many gay performers celebrating their identity through their art alongside straight performers. Nothing gives me a boner quite like self-acceptance and inclusive communities. 

At the top of the show, we asked the audience (95% gay male) for a suggestion and quickly accepted the first thing thrown out: "vaginal rejuvenation." Although we didn't avoid the chance to indulge in some twat-centric humor, we also found an important theme: "how do you say goodbye to a part of yourself?" or as we asked one member, "How can you replace the vagina you've been through so much with?"

But mostly it was gross fun. Here's my favorite snippet of the show**:

LESLIE 

I have a question. Well, it's really more of theory. Does your vagina's hairstyle reflect the kind of man you're attracted to? I'll start. (points at vagina) I like a man with a beard. 




ALL

Ooooo, good question!

LESLIE

(to Margaret) And you like bald men! 




LAURA

And I love mohawks!

MALLORY

And I love really long hair!

RACHEL

And I love fat guys!







Gross, right? Improv is fun. 

Beards.

High and tight.

Mohawks.

Long and luscious.

**The names have been changed because we weren't all being ourselves but I don't remember whatever made-up names we assigned to each other.**