Independent Women: Just Dickin' Around With Krista, Marla, & Scott

Creating your own work is an important part of empowerment. Take a minute to hear about this awesome group in Chicago creating their own space (Just Dickin' Around) for marginalized voices to be heard.

Women In Comedy: Tell us a little about your background and how you came to

pursue comedy as a career?

Krista:

I grew up in small, rural, southern Illinois, and I was always dreaming

of the big city and the stage. I started out doing theatre when I was

about 10 years old, but I can remember putting on comedic skits for

friends and family as soon as I could walk and talk. My focus was

acting, but deep down I always wanted to try comedy. But I was too

scared. Then I got divorced and thought, "Well, what is there to be

scared of? I've been through hard times. This is nothing. Plus, it's

about time I did something for myself for a change." So I sold a

Tiffany's bracelet on eBay to pay for my first improv class. I met Marla

Depew there. She helped me get into standup by suggesting the all-

female stand-up class Feminine Comique. After I completed that, she

booked me on her show, where I met Amy Eisenberg, the creator of

JDA. It all happened from there, and I never looked back.

Marla:

I was raised in a stiflingly religious family and community and never

felt like I belonged, because I didn’t. Humor was my escape and my

defense mechanism. I discovered theatre at a young age and

pursued it through early high school, then psyched myself out and

convinced myself I wasn’t good enough. Eventually I remembered

how much I loved performing and I moved to Chicago to study improv

and sketch, which led to Feminine Comique, which led to standup. It’s

my favorite blend of things—writing, performing, and expressing my

own musings while connecting with others. It’s exhilarating!

Scott:

I started out as an actor and improviser. I’m a founding member of

About Face Theatre here in Chicago. In fact, I was brought on to find

the levity in our very first show. I was consistently cast as the comic

relief, and I have worked at Steppenwolf, Goodman, Chicago

Shakespeare, Lookingglass, iO, and ATC. I fell in love and moved to

Memphis for eight years, and when I moved back I had a difficult time

finding work as an actor. Laugh Factory had just opened its doors

and was looking to start a night of gay and gay-friendly comedy. A

friend recommended me and the rest, as they say, is history.

Women In Comedy: What's one of the biggest obstacles you've faced on your road

to success as a comedian?

Krista:

My biggest obstacle since I started performing comedy has been

some of the negativity I’ve faced with other comics. For the most part,

I’ve met and worked with a lot of amazing and wonderful people all

across the country. However, there are always those cliques that

make you feel like the loser you were in junior high all over again. As

much as I want to be tough and not let it get to me, it does. I want

people to like me. What comedian doesn't want people to like them?

So sometimes the negativity that a few others create discourages me.

But then I focus on what we’ve cultivated as JDA, and the great

people I’ve met doing this, and the fact that I’ve toured the country

and performed at some well-known comedy clubs, made some

money at it, and gotten advice from some comedy veterans who’ve

been there. The good people have truly outweighed the bad, and I

need to do a better job of focusing on that while I create my own path

to comedy success. In the words of the great Tay Tay Swift: "The

haters gonna hate hate hate. But I'm gonna shake shake shake it off.”

I'm a nerd.

Marla:

Early on I needed to get out of my own head and silence the voice

that was telling me I’m not good enough. Now it’s just a very

infrequent whisper and when it does say something to me I tell it to

eff off very kindly and then I high-five myself. Since then it’s

combatting this very black-and-white notion of what a comedy career

is supposed to look like, which is so strange to me. Everyone’s

different and has a different path in life and different goals and

reasons they’re performing. I think a lot about this quote that I used to

have on my MySpace page: “To freely bloom—that is my definition of

success.” I don’t know who Gerry Spence is but I’d like to thank him

for that lovely gem. Go forth and bloom freely!

Scott:

It’s been challenging being labeled a "gay comic". Comedy is a

forceful act: you are making someone laugh. That's a lot of

power. And a lot of straight male comics have trouble relinquishing

that power. I'm not going to change my act, because I think it's

important to be truthful on stage. The only way we can change the

status quo is by sharing.

Photo By Elizabeth McQuern

Women In Comedy: When did you first decide to start your own project what was the

inspiration behind starting it? How did you come up with the

name for it?

Just Dickin’ Around’s founder Amy Eisenberg started the show in

February of 2013 because she wanted a space where women felt

comfortable expressing themselves in a non-judgmental environment.

As both a performer and a lesbian who worked at Hydrate, she knew

it would be the perfect space for women of all orientations. She

wanted it to be really fun, laid-back, and supportive, hence the

tongue-in-cheek name. Later that year she brought on co-producers

to help her expand her mission and in 2015 handed the reins fully

over to us and we love her forever for it.

Women In Comedy: For someone who has never been to see one of your shows -

how would you describe the experience?

Fun, supportive, and empowering—whether you’re performing or

watching. We’ve worked hard to create a positive environment where

people who often feel marginalized feel at home in a space that’s

expressly created for them. We want all kinds of voices and styles on

that stage, and we especially welcome the voices you don’t often

hear in the mainstream world.

Women In Comedy: Why do you think it is important for women to create their own

work in comedy?

Krista:

We live in a patriarchal society where women are constantly told we

are less than. Until we are viewed and treated as equals, it feels

important to me to create our own space where we can exercise our

voice and gain confidence in the work we’re creating. There are some

who criticize making your own space or say things aren't any different

for women, and I couldn’t disagree more. For me, being nurtured

through the all-women's class, the all-women's space we’ve created,

and the many all female line-ups I’ve performed on have helped me

become better and stronger. I feel more prepared tackling the harder

parts of the comedy world, and I've built more confidence to go after

what I want. Many women who started out in our space and are

succeeding with their own goals tell us the same thing. I think it's

crucial that we support each other—it only makes your character

stronger, and the stronger your character the more likely you are to

be successful yourself. Stepping on others isn't the way to

success—supporting others is.

Marla:

Women make up half the world, yet our voices and stories are

frequently treated as niche or dismissed altogether. This is not only

bullshit; this hurts everyone. I have a Mother Teresa quote tattooed

on my arm that says, “If we have no peace, it is because we have

forgotten that we belong to each other.” We’re taught so young and in

myriad ways that women are less valuable than men, and that certain

human characteristics and emotions are gendered and therefore

either superior or inferior, so we all get cut off from our full humanity.

The more women are creating our own work, the more balance there

is, and the more all of us can recognize our humanity in one another.

Scott:

It's important to create your own work because we need to hear from

traditionally disenfranchised and marginalized voices. And I know that

I come from a place of privilege as a white, cisgender male. As a

producer, I think it is equally important to listen to other comics and

provide opportunities for all voices.

Women In Comedy: Who has been one of your mentors/someone you look up to that

has encouraged you to be an independent woman/create your

own opportunities?

Krista:

Marla. I wouldn't be doing this if it weren’t for her. She helped me sign

up for my first stand-up class, put faith in me by booking me for my

first show, patiently read my entire sets that I made her give me notes

on, come to shows that were important to me, been supportive and

protective of me, listened to me, and has always been happy for me. I

couldn't ask for a better mentor and friend. I learn from her all the

time, and she is patient with me when I don't get it right away. She is

honest with me, but in a kind way. She encourages me to speak my

truth because there is validity in what I’m saying. She is helping me

get my confidence back after some of the times the world has kicked

me down. I'm stronger as a result.

Marla:

I’ve narrowed it down to four. Sinead O’Connor, that glorious

iconoclast and truth-spitting rabble-rouser. Cameron Esposito, who

started Feminine Comique and helped me trust my comedic instincts.

Krista, who is a phenomenal friend and hilarious woman. And my

mom, who has always encouraged me to be true to myself, even

when that entails me telling embarrassing stories about her on stage

to a bunch of strangers.

Scott:

My partner Jerre has been my biggest advocate and inspiration. He is

always encouraging me to follow my passion and create my own

opportunities. Some real Oprah shit. And I love him.

Be Sure to check out this awesome trio and the talented lineups in Chicago!