Chicago native Beth Stelling is coming back to town to tape her second comedy album. Even after four years of being away from the city, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live and other TV shows regularly, Beth still exemplifies comedy in Chicago. Before she left for LA, she already was familiar with acclaim such as being named "Best Stand-up Comedian in Chicago" by the Chicago Reader in 2010 and long-time residencies like her weekly Entertaining Julia show.
Chicago means a lot to Stelling, so it's no surprise that she wants to include us in her sophomore comedy album. She'll be recording the new album Tuesday, September 15, during two shows at 7pm and 10pm at Beat Kitchen.
I talked to her about Chicago, her new album and passion for working with other female comedians.
What made you decide to do a sophomore album now?
My first half-hour Comedy Central special airs October 10 at 12:30am, so I wanted to make sure those jokes were on an album if people liked them enough to carry them everywhere they go. This album will have most of the jokes from my special in addition to the new material I've written since.
For those of us who have been a fan for years, what can we expect from your new material?
I feel like I have a grown a lot since I put out Sweet Beth in 2012. I look back at that album and think, "Why did I put that out?" I know there are wonderful people out there that tell me they laugh to it, and perhaps I'm too hard on myself, but the subtext of that album to me is, "You guys know this one..." My new album will be showcasing jokes and stories at their best. Some are only a few months old that are exciting to tell (and may continue to grow), and some are a few years old that are in their prime to be laid down. I've been doing stand-up for eight years now. While I still have a long way to go, I'm just a better comic than I was three years ago.
From opening for Sara Silverman to working with your Entertaining Julia comedy-partners, The Puterbaugh Sisterz, your collaborations have historically featured fellow funny ladies. Is this a passion or coincidence?
I think working with silly, hilarious, unbridled women is a passion of mine. Kristen Schaal, Kate Berlant, Kristin Rand, Marcella Arguello, Natasha Leggero, Jamie Lee, Maria Bamford, Emily Heller, Emily Maya Mills, Michelle Buteau, Tig Notaro, Aisha Tyler, Aparna Nancherla—all women I love being on shows with.
Aside from the new album, what other exciting projects do you have coming up?
I hosted SHOWTIME's Comedy of SXSW special with Todd Glass, you can catch that right now on demand. I will be appearing on The UCB Show, which is being released early next year by NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises. I'll be co-headlining a show in the New York Comedy Festival this November with Sam Morril. And the first week of November you'll be able to watch me play the best friend in the feature film This Isn't Funny.
Catch Beth's Comedy Central recording on Tuesday, September 15 at 7pm and 10pm at Beat Kitchen (2100 W Belmont Ave).