Adam Guerino

Dax ExclamationPoint has been at the forefront of both drag and geek circles for years. Recently, her nerd cred has turned to royalty as she's made it onto the eighth season of drag reality TV show competition RuPaul’s Drag Race. In her first video promoting the upcoming season, Dax proclaims that she wants to be “known for cosplay,” and with her upcoming All Geeks: C2E2 Unofficial After Party appearance, she’s well on track. I asked her a few questions about her inspirations, geek interests and dream shows. Which came first, drag or geek? Geek, definitely. I grew up reading comics and watching science fiction and superhero movies. That’s what inspired me to start drawing and eventually turn to drag. What areas of geek culture are you most passionate about? Mainly comics, really. I go to my local [comic] store at least once a week and spend entirely too much time and money but that’s kind of how fandom goes. How has drag influenced your geek interests? Drag has really inspired my geek interests by causing me to look more at character design and details of a costume. Things that look good on a page don’t always translate to real life, so I like to take a lot from the color blocking of a costume and try to integrate symbols and details that are personal to the character. I like to call it "the method acting of drag." Recently, you cosplayed Storm’s black leather outfit with the yellow lightning bolt from the late ’80s era of X-Men and did your makeup to match Storm’s portrayal

Widely regarded as one of the finest burlesque shows in Chicago, the Naughty Little Cabaret is going all out for Valentine’s Day. The show, which features internationally-recognized artists including Eva La Feva and Ray Gunn, will be at The Original Mother’s on Saturday, February 13 at 7pm. I chatted with NLC's charming host and creator Rob “The Pup” Racine about what to expect at this weekend's show. Naughty Little Cabaret has made a name for itself as some of the best burlesque in the city—how did it all start?Naughty Little Cabaret started four years ago. After seeing so many different live shows that just seemed to fall short to me, I wanted to create something that was sexy and fun, with performers that commanded the stage with a high production value. So my dream of owning a high-end, mostly-male burlesque cabaret became a reality and I founded Naughty Little Productions Inc, and opened the doors to Naughty Little Cabaret. We started with the Stage Door Johnnies [The well-respected male burlesque troupe], Tila Von Twirl [two-time International Burlesque Hall of Fame Award winner] and Dida Ritz [RuPaul's Drag Race]. We started with six performers in our first year and have now had more than 150 different entertainers grace our stage from over 15 different countries. How will the Valentine's Day show be different?Our show normally focuses on male burlesque sprinkled in with female entertainers and variety acts, but our Valentine’s Day show really focuses on the classic fe

Chicago native Cameron Esposito is home today to tape her first comedy special at Thalia Hall. Local comedy aficionados might know Esposito from her performances at comedy clubs across town. And if you own a television, you may have seen her as a guest on Conan or the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson. She's been called "the future of comedy" by Jay Leno and a "comic to watch" by LA Weekly, Jezebel and Cosmo. She was also featured in Marie Claire's "Funniest Women of 2015." I chatted with Esposito about coming home and the upcoming comedy special. If you weren’t a comedian, what would you be? An atheistic priest, which is basically the same as being a comic. What do you miss about performing in your hometown of Chicago? Al's Italian Beef (hot, sweet, dipped) and the El. And the audiences—Chicago's got great audiences—but I'll see them soon! Speaking of your hometown, what’s it like visiting the suburb where you grew up? Well, I grew up in the most adorable place known to man (Western Springs), so going back there is amazing and surreal. There's a butcher and a baker and a milkman. Not a candlestick-maker though—you gotta go to Pier One for candlesticks.  Are you recognized as a comedian there? Or do you get the “Little Cameron Esposito, my, how you've grown” from old neighbors and they have no idea you’re a nationally touring comedian who appears regularly on TV? Um, yes. Sometimes my parents' friends show up at shows. I'm always like, "So nice to see you and sorry about all

There's a video that's going viral, and it is pure poetry. It involves local queer comedian Robin Trevino of GayCo who wanted Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana to cater his wedding. Not because the pizza is good or even that he particularly wanted pizza at his wedding, but because Memories Pizza made news when the owners said they would not cater a gay wedding. I asked Robin a few questions about his video, and he caught us up on what happened next. Well first off, how was the pizza? The pizza looked terrible, but it tasted okay. I put it in a cooler in my trunk so it would stay fresh and then heated it up during the show. People thought it was pretty okay. It looked like a dried out floppy mess, even when it was fresh. What backlash, if any, have you gotten? All of my friends and family got the joke. I have an improv friend who is a minister and he wrote to congratulate me because the story made it to his soccer blog in England. He appreciated the joke and thanked me for being as kind as I could be, given the circumstances of the bit. All of the bloggers and news outlets have been very kind and understanding. They get it. Two years ago, I decided to stop reading comment sections, but of course I had to read the comments on my own story. I'd say 90 percent of the comments are negative. Even on gay blogs. The great debate has been over the definition of the word catering. It reminds me of Bill Clinton's "It depends what your definition of the word 'is' is." I enjoy my troll

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 guy

The Pride parade started off as a protest in New York City as a response to the Stonewall Riots in 1970. What began as a singular event of queer solidarity transitioned into a festive annual occurrence celebrated all across the country. Chicago’s Pride Parade is this Sunday, and it has ballooned into an extravagant, all-ages affair for queer and straight attendees alike. For the occasion of Pride, but not necessarily proud moments, I asked some queer comedians for a few funny stories to get us in the mood. Their responses could just as well be titled, "Things not to do at Pride."  Trannika Rex Last year at Pride I was hosting the Dance Pavilion and as I announced Cazwell, some wasted girl jumps the partition, ninja rolled onto the five-foot tall stage and started running up behind him. I panicked and grabbed her by the ponytail before she could get to him and, as I do, five backup dancers dressed as penguins ran in to grab her. As they tried to wrestle her off the stage she shook loose, literally rolled down the stairs and, when she tried to run away, tripped and fell into a giant pile of garbage. It was like a slapstick scene from a wacky Rob Schneider comedy. Cody Melcher My birthday is June 28, the same date as this year’s Pride Parade. It was also the date of the Chicago Pride Parade on my 21st birthday. I was a student at The University of Texas in Austin but was up in Chicago for summer classes at Second City. On the eve of my birthday, I went to Skinprov at The Anno

Trixie Mattel has more hustle than you. By the time you finish this sentence, she’ll be in a different zip code and putting on her heels to perform for another crowd. After making a name for herself across the Midwest, the Milwaukee-based drag queen landed a spot on the coveted RuPaul’s Drag Race. For those who are uninformed: Drag queens are male-identified performers who perform as female, and RuPaul’s Drag Race is the Super Bowl Sunday of drag performances. Her signature look is strikingly similar to a doll's, and her signature move is comedy. A talented performer in her own right, Mattel takes to the stage and weaves surprising and hilarious comedy bits into her routine which will leave audiences simultaneously gagging and laughing. This week, she comes to Roscoe’s Tavern with the rest of the Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 7 cast. Unlike most of the cast, she has performed in Chicago numerous times before. For a time, she was a regular at Berlin Nightclub’s Drag Matinee and the epic Neverland parties. I asked her a few questions about her drag-spiration, traveling philosophy and how she made a name for herself out of a slur. I had never seen an episode of RuPaul's Drag Race before it graced your subtly made-up mug. Now I'm hooked and I blame you. Listen, people say that I wear too much makeup. But I see people every single day who could use more makeup. I JUST LIKE IT GET OFF MY BACK OK I'M A PERSON. In all seriousness, who wouldn't get hooked on Drag Race? It's truly a show t

Dixie Lynn Cartwright is all about supporting the arts. In her monthly show, Dixie Wins A Talent Show, she encourages contestants to compete for second and third place. That’s right, as the name would indicate, Dixie always wins. As a popular drag queen, talented singer and in-demand MC, one might worry that it can go to your head. Well, she went the other way and unapologetically embraced it all. Dixie Wins A Talent Show welcomes multiple contestants every month from drag to singing and comedy. The performers are top-notch and, though you might think the appeal is the second and third place cash prizes, the real fun in the show is being able to share the spotlight. To talk about the show, I got a chance to talk to the man behind the big blond Dixie wig, Drew. You've mentioned before that talent shows hold a special place for you. Have you participated in many and what did they mean to you? I am mesmerized by middle school talent shows. They are always a pre-teen trainwreck. Pre-teens in general are a trainwreck, but this one happens on a stage...in front of other pre-teens. It’s intense. When I was in 8th grade, I won the talent show with a stirring rendition of “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.” I was a 13-year-old boy with a bowl cut, a Snoopy Around the World tie and a dream. It was in a gymnasium. It was hot. The silver spray-painted cardboard letters spelling out "TALENT SHOW" kept falling off of the velvet curtain. It was, in a word, magic. I hope that my grown-up talent show can

The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) arrived at McCormick Place this weekend, bringing an army of comic book creators, actors and nerds to the convention center. The C2E2 Crown Championship of Cosplay, one of the most lauded cosplay contests in the country, took place on Saturday, making it the hottest day of the convention. The geek celebration began far before the festivities. Near the entrance to the festival, multiple photo shoots were taking place. They were a mixture of impromptu "Can I get a photo with you?" and meticulously planned group shots. It's amazing to think about the hours of time put into each costume by each member, then coordinated with a group. I talked to a group of cosplayers who were coordinating a theme for "DC pinup girls." When asked which came first, the theme or the group, "Cowboy Wonder Woman" told me some of the group worked together in a costume shop, and planned their costumes during their time off. A few members of the group were first-timers, but "Steam Punk Stargirl" has been to numerous "Cons." Here are a few other things we saw this weekend at C2E2. The best fans ever The fans are the main reason why all of the rock stars and idols came to McCormick Place. Throughout the entire weekend, whether I was in line at a shop or at a booth, the best conversations were with the fans. When I was in line to get my copy of She-Hulk signed by writer Dan Slott, I talked to a cosplayer dressed up as Phil Coulson from Marvel's Agents of Shield.

Friday, April 24 is the first day of the massive geek gathering known as C2E2 (Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo) wherein folks converge on McCormick Place to meet their favorite creators, cosplay as their favorite characters and buy all of the nerd things. To talk about C2E2, movie casting and diversity in geek culture, I chatted with long-time Spider-Man writer Dan Slott. From Slott’s first Marvel work, She-Hulk: Single Green Female, I’ve been an epic fan. If I start seizing from a geekgasm, everybody be cool. Hey Dan, thanks so much for chatting with me—oh my god, am I sweating? How should I know. We're not even in the same room. This is over email! FOURTH WALL... DESTROYED! Anyway, to start, you seem very involved with fans using Twitter, blogs and more. Would you define the interactions as a perk of the gig or more of a necessary part of the job? It's not necessary, but it can be fun. I know that if social media existed when I was growing up, and I could ask questions to Stan Lee, Roy Thomas or other comic book creators and guys from the Marvel bullpen, I would've freaked out. Speaking of fan interactions, you hold two very distinct honors in regard to your Spider-Man tenure: Firstly, some of the highest sales of any comic book to date. Up till Star Wars #1, but I'm still very proud on how we did on Amazing Spider-Man #700 and #1. And second, you’ve arguable had the most internet freak outs. Both of which pertained to your Superior Spider-Man storyline where Peter Par

Game of Thrones is back for a fifth season and, lucky for you, FunnyOrDie.com’s Gay of Throne host Jonathan Van Ness provides a weekly recap of the show. Each episode debuts just days after a new Game of Thrones chapter, and you can expect a barrage of hilarious commentary and sassy spoilers. I sat down to talk with Van Ness about the upcoming season of both Gay of Thrones and Game of Thrones. Are you actually a hairdresser and Game of Thrones fan or is my life a lie? I am guilty as charged, and you can rest assured your life is not a lie—at least not on my part. I've been doing hair for almost 10 years now and am a major lover of Game of Thrones. Even as time wages on, my love for Game of Thrones grows and grows. Paint me a picture: How did the show start? I was doing Erin Gibson's hair. She is a longtime friend, client and creative genius at Funny or Die. A client in the seat next to me a brought up Game of Thrones. I accidentally launch into an impromptu recap not even realizing what I was doing, and Gay of Thrones was born. The rest is history. The turnaround is incredible. Your recaps come out a day or two after each new episode. What's the process like? Do you get advance copies? We don't get advance copies. Erin, myself and the incredible team behind Gay of Thrones watch the East Coast feed every Sunday. We sit down and create a general outline of the theme for the recap, and then we do some improv and shoot it after we watch on Sunday. The team edits it and has it rea

Trannika Rex is hands down the hardest working queer in the city. Before you object and say "so and so" is busier, ask yourself if they've ever had two monthly shows while concurrently hosting three weekly parties and traveling? It's tiring even reading about it, yet Rex has done it multiple times and still brings a hilarious and boozy aplomb to every production. Her weekly show Drag Matinee is even up for a best weekly party nomination from the Chicago Nightlife Awards. I co-host the Piss N Vinegar comedy night every second Wednesday at Berlin with Rex, and asked the self-proclaimed "Belle of the Ball Sack" a few questions about her start, look and dizzying schedule. Before we get to the whole, "How'd you get started/what's your process" questions, what, in your opinion, is drag?Well it's 2015 now so it would be dumb to simplify it by saying, "When a man dresses up as a woman." Drag and acting could basically have the same definition, which is, "Someone pretends to be someone else for the entertainment of others," but I guess the difference is that when you go to a drag show, it's probably at a gay bar and it's called a drag show. When did you start doing drag?In 2011, I went to a Halloween party dressed as Snooki. It was horrifying for everyone involved. I ruined several white surfaces. I did drag a month later for fun and named myself on the way to Beauty Bar. I started performing about six months later, but I wouldn't say I was presentable until about two years ago. How h