Comedian Cameron Esposito (who has been in Los Angeles for more than a decade) has come a long way since her days in Chicago, where she was named one of Windy City Times’ 30 Under 30 recipients. They have been seen on Netflix, Max, ABC, NBC, Hulu and more as well as in budget films and Sundance indies.
Now Esposito is returning to Chicago—specifically, Steppenwolf Theatre—on Oct. 3-4 with FEAT, which deals with the near-death experience that reaffirmed her marriage to her wife. They recently talked with Windy City Times about the production, pregnancy, King of Drag and much more.
Note: This conversation was edited for clarity and length.
Windy City Times: You were a 30 Under 30 recipient in 2009. What do you remember about that night?
Cameron Esposito: I remember that it was at the theater at Center on Halsted; it had just opened. That’s one of the main things I remember. It was a big, beautiful space.
WCT: I read that your audiences have become more queer over the years.
CE: You know—I don’t know if that’s true. There have been multiple iterations of my audiences. Starting out, you don’t draw your own audience; you are performing for the folks who are coming to that venue. For a while—especially when I was younger—I was the same age as the people who would go out at night; now I’m a little bit older than the people who go out at night. There have been a lot of queer folks but there have also been alternative, artsy folks. Now, there are certainly queer folks but there are also people who are interested in art.
WCT: And Steppenwolf is a splashy place to debut FEAT.
CE: Yes—I’m really excited to be there.
WCT: Your comedy seems to be pretty personal, as opposed to being more objective and observational. Has that always been your style?
CE: I get this question a lot and it’s so funny to me. If I could write jokes about going to the grocery store, I probably would because those comics give a little bit less of their personal selves.
Never in a million years could I think of a joke or concept that’s outside of something personal, and maybe the personal is political when you have a marginalized identity. If you’re in the cultural norm, there’s no reason to talk about being pregnant when you’re queer—which I am right now—or being married when you’re not sure the legal right to marry will stay.
WCT: It’s interesting that you mentioned the personal being political because everything seems to be so politically charged these days. Do you ever find that you’re walking a political tightrope with your performances?
CE: Anyone who carries a marginalized identity feels a bit… It’s the same thing in comedy as it is in life. Straight people talk about being straight, but people just don’t notice it. I actually don’t think that my marriage is political; I don’t think that having a child is political—it’s personal. But when other people politicize our personal experiences, then we’re just within that framework. There is no way to get out of it.
When it comes to feeling nervous about crossing a line about threading that needle, yeah, it’s impossible. I created neither the needle nor the thread—nor the eyelet. [Both laugh.] I’m just out here, married to my wife and happy. I’m just living.
WCT: What can people expect with FEAT?
CE: I had minor foot surgery about a year and a half ago—and I got an infection that almost killed me. It was a tiny incision that almost led to me dying. And that’s what this special is about—forgiveness and reconnection and moving forward that came from this experience. But it’s funny, though! [Interviewer laughs.]
WCT: I’m sure it is. And you can find comedy in almost any situation.
CE: Yeah! What I think is the most helpful is getting really specific because it’s about feelings. It’s about what fear feels like, or loneliness.
WCT: Are you dealing with a mix of emotions with your impending parenthood? I’ve never been a parent.
CE: Me, neither!
WCT: But you’ll be one before I will.
CE: Yeah. As for the mix of emotions, I think so. I just feel mostly tired. Being pregnant is just really physically difficult. Someone who puts on a frilly dress to go to work is tougher than any NFL player. It’s just straight-up crazy.
I’m going to be an older parent—I’m 43, and that’s amazing in so many ways. I’m going to be more prepped in life. I know I have such a strong community. But if you’re 22, you may not be ready in some ways but your body will continue to work. [Laughs]
WCT: Is there any one particular thing you hope the audience takes away from FEAT?
CE: My last special—Four Pills, which came out in April on Dropout—was something I was really proud of. It’s following this path that I hope people will see: Shows that will be funny and make sense in a theater setting. It’s a different direction to take than being in clubs or spaces that have a drinking/nightlife vibe. I hope that people find it funny but that everyone can figure out that there’s something for them, whether you’re on a Tinder date or you have nine drinks—and you can have nine drinks if you want! [Interviewer laughs.]
WCT: And you were also a judge on the show King of Drag.
CE: Yes! The show was shot on Revry, an LGBTQ streaming service. It was hosted, produced and created by Murray Hill, who’s amazing. He asked me to judge the show, and it was really fun. Gottmik, from [RuPaul’s] Drag Race fame, was there and we got to hang out a little bit. Plus, it was so much fun watching the drag kings. The show aired about a month ago; folks should check it out.
WCT: What does representation mean to you?
CE: I really enjoy watching younger people express their queerness and seeing the evolution of how things have changed since I was their age. For example, [actor] Bella Ramsey—I’m obsessed with them and they did an amazing job on The Last of Us while metabolizing people’s opinions about their gender.
Also, I love the WNBA and there are so many folks who are expressing their queerness. Players on the Minnesota Lynx have had this huge rise in visibility this year. Paige Bueckers [who’s with the Dallas Wings] came out about being in a relationship with another possible star, Azzi Fudd, who’s at UConn.
Why do I mention these specific people? Because it changes my life to see how people are living.
Purchase tickets for FEAT at this link.