By: Kristen Becker
As a traveling artist and a Buffalonian, I often have peers from other places tell me about Buffalo’s past. At the forefront of those stories is always Buffalo’s vaudeville history. All the big names played here, and they played here often. It only takes a little time in this city to feel our vaudevillian history–a little dirty, a little poor, but always fun. We appreciate laughter, and we surely appreciate tongue-in-cheek jabs at ourselves and those around us. Living in Buffalo will fine tune both your sense of humor and your sense of irony.
Last February gave birth to the newest vaudevillian incarnation in Buffalo, the Dykes of Hazard (DOH) Variety Hour. Born out of the DOH comedy tour, which has toured from Buffalo to California and all spots in between, the monthly variety show features the best in stand up, sketch and burlesque, with a fantastic musical guest to close out the show. Think Kids in The Hall meets Saturday Night Live, except with an almost entirely female cast (with XY special guests, of course). With DOH Variety Hour, I join forces with fellow veteran performers Ava La Fey, Karine Amato and Jenny Wilson to mock the societal makeup of our modern world.
The show happens the second Thursday of every month at the Ninth Ward (inside Ani DiFranco’s Babeville). The venue is a basement room that successfully combines Buffalo’s architectural heritage and modern technical advances. This month has been chock-full of topics worthy of mockery and with the show falling on April 8th–which also marks Tiger Woods’ return to golf–the audience can expect some topical Tiger humor. Plus, there will be a reference or two to my mock-gubernatorial campaign, contesting WNY businessman and political hopeful, Carl Paladino. Special guest host comedian Kate Anderson and the gals will make you laugh, and music will be provided by the hip hop trio REIGN with Wenzday Atemz.
For more information, check out www.dykesofhazardcomedy.com
Dykes of Hazard Variety Hour
Thursday, April 8th
Babeville’s Ninth Ward
Doors are at 8pm, $10