Comedy
New Quentin Lee Comedy Show Tapes July 1 at Renberg
Director Quentin Lee, creator of the “Comedy InvAsian” and “Comedy Invasion” (Canadian) series, is back with “Laugh Proud,” a comedy special taping live on July 1, 2023 at the Renberg Theatre in Hollywood. Built around a fresh crop of LGBTQ comedy talents, the show will be anchored by Jason Stuart, a veteran of television, film and comedy (and a familiar face to West Hollywood audiences).
“When I announced the casting earlier this year,” said Lee, “Jason Stuart, my friend and veteran comedian and actor, called me and said he wanted to be part of it. I felt very honored as Jason and I have been wanting to work together, and here’s the chance finally!
“Laugh Proud” is similar to Lee’s previous comedy projects in that all “are about discovering new and cool talent.”
“In the first season of ‘Comedy InvAsian’ [originally sold exclusively to Hulu] I shot for the first time the special of trans Vietnamese comedian Robin Tran, who broke out,” Lee said. “In the second season of ‘Comedy InvAsian,’ I shot Jiaoying Summers who is now killing it as a Chinese female comedian.
In “Comedy Invasion,” the Canadian spinoff, Lee shot the first Canadian drag queen comedian Karla Marx. “For ‘Laugh Proud,'” Lee said, “besides Jason, the other seven comedians are relatively new and I’m excited to be showcasing them.”
The featured comics, in addition to Stuart, are Amanda Alvich, Christian Cintron, Brian Clark aka Brucey, Rowan Niles, Seven Graham, Juno Men, and Asha Hall will star and perform with local trans drag activist Jazzmun Nichcala Crayton. (All are pictured at the top of the page, clockwise top left to bottom left.)
“Laugh Proud” differs from Lee’s previous work, he said, “because it’s a feature film comedy special featuring eight comedians, each doing 10 minute sets.”
“It’s hosted by a local legend, drag queen hostess-with-the-mostest Jazzmun, whom I have respected a lot,” said Lee. “[We] met years back but never got to work together [until now].”
While Lee originally made his name as a director with such groundbreaking films as “Shopping With Fangs” (1997), “The People I’ve Slept With” (2009) and “White Frog” (2012), he’s shown an affinity for the funny with his comedy shows.
“I would say people said they found me funny as a person all my life; but I’ve always felt very serious as person and artist,” Lee said. “Somehow I ended up creating a lot of comedy material … out of experimentation.
“Growing up, I’ve always had a strange sense of humor. I laugh at things no one laughs at. Maybe I’m a reluctant comedian at heart.”
Lee’s “Comedy InvAsian” series is streaming now on Tubi, and his Emmy-eligible “Comedy Invasion” is streaming on Amazon Freevee (a free, ad-supported video streaming service), the Roku Channel and Tubi. His latest feature, “Last Summer of Nathan Lee,” world premiered this year at CAAMfest.
“Laugh Proud,” the 90-minute LGBTQ+ stand-up comedy festival/special, tapes live at 8 p.m. July 1, 2023. Get tickets here.
The LA LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre is located at 1125 N. McFadden, Hollywood. For more information go to: laughproud.com.
.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login