Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2017)
Page 12 Street Roots • August 18-24, 2017 News Politics, empowerment and some laughs BY EMILLY PRADO couple of fundraisers for him over the winter but hadn’t yet branded as Revolution Comedy. We had a couple shows at ndie Main is a stand-up comedian and Bossanova Ballroom, and I wanted to do the founder of Revolution Comedy, a more dates, but it didn’t quite come together. bimonthly series that marries comedy and music with fundraising for progressive Then Dylan Reiff of Kickstand Comedy Space approached me about doing a regular series, organizations. Since Revolution Comedy and I created the show based around his began in 2016, it has raised over $10,000 for invitation. Eventually, we grew too big for the causes such as Planned Parenthood, Q space, and that’s why we moved to Curious Center, and Immigrant and Refugee (Comedy Theater). Community Organization, or IRCO. Its next S T A F F W R IT E R A IF YOU GO event, “Stand Up to Literally Impeach Trump” on Aug. 28, will benefit Swing Left, a digital community focused on connecting users with their nearest Swing Districts in hopes of regaining Democratic power in the House of Representatives by 2018. Emilly Prado: How does comedy allow us to deal with trauma and the bleakness of our political climate in ways that other avenues might not? Andie Main: At its best, stand-up comedy is cathartic. Sitting in a room, listening to a person tell you their truths can do a lot more for people than just make them laugh. I get a lot of feedback from people who are moved by the topics covered in my jokes. I am focused on politics and empowerment right now. I probably won’t be able to move on from these focal points until the world radically changes, but I think comedy is a way for people to remember experiences and have empathy in a more direct way than music or movies because the act of laughing is actually involuntary when you think about it. I consider it to be a way humans communicate validation with each other, which we totally need right now. E.P.: The election sparked the launch of many politically inclined events and organizations, but Revolution Comedy started in February 2016. Can you tell me about what moved you to act at that time? A.M.: It was Bernie Sanders! I had done a E.P.: In what ways has Revolution Comedy changed since the election? A.M.: We got bigger. The first show at Curious Comedy Theater was the day after the election. When we planned it, we thought it was (going to) be a party, but instead it was more like trying to entertain at a funeral. Our attendance has shot up, and the audiences are very smart and understand a lot of references that I would not have expected from a regular crowd at a comedy club. I don’t know if that’s because a lot of people are educating themselves about this era - I def have stepped up my media consumption of current events - or they were already smart, but I sure do appreciate them. E.P.: How do you decide which group or cause to feature? COURTESY PH O TO A.M.: Whatever is making me uncomfortable! fascism all of the time, whenever it shows its head. E.P.: Your upcoming event calls for the impeachment of (Donald Trump) and is benefiting SwingLeft.org, but a successful impeachment and removal would make Mike Pence president. What do you see as the next steps to continue challenging this administration, should the impeachment work? A.M.: I think if we do reach impeachment, it will bring down the entire current White House. Russiagate has money and roots in so much of the Republican Party that I could see Pence and Paul Ryan going down too. I think this generation has become so radicalized that we will resist all of the E.P.: How has punk rock prepared you for community organizing? A.M.: Ha ha! I love this question. To me, punk equals authenticity and direct action, which is a part of my identity. E.P.: Anything else folks should know about Revolution Comedy and Andie Main? A.M.: I try really hard. I love my dog, Martha. And this is my real hair. Go to Facebook.com/RevolutionComedyPDX to like the page and keep in touch with what we’ve got cooking up next! At Health Share, we believe good health is more than what happens inside your doctor’s office. Good health starts in your community and includes staying active, eating healthy food and getting regular check-ups. homeless? Share your healthy habits with family and friends. We can all have better health when we share it together. Transition Projects Please call 855.425.5544 or visit 650 NW Irving Street Better health together. www.healthshareoregon.org Andie Main is the founder of Revolution Comedy.
