Performance Revue
69 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 6 ratingsPerformance Revue is a show that reveals the creative process behind Chicago’s premier comedians. Each episode features a set, interview, and breakdown of each joke or concept presented in their act.
Performance Revue is released as a podcast biannually, with video releases (both with and without commentary) of the sets discussed in each episode.
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Episodes
Season 1 Review w/ Huck Poe
February 06, 2019 17:54 - 1 hour - 143 MBIt's the Season 1 review of Performance Revue! Today, we are flipping the script on the show’s established format. My writing partner of 4 years, Huck Poe, listened to the entire first season, all 15 episodes, in a one week period. I then invited him on the show to review it using my own outline of questions. His first response was, and I quote, “This wouldn’t be a Robert Littwin production if it weren’t at least slightly masturbatory.” Huck has never been hesitant to call me out for an...
Titty Citty
January 30, 2019 16:56 - 1 hour - 155 MBIt’s the Season 1 finale! Today we are talking to Collin Bullock, Ariana Freeman, Ryan Croft, and Dan Muller. These four comedians, plus drummer Will Gingrich, make up Chicago comedy band Titty Citty. Their style ranges from political satire to just plain silliness, and is mostly presented in a simple punk/pop aesthetic. This interview highlights a first on the show: displaying group dynamics in the creative process (even if it is rather silly). View the performance here: https://yo...
Sonal Aggarwal (Part 2)
January 23, 2019 22:26 - 44 minutes - 103 MBIt's the penultimate episode of the season! Today we are taking a spiritual journey through a multilingual stand-up comedy set with Sonal Aggarwal. Sonal is a world traveler, a polyglot, a fire dancer, a healer, and one of the funniest people I have ever met. She is a producer on the long-running show ‘Congrats on Your Success’, which was featured in the Netflix show ‘Easy’, and just wrapped a run of her one-woman show ‘The Alchemy of Bliss’ at Steppenwolf theater. She reg...
Sonal Aggarwal (Part 1)
January 23, 2019 22:05 - 52 minutes - 121 MBIt's the penultimate episode of the season! Today we are taking a spiritual journey through a multilingual stand-up comedy set with Sonal Aggarwal. Sonal is a world traveler, a polyglot, a fire dancer, a healer, and one of the funniest people I have ever met. She is a producer on the long-running show ‘Congrats on Your Success’, which was featured in the Netflix show ‘Easy’, and just wrapped a run of her one-woman show ‘The Alchemy of Bliss’ at Steppenwolf theater. She regularly featu...
Justin Golak
January 16, 2019 16:00 - 1 hour - 180 MBToday we have Chicago comedy veteran Justin Golak! Justin has been in the game for over a decade and has many nuggets of wisdom to share. You can find him on stages all over the country, as well as local shows and mics in Chicago. His websites are JustinGolak.com, and Lo-Class.com, where you can find links to his podcasts including Safe Space, his albums, and writings. Influenced by George Carlin and Chris Rock, Justin is a self-described “state-educated college bro” who likes to walk a...
Elise Fernandez
January 09, 2019 16:00 - 1 hour - 140 MBToday we are baring it all with a bold set and interview with Elise Fernandez! Elise is a fun, unapologetic feminist with a very body-positive and sex-positive message. Having the determination to refine and perform material, all while forming friendships and connections is a much-needed skill that it can take newer comedians years to master. Elise has that in spades. Just FYI, this is another NSFW performance at the Uptown Underground, so you’re definitely going to want to see the vide...
Kendall Klitzke
January 02, 2019 16:35 - 1 hour - 176 MBToday we have Kendall Klitzke and our first featured performance at Strip Joker! There is a lot of cheering and applause in the clip, which usually happens when clothes come off onstage. Kendall is a producer on Cupcake Comedy Cabaret at The Gallery Cabaret and The Neapolitan showcase at The Store. Kendall has a degree in TV writing. Since getting her first taste of stand-up, she has jumped in with both feet, immersing herself in the scene and quickly building an arsenal of witty jokes a...
Maya May
December 26, 2018 16:00 - 1 hour - 134 MBToday we are talking to slam-poet-turned-comic Maya May! Maya was a Chicago comedian who is currently attempting to tolerate people who list their resumes in person as a daily greeting, and has recently found her way onto the college circuit. As a mother and a queer woman of color, Maya has developed a wealth of socially conscious material that stems from a life rich with wildly varying experiences. I assure you that the following set and conversation is but a snowflake on the tip of th...
Brittany Meyer
December 19, 2018 16:49 - 1 hour - 143 MBToday, it's Brittany Meyer! Brittany Meyer is the founder of, and a producer on, Chicago’s famous Strip Joker. They have produced about a dozen shows around the city in the past few years, including Spin-Off Stand-Up and Tuxedo Cat. Brittany uses their platform to promote a progressive agenda, specifically shining a spotlight on issues of gender equality through comedy. View the performance here: https://youtu.be/fXPM_cnHkqg View the performance with commentary here: https://youtu...
Chris Higgins
December 04, 2018 02:11 - 1 hour - 168 MBChris is a veteran of the Chicago comedy scene who came in from the chillest parts of Colorado. His relaxed, personable style has been a hit with crowds for years, and now he produces the famous 'Chill As Fuck Show' at Second City. Chris is proof that comedians don’t have to be depressed, sad, or driven by a romanticized version of the “tortured genius” trope. Watch the performance here: https://youtu.be/i_m0Dt48E8Y Watch the performance with commentary: https://youtu.be/kA2BUSe5_FA
Amy Shanker
December 03, 2018 18:58 - 1 hour - 174 MBToday we have NYC comedian Amy Shanker! Amy started out in Chicago as a public school teacher, and is currently a whip-smart comedian navigating the minefield that is modern dating apps. She moved to New York a few years ago, and currently runs the Power Hour comedy mic at New York’s Creek in the Cave. I'm very glad she stopped by last Summer, performed this set, and caught up over a podcast episode. Watch the performance here: https://youtu.be/4P0_iwds-iM Watch the performance with...
Samantha Berkman
November 28, 2018 16:56 - 1 hour - 148 MBSamantha Berkman was a brilliant Chicago comedian who passed away on 5/17/21. She was only 31. She wrote for The AV Club television show and founded CAMP: A Comedy Show. The world doesn't get enough whimsical, silly, genuine people like Sam. Everyone who met her considered her a friend. I'm glad I got to preserve a small piece of her in this set and interview. Watch the performance here: https://youtu.be/prMFhJulkLw Watch the performance with commentary here: https://youtu.be/P3KTk...
Le Aboav
November 21, 2018 17:00 - 1 hour - 118 MBToday, we are going to take a journey. This journey will lead us down some queer paths. There will be twists, turns, and a Willy Wonka tunnel segment, but I guarantee you that it’s worth the trip because today, we are talking to Le Aboav. Le is a hilarious comedian I met years ago at a comedy show called CAMP at the Village Tap, where they were telling punchlines about bicycle shorts. Since then I have seen Le evolve into the fun-loving, openly pervy, and very witty comedian they are toda...
Bill Bullock
November 14, 2018 17:00 - 1 hour - 181 MBBill Bullock started out as a huge fan of live comedy in Chicago and eventually developed a taste for performing. Now he's quite good at it. Bill features on shows all over the city and produces 2 of his own: Something Else at Beauty Bar, and Congrats on Your Success. Congrats is hosted by local bookstore, Uncharted Books. It’s been going strong for 6 years and was even featured on the Netflix series ‘Easy’. Here he is, performing his birthday set at Beauty Bar. Watch the performa...
Jillian Ebanks
November 07, 2018 17:00 - 1 hour - 160 MBToday I present to you one of my personal favorite comedians, Jillian Ebanks. Jillian is one of those comics who makes me laugh, even when no one else is laughing. I try very hard to stifle my laughter when recording these live sets, but you can hear me chuckle all over this track. Jillian is a co-founder of BAPS comedy (that’s Beautiful And Powerful Sistas) and a Bob Curry fellow at Second City. BAPS is a show dedicated to featuring women of color in comedy, music, poetry, and spoken w...
Janice Rodriguez
October 31, 2018 18:30 - 1 hour - 142 MBToday I have a set and a revealing interview/ amateur therapy session with my friend Janice Rodriguez. Janice learned from local Chicago greats like Kelsie Huff and Alex Kumin and is the founder of Las Locas Comedy. Las Locas started out in a large salon, packing it to the brim at every show and now works as a pop up showcase at larger venues. Las Locas features women of color, usually with Latin backgrounds, and an honorary loca. Janice is one of those rare performers who not only has ...
Matt Brown
October 26, 2018 17:10 - 1 hour - 138 MBAnd so it begins! Welcome to the first official episode of Performance Revue, and we're coming out swinging with Chicago comedian Matt Brown! His attitude, subversion, and unique voice felt equal parts “sassy drag queen” and Joan Rivers. The style feeling like an old-school, quick-witted, Vegas show throwback with a very modern, queer sensibility. View the performance here: https://youtu.be/bHQtiD4S06M View the performance with commentary here: https://youtu.be/Fy_Nz23COu4 ...
Season 1 Introduction/Teaser
October 24, 2018 16:00 - 7 minutes - 17.5 MBAn introduction and primer for my new show; Performance Revue! The teaser contains clips from interviews with the following performers: Matt Brown, telling us what impression he wants to leave on his audience. Jillian Ebanks, discussing the conundrum of being both a feminist and a Drake fan. Le Aboav, talking about their gender identity and how it can impact a performance. Samantha Berkman, opening up about the origin of her comedy superpowers (if you happen to be either of her par...
Welcome to Performance Revue
October 18, 2018 19:46Hello potential listeners/viewers! My name is Rob Littwin and I am a huge comedy nerd. I have spent years in the art/comedy/theater scene in Chicago and have come to love the unique atmosphere and ocean of genuine talent here. We have so much, it frequently spills into New York and Los Angeles, congealing into comedy writers, national stand-up acts, and even people you’ve seen on TV. I adore so many unique talents in this city, and I’d love to give each of them their own major studio c...