Lesbian comic Poppy Champlin tapped her pals to form queer comedy tour

FUNNY BUNCH: Poppy Champlin, left, wanted more name recognition so she formed the Queer Queens of Comedy Tour. She’ll perform Saturday in Fort Worth alongside fellow lesbian comics Sandra Valls, center, and Vicki Shaw, right.

A lot of comedians wait to be discovered. But Poppy Champlin decided it was more efficient to discover herself.

Champlin went through Second City during the heyday of standup, when Chris Farley, Bonnie Hunt, Mike Myers and others were still unknown. She has been a full-time standup comic since 1990, and has headlined on Atlantic Cruises, Olivia Cruises, the Dinah Shore Weekend and at Provincetown.

But despite carving out a queer comedy niche that has earned her a living for much of her professional life, she lacked the name recognition of an Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O'Donnell or Suzanne Westenhoefer.

"I wanted to set up a tour for myself, but people still don't know my name, which was driving me nuts," she says from her home in Los Angeles. It all came to a head last year in Alexandria, Va., when she tried to book a room and the promoter said she couldn't sell out the hall. Which is when she got her Big Idea.

"I said, "'How about if I bring in two other gals you've never heard of, we call ourselves the Queer Queens of Comedy and we can sell it out?' " He liked it, so I put it together with me hosting."

The show was a success, but it might have been a one-time gimmick if Champlin hadn't found herself in need of a job. When a gig she was expecting on a cruise fell through, she called up some of her old friends on the lesbian comic circuit, secured a date and venue in Santa Cruz, Calif., and the Queer Queens of Comedy Tour was born. "The cruise ship forced me to do something for myself. It is a lot of work but I really enjoy doing it," she says.

Although the tour is still in its early stages there will be four dates in 2007, including one in Fort Worth this weekend Champlin believes it will continue to grow.

"We're all lesbian comics on the rise and who are really talented. I use different comics depending on the region, all who I respect and who need more exposure to the world. When I'm ready to start booking and we decide on a date and a venue, then I send out an e-mail and see who's available."

In the past, she's tapped comics like Karen Williams, Erin Foley and Dana Goldberg; this weekend, Champlin will be joined by Sandra Valls (who recently appeared on Showtime's "Latino Divas of Comedy") and Vickie Shaw (who has appeared on Comedy Central's "Premium Blend").

Although Champlin says her own brand of comedy isn't inherently political, she's not at all concerned about coming to Bush Country.

"The political fever is so anti-Bush right now, it's a win-win for me," she laughs.

Scott Theatre, 1300 Gendy St., Fort Worth. Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. $20-$35. 408-202-5564. Queerqueensofcomedytour.com/tickets.htm.


TRAVEL DIARY

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Increasingly, American retirees have been relocating to Mexico and Central America, but Costa Rica offers a unique option for the GLBT community: gay-specific retirement, vacation and investment opportunities. Visitors can spend a week's vacation touring the property and learning about the chance to invest. Tours continue throughout the fall. To learn more, visit Gaysincostarica.com.

When it was built in 1969, Dallas' Fairmont Hotel becomes one of the largest luxury hotels in the area. Now undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation, the Fairmont is joining its sister properties for "100 Years, 100 Memories." Patrons are invited to send in their most memorable stories, photos and memorabilia; 100 will be chosen to be enshrined at the hotel and their makers will be honored. The deadline is Dec. 1; address memories to Public Relations, The Fairmont Dallas, 1717 N. Akard St., Dallas, Texas, 75201.

A.W.J.



This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition September 21, 2007