Nervous Laughter: a comedy show

Laugh now, overthink later!

Join us for NERVOUS LAUGHTER, a comedy show highlighting Chicago's most anxious and hilarious comedians. The Dorothy debut pop up performance features comedians:

• Sam Rocha
• Grace Kilpatrick
• Rachel Dispenza
• Katie Kincaid
• Talia Clay
• Shawn Banks
• Lizzie Kanecki
• & Lauren Walker

Doors at 6pm and our show kicks off at 7pm. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Dorothy is 21+ and requires physical or mobile ID for all to enter. Dorothy is also ADA accessible with elevator access on Campbell Ave. If you are a guest who requires elevator access, please wait by the black door with our logo in the window and call our staff to assist: 773-770-3799

Please note: refund requests are only available until 24h before the show (5/6, 7pm). No other refund requests will be honored.

-----------------

ABOUT THE HOSTS & COMEDIANS

Sam Rocha is a Chicago-based comedian and creator who has performed stand-up across the country, opening for acts like Cameron Esposito, Rhys Nicholson, Geoffrey Asmus, and SNL’s Alex Moffat. She is a producer of popular Chicago shows such as Sashay and Nervous Laughter, has headlined Don’t Tell Comedy and Laugh Factory, is a cast member at Lincoln Lodge, and was voted Chicago Reader’s Best Stand Up Comic of 2025. You may have caught her viral sketches parodying everything from flying anxiety to ultra-specific movie tropes on TikTok or Instagram @samhandleyrocha.

Grace Kilpatrick is a Chicago-based stand-up comedian who turns her nervous energy into a fun, relatable style that’s both hilarious and distinctly her own. She performs regularly at Zanies Chicago and The Lincoln Lodge, and has appeared at venues across the city and beyond. Grace hosts and co-produces monthly shows, including Winedown Comedy (@winedowncomedy) at iO Theater and Nervous Laughter (@nervouslaughtershow)

Rachel Dispenza is a stand-up comic by night and an artist merch manager, also by night. What they do during the day is none of your business. They've performed all over the US, in venues including Zanies Chicago, Punch Line Philly, and The Bell House. While merch managing Sleater-Kinney, the whole band came to see Rachel do stand-up. Carrie Brownstein offered Rachel an opening slot for the rest of the tour the very next day. One day they hope to figure out what to do with their hair.

Katie Kincaid is a Chicago-based comedian known for her queer-forward comedy and Midwest roots. She has been featured at Netflix Is a Joke Fest, Limestone, Big Pine, 10,000 Laughs, Fountain City, and West End Comedy Festivals. She has hosted and featured for nationally touring headliners including Bob the Drag Queen, Josh Johnson, Beth Stelling, Adam Ray, Natasha Leggero, Steph Tolev, Amber Autry, Rachel Scanlon, Jay Jurden, and more. Katie is an ensemble cast member at iO Theater and can be seen regularly at Zanies, Laugh Factory, and The Lincoln Lodge in Chicago.

Talia Clay makes dumb videos for the internet and she also co-produces Spilling T, an all trans variety show/gossip hall and Standup Strip Down, Chicago’s only standup comedy and burlesque show. She’s performed at several comedy festivals including San Francisco’s Sketch Fest, Limestone, The Chief, Flyover, and 10,000 Laughs. She was the winner of the Satellite City Comedy Contest and wears deodorant.

Shawn Banks (he/him/they/them) is stand-up comedian and drag performer who has performed all over the midwest for the past 5 years. Shawn considers himself an observationalist, and loves to critique the world around him through a very ironic, yet vibrant lense. Shawn was named one of Chicago’s 30 under 30 queer voices, and is a producer at one of the longest running shows at the Laugh Factory Chicago; Lowkey Funny. Shawn has not only performed, but also headlined at some of the most well-established entertainment clubs/venues all over the Midwest; such as: The Second City, IO Theatre, The Comedy Bar, Zanies Comedy Club and so much more!

Lizzie Kaniecki (she/her) is a Chicago-based standup, improv, and musical comedian. She has been featured in the Detroit Women of Comedy Festival, Manitou Springs Comedy Festival, Ha Ha Harvest Comedy Festival, IndyFringe Theatre Festival, Hoopla! Improv London, Don’t Tell Comedy, The Laugh Factory, and many more. Her song “Dumb Lesbian” is also streaming wherever you get your music. She has trained at Logan Square Improv, The Second City in Chicago, The Annoyance Theater, and the Old Town School of Folk Music. More can be found on her Instagram: @lizziekaniecki

Lauren Walker is a writer and comedian from Chicago, IL. She's written for the Emmy-nominated Book of Queer (Discovery+), RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1), American Auto (NBC), and South Side (HBO Max). Most of those shows were canceled right after she worked on them. She does stand-up all over Chicago, and wherever else they’ll have her. Follow her on Instagram @Hotappledumpcake to find out where.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Dorothy