Blue Whale Comedy to present first Native Showcase

(TULSA, Okla.) An all Native comedy lineup will take the stage at the LowDown in Tulsa on Friday, July 19th at 8pm. 

This is the first time Blue Whale Comedy is presenting the Native Showcase ahead of the Blue Whale Comedy Festival in August. 

The comedians who will be performing on Friday night include Sondra Slade, Zebadiah Nofire, Brent Deo, Dakota Sixkiller, and the host will be Natalie Standingcloud. 

“Comedy is subjective but this speaks to being in Oklahoma, dealing with Oklahomans as a Native person, dealing with being on the rez, also not being on the rez,” said Sondra Slade, one of the comedians who will perform in Friday’s show. “Being traditional, also not being traditional so it gives people that laughter that sometimes you need.”

Slade has been performing comedy for four years and says she’s been advocating to get a lineup of all Native comedians on the stage. 

“I’m on the Blue Whale committee and I’m the only person of color of any kind on that committee,” said Slade. “My job, myself has always been whenever I’m in spaces is to make room, to make a way for comics that are people of color that you don’t always get to see on mainstream, that are not always highlighted.”  

As a person who is Indigenous and African American, Slade says comedy has helped her when dealing with microaggressions and macroaggressions. 

“It’s helped me to actually if I’ve had a situation, turn it around and make people say huh,” said Slade. “It gives them a pause of thought as well as a laugh.”

Being a comedian has also helped Slade appreciate who she is. 

“Doing Native comedy has also made me feel more appreciative of being Native, has opened up some childhood memories that I had that I didn’t tap,” said Slade. “I was like oh this is untapped comedy gold here.” 

In addition to comedy gold, Friday’s show will also feature a live band, Hector and The Hexed playing music behind the comedians. 

Slade says The LowDown also gives audience members the intimate feel of being in an underground Speakeasy. 

“You can actually sit in the front row and feel like I’m in the joke, but not a part of the joke.” 

While having an all Native lineup is a big deal to Slade, she also hopes people walk away remembering to find the humor in their everyday lives. 

“You need laughter everyday to make your heart happy but also to fill you as a person because we all have our ups and downs.” 

The doors for Friday’s show open at 7pm and tickets can be purchased here. 

More information about the Blue Whale Comedy Festival, including how to purchase tickets can be found here.