Ilana’s “Ilana Glazer Live” Stand-Up Tour was announced via her Instagram last month to her 1.3 million followers and immediately shows were sold out, with second shows added to accommodate her fans. Her unique and hilarious take on life makes this a must-see comedy event.
Ilana Glazer is famously known for her iconic character, Ilana Wexler, in the critically acclaimed series Broad City. A woman of many talents, she is a comedian, creator, writer, producer, and actress. Ilana Glazer’s authenticity, relatability, and just plain badassness are addicting.
Ilana Glazer spoke to Hamptons.com about her “Ilana Glazer Live” Tour, which is coming to the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Thursday, June 29th, at 8 pm.”
How did you get started with stand-up comedy?
Since age 7, I knew I wanted to do comedy! I loved Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams, Rosie O’Donnell, Billy Crystal and more. My brother is also a comedian, and we made sketches and videos as kids. I started understanding the comedy scene in New York City in high school and would travel in for music and comedy shows. When I went to college, it was like school was my day job and comedy was my second job at night. I started at nineteen — seventeen years ago! — and I was just getting the lay of the land and trying different forms of comedy to find what worked for me as a comedian.
Does your Psychology Degree give you an advantage in writing, comedy, acting, etc.?
It definitely did! Studying psych helped me learn how to look at one’s psychology from a distance. But more than studying psychology, actually being in therapy to my therapy practice has been the most helpful for my writing, performing, and comedy career. It’s helped me develop my point of view and gain command over sharing it.
What are some of your favorite topics to cover in your comedy set?
Oh? I love to talk about sex, partnerships, friends, and how insane it feels to be a person on this planet right now. But a lot of my set is about becoming a mom, how things in my life have changed, and how I am more myself than ever.
Can fans expect some signature Ilana dance moves at WHBPAC? We all watched the Planet is on Fire special, and we are hyped!
I can’t not! I got moves.
Do you have a pre-show ritual, and can you share it with us?
My pre-show has grown into doing a little workout, running my set, and doing make-up. I just started getting more into make-up, and it’s now part of my ritual, and it’s fun. It’s not a full-contour Instagram beauty, but a pretty full beat compared to what I’ve been doing my whole adult life which is close to nothing.
What advice would you give someone just starting out in stand-up comedy?
First, a disclaimer: the world has changed so much since I started out 17 years ago. Culture changes much faster than it ever had before. I’m not in touch with how to start out as a comedian today. I don’t know how to pop off on Instagram or TikTok. I come from a really different place than the landscape we have today.
That being said, my advice, from my experience, is to work to make money, and save it, to support this lifestyle. Unless you want to have it as a hobby which is way healthier! But if you must go for it, understand that you are not going to make money for a while. Figure out how to make money separately. Having a job and pursuing comedy is a great asset because people love comedy about work and normal life. In my humble opinion, figure out how to get therapy. Therapy speeds up your comedy practice. It makes you understand your voice as an artist more efficiently.
It’s hard and painful but also magical and such a gift. If you have that itch, you have to go for it. That is what life is about, sharing that gift.
What projects do you have in the works?
This comedy tour! I’m touring all summer and will be releasing Fall dates soon. And I’m thrilled about a movie I just wrapped, which will come out some time next year. I’m developing a couple projects for TV, some I’m creating, others I’m shepherding. However, a lot of this is on pause right now for the writer’s strike.
What do you foresee happening with the Writer’s Strike?
I hope that this strike leads to the next chapter in TV and film where writers are valued enough to make living wages and gain access to healthcare, access to building equity, and to be able to support themselves and their families in a way that lets them thrive and just not merely survive. I don’t know what I foresee happening, but this is what I hope for! I have optimistic and pessimistic visions for how this could all go down.
What are some of your favorite Hamptons Hotspots?
You know what I’m waiting for?! HAMPTONS CHUTNEY CO. DAWG! OMG! There used to be a Hampton Chutney Co in SOHO that closed during the pandemic and I’ve been devastated.
Their chai coffee and mozzarella sandwich has always been my favorite, and I’m so excited to go get that.
Check out Ilana’s Instagram here and check out WHBPAC for more shows!
