Kelli Dunham

Looking for a comic, or emcee for your fest? Read on…

Q. Is Kelli funny?

A. Yes, apparently many people seem to think so. Her debut comedy CD, “I am NOT a 12 Year Old Boy” has been in regular rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Raw Dog station since it came out a few years ago. She gets many repeat gigs and excellent reviews. She even gets fan mail that starts “you’re very funny” and doesn’t lead to stalking.

Q. Is Kelli responsible? Punctual? Clean? Respectful?

A. Yes, Kelli really is a Boi Scout. Or a Grrl Scout. Or a Womyn Scout, if you’d prefer. She shows up on time, makes people laugh, handles difficult situations with tact and grace and will not have sex with the monogamously partnered worker who comes to pick her up at the airport.

Q. Is Kelli really an ex nun?

A. Yes, but not to worry. She has stopped doing the Stations of the Cross as a sound check.

Q. Is it true that Kelli used to live in Port-au-Prince Haiti, that she speaks Kreyol, still skateboards even though she is well into her fourth decade of life, can blow air out through her eyes and once rescued a three legged diabetic cat who was stuck in a haymow?

A. Yes, yes, yes, yes, and the cat was not diabetic.

Q. Is it also true that Kelli has never been drunk?

A. This is indeed accurate. Kelli gets sleepy after the first 1.5 ounces of alcohol and has never quite had the fortitude to proceed past the second drink. While this means she doesn’t have any stories which begin “…so after I passed out in the green room… ” This might prove disappointing to some. On the other hand, she isn’t going to be throwing up on your stage manager either.

Q. Does Kelli play well with others?

A. Yes! Kelli understands the importance of considering generational and cultural differences when preparing comedy for specific events. Like a short flannel clad supershero, she can reach second and third wave feminists with a single joke.

Q. Has Kelli been around long? Where has she performed?

A. Kelli has been performing for a half dozen years. During her recent “I am NOT a 12 Year Old Boy” tour (more than 100 shows in 11 months) Kelli performed, well, just about everywhere. From atop a ladder at the LGBT business expo. For the attendees of the Beltane Sacred Sexuality Conference (on the front row? A dude wearing a beret and a cape and nothing else). Penn State. St Luke’s College in Sioux City Iowa. Long Beach, California Pride. The Sisterspace Weekend. And at dozens of fundraisers, community events, colleges, and clubs on both coasts and everywhere in between.

She has built a reputation as a very hard-working, responsible comic: for example in the summer of 2008, she emceed 10 hours of Atlanta Pride’s mainstage and an organizer called her a “pride day miracle.” At the Ohio Lesbian Festival this past September, she emceed the day stage from noon until 6 pm, then emceed the night stage from 8 pm until midnight…and did a 30 minute set in between!

Q. Is Kelli expensive?

A.Well, she’s not free. She makes her living doing comedy and as much as she’d be tickled purple to subsist on funnel cakes, lube and frequent flyer miles, it doesn’t work well long term. At the same time, she is willing to work with non profits to make sure her services stay affordable. If you’re worried about price, talk with Kelli. She has all sorts of ideas for making gigs a win-win for the organization and herself.