Cleveland Steamer

I am currently embedded in Starbucks because of a muggy downpour outside, which is a terrible way to begin a three day break in Cleveland.  It is the baseball all star game so there are no sports to watch, I have already been to the Rock N Roll Museum (sorry, your new exhibit on “Women Who Rock!” is not enough to get me back so soon after my initial visit last year) and I am trying hard not to see Zookeeper or Larry Crowne, which means I am out of things to do.  I am in Cleveland because I have been booked for back to back weeks.  I just opened for Rodney Perry, best known for his work on The Mo’nique Show and in a recent Tyler Perry movie.  After three days off to self-hate I will be opening for Matt Braunger, who is quite a different performer.  Of course, when comparing clips I think you will see that the booker for the Cleveland Improv is stretching my diversity a bit thin.  I think the manager knowing that I am mixed race has doubled the work I get here, but also doubles the work.

It has been a big week for half-black people.  Derek Jeter got his 3,000th hit this weekend and President Obama made it another week without getting killed by the Tea Party.  Meanwhile I was introduced on stage to Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” (not kidding).

Here is Rodney Perry:

Had a fun time working with him this weekend and he is a super nice guy.

Now here is Matt Braunger, who I will open for this weekend:

Now guess who the only person will be that attending both of these shows?  Most likely me.  Between the two crowds, I will end up performing something akin to Jim Carrey’s split personality in Me, Myself & Irene.  So if you are in Cleveland – get your tickets to Matt Braunger this week and see me defeat the attempt by Cleveland Improv General Manager Lee Herlands to make my life difficult.