Kelli Dunham

Artist Information

Biography

BASIC BIO—Just the facts

Kelli Dunham may be the typical skateboard-riding, houseboat-dwelling, stealth gender non-variant, too-many-book reading ex-nun comic but she is also very a much a Nerd On A Mission.

Her writing has been syndicated nationally, received several Vice Versa awards and is regularly featured in Curve Magazine. Her comedy has been seen at colleges, clubs, women’s festivals and pride celebrations nationwide as well both on the Showtime Network and the Discovery Channel.

Kelli is also the author of four books, How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Nursing School (FA Davis, 2004), How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Your Life as a Nurse (FA Davis, 2005) The Boy's Body Book: Everything You Need to Know for Growing Up YOU (Applesauce Press, 2007) and The Girl's Body Book: Everything You Need to Know for Growing Up YOU (Applesauce Press, 2008). She is also a contributor to numerous anthologies including Love's Funny That Way (Sterling Press, 2006), Squeaky Clean Comedy (Andrew McNeil Press, 2005), She’s So Funny (Andrew McNeil Press, 2004), Dangerous Families (Haworth Press, 2004), and Life’s a Stitch (Random House, 2002).

For available sets and presentations, see the set list area.

Instrumentation

Kelli Dunham-on jokes

Discography

Kelli’s first comedy CD, “I am NOT a 12 Year Old Boy” was recorded in 2005 and is still in regular rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Raw Dog Station. Kelli is currently touring in support of her recently released second comedy CD, “Almost Pretty” on an (almost) 50 states pilgrimage. She has covered 1/3 of the US states so far. In an effort to decrease the tour’s carbon footprint, Kelli will be covering the last 500 miles of the tour on bike, skateboard, pogo stick and her own two feet, ending with a splash in the ocean at Provincetown at the beginning of the queersummer season.

Audio

• I am NOT a 12 Year Old Boy
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• 61 Sorority Girls...and Me
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• Almost Pretty
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• Intro: Kelli in a Kick line
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• "Brazenly talented... [+ Show ]
  

  .. Her reading about the death of her partner which while surprisingly comical, remained remarkably ..... Her reading about the death of her partner which while surprisingly comical, remained remarkably poignant without sinking into schmaltz. That's a tough balancing act that she executed brilliantly."

• Kelli Dunham cracks us up
  

  May 2005

• "....Charming as hell...very cute."
  

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• Get her CD....
  

  "Get her CD, go to her shows, and become a stalking fan. This ex-nun is hilarious"

• ...Would still bring a smile to a nun's face..."
  

  "Her routine is honest and at times thought-provoking. "

• "...Hilarious..." [+ Show ]
  

  Kelli Dunham’s BAD HABITS (Lesbian Nun Tells All) is chock-full of witty lines about her experiences...Kelli Dunham’s BAD HABITS (Lesbian Nun Tells All) is chock-full of witty lines about her experiences as a Mission of Charity nun..her material is compelling, and her writing is often hilarious. I was captivated by the story and Dunham’s writing."

Setlist

KELLI DUNHAM PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS
AND PERFORMACES AVAILABLE

EMCEE

Kelli has emceed everything from $100 plate fundraisers to huge pride events to small pride events to women’s festivals, to theater festivals to livestock auctions and everything in between. She will show up on time, will not use words you ask her not to use, will remember to thank the sponsors, she’ll be able to handle it if there’s a throw down between the drag queens and the politicians and she will at all times act like a grown up. Also, she will be funny. Recently she emceed a 12 hour marathon that was Atlanta Pride. By the end of the day, the organizers began referring to her as the “Pride Day Miracle.” Enough said.

ONE WOMAN SHOWS

ONE WOMAN SHOW: ALMOST PRETTY
This is Kelli’s current one hour comedy show. At a recent gig, a heretofore unimpaired audience member had an embarrassing accident because she was laughing so hard. Something to think about if given a choice of seats in the venue.

ONE WOMAN SHOW: BAD HABIT
Yes Kelli was indeed a nun. Her spoken word piece about her short but disastrous stint as a Missionary of Charity nun was part of the “Breaking Free” series produced by Outright Radio and distributed through Public Radio International.  Kelli then developed “Bad Habit” into a one-woman show that debuted as part of Ladyfest 2003 and made its New York debut in the Fresh Fruit Festival. Philadelphia’s City Paper said the show was “hilarious…and disturbing” and NyTheater.com called it “witty…compelling, captivating and hilarious.” 60 minutes long.

ONE WOMAN SHOW: PUDDING DAY/ EVERYONE CRIES ON THE A TRAIN
Kelli's one-woman, two basketball, three sock and four jump rope show which chronicles the life that Kelli shared with activist Heather MacAllister, founder of Big Burlesque and the Fat Bottom Revue, as well as her grief process after Heather’s death. Recently debuted as part of Dixon Place's HOT Theater Festival: Kelli calls it “part stand-up comedy, part sit-down tragedy, with love and body fluids in the cracks in between.” 60 minutes in duration.

DIVERSITY ISSUES- CORPORATE/NON PROFIT

DIVERSITY ISSUES- INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION: LGBTQ 101: WHAT’S SO FUNNY ABOUT DIVERSITY
Using a humorous slide presentation as well as her own striking coming out story, Kelli addresses some of the most common myths about the LGBT communities as well as provides basic information about how to be an ally in the workplace. Kelli has presented “LGBT 101” at Fortune 50 companies with great success. Includes discussion and possible roleplaying. Also adaptable to the academic and small group environment. 60-90 minutes duration.

DIVERSITY ISSUES-INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION: WHAT’S SO FUNNY ABOUT DIVERSITY, PART II, HOW TO BE AN ALLY TO YOUR LGBT COWORKERS
A similar presentation as above, but targeted to participants with a more advanced knowledge base. Also includes humorous slide presentation and interactive portions. 60-90 minutes duration.

DIVERSITY ISSUES-PRESENTATION: STAND UP: FUNNY IS FUNNY.
Kelli’s one hour stand up show, edited for and targeted to a corporate environment. Because Kelli’s one hour show includes her coming out story and focuses on themes many people can relate to (eg making poor life choices to try and fit in) this show works well as both entertainment and as a diversity awareness presentation. 60 minutes in duration.

USES OF HUMOR-CORPORATE AND NON PROFIT

USES OF HUMOR- INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION: EVERYONE’S A COMIC
This interactive presentation is a combination comedic presentation/workshop in which Kelli helps audience members recognize and develop their own sense of humor in order to inject positive humor to the workplace. This presentation is not LGBT specific; however, Kelli often comes out as part of the presentation in order to demonstrate how her identity as a gay person has developed and informed her sense of humor. Most suitable for smaller groups. Kelli has conducted this presentation with a broad range of groups from seniors to Buddhist nuns! 55 minutes in duration.

USES OF HUMOR- PRESENTATION: COMEDY/THERAPY
Building on Kelli’s now infamous save line “comedy/therapy, it’s such a fine distinction,” this presentation focuses on the use of “gallows humor” and how the human species has used humor to cope with even the most difficult situations. Drawing from her personal experience growing up in what she calls “a happy, loving alcoholic farm family,” her nursing practice, and her partner’s long fight with cancer and subsequent death, Kelli relates how participants can use constructive humor in their personal struggles. Available as keynote, break-out session, or workshop, depending on group size and desired degree of interactivity. 60-120 minutes in duration.


HEALTH AND HEALTH ADVOCACY

HEALTH ADVOCACY-INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP: IMPROV MEETS ACTIVISM:THE NUTS AND HEALTHCARE ADVOCACY
What do a successful world wrestling federation tag team match and a successful interaction with the health care have in common? No, not a sleeper hold (at least not usually) but rather team-work. In this workshop participants will share either examples they've had of interactions with the health care system that had a less than ideal outcome and/or situations they can anticipate being in. The gathered participants will then use equal parts improv, brainstorming, and cheerleading to role play positive and creative tactics to help health care consumers take back power in the described situations. This workshop was developed to help traditionally underserved consumers (eg consumers with chronic conditions, gender variant consumers etc) but with current difficulties in the health care system, will be equally applicable for all healthcare consumers. 60-120 minutes in duration.

HEALTH ADVOCACY-INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION: A CASSEROLE IS NOT ENOUGH: BUILDING TEAMS OF CARE IN NON TRADITIONAL COMMUNITIES
LGBT communities tend to rely on families of choice, rather than families of origin for social support. However, when a member is hit by serious or chronic illness, the care provided by non traditional support systems doesn’t always easily mesh with current healthcare and social welfare systems. This is particularly true if there is no one designated primary caregiver, and the person in need of care lives alone. This presentations draws on Kelli’s more than ten years as a community health nurse, her experiences during the early years of the AIDS crisis as well as her lived experience as the primary caregiver of her lover who died of ovarian cancer in 2007. 60-90 minutes in duration.

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS-PRESENTATION: THE ABCS OF SURVIVING NURSING SCHOOL
Kelli is the author of How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Nursing School, first published in 2001 and now in its third edition. How to Survive is frequently adopted for introduction to nursing courses and is a American Journal of Nursing book of the year. In this presentation, Kelli presents the stories and advice of the more than 500 nursing students and nurse educators she interviewed for the book. Genuinely helpful and genuinely funny.

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS- PRESENTATION: LGBT HEALTH 101
Designed for future health care providers, especially those who will be working in primary care, this presentation covers the basics of issues related to health in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities. Includes tips and tactics for making the health care environment a welcoming one, as well as training staff.

SPECIAL NOTE TO COLLEGES AND YOUTH GROUPS
Please note that any time Kelli is hired for a presentation or performance that targets students or youth (under age 25) Kelli will also do an additional workshop or breakout session with student/youth leaders, for free. This offer also available to PFLAG groups, because Kelli just likes PFLAG folks an awful lot.

Basic Requirements

Calendar