BABE-APALOOZA: Madison Women Comedians' Answer To Louis CK Show

MADISON, WI—Nine women are taking the stage at "BABE-APALOOZA" on Sunday, a comedy show to celebrate women comedians and raise money for sexual assault prevention in response to Louis CK’s Madison show this weekend.

The event will showcase South Central women comedians—getting them into the spotlight—and raise money for the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Sasha Rosser, a Madison-based comedian who is one of the organizers and performers, told Patch.

The event, titled “BABE-APALOOZA” is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at Bos Mead Hall, 849 East Washington Avenue. The show will feature Sasha Rosser, Shauna Jungdahl, Allie Lindsay, Olivia Witt, Sarah Schmidt, Dana Ehrmann, Raegan Niemela, Vickie Lynn and, headliner, Dina Nina Martinez.

The cover for the show is $10, and all of the proceeds are going toward the Madison nonprofit, Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

“We want to get the word out, not only because we want to get women comedians on stage in the spotlight, but we also want to raise money for a good cause," Rosser said.

While Rosser and her co-organizer, Shauna Jungdahl, are always looking to build community with other women comedians, the idea for BABE-APALOOZA was sparked by news that Louis CK was booked to perform at Comedy on State this weekend.

The show was met with plenty of backlash from those disappointed to see Comedy book Louis CK, who was accused of sexual misconduct by 5 women. It is also completely sold out. Comedy has yet to make a statement on the matter. Patch reached out for a comment and has not yet heard back.

“BABE-APALOOZA is kind of a way of saying, look, we know this is happening, but if it makes you mad, come out and see some women comedians because there's so many talented funny ones,” Rosser said.

“Except for me. Just kidding,” she joked.

Booking CK gives the impression that Comedy on State is shrugging off sexual assault, Rosser said. It also perpetuates the status-quo—that comedy is a male-dominated space—unwelcoming toward women comedians.

As someone who frequently performs at Comedy on State’s Wednesday “The Mic,” Rosser said it is not unusual for the lineup to be 90 percent men. Not only would having more women comedians hopefully make sexual harassment and distasteful jokes less frequent, but it would also make comedy stronger, she said.

For now, Rosser said efforts to balance out the field are rooted in the communities of women comedians.

“When I started doing comedy, I realized I had to really work hard to find other women comedians to hang out with, because there just aren't that many of us,” Rosser said. “You have to take the initiative to build that community because the community of men just happens. The community of women has to be worked at because it's so much smaller by comparison and there are boundaries and barriers.”

One of these barriers, Rosser said, is that women don’t think they can get on stage and do stand up because they hardly ever see other women do it. She hopes those that see BABE-APALOOZA don’t just get a laugh but feel empowered to give stand up a try if they want.

And, one day, an all-women show can just be a comedy show.

“I would like to live in a world where an all female lineup doesn't have to be described as an all female lineup,” Rosser said. “We would just say it's a comedy lineup.”