Forty years since Stonewall andwhile social transformation is dawdling but undeniablewhen it comes to entertainment, lesbians still have few options. Too often, subpar performers gain renown in the dyke community simply because, to borrow a fighting chant, they're here and they're queer.
However, once in a while, a performer hits the scene who's more than a big fish in a small, gay pond, or, in the case of L.A.-based duo That's What She Said, two talented someones. Pianist Kathryn Lounsbery and singer Amy Turner joined forces in 2007 to create a singing dancing comedy extravaganza with crossover appeal. Both skewering and celebrating lesbian stereotypes, "That's What She Said" give the discerning lesbian hope.
Windy City Times: What brought you together?
Amy Turner: I was performing at Second City's Musical Improv shows in Los Angeles and Kathryn was working as a pianist there. She saw a couple performances and approached me to work on something original. It evolved into bouillabaisse of Sapphic flavors.
Kathryn Lounsbery: …that simmered for over a year of stirring.
WCT: What unique talents do you each contribute?
Amy Turner: Kathryn is a classically trained pianist so she has chops, but she [also] plays all styles of music so well.
Kathryn Lounsbery: I feel the same about Amy. She's a total natural. She also can play the Hawaiian nose harp.
Amy Turner: I'm kind of a prodigy.
Kathryn Lounsbery: You should audition for America's Got Talent. The world needs more Hawaiian nose harp right now.
WCT: Kathryn, as a musician, what drew you to comedy?
Kathryn Lounsbery: I've always been a ham, so it was tough for me to only play piano. Creating this show was an amazing opportunity to indulge in all aspects of showmanship (showwomanship?).
WCT: Share some musical/comedic influences?
Amy Turner: We are Christopher Guest freaks.
Kathryn Lounsbery: "Waiting for Guffman" and "Best in Show" are therapy. We watch them every three months.
Amy Turner: And quote them daily.
Kathryn Lounsbery: As for music, there is just too much to recommend.
Amy Turner: I actually think that shows: every song we write is in a different style. We usually pick a topic and then just improvise.
Kathryn Lounsbery: We have an Olympus digital recorder that's always on [so] we can be free and not have to write anything down.
Amy Turner: Then we load the recordings, listen, transcribe and start whittling down.
WCT: You have some racy material. Any awkward stage moments?
Amy Turner: At a ski lodge above a restaurant, the staff came up during our set to ask us to keep it down, as there were "children in the restaurant." I was just about to sing a song [about] a certain part of the female anatomy. It was an awesome moment.
WCT: What kind of audiences does your show attract?
Amy Turner: Very diverse. Our most recent L.A. show had an especially mixed crowd: gay, straight, old and young. If someone only saw the audience and had to guess what kind of show was going on, they would never have guessed lesbian cabaret.
WCT: What's your current favorite song in the show?
Kathryn Lounsbery: Lately, I've been loving our Disney spoof. It runs the gamut from funny to heartfelt. We both get a little choked up.
WCT: Your U-Haul music video has gotten worldwide attention. What was it like to make?
Kathryn Lounsbery: We had never shot a video, [but] we put out the word, got amazing people and shot probably 25 hours of footage. And we got to shop for food for everyone, which is the best thing in the world.
Amy Turner: Our really good friend, Bob [Koherr], also a director, was the driving force. It truly could never have happened without him. The amazing thing about U-Haul is how far it's traveled. We got into San Francisco's Frameline Festival.
Kathryn Lounsbery: Fifteen hundred people at The Castro Theater reacting to our video was surreal.
WCT: In addition to the funny stuff, you wrote "Why is my Right Wrong," a Prop 8 protest song. Any thoughts on the administration's handling of gay rights?
Kathryn Lounsbery: I think Obama has good intentions and will do what he can. People need to be patient, [but] that doesn't mean we can't continue to be vocal about pushing forward with equality issues.
WCT: What are you looking forward to about performing in Chicago?
Amy Turner: These shows have been a long time coming. We had some dates scheduled two years ago [that] we had to postpone.
Kathryn Lounsbery: So we've had Chicago blue balls for a while now. Also, I'm from Milwaukee so it feels like a homecoming; so many of my really good friends from high school and college are in Chicago or nearby.
Amy Turner: Oh, and also Superdawg. And Ann Sather.
Kathryn Lounsbery: I've never had White Castle. I heard they have chicken rings. That is culinary excellence.
Amy Turner: It always comes back to food.
That's What She Said plays Davenport's Piano Bar Jan. 7-8 and 8 p.m. Go to www.davenportspianobar.com for tickets. To learn more about Kathryn and Amy, visit www.thatswhatshesaidshow.com .