Judy Gold is a comedian, actress, mom and a lesbian. On her way to Zanies, this openly lesbian jokester is not to be missed.
Windy City Times: Hi, Judy. So what are you up to today?
Judy Gold: I am in a show, Delia and Nora Ephron's Love, Loss and What I Wore. It is great. I am doing it with Shirley Knight, Lucy Devito and Melissa Joan Hart.
WCT: You are busy with a show and two kids that keep you running around.
Judy Gold: [ Sarcastically ] Yeah, they are annoying.
WCT: Did your mother come see your hit off-Broadway show 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother?
Judy Gold: Yes, of course. She saw it twice, actually.
WCT: She was cool with it?
Judy Gold: Yes, she was.
WCT: Do people ever get upset with you putting them in your act?
Judy Gold: That's a great question. No one really has except for my aunt that I written a joke about because she had turned her husband's belt buckle into a necklace. She would turn all this crap into jewelry. She was the only rich relative that we really had. She took my brother, sister and me out of her will.
WCT: That is harsh.
Judy Gold: Yes, pretty bad and we are the next of kin. So my four cousins got all the money.
WCT: You are coming to Zanies in Chicago. What is your show like?
Judy Gold: It is my stand-up. It is what I do. I talk a lot about my family, my mother and politics. But it is what I love to do.
WCT: I have interviewed a slew of female comedians. Who do you admire?
Judy Gold: I love Joan Rivers.
WCT: I love her, too! I just interviewed her. I brought her chocolate after her show.
Judy Gold: Oh, she is such a class act. She is so smart. She would be my all-time favorite. Then we have Joy Behar, Paula Poundstone and Kathleen Madigan.
WCT: You won two Emmy Awards for writing and producing The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Was it strange to you for her not to be out of the closet?
Judy Gold: You know, she wasn't in the closet with all of us. It was just on TV. It was a job. In the office everyone knew and she didn't hide anything.
WCT: I look forward to seeing your show.
Judy Gold: You better get your ass there. Are you bringing me chocolate?
WCT: I should. What kind do you like?
Judy Gold: I like dark chocolate. I will be very insulted that you brought Joan chocolate and you didn't bring me anything.
WCT: [ Laughs ] Okay, I will!
Judy Gold has three shows at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, April 29-30. For more information on Judy's life, check out www.judygold.com .