Fortune Feimster bringing the L words -- 'Live Laugh Love!' -- to Playhouse Square
Feb. 27—We're all familiar with the hilarious insurance company commercials featuring people turning into their parents.
For comedian, writer and actress Fortune Feimster, that scenario recently proved to be all too familiar.
"Moms, especially where I'm from, tend to have a lot of those 'Live, laugh and love' signs," said Feimster, calling from Indianapolis. "I always teased my mom about it. Then I ended up getting one — not even putting two and two together.
"When my now-wife moved in, she saw that sign and was like, 'Oh, no.' I didn't even realize. It was until she pointed that sign out I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm now my mother.'"
Fresh off her recently released hourlong Netflix special, "Good Fortune," Feimster named her new tour "Live Laugh Love!" It has a show booked for March 3 at Playhouse Square's Connor Palace.
Sure, the title may elicit eye rolls, but, to be fair, Feimster long ago unofficially co-opted the message to drive her confessional comedy stylings.
Through laughter and storytelling, the affable and charismatic performer is all about sharing humanity and bringing people — regardless of ages, backgrounds or sexual orientations — together.
"With (2020 comedy special) 'Sweet and Salty,' I really found my voice and discovered I loved storytelling," Feimster said. "That's come to the forefront more than anything. So in telling those stories, the feedback I've gotten is that people from all different walks of life can relate to those things.
"I like being able to talk about things that people can put themselves in that position and see themselves in that story. It bridges the gap even more. And laughing about it really brings people together. So, yeah, I like talking about relatable things when I can."
Rising through the ranks over the last two decades, the LGBTQ+ comedian began as a regular on "Chelsea Lately." That led to eventually appearing on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "Late Night With Seth Meyers" and "Conan."
Along the way, she also made memorable TV/film appearances on "2 Broke Girls," "Dear White People," "The Simpsons," "The L Word: Generation Q" and "Office Christmas Party," and she was a series regular on "The Mindy Project."
She recently reconnected with that show's star and creator, Mindy Kaling, on the new HBO Max animated series "Velma." Feimster provided the voice of popular girl Olive, which was foreign territory for her.
"I wasn't considered the popular girl, so when they asked me to play that part, I was like, 'Really? Me?'" Feimster said. "I guess it would be a little bitchier maybe than what I would normally play, which you can get away with more in voiceover. It was fun to play that Valley Girl kind of thing."
These days it's easy to see why Feimster is gravitating towards the "Live Laugh Love" mindset, which she hopes is embraced by audiences.
"I mean, listen, there are worse things to ask of people," Feimster said. "I would think people want to live. Laughing is always fun. And if you can have an open heart and love yourself, each other and whoever you're with, that's all very positive."
Fortune Feimster
When: 7 p.m. March 3.
Where: Playhouse Square's Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.
Tickets: $29.50 to $105.
Info: 216-241-6000 or PlayhouseSquare.org.