‘SNL’ alum Sasheer Zamata brings her brand of humor to SteelStacks
Sasheer Zamata is a comedian, actress and writer best known for her four seasons as a cast member of “Saturday Night Live” (2014-2017). She’s coming to SteelStacks Feb. 8 as part of a national tour, but she didn’t want to talk about “Saturday Night Live” or politics in an interview to preview her appearance.
Zamata has a rich background with plenty of other topics to discuss.
She received improv and sketch training at the famous Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City, and performs standup at colleges and clubs across the country.
Her TV credits include “Transparent,” “Inside Amy Schumer” and “People Of Earth,” among many others. She’s told stories for “This American Life.” She co-created and co-starred in the web series “Pursuit of Sexiness,” which was named one of the Top 10 Web Series of 2013 by Variety, and was part of Glamour’s “7 Web Series We Can’t Stop Watching” in 2015.
Sasheer has been listed in Cosmopolitan’s “13 Funny Women to Watch,” and Time Out New York’s “Top 10 Funniest Women in NYC.” She can be seen on the big screen in “Yoga Hosers,” “Sleight,” “The Outdoorsman” and “Deidre and Laney Rob A Train.” She also serves as the ACLU’s Celebrity Ambassador for
Women’s Rights.
Zamata spoke about her career in standup and on screen.
Q: I read that some of your shows are “Party Time” variety shows. Can you tell me what audiences can expect to see/hear during the performance in Bethlehem? A:
I won’t be doing “Party Time” in Bethlehem, but maybe I’ll bring it next time I come through. “Party Time” is a variety show where I host and have a couple standups perform, we play games with the audience, and there’s a musical performance. The show I’ll be doing in Bethlehem will be an hour of me telling jokes, which is a party in its own way.
Q: You were part of a comedy troupe during college at the University of Virginia. How did you get your start in comedy? A:
I started an improv group in college, called AmuseBouche. After college, I moved to New York trying to get into theater and Broadway, but I kept doing improv and realized that comedy was all I wanted to do.
Q: What’s the best advice that you received early in your career as a comic and what advice would you offer to young comics today? A:
Some of the best advice I’ve gotten is that you can be appreciative of opportunities you get, but after a while you need to stop sitting there being grateful and start fighting for more. I’d offer that up to younger comics as well. And I’ll add that they shouldn’t take rejection personally. Getting a “no” doesn’t necessarily mean you’re bad. Sometimes getting a no can open the door for a better opportunity.
Q: As a comedian, you’ve worked in stand-up, in improv, and in film and television. Is it difficult to juggle many different mediums, and is there a particular medium that you prefer? A:
I wouldn’t say it’s difficult to juggle all these mediums because I enjoy them. I think it’d be difficult if all of that felt like a grind, but I’m very fortunate to be doing what I love. I think stand-up may be my favorite medium, because it’s authentically me. I get to control the writing, performance, execution, etc.
Q: This past year you were part of an ad campaign for Kate Spade’s “Full Bloom” perfume, and in one of the ads you discuss confidence. How has confidence affected your career as a comic? A:
Comics have to have some level of confidence to even think people would want to hear what we have to say. We also have to have confidence to believe in ourselves and our work and not to allow criticism to affect our ego too much.
Q: How do you know when it’s time to take risks or make changes in your career? A:
I make moves in my career based on my interests and what I need in the moment. So I don’t know if there’s a particular time when you’re supposed to take risks in your career, you just do it if that’s what you’re feeling in the moment.
Q: What other projects can we expect from you this year? A:
I play a role in the Comedy Central show “Corporate,” which is currently airing. I’m going to be in another Comedy Central show called “Robbie” with Rory Scovel. And I’ll be touring, so check my website and social media for all that info.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like readers to know about your Bethlehem performance? A:
Everyone who comes to the show is going home with a BRAND NEW CAR! So you definitely won’t want to miss it.
Chris Cameron is a freelance writer.