2019: So YESTERDAY

Happy New Year! I’m in Idaho at Victoria’s parents’ house, watching the blizzard outside, reflecting on this time last year. We were visiting for Christmas and had to rush home for my two New Year’s Eve shows as part of Pittsburgh’s First Night! Our flight was delayed just long enough for us to miss our connection and we were stuck in the Salt Lake airport for the night. We made it back just in time to get to the venue. Lots of friends (and strangers!) came to the shows: “The Complete New Year’s Eve Experience in 30 Minutes with Comedian Helen Wildy!” It was a ton of fun and the perfect way to start a new year: Doing the thing I love most with tons of my favorite people in the crowd. And rushing. The fun is in the rushing.

I can’t believe that was a year ago. What a year it’s been! Let’s talk HIGHLIGHTS! There have been so many personal highlights this year, including moving to Seattle and being welcomed so warmly by its brilliant comedy scene. Read on — or just look at the pictures. I’m not here to tell you how to consume blogs.

Comedy Highlights Include:

NEW YEAR’S EASE

Made it back to Pittsburgh in time for two shows at CAPA. Big thanks to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for having me!

Playing it cool

In January, I got to feature for Aaron Kleiber in the gorgeous Oaks Theater in Oakmont.

Pittsburgh: Home Sweet Home

This year started with a January Residency at Burning Bridges Comedy Club.

A Wildy is always festive

I performed a musical set with my dad as “The Wildy Rovers” for Saint Patrick’s Day at Arcade Comedy Theater (If you wanna watch!)

Zawodni ZaSQUADni

In April, I did a guest set at the Pittsburgh Improv for headliner Ray Zawodni! (Thanks, Ray!)

Must Love Laughter

My partner, Victoria, endured a lot of two-drink minimums for the sake of good comedy.

Trying to be charming in Charm City

I was thrilled to be asked to headline Charm City Comedy Fest in Baltimore in May.

Detroit Women in Comedy Festival (Do I wear this jacket a lot?)

I performed two nights in Detroit — and took a workshop from the incomparable Stacey Smith.

Big Fannypack Energy

My fannypack and I got to headline at Arcade Comedy Theater in June!

Biggest take away in 2019: Don’t wear a jacket that looks like a brick wall

I featured for Aaron Kleiber at the Pittsburgh Improv in July.

5 Funniest!

I was selected by Pittsburgh Magazine as one of the “5 Funniest People in Pittsburgh (You Haven’t Heard Of)” Click here!

Best of the Burgh

I was nominated by Pittsburgh Magazine as “Pittsburgh’s Best Comedian” in 2019.

Midwest Queer Comedy Fest

Three nights in Louisville! (time to retire this jacket?)

Opening for Tamer Kattan in Seattle

I performed at Central Cinema (a super cool old movie theater!) to a massive crowd to open for Tamer Kattan in November.

About to get kinky at Safeword in Seattle

Safeword at Kremwork: A Kink Stand-Up Show where I was made to explore “temperature” — while making people laugh.

Pittsburgh: Is comedy in Seattle any different?

Me: …..

I was masked, and the host put ice cubes on my neck and a jalapeño shot in my mouth. …Comedy!

Honourable Mentions:

• A guest set for headliner Cameron Esposito at Helium Comedy Club in Buffalo, New York in January.

• I was a guest on Pittsburgh’s beloved “Ya Jaggoff!” podcast with Victoria.

• I was happily billed among friends on Queer-focused comedy shows at Unplanned Comedy and Arcade Comedy Theater.

• I advanced to the finals of the Pittsburgh Improv’s “King of the Spring Contest” in April (but was in Guatemala for the finals!).

• I was the Monologist at Arcade Comedy Theater’s “Hootenanny” and saw my stories turned into incredible improv scenes.

• I was part of Zach Funk’s album recording and Tim Ross’s album release show.

• I performed on the Not-So-Secret-House Show with the fabulous Samantha Ruddy in February, fresh off her Colbert set.

• I hosted at the Pittsburgh Improv for headliner Erik Griffin in April.

• I performed at “Pittsburgh’s Most Wanted” Showcase in June at The Pittsburgh Improv.

• I tested my crowd work chops at “Hurry Up; Say Something Funny,” a crowd-work-only show.

• I hosted “Sunday Sauce” at Pleasurebar every week in July.

• I was invited to the coveted Underground Comedy Club’s Callbacks show — three times.

• I hosted the Tuesday mic at Jai Thai in Seattle in October.

• I hosted “Laughsgiving” at Club Comedy Seattle in November.

• I featured at The Nest Comedy in Seattle’s Rendezvous.

• I partook in the hilarious and delightful “Gateway Show” at Club Comedy Seattle.

• I went home for the holidays and performed at Arcade Comedy Theater and Burning Bridges Comedy Club with some local and out-of-town faves!

BESTIE ON AND OFF STAGE

I got to share the stage and green room with my bestie, Sammi Travis, on The Early Evening Show at Arcade Comedy Theater as she was interviewed about her world travels (check her blog out!) before my stand up set. This is us on our last day as Pittsburgh roommates #dreamflat

Sammi encouraged me to do stand up and has been to almost as many of my shows as I have. She even came to meet me in Louisville for the Midwest Queer Comedy Fest to take in some more shows and explore a new state together. #bff

#TBT: Best of the Burgh!

Happy #TBT, y’all! Now that I live in Seattle — did you know I moved to Seattle? I finally get the Seattle references on Grey’s Anatomy, which has been a beautiful life change — I’ve been thinking a lot about Pittsburgh, particularly my last few weeks there. This year, I was lucky enough to be nominated for Best Comedian in Pittsburgh Magazine’s 2019 Best of the Burgh! Thank you SO much to everyone who nominated and voted for me! I was so excited to be included. The incredible Bill Crawford won — he’s a comedian and a radio personality and he’s great, you should check out his comedy and his radio show! In addition to the nomination, I was featured in an article called “The 5 Funniest People in Pittsburgh (You Haven’t Heard Of)” Check out the article!

It was such an honor to be included in this list of hilarious people I know and respect from the Pittsburgh comedy scene. Big thanks to Sean Collier for the nod!

Little did I know, this article made me OFFICIALLY invited to the Best of the Burgh party in late July! It was so exciting. (Thanks to Sarah for the party reminder!) One of my best mates, Katie Barbaro, was in Pittsburgh visiting and staying with me at the time and I was super excited she wanted to be my plus 1 to the party. Katie is a brilliant comedian (and person) who started in LA and moved to NYC to pursue her comedy dreams. Then she gave up everything she owned to travel the world for a year. She’s the coolest. (As I write this, she’s here with me in Seattle! Is this excitement what Sleepless in Seattle is about?!)

Katie and I were ready to boogie down and celebrate! It was held at the Rivers Casino on Pittsburgh’s North Shore and it was Swanky with a capital S, but not the kind of party with dancing. So we boogied down the best way we knew how: by enjoying all of the free samples and mingling with funny people. We made our way to the second floor (after noting all of the Game of Thrones casino games which should have had punnier names, i.e. Castle Blackjack, Jo Sno Po(ker), a bad pun is better than no pun at all!) and were given commemorative shirts and SO many free things! I’m talking food, beverages, and all kinds of swag! We found Sarah, Emily, Jesse, and Beth immediately and had fun sampling Colombe Draft Lattes with their sample team. (Coffee at night? More like WILDEST OF THE BURGH.) And our caffeinated group really enjoyed the heck out of the photo booth and all of its props.

We saw a bunch of pals from Arcade Comedy Theater and a few from The Pittsburgh Improv. It was a hoot. Here are some adorable photos from an overall adorable night.

“And a ‘Breakfast Club’ one. Just me? You guys weren’t smiling, right?”

3 of the 5! Have you heard of us now?

In between Hank’s Frozen Custard and Hello Bistro AKA right where I belong.

Katie Barbaro: Sisterhood of the Traveling Romper.

Aaaaand one for my wee mum (where I accidentally point at Hello Bistro).

Screenshot or it didn’t happen.

I sent Sarah a screenshot of her interview and my photo from that same interview and we had a good laugh.

Repping that Pittsburgh swag in Seattle.

Arcade Hootenanny!

I had the great honour of being the Monologist at Arcade Comedy Theater’s April Hootenanny! Each month, one person is chosen (this time it was me!) to tell stories about their life (based on audience suggestions) and then some of the best improvisers in Pittsburgh do scenes based on those stories. After a few scenes, the monologist hops back up to tell more stories and the magic continues.

I had so much fun telling stories I had never told publicly that have never made it in to my stand up. Arcade Comedy Theater is where I started taking improv classes in May of 2016. I was on house improv teams at the Arcade for 2 years before I left to focus more on stand up. It was such a special gift to be asked by the Arcade to be the monologist. I’ve watched this show a million times and was so thrilled to get to tell some stories and share the stage with some of my faves. Thanks for having me, Arcade!

If you’re interested, you can watch the entire show right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IARvSh62RI&feature=youtu.be

Always point up so people don’t wonder if your shoes match your outfit. #lifehack