Jeff Klein will film his special in Ybor City, Florida over two nights in September. Credit: Photo courtesy of Jeff Klein

Jeff Klein, who won a Best of the Bay award for his comedy-drag mashup “Wigs and Wit,” will focus on his own wit in a new comedy special.

Klein’s unique show, which played in several venues across the Tampa Bay area a few years ago, featured stand-up comedians and drag queens showcasing their talents and switching roles for an evening. But he’s been a stand-up comedian for about 10 years (he won a Best of the Bay award for that as well) and has been focusing on that aspect of his creativity recently.

His new special, “Fatty Gay,” will be recorded Sept. 8 and Sept. 15 at The Commodore in Ybor City. Comedians usually record multiple shows and take the best of each to create a special.

Klein’s comedy references being what he calls a “beige” gay: Not a colorful stereotype but not ashamed of who he is, either. In doing so, he wants his brand of comedy to appeal to everybody.

“The gay and straight communities tend to showcase flashier gays, or focus on drag, or flamboyant gays,” Klein told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “I want to know if there is a lane for a beige gay in the world and in the world of comedy, if that lane would be welcomed on both sides.”

The special’s name comes from an unusual source: A toddler. A friend’s child was learning French words, and the French word for “fatigue” came out as “Fatty Gay” to her. Most people would just see it as a cute mispronunciation. But Klein is a comedian, is gay, and often makes fun of his own dad-bod physique, so he saw it differently.

“When a word sounds like how I look, and means how I feel (tired), I thought that has to be the name of my special,” Klein said.

Tickets to see Jeff Klein tape “Fatty Gay” at The Commodore in Ybor City on Sept. 8 & 15 are still available and start at $15.
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This article appears in Aug 8-14, 2024.