“A show that everyone, regardless of their personal views on sex work, simply has to experience.”
Description
The Oldest Profession is a mad dash through 10,000 years of history from a sex worker’s perspective.
Kaytlin Bailey offers a new angle on the world’s oldest profession, reframing the story of western civilization. Weaving history, stand-up comedy, and lived experience in a fast-paced and profoundly moving hour-long solo show, punctuated by a projected art history slideshow.
This show is for adults who want to laugh while they learn about a historically stigmatized community in a funny, approachable, and safe way. The show appeals to academics, comedy fans, history nerds, and sex workers alike, but also appeals to conservative dads, informed moms, libertarians, progressives, feminists, and folks in the LGBTQ+ community.
Alternating between her own family history, lived experience, and contemporary observations, we meet many canonized characters from history, and trace the evolution of the sacred whore. Traveling through time from the Epic of Gilgamesh to the the origins of the emergent sex worker rights movement, Kaytlin educates us, with narrative storytelling and comedy, how sex work is in fact the oldest profession.
Featuring an opening act by Denver comedian Lizzy Wolfson, co-host of the WolfHawk comedy podcast.
DOORS @ 7pm SHOWTIME @ 7:30
Lineup
Lizzy Wolfson
Originally from outside of NYC, Lizzy Wolfson moved out west to roam the range and become a cowgirl. After years of working on ranches, she decided to hang up her lasso and pick up a microphone. In just a short time in Colorado she has established herself as a vocal member of the LGBTQ community and an ambitious comedian, both on stage and off—she runs several shows and a podcast through her production company WolfHawk Comedy. She is also a regular at Comedy Works Denver, The Comedy Fort and Denver Comedy Underground. She has also fostered over 100 rescue dogs into their forever homes. Does that make her better than you? Yes. Yes it does. Comedy Festivals that Lizzy has been featured on - High Plains, Limestone,10,000 Laughs, Laughing Skull, Middle Ground, Black Hills, Flyover.
Kaytlin Bailey, writer & performer
Kaytlin Bailey is an activist, scholar, and provocateur who is changing the way people think about the oldest profession. She is an internationally recognized leader in the sex worker rights movement and an internationally touring performer. She is the Founder & Executive Director of Old Pros, a non-profit media organization that uses storytelling to advocate for sex worker rights. She hosts The Oldest Profession Podcast where each episode focuses on an “old pro” from history, contextualizing that figure in their own time and connecting their story to the ongoing struggle for sex worker rights. Kaytlin has written for the Daily Beast, HuffPost, Vice, Reason, and her work has been featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Village Voice, Politico, and The Nation. Her work has been featured on NBC, ABC, Lifetime, SiriusXM, and HBO. She has been invited to speak and perform at colleges and conferences all over the world. Kaytlin’s views are backed by Amnesty International, The World Health Organization, Human Rights Watch, and UNAids who all agree that the decriminalization of sex work is the only policy that reduces violence.
Emily Olcott, Director
*will not be in attendance, nor part of the evening lineup.* Emily Olcott is an actor, singer, writer, comedian, and director. Off-Broadway: Kafkaesque! (Theater 154); Live Laugh Love… (solo show developed at Ars Nova’s CAMP residency). Comedy: Joe’s Pub, Union Hall, Ars Nova, The Bell House, Lincoln Center, JFL Toronto, and The Kennedy Center, opening for Amber Ruffin. Directing: The Story Pirates National Tour; My Dead Wedding (UCB); Beth (Joe’s Pub); Bada Swing! (Joe’s Pub). Emily performs musical improv with UCB house team Rumpleteaser and indie team Cookie, and also co-hosts a comedy podcast about spirituality called Savior Complex. You may have seen Emily in a long-running commercial campaign for the New Jersey Lottery, in which she was wearing a lab coat.
Testimonials
“Kaytlin Bailey is super talented and smart. Her brilliant show gives me hope for the future.”
“I can honestly not think of anything else as informative or entertaining.”
“Like a TEDTalk spun through a poppers cloud.”
"Bailey brings her trademark irreverence to this hybrid of history lecture, comedic monologue and cultural critique that explores and revives the marginalized stories of sex workers."
FAQs
- PARKING:
The Bug is located at 3654 Navajo Street Denver CO 80211, at the corner of 37th and Navajo in the Northside neighborhood in the historic Navajo Street Arts District.
There is no designated parking for this venue. Parking is available on the streets in the surrounding neighborhood. This space shares parking with several restaurants and bars so consider arriving early if you don't want to walk far.
- CONCESSIONS:
Are available throughout the show, upon entry, during intermission, and any time during the movie portion of this event.
The Bug concessions offers a variety of beer, wine, hard selzters, soft drinks, juices and water for sale at our concessions stand. They also stock a variety of candy, chips, snacks, and even some healthy options, and offer gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan selections, so there is something for everyone. Their concessions takes both cash and credit cards. There is a minimum purchase of $5 to use a credit card.
- ACCESSIBILITY:
The venue is fully wheelchair accessible, and we are glad to reserve accessible and companion seating upon request. An accessible restroom is conveniently located directly behind the concession stand. If you have additional accessibility needs or questions, please contact the Bug in advance so they can help make your experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
- LATE ARRIVAL:
Running late? No problem, we strongly encourage you to still come to the show, and will have any available seating in the back of the venue for you to still enjoy the show from. You are welcome to change to any up front available seating during intermission.
- TIPPING THE ARTIST:
Traveling a show is no small endeavor and a lot of expenses occur just to make a show happen for one night. Please consider tipping the artist as a way to say thank you for putting in the laborious hours for our entertainment. Cash is encouraged, but other payment methods will also be available.
Powered by
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
Get tickets
Get tickets
Get tickets
Get tickets
![EXPOSED [storytelling]](https://images.humanitix.com/i/37997daa-5b1a-435a-b998-ac8f40f4b030.jpg@responsive-500.avif)
