Margaret Cho Comes to D.C.

By Broadside Staff Writer Kyle Ridley
Photograph courtesy of Austin Young

Outspoken comedian Margaret Cho is breaking the chains of self-hatred and embracing self-love on her current “Beautiful” tour, playing three shows on April 10 and 11 at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.

“This show is really about the beauty that is within us and how we can express it,” Cho said. “It’s also the most raunchy show that I’ve done and there’s something so beautiful about that.”

The 39-year-old San Francisco, Calif. native has been performing stand-up since she was 16. In her comedy acts, Cho has shared her own personal struggles with self-image. She has admitted to battling eating disorders, alcoholism, media pressures and Asian stereotypes and feels being candid in her material is essential.

“I think that it’s important to share and be very open about things and be vocal,” Cho said.

Cho has taken part in several projects that celebrate diversity and self-acceptance. In 2005, she wrote and starred in the feature film, Bam Bam and Celeste, about a pair of Midwest outcasts who discover their inner beauty during a trip to New York.

Last year, Cho joined Cyndi Lauper on the first annual “True Colors” tour, benefiting the Human Rights Campaign. She also created and starred in the off-Broadway burlesque-variety show, “The Sensuous Woman.”

“I think it’s just something that I wanted to work towards and be very adamant about—people being kind to themselves and good to themselves,” Cho said, who sees self-loathing as a “a growing theme among society.”

Cho has managed to survive the rigors of showbiz since her short-lived ABC sitcom All-American Girl aired in 1994. The groundbreaking series was the first ever centered on an Asian-American cast. Although Asian characters are still a minority, Cho is happy with the increase in diverse casting over the last few years.

“I’m seeing a lot more different faces, on television especially,” Cho said, noting shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Lost. “It’s really impressive and exciting and I just want to see more.”

Despite helping open the doors for many, Cho does not place herself on a pedestal.

“I don’t think so much about being a role model,” Cho said. “I’m just glad I’m able to express myself in different forms.”

In addition to comedy and acting, Cho has written two books and gained a loyal following with her Web site blog. Her second book, I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight, features a collection of political and pop-culture essays, often controversial in nature.

“I think it’s great to have a voice and really important to express that, especially if it’s outside the mainstream,” Cho said.

The “Beautiful” tour is trekking across the U.S. through mid-June. Cho will shoot her new VH1 reality show, The Cho Show, this summer before resuming her tour in the fall.
“I really love touring,” Cho said. “It’s a fun and exciting way to work.” She particularly looks forward to returning to the District.

“I love Washington, D.C. because people are so smart and political,” Cho said, who filmed her Assassin comedy DVD at the Warner Theatre in 2005.

Despite a jam-packed itinerary, Cho said she is “grateful” to have struck a healthy balance between work and home-life by leaving the glitz and glamour behind.

“I don’t worry about the way fame can fluctuate or fade out,” she said. “I just love my job and the opportunities.”
Tickets are still available for Cho’s April 10 and April 11 shows at the Warner Theatre. Prices range from $28.50-$45.50 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit Warnertheatre.com.