Brigid Broderick | Comedy & Filmmaking | Chicago, Illinois

Woman with dark hair in a blue shirt and star-patterned vest sits at a desk, hands clasped, coffee cup in front.

Behind-the-scenes photograph of a film crew gathered around a camera and monitor on set, with several people watching footage during production.

Portrait photograph styled with a vintage aesthetic, showing a person in a gray suit and blue tie seated at a table talking on a corded telephone, with a glass Coca-Cola bottle in the foreground.

Live photograph of a comedy and music performance on stage, with a performer in a denim skirt and cowboy hat gesturing toward the audience, a shirtless musician, and a guitarist in a cowboy hat in the background under purple stage lighting.

Portrait photograph of a person in a gray suit and blue tie seated on the floor in a full split pose against a plain white backdrop.

Artist Snapshot

Name: Brigid Broderick
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Discipline: Comedy, Writing & Filmmaking
Medium: Live comedy, solo performance, music, film, and writing
Website: https://linktr.ee/brigidbroderick
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brigid_broderick/
Other Links:

Ideal Candidate trailer: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bwiyx4s8nnz0lzxvpau5u/Ideal-Candidate_sizzle.mp4?rlkey=0c439ldiffkwxv8hy6v1l2o5c&st=qet8746m&dl=0
Horse Girl Nation video: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bg9btukrrh7chla8okuqv/Acutane.mp4?rlkey=36nx1uzhi56xsff9rhgqmnh5i&st=tmv7cwda&dl=0

Introduction

Brigid Broderick is a comedian, writer, and filmmaker based in Chicago, Illinois. She creates live comedy, film, and writing, and describes herself as “a gay comedian, writer, and filmmaker from Chicago.” Her nationally touring solo comedy and music hour, Horse Girl Nation, is presented as a fundraiser for lesbian horses to receive “a special surgery that allows them to scissor and 69 at the same time.” Her debut short film, Ideal Candidate, follows a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader named Kemily who becomes an administrative assistant. Brigid states that her work is about “what it means to be dumb and have a huge heart in the modern age.”

She says additional visibility would help her sell tickets to live shows in different cities, bring more viewers to her films, and gain recognition for her writing as she continues building a long-term career in film, television, and entertainment. She also notes that growing her social media audience would help more people discover her work.

Brigid is currently preparing to shoot another short film in August and plans to film her comedy special, Horse Girl Nation, in October.

Interview

Is there a piece, project, or idea you keep returning to lately?

One day I want to make shadow puppets with my feet onstage. Just thinking about it makes me laugh out loud. It might never happen but a girl can dream.

What feels especially important to you right now, creatively or personally?

I just recently had this realization that has set me free—not everything has to be groundbreaking, sometimes it can just be stupid and fun. We are living through a deeply dark time in history right now with the rise of fascism in the United States and sometimes I am like, “Should I be making groundbreaking comedy about the horrific state of the world??” and the answer is no. I don’t want to and I would be bad at that. I want to make a stupid show about raising money for lesbian horses to get a special surgery that allows them to scissor and 69 at the same time. It is not going to change the world. If anything it will make somebody laugh in a way where they just breathe hard through their nose, probably not even laugh out loud.

Has living in or around the Great Lakes region shaped your work in any way?

I am a Chicago lover! Everything about Chicago influences my work, my worldview, and my work ethic. I love the Midwest and Chicago is the greatest city on earth. Everyone here is a little bit more creative, resourceful, down to earth, and FUNNY in my opinion. I feel so lucky to get to make art in Chicago!!!

What’s been energizing you lately?

Celsius and the daydream that one day I will be able to quit my office job.

What’s been difficult lately?

Everything is so damn expensive and unfortunately, I do not have access to independent wealth (rest assured that if I did I would be using it for evil and making full-length feature films about adult Irish dancers starring myself and my friends). Taking my live show to other cities and making films just costs so much money and I’m obviously in the red on every project I make so it can be discouraging. But at the same time, what else would I be spending my precious hard earned money on? A house? Retirement savings? Of course not! I’m going to spend it on making a 15 minute video about a disgraced Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.

Materials & Process

Creates live comedy performances.
Writes comedy and film projects.
Produces and performs a solo comedy and music show.
Tours nationally with Horse Girl Nation.

Current Work & Projects

Horse Girl Nation (nationally touring solo comedy and music show)
Ideal Candidate (short film)
New short film scheduled to be filmed in August.
Horse Girl Nation comedy special planned for filming in October.

Additional Notes

Based in Chicago, Illinois.
Identifies as a comedian, writer, and filmmaker.
Seeks additional visibility to support live performances, film distribution, and writing.

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