Meet Brooke Eliot | Comedian and Performance Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brooke Eliot and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brooke, how do you think about risk?
Risk is always exciting because it immediately makes a connection to fear. What will happen if I try this new thing out? Will I fail in front of everyone and become cringe or will it be iconic? I would say that creatively, I actively pursue risk. I constantly want to break free from the status quo of “safety” that keeps my self-expression small. I’ve been told my performance style is considered “risky” as it doesn’t always elicit the audience response one would typically want as a performer (adoration, acceptance, love ect.) but that is what keeps things interesting. Obviously, there are different types of risk and not all of them need to be challenged, but when it comes to art and creation, risk is always rewarded in one way or another.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I celebrated my birthday this summer and decided it was time to take stock of where I started and where I am now, creatively and just in life in general. In this self reflection I was reintroduced to my life (side note: It’s amazing the narratives we tell ourselves about ourselves!) Since I was young I was always expressing myself. It started with drawing, then painting, then acting, musical theatre, improv, standup, and now performance art. I have gone through many iterations of my creativity.

I am most excited by this next chapter coming up. I recently finished up a solo show DISASSOCIAL which I was able to do with the help and support of my good friends Whitley Watson and Kaye Loggins. We filmed every performance but got some great, more professional footage from the final performances – now I am making a short film of it! I am excited to see this project be laid to rest in its final form.

There have been many lessons learned along the way – the most crucial of which is accepting yourself where you are. I think we see so many people running from high to high and we compare our journey with everyone else’s. Everyone is deserving of love and recognition and that starts with self acceptance and recognizing yourself.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh wow that is a great question! I personally really love an city hike – this is where you start in Manhattan around 125th and walk all the way down to the tip of Manhattan, usually like the East Broadway area. It is a great way to feel the energy of the neighborhoods and see the sights. Obviously the classic ironic answer is Times Square, but honestly it really is insane and worth experiencing. Other than that there are so many place in Brooklyn that are sweet for a night out and Queens is great for quality food.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shout out the beautiful venue, Life World in Brooklyn NY. This DIY space has had such an impact on the community, bringing together people from all different worlds – music, comedy, film, theatre. You could really do anything you dreamed of in that blackbox room. I was able to express myself and find myself there and for that I am forever grateful. They devastatingly had to close this year. I don’t even really think any of us really understand the weight of the loss yet – pour one out!

Website: https://www.brookeeeliot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dummmmbbbbbaaasssss/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@brookeeliot5777?si=aeZg5IKVi1j2a2Vh