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

Hi Wynter, what role has risk played in your life or career?
One of the bigger risks I’ve taken in the last few years has been to risk being told no. It seems like such a small thing, but in order to ask for what you want, you have to risk rejection. Show business is full of it and yet, I’m not immune to the sting of a “we’re going in another direction.” The times in my career that I’ve had the opportunity to do stand up on bigger stages with larger audiences and comedians I admire, it’s because I took a chance to ask for what I wanted and risk being told no. Amazingly enough, 75%-85% of the time, when I have asked for an opportunity, I’ve gotten a yes. I got to perform in the same show as Jackie Kashian, Laurie Kilmartin, Janelle James and Zach Galifianakis at Dynasty Typewriter only because I asked Jackie. She knows my work, so it’s not as if it was a blind ask, but there are many other more well known people that she could have shared the stage with, but because I asked, she put me on the lineup. I couldn’t be more grateful. I also had the opportunity to feature for Maria Bamford a few years ago, another opportunity afforded to me by Jackie Kashian. I very recently hosted a show for Wendy Liebman, Carol Leifer and Cathy Ladman, all amazing comedians in their own right. I got that opportunity only because I risked asking Wendy, who doesn’t know me at all; to my surprise and delight, she said yes. As the old saying goes, a closed mouth doesn’t get fed.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My professional career as an artist started in the Philadelphia and Chicago theater scenes. I did my first professional musical immediately upon graduation from the University of the Arts, St. Louis Woman, at the now defunct Prince Music Theater. I moved back to my hometown of Chicago, where I would go on to work all over the Chicagoland area in plays, musicals and staged readings at such theaters companies as the Bailiwick, Porchlight Music Theater, MPAACT and Victory Gardens. You haven’t really lived until you’ve done Animal Farm The Musical for an audience of four. Commercial work in Chicago for brands such as Meijers and State Farm got me my SAG-AFTRA card, which gave me the confidence to move to Los Angeles. I never imagined that I would find stand up as a means of creative expression, but I took a class called Stand Up for the Actor from Jonathan Solomon, which gave me an entirely new way to relate to the world as an artist. As an actor, you’re always putting someone else’s words and ideas out into the world. As a standup, I’m putting my own ideas out into the world and the response is immediate. Stand up has given me so much: it’s made me a writer and also, I believe a better actor. If I can find the humor in a script that maybe isn’t meant to be funny, then I have given dimension to that writing in a different way. Stand up has also made me a host. Hosting comedy shows is a skill I wanted to explore, but didn’t know where to start. I was fortunate enough to meet Dave McNary when I auditioned for his weekly Sunday show at the Ice House in Pasadena. He generously allowed me to host when I had never done it before and he let me do it so often, I got really good at it. Dave passed away in 2020, but I will always be grateful to him for allowing me to find my way on stage in front of his audience. I aspire to the kind of comedy that investigates the weird things we all experience that bring us together and the things that make us uncomfortable because it we can laugh about it, maybe we can talk about it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The Getty Center is always a top pick- the tram all the way up the mountain has amazing views and when you get off it opens into what feels like an Italian piazza. The grounds are so beautiful. One of my fav places.

Disneyland-It’s cliche, but people love it and really, it’s one of the main reasons people come to SoCal.

I have had some lovely meals at Alta Adams-the food, the ambiance, the service are all top tier.

Griffith Observatory-it’s been in so many movies and has so much history, I think it’s a no brainer to bring visitors here.

The Clubhouse-Funny stand ups and improvisers here. If you want to catch funny people on this rise or well know funny people working on new material, this is the place.

LA is known for a hike, so I’d take them to the Culver City Stairs to get in a good one with amazing views at the top.

The Royce Wood Fired Steakhouse inside the Langham Hotel in Pasadena. Sit right next to the center window that looks out onto the beautifully manicured hotel grounds. Great food and impeccable service.

Home in Los Feliz for brunch never disappoints.

I think no trip to California is complete without taking some time at Santa Monica Pier. The amusement park, the beach, it hits all highlights.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Jackie Kashian has been so generous to me as I’ve carved out my comedy career. She’s hired me as her feature on the road, had me on her podcast, always answers random questions that I text her and is the reason I can say that I’ve featured for Maria Bamford on my resume. Her work ethic is unmatched and she’s actively working to be a positive force in the world. And she’s so very, very funny. Also, my mom, as always, for being the best!

Website: https://wynterspears.com

Image Credits
The Headshot (personal photo)-Nkechi Chibueze, photographer

The other person in the pic is my mom in front of the Women In Comedy Festival banner. She has no objections.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.