Finding her voice: Rebecca Joey Schwab on breaking into stand-up

Rebecca Joey Schwab has appeared on a variety of stages, including Zanies, Stand Up NY, and the Den Theater.

Nonprofit work is no joke. 

Which is why Chicagoan Rebecca Joey Schwab brought a requisite sense of humor to her decade-long run as a Jewish communal professional. A past honoree of JUF’s 36 Under 36, Schwab is the co-founder and former executive director of ChiTribe, a grassroots nonprofit that empowers Jewish young adults to create meaningful connections and the Jewish community they desire. 

Whether it was a mission-driven event, public speaking engagement, or the everyday challenges inherent to nonprofit work, she infused levity into each project. It was only during the intensity of pandemic-era Zoom meetings that Schwab sensed she “might have the skill set” to share her wit beyond the workplace.  

That niggling was not yet an impetus to launch a stand-up career, but she dipped her toe into the 2020 version of the comedy scene by hosting virtual shows, where she welcomed audiences before headliners popped onto their computer screens.  

Then came October 7, and she “wasn’t laughing. No one was laughing.” A believer that “if you don’t laugh, you cry,” Schwab found her impetus. 

She went for it. Open mic nights all the time. The process humbling and failures frequent, each time she got back on stage to try again. She’s appeared on such stages as Zanies, Stand Up NY, and the Den Theater.  

Breaking into stand-up as an unapologetically Jewish, half-Israeli comic in a post-October 7 world has been tricky; Rebecca navigates how to show up authentically while avoiding topics that get could get her yelled off the stage. “It’s unfortunate,” she said. “It should be a space for open expression.”   

Schwab adjusts content based on the crowd—although some humor appeals to Jewish and non-Jewish audiences alike, she says, such as a bit about her father’s stuffed alpaca collection. 

Fittingly, Schwab hosts “Chutzpah in the Chi,” a Jewish comedy showcase that offers a safe space for laughter, no matter one’s religious beliefs or political views. She’s also a founding producer of the Windy City Comedy Festival, a platform for and celebration of emerging talent, established professionals, and Chicago’s deep comedic history.  

“Comedy has the power to connect people and create lasting cultural impact, and I’m proud to play a role in elevating this art form,” Schwab said. 

While diving into comedy in your 30s may seem late to some, extra life experience gives the self-identified novice more comedy fodder. “I didn’t have enough to talk about in my 20s,” Schwab joked. She encourages anyone who possesses a wealth of life experience, originality, confidence, and a willingness to fail in order to try what’s calling them—whether it’s improv, writing, music, or anything else. “It is never too late to find your creative voice.” 

Schwab gives more credit to her marketing background than her comedy genius for her own social media growth, and she’s now using that expertise to help other comedians via her agency, Kvell Factor Marketing. Her life-long commitment to doing good “just looks a little different these days,” she said of her post-ChiTribe pursuits.  

Saturday Night Live legends and peers alike provide inspiration. Schwab is particularly encouraged by the success of two female comics—Esther Povitsky and Liza Treyger—who are both from her hometown of Skokie. “These two funny women making it in comedy graduated from my high school,” she said. “I’d love to be the third.” 

Rebecca is active on the open mic and stand-up circuit and is eager to bring her unique take on clean, Jewish humor to more synagogues and private Jewish events. Find her at rebeccajoeyschwab.com and @rebeccajoeycomedy on Instagram.  

Caren Friedman is a freelance writer, nonprofit communications professional, and founder of Caren Friedman Communications, LLC.