Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Lechner.
Julia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Following my first career in newspaper reporting in southern New Jersey, where I was born and raised, I moved to Los Angeles in 2012. Since then I’ve worked in comedy podcasting, entertainment news, and the tech sectors, primarily as a writer and editor.
Outside of my daily work, I started studying improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in 2012 and eventually moved up into their advanced studies program. I also performed on a house team at the theater, a Mess Hall team called Fresh Kicks. Beyond UCB, I performed on multiple indie improv teams and hosted an improv comedy show called After School Special at The Clubhouse in Los Feliz for four years.
A fellow comedian suggested I give storytelling a try. Unlike standup comedy, storytelling involves sharing true, personal stories from your life on stage. I’ve been performing at live storytelling shows around Los Angeles for several years, have appeared on the RISK! podcast, and have won both The Moth StorySLAM and, most recently, I won The Moth GrandSLAM championship at The Regent in downtown Los Angeles. It was truly a dream come true!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As is the case for many creatives, both the pandemic and other personal obstacles made me wonder if I could still come up with humorous material to share on stage. I have been fortunate that I have been able to take difficult or challenging subjects and find the funny in them to share relatable, engaging stories with audiences. There can be humor found in tough moments, and I am lucky that having a creative outlet like storytelling has allowed me to connect with others through my performances. I continue to surprise myself as I grow as a writer and performer, and I’m excited to see how my work evolves with each passing year.
One example of this is a new story I developed for my recent performance at The Moth GrandSLAM storytelling championship, which is a personal story from my life relating to infertility. I wanted to talk about fertility challenges in a way I’ve rarely heard them discussed on stage, and I wanted to do it while being vulnerable and still maintaining my comedic style. There were times when writing and working on my story that I wasn’t sure if it would work, but I am so happy with the hard work I put in and how my performance went. The fact that my story won The Moth GrandSLAM competition made me really proud to know my story both entertained and resonated with others.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Something I love about comedic storytelling is that no one has lived my life except for me. I add my own personal flavor and experiences to everything that I do, while finding the common themes that audiences can relate to. It’s a really special moment when I’m in sync with an audience, and I love making people laugh and feel seen through my comedy. As an added bonus, it’s super helpful that I am not shy about sharing what could be seen sometimes as embarrassing, personal moments on stage. We’ve all been there… I’m just willing to talk about it in front of a microphone!
How do you define success?
For me, success is establishing a goal, working hard in pursuit of it, and feeling proud of my performance. Even if I had never won a Moth championship or made a house improv team at UCB Theatre, I would still feel successful that I had put in the work and done everything I could to be the best that I, personally, can be in that moment. Outside accolades and recognition are a bonus; success is within.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juliaevelechner.com/shows
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliaevelechner/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@julialechner
Image Credits
The Moth, Andy Forsberg, Glen Dunzweiler
