Comedian and actress Chanel Ali chatted about her new “Relative Stranger” comedy show, which will premiere on September 17th at SoHo Playhouse in New York City. Opening night will take place two days later on September 19th.
Inspiration to write ‘Relative Stranger’
On her inspiration to write the comedy show “Relative Stranger,” Ali said, “We don’t talk about it enough, but many of us become orphans in life—even if it doesn’t happen in childhood. A parent dies. A parent becomes dependent. A relationship breaks.”
“In those moments, you have to rebuild. You have to decide who you are without the people who were supposed to tell you,” she said.
“I wrote this show to explain my presence. To laugh at the chaos. To invite others to find strength in their ability to care for themselves. And to giggle at a truly wild story,” she added.
Performing at SoHo Playhouse in Manhattan
On performing at SoHo Playhouse in Manhattan, Ali remarked, “To walk into a space where so many powerful stories have been told, and to bring mine—raw, funny, and unfiltered—to that stage? That feels like building a legacy.”
“I took this show to the Edinburgh Fringe and did the hard work in the rain to get butts in seats, to make this show as good as possible and to make it worldly,” she noted.
“The whole time I was dreaming of a run back home in NYC and I know it’s going to be unforgettable.
Lessons learned from this comedy show
On the lessons learned from this comedy, Ali said, “This show has made me realize how much I truly love myself.”
“Being the funny kid, the outspoken voice, the woman who always had something to say—those labels can shift, and sometimes people try to make them sound like flaws,” she elaborated.
“Honoring the unbelievable, chaotic, resilient circumstances that shaped me? That’s been deeply affirming,” she acknowledged.
“It reminded me that I didn’t just survive—I turned it into something meaningful. And hilarious,” she added.
The digital age
On being a comedian and creative in the digital age, Ali said, “It’s great being a comedian right now—because you also get to be an SEO writer, editor, graphic designer, social media manager, podcast guest, actor, web series host… and you still don’t know where the rent’s coming from.”
“Great art shines through. I’ve been dedicated to making a show that’s sincerely entertaining, triumphant, and relatable. I haven’t had a show without a standing ovation yet. So something’s working,” she elaborated.
Advice for hopefuls who wish to pursue a career in entertainment
For hopefuls that wish to pursue a career in the entertainment business, she said, “Make something honest. Take your time building a voice that’s real and skills that are sharp to help you communicate your ideas. And please, believe in yourself.”
“If you believe you have a tiny amount of talent, that’s enough to get started, enough to refine, and enough to work on it,” she added.
Success
On her definition of the word success, Ali said, “Success is when you become the kind of person your inner child would run to. It’s having a voice, having peace, and having a life that serves your purpose.”
“Little Chanel would think that I’m cool as hell but she low-key wouldn’t be surprised. Because deep down she always knew, she was just scared to say it out loud for a while,” she explained.
Closing thoughts on ‘Relative Stranger’ show
For fans and viewers, she expressed about “Relative Stranger,” “It isn’t just my story. It’s for anyone who has ever felt like they had to parent themselves.”
“It’s for the people who laugh through pain, who turn silence into sound, who survived childhood but never got to talk about it. You will laugh. You might cry. And you will leave feeling like your weird, resilient little self is seen,” Ali concluded.
To learn more about Chanel Ali, follow her on Instagram.
For more information on “Relative Stranger,” visit its official homepage.
