As my pup teacher capacity education links, go to bottom of the page, or click directly on:
 claireonmedicare.com

​UPCOMING SHOWS:  DURTY NELLY'S 

 
OCTOBER 12 AND
​ OCTOBER 26

SPECIAL BIRTHDAY PERFORMANCE!

On August 24, Durty Nelly's hosted my sold-out 23-minute "Birthday Special" So many different guests from across the spectrum of my life attended.  I was overwhelmed with appreciation!

Sometimes jokes present themselves and beg to be performed!  

Enjoy my 90 second harrowing experience with a "Karen" at Starbucks. 
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 MY COMEDY JOURNEY
Striving for an IMPACT Legacy

My spiritual arc as a comedian began as a survival technique after I suffered a brutal attack and was nearly murdered, a story chronicled in the 2019 LA Times PDF LINK above. Thanks to an extraordinary bit of serendipity, after this vicious attack, my life took a radical turn when I glanced at an advertisement for George Carlin teaching comedy. Shocking my parents, I rejected their offer to pay for my therapy and told them I chose comedy for therapy instead. It never occurred to me to question that transcendent inner voice, destiny's direction, telling me to use the stage as an emotional outlet. Consequently, after taking George's four-week class, I succeeded as an MC at the Comedy Store. In addition, in the late 70s, seven female comedians and I opened the Belly Room as a space for females to develop their routines. Because I lived in Costa Mesa, I only performed comedy in LA on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. In the summers, I traveled on tour opening up for Shirley Hemphill, star of the TV Show "What's Happening."
     Opening for Robin Williams several times at the Laff Stop in Costa Mesa, he praised me, suggesting I quit teaching and pursue comedy as a career. Though deeply flattered by his observation, I loved my vocation--teaching. (I won multiple teaching awards, including recognition for teaching excellence in a White House Rose Garden Ceremony). Comedy was just a creative hobby, my avocation.
     Then, another tragic event shattered my respect for comedy, exposing the ugly truth of show business. Steve Lubetkin, a fellow comic, committed suicide by jumping off the Hyatt Regency Hotel into the Comedy Store parking lot because he was blacklisted for his participation in the Comedy Store strike. His tragic death whiplashed me emotionally,  motivating  me to refocus on education, my magical marriage to Terry Ratfield, and raising our joyful son, Ryan. 
     The arts had saved my life. As a teacher, I wanted to share its transformative power with children. So, in addition to teaching my 6th-grade class for 38 years, I produced and directed children's Broadway musicals. After 48 years, I retired only to witness how COVID-19 had infected education, had torn it asunder, crippling both teachers and students.
     Destiny's inner voice, now tinged with delusions of grandeur, suggested that I use comedy as a platform for educational reform. My husband encouraged me to take the "Robin Williams Challenge," try to create a Netflix special, and use the money to fund systemic staff development around the technological tools that can revolutionize education. However, in 2020, just as COVID crippled schools, it paralyzed the entertainment industry. Because all the comedy venues shuttered, I partnered with my husband, using this nearly 2-year isolation to create a rich body of comedy material. My closest comed friend from the 80's, my comedy muse, Gary Mule Deer (still opening up for Johnny Mathis at 84), remembered my talent and encouraged me to follow my dream and manifest mayhem of the world around me into magic. In my garage, I created a "comedy studio" complete with an imaginary audience, my "fan wall," covered with pictures of friends and comedy influencers. While performing in front of this "sea of gratitude", as a tribute to Robin, I challenged myself to be the best HE thought I could be. I then brought my "garage comedy" concepts to my husband for revision. He applied his keen sense of humor and joke structure, saying more than once, "economy of words...economy of words." Laughing and creating through those tough years, we defied COVID's negative stranglehold. Now, with my soulmate, Terry's heartbreaking passing, comedy serves a parallel purpose: a tribute to him and grief therapy.
     Looking back on my life, it's almost as if my "tragedy" was a necessary evil, a gift from God, a two-hour existential moment that positively forged my future. I continue to be driven by that unrelenting voice, encapsulating Terry's vision for me, challenging me to "Make No Little Plans; They Have No Magic to Stir Men's Blood." It still pushes me to "reach beyond my grasp." Terry stands tall behind me on stage, my spirit guide, as I move forward, seeking the impossible dream.​
​     I perform as much as possible in my quest to be the best. Bi-weekly, I now co-host a comedy venue at Durty Nelly's with John Liu. Please check this website for my Durty Nelly performance dates and performances at other venues.
The People Magazine reporter failed to get my name.  That's 33-year old me with my hand on the wall.
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My Return To Comedy 2019

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UPCOMING SHOWS: 
DURTY NELLY'S  
OCTOBER 12 AND OCTOBER 26


​Still Performing at 78 Years Old!

WINNER 
MAY 31, 2023 COMEDY CHATEAU CONTEST 

INTERNATIONAL SENSATION!
APPEARING AT THE HA'PENNY INN IN IRELAND

Las Angeles Performance 6/13/24

I enjoyed working with this "collection of Claires".  In the middle of my act, my Apple Watch thought I had fallen...and was poised to call an ambulance.  We had to stop the show for a few seconds so someone could turn off my watch.  I should find a way to put that in my act.  Best laughs of the night!
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​Durty Nelly Performances:

These different ten-minute clips all start with the same opening but include eight minutes of different routines selected from my hour and a half of material

Sept. 14, 2024

July 30, 2024

This routine includes two classic pieces from my education "repertoire": "Teacher American Hero" rap, celebrating all teachers know and can do, and lamenting my one teaching regret: teaching five-year-olds how to spell. The sold-out show included many teacher friends who felt my pain and appreciated the comic relief. 

May 25

Thank you again to friends that continue to support my "Retired Teacher Passion Project." 
​I could not do this without you!

DURTY NELLY'S
MAY 22 Ryan and Claire Ratfield  

After 30 years, my son’s babysitters surprised my son, Ryan, and me. We gathered for our emotional reunion at Durty Nelly’s, where my son and I performed for them. The mutual love and respect took Ryan and my performances to a new level.
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Claire Ratfield
Featured Performer-20 minutes

DURTY NELLYS
May 11, 2024

Mother's Day Headliner

I performed as the "headliner"  for this Mother's Day Special at Durty Nelly's. As always, I appreciate my "groupies" who continue to attend my shows. On this evening, I welcomed many new audience members.  
Ryan Ratfield

APRIL 27

January 27, 2024

January 13, 2024

March 9, 2024

March 23, 2024

My Education Vision: Teacher Capacity Building and Comedy

Education Links:     claireonmedicare.com
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TEACHER AMERICAN HERO

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"Teacher: American Hero Rap" is my signature piece, capturing the daily trials and tribulations teachers face. Because it is 4 minutes long, and most clubs offer you 8 to 15 minutes, I rarely have the opportunity to perform the whole rap, so below I posted a practice tape. 

FUTURE COMEDY EVENTS!!!!

See "Upcoming Performances" tab for Open Mics

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