Comedian Margaret Cho has been selected as the 2024-2025 Vanguard Artist-in-Residence at The Public Theater's Joe's Pub. The program will see Cho curate programming at the cabaret venue, giving performance opportunities to artists of her choosing.

“I’m thrilled to introduce artists to the Joe’s Pub world who continually inspire me,” Cho says in a statement. “It is an honor to finally sit in the audience after so many years of performing, and I want to help create a show that makes me laugh, weep, and dream. I look forward to seeing these incredible shows with all of you."

Cho's first programmed show is Charlene Kaye's Tiger Daughter—or How I Brought My Immigrant Mother Ultimate Shame, performing October 25. Cho will also host a comedy showcase titled Margaret's Children January 24 and 25, 2025. The roster for those performances currently includes Nori Reed, Robin Tran, and Sabrina Wu. Cho will also guest at a live recording of the Dopey Podcast March 11, 2025, and has programmed a solo show from comedian Youngmi Mayer for April 4, 2025. More programming is to be announced.

Tickets for the first round of performances are all available at JoesPub.com.

“Margaret Cho is the definition of a vanguard," says Joe's Pub Associate Director Isabel Kim. "For so long, she was the only Asian American comic—and certainly the only queer, female, and Asian American comic—that I was aware of. She has been bold and hilarious since the start of her career, and inspired and paved the way for today’s blossoming generation of queer Asian American comics. An activist on and off the stage, Margaret lifts up emerging artists every chance she gets. She is truly the most generous soul. We can already see how her programming and her presence are going to make a huge impact on the Joe’s Pub community and beyond."

Previous Vanguard artists-in-residence include singer Angélique Kidjo, vocal instructor Barbara Maier Gustern, experimental musician Laurie Anderson, folk artist Judy Collins, and funk rock performer Nona Hendryx.