J’Myle Koretz Dives Into Comedy With Twink or Swim

Seattle-based stand-up comedian and Salt Lake City native J’Myle Koretz returns home for the 12th annual Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival with Twink or Swim, a solo comedy show that blends sharp humor with personal history. Running July 25 through August 1 at the Alliance Theater, the show follows Koretz’s journey from growing up in Utah to serving in the U.S. Navy under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” proving that some of life’s most formative experiences can also be its funniest.

“Once I decided that my time in the Navy was the interesting story I had to tell, I just had to curate it,” Koretz says. “Get it down to 45 minutes, figure out which were the best parts and decide what order to put them in.” Although Twink or Swim centers on Koretz’s military service, he says his foundation as a performer was built much earlier in Salt Lake City. As a child, his parents enrolled him in a summer acting program, where he discovered improv and theater. He believes those experiences — and arts education in general — play an important role in helping young people understand performance and creativity, even if they never pursue theater professionally. 

School, however, wasn’t his strongest suit. “I was great at the school play,” Koretz says with a laugh, “but not so great at getting good grades or getting into college.” Looking for direction after high school, Koretz joined the Navy — partly because Star Trek had already taught him the naval officer ranks. What followed was an unexpectedly life-changing experience. Koretz spent more than three years stationed in Japan, traveling throughout Asia and even visiting mainland China. Those years shaped who he became and eventually provided the material that would define his first full-length comedy show.

After returning to civilian life, Koretz worked hotel front desks and call centers before discovering stand-up comedy at open mics. His very first performance took place at Wiseguys Comedy Club in Trolley Square. Thirteen years later, he’s bringing his first hour-long solo show back to the same shopping center, now home to the Alliance Theater during the Fringe Festival.

The show’s title, Twink or Swim, reflects another central part of Koretz’s story. As a gay man serving during the era of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” he found that conversations about identity naturally became part of his experiences — and ultimately his comedy. “I’ve always liked other boys,” Koretz says matter-of-factly. “The Navy has a certain reputation, and people are interested in hearing those stories. It became a great lens to tell everything else through.”

Despite touching on sexuality and military life, Koretz says audiences shouldn’t expect comedy that relies on shock value. Growing up in Utah, where swearing was often discouraged, taught him the value of restraint. “I love swearing,” Koretz says, “but I love it as an intensifier. If every other word is a curse word, it loses its value. When you save it for exactly the right moment, it has an effect.”That careful approach extends to the structure of the show itself. After an initial hour-long performance, Koretz trimmed the material to a tighter 45 minutes by listening back to recordings and cutting anything that didn’t serve the story.

Even with themes involving LGBTQ identity and military history, Koretz insists his primary goal isn’t delivering a political message. “As much as Fringe shows are supposed to convey some big artistic statement, I’m still a stand-up at heart,” Koretz says. “I want people to walk out saying, ‘That was funny. I had a good time.'”

Koretz hopes audiences also leave with a greater understanding of an era shaped by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” not because they’re being asked to adopt a particular viewpoint, but because they’ve experienced someone else’s life. “I hope people get the same satisfaction they get from reading a good history book,” Koretz says. “You come away thinking, ‘Wow, I have some insight into a different life.’ If you enjoy history podcasts, historical novels or learning about people whose experiences are different from your own, I think you’ll really enjoy this show.”

For Koretz, Twink or Swim is ultimately about finding humor in an extraordinary chapter of his life — and sharing that story with the city where his own journey first began.

Read more live performances happening in Utah:
Feral!Cat?Red! and Beacon of Flesh @ Brewvies 07.29.2026
Patrick Page Gives ‘Em Hell in Hadestown: The Musical

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