Tig Notaro does not have cancer, thank you very much

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• Comedian Tig Notaro plays Variety Playhouse this week on Thurs., Oct. 9.

Tig Notaro was already notorious for creating awkward moments onstage. Then came Aug. 3, 2012. That's the day she stepped onstage and casually announced, as the crowd welcomed her with applause, "Thank you, thank you, I have cancer, thank you, I have cancer, really, thank you."

Though her stage 2 breast cancer has gone into remission since her double mastectomy, Notaro's career remains in full surge. Her deadpan delivery and her ability to turn personal tragedy into comedy won her a new legion of fans, and a 2014 Grammy nomination for her sophomore release Live. Aside from continuing to host her weekly podcast Professor Blastoff, she has plans to release a recently recorded a Showtime standup special Knock Knock, It's Tig Notaro, a TED Talk, and memoir in 2015. In anticipation of her scheduled performance at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta this Thursday, she traded emails with CL.

Sometimes when comedians get really famous for something specific, the new fans they attract have very little patience for them doing anything but that one thing they did that one time. Do you ever get the morbid sense from your new fans that they're just waiting for you to talk about the cancer?

Not in the slightest. I think people, my fans especially, understand that was a time and place performance. Whether it be a festival or a college or one of these recent tour dates, I have had the sense that fans came out to see me do stand-up and laugh whatever it is I choose to talk about.

How has it been for you to have your career take off on the heels of a personal tragedy?

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I feel really fortunate that after such a horrific four months, my personal life and professional life could not be in a better place. That's not to say it wasn't utterly insane to be doing high profile interviews and photo shoots while I was in physical and emotional pain.

Did making light — and art — of a such a depressing event make it easier to cope with?

Yes, for sure. At first I was pushing back and trying to fight all of the adversity I had been experiencing. But then I was forced to let go and embrace the situation with humor and it made a world of difference. I truly felt at one point that I was either going to die or never work or function again as I had, so finding my way out of that darkness was quite the savior.

On a different note, what's the deal with your chunky, zippered sweater infatuation? You've been wearing one of them in performances for years, and fans always seem to comment on them. Are you trying to trump Bill Cosby?

I trumped Bill Cosby just three days ago, so that's a load off. But honestly, I just love any ol' sweater with an animals on them.

What will we learn about your personal life on this current tour that we didn't know? And will it make us laugh or cry or both?

I've had people say they laugh so hard that they cry. The topics vary — I touch on everything from bombing at a comedy club in Vegas, to stories about me and my friend searching for Santa Claus, to even more personal events. There's also just plain and simple ridiculousness.

You're playing Pride weekend in Atlanta. Do you plan on checking it out or will you just check into your hotel room and hang the "no moleste" sign on your door after your show?

I will still be out celebrating trumping Cosby!

Tig Notaro. $25 advance/$27.50 day of show. 8 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 9. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com.