Comedienne Wendy Liebman didn’t always want to have a career in comedy. While attending Wellesley College, she majored in psychology with plans of being a therapist. But once she enrolled in a night class, How to Be a Stand-Up Comedian, at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, she shifted her career focus.
“In the end, I decided I’d rather make 200 people laugh than one person cry,” Liebman said.
More than 20 years later, Liebman continues to tickle audience’s funny bones with her blend of observational one liners and hilarious word play. While some material has withstood the test of time and continues to get laughs, she has made a few adjustments to her act over the years.
“Now I talk less about dating and more about being married … and my hair is longer,” Liebman joked.
Liebman, who counts Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers and Johnny Carson among her many comedic inspirations, worked hard to make her way into the business. For six years, she balanced two jobs. After working eight hours at her day job, she would often hit the stage from 7 p. m. until 1 a.m. to perfect her jokes and prove that she belonged in the world of comedy. Once she realized that her act made more money than her day job, she began to work full time as a comedienne.
She’s been featured on The Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and appeared on HBO several times, including Half Hour Comedy Special and Women of the Night.
Seventeen years ago, Liebman first shared her sense of humor with San Diego at The Improv in La Jolla and has recently returned to perform at the Grand Del Mar.
On July 21, after six years of trying to coordinate the show, she’ll return to perform at Flicks in Hillcrest as the headliner of A Night of Comedy. Beth Sherman, writer for Ellen and The Tonight Show will also perform. The show starts at 10 p.m. and tickets are $10. For more information, visit sdflicks.com.
“(You can expect) laughter! With me. At me,” said Liebman. “Also, if you know my jokes, you can say them with me like a Rocky Horror thing.”
Learn more about Leibman by visiting wendyliebman.com or following her on Twitter at twitter.com/wendyliebman.
