Women in Comedy Festival: The Year of the Funny Woman

Politicos may lay claim to 2010 as Year of the Woman, but if the Fourth Annual Women in Comedy Festival is any indication, they may have to hand that title over to the Year of the Funny Woman. Kicking off in Boston on March 21, the WICF runs for five days and brings together hundreds of performers, writers, and creatives in stand-up, sketch, improv, and storytelling. This year's headliners are the storied Wendy Liebman (Late Night with David Letterman regular and Showtime 1-Hour Special Taller on TV,) and Carol Liefer (Seinfeld and Modern Family). In four short years, the WICF has grown from a localized, grass roots festival to a nationally-recognized festival attracting industry insiders and the support of media such as Huffington Post, Rooftop Comedy and Punchline Magazine.

This festival promises an eclectic mix of performances. The Ladies of The Sketchersons, a troupe formed out of the Award-winning Canadian troupe The Sketchersons bring their unique brand of comedy over the border to show Boston that not all Canadians are polite. Two favorite shows on the Boston comedy scene complement the Sketchersons' femmes: Wheel of Austin and The Real Housewives of the Magic Kingdom. Both shows take genre and period to a whole new level and have won media recognition for their new riff on gender roles and social customs. Wading into the estrogen waters is Boston-native Ken Reid who presents a performance of humorous storytelling. With this strong a start to the WICF, the only downside is trying to decide what shows to view next.