Boston Hosts 7th Annual Women in Comedy Festival

Funny women and their fans head to Boston today for The 7th Annual Women in Comedy Festival, held from April 22-26 in various venues in Cambridge and Boston. The event features stand-up, improv, sketch, musical comedy and storytelling from comedians from across the country, including lesbians. Top headliners include Lily Tomlin and Jane Lynch.

"The women in comedy festival has been around for more than six years. It's a nationally recognized festival and one of the few that caters to women," said lesbian comedian Petey Gibson, who will perform at the event.

Gibson has performed at the festival four times in the past, and will return this year from Los Angeles to her Boston, where she used to live. She is headlining the Sunday afternoon show with her comedy partner, Julee Antonellis, a high-energy sketch show that the two write and create from 3,000 miles apart. The two women were in the Boston all-female lesbian improv troupe All the King's Men for 10 years.

"It's an incredibly smart and talented pool of comedians, and it's an amazing opportunity to be on the bill with so many female voices," said Gibson. "Comedy can be very male-driven; a woman is often the only woman on a bill. So having a whole bill full of women is fucking rad!"

The rad begins tonight, April 22, when WICF presents ImprovBoston Harold Night's Top Shelf, a duo of all-female Harold groups, followed by an all-female jam. It will be followed at 8 p.m. by the 1st Annual WICF Film Night, featuring 14 juried comedy shorts written, directed or produced by a woman. Awards will be presented.

Other events include the TV Guidance Counselor Podcast live, a special live taping; Artisanal Comedy presented by Bethany Van Delft; The Harold Night's Fresh Blend featuring improv performers from Mainstage, Faceoff, the Family Show and ImprovBoston's Touring Company; plus WICF presents the ImprovBoston Comedy Lottery.

On Thursday, April 23, the evening features seven comedy showcases, each featuring between six and nine comedians. Friday, April 24 features 10 comedy showcases, both stand-up, improv and storytelling. In addition, headliner Jane Lynch will present her Comedy Revue at 7:30 p.m. at The Wilbur Theater.

"I've seen the festival since the beginning, and this year lily Tomlin and Jane Lynch are headlining -- it's insane!" said Gibson. "Last year they gave Amy Sedaris an award, and Rachel Dratch was there. People are coming in from all over the place."

Saturday really sizzles, with 14 comedy showcases to choose from. You can catch a morning interview with "The Office" star Kate Flannery, or evening stand-up and musical comedy. There's the Dyke Night LGBT Showcase with Poppy Champlin, featuring Mary Dolan, Sam Jay, Ellen Moschetto, Robby Hoffman, Ashley Gavin, Michele Durante and Jordan Weileba.

Or, you can go for broke and score tickets to one of the headlining performers, Zabeth Russell, Sue Costello & Friends, or the inimitable Lily Tomlin, who brings her one-woman show to the Wilbur Theater.

Gibson anticipated seeing the Sunday shows by Julie Goldman, and the host of her show, Lea Dubie, who just relocated to LA. She is looking forward to Saturday night headliner Poppy Champlin. But she really wants to see Tomlin.

"No matter what, I have got to get my face in front of Lily Tomlin," said Gibson. "She's everything."

Gibson championed the wealth of lesbians in the comedy showcases, remarking that, "It's not like a straight women festival with a couple of gay women sprinkled in."

Gibson will help close down the festival on Sunday afternoon when WICF Presents Dyke Night LGBT Showcase with The Gibson/Antonellis Show at Club Caf�. The event, featuring Leah Dubie, Julie Goldman, Jorge Machaen, Ashley Gavin, Erin Judge and Michele Durante, is presented in collaboration with Boston's Dyke Night series.

The event will be held at Club Cafe, and guests are welcome to arrive early for a $16.50 'all you can eat' brunch; make reservations directly with the venue.

Advance tickets are recommended, as the comedy shows typically sell out in advance. Seating is first come first served when doors open.

There's so much going on, it's a shame you can't catch every woman at her comedy best.

"It's great to be surrounded by these funny women," said Gibson. "I've made so many amazing friends across the country. It's great to see them lay down hot comedy and not have the fact that they're women be what's amazing about them. It's not just about having lady parts."