MORRISTOWN — Stand-up comedian Kathleen Madigan performs at the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m.
Over her 25 year career Kathleen Madigan has performed on many standup television shows including: Leno, Letterman, Conan, Ferguson and more. She’s starred in two HBO specials, three Comedy Central specials, three CMT “Salute to the Troops” specials with Ron White and her most recent hour-long special, "Gone Madigan," is in rotation on Showtime and CMT.
“I just want to tell jokes,” says Madigan, “I didn’t start doing open mics to become an actor on a sitcom or in a TV commercial. Those things never even crossed my mind. I just like to tell jokes for an hour or so and laugh. For a few of us working today, this was our goal. We don’t have any more goals. Can’t you ever have a goal, reach it and then enjoy it? This society is being driven by type A lunatics that say ‘you have to set more goals.’ No you don’t. Have a seat and enjoy the fact that you’re here! Maybe that’s the Irish in me talking though.”
It’s been a 25-year career of 300 nights a year on the road.
“We don’t get time off like a band," Madigan said. "Our tours never end. That’s why it makes me laugh when people say ‘how long is your tour?’ Well so far, 25 years.”
She’s gone from one nighters, to club gigs, to theaters, to headlining the Mirage in Las Vegas.
Madigan won the American Comedy Award for “Best Female Comedian” and the Phyllis Diller award for “Best Female Comedian.” Although she’s turned down many writing jobs because she enjoys performing more, she has written and produced for Lewis Black’s "Root of All Evil" on Comedy Central and for Gary Shandling’s Emmy monologues.
Madigan was a top three finalist in Season 2 and a judge on Season 5 of NBC’s "Last Comic Standing." She has done live remotes and commentary on numerous shows including Dr. Phil, E!, TV Guide Network, VH1, ESPN 2 and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Tickets for Kathleen Madigan range from $29 to $49. For tickets and more information contact www.mayoarts.org or 973-539-8008 or www.kathleenmadigan.com. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St., Morristown.