Leanne Morgan

One of the many great things about stand-up comedy is the widely varied circumstances under which people decide they're going to climb onstage and tell jokes--the where, when and how. Some started as precious teen-agers, needing their parents to drive them to the club--or sneaking out of the house if their parents didn't approve. Some, on the other hand, not only waited `til they were a number if years older to try stand-up, but often did so after launching careers as teachers, corporate honchos,… Show more lawyers, sales types, etc. As varied as these approaches are, what has still happened quite rarely over the years: A woman who's a mother of multiple children. Roseanne did it most famously (in all sense of that word), and a fistful of others have gone down this route, from The Mommies to Mrs. John Hughes. But because it is so rare, it's notable when a newcomer ambles onto the scene--like Leanne Morgan. And certain details can make the saga even more interesting.

For instance, Morgan, who has three children, was raised in rural Tennessee, growing up on a farm amidst a truly extended family--not exactly a standard profile for a comedian, but very much a key element of Morgan's act. And trying her hand at comedy certainly forced her to carve her own path: Living in rural Appalachia didn't make it too easy to get started--there wasn't exactly a Funny Bone there, where she could hit an open mike night. Indeed, her first performance was hosting a local variety show for a men's civic club, but she obviously had something going for her--and was bit by the comedy bug, because this engagement begot several appearances in local East Tennessee coffeehouses and eventually lotsa corporate gigs. She was on her way as a stand-up, she's since relocated to San Antonio, and while her family life means she's never likely to be a hardcore road warrior, she does play some selected club dates--and we at Cap City are thrilled to have her!

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