Condit: What do Wanda Sykes and my Two Best Friends Have in Common?

Friday, May 01, 2015

Lisa Condit, GoLocal Worcester MINDSETTER™

Wanda Sykes

On the outside, I’m pretty sure that people would think these three women would have absolutely NOTHING in common, but we all learn that it’s what on the inside that counts. These three people say it like it is and don’t hold anything back. They also love to laugh…a lot…and so do I. Yes, a sense of humor, fun-loving personality, and honesty are some of my favorite best friend traits. (No…I’m not personal friends with Wanda Sykes.)

I just think it’s funny that two of my all-time favorite people in the universe independently contacted me to say how excited they are that THIS particular show is coming to The Hanover Theatre Friday, May 15, and that we simply NEEDED to put together a group to enjoy a night out on the town. It made me start to think, because here’s the thing about Wanda Sykes…when I had to choose a video to promote her on The Hanover Theatre’s website, it was a VERY difficult decision. Why? Because no matter which video I watched, it was going to offend somebody. (Check out her videos on YouTube if you’re curious.) That, my friends, could be considered a public relations nightmare for some, but could also be refreshing and funny for others. The whether you can leave all of your tendencies to be offended at the door. This is why I love my two best friends, and why I think they love Wanda Sykes.

So here’s the thing…Wanda Sykes swears a lot and talks about a lot of taboo topics. Let me be clear, she is not a comedian that you want to bring anyone will be offended by explicit language regarding any topic you can possibly imagine. That said, Wanda Sykes earned the 1999 Emmy Award for her writing on The Chris Rock Show, and Entertainment Weekly included her as one of the 25 funniest people in America for a reason. She’s hysterical and she’s funny. Many people fell in love with her when she played Barbara Baran on The New Adventures of Old Christine, while others enjoyed her performances on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Personally, I remember her most for her appearances in movies including: Monster-in-law, Evan Almighty, and her voice in Brother Bear 2 and Ice Age: Continental Drift. There are far more people, however, who know of Sykes’ through her HBO comedy specials and subsequent public support of LGBT rights. When Wanda Sykes was chosen as the featured entertainer for the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, she was the first openly LGBT person, as well as African American woman to get the role.

Regardless of how you may have heard of her or grown to love her irreverent wit and humor, there are some good seats left. Tickets start at just $37, and members, groups and Woo card holders enjoy a 10% discount. Get tickets online, at the box office, or call 877.571.SHOW(7469).

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