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A group of seasoned female comics are set to return to the Bankhead Theater this week for an evening of standup.
All over the age of 50 years old, the fourth visit by Funny Women of a Certain Age features Felicia Michaels, Leighann Lord, Barb North and show creator Carole Montgomery.
Known for their nationwide touring and three Showtime specials, the Funny Women shows are more than just comedy. They are also a way to elevate older women’s voices, Montgomery said.
“It’s terrifying if you’re young to think, ‘Oh my god, I’m going to get to a certain age and I won’t be able to do anything’”, Montgomery told the Pleasanton Weekly. “I think our show shows that you can. You can do whatever you want.”
Funny Women began touring nationwide during spring of 2022.
In terms of material, each woman in the rotating lineup brings something different to the stage.
Montgomery, the visionary behind the show, has made numerous television appearances including on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” and Comedy Central, headlined clubs and colleges across the country and starred in two different Las Vegas production shows, her website notes.
While in Las Vegas, it’s estimated that she reached over five million audience members with her comedy.
“I specially choose the shows so everybody has something,” Montgomery said. “But what you’re seeing is older women strut their stuff.”
On the roster, standup comedian Lord was named one of the 35 most hilarious comedians of diversity, a national finalist in the American Black film festival-HBO comedy wings competition and granted the NYC comedy award for the most thought-provoking Black female comic, according to her website.
Lord has starred in “Even More Funny Women of A Certain Age,” her special “I Mean Business” as well as Netflix’s “Def Comedy Jam 25”. She has also appeared on Comedy Central, HBO and “The View”.
Also in the lineup, Michaels is a multi-talented standup comedian, podcaster, writer, filmmaker and photographer with about 20 years of creative experience, according to her website. She was named funniest female by the American comedy awards with two additional nominations for the accolade. Her comedy has appeared on networks including MTV, A&E, Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, ABC and Showtime.
Lastly, North is versed in performing, writing and producing comedy, according to her website. She began her career touring comedy and folk clubs with her husband and later appeared on over 30 network and syndicated television shows during the late ’70s and early ’80s, her website states. She went on to become a head writer with her husband on the late ’80s rendition of “The Gong Show” and wrote or produced for “Candid Camera”, “Make Me Laugh”, “Bachelor Party” and “Switcheroo”.
This crew prides themselves on creating new material, Montgomery said of the Bankhead lineup.
“It’s going to be mostly new, with maybe a couple of older jokes – if we remember them,” Montgomery quipped.
They are a fan-favorite in the Tri-Valley, according to Livermore Valley Arts spokesperson Ruth Egherman.
Speaking on anything from raising children and becoming a grandparent to dating, the sets are very funny, she added.
“No holds barred and the Tri-Valley audience really loves them,” Egherman said of the popular show.
To anyone who believes that being old means becoming feeble and frail, Montgomery said that’s simply not true.
“Listen, I’m incontinent, not incompetent,” Montgomery joked.
Ever since the beginning of her standup comedy career in 1979, Montgomery found herself to be the only woman in the comedy club.
“The bookers, the producers didn’t want to put two women on a show,” Montgomery said. “Now you add in the age, and no one wants to put on an older woman.”
Even recently, Montgomery noticed the same booking pattern. In effect, she and her female comedian friends were performing separately from each other.
But each one deserves attention, Montgomery said.
“A lot of these women are seasoned, veteran comedians — brilliant, funny women — but they never made the leap to superstar,” Montgomery added.
In 2017, out of a desire to spotlight their talents, she created Funny Woman of a Certain Age.
From there, it picked up steam — fast, she said.
By April 2018, Montgomery signed a deal with the Showtime network. The following year, the first special “Funny Woman of a Certain Age” ran on television. It was the network’s highest-rated comedy special in 2019, according to the Funny Women website.
The show also made history as the first comedy special to feature six female comics over the age of 50, according to the Funny Women website.
During the next few years, Montgomery and teams of comedians created two more specials with Showtime. “More Funny Women of A Certain Age” premiered in 2020, followed by “Even More Funny Women Of A Certain Age” in 2021.
All three specials were rereleased in March 2025 by Comedy Dynamics and are available on streaming platforms.
“Funny Women of a Certain Age” is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 19) at the Bankhead Theater in downtown Livermore. Tickets and more information are available at livermorearts.org.
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