Meet 2021 Stage Awards Finalist Abby Wambaugh!

Picture of Funny Women

Funny Women

Performing at the Funny Women Awards Grand Final is no easy feat, and it’s even harder if you have to open the show. But someone’s got to do it and, due to the cruelty of what is known as ‘alphabetical order,’ Abby Wambaugh was the first finalist on, setting the bar high for their fellow finalists! We spoke to Abby about getting started in comedy, a need for adult attention and dressing room etiquette…

Funny Women: How did it feel to perform at the Funny Women Awards final?

Abby Wambaugh: Oh my gosh. I felt so lucky. The best part was being in the dressing room with the other finalists. I don’t think it’s ever happened to me before that I was in a room with nine strangers and I could tell I wanted to be friends with every single one of them. I was the only parent, so I got to give people bandaids and tweezers, and the people who knew about make-up told me I was doing it right. We were all nervous about the same thing which was really cute. There were mirrors everywhere and it felt like we were in the first episode of one of those extremely rare, friendly, and uplifting reality tv shows.

FW: How did you get started in comedy?

AW: Jokes have always been central to me- I did improv and acting stuff when I was teenager and then got my bachelors degree in Humour and Social Change. But last year, courtesy of Pandemic Times, I was at home all year with my kids climbing all over me, and I finally started stand-up when my need for adult attention won out against my fear of embarrassment.

FW: What inspires your comedy material?

AW: Gender identity! Loss! My kids! My mom! Snowpiercer! Latin and Greek Prefixes! Hummus!

FW: What would you say to anyone considering entering the Awards next year?

AW: I have been telling everyone I know to enter. Some of them are like “Give it a rest, Abby, I’m really satisfied with my career as an accountant.” But if you want to do comedy, let this help you! If nothing else, you get a deadline, and you make something for it, and that’s huge. But wow, I did not expect the kind of support and opportunities I have gotten through this process from the Funny Women team and the folks they introduced me to. Funny Women is an incredible organization and resource. DO IT DO IT!

FW: And lastly, who are your favourite funny women?

AW: Sam Jay, Christi Chiello, Maria Bamford, Patti Harrison, Roz Chast, Natalie Palamides, and my mom.

Photo credit: Steve Ullathorne

Check these out

From the Funny Women Team
Get notified when registration opens

Comedy Shorts Award Entry Requirements

The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.

Funny Women NextUp…Comedy Shorts Award

Are you a budding Director? Producer? Screenwriter? Are you collaborating with friends to make a funny video? Then we are looking for YOU!

If you have a short film or sketch that you think is hilarious, then enter your work for our Comedy Shorts Award to be in with a chance of winning some life-changing support and mentoring from comedy professionals.

WHAT KIND OF FILM ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

A 1- 6 minute film that can take the form of anything comical. It’s a great opportunity to show us your creative flair and have fun!

WHO CAN ENTER?

This award is open to all women filmmakers and content developers. The film must be an original narrative created, produced and devised by a woman, or women, although male cast and crew members are allowed.

ARE THERE ANY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MY FILM?

Yes – we require all films to be 6 minutes or under, to be entirely original dialogue, to not feature brand logos and most importantly, to only use music with the written consent of the performer and/or publisher either personally or via the PRS system https://www.prsformusic.com/ .

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH MY FILM?

We will broadcast selected entries on our Funny Women YouTube channel and social media (so keep an eye out) and the top 10 finalists’ films will also hosted on a dedicated Funny Women Comedy Shorts Awards page on our website. We will also broadcast the final 3 entries as part of the grand final night.

HOW IS IT JUDGED?

Films are judged for production, concept, delivery/performance, creativity, writing and overall funniness. The top 10 films are then viewed by an independent judging panel of top television and film industry professionals who will choose one overall winner and two runners up. The final three will be invited to attend the grand final in London on the 23rd September.

WHAT CAN I WIN?

2021 Funny Women Awards Prizes

The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.

If you need further information please contact us here