Variety show Ladylike is the change we wish to see in the world

All-female comedy troupe Ladylike gears up to celebrate their variety show’s one-year anniversary

Image PARTY TIME: Co-creator Kenzie Rowland hosts the first ever Ladylike show 12 months ago.JOEY KOPANSKI

Whoever said “patience is a virtue” must have had been living pretty comfortably. Discovering your passion in life is a game changer, but what do you do when your passion doesn’t love you back? Do you wait and wait and hope something changes — or do you lead the charge yourself? Like their comedy icons Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball, performers Kenzie Rowland and Madison Moore stood up to create a space for themselves.

It’s no secret that representation in entertainment, be it live comedy or big budget blockbusters, leaves much to be desired. “After attending many comedy shows, we were tired of feeling left out,” Rowland says. Instead of crossing fingers and hoping for change, Rowland and Moore created their own show, Ladylike. With the help of performer/producer Jil Pasiecnik and a crew of creative collaborators including Joanna Pasiecnik, Lauren Schmuck, Katelyn Studer, and Blair Erskine, Ladylike brings female-led improv, sketch, stand-up, and music to Atlanta once a month.

“We want to show the world that ‘female’ is not a brand of comedy,” Rowland says. “But rather we are just women who know how to be funny.”

Matches lit, a plan was made and executed and the results are nothing to sneer at. Ladylike is not just entertaining, but exciting. There’s a vibe to the room from start to finish that is rather unusual. This crew of performers work with such palpable sense of joy that proves incredibly positive and infectious.

“Ladylike means more to me than a show,” Moore says. “Comedy is revered and respected, everyone’s voices are heard, and we set out to have the best show we can possibly have every month. We love each other and we love what we do.”

Hearts all in, Ladylike is certainly more than just a variety show. The hosts strive to leave an impact on more than just the Atlanta comedy scene. Besides hosting their monthly antidepressant, Ladylike has raised money for such worthy causes as nonprofit Athena’s Warehouse. The troupe has also raised $8,000 for the National Eating Disorder Association by spearheading the city’s first NEDA walk. With everything they do, Ladylike has cultivated a crowd, an environment that mirrors their glee and love of laughter.

“Ladylike’s first year was a whirlwind of blood, sweat, and tears — and laughs,” Rowland says. “Watching Ladylike grow from an inkling of an idea into a full-fledged show in the community that people are actually responding to has been so rewarding.”

Ladylike. Free. 9 p.m. Fri., Nov. 11. Highland Inn Ballroom, 644 N. Highland Ave N.E. 404-874-5756. thehighlandinn.com.