On the “City Lights” series “Speaking of Comedy,” Atlanta’s funniest locals share insights on the perks and perils of their profession. This installment features Atlanta-based comedian Amanda Marks.
Ready-made for the stage, even as a child Marks never turned down an opportunity to entertain. “I used to call into the local radio station – and this was in the ’80s when I was probably eight or nine – and tell them jokes, and they would put it on air,” recounted Marks. “I have always been a performer and a comedian at heart.”
However, Marks says she was always intimidated by the idea of doing stand-up, and only gave it a fair shot several years ago when her friend invited her to take a stand-up writing class. “We graduated with five minutes of material and performed in front of 300 people, and I just loved it,” she said. “This is my thing. This is what I want to do.” Marks thrives on the creative independence of writing material for a one-person performance, and the thrill of reacting to an audience’s instant feedback.
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