Comedians

Beth Donahue

Beth Donahue has been performing as a comedienne for just over ten years.  In that time, she worked her way up to headlining comedy clubs throughout the country.  Having worked virtually non-stop, Beth's swift rise to headliner fame can be attributed to perseverance and a genuine love of performing.  In 1990, Beth was in the Persian Gulf during the entire ground war; one of only two women from the United States asked to perform for the troops, she was a smashing success according to the staff.  Also, Beth's infamous "For Women Only" show has played to packed houses all over the U.S.

Having done over 300 radio shows as a comic, including CBC in Canada, Beth is a favorite at the famous "Brother Wease Morning Circus" on WCMF in Rochester, NY.

In October 1994, The Summit Group released Beth's book entitled, "This is Insanity!", which spoofs Susan Powter's bestseller, "Stop the Insanity", and sold l5,000 copies in 3 months time.

{ "This Is Insanity" is available for only $ 9.95 by calling 1-800-875-3346 Ext.132, or you can get it onlne from Amazon.com }

Beth has been published in the L.A. Times, and was asked by Improv owner, Budd Friedman, to perform her "For Women Only" show at the Melrose Improv on December 13, 1994.  Celebrating the premiere of her book, Beth earned L.A. Weekly's "Pick of the Week", and prompted interest from NBC, Paramount and New World Television.

Her material is brutally funny, incredibly honest, and, as Beth says, "I don't talk about anything that everyone hasn't done, thought about doing, or wish they could still do."  She is graphic without being vulgar, and extremely endearing.

In December of 1995, Beth had had enough of the road life, oddly enough, at the exact moment when television producers were just starting to take notice.  "I realized that at 33 years old I had my priorities all screwed up."  She credits radio talk show host, Dr. Laura Schlessinger with turning her thinking around.  { Dr. Laura can be heard on 1510 AM WLAC in Nashville, Monday thru Friday from 2:00-5:00 pm. }  "I realized that having a family and children were much more important to me than getting famous or having a bunch of money."

Beth says she didn't choose Nashville to live in; Nashville chose her.  "Every time I came here over the years to perform at Zanies, I felt more and more like I was home.  So when Lenny { Sisselman - Beth's former manager } asked me, 'What do you want to do?', and I said, 'All I know is I do NOT want to do radio!'"

At the time, WKDF was looking around for a person to add to their morning show, and Lenny persuaded Beth just to "..go try it", and that was the end of that!  (Or rather the beginning!)  "No way was this not all God's work.", Beth says.  "He knew I needed to be here, and a job was open at that exact moment.  Call it coincidence if you want; I prefer to think of coincidence as being God's way of disguising his miracles."

Beth's younger brother, Don Donahue, is the president of Michael W. Smith's record company, Rocketown Records, and he has made her a new Aunt as well.  "Man, everybody talks about their niece or nephew, and you're like, 'yeah yeah... whatever', then you get your own and BAM!  Everything comes into focus.  I love it here, and I don't miss doing stand-up one single bit.  I'll stay here as long as I can."

Her "pull-no-punches" style has sent shock-waves through many in Music City.  "People either love me or love to hate me.  And if they hate me, it's because I'm speaking to some part of themselves they don't want to look at.  Plus, people are always shocked when they do meet me; I am the biggest softie on earth.  I cry at Dairy Queen commercials."

"I get a lot of Email from guys saying, 'Hey..I hear yer lookin fer a man... well here I am!'.  I'm not looking for 'A' man, I'm looking for 'THE' man!  And anyone who would ask me out over a computer, is DEFINITELY not him!"   Beth also gets a lot of mail seeking advice.  "I put my whole personal life on hold for 10 years to chase my dream; it astonishes me that anyone would do anything different.  I mean why on earth would you stay in a job you hate?  Because of FEAR?  Screw fear.  Stop making excuses to why you're so miserable.  I'm so sick of this 'victim' mentality our generation has fallen into.  There are no victims; just volunteers.  Nobody puts a gun to your head and makes you have a crummy life.  I just read a story about an inner city kid in New York who was horribly abused for years by his drug addicted parents.  At about age 13 or 14 I think, he left home and lived under the subway, finished high school, studied for college and just graduated valedictorian of his class.  LIVING UNDER A SUBWAY!!!  So don't tell me about fear and being a victim.  That's garbage.  Keep your legs shut, resist temptation as best you can and do the next right thing.  If you make a mistake and choose the wrong thing, you can CHOOSE AGAIN.  Were you abused as a child?  That's horrible.  But guess what?  WHATEVER HAPPENED TO US AS CHILDREN, IT'S UP TO US AS ADULTS TO CLEAN IT UP.  NOBODY IS GOING TO CLEAN IT UP FOR YOU.  There are NO exceptions.  Most people don't want to hear that, but it's the truth."