Kathleen Madigan

Kathleen Madigan has an organic approach to comedy. “I never sit down and write a joke…crap just flies into my head or it doesn’t,” she says. “Like, if I have to do a corporate gig for all computer people, they say, ‘Will you write some computer jokes?’ I’m like, ‘Not on purpose; I mean, if it flies into my head, yes.’” Madigan has built a pretty successful career off applying this method to her style of humor, which largely addresses her life as a single woman. Among her many accomplishments are three comedy albums, the American Comedy Award for Best Female Stand-Up, regular appearances on late-night talk shows and, more recently, a spot on the first and second seasons of Lewis Black’s Root of All Evil on Comedy -Central.

But hitting the road is really Madigan’s forte. “I don’t like any job that’s Monday through Friday,” she says. “The TV gig, the writing and all that, I did 90 percent because Lew (Lewis Black) asked me to.” Madigan prefers to be out on the road where life is a little more, um, exciting. “During the day, I don’t have a lot of time, I’m usually doing press — a tonof press — and then I’m just tired and I take a nap and I just go to the show. And then I usually just sit at the bar and talk to waitresses. It’s really a glamorous, glamorous life,” she says. But being on the road is fun. “It can be,” she says, and laughs. “I’ve seen every zoo in the country.” 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and today, 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The Improv, 7620 Katy Freeway. For tickets and information, call 713-333-8800 or visit www.improvhouston.com. $20.
Thu., Sept. 11, 8 p.m.; Fri., Sept. 12, 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 13, 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m., 2008