Vickie Shaw looks like your typical effervescent Southern belle: Her bright blond hair is teased, sprayed and occasionally fluffed for emphasis with her manicured fingertips. But for this Beaumont-born comedian, the stereotypes end there. Its been nearly a decade since the wife and mother started sneaking out of the house to try her hand at stand-up she got more than laughs in return. What Shaw discovered while analyzing her life for the stage took her aback: She wasnt happy. In fact, shed never be happy until she came clean to herself and her family. Thats when she knew that she was a lesbian, and a comedian the two scariest things a gal could ever tell her mother she was. But like all great epiphanies, coming out has provided her fodder for a decades worth of laughs now. In addition to gaining notoriety in straight comedy clubs, Shaw also courts the lesbian market with her yearly performances aboard the famous Olivia Cruise. You can check Shaw out tonight when she performs with co-conspirator Jennie McNulty at the for women, by women nightclub Chances. 7 p.m. 1100 Westheimer. For information, call 713-523-7217 or visit www.chancesbar.com. $20.
Sun., Jan. 25, 7 p.m., 2009
This article appears in Jan 22-28, 2009.