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What happens when you trade a boardroom for a black box theater and decide to start from scratch in your 50s? We sit down with actor and stand-up comic Sheri Gill Dixon for a fearless, funny, and deeply human conversation about falling in love with movies as a teenage usher threading reels, discovering Meisner training in Virginia Beach, and building a comedy voice that lives or dies by instant feedback. Sheri takes us behind the scenes of big sets like Tammy—where she held her boundaries without apology—and shares why watching Melissa McCarthy and Kathy Bates work reminded her that kindness and professionalism scale.
The heart of this conversation lives on stage. Sheri breaks down how she moved from the safety of scripts to the risk of stand-up, why writing often happens mid-set, and how crowd work can surface sharper material than any quiet desk session. We talk influence and range—Joan Rivers and Moms Mabley opening doors; Richard Pryor, Bernie Mac, Dave Chappelle shaping storytelling; Seinfeld’s polish and Miss Pat’s punch; Thea Vidale’s relatable grit—and how those threads weave into a voice that’s unmistakably her own. We also get real about women in comedy: the scarcity baked into flyers, the myth of one chair, and how the Ladies of Comedy pack flips the script through collaboration, shared opportunities, and relentless support.
Beyond the mic, Sheri opens up about motivation that isn’t Instagram-ready. Working in transit surfaced daily inequities; the George Floyd era pushed her toward doctoral work and sharpened her belief that art can ease what policy cannot. Comedy becomes the pressure valve and the bridge: a room that laughs together, even for an hour, carries less weight home. We swap notes on good rooms and cold crowds, choosing where to spend your energy, and the quiet power of a stranger saying your set made their night worth the babysitter.
If you’re navigating a late start, eyeing a pivot from acting to stand-up, or building a creative crew that resists gatekeeping, this one’s for you. Hit follow, share this with a friend who needs the nudge, and drop a review with the moment that stuck with you—what leap are you ready to take next?

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