One-Woman Show: Hannah Lieberman 鈥18 Gets Whirlwind Start in the NYC Comedy Scene
November 24, 2025
- Author
- Caroline Roy '20
Hannah Lieberman 鈥18 performs onstage at QED
For her senior thesis at 国产福利精品推荐, Hannah Lieberman 鈥18 wrote, directed and performed Hysterical, a one-woman comedy musical exploring topics of relationships, identity and her family鈥檚 history of inherited ovarian cancer.
That was one of her first ventures into comedy performance. Fast forward to today, after a few whirlwind years of building connections and learning the ins and outs of New York City鈥檚 comedy scene, Lieberman owns and manages her own venue, QED Astoria. Between running a business for the first time, hosting a diverse range of performers and writing projects of her own, this is her biggest one-woman show yet.
Finding her Dream Role
Lieberman first moved to New York for a graduate degree in acting, swapping her busy Davidson routine of club meetings, long rehearsals and improv practice for an equally busy routine balancing school and six part-time jobs, including babysitting and guiding ghost tours.
鈥淭he momentum I found at Davidson has stuck with me,鈥 she said. 鈥淏oth then and now, I鈥檓 exposed to so many different kinds of art and theatre. There are so many ways to tell a story.鈥
Her hustling brought her to QED, a small arts venue in Astoria, Queens, New York, and, for at least the last decade, the only woman-owned and operated venue in the area. Then-owner Kambri Crews organized community events 鈥 from improv workshops to open mic nights to children鈥檚 theatre 鈥 every day of the week. With her enthusiasm and ability to captivate an audience, Lieberman quickly became a regular performer at the venue.
Last year, Lieberman officially purchased QED from Kambri Crews.
鈥淨ED was the first venue to make me one of their in-house comics,鈥 she said. 鈥淲hen I wasn鈥檛 performing or producing shows, I was learning how things worked behind the scenes. There鈥檚 a lot of creativity involved in the marketing, organization and details required to keep this place running.鈥
Last year, Crews moved on after more than a decade of owning and operating the venue. Lieberman, encouraged by her family and fianc茅, saw the opportunity she鈥檇 been waiting for. She offered to buy QED and continue its legacy under new management.
鈥淭he months leading up to the hand-off felt like an audition in itself,鈥 Lieberman said. 鈥淟ast October, I produced Rocky Horror Picture Show, which I worked on as a Davidson student, too, and showed that I can produce more than comedy. At the same time, I was learning to run the website, sign contracts, figure out our insurance and get our liquor license. I鈥檓 lucky to learn from amazing mentors.鈥
Hysterical, Part Two
Even as she expanded her reach, Lieberman kept coming back to Hysterical. She loved writing, directing and performing her own thesis and wondered if something similar could be transformed into a full standup routine.
The New York Comedy Festival features more than 200 comedians each year, ranging from Saturday Night Live alums to newbies. This year鈥檚 lineup includes heavy hitters like Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris and Trevor Wallace, to name a few. QED has always hosted shows for the festival, and this year, Lieberman will take the stage to perform Hysterical, A Silly, Musical Story of Impending Cancer.
Much has changed in her life since the show鈥檚 first rendition at Davidson, but the core themes remain the same. In college, she tested positive for BRCA1, an inherited gene that drastically increases her likelihood of developing ovarian cancer later in life. This prognosis affects Lieberman鈥檚 relationship with her mother, an ovarian cancer survivor, her future plans and, yes, her sense of humor.
鈥淚t lends itself to all kinds of jokes,鈥 she said. 鈥淩evisiting this show has been an excellent reflection of my younger self. My problems and worries have changed, my life has changed, and my jokes have changed, too.鈥
In one song reworked from the original show, I鈥檓 Just Not That Jewish, Lieberman explores how differently she experiences her faith in NYC as opposed to at a small college in the South. She hopes local Davidson alums will attend, laugh and reflect together.
鈥淚 wish I could tell my younger self I would get here,鈥 Lieberman said. 鈥淢y Davidson mentors gave me the space to tell my story, and QED is how I can pay it forward. Now, when people come to me with their ideas, I can give them support, a microphone and a place to perform.鈥
Check it out!
If you鈥檒l be in NYC and want to support Hannah鈥檚 show, we invite you to QED Astoria Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets available online at .
