Kiki Wynns turns self-care into stage time for women as her Halloween-themed comedy series makes its Fayetteville debut.
“Physician, heal thyself.” We have heard the proverb hundreds of times, but psychologist-turned-comedian Kiki Wynns took its message to heart.
Like many people, Wynns found herself struggling to maintain everything during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was managing her psychology practice, caring for her family and feeling mentally stretched. After spending years encouraging others to make room for self-care and creativity, she finally decided to follow her own advice and enroll in an improv class.
“I took my own advice, and I signed up for an improv comedy class that summer,” Wynns said. “I loved it.”
Way to go, Kiki, because that decision did more than provide a creative outlet. Improv led Wynns to stand-up, and stand-up gave her a glimpse of how few women were being featured on many comedy lineups. After making space for herself onstage—and receiving an invitation to make space for others—she created Ladies Laugh Lounge to give women more opportunities and visibility in comedy.
On Oct. 16, the series will make its Fayetteville debut at the Cameo Art House Theatre.
Wynns’ journey from her first class to becoming a working comedian moved quickly. She performed her first four-minute open mic set at Raleigh Improv in summer 2022, about a year after taking that first class. After only three open mics, she received her first paid booking.
As her comedy career grew, Wynns noticed how rarely women were given room onstage. Raised by a single mother, she has long been interested in supporting women. Entering comedy showed her how heavily many lineups favored men.
“When I got into comedy, I realized it’s even more underrepresented for women,” she said.
Then Goodnights Comedy Club invited Wynns to create a show of her own. She chose an all-women concept, and Ladies Laugh Lounge debuted in August 2024. The first show sold out within weeks.
Since then, the series has expanded beyond Raleigh to stages in Nashville, Virginia and elsewhere in North Carolina. Wynns said the crowd is often mostly women, creating the atmosphere of a supportive ladies’ night. Despite “Ladies” being in the name, men and anyone else who wants to laugh are welcome.
“It’s so fun to have almost all women in the crowd—the amazing ladies-supporting-ladies energy, ladies’ night out,” Wynns said.
The Oct. 16 performance will be the first Ladies Laugh Lounge held in Fayetteville. Wynns selected the Cameo after another comedian recommended the downtown venue.
The show also includes homegrown connections. Comedian Annie Franceschi grew up in Fayetteville, and Ayeshia Ayeshia is a local comedian. Wynns also has a personal connection to the military community through her father, who retired from the Army. She plans to include material that can connect with service members and military spouses.
Wynns will headline the show, with comedian Jose Mwamba performing an opening set and serving as host. Susan Horne, Franceschi, Ayeshia and Heather Hill round out the lineup.
Wynns describes her comedy as clean, observational and rooted in real life. Her background in psychology influences how she observes people, relationships and everyday situations, then works those observations into her material.
“They’re more related than a lot of people realize—and even more related than I realized until I started merging these two worlds,” Wynns said.
Her material touches on marriage, parenting, aging and middle age. She describes it as roughly PG-13. The show is not intended for children, but Wynns does not rely on profanity or explicit shock value for laughs.
“I pride myself on having something really well-written that’s just about life and resonates with people,” she said.
For the Ladies Laugh Lounge “Spooky Edition,” the comedians will perform in Halloween costumes. Audience members are encouraged, but not required, to join them.
Still, who does not want an opportunity to put on a Halloween costume a little early? Costumes can get pricey, and getting another wear out of one sounds like a win. Ladies Laugh Lounge offers the perfect excuse.
“We’re all going to be dressed up in Halloween costumes,” Wynns said. “We’re asking the audience to come dressed up in costume.”
Comedy began as Wynns’ form of self-care, her own version of “physician, heal thyself.” Now, it allows her to create opportunities for other women while giving audiences a chance to put their everyday pressures aside and laugh.
“Spreading laughter is actually doing something just as important for the world as what I do in my day job,” Wynns said.
Ladies Laugh Lounge: Spooky Edition will be held Friday, Oct. 16, at the Cameo Art House Theatre, 225 Hay St. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 before applicable ticketing fees and are available through TicketMe Sandhills.

(Photo: Graphic courtesy of Kiki Wynns)