top of page
Gwen, withblonde and purple hair and weg a gray tshirt and a blue and yellow plaid shirt, smiles with her hands behind her head.
Gwen performing in sad girl songs blows a kiss to the audience with a bloodied hand, other hand holds a mic
Gwen in an odd costume with large eyes and a bowler hat, an homage to the Quiznos Spongmonkey
Gwen performing in drag in The Importance of Being Haunted, dressed in a black tuxedo, short black wig, and waxed black moustache. She holds her hands over a wooden theremin prop. Old timey curtains projected behind her in blue and grey with the words "Song of the Spirits: The Theremin"
An actress in a grey pinafore dress and purple shirt wears an old radio over her head and salutes, Gwen in a green 1940's dress listens eagerly.
Gwen performing in sad girl songs looking at her green sequin sleeve like its a snake
Gwen performing in sad girl songs squats with a funny frustrated look on her face. She wears a green sequin blazer and holds a mic. Behind her is a projection of Marty McFly in front of an IKEA.

Theater

Image from the article home page
Image from the article home page
Image from the article home page
Image from the article home page
Image from the article home page

writing

Gwen from the shoulders up nude, with a campy cut out carboard pixelization below, wipes away rhinestone tears. The glam background features serene blues and flares of amber and pink light.

comedian

writer

playwright

singer

describer

Gwen_Coburn_second_024_web_DO_NOT_PRINT-2_edited.jpg

Who Is she?

Good question!

I’m a comedian, playwright, songwriter, and grown-up horse-girl working in the worlds of musical comedy, farce, stand-up, solo theatre, and audio description. Over the past few years I’ve played well over 100 festival performances across three countries, collaborated on some amazing projects like Chatsterpiece Theater with WGBH and audio description for the Boston Lyric Opera, and premiered three full-length new shows.

​

The Importance of Being Haunted, my latest play, explores ghosts and grief through a clown séance and won Best Alt-Venue Comedy at the 2026 Boston Fringe. My solo musical about gender violence and comedy, Sad Girl Songs, won Best Musical at Winnipeg Fringe, received an honor for the Artistic Risk Award at Vancouver Fringe, and earned ★★★★ from The Wee Review at Edinburgh Fringe. My co-written slapstick ensemble comedy Who’s Afraid of the West Cherry Orchard: A Classic American Play in an Active Quiznos (with Mike Carr and Julie Snyder) won Critics’ Choice Best Ensemble and Best of Festival at Orlando Fringe 2024, as well as the Buzziest Show Award.

​

I write and perform with The Nova Show, the resident sketch show at The Rockwell. I get to make art that’s exciting, bold, access-forward, and silly? Professionally? What a boon!

WHAT's
NEW?

The importance of being haunted

A Plausibly Authentic Vaudevillian Midnight Ghost Show. Can you summon a ghost you don't believe in? Tap once for yes. 

Winner Best Alt. Venue Comedy- Boston Fringe 2026

Gwen in drag in The Importance of Being Haunted, in a short black wig, waxed black moustache, and black tuxedo w white shirt and waistcoast. She's bathed in an amber spolight, in front of a greay and blue projected old-timey curtain.

WHAT's
NEW?

The Nova Show

A late-night comedy variety show, featuring some of Boston’s best comedians, and other exciting local guests.

Like Saturday Night Live - but weirder, wilder, and wicked local!

A pink, yellow, and teal poster for the Nova Show featuring the cast's headshots in pink and a cartoon tv set in the corner.

WHAT's
NEW?

A streetcar named desire-
Audio Description

BLO is partnering with VOX as part of their 50th season to provide audio description for all of the mainstage season

A costume sketch  a woman in a blue and purple ruffled dress, penciled above is "A Streetcar Named Desire" and below her is Blanche"

coming soon

what will she do next?

She's working on it, back off will you?! Art takes TIME.

Gwen, with purple and blonde hair, and her little white dog Bella pop up  behind two wooden theater seats. Gwen looks off to one side.

omg did you hear what they said about gwen...

"laugh, cry, and audibly gasp in shock."

THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

omg did you hear what they said about gwen...

"a funny, foul-mouthed female Noel Coward"

THE ORLANDO WEEKLY

Comedians dressed in character costumes with the text I just peed a little on a pink fluffy background
Gwen in an alien costume putting on make up in a green room mirror
Gwen in looking up with gems on her face with the text thank you for not murdering me
Sheet Music for the Comedy Theater Audition Song

Music & Comedy

bottom of page