PORTLAND — It’s somehow appropriate that Karmo Sanders performs Thursday at the St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center in Portland.

Thursday is April Fools’ Day.

Additional Photos

Karmo Sanders as Birdie Googins performs her comedy show Thursday. Courtesy of the artist

Sanders is better known as the “Marden’s Lady.” You may know her from her TV commercials, but those offer only a glimpse of her zaniness. For nearly three years, Sanders has been touring a one-woman, stand-up comedy show with a character known as Birdie Googins, Maine’s Only Supermodel and un-registered Maine Guide.

Sanders, who lives in Scarborough, tends to get a lot of work in northern and central Maine, and now is trying to break into the southern Maine market.

“It’s way past time we had a woman Maine humorist,” she says, citing the success of Tim Sample, John McDonald and Bob Marley. “We’re wicked opinionated.”

Sanders is serious about her work. She’s an actress, comedian and playwright with a master’s degree from Boston University in playwriting. She is associated with the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, and has just completed a full-length Broadway-style musical called “Gold Rush Girls,” which she co-wrote with her partner, Jerry Sanders.

Sanders is sending the musical around to national competitions and festivals, hoping for a break that will enable her to see it produced. The musical had several readings at Boston Playwrights and a two-week workshop at the New Repertory Theatre in Watertown, Mass.

“So I guess you could say I’m more than just a pretty face,” she says.

Sanders grew up in Norway and graduated from Oxford Hills High School. For many years, she traveled with the musical “Radical Radio,” which started in Maine and toured nationally, including an off-Broadway run.

Staff Writer Bob Keyes can be contacted at 791-6457 or at:

bkeyes@pressherald.com