The Poncan Theatre will host comedian William Lee Martin once again after he had previously performed at the Poncan in 2020 and loved the theatre so much he wanted to return.

This show will be a part of Martin’s nationwide stand-up tour, the All-American Mutt Comedy Tour. The name of the show comes from Martin’s own self-identification as a “mutt”, referring to being a mixed breed that doesn’t fit into any particular box. Martin had took a DNA test to discover his ancestry after being told he was a fifth generation Texan and part Native American. The test however, revealed that his ancestry was traced back to thirteen different countries, but no Native American.

“I think that’s what we miss in this country a lot, is the fact theres all this divide on everything we’re so different about, and truly, most of us are mutts,” said Martin. “Most of us are really more alike than people know.”

Martin is married with five children and four grandchildren, and draws on many reallife experiences for his comedy.

“I tell comics all the time: “quit trying to be funny and just report the funny”,” said Martin. “We’re God’s little punchline, you just got to be a good reporter.”

Following the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin began to host his “4 pm Daily Talk Y’all” on Facebook and currently has 450,000+ followers.

“When the pandemic started my industry was shut down first. Laughter was deemed non-essential,” said Martin. “And in the last ten or twelve months this country has set itself on fire more than once and all we’ve done is scream and holler at each other. I think laughter is absolutely essential to the health of this country.”

He has also gone viral on Tik-Tok with about 125,000+ followers, despite himself not using the service himself.

“And it’s my understanding I’ve gone viral on Tik-Tok, I don’t even get on Tik-Tok,” laughed Martin.

Martin and is wife Michele also founded the Cowboys Who Care Foundation in 2012, which provides smiles, support and Resistol cowboy hats to children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

To date, the foundation has given over 10,000 hats across the country.

Martin has enjoyed a comedy career spanning 25 years and believes that comedy is the most honest form of art.

“Comedy has been my saving grace, it has been my purpose and my provider, I still love and respect it,” said Martin. “The great thing about comedy is it is still the only honest form of art that’s out there. It’s the only place you can get close to honesty out there.”

Martin’s show will be on at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 8.