BROWNFIELD — With a stool as her only prop, a microphone and a can of Diet Pepsi, nationally known comedienne Paula Poundstone is so at home with live performances that she loves drawing in and spontaneously interacting with audience members.

 The proof will come on Saturday, March 26, when she brings her trademark sharp wit and spontaneity to Stone Mountain Arts Center.

 Poundstone grew up in Sudbury, Mass., and by age 19 was traveling by way of Greyhound bus to open mics in comedy clubs across the country. She worked in Boston, then San Francisco and moved to Los Angeles. By 1990, she had starred in several comedy specials for HBO. She also appeared on “Saturday Night Live” when Robin Williams hosted the show.

 Her first one-hour HBO special, “Cats, Cops, and Stuff,” earned her the distinction of being the first woman to receive the CABLE ACE for best stand-up comedy special.

 “In 1992, according to her website, “Poundstone forsook what she considered the ‘staid’ 5-minute standup set on late night talk-shows for something she thought would be more real with the audience and filed memorable field commentary of the Presidential election for ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.'”

 “This led to her own show on ABC, aptly named, “The Paula Poundstone Show,” and behind-the-scenes coverage of that year’s EMMY Awards for which she was critically acclaimed. During this time, she also became the first woman to perform at the White House Correspondents dinner.”

 Poundstone’s intelligent humor earned her a role as panelist on National Public Radio’s weekly quiz program “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me,” giving her a chance to match wits with the country’s leading pundits. The show hosted by Peter Segal is broadcast in 50 states.

 Besides starring in solo specials on HBO and BRAVO, she has appeared on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion.”

 Poundstone is also an author and lecturer. She wrote her first book “There Is Nothing in This Book That I Meant To Say,” with foreword by Mary Tyler Moore, for Random House in 2006. “Part memoir, part monologue, Paula’s unique laugh-out-loud book features biographies of legendary historical figures including Abraham Lincoln, Joan of Arc and Sitting Bull, among others, from which she can’t help digressing to tell her own,” according to her website.

 In 2009, Poundstone released her first CD, “I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them In Maine,” 60 minutes of comedy recorded live at Stone Mountain.

 WHO: Comedienne Paula Poundstone

 WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 26

 WHERE: Stone Mountain Arts Center, 695 Dug Way Road, Brownfield

 TICKETS: $45. Call (866) 227-6523 or visit www.stonemountainartscenter.com