A project Louie Anderson has been working on for the last 10 years is in its final stages — and it may signal the end of his standup comedy career.
The monologist, whose material touches on his dysfunctional family, including a father who was an alcoholic, has put together a documentary of his life as a comedian that incorporates film of his standup performances, backstage material and interviews with his family.
Says Anderson: “It’s really a portrait of somebody doing standup comedy. And a look into where my life was, where I grew up, how I grew up. How my dad’s alcoholism developed my comedy, and how the healthier I get, the more interesting it really does become.”
“Complicated Laughter” is being edited, says Anderson, who turned 45 years old just a few days ago. He calls it his introduction to filmmaking, which is where he sees his career heading.
“I’m ready for another chapter,” explains Anderson, author of the best-selling “Dear Dad — Letters From an Adult Child.”
Anderson has been performing standup for almost 20 years and expects to use moviemaking to replace joke-telling. He says he “wanted to have some sort of document of what I was doing. Once I don’t do standup anymore, I probably won’t do it anymore.”
It took Anderson 10 years to complete “Complicated Laughter” partly because he wasn’t sure of the story he was trying to tell (at the time “I was just filming myself”). The good thing about the long process is that Anderson has a true history of his work, with material dating back to the mid-1980s. It also gives him a chance to show how the jokemaking process works.
Anderson will let his family and friends view “Complicated Laughter” and based on their opinion he’ll decide “if it should go any further than that.” He hopes it goes the film festivals route.
“When you do something for 20 years, it’s time to stimulate yourself more and get into a place where you can tell stories on another level,” Anderson says.
Louie Anderson and special guest Bill Engvall are doing a comedy mini-tour: performing Friday at the Paramount Arts Center in Aurora, and then traveling to Merrillville, Ind., for a show at the Star Plaza Theatre on Saturday. Call 630-896-6666 or 312-902-1500 for the Paramount show; and 219-769-6600 or 773-734-7266 for the Star Plaza appearance.
The standup lineup
– Making a special appearance at Zanies in Vernon Hills is Bobby Collins, a past nominee for an American Comedy Award, and ex-host of VH1’s “Standup Spotlight.” He’s performing Friday at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills; call 847-549-6030.
The conquering heroes
The Upright Citizens Brigade left Chicago for New York City about two years ago to expand their careers in sketch comedy and improvisation. They return here victorious.
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They have been winning rave reviews in Gotham City with such performances as an extended run of their show “Bucket of Truth” and a free Sunday night improv show that is constantly packed.
UCB was the talk of the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo., this month, winning an award for best alternative act.
No more than a few days after Aspen, Comedy Central picked up a pilot UCB did for a proposed series. It will debut sometime in August at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays — the sweet spot behind the network’s hot “South Park” animated series.
And now UCB — made up of co-founding members Matt Besser and Ian Roberts, plus Amy Poehler and Matt Walsh — are coming home to perform in the Chicago Improv Festival, the first ever formal gathering here of improvisation groups from around the city and the country. The fest begins Tuesday and brings together 27 troupes.
“Improv is Chicago, especially the last four years. It’s just been popping with this renaissance,” Besser says.
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The Upright Citizens Brigade is scheduled to be among the acts to open the first night of the Chicago Improv Festival, which runs Tuesday through April 5 at the Annoyance Theatre, 3747 N. Clark St. For more information, call 773-862-5082.