Comedy Mon Aug 13 2012

Jason Stuart performs at Laugh Factory, Aug. 16-18

By Tyler Gillespie

Comedian Jason Stuart told me that a reporter recently butchered one of his jokes. I promised that I wouldn't dare do such a thing to him - so here goes nothing.

"I was dating* this younger guy and he said, 'What are you up to' and I said, 'I was up for this new Barbra Streisand show' and he said, 'Oh yeah that was the gal who was in that Focker movie' and I said, 'Yeah,' and he said, 'I think she sings.' So I stabbed him."

Stories about getting older and dating younger are just some of the topics that audiences can expect when Stuart does five performances this week at the Laugh Factory. While he does shows all over the country, he hasn't performed in Chicago since -- as he remembers it -- 2006. It's about time we got our Stuart-fix.

"[The material] will be a mixture of new and old. I don't know if a lot of people have seen me there -- since it's been so many years -- so it will be a mixture. But it will probably be a lot more new stuff," Stuart said. "[My new material] is leaning closer to being who I am as an adult. [I'm excited about] the possibility of being more myself -- it's more of who I am, what's happening with me."

As an openly gay comedian, Stuart has straddled both the comedy and LGBT world. He has performed at some of the most well-known comedy clubs in the country while also doing shows at specifically gay events and prides. He is an interesting comedian because he has visibility in both the LGBT arena and mainstream venues -- something that doesn't happen too often.

He has had guest roles on a whole slew of your favorite television shows - a list that includes The Closer, Will & Grace, Everybody Hates Chris, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He recently played a hotel clerk on The Secret Life of the American Teenager -- an important fact to me because this show was one of my favorite guilty pleasures circa early-2011.

He just finished shooting a role in a new film called Goodbye World starring Adrian Grenier and Gabby Hoffman. He describes the movie as an "apocalyptic, science fiction, end-of-the-world, thriller of-sorts."

People who go to his stand-up show this week at the Laugh Factory can expect his act to be an energetic, no-holds-barred set. During his performances he likes to interact with the audience -- he wants to get people involved in the show. "That's a big, major part of my show," he says.

Stuart talks about big issues without losing his individual flair. As he "gets older" -- as he says -- his material is getting more personal.

"My dad passed away recently -- back in February -- and I've finally just started to talk about it in the last month, publicly," Stuart said. "Finally, I can find something funny. Like you know, when you have sex, can your dead parents see you? I'm having sex and I'm thinking to myself like 'thank God it's just a blowjob!"

Don't just read about how funny Stuart is -- go see him for yourself. He's doing five shows Aug. 16-18 at the Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway. For tickets or info, call 773-327-3175 or go here. Price: $15-$25.

*He wants people to know that he is single again, but he is dating.

photo credit: Danielle Guren