Comedian Jeff Allen to headline Boot Barn Hall
Comedian Jeff Allen is heading to Boot Barn Hall on Friday, marking a stop on his tour, “Are We There Yet?”
Allen, who has appeared on Showtime, Comedy Central and VH1, will bring his stories of hardship and inspiration to the stage. The Chicago native started in comedy fresh out of college in 1978, after discovering a local comedy club. Since then, he was hooked, he said.
“I just was there every night, and it took me about three months to work up the courage — or drink up the courage is a better word —and then I went on Thanksgiving night 1978,” he said.
“It didn’t go well. I had terrible stage fright. Some nights I’d walk up, look at the crowd, draw a blank and run off the stage.”
But after a while, Allen said, he began to build some confidence.
“I just felt if I could get past the fear of what I was doing, I would be OK,” he said.
Now, he’s been at it for more than four decades, and is using his experience to ring in the laughs. His tour is named after his book released in September, which details Allen’s work in getting sober and learning how to be an adult, he said.
“It’s based on recovery, and on marriage. I got sober around 31, and then for the next seven or eight years, my wife and I went through really a literal hell,” he said. “In hindsight, to look back, it was just a learning process of trying to be an adult. I probably relate more to millennials than my own generation because I didn’t start ‘adulting’ till I was 32 years old, so it was not an easy process for me.”
Those experiences are what fuels his comedy, he said, especially as time passes.
“My comedy is based upon marriage and alcoholism and drug addiction, and I always tell people to strap on your party hats, Mr. Sunshine’s here to cheer you up,” he joked. “I can laugh at my folly a lot harder than people seem to relate to, because I think as you mature and get older, you can look back and go, ‘Boy, I really was an idiot.’”
The show is family-friendly, with teens 14 and up welcome to attend the show at Boot Barn Hall.
“I wanted to create something that families can go to. It’s kind of neat to look out in the theater and see a family of four or five sitting together laughing,” he sad.
Overall, Allen hopes his show can bring a little light-hearted fun and leave the audience in a better mood.
“As far as my comedy goes, I don’t overthink it,” he said. “When I do corporate shows, my opening line is, ‘If you learn anything from me tonight, you completely misunderstood it.’ I like to consider myself an hour-and-a-half distraction. I want them feeling better when they leave than when they walked in.”
What: Jeff Allen presents “Are We There Yet?”
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Boot Barn Hall, 13071 Bass Pro Drive
Price: $42-$60; 719-401-0600; bootbarnhallco.com
Comedian Jeff Allen is heading to Boot Barn Hall on Friday, marking a stop on his tour, “Are We There Yet?” Allen has appeared on Showtime, Comedy Central, VH1 and more.
Comedian Jeff Allen is heading to Boot Barn Hall on Friday, marking a stop on his tour, “Are We There Yet?” Allen has appeared on Showtime, Comedy Central, VH1 and more.
Comedian Jeff Allen is heading to Boot Barn Hall on Friday, marking a stop on his tour, “Are We There Yet?” Allen has appeared on Showtime, Comedy Central, VH1 and more.
Comedian Jeff Allen is heading to Boot Barn Hall on Friday, marking a stop on his tour, “Are We There Yet?” Allen has appeared on Showtime, Comedy Central, VH1 and more.