Chicago Nerd Comedy Fest: 'It's like a big nerdy hug'
Actor Bobby Hoffman is a nerd — and proud of it.
The former Des Plaines resident is one of many so-called nerds — theater geeks, book worms, Trekkies and fanboys — who will take the stage at the upcoming Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival.
“I think nerd as a social derogatory term has changed,” Hoffman said. “I think anybody can be a nerd about just anything. I play ‘Dungeons and Dragons,' but I'm also a theater nerd. If you're a fan of something so much that it affects everything else in your life, then you're a nerd.”
The third annual festival, which runs Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 13-15, at Stage 773 in Chicago, showcases nerd pop-culture at its best. Dan Telfer, co-producer of Chicago Underground Comedy, will headline. The other acts include takes on “Star Trek,” video games, improvised Jane Austen and even Shakespeare's “Macbeth.”
Hoffman will serve as stage manager and perform in two shows: “Once More With Feeling LIVE!” and “Plan 9 Burlesque.”
Hoffman began his path into theater and comedy at Maine West High School in Des Plaines.
“I'm happy to have grown up in the Chicago suburbs in a school community that let me discover my love for performing in the first place,” Hoffman said. “I'm excited to get to do this in Chicago, a place I've always considered home.”
Hoffman has participated in other Stage 773 productions and decided to be part of this festival because he enjoys the camaraderie it has to offer.
“(During last year's festival) I went to a bunch of events, like one where people read their original fan fiction,” Hoffman said. “It's a really endearing festival. It's like a big nerdy hug.”
The charm of the festival and the people who participate also enchanted Sandy Hunter, a former resident of Schaumburg and a co-producer of the festival.
“I enjoy meeting the people and making the connections,” Hunter said. “You have this broad spectrum of fandoms that people love to talk about and share ideas and observations. There are even the little things that happen, like sitting down at the bar and having a heated discussion on which is better: ‘Star Trek' or ‘Star Wars'?”
Hunter started pursuing her passion for comedy at Hoffman Estates High School and went on to take classes at The Second City in Chicago. After a detour as a pastry chef, she is back to pursuing her passion for comedy, starting with this festival.
Hunter encourages people to come see the festival with an exclamation borrowed from the TV show “Parks and Recreation” — “treat yo' self.”
“It's a comedy festival not like the other ones,” she said, “and the perfect opportunity to get into Chicago and see a bunch of great shows.”
“The Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival”
<b>Where:</b> Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, (773) 327-5252, <a href="http://stage773.com">stage773.com</a>
<b>Showtimes:</b> Various times Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 13-15
<b>Tickets:</b> $15-$30; all-festival passes cost $65