CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago’s own, Nick Offerman, has returned to the Windy City and is wowing audiences at the Goodman Theatre with his performance in “Iceboy!”
Widely celebrated for his comedic roles, Offerman takes on a more serious tone as he speaks to ABC7 about a fundraising event happening Monday. The cause is near and dear to him, benefiting a hidden gem at the University of Illinois.
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Taking on the role of the iconic playwright Eugene O’Neill, Offerman shares the stage with his wife, Megan Mullally, who stars alongside him in this musical production.
Originating from Minooka, a town close to Joliet, Offerman is an alumnus of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. It was here that he encountered a transformative experience that left a lasting impression on him.
“Our sensei, Shozo Sato, introduced us to Kabuki theatre and spearheaded the creation of Japan House,” Offerman recounted. “They offer classes in traditional arts like tea ceremonies, black ink painting, and flower arranging. Visiting the tea house is this extraordinary journey. It forces you to set aside life’s distractions, concentrating only on its beauty and simplicity. As you reach the door, you must bow to enter, a gesture that clears your mind, allowing you to embrace the experience afresh,” said Offerman.
Offerman is a master woodworker, learning his skills growing up. He and a team of volunteers created the gazebo at Japan House, honoring all he learned there.
He’s doing a benefit for Japan House this Monday night, July 13, at the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport.
“I do an evening of songs on the guitar, a lot of laughter, and I talk a lot about my sensei and share some of the lessons,” Offerman said. “It was just wild in the middle of the cornfield of Illinois to have my curiosity and my empathy blown open. As this ignorant farm kid, it just blew me away and opened me up to Japanese culture, and the world, the world is available.”
Doors open at 6 p.m. Monday at the Ramova Theatre on South Halsted for the benefit.
It has even more meaning for Offerman, since his beloved teacher, Shozo Sato, died last year at 91 at his home in Champaign.
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