Jamie Campbell's Big Dad Energy coming to Elgin Fringe Fest Sept. 8-10
In the midst of a national tour, critically acclaimed comedian Jamie Campbell's Big Dad Energy will be making a stop in Elgin as part of this year's Fringe Festival.
The show was recently filmed as a streaming stand-up special, and has been touring the United States, winning awards and critical acclaim.
It's a show about parenthood, from a guy who doesn't have any children.
Campbell says most people assume he's a dad since he's oozing dad vibes, but he doesn't actually have any kids. In a show that is perfect for anyone who grew up in the 1980s and '90s, Campbell's pop culture nostalgia and humor-filled soul-searching will resonate with Gen-Xers and Millennials.
During his performance, he details what it's like to get married as you approach middle-age and realize you're going to let the clock run out on the possibility of parenthood. It's a show about fatherhood from a guy who isn't a father.
Campbell's Big Dad Energy has already been a hit in several cities: it was named "Best Comedy" and "Best Out-of-Town Show" at this year's Tucson Fringe Festival, and was recently named a "Best of Fringe" selection at Washington D.C.' s Capital Fringe. At the Kansas City Fringe Festival, where it debuted last summer, the show received "Best of Fringe" honors and the festival's "Spirit of Fringe" award.
His recent appearance at Atlanta Fringe also received rave reviews: "A spiritual cousin to Mike Birbiglia's theatrical storytelling, with breakneck turns from laugh-a-minute stand-up to quiet reflections that absolutely take your breath away," said Chris Alonzo, Atlanta Fringe Festival.
Filmmaker Dylan Edward Allen of Blokparty Films attended a performance of Big Dad Energy and loved the show so much that he decided to produce it as a live streaming special. Allen's career began as a camera operator and crew member on major productions such as "American Idol," "America's Got Talent," and HBO's "Treme. "He founded his own production company, which has mostly focused on true crime, such as the forthcoming Scouts documentary and the serial podcast "Life Without: The Untold Story of Heath Stocks." The Big Dad Energy comedy special is set to be released on Labor Day.
Campbell is a nationally touring stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter, storyteller, and improviser. His debut album, "Tell Me You're Proud of Me," debuted at No. 1 on Amazon's comedy charts. In Chicago, where he began his career, he was named the city's "Best Stand-Up Comedian" by The Chicago Reader. You may recognize him from his appearances on NBC's "Chicago Fire," the Pop Network's "Hollywood Darlings," his recent super bowl ad alongside Kristin Chenoweth, or a series of music videos by hiphop legend Tech N9ne.
Jamie Campbell's Big Dad Energy will be 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8; 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9; and 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, at Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St.
Tickets are $12, plus a one-time purchase of a $3 fringe festival button, and must be picked up at the festival's "Fringe Central" location at Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court.
More info on the Elgin Fringe website at elginfringefestival.com.