Wayans to give new material a workout in Schaumburg

What's new with comedian Damon Wayans?

"I'm deliciously single," said the divorced father of four in a phone interview this week.

He's also ridiculously busy working on numerous comedy projects, such as writing a new ABC sitcom to follow-up his hit show, "My Wife and Kids."

This weekend, Wayans will pop into Schaumburg for five stand-up shows at the IMPROV, where he'll hone his new material and characters.

"Comedy is kinda like boxing," said Wayans, 47. "You can't just go fight big prize fights. You've got to go in the gym. Stand-up is, like, you wanna see how funny you are? Go on stage.

"All that material I did that cracked people up in Schaumburg last time is dead. I'm coming out with all new material. I'm going to start doing characters again. I want to discover new funny," he said.

The audience might even hear a few jokes from his upcoming Comedy Central special, "Way Out," a show he describes as "real and raw." It airs Feb. 24.

"I talk about everything from traveling to the N-word to black adoption. Everyone's adopting black kids. It's like the new Gucci bag," he said.

Most people associate Wayans with two things: family and funny characters.

All five Wayans brothers became stars nearly two decades ago in their edgy sketch comedy show, "In Living Color." It's there that Wayans introduced his now-famous characters, including Homey D. Clown, and did impersonations of people like Louis Farrakahn.

Wayans continues to involve his family in nearly all his projects.

"Family is really all you get. Family and a few good friends," he said. "When they're putting the dirt on me? That's who's going to be there crying. And hopefully, not because I didn't leave them nothin'."

Wayans had his share of career hits and duds, but he says his favorite projects weren't always his most successful.

"I still love (the 1994 movie) 'Blankman.' The stuff I'm proudest of is the stuff I did with my family. 'Major Payne,' my nephew was in. 'Mo' Money' was Marlon's first role. 'Underground' was with my son and nephew. Working with family is great. You can't believe they're paying you for it," he said.

Damon Wayans

Where: The IMPROV, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg

When: 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday

Tickets: $40

Info: www.improv.com or (847) 240-2001

Additional info: Must be at least 18