New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Returns to perform at his alma mater, Sacred Heart
Comedian Kevin Nealon
Kevin Nealon has been on the road steadily since July doing shows and honing new material, which local audiences will get to experience when the Bridgeport native returns to his home state May 18 to perform a show at his alma mater, Sacred Heart University.
Born in St. Louis, Mo., Nealon moved with his family to Bridgeport when he was a few months old and grew up here, attending St. Joseph High School in Trumbull and later Sacred Heart University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in marketing as a backup in case a career in comedy didn’t take.
Nealon never really had to use his degree, though, as his career took off after he went to California. In addition to performing standup in top comedy clubs, he became a regular on late night talk shows.
He’s best known for his nine seasons on “Saturday Night Live,” during which he created such memorable characters as Mr. Subliminal, Bob Waltman, and Franz of the bodybuilding duo, Hans and Franz.
His show at Sacred Heart University Community Theatre, 1420 Post Road, will be about an hour, and no doubt will feature the dry wit he is renowned for.
“I’ve experimented with a lot of new material. People can expect kind of a laidback, conversational delivery, but yet kind of on the dark side,” he said.
“My act is pretty sensible and it’s more of a PG rating, I think it would be great for them to come out, we have a lot of catching up to do.”
This will be his third time returning to Sacred Heart to
perform since graduation. “Coming back here anytime is really exciting for me because it brings back so
many memories and just to see how the school has expanded and grown, I really don’t recognize it,” he
said. “I am astounded by the changes, it’s almost like a different school.”
Among his many memories here are playing sports and going to coffeehouses to see local musicians perform.
“I don’t want to date myself, but I remember going to mixers and sitting in the parking lot by the library listening to Crosby, Stills and Nash on my 8track tape player,” he said.
“I played intramural ping pong, which was a lot of fun. I got to the finals and played the champ of the U.S. boys club, and he crushed me. I also remember the great basketball games we had; our team was amazing.”
One of his favorite classes was a summer three-credit class that included the school’s first New England bike trip. “I went with Dr. Ralph Corrigan and about eight other people and we just bicycled through New England. We went up to Mount Holyoke and it was a really great experience. It was about a 10-day trip.”
When not performing standup, Nealon is well known for painting — particularly caricatures of his celebrity friends, which he often posts to his Instagram.
A book will be released this October, “I Exaggerate: My Brushes with Fame,” featuring his caricatures accompanied by his musings on how he knows the person or an experience he had with them.
Performing post-pandemic, Nealon has noticed audiences are grateful for live shows again. “They’re just happy to be out and I feel the vibrations of laughter much more. I don’t know if it’s because my act has gotten better or they’re more appreciative, or both,” he said.
For details about the show, visit shucommunitytheatre.org.