Kelley Howard is much more than a comedian. During her 15-plus-year career, she has been featured on Fox’s “Empire”, NBC’s “Chicago Fire” and the HBO Max Original Series, “South Side”. She debuts her third one-woman show at the Steppenwolf Theatre Thursday, August 18th with a limited 4-day engagement. Once named Chicago’s Boldest Comedian by The Chicago Sun-Times, Kelly Howard says this production is, “the most authentic work I’ve done to date.”
With “Crazy or Nah?!”, Howard addresses a multitude of questions, doubts, and fears while celebrating constant change. She engages all on a journey into questioning their own fanciful encounters with a sanity balance. Realizing in things we all experience: relationships, health challenges, or just personal growth, we tend to ask if (it’s) Crazy or Nah?! During this run, the “Be Less Petty Podcast” host displays extremely vulnerable moments of her current health and mental well-being. Howard uses her intensive creative chops to give an authentic insight into herself. Within certain avenues, women (especially Black Women) have to be strong, backbone, and resilient. The audience will be treated to comforting moments to open up about (their own) struggles and know they are not alone.
Steppenwolf Theatre is becoming a diverse hub for storytelling. Nestled in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Howard’s talents grace the same innovative spaces once occupied by legendary entertainers John Mahoney, Laurie Metcalf, and John Malkovich. She figures this legendary venue is perfect to display this show to a well multicultural crowd. The unique performance will translate to the masses effortlessly.
The self-proclaimed love child of Oprah Winfrey, Richard Pryor, Bernie Mac, and Lucille Ball, Howard has a desire to relate to others in different spaces. With her return to the stage, she is hopeful for another phenomenal run. “Crazy or Nah?!” is not meant to be a pity party. It’s the viewer’s opportunity to be exposed to a balance of sensitive and triumphant feats adding up to present-day Howard.
About Post Author
