Chris Schmidt studied creative writing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and – to the delight of Milwaukee comedy audiences – he has channeled it through stand-up.
“I’ve always been drawn to the writing process,” Chris says. “Sculpting ideas into effective word shapes is a pastime that has never failed to quiet my demons. I wanted to write short stories but have always struggled with what I want to say with my work. For some reason – I’m still trying to it figure out – I finally found a way to move forward when I started writing comedy. I still approach every joke and bit as tiny narrative, and am attracted to material which possesses an evident plot structure.”
Chris credits the Milwaukee Comedy Festival for helping him discover the local comedy scene a few years ago. He saw a flyer for the fest when he was working downtown, and the rest is – a funny story.
“As I began to look into it, I learned that much of the talent (at the fest) was locally sourced, and this inspired me to begin taking classes at ComedySportz as a first step toward ‘Yes-anding’ my way into this wacky world,” Chris recalls.
In the three years since he started frequenting Milwaukee open mics, Chris has:
- Won the Caste of Killers Comedy Collective Battle Royale – making him Milwaukee’s Funniest Comic
- Performed in the Milwaukee Comedy Festival
- Performed in Michigan’s Laughfest
- Written/performed/produced for The Goodnight Milwaukee Show
- And he regularly hosts Milwaukee’s Duck and Cover Comedy Hour and the Hot Room Comedy Showcase
https://youtube.com/watch?v=nAhSO0vX_w0
Chris Schmidt – 10 p.m. show, Saturday, Aug. 8
“The scene I came into was built with a very DIY spirit and I think we’ve developed a cycle where new comics are brought into this process very quickly, learning production alongside the basics of standup,” Chris says. “Within the coming months we’re in for a lot of turnover (Several prominent local comics are moving or have moved on to new cities.), so there are a lot of opportunities available for comics who have just started coming out to get more stage time and accelerate their growth. I’m also happy to see more mixture between the comedy, improv, and sketch scenes. Combining these elements could be key in adding variety and innovation to distinguish new showcases from those which have already been established.”
Describing his inspirations as absurdity and wordplay, Chris says he’s honored to come full circle and appear at the Milwaukee Comedy Festival. Not only is it part of his origin story, but he sees the fest as a partner in growing the Milwaukee comedy community.
“The Milwaukee Comedy Festival is probably our best chance to draw new audiences toward the local scene,” Chris says. “This is our chance to instill a craving in all these audiences, so they’ll look for more Milwaukee comedy shows at the various theaters, clubs and bars around town. It’s a showcase of what our city can do in terms of producing quality entertainment – as much as it is for each individual talent’s capabilities.”