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MIKE LUKAS
To paraphrase the appraisal once offered of a particularly colorful singer-songwriter, Mike Lukas is an enormously entertaining, fun bunch of guys. By that, we mean that Lukas--a tall, rangy figure with a shaven dome who cuts a striking figure onstage--operates his stand-up act as his own one-man sketch/improv troupe, often deftly weaving in and out of various characters & voices, including pieces where inanimate objects not only speak, but mess with his head. Heck, sometimes he’ll punctuate this peppy, fast-moving, shape-shifting extravaganza with sound effects, no less. For example, if you’re lucky, you may get to hear him render a mighty bongo-drum jam--with no such instrument onstage. Of course, this multi-faceted, multiple-personality approach to his comedy is far from startling when you factor in that he’s long been affiliated with Second City, the legendary sketch/improv group that’s served as a regular pipeline for “Saturday Night Live” cast members, but you’ll find Second City alum in all kinds of films, TV shows and plays. Lukas worked for a number of years on Second City stages in Chicago and in the national touring company, and more recently in a new Las Vegas production. That training and experience has landed him a number of acting roles, most recently--and perhaps, intriguingly--one on a pilot for the FX network, “The Orlando Jones Show,” in which he portrays a neo-Nazi who’s trying very hard to hate. His other TV credits include multiple performances on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” as well as appearances on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” and “Stand-Up, Stand-Up.” With Doug Mellard |
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