Jim Breuer.
By Alexis Tarrazi – Straus News
NEWTON — New Jersey native Jim Breuer — known for his appearances on Saturday Night Live as Goat Boy and his role in the cult stoner comedy Half Baked — will be bringing family friendly laughs to Newton Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m.
His live show will mark Newton Theatre’s second anniversary as a performing arts venue.
“It’s going to be awesome because it’s in my backyard,” Breuer said in a phone interview. “I’m in Chester. I am right in the area so it will be like playing in my backyard.”
This will be Breuer’s first appearance in Newton, but he says that performing in the Garden State is always the highlight of his tour.
“I am always excited about it, like I said I know the area, there is so many places I can go,” Breuer said. “I have played in Mount Olive a couple of times. Played Morristown almost every summer. Those are always my best shows because A — I recognize half the people there and B — it’s where my best newer stuff works.”
Breuer has more than 20 years of stand-up comedy experience under his belt and has been named one of Comedy Central’s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time. He realized his comedic power when he was a child.
“I think as a kid, in sixth grade, I really wanted to pursue it and in high school I really went after it,” Breuer says of becoming a comedian.
Over the years Breuer developed his stand-up performance which he describes as clean humor.
“What I usually talk about is a lot of local stuff, family stuff and at the end of the show I allow anyone to make requests,” Breuer said.
Although he is also know for his impersonations, including ones of Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro, he considers his stand-up the memorable part of his routine.
“I hardly do any of (the impersonations) until the end,” Breuer said. “Stand-up has always been my best thing and when people see me they see that is my A game that I always bring, so the impressions are almost down on the level of C and D when you see them.”
Even after performing for many years, Breuer jokes that he never gets nervous before hitting the stage.
“Never, never,” Breuer said. “I prance like a tiger.”
Along with his appearances in Half Baked and SNL, Breuer also appeared on ABC’s “Home Improvement” starring Tim Allen and in the popular films “Zookeeper,” “Dick,” “Titan A.E.” and “Beer League.”
Looking at both aspects of his career, Breuer said movies are much harder than stand-up. “It takes a little more time,
“Breuer said, “Stand-up to me is easy but movies just takes a lot of time. Planning it, putting it together, finish writing it.”
After he completes this comedy tour, Breuer already has plans to work on more movies. Movies specifically that he will be writing.
“My plan is to do movies for the next couple of years,” Breuer said. “I am writing and working on things right now. I can’t talk about it, but I am.”
Once Breuer’s plans are finalized, he plans on announcing his movies on his web site, officialjimbreuer.com. But Breuer, says he will never give up his comedy stand-up routines.
“Stand-up, I will keep forever,” Breuer said. “But when I jump into (movies), it’s something that I have to jump into full force.”
Tickets for Jim Breuer are $39 for premium seating, $34 for orchestra and $29 for the balcony. To purchase tickets visit thenewtontheatre.com or contact the box office at 973-383-3700. The historic Newton Theatre, located at 234 Spring Street in Newton.
Alexis Tarrazi 