Stand-up comedian, off-Broadway star and sleep disorder victim Mike Birbiglia returns to Massachusetts this weekend. The Shrewsbury native has recently been involved with enough projects to tire out a fully grown horse. Thankfully, Mike was able to stay awake and answer a few questions for us.
YOU JUMPED OUT OF A WINDOW AT A LAQUINTA INN WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING?
I did have a life-threatening sleepwalking incident in which I jumped out of a hotel window. It started as a sleep disorder, turned into a life-threatening episode, and then later into an off-Broadway show.
IN THIRD GRADE, YOU WON “AUTHOR OF THE MONTH” FOR A POEM ABOUT BEARS.
It’s called “There’s a Bear in my Chair”:
Oh there’s a bear in my chair.
And I gave him a jar of honey.
And he went away.
And he came back the very next day.
And didn’t know what to say.
The meaning is pretty clear. It’s about bears who don’t pick up on social cues.
WHAT ELSE HAS HAPPENED TO YOU WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPWALKING?
I’ve fought a hovering insect-like jackal, threw a chest of drawers at Brad Pitt who was trying to kill me and fell off a bookshelf onto my TiVo. The usual stuff.
WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO?
I’m excited to be working on my next one-man show, and making my first movie and writing my first book. So many firsts. Hopefully not too many lasts.
[Mike Birbiglia. Fri 11.6.09-Sat 11.7.09. Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston. 617.248.9700. Fri 7:30pm, Sat 7pm/all ages/$25-$30. thewilburtheatre.com]
