Jeff Allen: Funny and Faithful

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis (WFHR/WIRI) – Savor the Arts is bringing comedian Jeff Allen to the Performing Arts Center Stage on Friday, January 31. In his show “The Human Condition: We’re Still Not There Yet!” Allen shows he is funny and faithful.

Overcoming Addiction

Jeff has been in comedy since he was 22, starting in Chicago in 1978. Though he is a comedian his life wasn’t a barrel of laughs. Allen was raised with an alcoholic father in whose footsteps he eventually followed. He started drinking as an early teenager and started doing drugs. At 14 his father convinced him he was an atheist. His coping mechanism became humor. The inspiration to go into comedy came from watching the opening comics for his brother’s band.

After going to his first comedy bar Allen was hooked. He admits that he was awful when he first started. He was funny and faithfully kept at it. Then, as now, he wanted to do good work. He met his wife while on the road and started a family. It took the tragedy of hitting his son for Allen to make the decision to go to Alcoholics Anonymous. Though he wanted to quit drinking, he was still doing drugs. It was a few years into his recovery before Jeff found faith which he credits for turning his life around.

Helping Others

Funny and now faithful, Jeff has been sober for over 38 years. Because he understands the challenges of sobriety, Allen is passionate about programs of recovery. This connection inspired Savor the Arts to use Jeff’s funny and faithful performance to raise funds for Opportunity for Hope. This organization, which is a part of the ODC, is an outpatient mental health clinic serving Central Wisconsin Communities. It was started in 2019 providing individual and group counseling. $3 from each ticket purchased and a special donation tab will raise funds to support this important organization.

Links

Tickets can be purchased at the Savor the Arts website or purchased in person at the door.

You can hear the full interview with Sally Kissner, Executive Director of Savor the Arts, Ann Lepak with the Wisconsin Rapids ODC, and Comedian Jeff Allen on Midday Magazine. For more information on Jeff Allen go to his website. You can also find more information by following him on Facebook.