CHICAGO – The Steppenwolf Theatre of Chicago continues to provide different viewpoints on the American stage, and their latest “Little Bear Ridge Road” is no exception. Featuring ensemble member Laurie Metcalf, it’s the resonate story of a family at the crossroads. For tickets/details, click LITTLE BEAR.
Podtalk: Jon Heder for ‘When Jeff Tried to Save the World’ at Music Box Theatre, Dec. 6, 2018
CHICAGO – When your first major role was as the title character in ‘Napoleon Dynamite,’ the way through the rest of your career is paved with gratitude. Actor Jon Heder portrays another title character in his latest film, “When Jeff Tried to Save the World” – co-written and directed by Kendall Goldberg – and creates another memorable role. Heder and Goldberg will make an appearance on behalf of the film on Thursday, December 6th, 2018, at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago. For more information and tickets, click here.
Jeff (Jon Heder) is a creature of habit, with an obsessive/compulsive attachment to his job as a bowling alley manager. He has a menagerie of odd co-workers, including owner Carl (Jim O’Heir), Carl’s wife Sheila (Candi Milo), alley gopher Stanford (Brendan Meyer) and handyman Frank (Steve Berg). When Carl decides to sell the alley, Jeff becomes desperate to save it, without realizing it’s part of his overall anxiety affliction. His situation changes when his sister Lindy (Anna Konkle) decides to crash at his Chicago apartment with her med school roommate Samantha (Maya Erskine). Life is what happens to Jeff when he’s busy making other plans.
Director Kendall Goldberg and Jon Heder of ‘When Jeff Tried to Save the World’
Photo credit: Gunpowder & Sky
Jon Heder exploded onto the scene in 2004 with his major film debut, portraying “Napoleon Dynamite.” After he created that legendary movie character, Heder went on to major supporting roles in “Just Like Heaven” and “The Benchwarmers,” before scoring another big comic performance – opposite Will Ferrell – as Jimmy MacElroy in “Blades of Glory.” His career continues to be rich… he revisited the voice of Napoleon in an animated TV series in 2012, portrayed Roy Disney in the independent film “Walt Before Mickey” in 2015, and continues to be in demand for animated voice roles.
Kendall Goldberg is the director and co-writer (with Rachel Borgo) of “When Jeff Tried to Save the World,” expanding a previous short film into the feature version. She has also directed “The Lake Effect” (2016) and has recently completed the short film “Dempsey the Diabetic Superhero.”
In Part One of a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, director and co-writer Kendall Goldberg talks about creating the title character, and finding the zeitgeist in the world of bowling.
In Part Two, Jon Heder talks about his role as Jeff, his sudden rise as cultural influencer Napoleon Dynamite and his continuing journey as an actor.
By PATRICK McDONALD |