Linn brings clean laughs to Norwalk

What: Chris Linn
When: 7 p.m. July 30
Where: Norwalk Main Street Theatre, 57 E. Main St., Norwalk
Cost: $7/adults, $5/children
Info: 419-668-8048 or norwalktheatre.org

Comedian and magician Chris Linn, who returns to the North Coast for a July 30 show at the Norwalk Main Street Theatre, makes no bones about his family-friendly, bomb-free act.

“I definitely try to keep it clean,” said Linn, calling from his Sterling Heights, Michigan home. “I play comedy clubs, casinos and things like that, which are definitely adult audiences and nobody ever misses the dirty stuff. Nobody ever comes up after the show and says, ‘Oh man, that was hilarious, but geez, I really wish there were a few more four-letter words in the show.’ People can appreciate clean, and funny is funny. It doesn’t have to be dirty to be funny.”

As for his language out of the spotlight, Linn said he learned many years ago that he should live by the motto of clean is as clean does.

Laughed Linn, “You know, very early on in my career I kind of realized that I had to be careful what I say offstage and in real life so it actually never comes out onstage.”

For nearly 20 years, what’s been coming out onstage is Linn’s crowd-pleasing set filled with comedy and magic. Averaging roughly 300 shows a year, the Michigan native recently released his new DVD “Shenanigans,” which features comedy bits, magic trick tutorials, practical joke ideas, funny videos and parody commercials. He was also recently named Entertainer of the Year by Event Solutions magazine.

Linn — who is no stranger to Northwest Ohio, having been the featured comedy magician at Cedar Point’s annual “Halloweekends” from 2001 to 2008 — said his live set has evolved since his last visit to the Norwalk Main Street Theatre exactly two years ago.

“There will definitely be some different stuff in the show,” Linn said. “We do a lot of interactive things that really get the audience involved. For example, we go around the audience and have them put together a scenario with personal information — where they’re from, favorite color, things like that. And it all kind of comes together into a big magical reveal at the end.”

Comparatively speaking, Linn said he hears the gamut. This includes baby boomers who think he has a quirky Steve Martin vibe, while younger people peg him as being animated in a Jim Carrey fashion. Then there was one comparison that still perplexes Linn.

“I had a guy once say that I reminded him of Glenn Beck,” Linn said. “I have to say, I don’t see that. I’m not political at all, which is kind of why the comparison surprised me. But he seemed happy by the comparison and he seemed to enjoy the show, so it’s all good.”

As he’s from Michigan, does he avoid mentioning the “Go Blue” team?

“I play Ohio a lot, and I have a lot of love for Ohio State,” Linn said. “So just like avoiding the political thing in my show, I also stay out of the sports rivalries. It’s good, clean fun. And people need to laugh, especially right now. It’s affordable entertainment and live entertainment. So it’s good chance to go out and do something either as a couple or bring the family.”

Chris Linn is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. July 30 at the Norwalk Main Street Theatre, 57 East Main St., Norwalk. Tickets are $7/adults and $5/children.

For more information call 419-668-8048 or visit norwalktheatre.org.