The actor, known for his comic chops, gets serious, telling ABC7 about a fundraiser for a U of I treasure close to his heart, and you can be there Monday.
Offerman's character is legendary playwright Eugene O'Neill. His leading lady in the musical is Offerman's real-life spouse, Megan Mullally.
The actor grew up in Minnoka, just outside Joliet. He's a graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. That's where Offerman had a life-changing experience.
"There was this teacher named Shozo Sato, our sensei, who taught us Kabuki theatre, and he started this whole program there called Japan House. They teach classes, tea ceremony, black ink painting, flower arrangements," Offerman said. "You go to this traditional tea house, the garden is this exquisite experience. You can't think about the distractions of the world, but you are taking away the beauty and the simple focus, of getting to the door. When you get to the door, it's this high. So, you bow to get through the door, when you bow, everything in your head dumps out, so you debase yourself and say, 'I am empty, and now I'm ready for this.'"
Offerman is a master woodworker, learning his skills growing up. He and a team of volunteers created the gazebo at Japan House, honoring all he learned there.
He's doing a benefit for Japan House this Monday night, July 13, at the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport.
"I do an evening of songs on the guitar, a lot of laughter, and I talk a lot about my sensei and share some of the lessons," Offerman said. "It was just wild in the middle of the cornfield of Illinois to have my curiosity and my empathy blown open. As this ignorant farm kid, it just blew me away and opened me up to Japanese culture, and the world, the world is available."
Doors open at 6 p.m. Monday at the Ramova Theatre on South Halsted for the benefit.
It has even more meaning for Offerman, since his beloved teacher, Shozo Sato, died last year at 91 at his home in Champaign.