CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago-area native Nick Offerman has returned to familiar ground, earning strong notices at the Goodman Theatre for his role in “Iceboy!”
Best known for his sharp comedic timing, the actor is also highlighting a more personal mission, speaking with ABC7 about a fundraiser supporting a University of Illinois institution that means a great deal to him. The public can take part Monday.
24/7.
In the musical, Offerman takes on the role of legendary playwright Eugene O’Neill. Sharing the stage with him is his wife and longtime creative partner, Megan Mullally.
Offerman was raised in Minooka, near Joliet, and later graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, a place he credits with profoundly shaping his outlook.
At Illinois, Offerman studied with Shozo Sato, the teacher he calls his sensei, who introduced students to Kabuki theatre and founded Japan House. The center offers programs in Japanese cultural traditions including tea ceremony, sumi-e ink painting and flower arranging. Offerman said the experience of entering the traditional tea house and garden taught him focus, humility and the ability to leave everyday distractions behind.
A skilled woodworker who began learning the craft while growing up, Offerman later helped build the gazebo at Japan House alongside a group of volunteers, creating a tribute to the lessons he absorbed there.
On Monday night, July 13, he will host a benefit for Japan House at the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport.
Offerman described the event as an evening built around guitar songs, humor and reflections on Sato’s teachings. He said encountering Japanese culture in the middle of Illinois farmland expanded his curiosity and empathy, opening his eyes to a much wider world.
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.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
