Jeff Garlin to play Zanies in Chicago and Rosemont

Jeff Garlin, via imdb.com

Years before he gained fame and fortune as an executive producer and star of HBO’s widely lauded comedy “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Chicago-born Jeff Garlin was touring the country as a stand-up comic and cracking up crowds at Zanies in Old Town, where he worked for a stretch as the house emcee.

In early April, the 51-year-old Garlin (currently starring in ABC’s comedy “The Goldbergs”) is scheduled to play four nights (April 1, 2, 3 and 6) at the tiny club where he honed his comedy chops and his conversational style. He’ll also do two dates (April 4 and 5) at Zanies’ newest outpost in Rosemont.

Tickets are $25 and available at www.zanies.com, but there’s a good chance they won’t last long.

Between now and then, if you’re so inclined, you can bone up on Garlin via his podcast, his memoir, reruns of “Curb,” his films (including the 2006 Chicago-centric “I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With,” which Garlin wrote, produced and directed), his 2009 DVD “Young and Handsome” (recorded in front of a live audience at Second City and directed by Naperville’s own Bob Odenkirk) and countless clips on YouTube.