Comedian Dave Dugan to Headline Celebration on St. Patty’s Weekend

Ever since I first attended my first Dave Dugan show, I’ve taken a liking to the nationally known comedian who hails from Hamilton County and still lives here.

So, whenever he has a local show, I try to give him a shoutout.

Dugan, a Carmel High School graduate who lives in Carmel, is headlining the Saint Patrick’s Weekend Comedy Extravaganza next Friday and Saturday at The Cat in Carmel.

Will Wood and Audrey at the Cat Theatre hosted the St. Patrick’s Comedy shows last year, and it was a lot of fun, well-attended so we decided to bring back the theme this year,” Dugan said this week.

Professional Irish dancers from Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance on 96th Street, are added to the lineup this time. And Irish music and Irish beer (although there will be regular beers and wine, too).

“With shows both Friday, March 11, and Saturday, March 12, I invite all who like an evening of laughs and St Patrick’s celebration to attend one of the nights,” Dugan said.

“Of course, I can’t stop anyone from coming to both shows but if I see their familiar faces on the second night I will likely want to give them a fresh show and will either burst into improvising or possibly just panic. I never know about me.”

Of course, that’s Dugan for you. He finds humor in everyday life. Even when he sits down and poses next to one of downtown Carmel’s 17 life-size lifelike statues in the Carmel Arts & Design District.

How big is St. Patrick’s Day in Dugan’s life?

“I love the holiday,” he said. “For me, it represents the start of the spring season. It’s pretty much my ‘New Year’s.’ And I love the Saint it’s named in honor of. He chased the snakes out of Ireland, ya know … We could use a St. Patrick in Washington, D.C., about now,” he said, adding a little political humor.

While Dugan loves the holiday, his family doesn’t share the love. “In fact, I think they confuse my enthusiasm for temporary insanity,” he said.

I asked him to share some more St. Patrick’s Day humor, to which he replied, “Oh, now. that’s for payin’ customers only, Betsy. Now, I’m gonna have to pinch ya!”

Sorry, Dave, You’ll have to find someone else to pinch. I’ll be wearing my green on St. Patrick’s Day.” (As everybody knows, it’s a tradition to pinch anyone on St. Patrick’s Day who isn’t wearing green, the color that makes you visible to leprechauns, according to the legend.)

Dugan headlined the same St. Patrick’s event in 2021. “I don’t recall anyone dressing up last year, but it would be welcomed. I do dress up a bit but nothing over the top. I have to be careful with my sensitive skin. I get a relentless rash from jumpers and kilts,” Dugan said in jest.

What’s Dugan been up to since the last time we saw him? “Lately, I have appeared locally more often than usual. In the last few weeks, I’ve performed at Daniel’s Vineyard (McCordsville), Feinstein’s Cabaret at Hotel Carmichael (in Carmel) and now with these shows at the Cat Theatre, that will pretty much wind up my Hamilton County shows for this year as it appears for now.” After next weekend, he’s on to a schedule of corporate shows in seven states.

He often talks about his own life. Dugan just celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary. “Yes, that is a special anniversary as I understand it now, the silver anniversary. News that now makes my face-customized-on-a-thong gift feel a little awkward.”

Dugan, who posted on Facebook a beautiful photo of him and his bride 25 years ago, said, “Actually, looking back it’s hard to believe how much we’ve been through together. My wife is a great person. We’ve had a lot of laughs along the way, and she doesn’t expect much at all, which makes me perfect for her.” (By now, Heidi is used to his jokes.)

They have a daughter, Riley, who follows in her dad’s footsteps. “Still doing her (Carmel High School WHJE) radio show while finishing her senior year,” he said. Dugan, who also loves music, worked humor into his own spot as a radio personality on CHS’s WHJE student-run radio station before graduating from CHS many moons ago).

Riley has been accepted to a number of colleges and their art departments. (She’s still in the decision process) and “has interest in being a voiceover actor after just landing her first job.” (Our readers might recall Riley being featured in this column in July 2020. Dugan taught her to be more confident and instilled in her his passion for music. He’s also proud that she earned a statewide award, from the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters, for a script and production she created for an Indiana High School Athletic Association public service announcement.)

Riley’s brother, Max, graduated from college with honors last summer, got married, is starting a family and teaching high school history, the proud dad said.

So what’s Dugan look forward to most in 2022? “You know, I so much like ‘my work,’ it doesn’t matter if it’s performing at a national conference or at a local American Legion. I like all the shows and the people and everyone seems to need a laugh these days. So to call it work is really kind of misleading.”

Just before signing off, Dugan said, “Now I better go write some more stuff. You’ve got me all nervous with needing to change up the material in case someone out there comes to both shows. Although I can’t imagine them doing that unless it’s on a dare or part of being hazed into a fraternal organization.”

Funny, Dave!

-Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.