Comedian takes intellectual approach to comedy
Julien R. Fielding
Darrell Littleton's first dream was to be a musician, sharing his music with the world.
Then, the music industry changed, and trumpet players were more or less replaced by a few buttons on a synthesizer.
"I then went into the theater, still wanting to be creative," he said. "But I noticed that they weren't looking for a lot of black actors. It's like baseball - you can't play by yourself."
So he switched to writing and eventually stand-up comedy, using the stage name D'Militante.
He was the grand prize winner on "America's Funniest People" and "Extreme Gong" and appeared in both television and film projects, including HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," WB's "The Parent 'Hood" and BET's "Comic View."
He's working on director Tony Kaye's ("American History X") latest film project, writing two films and shopping around several scripts.
"I'm lucky that I can do all these things," he said. "But my first love is stand-up, because I get to connect with the audience right away."
He said it also gives him the chance to see if what he writes is truly funny.
For about a decade, this California-born comedian has played every type of venue, from the salad bars, where he performed while someone in the background cleaned up, to ritzy black tie affairs.
And, as with any good musician who can play all musical styles well, this comedian said he is equally adept at all sorts of comic styles, ranging from physical comedy to voice-overs.
Although he makes his living making others laugh, D'Militante wasn't always the funny guy.
"I always thought of myself as the brainiac at school," he said.
Because of his interest in books and current events, this comedian's routine tends more toward political and social commentary.
"It makes you think," he said. "I talk about cloning and postpartum depression - subjects most comedians don't even talk about. I was more inspired by Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby, guys who were saying more than just a joke."
D'Militante will be the featured act tonight at the 7 and 9 shows at Amerisports Bar and Cabaret at Ameristar Casino-Hotel. He joins opener Nema Williams and headliner Beaumont Bacon.
"I encourage everybody to come on out, because this is going to be a great show," he said.
Tickets for live comedy at Ameristar, located off the Nebraska Avenue exit of Interstate 29, cost $10 and include two free drinks. For more information, call 326-2727.
Comedian takes intellectual approach to comedy was originally published in The Daily Nonpareil on 17 May,
2001. © Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil LLC
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