Bren Tran: Consider My Heart Stopped – Standup Comedy Solo Show in Chicago

Chicago stand up comedian Bren Tran, a Bob Curry alum of The Second City and creator of You Win Some, You Dim Sum (nominated Best Comedy Show ’25 by the Chicago Reader), brings his second solo comedy show, Consider My Heart Stopped, to The Playground Theater.

After performing at major comedy festivals including SF Sketchfest, Alaska B4UDie Fest, and a month-long run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Bren returns home with a sharp and vulnerable hour of live stand up comedy in Chicago.

After losing his dad, Bren found himself suddenly becoming “the man of the house” while still very much being a gay millennial who cries at Heartstopper. In this heartfelt and hilarious Chicago comedy show, he explores grief, identity, gay panic, immigrant family dynamics, and what it means to rebuild yourself after everything changes.

If you love smart, emotionally honest stand up comedy — often compared to Tig Notaro — this is your perfect Saturday night live comedy plan in Chicago.

“Tran has this beautiful ability to push the boundaries of dark comedy and dramatic tension, reminiscent of Tig Notaro.” — David Davila