Comedian Ryan Niemiller makes his triumphant return to his hometown when he headlines DeMotte’s Touch of Dutch festival on August 13.
The comedian finished third on America’s Got Talent Season 14 in 2019 and was a semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent: The Champions Season 2. He’ll be playing a free show at 5pm on the main stage at Spencer Park.
Born with a congenital birth defect, or limb difference, in both arms, Niemiller graduated in 2000 from Kankakee Valley High School. He proudly calls himself “the sidekick of comedy” and uses the hashtag #ClubNubb on social media.
“It’s very interesting and surreal. I had a great time growing up in DeMotte…it’s cool that I came from there. I remember when we made a big deal when we got our first stoplight.”
He’s amazed at how big the Touch of Dutch Festival has been since he was a kid growing up in a trailer park.
“When I was a kid, what I remember Touch of Dutch being was kind of quaint, to be polite,” he said. “Maybe there was a little parade and in the park maybe people could sell their birdhouses. That’s what it was. So when they approached me and asked me if I wanted to act, I was a little skeptical at first.
“I said, ‘What do you mean, act?’ I don’t sell crafts. It’s great that they put the work and effort into making this something. Now it seems to be a production, an event. It’s great as someone who grew up in that city and would have liked more productions and events. I’m honored to be asked to be a part of it.”
Since appearing on “America’s Got Talent,” her life has changed dramatically. Although he had done comedy for a dozen years before coming on the show, it took him so long to “barely pay my bills” doing comedy, he said.
“It was a lot of 12-hour car rides and sleeping in my car because I couldn’t afford a hotel room and maybe the show would be three drunks in a dive bar who didn’t know it was a comedy night,” he said. to say. “When you go on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ 15 million people see you right away. And if you do well, things change overnight.”
Gone are the days of sleeping in your car. He now headlines comedy clubs across the country and is asked to be the keynote speaker at disability conferences.
“To be able to do this for a living and to be able to thrive has been wonderful,” he said.
It was important to him to stay authentic and true to himself on television.
“When I first wanted to do ‘America’s Got Talent,’ I wasn’t thinking, ‘I’m going to be so inspiring to people with disabilities.’ At the end of the day, I’m kind of an attention whore. I like it when people he laughs at my jokes I want to have as many eyes on him as possible.
“But when you start getting texts and emails and comments from people with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities who were so grateful to have someone who looked like them in a positive light on TV, you realize that that means a lot to people and I’m glad I was authentic and didn’t try to turn it into ‘Oh, woe is me’. It’s part of who I am, but it’s not entirely who I am.”
Niemiller had about six months to tour and bask in the post-show glow before the pandemic hit and his momentum stalled.
“I’ve learned to have this mindset as best as I can for every aspect of my life: You can be angry about it, but you can’t be angry about it,” he said. “I was like that with my disability. He could have been very sad about it. I wasn’t going to wake up one morning and not have a disability just because I hated it.”
Niemiller got married last year and now lives in Los Angeles with his wife. Many of his jokes are about his life and experiences, including some observations about being a newlywed.
“If you just pay attention, most of the work is already done for you,” he said. “You just have to figure out where the crosshairs are.”
The touch of the Dutch audience will hear these remarks, as well as their memories of growing up in DeMotte. He also looks forward to seeing people he hasn’t seen in a while.
“It’s always interesting to perform in front of an audience where a lot of people already know you personally,” he said. “Many of these people have known me since I was five years old. You can’t take a quick swipe at someone who took math class with you in middle school.
“I’m going to do what I usually do, which is to be genuine and have fun. For me, this will be a party. It’s a homecoming for me, I’m excited. If you had told me in high school that I would be asked to perform (for) the city again, I would not have believed it. I’m excited to come home.”
Touch of Dutch Festival will feature a car show at 9am, a parade at 10am, children’s activities and bounce houses, food and craft vendors, a beer garden, live music and a bouncy castle of fireworks at sunset.
Dutch festival touch
When: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Central August 13
Where: Spencer Park, 112 Carnation St. SE, DeMotte
Tickets: free
Information: 219-987-5800; demottechamber.org/touch-of-dutch
Annie Alleman is a Post-Tribune freelance writer.
