A Professionally Written Bio With Comments In Blue Italicized Times Roman Font Added By The Subject Of The Bio ^{Who Is Bob Stromberg}

Bob Stromberg grew up in the Allegheny Mountains of rural northern Pennsylvani.^{The key word here is “rural”. I remember this part of the country as stunningly beautiful and utterly artless.} Throughout his early school years, his deepest desire was to be recognized as class clown.^{Yeah well fat chance.  My dad was the school principal and my mom a teacher so… there ya go.}

Receiving a B.A. from North Park College in Chicago, ^{Now the school is called North Park University. The city however is still called Chicago and is located in a large flat area called Illinois.  Perhaps some of you have heard of it.  It was there that I studied poorly for four years learning few things that struck me as particularly funny.} he continued his studies for two years with legendary teacher Tony Montanaro at Celebration Mime Theatre in Maine. ^{The school was located in an old four-story horse barn, which felt much more like home.}It was there he met mask maker extraordinaire Michael Cooper and together they clowned in schools across New England, for over ten years, ^{One of our highlights was opening for Ray Charles. That’s right folks. We did mime for Ray Charles.} through 4000 shows, cutting their performing teeth as the comedy duo "Stromberg and Cooper". ^{During one of those school years we did 475 shows… many of them for kindergarten through sixth grade.  Shortly thereafter we decided it might be a good idea to take a break from one another for three or four decades.} In 1989 Bob “went solo” performing his unique blend of story, standup and shtick in venues from church basements, to corporate settings to stadium events. ^{I also opened for some heavy metal bands and was routinely booed off the stage. I recall it as a loud sustained noise which I interpreted to mean, “Ooooooooooooooo that guy is so good!”}

Then in 1995 he co-authored the hit play, Triple Espresso (a highly caffeinated comedy). The play, described by the Los Angeles Times as "...a triple jolt of inspired craziness," has opened in dozens of cities from Seattle to London to Munich, sustaining record setting runs in many of them. In his role the Chicago Sun Times called Bob, “A mesmerizing physical comedian…” ^{I’m particularly fond of this quote and thus have used it for years. You’ll notice the dot dot dot at the end.  I don’t remember the entire quote but I promise it was not “A mesmerizing physical comedian Bob Stromberg isn’t.”} 

In 2008... Bob premiered a new one-man show entitled Mr. Wonderboy.  The show, both funny and poignant, is an intimate expression of what it means to be an artist. ^{Or you could say it’s my autobiographical tale of a youngster who lived an idyllic childhood and then over came it all up to become a comedic artist.}  In comparing him to a young Dick Van Dyke, the Minneapolis Star Tribune said Bob has, “…superb physical malleability, ^{I guess I appear really flexible} a halting vocal delivery ^{I guess I stutter?}and perfect timing." ^{I guess so!} The St. Paul Pioneer Press said, “Stromberg is a bit like a cross between Bob Newhart and Garrison Keillor.” ^{I would like to point out that unlike either of these talented men, I am stunningly handsome.}

Bob has written three books, Finding the Magnificent in Lower Mundane, ^{I sometimes refer to this book as a best seller because it did sell very well to the six people who bought it. I don’t remember them complaining until several weeks after the actual sale.}  the award winning, beautifully illustrated family story The Miracle at Stinky Bay and the best selling, Why Geese Fly Farther Than Eagles.  ^{This book actually was a best seller with nearly sixty thousand sold.  I think that qualifies.  If not it was at least a better seller than the other one.} He is known by many^some for his appearances ^one on the awarding winning TV comedy Bananas.

Bob lives in Minnesota with his wife Judy, occasionally still performs with Triple Espresso and Mr. Wonder Boy and tours extensively as a featured comedian and speaker. His comedy and speaking has a wide range of expression from group whistling ^{Yeah… when was the last time you got together for a good whistle? I’m serious. When?} to stories with heart, standup and amazing shadow puppets.