A Singing Comedian at Big Dog

“I still don’t think of myself as a musician,” says up-and-coming comedian Brian O’Sullivan. “Which is weird, because about 90 percent of my act is songs.” So it’s a good thing those songs are hilarious: parodies like Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream turned into an ode to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and originals like “Santa is Just My Fuckin’ Dad!” (“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 26 times, FUCK YOU!”) The 27-year-old comic taught himself to play guitar about five years ago, but was a Weird Al protégé from the time he hit sixth grade. (“I was just trying to impress the girls on the playground. It still hasn’t happened.”) His real training is in stagecraft: He earned a BFA in acting from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, and spent several years studying improv with Chicago’s top troupes. Regardless, he says he never takes himself too seriously. “Everything I say is tongue in cheek. For me, the comedy comes first. The guitar is just my way of getting the jokes out.” O’Sullivan takes a break from the college circuit with a stop tonight at Big Dog Theater in Cleveland Heights. Opening the 9 p.m. show is Torque…Full Throttle Improv. Tickets are $8, or $6 with a student ID; cash only at the door. Or reserve seats by phone or on the website, where you’ll also find a dollar-off coupon.