By Shawn Hogendorf, Staff Writer 

At just 10 years old, Luke Swank of Prior Lake knows he wants to see his “name in lights” someday.

So far, the aspiring comedian has had a taste of fame twice in the last year, first performing a ventriloquist skit with his father, Todd, at the Wishes and More Valentine’s Ball last February. Most recently, the duo performed a similar skit with Louie Anderson at the Waconia Event Center.

Luke’s dream came true, in part, after he received a wish from the Wishes and More organization because of a heart condition.Luke Swank, 10, of Prior Lake
recently performed a comedy skit
with Louie Anderson at the
Waconia Event Center after his
wish to become a comedian was
granted by the Wishes and More
organization. (Photo by Shawn
Hogendorf)

The Swanks received a call notifying them of the comedy gig just days before Luke was asked to take the stage in front of about 250 people with the famed Minnesota comedian.

Luke remembers playing outside in the yard when a limousine pulled up.

He got in and found the vehicle was full of candy, junk food, T-shirts and “all my favorite drinks,” the fifth-grader at Five Hawks Elementary School said. As the family and a couple of friends headed from Prior Lake to Waconia, the limousine driver got lost and had to make a U-turn, Luke said.

But the misdirection was no big deal, because he was preoccupied with all the lights and trinkets inside the luxury vehicle.

When the Swanks pulled up to the event center, Luke said people were taking pictures with him as he got a “little taste of some red carpet treatment.”

Once inside the venue, Luke had the chance to meet and chat with Anderson, who Luke said is a little older and shorter than expected but “was a very nice older gentleman.”

Luke told Anderson he was a bit nervous about the skit. But Anderson put him at ease, stating, “Don’t worry, everyone will love you.”

After sitting backstage and hanging out with Anderson, it was time to hit the stage.

Anderson introduced Luke and his father and the duo performed the five-minute bit that Luke practiced a couple of times a day for a few weeks.

The skit is largely improvisation, Luke said, explaining that his father asks him questions and he plays the part of the ventriloquist’s dummy from the planet Uranus. Once on the stage, the duo cracked jokes and got a good response from the crowd, Luke said.

“I love to make people laugh,” he added. “It makes me feel good inside. There are a couple of kids at school that I can make laugh all day long.”

Luke said he was nervous the entire time he was on stage and felt relieved when the gig was over. But before leaving the stage, Anderson gave Luke a chance to tell the crowd one of his original jokes.

Luke got up and said, “Hi, Louie. I’m glad it is you who granted my wish. I thought Kanye West was going to come up here and tell me I didn’t do a good job.”

In addition to comedy, Luke, is also a member of the Junior Naturalists Club at school, as well as a choir member. He also loves to play golf and dig under rocks for bugs and other little critters.

Q and A with

Luke Swank

What is your favorite meal?

I like shells (macaroni and cheese).

What is your favorite movie?

“Happy Gilmore.”

What are you going to be for Halloween?

The “Halo” character.

Who is your favorite comedian?

Will Ferrell.

What is your favorite class in school?

Science, because we get to grow plants right now.

 Shawn Hogendorf can be reached at (952) 345-6374 or shogendorf@swpub.com.