Bringing The Second City to Traverse City

Dec. 21, 2014

Reviewing the 50-year history of Chicago improvisation troupe The Second City runs down a who’s who of comedy.

You may have heard of a few of these people: Bill Murray, Bonnie Hunt, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Mike Myers, Tim Meadows and Tina Fey. They are just a few of the many Second City alumni who helped solidify the troupe’s legacy of cutting-edge funny.

Some of today’s Second City members might join that list in a few years, but for now they’re taking the show on the road.

Three separate touring companies – Green, Red and Blue, named after the Ringling Brothers’ traveling circus troupes – are performing "The Best of The Second City," which features some of the company’s highlights over the years.

One of these will be stopping in Traverse City this January. Here’s a peak behind the scenes from three of Second City’s current comedy best.

Jo Feldman, Second City Green Co.

Feldman began working as a host at Second City when she was 19. She says she moved to Chicago "pretty much for Second City."

"Being a Jewish girl from Detroit and loving Gilda Radner (another Second City alumna), I wanted to follow her path," Feldman said.

Performing on the stage where she used to usher people to their seats has been incredibly humbling for the performer.

"I just feel incredibly lucky to have this job," she said. "America’s favorite comedians from over the last half a century come from Second City. The people we grow up watching on TV and film cut their teeth here."

"Saturday Night Live," she pointed out, is Second City-heavy right now, including Cecily Strong and Vanessa Bayer. The same is true of Tina Fey’s show "30 Rock," which includes Second City’s Jack McBrayer and John Lutz in its cast.

Even "The Walking Dead" boasts Second City alumnus Steven Yeun as character Glenn Rhee.

"In Chicago, we are an institution that people grow up knowing about," Feldman added. "I would say the experience for native Chicagoans is different because they come to Second City and have their favorite performers, and then get to watch them ascend to bigger platforms."

Casey Whitaker, Second City Red Co.

Whitaker also started as an intern with Second City, arriving from the University of Kentucky after taking a free improvisation class and falling in love with the process.

"I understudied for 10 months and I’ve been touring full time for over a year now," she said. "I actually quit my awful day job and then got Red Co. two days later, which was insane! It’s truly a dream to work here."

Her favorite parts of the job so far are writing original material, performing the archived scenes from famous Second City alumni and traveling with the cast.

"I love them. It’s like road-tripping with your best friends," she said. "And I personally have family in Michigan, so I am so excited to come to Traverse City. My parents met in college at Michigan, so I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for your perfect state!" Whitaker also enjoys the process of improvisation, pointing out that, no matter how many times you do it, there’s always more to learn.

"The elements of risk taking and failing are embraced," she explained. "We push the envelope and comment on the world in our sketches; it’s all about trial and error and being brave. Everyone who has worked and performed here is changed forever because of this environment."

Lisa Beasley, Second City Blue Co.

Beasley’s first exposure to Second City was as an audience member at their 99th Mainstage Revue, "South Side of Heaven." A year later, she participated in a weeklong comedy training seminar and was eventually hired by the company as an understudy.

"A couple of months later, I was asked to officially sign on as a touring company member," she said.

Confirming Second City’s reputation as an "institution of comedy," Beasley said that part of her job as a touring company member is to keep the classic voices of the past Second City alive, as well as create current material for their own troupe.

"No two shows are the same," she pointed out. "There will always be moments created on stage that will only be shared between that cast and that audience for that one night."

For the "Best Of Second City" show, comedians are encouraged to research the communities where they’re traveling. As soon as they land in a city, Beasley starts searching for good comedy fodder.

"I keep my eyes open, read their newspaper or look up trending topics in the neighborhood," she said. "The audience always appreciates our knowledge of their hometown."

And what does she like best about her Second City job?

"The people they hire are just plain funny," she said.

"The Best of The Second City" will perform at the Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 8pm. To purchase tickets, visit www.dennosmuseum.org. For more information on The Second City, visit www.secondcity.com