We’ve all heard of Tina Fey, Mike Myers, Bill Murray, Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert, but have you ever heard of where they all got their start?
Some may recognize the name The Second City - the improvisational comedy company that began in Chicago in 1959 - but for those less familiar, The Second City is rooted in the style of improvisational games that looks at creating and performing comedy and theater in a unique style.
On Saturday Oct. 20, one of several Second City touring troupes will perform in Kuhl Gym to entertain students and their families during Geneseo’s annual Parents Weekend. Limelight & Accents – a subcommittee of the Activities Commission – is presenting the show, which runs from 8 to 9:30 p.m.
When The Second City originally opened, its experimental and original style appealed to a young audience impressed by its new and fresh approach to comedy.
By the time the company began attracting more attention and branching out beyond Chicago, The Second City had already placed former members on Broadway and had populated the set of “Saturday Night Live” with alumni John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
With the opening of its sister theater in Toronto in 1973 and the introduction of its own sketch comedy series SCTV featuring Martin Short, John Candy and Eugene Levy, The Second City developed beyond a small sketch theater on Chicago’s north side.
It is now a dominant improvisational group celebrating over 50 years of performance with a growing number of famous graduating members.
Tickets for the Oct. 20 show are available online or at the Student Association Ticket Office. Prices are $17 for Geneseo students, $19 for children under 12, $23 for faculty and $25 for the general public.
The Second City touring ensembles entertain thousands of people a year, and Geneseo students have an opportunity to join that crowd. With guaranteed laughter, it’s a performance you shouldn’t miss.