One of America’s most influential comedy theater groups for half a century, The Second City, which came to MSU two years ago, is back for a show tonight at 7 in the McComas Hall Theatre.
“When the touring company came to Mississippi State, it was a huge hit with the students,” entertainment adviser for the Campus Activities Board Cody Adkins said. “The comedy show is free entertainment for every student, teacher or Starkville resident who wants to come,” he added.
The Second City originated more than 50 years ago. In 1953, a group of Chicago comedians formed a performing organization called the Playwrights Theatre Club. After developing into what would be known as Compass Players in 1955, The Second City was established at 1842 N. Wells in Chicago.
Since the group has opened, it has traveled and settled in cities outside America with London and Toronto groups, including actors like Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd.
Other legendary Second City alumni include Gilda Radner, John Candy, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Tim Meadows, Jim and Jon Belushi, Eugene Levey, Mike Myers, Betty Thomas and Tina Fey. Other actors include Rick Moranis, Martin Short and Catherine O’Hara.
“Saturday Night Live” started when The Second City wanted to air a show with its alumni.
“The show usually consists of two 45-minute comedy acts, and after that are improvisational acts lasting from 10 to 20 minutes,” Adkins said.
The company that is now known as The Second City Touring Company now travels to performing art centers, universities and playhouses.
The cast includes Ryan Archibald, who performed in Amsterdam with Europe’s top improvisational comedy company, Boom Chicago. He also performed in the first Second City “Unhinged” series, “Tuesday Night Special” and “The House.”
The cast also includes Tim Miller, who performs stand-up, improvisational and sketch comedy. Miller, who graduated from The British Drama Academy in Oxford, has also appeared on the PBS show, “The Standard Deviants.”
Also in the cast are Aimee McKay, Tim Mason, Jordan Klepper and Sarah Haskins.
McKay wrote a two-woman sketch show, “Two-Faced,” on The Second City “Unhinged” series. Mason was one of the first members of Brick, the acclaimed comedy company.
Klepper was part of the independent comedy group American Dream, and Haskins graduated from Harvard and later studied improvisational and sketch comedies. She now directs and writes for “The Late Night Late Show with Mark Luge.” She also performs in American Dream.
The McComas Hall Theatre doors open at 6 p.m.
For more information on the group visit their Web site at www.secondcity.com.