Storied Chicago sketch comedy group Second City, with notable alumni including Stephen Colbert and Bill Murray, is ready to return to Athens.
The group will be performing a show in the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on Saturday as part of OU’s Performing Arts Series for a crowd of eager parents.
Consisting mostly of short sketches varied by improvisation and audience participation, Second City’s shows have started to become a regular Parents Weekend festivity.
“I love performing at college campuses,” said Jamison Webb, who will be part of Saturday’s show. “The energy at colleges is great and we feed off that energy. It’s a cool relationship.”
Second City is an academy of humor comprised mostly of college students and recent college graduates fresh out of their own alma maters. After passing tryouts, the performers are sent out to tour colleges and cities around the country.
Ted Tremper, a returning member, is excited to be back in Athens for another show.
“I came to Athens to perform last year. The audience was really fantastic and it was great to be back in a college town,” Tremper said. “We’ve got a completely different running order this year, so I’m excited to see how people will dig it. I went to Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., which feels a lot like Athens.”
Both Tremper and Webb agree that college students are Second City’s ideal audience, despite the extensive touring they must do to reach them.
“Our college audiences tend to be hungry for a good time and really get involved, which is great,” Webb said. “But even if you’re not ready to participate, if you come to the show you’ll have a good time.”
Many famous actors today attribute their eventual success to the building blocks that Second City provides for aspiring comedians.
“To be performing and representing the oldest and most respected sketch comedy institution in the country is pretty unbelievable,” Tremper said. “Also, I really like long van rides, so that’s … a major plus.”
Andrew Holzaepfel, associate director of the Campus Involvement Center, said Second City’s contract fee came in at $9,500 and presale tickets covered the cost.
“This will be the third year; the parents seem to respond well to it,” Holzaepfel said. “It seems to be a no-brainer because each year we bring it back.”
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