THEATER: The Second City returns to improvise at the Rep

By Jack Hill

LITTLE ROCK — In its 50 years as the nation’s premier improvisational comedy troupe, Chicago’s Second City has helped launch the careers of Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, John Belushi, John Candy, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Chris Farley, Stephen Colbert and Tina Fey.

The concept has since gone from merely a Windy City-based cabaret theater to an additional outpost in Toronto and training centers in those cities and Los Angeles.

“We also have four touring companies that perform around this country and internationally,” says Ross Bryant, a member of the touring ensemble that will be performing at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre through Oct. 18. “Plus we are on seven of the ships operated by the Norwegian Cruise Lines.

“We mix it up, touring all over plus from three to five times in Chicago, so the talent pool reaches into a lot of different hoppers.”

The Second City companies have been featured in several seasons at The Rep in recent years, and past performances have been feasts for lovers of improvisation. Actors have referred to having “boned up” in advance on central Arkansas issues, politics and culture, and made references to some of Arkansas’ “movers and shakers.” At times, actors ask audience members to suggest a topic and then the actors construct skits, songs or jokes around their suggestions.

Bryant, who grew up in North Carolina before making his way to Chicago, was always determined to find his niche in the world of comedy. In college, he got into improvisation, knowing that Chicago was the mecca of improvisation.

“I auditioned a couple of times and got in on my second try,” Bryant explains. “Second City was always my goal; once you get in there, you feel like you’re on your way.”

The company’s three-decades-long connection to Saturday Night Live is well known to everyone in the company, Bryant says, noting that a cast member in Chicago recently was hired to work on the writing staff of SNL, and another, Adam McKay, directed Will Ferrell’s 2004 comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

“A lot of us have these sorts of goals set for ourselves, or to work somewhere in the entertainment industry,” Bryant said. “I’d say my role model is Stephen Colbert. He is one of my comedy idols, along with Tina Fey.

“The ensembles are put together with people’s strength in mind. Improv is our first love - making it up on stage - and so that’s what we will be working hard to achieve.”

Other ensemble members are Megan Hovde Wilkins, Dana Quercioli, Edgar Blackmon and Tim Robinson.

The Second City 8 p.m. today through Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, 8 p.m. Oct. 15-17 and 2 and 7 p.m. Oct. 18, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Sixth and Main streets, Little Rock Tickets: $20-$30 (501) 378-0405, (866) 684-3737, www.therep.org

Weekend, Pages 34 on 10/08/2009

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