Second Silly

Do you know what connection Mike Myers has with Joan Rivers? If you're thinking Mr. Myers must have worn a tasteless tux while waltzing down the red carpet, and good ol' Joan called him out on it, you're wrong. No, Joan was not always the fashion maven she is today--these two are both alumni of Second City Improv, along with other comic geniuses like John Belushi, Martin Short, Dan Akroyd and Gilda Radner, among many other notables.

This Monday the star-producing troupe will storm the stage in Page for one night of unedited comedy as a part of the Duke University Union's "On-Stage" series.

The Chicago-based company has a great tradition of blending sketch comedy and improv for a performance unlike other comedy groups. Every night is drastically different than the one before. They do everything and everybody from politicians to pop culture icons with their own pre-written stuff, mixing in new improv-ed bits every night, so each show is unique and different.

The Second City's roots are in a student theater group at the University of Chicago created by Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Zorah Lampert, Paul Stills and Sheldon Patinkin. The group formed in 1955 and underwent numerous changes before becoming The Second City. Finally, in 1959, after three names and the addition of many other members--Jerry Stiller among them--The Second City emerged and has grown over the years with theaters in Toronto, Detroit, Las Vegas and Clevland.

Today, Second City is known as the premiere improv and sketch comedy group and has spawned other such groups like the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York.

Improvers have a motto to, "make the active choice" on stage, so be like them and make the active choice. Go see Second City on Monday