Jeff Kaley
Being a caretaker for a half-century legacy of success and fame can be a heavy burden.
But when Megan Hovde Wilkins considers that the legacy involves making people laugh, it kind of lightens the load.
“There are definitely times when you think about all the people who came before you and how they’ve become some of the most famous comedians and actors in the world, and it gives you a thrill,” Wilkins said. “There’s nothing better than hearing people laugh and have a good time.”
Wilkins is one of five comedians in the traveling ensemble for The Second City’s 50th Anniversary Tour, which arrives at 7 p.m. Saturday, at the Simmons Center, for opening night of the 2009-10 Live From the Center concert series.
Seldom has the Chisholm Trail Arts Council opened a Live From the Center season in more prestigious, hilarious fashion.
Since it first opened in 1959, as a small improvisation comedy theater on the north side of Chicago, The Second City has become the most influential and prolific comedy conglomerate on the planet.
There are training centers in Chicago, Toronto and Los Angeles, four touring companies playing venues around the world, a corporate seminar program, spin-offs like “Second City TV” and an ever-growing list of alumni.
The legacy Wilkins and her compadres — Ross Bryant, Dana Quercioli, Edgar Blackmon and Tim Robinson — must tote is also a generational name-droppers delight. They follow in the footsteps of Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, Alan Arkin and Peter Boyle; they tread a path honed by John Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Gilda Radner; they’re the next link in a chain that includes John Candy, Martin Short, Julie Louis Dreyfus, Chris Farley, Mike Meyers, Tina Fey, Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert.
Extending the legacy might be daunting, but Wilkins felt being a guardian of the past becomes a motivation.
“Second City’s history makes you think, ‘Oh, this is so cool!’” she said. “To be following in the footsteps of those talented people just adds to the excitement, and it makes you want to keep up the standard that’s been set.”
Improvisational comedy makes maintaining the standard a little problematic. Improv means getting a laugh by spontaneously reacting to observations or audience suggestions and then creating dialogue, setting and plot extemporaneously.
Wilkins has a background in other comedic and dramatic acting genres, including musicals. However, the Chicago area native picked up the improv bug in high school and has never shaken it.
“I think all the members of the ensemble would have a different answer about the attraction of improv, but I think it’s because there’s no parameters; it’s limitless, and that’s very freeing when you’re on stage,” she noted.
“Another attraction is that improv doesn’t always work, but when it does, it feels great. I think you have to have the option of failure to make the success all that much sweeter and exciting.
“A lot of what we’ll be doing (at Live From the Center) is total improv, but because this is the 50th anniversary tour, we’ll also be doing some archive material; sketches from Second City’s 50 years that were written before us.
“That makes the performances even more fun for us and for the audience.”
Season tickets the 2009-10 Live From the Center season and individual tickets for The Second City 50th Anniversary Tour concert are available by calling 580-252-4160 or go to the Web site www.chisholmtrailarts.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the CTAC office, 717 W. Willow, Suite 6, Duncan.
In addition to Saturday night’s concert, the ensemble is also conducting a free comedy workshop at 2 p.m. at the Simmons Center. It’s open to anyone interested in learning more about improvisational comedy — or anyone who thinks they may be funny.
The workshop is open to all ages, with openings for up to 80 people. Call the CTAC office to register.
