A second wind for Second City?
In celebrating The Second City’s 55th anniversary, Andrew Knox has gotten a crash course in cultural history.
Namely, he’s gotten a sense of what was funny years ago — and whether the laughs hold up in 2015.
Knox, who will join other touring members of the Chicago-based comedy troupe next week at the Laguna Playhouse, said he and his fellow cast members delved into The Second City’s archives to assemble their anniversary tour.
In one vintage piece, a lawyer attempts to win a case in court despite formidable evidence against his client; another depicts a group of co-workers in an office and reveals their daydreams to the audience.
In some cases, Knox said, the sketches could be revived verbatim. In other cases, the modern cast added references to 21st century technology or other updates.
“With each generation, humor is kind of built on what came before,” Knox said by phone last week. “So that edge — we think it gets sharper and sharper, but it really just gets further out.”
On the topic of building humor on what came before, few comedy troupes have more to build on than The Second City.
The company, which operates two resident stages in Chicago and a third in Toronto, in addition to touring productions, has a track record that might cow an insecure comedian. Among the troupe’s alumni are Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Amy Poehler, Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers and Martin Short.
On Dec. 16, the company turned 55 years old. In preparation for that milestone — and just five years after The Second City’s most recent anniversary tour — the company launched a four-month road show in August that played 44 cities in 22 states, according to Joe Ruffner, a producer for the touring companies. The company worked out a special arrangement with the Laguna Playhouse to do an additional engagement in March.
Ann Wareham, the playhouse’s artistic director, called The Second City one of the few recurring acts at her venue, which notably include “Menopause the Musical” and the “Catechism” series with Maripat Donovan. The company has appeared at the theater twice before, most recently in 2012.
“There are certain things that just continue to stay interesting,” Wareham said. “Our audience is really smart about the things they want to see over and over again.”
Knox, now a Chicago resident, once belonged to that audience — at least indirectly. Growing up, he fancied himself a comedian and gradually realized that nearly all of his favorite performers had passed through The Second City at some point.
Later, when Knox was an English major at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, he found that the company offered a semester-long program for undergraduates.
He transferred and studied in Chicago, finishing the course by performing a show on one of the resident stages. He later scored a job with a Second City tour on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship and now performs with a nationwide touring company.
This time of year, Knox is more than willing to go on tour.
“Since we live in Chicago, we could not be more happy to come to Laguna Beach and get out of this Chicago winter-spring,” he said.
Is there a punch line somewhere in there? Could be.
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If You Go
What: “The Second City’s 55th Anniversary Tour”
Where: Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Cost: $35
Information: (949) 497-2787 or https://www.lagunaplayhouse.com