Second City, Rep hook up

Legendary improvisational comedy troupe The Second City has turned its comedic focus on relationships, especially that aspect of modern life known as "hooking up."

This touring company of the Chicago-based outfit features a six-member cast of aspiring future comedy superstars. Second City, a part of several past seasons at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, is returning for 11 days of shows that are being called Hooking Up With The Second City, which the company promises "is a modern mix of romance, rancor and everything in between."

"About a year ago, Second City started making the shows more thematic," says cast member Casey Whitaker, a native of Beavercreek, Ohio, and a proud graduate of the University of Kentucky. "So while relationships are the theme, we still have a bit of political satire mixed in, since it's an election year and all that. The show is sort of a 'best of' from the 50 to 60 years of comedy history associated with Chicago's Second City.

"I came to Chicago eight or nine years ago and have been with Second City for almost three years, plus a year as an understudy. I suppose my background in the Midwest certainly has influenced my outlook, along with folks like Carol Burnett and Lily Tomlin."

Jasbir Singh, a native of Sheboygan, Wis., is one of Whitaker's five castmates, and a comedian who's already making some high-powered connections.

"I just got asked by Fred Armisen [Saturday Night Live, Portlandia] to do some bits with him," Singh says. "They're 30 seconds long, where we take a word and convey its meaning in Spanish and English in a very weird, humorous way. They're like vocabulary lessons."

Singh says his influences include Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and Andy Kaufman, especially.

The others in the touring company are:

Ali Barthwell -- The lone cast member who is a native of the Chicago area, Barthwell is a graduate of Wellesley College, where she founded the Dead Serious ImprovFest. She finished The Second City Training Center House Ensemble program and The Annoyance Theatre's training program. She is a member of Sweet Tease and an ensemble member at Under the Gun Theater.

Shantira Jackson -- A graduate of Florida State University, Jackson has had comedy training at The Second City, iO Chicago, The Annoyance and ComedySportz, and has performed with Second City groups aboard the Norwegian Cruise Lines Breakaway and in Death by Evening and Urban Twist Presents You Had Me at En Vogue.

Charles Pettitt -- A native of Shreveport, Pettitt graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology. When not on tour, he performs with The Annoyance House Ensemble in Fire & Beer and Lethal Action Force: The Improvised Action Movie.

Martin Morrow -- A Birmingham, Ala., native and a graduate of Auburn University, Morrow was part of the 2015 Second City/NBC Bob Curry Fellowship program, the 2015 Breakout Comedy Festival and a graduate of The Conservatory.

Past members of The Second City with notable comedy careers include John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, John Candy, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Carell, Colbert, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey.

"For years, Second City cast members have aspired to move up to Saturday Night Live," Singh says, "but these days there are so many more paths to comedy success. The path is so random, with not just TV but the Internet with all the opportunities that present themselves to all of us."

Singh and Whitaker note that the show should be considered to have an "R" rating for adult content.

Style on 05/03/2016