With 50 years, Second City still laughing on the assembly line

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Second City, Chicago-based troupe of comic theater, which celebrated its 50th Birthday this weekend with a meeting of former students, the organization has more stars in the first Hollywood. With Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Bonnie Hunt, Harold Ramis and dozens of other former cast members in town for the event, there was much laughter during the exhibitions and round tables organized to celebrate this milestone. But the meeting - and many famous names who moved from the second large city that is now at home in the Old City of Chicago - also a sobering reminder of how the mainstream group after Scrappy was an industry that once he has publicly questioned made. Founded in the year 1959 from the ashes of a band of the University of Chicago, as is the Compass Players, Second City, one of the most important American plants laugh, launch the career of each for Alan Arkin and Barbara Harris at Gilda Radner Tina Fey. Are on the way, their artists and performances, as the world laughs changed. "There should be a little Chicago proud," said Robert Klein, who was a member of the troupe in the mid-1960s and became a stand-up legend. "It is completely original." Second City took a new and smart comedy, rooted in improvisation and sketches of all, through satire rather than jokes line of stand-up comics driven. His fame and influence grew in the 1970s when alums who like John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray stars from TV comedy sketch on "Saturday Night Live, when serious and local actors - inspired by the success - founded groups such as Steppenwolf Theater have become cultural icons in their own right and solidified his reputation in Chicago as a city has the comedian. have won big party last few weeks, dozens of alumni and fans, such as Fred Willard, George Wendt, Jeff Garlin and David Steinberg, who followed his career in Hollywood. "This is the largest gathering of alumni ever," said Keegan-Michael Key, a cast member in 2001, was an actor, MADtv. Tickets for most events, including a meeting on Friday evening, the distribution of the Emmy Award-winning "SCTV" television program of the 1970s, sold out in minutes. "It's a special place," said Willard. "I saw many theater groups, many groups of sketches. This is the smartest, the best stuff. & Quo t, no other city, no career," St einberg, a member of the troupe in 1964, which continues as a director for the series "Seinfeld," "show" Curb Your Enthusiasm "and several others, said the importance of the group on their career could not be overestimated. "No Second City, he said," no career. "Troop emphasis on improvisation requires a level of teamwork Brainy understood only player contact bridge of May - and this creates obligations or enemies that do not die. For Willard, better known these days for his work in director Christopher Guest comedies such as" Best in Show "or" A Mighty Wind, "was the highlight of the session is running in Canaan, Alex, a cast member in 1965, leaving after six months, and finally in the business of sport." It was just wonderful, "said Willard . 'You do not know whether it well down-and-out and miss one or two teeth. (But) he was there and looked very smart and well done. "What began as a guerrilla operation 50 years ago has now become an institution of comedy and a good size for small businesses. Second City an annual turnover of 30 million U.S. dollars converted and a staff of over 350, including 120 full-time artist, the fans maintain theaters in Chicago and Toronto, a tour operator and cruise ships operated by Norwegian Cruise Line. This business has proved remarkably recession proof has, according to Andrew Alexander, the chef and co-owner. registration centers reached in the Second City Education Summit that workers put aside by the slowdown, slightly depressed by the constant drumming of the bad news, when looking for distraction and a possible second career. attend performances outside of Toronto, a decline in tourism has directly affected this city, she argued, Alexander. " From a business perspective, we are very good, "he said. "People want to laugh. Comedy is a scientifically proven stress relief. If we could bottle that I would." The only part of the company, which had suffered in the recession of the unit that helps companies train workers and the development of creative marketing. But that also came out in the fourth quarter of 2009, "said Alexander. "the first three quarters, it was difficult," he said. "But in 2010 I think we are back where we were in 2008." (Reporting by James B. Kelleher, editing; by Bob Tourtellotte)