North Park Host the Second City by Marcus Simmons

Hoping to experience a bit of the critically acclaimed “mind explosion of political and social satire cropping up in every delicious nook and cranny of this great nation and beyond,” more than two hundred and fifty individuals flocked to the Lecture Hall Auditorium to experience the comedic talents of The Second City’s touring company, TOURCO, last week. This night of comedy, sponsored by the Student Association, featured the talents of Tim Baltz, Dana Quercioli, Mark Raterman, Tim Robinson, Mary Sohn, Megan Wilkins and Bryan Dunn (music director).

At the request of members from the audience, which Sohn and Baltz described as “great” and “really smart,” the troupe improvised scenes ranging from Planned Parenthood to soft-rock anthems about presidential candidate Barack Obama. One lucky student, Chris Davignon was invited on stage for an interview with the performers resulting in an entire scene dedicated to a day in his life. Additional volunteers included freshman Robert Marshall and Linda Parkyn, who offered comedian Tim Robinson a kiss on the forehead. “I thought it was good. They were cracking me up. I was just upset about all the politics that were involved ‘cause that part was not that interesting,” says Jill Barker, a third-year student.

Backstage, the laughter and jokes continued as the cast members snacked and reflected on their choice to become comedians. Mary Sohn’s story was short and sweet. “My mother said I used to like, make up stuff all the time.” Megan Wilkins has been a performer since the age of four and after doing improv for the first time in 2000, she “never stopped.”

Mark Raterman, who got his start in Washington D.C., started as an understudy at The Second City five years ago before being hired for it’s Mainstage theater. “I started improve when I was 19. “I liked it because I had never drank or done drugs and there was nothing stopping me from doing whatever I wanted to in improve,” says Dana Quercioli, who joined the Mainstage theater at age 22. “Everything I couldn’t do in real life, I could do with improv and that was what was appealing about it. It’s fun.”

Although they had worked with each other on occasion, this was the first time the six of them had preformed as a troupe. Some of the cast members like Tim Robinson, who hails from Detroit, are still relatively new to The Second City’s touring ensemble. “I like to swear, no, just kidding; I like physical bits a lot, contorting bodies, falling, getting hit in the crouch is still funny,” he says, noting that he really likes it when people fall before bursting into another fit of laughter. For Quercioli, not laughing during a bit is one of her greatest challenges. “It’s hard not to laugh, but once you start, it’s a snowball effect. And these guys are jerks, they push you to laugh harder.” In addition to performing with talents such as Rachel Dratz and Tim Meadows, she has also performed skits written by Tina Fey, a Second City alum – in front of Fey and her husband.

After several cast members began doing their alien bit, they discussed how lucky they were to be with The Second City. “I tend to forget [about all the famous comedians], but then when I’m walking through the building and think about how I viewed comedy as a kid, I geek out and it’s like, oh my God, I’m good enough to work here! or oh my God, I’m not good enough to work here!” Tim Baltz said. The Second City is home base for a lot of famous actors and comedians. James Belushi, Steve Carrell, and Steven Colbert are just a few of the company’s alumni and many like Tim Meadows still attend shows there. The group recalls meeting Tim Meadows, improvising skits with cast members of 30 Rock, and hanging out with Conan O’Brian. “Tim Meadows came by during the ten minutes that I happened to be away!” says stage manager Kyle Anderson.

“Now we watch people we worked with and who taught us win Emmys,” says Wilkins. Some of the cast members have even performed the company’s revue entitled “Barack and A Hard Place” for Mr. and Mrs Obama themselves. In moments like those Quercioli asks herself, “Who would be in this situation . . . unless they had jobs like us?”

-Marcus Simmons

I Think Dances Rock!

As juvenile and cliché as formal dances may seem, there is a lot to be said for offering the opportunity for students to do something a little classier than the usual trip to the Wood. As college students we rarely have the chance or the funds to go out on the town and spend an evening with friends; the North Park dances offer just that.
This year in particular the Homecoming dance should be an event to remember. Held at the Shedd Aquarium, the dance will involve all of the wonderful lights, sounds, and tastes of the previous dances with the added charm of ambient sea creatures. Even if you don’t know how to dance you can still bob your head “Night at the Roxbury” style and watch the braver folks display their moves. Not to mention the food is a welcome change from the ARA or good old apartment Ramen.
At the heart of my love for the homecoming dance is my girlish desire to get all dressed up and feel much prettier than my normal college sweats fashion allows. Getting to wear a formal dress is a rarity, second only to nearly non-existent times when my fiancé puts on a suit. I know that guys will complain that suits are hot and itchy and constraining, but they look so great that for one night it should be worth it.
Finally, the homecoming dance provides a chance for all North Park students to meet up, hang out, and enjoy community and fellowship. We are oft divided by living arrangements, majors, extra-curricular activities and even language, but dance is universal. Even if we agree on nothing else we should all be able to agree that somewhere in us there is a little part that will always love the North Park dances.