By Kit Lyman

During this past October, The Second City Improv sketch comedy group performed at Ithaca’s State Theatre, bringing its satirical genius, raw talent, and most of all ceaseless passion. Second City is a comedic enterprise that has served as the foundation for today’s best comedians, actors, and directors for almost fifty years. Along with its training center to help aspiring artists to expand their talent through extensive teaching in improvisation and comedy writing, there are several touring companies that travel the world performing unscripted and scripted shows. With the dynamic cast of Brooke Bagnall, Abby Mcenany, Rachel Miller, Sam Richardson, and Seth Weitberg, I was able to see first-hand that Second City breeds actors that not only pursue what they love but live for what they do.

Since most of Second City shows are based off archival material, the cast has to work together through collective experiences and interests to develop new standpoints on past material. Richardson believes that “if all you do is recite what other funny people have said, then you can just find that funny person’s routine, so you have to bring your own perspective, tell what you find funny about the world”. When asked about their processes of finding new material, Miller explained that inspiration is found everywhere. “You will find it watching people on the train, commuting on the bus, standing in line at Borders—one sentence someone says will turn into a scene the next day, you just have to be constantly open and ready to develop it”. Bagnall clarified that “the thing about making something funny is finding that universal truth for everybody, finding something everybody can relate to but also telling your personal story”.

Since Second City is firstly a sketch comedy theatre, most of the shows are rehearsed scripts, but improvisation is used throughout all the shows to keep both the scenes fresh and the actors vibrant. “We always want to make it feel like it is improvised because then we feel like we are making discoveries in the moment which keeps each of us on our toes”, says Weitberg. Since improv is largely dependent on quick wit and adaptability, there is also an aspect of letting go. “It’s about not censoring yourself; you have to be willing to say anything, knowing that some stuff just isn’t going to be funny, and then you will learn from falling down a few times,” says Miller.

Many believe that comedians knew what they wanted to do from the start, but the reality is that many comedians started as bankers, secretaries, cashiers, and teachers. “I was supposed to go into arts management, where I probably would be making a lot more money, but I wouldn’t be nearly as happy and creatively satisfied as I am now,” says Miller. The life of a comedian is one that is always changing and requires an open mindset. “It is a matter of making small choices in the moment and keeping a number of options in mind, but none of us would be doing this job if it weren’t for following what really inspires and excites us,” says Weitberg.

Second City allows artists today to expand their love for comedy. Miller believes that being a part of Second City is like a larger family. “You hope that someday someone will read a script with your name on it, and it makes you feel like you are a part of something greater.”

Melissa Major, from Slope Radio’s “Patron on Ice”, sits for a chit-chat with Luda.  Blueberry yum-yum included:

Melissa: Is there anything else you can’t do?

Ludacris: What can’t I do? I can’t cook very well, so I’m learning how to cook.  Even though I have my own restaurant, doesn’t mean I’m in the kitchen.  That’s something that I just started learning how to do, to cook.  Only thing I know how to cook is tacos.

Melissa: So describe your writing process for us—do you write the verses first, or do you have to hear the music first?

Ludacris: Mostly hear the music first because the music lays the foundation or atmosphere for the right emotion that I want, and that’s how I write, I write to how the music makes me feel.

Melissa: It inspires the words for you?

Ludacris: Exactly

Melissa: So we just saw Shawnna, she opened for you. You guys collaborated on What’s Your Fantasy.  Are you guys good friends?

Ludacris: Absolutely, that’s my own project.

Melissa: Really? That’s good.  Who would you say is your favorite person to collaborate with?

Ludacris: Favorite person to collaborate with, probably between Snoop Dogg and maybe Missy.  But I think Snoop Dogg holds the title.

Melissa: Yeah, I see that.  And if you could perform with any artist dead or alive who would it be?

Ludacris: Probably Tupac, just because he brings it out in people.  He even still now, may he rest in peace, still brings it out in people.

Melissa: Yes, still inspiration.  So what’s the difference between rapper Ludacris and actor Ludacris?

Ludacris: Rapper Ludacris, no holds bar, no rules.  There’s rules to the actor Ludacris.  You gotta follow somebody else’s rules and be on time to set.  Rapper Ludacris, I pretty much make my own rules.

Melissa: So they’re very different atmospheres?

Ludacris: Yeah absolutely.

Melissa: So do you have any advice for college kids like us?

Ludacris: Just continue.  You know, life is all about competition so whoever wants it the most, just continue to persevere, stay consistent, work hard, and you know, fight for the top spot.

Melissa: The number one spot?

Ludacris: Yes, exactly.

Melissa: So, where do you get your inspiration for your music videos because they’re pretty funny, humorous a lot of the time?

Ludacris: I don’t know where I get it from; I just love to have a good time. I like to have fun, I love to laugh, and it just kinda comes. I just like expressing my personality throughout videos, it’s as simple as that.

Melissa: Ok I’m going to ask you four questions and I want you to tell me the word that comes to your mind right away.  What is your favorite drink?

Ludacris: Blueberry yum yum.  We made up a drink called blueberry yum yum in my restaurant, and it is currently my favorite drink.

Melissa: Oh, I didn’t know that blueberry yum yum was a drink.

Ludacris: Yeah, it’s a drink also.  It started out as a drink.  And now it’s a drink so that answers two of my beer questions.

Melissa: Yeah, we watched your music video for Blueberry Yum Yum the other day.

Ludacris: Good stuff good stuff.

Melissa: Oh Yeah, we loved it.

Ludacris: Glad you liked it.

Melissa: Boxers or brief?

Ludacris: For me?  I would say boxers when I’m just chilling but briefs when I’m working out. I wear both.

Melissa: So Keystone Light or Natty Light?

Ludacris: What?  What the hell?

Melissa: I guess you don’t go to a lot of frat parties.

Ludacris: There’s no light on any of the equations on anything I ever drink.  Take the lights out.

Melissa: Ok Keystone or Natty then.  Neither?

Ludacris: Uhh I don’t know.  JB help me out on that one.  Ted, I know you know.

Ted: Definitely Natty.

Ludacris: I don’t drink any one of those; I’m a corona guy myself.

Melissa: And what is your favorite word?

Ludacris: Shit.  I don’t know my favorite word.  Money.  That’s a great word.

Melissa: Well I think that’s it. Thank you very much for sitting down and talking with us.

Ludacris: What up, this is Ludacris right now, you’re watching slope TV

The shouts of, “LUDA, LUDA, LUDA!” resounded around the halls of Barton Hall on February 28, 2009. Too bad for the “I’m-too-cool-to-pay-for-a-ticket-this-early” fans, who attempted to pay over $50.00 for a ticket over Facebook, hours before the show (cue the Fbook status of: “If anyone has extra Luda tix, message me plz!!!”).

Hoping this concert would not be a repeat of last year’s pathetic attempt to put T-Pain on a stage, replace the featured artist with DJ-not-so-Unk, and moreover confuse the crap out of the dancing crowd by playing the only 20 seconds (or less) parts that T-Pain raps to, mostly everyone was relieved they could actually enjoy the concert.

Opening act Shawnna, from Ludacris’ “Disturbing the Peace Records”, wowed the crowd with her crazy curly hair, “Wasted Youth” tank top and black tights. Shawnna is best known for rapping in Ludacris’ “What’s Your Fantasy” and “Gettin’ Some.” Shawnna was especially favored towards the female audience as she paraded seemingly girl-power antics about being a female rapper. Following this act, her dual microphone battle evidently proved her ability to try and rap just as fast as the legendary Twista.

After Shawnna and her booty-bouncing backup dancers said their farewells, the audience waited for the real concert to start. Surprisingly, the DJ’s mix of interlude songs provided the audience with the utmost current songs as the crowd started to “fly like paper…”(some getting high like planes), while others chose to rock out to the beat of Lil’ Wayne’s “Lollipop (remix).”

As promised by our faithful DJ, Ludacris defiantly strolled across the stage. His opening act of “Number One Spot” ended as members of the audience proceeded to curse at Ludacris for being so tardy to start his own concert (instructed to do so by Ludacris himself). Screams erupted as Ludacris busted out with “Southern Hospitality,” “Act a Fool,” “What Them Girls Like,” “Money Maker,” a brief rap section in “Yeah!” and finally the more recent “One More Drink.”

The rapper took the audience back to one of his first songs, “What’s Your Fantasy” as Shawnna re-entered the scene, bringing the two acts together to the elation of fans. Intertwining all these songs with funny interludes and comments, Ludacris certainly captured everybody’s attention with his comical character, profanity, and upbeat sounds.

However, the whole concert would not be anything without the organizations that helped manage it. Joseph Scaffido, advisor of the CCC (Cornell Concert Commission), shared with us a few words regarding the process of having a successful concert.

“The concert itself was sponsored by MCFAB [Minority Concert Finance Advisory Board]. They started getting it together in November, but actually secured Ludacris in December.”

Scaffido then went on to talk about how the organization actually decided to choose Ludacris.

“ALANA [African, Latino, Asian, and Native American Programming Board] is charged with of getting a primary list of available acts together that would be appealing to the minority community, then they work with CCC to determine those that would work best based on price, routing, etc. Once Ludacris was confirmed, they decided on the opening act. Not a lot of people want to travel to upstate New York in February, you know…because it’s cold. The fact that Shawnna and Ludacris are on the same label certainly helped.”

As Scaffido and others from the Concert Commission also assist with wrapping up the year with the Girl Talk concert, we can only hope that Slope Day, with those infamous Pussycat Dolls, will be equally tasteful.

Author: Erinn Cawthon

Entertainment post for Slope Magazine.