The Second City opened its doors on a snowy Chicago night in December of 1959. No one could have guessed that this small cabaret theatre would become the most influential and prolific comedy theatre in the world. With its roots in the improvisational games of Viola Spolin, The Second City developed an entirely unique way of creating and performing comedy. Founded by Spolin’s son, Paul Sills, along with Howard Alk and Bernie Sahlins, The Second City was experimental and unconventional in its approach to both theatre and comedy. At a time when mother-in-law jokes were more the fashion, The Second City railed against the conformist culture with scenes that spoke to a younger generation.

RYAN ASHER* is a pretty cool chick who is very good at wearing wigs and eating appetizers.  She is a transplant from Virginia where she got her BFA in theater performance from VCU.  Since moving to Chicago she has been performing all around town.  You can find her at The Annoyance Theater in Trigger Happy, as an understudy of the Second City Touring Company, iO’s Beans, Wolfcatcatwolf, and Your F*cked Up Relationship.  She is a writer, director, solo performer who loves hugs and thinks it’s pretty cool that you came to this show!

EMILY FIGHTMASTER* moved from Cincinnati to Chicago to study at the Second City and DePaul University and just returned from a year at Boom Chicago in Amsterdam. She is a proud member of the cast of Burlesque is More at the Annoyance Theatre, plays guitar and piano for her two-person musical sketch group, Coffee Boy, and has traveled coast-to-coast with her two-woman improv troupe, Mr. Beaver. Big thanks to my mom for everything. Please stop overfeeding the cat.

CARLEYMOSELEY* is thrilled to play with the Second City Touring Company. A New Jersey native, Carley moved to Chicago after graduating from Vassar College. She has studied and performed at the Second City Training Center, the iO Theater, and Redtwist Theatre. Carley plays with Lola at iO and tweets @carleymoseley. Special thanks to family and friends for being so great!

JEFFREY MURDOCH* was born and raised in the Metro Detroit area where he also attended school at the University of Michigan.  It was here he fell in love with comedy and knew he had to pursue it to the city of Chicago where he has resided for the last 8 years. During this time he has had the privilege to perform with some of the funniest performers at the Upstairs Gallery, iO, Annoyance, and now luckily the Second City! Follow Jeff on Twitter @jsmurd.

LAUREL KRABACHER is very happy to be a part of The Second City Touring Company! If you want more Laurel, you can see her at CIC with Little Gary and at iO with Tone and Revolver. She is represented by BMG Talent.

SCOTT NELSON* Originally from Geneseo, IL, Scott has been performing in and out of Chicago for the last nine years.  He performs long-form improvisation with Sand (Newcity Chicago’s Best Improv Troupe, 2015) at Spitballin’ at Quenchers Saloon and with the Late 90s at iO.  He also performs at the Annoyance Theatre in the Holy F*** Comedy Hour.  In 2014 and 2016, Scott worked with Second City Theatricals on the NCL Pearl and NCL Dawn. He attended Western Illinois University in Macomb where he studied Theatre.

MARK CAMPBELL is so grateful to be a part the Second City Touring Company! Mark is an alumnus of The Second City Conservatory, iO Training Center and Second City Training Center House Ensemble (The American Devolution). He has performed with Second City Theatricals aboard the NCL Dawn and Gem. He also performs with the ComedySportz Chicago professional ensemble, Big Tobacco (iO Chicago), and throughout the city with Brand New Toys and Shanna’s Mom. Huge thank you to his family, especially his dog Smitty. @themarkcampbell

SCOTT FLORES-DETER* (Stage Manager) is excited to be working with Second City. He has been a stage manager in the Chicagoland area for many, many years now. Some of his favorite productions include: Pinkalicious: The Musical (SM- Emerald City Theatre Company), The Nutcracker (SM – Peoria Ballet), and Late Nite Catechism (SM- Nuns4Fun Entertainment). When he’s not on the road touring with a show, he enjoys spending time with his wife and son.

NICK GAGE (Music Director)  is thrilled to once more be working with The Second City. He’s worked with The Second City before as a Music Director aboard The NCL Star in the inglorious winter of ’14. He’s also music directed several shows with Chicago’s internet sensation Team StarKid, including two successful runs at The Second City’s UP Comedy Club. Other credits include writing the music for Team StarKid’s 2012 internet musical Holy Musical B@man!, and featured as an actor in 2013’s Twisted: Story of a Royal Vizier.

ANNELISE TOFT (Director)  is a regular director for Second City Theatricals.  Recent projects include Fast, Loud, and Funny currently running in the Up Comedy Club, Second City’s collaboration with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and a two year tenure as Touring Company director.  She also directs sketch comedy in venues all over Chicago including the Annoyance Theater, Theater Wit, Stage 773, The Public House Theatre, and iO. Anneliese has also directed dozens of plays including the critically-acclaimed world premiere of Tammy: a Coming of Age Story About a Girl Who is Part T-Rex (now published by Playscripts, Inc).