Second City

Surrounding sophomore Annie Sullivan are walls covered in hundreds of autographs.  In black Sharpie, names of famous comedians are visible — Steve Carell, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and John Candy.  Newspaper clippings clothe each wall.  Some are framed and others are taped. History has been made in this little room, famous people have touched these walls, it is the green room backstage.

“I was overwhelmed walking in, nothing seemed real,” Sullivan said.
Backstage Sullivan is standing.  She is in one of the most prestigious comedy clubs in the country — Second City.  Sullivan had an ambition two years ago that she would be able to travel to Chicago to learn from some of the top instructors.  The dream of becoming a comedian started when she first encountered her love for comedy.
Sullivan started acting at a young age.  In fourth grade, her mother, Missy Sullivan, signed her up for improv classes at The Culture House and Coterie where she learned techniques, participated in acting exercises and performed in front of audiences.  Sullivan found that after taking classes that she enjoyed the spontaneous feeling of improv.
Missy said, “Seeing, Annie up on stage makes me feel very proud because she is up there for who she is and not who she is at home.”
At home Sullivan exerts a different attitude when cleaning her room or doing her chores.  On stage she comes alive, she is a completely different person. She is free to say what comes to  her mind and free to be loud.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I would stay up late to watch Saturday Night Live,” Sullivan said.  “I became interested every time I turned it on.”

She would stay up each Saturday evening to see which sketch would be acted out and who would be performing.  As she sat in front of the television each Saturday she wondered: How do these people get onto SNL?

Sullivan searched the Internet and found the answer — Second City. Scrolling down the page Second City website, Sullivan looked at the long list of classes she could attend.

“I was excited as Annie about Second City,” Missy Sullivan said.  “So many legendary comedians are from there.”

Many comedians stand on the expansive stage at Second City, the lights beating down on them, and soon they are discovered. A chance to go to Second City means following in the footsteps of past comedians.
After first discovering that classes were offered at Second City, Sullivan’s drive to attend Second City did not halt.  Sullivan began doing odd jobs to earn enough money to pay tuition.
Sullivan did everything from lawn mowing to taking out her neighbors’ garbage. Sullivan also spent many hours babysitting and doing any job that was available.
Once her hard work was completed and she had earned enough money, it was time.  Sullivan’s dream was finally going to come true; she would be able to train at Second City for two weeks.
When Sullivan arrived at Second City nothing seemed real to her — the building, the instructors, the people, nothing.  Sullivan had waited long enough to make her entrance.  She had worked to make it possible.  She was ready to take on her dream and embrace the environment of Second City.
“I was nervous in a way.  I thought that I might not be funny enough or no one would laugh at my jokes,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan soon learned that being at Second City should not change the way she performed.  Everyone was there to learn and to share with others what they all had in common — comedy.

Sullivan attended classes in improv, sketch writing and standup.  Each class was taught by a different instructor.

“My improv teacher, Jason Ball, told us that doing an improv does not mean doing mistakes but making new discoveries,” Sullivan said.  “That really stuck with me and I will remember that.”

At the end of the two weeks of instruction each of the students performed in a “showcase”.  There, Sullivan had an opportunity to have three sketches, which she had written, performed.  She also was a part of five improvs.  Not only did Sullivan get to perform, she had the opportunity to perform on the actual Second City stage.

“It was amazing to be able to stand where the famous comedians get to stand,” Sullivan said.  “A huge revelation was that I shouldn’t care if people think I am funny or not.”

Sullivan is backstage; she walks in a circle frantically. She second-guesses herself. She asks herself: What are my lines? Oh no, I forgot my lines.  She is overwhelmed by nervousness. On stage, Sullivan waits. She is ready to deliver her lines.  Everything fades, her doubts float away and her confidence begins to boost.  She is prepared to do her job — make people laugh.

Sullivan begins her lines: “Hi, hello, Pizza hut? Do you deliver? My wife is having a baby.”