As January plods on, humans everywhere find themselves in the middle of what is facetiously known as “cuffing season” — the period roughly between November and March where colder air blows in, which kills the desire to go out for fun and instead motivates people to lock down a romantic relationship; Netflix-and-chill dates ensue.
This is where the Mighty Mighty BlueCo. (or Blue Company) comes in. The touring troupe hails from the famed Second City Chicago, an improv theater that first formed in 1959 that has gone on to become a renowned force in up-and-coming comedy. Famous alums include some impressive names: Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert and Aidy Bryant have all once graced their stage.
In this tour — which blows through Playhouse in the Park Jan. 10 through 27 — audiences can expect a 90-minute comedy sketch show dubbed It’s Not You, It’s Me. The traveling team is made up of six young comedians: Terrence Carey, Sarah Dell’Amico, Asia Martin, Olivia Nielsen, Chuck Norment and Griffin Wenzler. It will explore relationship problems that range from the frustration of missed connections to pure unadulterated heartbreak.
“This show is a lot about relationships and the different dynamics of relationships,” says cast member Dell’Amico. “It’s a new year, and I think love should be a thing that (people) carry within their hearts and their mind and their souls. Love somebody and love yourself.”
Dell’Amico is one of The Second City’s “veteran” performers, having performed with them since 2014. She only recently joined the touring Mighty Mighty BlueCo. in February of last year.
The Second City has two main companies of performers: the residence stages that produce shows on the main stages at the Second City’s space in Chicago, and the touring companies, which provide newer performers with the chance to hone their skills and learn the ropes with material they take on the road.
“A big part of the touring company is that they are being groomed for the residence stages,” says Molly Todd Madison, the show’s director. Madison explains that although the touring companies’ shows are mainly comprised of archived material from previous Second City writers and performers, It’s Not You, It’s Me will feature several new sketches written by cast members.
The format of It’s Not You, It’s Me will follow a format roughly similar to Saturday Night Live, and feature mainly three- to five-minute comedy sketches with a few improv sets and games thrown into the mix.
“And, of course, (the sketches) are supposed to be funny,” Madison jokes.
Madison has been directing shows with The Second City for around a year and a half. Though The Second City’s material is often improv-based, Madison’s role as a director is to select the theme and sketches used in the shows she directs.
When Madison aims to put a show together, she says she wants people to see themselves in the sketch and be able to laugh.
“This time of year can be kind of a bummer for some people,” she says. “So (It’s Not You, It’s Me) is my way to kind of leave a mark. Here’s all of the hard things that can be difficult to talk about and here’s how we can find a way to laugh at it.”
Because the show pulls from past material, some sketches are edited either for a modern audience or to make sense within the context of the show’s theme.
“Our material is tested,” Madison says. “Since we are using a lot of old archive pieces, there’s a lot of stuff that we’re reaching back five, 10, 15 years.” Despite the time gap, improv's spontaneous nature allows the cast to give the material a modern spin.
“We have the youngest company and the most diverse in the Second City,” Madison says. “And they are really impressive — the way that they re-write and form new sketches brings a fresh perspective; you can tell it’s their voice. They’re making it their own.”
For instance, one of Dell’Amico’s sketches will be featured in this particular show, an experience she describes as “freeing.” After all, it’s her baby. And she feels gratification for being able to experiment with the material more.
The only constraint when updating older material for contemporary audiences is to stay true to the writer’s original intention, Dell’Amico explains, out of respect for their words.
“Comedy is always changing because the world is always changing,” she says. “We’re commenting on the world around us.”
The Second City – It’s Not You, It’s Me will be onstage at the Playhouse in the Park’s Shelterhouse Theatre (962 Mount Adams Circle, Mount Adams) Jan. 10-27. For more info/tickets: cincyplay.com
