Backstage Photos From 25 Years of Second City
Thanks in no small part to the Upright Citizens Brigade, comedy nowadays is very defined by New York and L.A. However, Chicago should not be ignored. As has been the case since the 1950s, the city’s famed Second City was responsible for many of the biggest comedic voices of the last 15 years. So, in honor of Vulture’s week celebrating the second comedy boom, Second City was kind enough to share these archived photos from its recent history, featuring alumni like Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, and Key and Peele before they were stars.
The Second City vets pose in a group that also includes (from left) Mark Levinson, Theresa Mulligan, and Nancy Walls in 1995.
This influential 1995 revue starred (from left) Glaser, Adsit, McKay, Dratch, Scott Allman, and Jenna Jolovitz.
Shortly before being hired on SNL, Bryant appeared in Second City e.t.c.'s 2012 revue We're All in This Room Together, alongside Tawny Newsome.
Photo...Shortly before being hired on SNL, Bryant appeared in Second City e.t.c.'s 2012 revue We're All in This Room Together, alongside Tawny Newsome.
Photo: © Todd Rosenberg Photography/© Todd Rosenberg Photography 2012
Farley shows off his Matt Foley character alongside Tim Meadows, Bob Odenkirk, Jill Talley, and Holly Wortell.
With Scrubs' Neil Flynn and Mr. Show's Jerry Minor, the future SNL star donned a hard hat for Second City's 1996 show 40 oz. and a Mule.
Photo: 2001 ...With Scrubs' Neil Flynn and Mr. Show's Jerry Minor, the future SNL star donned a hard hat for Second City's 1996 show 40 oz. and a Mule.
Photo: 2001 SNOWBOUND, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
A sideburned Sudeikis does the Robot alongside Holly Walker in Second City's Las Vegas revue The Not Ready for $3.99 Prime Rib Players in 2003.
Neither of them needed those wheelchairs.
Peele, seen here during his time in Dutch comedy troupe Boom Chicago, performs at the Second City main stage during a cast exchange in 2002.
The duo appeared together in Second City e.t.c.'s post-9/11 show Holy War Batman, alongside Andy Cobb, Samantha Albert, and Abby Sher.
The founding member of UCB (and current Veep regular) poses with touring company castmates Ian Roberts, Mark Dalbis, Maria Corell, and Claudia Michell...
The founding member of UCB (and current Veep regular) poses with touring company castmates Ian Roberts, Mark Dalbis, Maria Corell, and Claudia Michelle Wallace in 1995. The giant head represents Horatio Sanz.
With a masked Shelly Grossman, future SNL performer Mike O'Brien celebrated Obama's election in the show America: All Better!
Alongside Jenna Jolovitz, Fey and Dratch (seen here with Scott Allman) made Second City's 1996 revue Citizen Gates the first gender-equal show in the ...
Alongside Jenna Jolovitz, Fey and Dratch (seen here with Scott Allman) made Second City's 1996 revue Citizen Gates the first gender-equal show in the theater's history.
Colbert and Ruth Rudnick were castmates in Second City's 1994 revue, Are You Now, or Have You Ever Been Mellow?
The future Daily Show stars pose for a Liverpudlian portrait with Paul Dinello (top right) and David Razowsky (bottom right) in 1994.
Photo: 2001 SNO...The future Daily Show stars pose for a Liverpudlian portrait with Paul Dinello (top right) and David Razowsky (bottom right) in 1994.
Photo: 2001 SNOWBOUND, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This is not a cutaway gag from 30 Rock, it's a still from Second City's 1997 revue Paradigm Lost!
Before joining SNL, Bayer appeared in the Second City shows Girls Night Out and Jewsical, and returned to the theater for an after-party in 2012.
Pho...Before joining SNL, Bayer appeared in the Second City shows Girls Night Out and Jewsical, and returned to the theater for an after-party in 2012.
Photo: John B McCloskey/2009 John B McCloskey