Chicago’s Second City comedy troupe first opened its doors in 1959, and in the more than half century since, the franchise has made a fine art of improvised sketch comedy. The list of folks who have worked there at some point in their careers reads like a who’s who of American comedy.
"It's kind of like a controlled chaos type of thing. There's some formality to it but then there are these improv moments where you have to just be ready."
Now the venerable theater company is coming to Milwaukee's Vogel Hall for four days this week to present its Dysfunctional Holiday Revue. Of course, while it might seem "dysfunctional" on stage, behind-the-scenes everything has to be in order. That's where stage manager Ryan Treveranus comes in.
"It's kind of like a controlled chaos type of thing. There's some formality to it but then there are these improv moments where you have to just be ready for like, however the audience reacts or if the actors just change up something," says Treveranus. "Just being ready on your toes is pretty much the key."
Treveranus is a Greendale native, who cut his teeth stage managing with local organizations including the Milwaukee Ballet, Skylight Music Theatre and First Stage Children's Theatre.
"It really helps to mix up those environments because then you're learning different skills and different techniques to handle things."
He says that working for these different kinds of productions has made him a better stage manager. "If you stuck with one theater for your entire life you're not going to really understand everything about stage management," Treveranus says. "It really helps to mix up those environments because then you're learning different skills and different techniques to handle things."
The Second City's Dysfunctional Holiday Revue will be at the Marcus Center's Vogel Hall December 14 through December 18.
