This Thursday, Chicago’s legendary comedy theatre group The Second City will appear at Old Dominion University’s North Cafe in Webb Center at 8pm, with doors opening at 7.

Any excuse to have a picture of Bill Murry on AltDaily, we're taking it. (Photo | Derek Kaczmarczyk)

It’s a best-of show, of sorts, with the group performing sketches, songs, and improvisations from The Second City’s fifty year history. It’s an illustrious history which has spawned household names like  Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, Peter Boyle, Harold Ramis, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, George Wendt, Martin Short, John Candy, Bonnie Hunt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Horatio Sanz, Ryan Stiles, Jack McBrayer, Tim Meadows, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Tina Fey, just to name twenty-three.

The performance is free to all and open to the general public. If you like comedy or an excuse to creep around a college campus, it’s a must-attend event.

We spoke to Second City member Rachel Miller about, oh, about a host of topics.

AltDaily: When being interviewed, do you try to answer every question with “yes, and…”?

Rachel Miller: No, but…..

Second city just turned 50. How old do you like to say you are and how long have you been working with second city?

I believe in the flexibility of numbers – especially when it comes to my age and my taxes. I had my first job with the Second City in January of 2006 onboard Norwegian Cruise Lines.

You’re quite a ways from Chicago and Toronto. Where else have you been and how have you liked this adventure outside the Midwest?

I lived in The Netherlands and performed throughout Europe for 5-1/2 years and I’ve performed as far away as Singapore….while on the ship, we were in the Caribbean, Mexico, New England – and with The Second City I’ve been to such domestic wonders as Boise, ID…Norfolk, VA…Stillwater, OK.  I loved living abroad – the healthcare system alone was fantastic, but that’s a soapbox for another day.  Comedy is universal – even if you don’t speak the same language, there’s physical comedy – and who doesn’t like watching people fall down? Especially French people.

Astonished Second City performers Abby McEnany, Brooke Bagnall, and Rachel Miller.

This show promises to explore classics and highlights from Second City history. How exciting or frustrating has this been? Do you ever get tired of the old stuff and get the urge to just break scene, hollar “Fuck Del Close!” and start damaging property?

Del would love nothing more, that crochety old shit. I love getting to perform scenes that have such a legacy to them – it raises the bar and it’s exciting to find a way to make it your own, find a new laugh. Also, it’s not very lady-like to break things in public.

What kind of balance do you strike between prepared and improvised material?

I try to remember my lines when I have them and make up new ones when I don’t. Sidenote, my balance is questionable, I am often clutzy and I spill alot. Ask anyone.

Is there any kind of beef, static, rivalry or terrorism between you guys and later improv institutions? Have you ever gotten into a West-Side-Story-like singing altercation with performers from Improv Olympic, Upright Citizens Brigade or the Groundlings?

I believe in an open sandbox policy. As long as you don’t steal somebody’s shovel or kick over their castle, you should be able to play wherever you want.

OMG THEY'RE CUTE! Abby McEnany, Sam Richardson, Rachel Miller, Brooke Bagnall, Seth Weitberg.

How did you wind up as a touring performer for Second City? Did you start off taking the classes?

I took classes at The Second City and also at iO and The Annoyance, all in Chicago – put some cash in some envelopes… slid them under tables…. Once I discovered improvisation I said yes to a lot of shows and a lot of groups, I performed wherever and whenever I could – you only get better by doing. I also watched as many shows as I could – by new folks and veterans alike. I worked hard, did plenty of great shows and plenty of crappy shows to learn from, and just kept at it. I also got really lucky. It all adds up to getting to make my living doing something that makes people happy.

Can it be obnoxious around Second City with all those performers and students who are obviously only there because of the illustrious legacy of Nia Vardalos?

First of all, if you haven’t seen Connie & Carla, Netflix it right now – arguably Nia’s best work. There are heaps of people around Second City, heaps.  I love seeing students around the hallways… cause you know that at least one of them is gonna get onto a touring company, maybe a stage someday, do a Downey commercial or get a sitcom. It’s a marvelous reminder that we were all students once, that there’s always something to keep learning… and that you gotta maintain that excitement about what we get to do.

Can you get a decent pizza in Chicago?

I make decent pizza in Chicago.

When you become a Second City performer, is it like becoming a comedy mason, with secret initiations and rings and handshakes and symbols that grant you obscure privileges?

There’s a bench in the theatre where you can sit and watch shows… you only get to sit on it if you work at the theatre… that’s pretty friggin cool. There’s also a ton of inside jokes. But mostly it’s a family. A great big, far-reaching, multi-generational family.