The Second City

Welcome to Montalvo!

I’m so glad that you are able to be with us tonight. Whether it’s your first time here, or your fiftieth—welcome! I am thrilled to welcome you to another season of Montalvo’s Carriage House Performing Arts Series.

As a multidisciplinary arts center, there’s even more to enjoy at Montalvo in addition to the world-class talent found in the Carriage House. We are a public park and arboretum open year-round for picnics, hiking, and leisurely strolls, as well as a vibrant cultural producer supporting an artist residency, vital arts education programming, and so much more.

Montalvo is a nonprofit organization—as such, we rely on the support of patrons like you in order to continue serving our Silicon Valley community. If you have not yet considered becoming a donor, I’d like to personally invite you to engage in a deeper relationship with our dynamic institution. After all, there’s something for everyone at Montalvo!

Enjoy the show and thanks again for joining us tonight,

Angela Torre McConnell
Executive Director

The Second City is celebrating 65 years of legendary laughs! Showcasing our audience’s favorite songs, sketches, and characters written on our stages by some of our illustrious alumni, including Catherine O’Hara, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key, Amber Ruffin, Stephen Colbert, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, Tim Robinson, Joan Rivers, Eugene Levy, Adam McKay, and so many more! With material handpicked from our iconic comedy archive and brought to life by our all-star ensemble, see for yourself why The Second City continues to be the world’s most influential name in comedy—for 65 years and counting!

RICH ALFONSO (Ensemble, he/him) is excited to be a part of the Touring Company along with these amazing people! He was a recipient of the 2016 NBC/Universal Bob Curry Fellowship and has worked as a cast member for The Second City’s Black History Month Show, touring aboard Norwegian Cruise Line and as an understudy for the ETC Resident Stage. Other credits include being a featured performer in the 2019 NBC Break Out Comedy Festival, and his solo show at the Annoyance, I.C.E. Box which was featured on WBEZ Radio and NPR. He is represented by BMG Talent. Follow Rich on Instagram and TikTok @rich_alfonso

KENNEDY BALDWIN (Ensemble) is an improviser, writer and actress born and raised in Chicago. She attended Western Illinois University where she studied music business. She started taking improv classes at The Second City at the beginning of 2016 and has been in love with it ever since! In 2019, she completed the Severn Darden Graduate Program and in 2020 she was a recipient of the Bob Curry Fellowship at Second City. She now produces the smallprov show at Logan Square Improv. 

BREE BARTMAN (Stage Manager, she/her) is the Stage Manager for this production! For the past 10 years, she’s been hiding in the shadows at several theaters around Chicago, including The Second City and the long running show, Bye Bye Liver. When she’s not at Second City, you can find her slinging sass at Ed Debevic’s! Please enjoy the show!!!

TONY BELSITO (Musical Director) is the one behind the piano. Hello!

ANNA BORTNICK (Ensemble, she/her) is an actor and improviser originally from Boston, Massachusetts. She received her B.F.A. from Boston University and has trained at the Eugene O’Neill National Theater Institute. Anna also performs with the musical improv company, BABY WANTS CANDY and SHAMILTON (Edinburgh Fringe, The Second City) and is a current resident company member at iO Theater. www.annabortnick.com

KARL BRADLEY (Ensemble, he/him) is a writer and performer living in Chicago. A Georgia native, he performs regularly at the Annoyance Theatre in the sketch group “Cigarette Sandwich.” Alright, enjoy the show that is about to start. Wait, why are you still reading this? The show is on the stage. You won’t miss anything if you stop reading now. The secrets of the universe are not hidden here, and if they were, would you believe them? Karl is from Georgia. See, I told you.

CLAIRE FAVRET (Ensemble, she/her) writes and performs all around Chicago. She has contributed headlines for The Onion and Clickhole, co-wrote an episodic comedy podcast/radio play called A Winkle In Time, and has co-created many sketches with the sketch comedy group Cigarette Sandwich. On social media she’s @clairefavs.

ANNE LIBERA (Director, she/her) is an Associate Professor and coordinates the degree in Comedy Writing and Performance at Columbia College Chicago. She is an Artistic Consultant and Director of Comedy Studies for The Second City. She served as Director of Pedagogy for The Second Science Project in partnership with the Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago. Her directing credits include: The Madness of Curious George, Computer Chips and Salsa, The Second City Goes to War, Are You There God? It’s Me, Katniss Everdeen, and Second City touring productions all over the world.

 Anne has presented on topics in improvisation and comedy for Aspen Ideas Festival, Code Conference, Chicago Ideas Week, Twitter, and guest lectured at the Stanford Business School and Northwestern University. Her book Funnier: A Theory of Comedy with Practical Applications will be published by Northwestern University Press.

Twitter:@AnneLibera1

ROSS TAYLOR (Ensemble, he/him) is originally from St. James, Missouri and studied theater at Mizzou. Favorite Second City credits include: National Touring Company, performing at the Kennedy Center and Lyric Opera and understudying the e.t.c. Ross teaches improv at the Second City and Annoyance Theater, and performs weekly at the Annoyance with Missed Call and Tuesday Musical Improv. @rosstaylornyc