Have you ever wondered exactly how one goes about becoming a famous comedian or comedy writer? Where did some of the greats like Chris Farley and the Belushi brothers get their start?

For many comedy writers and actors, Second City proves to be the launching pad for their careers.

Second City is a comedy troupe based out of Chicago and has been in existence since 1959. During the last couple decades, though, the organization has developed tremendously, adding eight more theaters around the country and in Canada in addition to the Chicago Mainstage. It also features three traveling groups that tour the United States and boasts a list of alumni that is untouchable.

Becoming a member of the heralded comedy group is the aspiration of many young comedians, as Dave Buckman, a director of the traveling group, can tell you. He has been working at Second City for about five months.

Buckman’s job includes running rehearsals before the group hits the road, deciding the running order of skits and critiquing performances.

Sheena Seibert, freshman in liberal arts and sciences and a member of Ames’ own sketch comedy group, Grandma Mojo’s Moonshine Revival, would like nothing more than to experience those feelings that Buckman expresses. She got turned onto Second City after a judge in a high school speech competition recommended she look into it.

“To be in Second City is a really big stepping stone into basically anything improv-theater related,” Seibert says. “If you want to get on Saturday Night Live, that’s how most people get into it.”

Becoming a Second City member is by no means easy. Aspiring writers and actors must first complete the Second City training academy and after that they may or may not be chosen to join one of the touring groups. If those two steps are completed you wait for the big call — the chance to join the main stage.

And Seibert is right when she says Second City can be a big-time stepping stone. Currently Saturday Night Live features numerous Second City graduates, including writer and Weekend Update anchor Tina Fey. Saturday’s show at the M-Shop will feature skits written by Fey while she was still working at Second City.

Although the people who join Second City do it to become part of the extensive history of the theater, Buckman says it can still be intimidating to try to live up to some of the legends who have called Second City home.

“There are giant pictures of the alumni everywhere you look,” Buckman says.

“Everywhere you go whether it’s to the bathroom or to have a cigarette or whatever you have guys like John Belushi and Ed Asner looking down at you.”