John Candy. Chris Farley. Mike Myers. Gilda Radner. Joan Rivers. Bill Murray. Dan Akroyd.

These are all comics who have caused immeasurable hours of laughter-induced stomach pain. But where did they learn how to make you laugh so hard?

The Second City.

The legendary Chicago-based comedy theater is as much a part of the Windy City as the Sears Tower or Michigan Avenue.

It’s been the starting block for many comedians and actors over the last few decades, and as the theater celebrates its 40th anniversary, it looks back on an eventful past.

With three touring companies in addition to the home base on Wells Street in Chicago, Second City also boasts theaters in Detroit and Canada.

Many of the names involved with Second City have since moved on, starring in movies, sitcoms and bringing some of the funniest moments to ever be seen on “Saturday Night Live.”

Now, a whole new batch of men and women struggle to get the same breaks as their idols once did. They’re bringing back some of the classic skits once performed by past Second City members, mixed in with their own flavor of improvisational material for their 40th anniversary tour.

“We have archives of all the scripts from over the past 40 years, and the touring companies decide what they want to do,” Second City cast member Katie Caussin says. “But we also throw into the show elements of improvisation. Usually, we do some sort of an improv game. But in Ames, you’ll see a few original pieces that we have worked on.”

When doing improv in a show, the true talent of the actors shines, because the ideas for skits can be anything.

“It just starts with a suggestion from the audience like ‘ice cube’ or ‘brother/sister’ or ‘you’re in a laundry room,'” Caussin says. “It just kind of happens. It’s hard to explain where it comes from when you’re improvising.”

Many of the skits involve social and political satire, making fun of popular culture or knocking politicians.

Second City’s list of famous alumni goes on with John Belushi, Martin Short, George Wendt, Alan Alda, Alan Arkin and countless others who have added to the legacy. The shoes left to fill are enormous, presenting a bit of a challenge and an honor for new members.

“Like any job it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, you always have something to bitch about,” Caussin says. “Every once in a while, I have to take a step back and think of all the other people who started here and worked before me. It’s exciting to think that people that I hold in high esteem as performers, actors, writers and comedians have been here.”

The troupe is made up of six members (three male, three female), and the actors are given a bit of leeway if a member wants to take the day off to work a high-paying gig or commercial.

“We’re poor starving actors. And Second City doesn’t pay us enough money,” Caussin says with a laugh. “You don’t have to put that in there. Or you can.

“Headline: Second City not paying enough to their actors,” she imagines. “That actually would be cool.”

Back to the point.

Not all Second City members carry the same goals, but many would like to work on the resident Chicago company as their next step.

“We as touring company members also have to be prepared to understudy the resident company,” Caussin says. “It is not necessarily guaranteed that we would move on, but ideally, that is what you kind of hope will happen. But it is important also to not put all your eggs in one basket. There’s tons of other opportunities in Chicago.”

Unfortunately, Second City can’t be the only source of income for the actors. So, you will find them working odd jobs such as waiting tables and working with temporary services to scrape in more money.

But the companies do tour a lot, bringing different advantages and disadvantages to the table.

“There are times where it’s more concentrated than others. From mid-September through this past October, we were really busy, and we were on the road all the time,” Caussin says. “But it’s great because we get paid per show. Plus, it’s been fun to be out touring on the road.”

The opportunity to perform at Iowa State brings positive attitudes for the company as they come to the Maintenance Shop.

“College kids are bright, and they’re in that place in their lives when their brains are stimulated, and they’re much more in touch with their imaginations,” Caussin says. “They haven’t been out there being worker bees, droning on and on.”

Not only does Second City reach all the way to the outskirts of the country, they go even further to places like Vienna, Austria.

But performing overseas isn’t always easy.

“In Vienna, even though we were performing at an English-speaking theater, that didn’t necessarily mean that all of their first languages were English,” Caussin says. “And we had to take care in choosing our material to make sure that it wasn’t too specific to American culture. So we looked for things that had more universal themes. But they love the improv games and when we poke fun of American politics.”

Second City makes regular trips through Iowa, a place they enjoy coming, but one that doesn’t quite compare to Chicago.

“The people are always nice, the cornfields are nice,” Caussin says with a loss for words.

“Trying to find a place to eat after a show is a chore,” she finally blurts out. “After a show, you’re ready to eat, it’s 11 o’clock, and nothing is open, even on a Friday or Saturday. When you live in a big city, you get used to certain conveniences. But we are always grateful for how nice people are to us.”

Nothing like a little Iowa charm to welcome folks from the big city … what used to be the second biggest city in the country.