Veteran improviser called to Second City mainstage.
Kris Siddiqi makes his Second City mainstage debut in 'Second City for Mayor!', which is now playing.
Photo/COURTESY
After years of making a name for himself as one of Toronto's finest improvisers, Little Italy resident Kris Siddiqi has earned a spot on the city's most noted comedy stage.
Siddiqi has joined the Second City's mainstage cast for their upcoming revue, Second City for Mayor, joining other seasoned comedians in lampooning the election coverage which has begun dominating the news.
Siddiqi has been a mainstay on the city's comedy scene for years, with a long line of credits that include an array of shows at the Bad Dog Theatre and a turn with sketch troupe My First Crush (with fellow Second City cast member Adam Cawley.)
The Northern Secondary School graduate fell into live comedy almost by accident after cutting his film studies at the University of Toronto short.
"I thought, 'I don't have enough money to do this anymore and I can watch movies at home,'" he said.
Siddiqi began performing with My First Crush and soon joined the experienced group at the Bad Dog Theatre. In was in the latter company that he decided comedy was something he could actively pursue as a career.
"At the Bad Dog, I had my first paid gig and I thought, 'wow, you can get this much money for doing this?'" he said.
Siddiqi was the brains - along with co-creator James Gangl - of the well-received Dreadwood serial, an improvised comedic take on the hit TV series Deadwood. He also created Egg Zeppelin with fellow improviser Marcel St. Pierre.
"That was interesting because it was kind of a talk show format where we'd have musical guests come in and we'd talk to them and cook them food on stage," he said.
During his years in comedy, he managed to work with a laundry list of accomplished performers, including Jack Mosshammer, Paul Bates, Paul Constable, Kerry Griffin and Lisa Merchant. He has also crossed paths with most of the current Second City cast, which helped make his immersion into the mainstage that much easier.
"A handful of us have been understudies for some of the older mainstage shows, so I get to work with people I've worked with before," he said. "It's good to be able to work with good friends who are also great improvisers."
While Second City for Mayor obviously contains some political themes, Siddiqi has brought his own penchant for the absurd to the revue. With a diverse group of voices, he said, the new show has something for everyone.
"I'm a big fan of silliness and there's some of that in the show, some great poignant scenes and some great musical scenes," he said.
Getting the call to join the mainstage cast is not the only big change in Siddiqi's life. He and his girlfriend are expecting a baby, and the improviser looks forward to family life in Little Italy.
"I'm just really soaking up the culture right now," he said. "We've got Trinity Bellwoods right below us and there are great farmers' markets. I used to think the west end of the city was Etobicoke, but now I'm, 'all right, Queen West, I'll show you how it's done!'"
Second City for Mayor is currently playing at the Second City, 51 Mercer Street, with shows Tuesdays through Sundays. For tickets, showtimes and information, visit www.secondcity.com