The Second City’s Anthony LeBlanc combines science and humor

Anthony LeBlanc, one of the members of The Second City, a sketch comedy and improv group that will be performing at Hatfield Hall this Saturday, could have been a Rose student. Originally from Beaumont, Texas, LeBlanc received his bachelor’s degree in computer science and physics from Loyola University in New Orleans. He also hopes to one day work for NASA, working on computer systems. However, sketch comedy got to him first.

As a resident assistant at Loyola, several of LeBlanc’s residents encouraged him to try out for a sketch comedy group they were in; he was accepted, and his sketch comedy and improv career was born.

Upon graduation, LeBlanc volunteered to move to Chicago to help start a nonprofit service house, a one-year commitment. While living in Chicago, LeBlanc joined several sketch comedy and improv groups, companies that he continued to participate in after his work with the service house was completed.

In 2003, while living in Chicago and applying to grad school, LeBlanc decided to audition for The Second City. He was accepted, and grad school was put on hold as he began to tour with the group. However, he remained in touch with his technical background: “I spend a lot of time teaching to kids, both improv as well as video editing. I really enjoy combining performing with technology.”

LeBlanc also enjoys the educational background of the other members of The Second City: “The group I’m with right now, we’re all smart, super-cool people. We’ll be making fun of something on the radio, then the next minute you’re talking about stuff happening in the news… and that’s what’s great about sketch comedy. The more diverse a group of people you have, the better your material is going to be.”

“I got into science to contribute to mankind,” said LeBlanc. “I think that in theatre, especially with comedy, it’s almost the same thing. People might not agree with everything you say, but after laughing about it, they’ll still think about it afterwards and be willing to talk about it, and to help people see those things is really amazing for me.”

Although LeBlanc has been with The Second City for four years, he dreams of one day working for NASA. “I have a real affinity for artificial intelligence, and I’d like to design those systems for satellites, space probes, or even deep space shuttles.”

When asked about what advice he would offer other science and engineering students who wanted to cross over to comedy, LeBlanc expressed his belief that science equipped him for improv like few other subjects could: “I would say improv is all about being able to think on your feet and make the best decision you can, fast. I think science really helps you with that. Around Chicago, there are a lot of people who didn’t start out in theatre. Science is a very easy bridge into improv, and that’s a short step into sketch comedy.”

According to LeBlanc, The Second City’s current show “One Nation Under Blog” deals with the “overall picture of how we relate to each other and how technology is a part of that.” The shows features sketches about online dating, keeping track of what your kids are doing online, and the war in Iraq, as well as issues concerning the rise of political and corporate power. “I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised about how smart the funny is in our show… My favorite places to go are colleges because that always hits off well.”