Two years before Betsy Stone was born, Stephen Colbert worked the box office at Second City.
By her 22nd birthday, she was working that same box office.
Betsy Stone ’09 started working for Second City, what the New York Times calls a “Comedy Empire,” a few months after graduating from Hillsdale College. The improv-based sketch comedy company has produced dozens of wildly hilarious alumni –– like Amy Poehler and Tina Fey –– who go on to work for Saturday Night Live or have their own shows.
Many of these stars started their comedic careers working box offices or busing tables. Likewise, Stone began her career as a hostess.
“It was not a glamorous job,” Stone said.
When Second City hosted events for its 50th anniversary, though, she caught a glimpse of the comedic world she had entered.
“I was washing dishes as Bonnie Hunt, Steve Carrell, and Steven Colbert were walking past me saying, ‘Goodbye,’” Stone said.
Now, less than three years later, she works as group sales associate, focusing on event coordination for the company.
“I basically live at Second City,” she said.
Working there has provided her with opportunities to practice her improvisational skills, explore satire, and grow as an actor and “kind of comedian.”
After graduating from Hillsdale with degrees in theater and psychology, Stone moved to New York to pursue theater. A few months later, she moved back to Chicago and got a job at Second City.
“It’s a really strange story. I went back to New York to do theater,” she said. “But I missed the Midwest mentality I had gotten used to in Hillsdale.”
Theater, she said, is amazing because of the incredible options at her fingertips
“I’d really like to do as many things as I can. I’d love to continue performing,” Stone said. “My personal goal is to move up and produce and direct. I’d love to do that at Second City. It’s a really good resume builder.”
Junior Maggie Ball said that Stone’s already successful career is an inspiration in her life as she pursues acting.
“Betsy’s hilarious in real life. She is so excited about everything,” Ball said. “She told me to sell what I can do and that ‘you can make it if you want.’ She’s living proof of that.”
Ball first met Stone on the set of “Cymbeline,” a play the Tower Players produced Ball’s freshman year.
“Everyone said, ‘Oh my gosh, you need to meet Betsy Stone,’” Ball said. “I met her after the show at a party. I already really valued her opinion.”
Originally, Stone planned on pursuing a career as a psychologist. Conversations with Professor of Theater George Angell and Professor of Philosophy James Stephens convinced her not waste her passion.
“I didn’t think I would be doing anything with theater or be as successful as I think I am as a 24-year-old, even though it’s a scarier field,” she said. “It’s not an easy career no matter what end you’re working. You know you’ll be living on Ramen for months straight. It’s terrifying.”
snelson1@hillsdale.edu
