Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mike Myers, Stephen Colbert, Bill Murray, Chris Farley – Second City placed all these stars under the limelight, and new talent is always bursting through the woodwork.

Second City’s Touring Company, a six-piece ensemble, will perform their latest show, “Truth, Justice, or the American Way,” this Friday at the Virginia Theatre. It is a take on relationships, politics, and family life in today’s society through sketch comedy and improvisation.

Jameel Jones, cultural arts manager for the Champaign Park District, said that given the Iraq war, the topic “seems to be very appropriate.” He said the show will be “a laugh release from what’s happening in the world today.”

This will be the touring company’s fourth appearance at the theater in the last two and a half years.

“It’s been pretty funny in the past,” said Anthony Howell, front of house coordinator for the theatre. “I’m pretty sure they’ll live up to it.”

Combining classic Second City scenes with their new material, touring member and comedian, Robyn Norris, said the audience should come ready to laugh.

The other cast members include Christina Anthony, Joey Bland, Meagan Flanigan, Anthony LeBlanc and Seth Weitberg. It’s their sort of humor that Jones thinks brings people out to the theatres.

“Improv comedy always sparks an interest in of a lot of people (because) you’re not sure what you’re gonna get,” Jones said. “That’s what people want nowadays to get a good laugh.”

For David Pirszel, junior in LAS and a frequent visitor of the Main Stage in Chicago, a Second City Touring Company performance provided him with the best energy he had ever experienced, he said.

“They’re sharp, witty, fast, clever (and it’s) pertinent to the political times,” Pirszel said.

In one part of the show they use a scene from one of Tina Fey’s performances, “The Old Recruit,” and Norris plays a grandmother attempting to enlist for war.

“It’s really funny and topical,” Norris said. “It has a great moment (and) at the end you’ll find out why.”

So far this year, Weitberg and Norris believe the show has been a success.

“We’ve been playing to sold out houses on the road the past couple weekends and it’s been going well,” Norris said. “The crowds are usually pretty receptive (and) ready to laugh.”

Never having been to Champaign before, Norris believes the crowd will be equally receptive.

“College kids are my favorite audiences,” she said. “They’re smart and get the humor right away.”

Having been a part of the touring company for a year and a half, Norris has been all over the country with her crew. One of her favorite parts about traveling with the company is seeing how different places laugh at different jokes.

After spending so much time together the cast becomes close friends who run errands and take care of each other like siblings, Weitberg explained.

“At the end of the day, the work is such an integrating force that we are able to feel that overwhelming sense of love and support all the time,” Weitberg said.

This communal feeling is essential to making them into an ensemble.

“Improv is all based on ‘yes and-ing’ each other,” she said, explaining the improv philosophy of going with the flow and building off each others’ ideas.

Working with such talented people and being part of the comedic arena has always been Norris’ dream. She grew up watching SNL and admiring Gilda Radner, hoping she, too, would one day be as successful.

After exploring theater throughout high school and doing improv and sketch comedy in college, Norris moved to Chicago hoping to immerse herself in the comedic scene.

Norris auditioned several times for Second City without getting called back. But this didn’t keep her from performing at many other venues throughout the city, which she calls a “huge comedy community.” Norris regularly improvs at ComedySportz in Chicago, where she has taught, and IO, formerly ImprovOlympic.

Two years ago, she was hired to a Second City touring company. Norris was thrilled.

“I always had dream of working Second City. It’s the best comedy in the world,” she said. “Each (theater) gives you the tools to be a better performer at other venues.”

With two years of touring under her belt, Norris continues to look ahead for more comedic opportunities.

“I’m always writing, acting and looking to do anything on film,” she said.

Norris has begun her own video production company called Seven8nine with fellow comedians she’s worked with throughout the years. They’ve shot, scripted and edited various skits including “Drinkin’ Pop and Makin’ Love” and “Eat a Sandwich.”

They also created skits for the 2007 Chicago Sketch Festival, such as “How to Bed a Sketch Comedian.”

Between Second City, Seven8nine Productions and the other venues, Norris doesn’t have much time off. But, she doesn’t need it.

“I’m usually always working because I love what I do,” she said. “I consider my job so much fun.”

Norris said she worked very hard to get to where she’s at. Now, she’s living the life she dreamed of while watching SNL as a young girl, and is spreading that joy through her work.

Given the nature of the world today, comedy is just what Jones, cultural arts manager for Champaign Park District, believes people truly need.

“(This) leisure is people’s release from the stresses of life,” he said.

Norris agrees.

“I love all forms of theater – comedy is my favorite,” she said.

Second City will perform this Friday at the Virginia Theatre, 203 W. Park Ave., Champaign. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are on sale for $23 – $26.