Best remembered for cracking jokes on the morning announcements, Aram Rayzian, a 2013 graduate, has not stopped his comedic work since leaving North.

        In fact, Rayzian has been at Second City for almost two years. Second City is a comedic institution that has been around since the 50s in Chicago that has trained the funny and famous, from Steve Carell to Amy Poehler. He’s completed their Improvisation Program and is expected to graduate from the Conservatory Program in January.

Rayzian knew from an early age that he loved comedy and making people laugh.

“I would do impressions of my teachers all the time and get yelled at for it,” said Rayzian.

Though comedy was never something Rayzian thought he could pursue, until the end of this senior year.

“I switched from a Pre-med to pursuing comedy and acting because I had learned so much about performing from speech team, community theatre and high school shows,” said Rayzian.

        Rayzian has since been featured in four professional shows, including two at Second City, both which him helped write.

        Rayzian’s current show, Critically Ashamed, is about shame.  The show has been at Donny’s Skybox on Saturdays for the past four weeks, each show being sold out.

        “Why we hide same, how it changes our behavior, and how we cope with it. Shame is a shared experience, no matter how isolated it can make you feel sometimes,” said Rayzian, “We wanted to bring that to light.”

        As any comedy skit you would expect it to be funny, but with Critically Ashamed it is taken a step further.

        “Some sketches involve physical comedy, heavy satire, strong political humor and hilarious current events. We love to take a very serious and introspective topic and give it a creative and hilarious spin,” said Rayzian.

        Rayzian’s previous show at Second City was One Giant Leap, which explored society’s dependence on technological shortcuts to build meaningful relationships. His other two shows were Selling Out, a skit about corporate advertising, and Bang, Bang, You’re Dead, a play about gun violence.

“Learn to use 100 percent of your intelligence when you performs or writes. Treat comedy like a true art form, continuing to train and improve your craft. Always learn and expanding your comedic tool belt. Staying true to you and have fun on stage alongside the audience,” said Rayzian when asked how beginners can improve their talent.