Road To Success: Susan Messing

Susan Messing is an accessible mentor who took some time to tell us about her journey in the comedy world.

Women In Comedy: There was a time when Susan Messing, everyday woman, was first starting out and nobody knew who she was. What are a couple of the most memorable - but untold - obstacles/adversity you faced back then, both as an individual (Your struggles personally) and as a budding performer/producer?

Susan Messing: As an early performer, I had few goals- I simply didn't want to get kicked offstage. I was a mediocre actress at best when I had just graduated Northwestern with a theatre degree. My peers at ImprovOlympic were very supportive of my work but Charna was extremely tough. She later said that she was going to be really hard on me because one day I was going to be invaluable to her, but at the time I was miserable. I was also 'too nice' in her words. Please understand that we love each other, but in the beginning it took every fiber of my being to return each time. I credit my underlying masochism and tenacity for making sure I simply didn't quit. If I were a more evolved person when I began, I might have said fuck this shit and become a clinical child psychologist.

Women In Comedy: Do you remember the first moment you thought to yourself - I'm going to start my own Show - Messing With A Friend? Please tell us about the inspiration to boldly branch out on your own and why it was important.

Susan Messing:

I used to do 11 different shows a week, all over the city.

Then I did 11 different shows a week at The Annoyance.

Then I did 8 of the same show a week at Second City.

Then I got married and had a baby and did no shows.

I remember distinctly saying to myself, if I could only perform once a week, what would I want to do?

I would want to play with my friends that I never get to see, play with people who have always intrigued me, and I wouldn't give a crap about form. I still creep out at the title, 'Messing With A Friend.' I came from a generation that doesn't spotlight themselves, and most certainly didn't create shows with their name in it. I felt it was kind of arrogant. I think I have to get over it, as this show is in its tenth year at The Annoyance (it started at The Second City Unhinged Series, then went to iO, and then landed home at The Annoyance when our second Broadway space was completed.) I never think that I or my show is important. I am so grateful to the Annoyance for continuing to let it exist and for the amazing humans who have given me the luxury to play with them.

Women In Comedy: Who or what gave you the confidence to pursue improv as a career in Chicago?

Susan Messing: I had no choice. I had no skill set, although I was a very good waitress with an expertise at working at Greek diners. I am not joking.

Women In Comedy: Who is one of your closest and dearest friends in Chicago that has always been a great support to you throughout your career?

Susan Messing: There are too many people to thank who are still in my life thirty years later. However, I would say that Mick Napier gave me the initial tacit approval and I feel better any time he is in the room.

Women In Comedy: What scared you about starting a career in improv/comedy?

Susan Messing: See #1.

Women In Comedy: Were there any obstacles/adversity you faced specifically on the basis of your sex/gender as a woman/female that you can tell us about?

Susan Messing: Nothing was overt and I might have simply been too naive to notice. Del supposedly didn't like women but he liked me. The men on my team treated me like a gem. When the Annoyance was founded, there were as many women as men and we were all kicking butt. I was directed by Mick and Jill Solloway and both were champions for women.

Women In Comedy: You have a history of entrepreneurship and wearing so many hats - producer, director, writer, performer - is there anyone in particular in your family, friend or professional circle who was a prominent guiding force, influence, or mentor to you when you first started the journey to empowering yourself beyond just being a performer who went to auditions? If so, who, and how did they help you?

Susan Messing: Although I had agents (and have had them over twenty something years). I was kind of given permission to knock into walls and fuck it up all by my big girl self so all failures are my own fault and everything that someone deemed in my life to be successful has miles of supportive humans that held me up, simply by being in my life.

Women In Comedy: Tell us about one of your most exciting memories, opportunities, or recaps of a mentor who took the time to give you a chance when they absolutely did not have to go out of their way to help you?

Susan Messing: In 1998 I wanted to go back to LA because 'I needed a challenge,' whatever THAT meant. My friend Christina asked what would keep me in Chicago and I said 'an artistic challenge' and she said, 'Well what about Second City?' I was getting a lot of voiceover work at the time and couldn't see myself leaving town for touring with that cash flow disappearing. I had gone through the training center years earlier. Mick was directing the next MainStage show and Christina suggested that I ask him to consider me. Now, I am someone who won't even ask to do craft service on someone's movie- even the idea of asking for a professional favor makes me want to break out in hives- I can't EVEN- but something propelled me to go up to Mick. I said to him, 'Please excuse me but this will be the worst minute of my life. If there is a list of people to consider for MainStage, would you put me on that list?' and as I am saying this he is pulling a list out of his pocket and said 'They bought you.' Thank you Mick. Thank you Second City. This memory still makes me ill. Really, it is rough for me to ask for anything.

Women In Comedy: Do you think it is important for women who are in power positions/successful to mentor and uplift other women who come behind them? If so, what do you think are the best ways to do this, and how do you do this in your day to day life?

Susan Messing: Yes infinity plus infinity. Supporting each other makes all of us better. I get requests every single day for a myriad of stuff and I try to help in any way I can.

Women In Comedy: Walk us through a brief overview/ timeline or highlights of your mentors from young Susan to present day and what each one did for you?

I give great thanks to all of my teachers: David Downs from Northwestern University, Charna Halpern, John Harrizal, and Del Close from ImprovOlympic, and Don DePollo, Michael Gellman, Carey Goldenberg, and John Michaelski from The Second City. However, the teacher whose work made the most sense to me from a diagnostic approach and a comedic perspective was Mick Napier. His notes formed my work ethic. He gave me complete permission to express myself comedically and I relish that freedom. He is a stickler about protecting content so that people can laugh and I am constantly making sure to address that in my students' and my own work. I will never be able to thank him enough for all he has done for me as a teacher, director, and friend.

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