What Scares The Second City?

To celebrate Halloween this week, we asked The Second City family to answer this question:

What scares you? 

“That people will find out the truth: that I worked for Second City in the mid-80s, but disappeared and came back with a new identity-- just so I could ride again.” --Michael Lehrer, Second City e.t.c. Theater Ensemble Member

“Democrats.” --Griffin Wenzler, Box Office Rep

“In ascending order: When anyone's body touches me on public transit, the time as a kid when I learned about periods from the movie Carrie, and Reply-All.” --Aaron Sjoholm, Chicago Training Center Operations Manager & Teacher

“President Michele Bachmann. Just the thought of it sends chills down my spine.”  --Jeff Gandy, Education & Youth Programs Manager

“I'm scared of dying alone. To combat my fear, I'm becoming a pilot.” --Greg Ott, Actor, Second City Theatricals

“Admittedly, I have some bizarro phobias: Sinkholes. Tumbleweeds. Big signs. Used Band-Aids. Sticky stuff. Buoys. And Juggalos. No bueno.”  --Jocelyn Geboy, Box Office Rep

“Pumpkin innards gross me out. Ever since my first pumpkin lobotomy as a child, pumpkin guts turn my innards upside down.” --Andrew Thorp, Training Center Marketing Manager & Teen/Youth Faculty

“Impromptu toasts. I may have the notes in my head, the slight alcohol buzz, and all the confidence in the world, but that still won't guarantee a well-prepared speech once I stand up.” --Sandra Mazuera, Box Office Rep

“I always get super-scared when I look at my checking account and need to decide what to pay for: the electric bill or wine... One will keep the lights on, and one will keep me from killing people. Just sayin'.” --Andrea Miller, Group Events & Catering Manager

“Definitely ghosts. They can see everything. It's terrifying that ghosts can see me watching Pretty Little Liars in the dark, binge-eating Pretzel Thins.” --Ellen Williams, Student Service Representative

“Bees. It all started with Macaulay Culkin in My Girl. He can't see without his glasses!!!” --Eddie Mujica, Second City Touring Company Ensemble Member & SCN Contributor

“Snakes. I once saw a belt on the floor in the shape of a snake and immediately threw out all my belts. Traitors.”  --Courtney Hummel, SCC Account Coordinator

“When Christmas decorations and music start before October is even over (shudders). “ --Ashley Schulter, SCC Inside Sales Representative

“Divvy bikers scare me. They are going to kill us all-- or all be killed. SINGLE FILE, DIVVY BIKERS!!!” --Rachael Mason, Head of Advanced Improvisation

“Old Town Jimmy on a crack binge.” --Dan Wagner, IT Manager

“Deranged families. Nothing’s scarier than a group of people, especially a family, in agreement that wearing human skin is a good lifestyle choice. Take the family in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. At some point, they gave their son the nickname ‘Leatherface.’”  --Chris Pagnozzi, Second City Archivist & Network Manager

“I am scared by the prospect of failure in life. And of my mother. Unrelated.” --Natalie Shipman, Second City Touring Company Alum & SCN Contributor

“Babies and pets staring at things that are not there. I just automatically think they’re talking to a demon who is about to break my back.” --Patrick Rowland, Next: An Official Second City Training Center House Ensemble Member & SCN Conbtributor

“One word: diabetes.” --Neal Dandade, Second City Touring Company Ensemble Member

“Besides the Tea Party and Two and a Half Men? I'm most scared of losing my glasses in a zombie attack.” --Rachel LaForce, Touring Company Ensemble Member

“Maybe it's just me, but I get scared every time I'm buried alive, futilely pounding against the wooden walls of my now-eternal resting place as the mad laughs of my captor grow more faint with every fresh shovelful of dirt.”  --Tim Ryder, Second City Touring Company Alum

“Loneliness and death. Is that too heavy?” --Tyler Alexander, VP of Digital Media

“Intimacy.” --John Hartman, Second City Touring Company alum & SCN Contributor