Leave ’em Laughing
Suffolk University alumnus Ryan Bernier has spent two years perfecting his craft at The Second City Conservatory in Chicago, on the same stage that launched the careers of such comic greats as John Belushi, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, John Candy and Gilda Radner.
Center Stage
Suffolk University alumnus Ryan Bernier has spent two years perfecting his craft at The Second City Conservatory in Chicago, on the same stage that launched the careers of such comic greats as John Belushi, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, John Candy and Gilda Radner.
“I’ve had the opportunity to learn from the best and do something I actually love,” says Bernier, who now holds a degree from the nationally prominent institution in the performing arts field. “I’m glad I took the chance to do this when I did.”
When he graduated from Suffolk in 2004, Bernier had a choice to make: To follow his head and accept a position at a Boston radio station or to follow his heart and fly to Chicago. He chose the latter.
“At The Second City, it was very competitive; 150 people auditioning with me,” says Bernier. “Everyone had a resume, a head shot, and 20 minutes to impress the judges. They accepted 10 people, and I was lucky to be one of them.”
Under the tutelage of head director Norm Holly, Bernier has worked alongside top actors and comedians, and he has written and directed comedy shorts and comedic plays. “I’ve been part of a really dynamic group,” he says.
Suffolk Training
“The training I received at Suffolk pushed me in the right direction,” says Bernier, who was voted “Class Clown” in high school. “Suffolk’s improv comedy troupe, Seriously Bent, is one of the gems of the University.”
Bernier was the first Seriously Bent alumnus to be accepted into The Second City Conservatory Rebecca Edwards, a 2005 graduate, was the second.
“Ryan is an example of a student who benefited from the resources that the Performing Arts program has to offer, and it has clearly paid off,” says Chris DeStefano, former director of the Performing Arts Office at Suffolk.