Alumna Aidy Bryant Joins SNL Cast

Columbia College Chicago theatre alumna Aidy Bryant (B.A. ’09) is one of three new cast members hired by NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” to begin its 38th season on September 15.

During her time at Columbia College, Bryant also participated in the college’s Comedy Studies program, which was developed by the Theatre Department and The Second City. The six-year-old program allows Columbia students to study full-time at The Second City for a “semester abroad,” immersing themselves in comedic performance, history, writing and improvisation.

Many Columbia faculty members have fond memories of Aidy.

“Aidy always had a twinkle in her eye,” said Caroline Latta, theatre professor who taught Aidy in a Shakespeare class, adding that she had a wonderful analytical sense. “I was struck by how beautifully she captured the character of Emilia in her final scene from ‘Othello,’ which was a bit out of her usual comfort zone. It was courageous of her, and she was very perceptive.”

Stephanie Shaw, senior lecturer in the theatre department said Aidy was a “delightful student” in her solo performance class.

“She always did a great job of pointing out life’s little cruelties,” Shaw said, referring to a “poignant and hilarious” skit Aidy performed about childhood plastic horse figurines, and being the girl who wanted to play with the pretty horse but got stuck with the ugly horse with the broken leg.

Bryant joins the new SNL cast along with fellow Chicagoans Tim Robinson and Cecily Strong. All three have ties to The Second City, which launched the careers of numerous SNL members, such as John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and more. Aidy previously performed at The Second City, The Annoyance Theatre and iO, and has contributed to videos for the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Photo courtesy of Second City (photo credit: Todd Rosenberg)

Bryant first appears at 0:39 in the below video about the semester-long Comedy Studies program: