Former Conn lacrosse star finds funny side off the field

	After being sidelined by an injury, senior Russell Chase discovered a passion for the funnier things in life.

There's nothing funny about a sports injury.

But when a knee injury ended senior Russell Chase's collegiate lacrosse career, he ultimately decided to do something completely different. Comedy.

"It was a horrible time in my life, and it made me refocus what I wanted to do," Chase said. "I'd been so focused on academics and lacrosse ... I needed to find a new hobby."

So in his final semester at Connecticut College Chase is taking "comedic studies" classes at The Second City in Chicago—the renowned comedic theater that has turned out such comics as Steve Carell, John Belushi, Dana Carvey, Stephen Colbert and Alan Arkin.

Students in the program, sponsored by Columbia College Chicago, participate in workshops and take classes like "Context for Comedy" and "History and Analysis of Comedy."

The injury occurred weeks before Chase was supposed to play on the Irish national team in the 2006 World Lacrosse Championships. So after almost a year of agonizing, Chase took three classes in Connecticut College's theater department. He was hooked, and ultimately performed in an improv performance on campus.

"I'd always enjoyed doing skits and comedy, so I decided to take it to the next level," he said.

Of course, most of his peers in Chicago are seasoned actors, not former lacrosse stars, so Chase admitted being intimidated initially. But, he said, most comedy "all comes down to attaining skills and teamwork, so lacrosse turned out to be great preparation." He also relishes busting the stereotype that athletes can't be artistic.

He describes his style of comedy as physical comedy, or slapstick, but added that The Second City style is very political and clever. "It's not basic comedy," he said. "The students here are extremely creative, intelligent and talented."

Chase, of Hingham, Mass., plans to work in sports marketing after graduation this May. He believes his experience in comedy school will help in his career, but said he plans to keep comedy as a hobby.

"It's a very risky business," Chase said.

While other colleges have courses in improvisational comedy, the Columbia College Chicago program is unique in its collaboration with The Second City.  "It's been an amazing way to spend my last semester in college," Chase said.