Second City comedians return to Carmel to tackle the holidays.

If comedy troupe The Upright Citizens Brigade was the young upstart (see story above), Chicago’s Second City – which today runs improv comedy schools (13,000 students a year), clubs and theaters – was the teacher, a talent pool from which emerged John Belushi, Bill Murray, Martin Short, Gilda Radner, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell.

It bucked convention when it began in 1959; today it is the institution. But a lively one, as you can see on Tuesday when they perform their Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue at Carmel’s Sunset Center. It comprises short and long sketches, with several improvised scenes, all revolving around the rich convergence of the holidays and relationships.

Nick Rees is part of that company’s show. He says Second City performers come from a “wide swath of humanity.”

“People who wanted to be doctors, then decided that they’re funny. People this has been their dream since they knew what it was,” he says. He channels his own comedy yang via tweets of food that he’s eaten during his comedy tour.

“I ate 2 1/2 pounds of meat yesterday,” he says. “It’s been 24 hours and I still haven’t eaten again.”

He tweeted one of his own creations: a cheese pizza. No dough, no sauce, just cheese. His mom teaches theater at York School, which one might think would give him an advantage on stage, but he admits it hasn’t worked out that way.

“My theater acumen is not super high. She’ll use theater terms and I’ll give her a blank stare.”

(See the Weekly’s Arts & Culture blog for an interview and videos from fellow Second City comedian Lisa Barber.)

SECOND CITY’S NUT-CRACKING HOLIDAY REVUE comes 7pm Tuesday at Sunset Center, Ninth and San Carlos, Carmel. $29; $39;$49. 620-2048, www.SunsetCenter.org