The Second City facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Second City |
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| Genre | Sketch comedy Improvisation |
| Date of premiere | 1959 |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Creative team | |
| Cofounder | Paul Sills |
| Cofounder | Bernie Sahlins |
| Cofounder | Howard Alk |
| Executive producer | not designated |
| Official website: http://www.secondcity.com/ | |
The Second City is a famous comedy group that uses improv and sketch comedy. It is the oldest improv theater that has always been in Chicago. It also has training programs and live theaters in Toronto and New York. Since it started in 1959, it has become one of the most important and well-known comedy groups in the English-speaking world. In February 2021, a company called ZMC bought The Second City.
The Second City has made TV shows in Canada and the United States. These include SCTV, Second City Presents, and Next Comedy Legend. Many famous comedians, actors, and directors started their careers here. Some of these stars are Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Jordan Peele.
Contents
The Story of The Second City
The Second City got its name from articles about Chicago by A. J. Liebling. He called Chicago "The Second City" in a way that made fun of it a little. In 1955, students from the University of Chicago started a group called Compass Players. They performed a type of comedy called "commedia dell'arte". This was based on theater games taught by Viola Spolin.
On December 16, 1959, The Second City opened its first show in Chicago. The founders were Paul Sills, Bernie Sahlins, and Howard Alk. They wanted a place where actors could create scenes and stories using improv. This style of comedy often made fun of social rules, politicians, and current events.
In 1961, a group from The Second City performed on Broadway. Their show, From the Second City, was nominated for Tony Awards. The company moved to a new location in 1967. Over time, it grew to include touring groups and a second main group. It also now has a group focused on helping with outreach and diversity.
In 2020, The Second City faced some challenges. There were criticisms about racism within the organization. The CEO, Andrew Alexander, resigned. The company then made changes to be more welcoming and inclusive. They formed a committee with people from different communities to help with this.
In October 2020, The Second City was put up for sale. In February 2021, ZMC, an investment firm, bought the company. In 2022, The Second City opened a new location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York. This new space has two theaters, seven classrooms, and a restaurant. It opened to the public on November 16, 2023.
SCTV Television Show
Second City Television, or SCTV, was a Canadian TV sketch comedy show. It started from The Second City's Toronto group and ran from 1976 to 1984.
The show was about a TV station in a made-up city called Melonville. Instead of showing regular TV, this station, run by the funny Guy Caballero (Joe Flaherty), broadcast strange and often silly local programs. These included a soap opera called "The Days of the Week" and game shows like "Shoot at the Stars." The show also made fun of movies, like "Play it Again, Bob." Many famous characters came from SCTV, such as Johnny La Rue (John Candy) and Ed Grimley (Martin Short).
Leaders of The Second City
Andrew Alexander
In 1974, Andrew Alexander became the head of The Second City Toronto. He then helped create The Second City Entertainment Company in 1976. This company produced SCTV. Alexander helped create and produce over 185 episodes of the show.
In 1985, Alexander and Len Stuart bought The Second City in Chicago. Alexander also started the SCTV TV & Film Division. He produced many Second City shows in Canada and the United States.
In June 2020, some Second City comedians spoke out about issues of fairness and inclusion. This led Alexander to apologize and step down. He promised that the next leader would be from a BIPOC community. Anthony LeBlanc was then appointed as a temporary leader.
Jon Carr
On November 25, 2020, The Second City announced that Jon Carr would be the new executive producer. He had been an artistic director at another theater before this. He left the role in early 2022. A new leader has not yet been named.
Awards and Recognition
As of 2014, The Second City has won thirty-seven Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards. These awards celebrate excellence in Chicago theater. They have won "Best Revue" five times. Many directors and actors from The Second City have also won individual awards. These include founder Bernard Sahlins and improv teacher Del Close.
In 2009, The Second City celebrated its 50th year. It received an honorary Jeff Award for this milestone. Its show Studs Terkel's Not Working also won three awards. In 2011, another show, Sky's the Limit (Weather Permitting), won for "Best New Work" and "Best Revue."
The Second City's Toronto group has won ten Canadian Comedy Awards. These include "Best Improv Troupe" and "Best Sketch Troupe." Their shows like Family Circus Maximus and Barack to the Future also won awards.
The Second City on Film
- Goldstein (1964) – This movie was directed by Philip Kaufman. It featured several Second City members like Severn Darden and Del Close.
- The Monitors (1969) – This was a funny movie about an alien invasion. It starred Second City members Avery Schreiber and Alan Arkin.
- Second to None (2001) – This documentary showed how a Second City show was created. It followed the cast from rehearsals to opening night.
- The Second City: First Family of Comedy (2006) – This documentary looked at the history of The Second City. It also showed the success of famous alumni like Tina Fey and Mike Myers.
- I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006) – This movie was made by Jeff Garlin, a former Second City actor. It included scenes filmed at The Second City's Chicago theater.
- Don't Think Twice (2016) – This film was about an improv group. It starred Second City alumni Tami Sagher and Keegan-Michael Key.
- For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close (2020) – This documentary was about Del Close. He was a Second City director who taught many comedians.
Touring Company
The Touring Company started in 1967. It was a way to find new talent. This group performed "greatest hit" shows on the road. In 1982, they started performing original shows in what became the theater's second stage.
50th Anniversary Celebration
In December 2009, The Second City celebrated its 50th anniversary. Many famous alumni came back for the event. There was an SCTV reunion show with stars like Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara. Other famous alumni who attended included Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Tina Fey.
Training Center and Film School
The Second City Training Center began in the mid-1980s. It was created because many people wanted to learn from The Second City. There are Training Centers in Chicago, Toronto, and Los Angeles. The Chicago Training Center has over 5,000 students. They learn about improvisation and comedy writing.
Many famous people have studied at the Training Center. These include Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Stephen Colbert. Classes are taught by working professionals, often current or former Second City performers. In 2016, the Training Center added The Second City Film School. This school focuses on comedy in filmmaking.
The Second City Detroit
The Second City Detroit was a comedy theater and training center in Novi, Michigan. It was the third main Second City location in North America. It opened in 1993 in downtown Detroit. In 2005, it moved to Novi. The original Detroit theater is now called the Detroit House of Comedy.
The Parents School
In the early days of The Second City, some parents started a special school for their children. This school was based on Viola Spolin's Theater Games ideas. It was called "Playroom School" at first. Theater Games are now used in many ways, including in drama therapy and as a teaching tool. Some students from this school later became entertainers. The school moved several times before closing in the mid-1970s.
Audio Recordings
- Comedy from The Second City (1961)
- From The Second City (1962)
- The Sound of My Own Voice and Other Noises: Severn Darden at The Second City (1961)
- The Second City Writhes Again! (1969)
- The Cosa Nostra Story
- The Second City Survival Kit (1982)
Other Influences
In 1971, The Players Workshop became Chicago's only official improv school for over ten years. Even though it was not officially part of The Second City, it was often called "Players Workshop Of The Second City." This was because it worked closely with the famous comedy stage.
See also
In Spanish: The Second City para niños
- Annoyance Theater
- iO Theater
- Under the Gun Theater
- Theatre in Chicago
- Upright Citizens Brigade
- The Groundlings
- List of museums and cultural institutions in Chicago
