Andrew Alexander, CEO/Executive Producer of the legendary Second City has partnered with Robert Hartmann, CEO of Levity Entertainment, to create Chicago's newest Stand-Up and Comedy Cabaret theatre located in Piper's Alley. The new theatre is scheduled to open October 1st, 2011.
The theatre will be located in the former Tony & Tina's Wedding space in Piper's Alley which also houses The Second City e.t.c. Theatre and The Second City Training Center campus. Designed by Ryan Nestor of Barker & Nestor, the new space will be a 280-seat classic cabaret-style theatre featuring a bar and restaurant component. President of Second City, Diana Martinez and Vice President Kelly Leonard are working on programming and operations which will include headline comedians, performances of Second City theatrical productions, alumni shows, and improv shows.
"With the addition of this theatre, we are truly turning Piper's Alley into an exciting Entertainment destination. This club will be a great home for stand-up, sketch artists and alternative comedy. With its retro nightclub feel, this space will evoke the memories of the days of Mr. Kelly's and the Gaslight Club," said Andrew Alexander, CEO/Executive Producer of The Second City.
Robert Hartmann, CEO of Levity Entertainment, adds, "We've been very successful in live stand-up throughout the country and now with Second City, the definitive brand in sketch comedy, we believe our new partnership can take live comedy to the next level by creating a new, broader experience for the consumer."
Levity Entertainment Group is best known for The Improv, licensed owner-operator comedy clubs, operating the largest retail comedy footprint in the country and producers of prime time comedy specials and DVDs. In 2009, Levity Entertainment Group signed a multiplatform output deal with Comedy Central. Levity will produce a dozen stand-up specials for Comedy Central, with six of them coming from comedians Christopher Titus, Gabriel Iglesias, Pablo Francisco, Jim Breuer, Mitch Fatel and Pete Correale.
The Second City is best known for its resident stages in Chicago and Toronto, as well as producing the award-winning television series SCTV and training generations of North America's most beloved comedic talent from Alan Arkin, Gilda Radner and John Belushi to Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell. Additionally, The Second City runs the largest school of improvisation and sketch comedy in the nation with over 15,000 students enrolled annually that teaches improvisation, acting, writing, and other skills in Chicago, Toronto and Los Angeles.
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