Monday, December 29, 2014

"Yes And" Listed #1 on Washington Post's Leadership Books in 2015

The Second City's EVP, Kelly Leonard, and The Second City Communications' CEO, Tom Yorton, have teamed up to put together what Washington Post declares the #1 leadership book to look out for in 2015! Check out "Yes And" coming February 2015 - we have to say...we're pretty excited!

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Panic on Cloud 9 Reviews Are In...

The Second City's 103rd Mainstage Revue, Panic on Cloud 9, opened last Thursday and the reviews are in, not too shabby...



                                    "takes plenty of risks"
- Chris Jones
Chicago Tribune


"exceptionally fine new mainstage revue"
- Hedy Weiss

"the cast spends the majority of this two-hour show delivering hilarious hit after hit"
- Zach Freeman


"Largely Successful, Unexpectedly Touching"
- Jim Kopeny


"a true comic experience"
- Alan Bresloff


"hot fun on a cold night"
- Lawrence Bommer


"I don’t recall when I have seen a better acted show."
- Dan Zeff


"grinding out laughs at a manic pace"
- Tom Williams





Tickets available here.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Twist Your Dickens Extends Run at Goodman Theatre

Due to high demand for tickets, Goodman Theatre extends Twist Your Dickens, Or Scrooge You!, The Second City’s version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with seven additional performances through January 3, including a special bar package on New Year’s Eve. Tickets start at $20 for the added performances (prices are subject to change) and can be purchased at GoodmanTheatre.org/Twist, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). Twist Your Dickens is appropriate for adults and savvy teens age 16+. Please be advised that the show incorporates the use of strobe lights, smoke and haze.

Additional performances include:

     Monday, December 29 at 4pm and 8pm
     Wednesday, December 31 at 6pm and 10pm*
     Friday, January 2 at 8pm
     Saturday, January 3 at 4pm and 8pm

*Additional $40 New Year’s Eve package includes beverages pre-show through intermission, a champagne toast at midnight and party favors with promo code NEWYEARS

The seven-member cast includes Francis Guinan as Scrooge (note: Brian Boland replaces Guinan for all performances starting December 26); Frank Caeti as the Ghost of Christmas Past; Peter Gwinn as Jacob Marley; Sayjal Joshi as Tiny Tim; Beth Melewski as the Ghost of Christmas Present; Robyn Scott as Mrs. Cratchit; and Tim Stoltenberg as Bob Cratchit. The creative team includes Tom Buderwitz (sets), Rachel Lambert (costumes) and Gina Patterson (lights). Mara Filler is the Production Stage Manager. Headshots and bio information, along with rehearsal and production photos can be found in the Press Room.

Additionally, the show includes a special Chicago-based celebrity guest in a cameo role at each show, though audiences won’t know who appears in this spot from night to night. Newly confirmed appearances include chef Rick Bayless; musician JC Brooks, author Aaron Freeman; comedian Shad Kunkle; Orange is the New Black’s Adrienne C. Moore; comedian Eddie Mujica; hip-hop artist Che Smith aka “Rhymefest”; comedy duo TJ and Dave; NPR’s Peter Sagal; Windy City Live’s Ji Suk Yi; co-owner of The Hideout Tim Tuten; and actor Jonathan Weir (a former Scrooge in A Christmas Carol). As previously announced, other expected appearances include comedian and Vocalo host Brian Babylon; WBEZ’s Niala Boodhoo; WXRT’s Lin Brehmer; Senator John Cullerton; actor Allen Gilmore (Scrooge alternate in A Christmas Carol); chef Stephanie Izard; Chicago Tribune’s Candace Jordan; Chicago Cubs’ Len Kasper; WBBM-TV’s Bill Kurtis; musician Jon Langford; Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, B96’s Showbiz Shelly; and sommelier Alpana Singh.

Written by former The Colbert Report writers Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort and directed by Artistic Director of The Second City Training Center Matt Hovde, Twist Your Dickens—a “riotous havoc” (Los Angeles Times) that blends legitimate theater, parody, sketch comedy and improvisation, including the integration of audience “misdeeds” that are written in the lobby preceding the show—finds Scrooge and Tiny Tim hopelessly mixed up with characters from the Peanuts holiday special, the Island of Misfit Toys and even Little Orphan Annie. While the set and costumes reflect The Second City’s minimalist aesthetic, audiences can expect to see backdrops of their favorite holiday television specials and the ensemble sporting “business casual Dickensian” wear inspired by ugly sweaters and other pop culture icons.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Old Town Tree Lighting - 12/2 @ 5:30pm

Old Town Merchants and Residents Association will be holding a Tree Lighting ceremony at the Burton Place park (1501 N. Wells) this year!

On Tuesday, December 2nd join your neighbors and friends at Burton Place Park for the annual tree lighting shortly after dusk (approximately 5:30pm).

Local shops are providing hot chocolate, candies and other sweets for the event.

New this year is the Old Town Storefront Stroll!  Between 2pm-8pm many Old Town businesses up and down Wells, from Division to St. Paul, will hand out goodies and have GREAT DEALS!!!

Holiday decorations — as well as all 2014 street plantings and landscaping on Wells Street — are installed by Old Town Gardens, through a shared contract between SSA 48 Old Town and the Old Town Merchants & Residents Association.