Big Bad Wolf Vs. Lord Underwearface von Schtinker returns for Family Day Weekend!

With just two weeks to go, the cast of Big Bad Wolf Vs. Lord Underwearface von Schtinker is busy putting the finishing touches on this twist of a children's classic.

Back by popular demand, Big Bad Wolf vs. Lord Underwearface von Schtinker, is a hilarious musical romp that takes a new look at a children's classic. Framed for heinous crimes by the evil von Schtinker, our unlikely hero, Big Bad Wolf, must enlist the help of his fairy tale friends to prove that things aren't always as they seem. Featuring goofy chase scenes, sing-alongs, and some true lessons in friendship, this interactive show will dazzle children and the sly jokes will keep parents chuckling too. Lunch items, snacks and beverages are available in the theatre during the show; our family friendly menu and fun staff make The Second City a great place to bring the whole clan!

Want to learn what Second City is famous for? Try a one-hour drop-in improv class right after the show! Build self-confidence, think on your feet, and HAVE FUN with this introduction to the fundamentals of improve. Ages 5-100 are welcome! $5 class fee can be paid at the workshop or added to the purchase of your show tickets.

Don't miss it!

To purchase tickets visit www.secondcity.com/toronto or call 416.343.0011 now!

Thank you, Second Citizens!

Thank you to all of the Second Citizens who joined us in Chicago last night for a great pre-show party with food provided by Dinotto and then a performance of The Second City Mainstage's new show, "Taming of the Flu." It was great to meet all of you and we hope to see you soon!

If you'd like to become a Second Citizen to receive discounts and updates on new shows, classes and events at The Second City, sign up today!

Special Improv Workshops at the Niagara Institute of Music and Arts

The Second City Training Centre in Toronto will make a special appearance next month at the Niagara Institute of Music and Arts. Niagra is thrilled to welcome back The Second City to run a two week workshop in improvisation. Workshops will be held on Feb. 19 to 21 and Feb. 26 to 28 at the Epworth Circle School inside Kingston College. Check out the Niagara Falls Review's story about the program.

"Rush Limbaugh! The Musical" Opens February 3rd!

Rush Limbaugh! The Musical opens in The Second City e.t.c. Theatre on Wednesday, February 3rd at 8:00pm. Previews begin on Sunday, January 31st at 2:00pm. Book your tickets now at (insert box office link). Become friends with Rush Limbaugh! The Musical at Facebook to check out the latest updates, press, photos and videos.

New Monday Night Show Sure to Deliver Laughs of Olympic Proportions

The Second City Toronto has a brand new show to warm up your cold winter Mondays. We're bringing Canadian pride and Olympic fever to the stage in a hilarious new Monday night show: Reach for the Bronze!

Well Canada, the test results are back form the lab and we're not in the clear yet...the H1N1 flu has been upgraded to a nation-wide outbreak of Olympic Fever! The only antidote is a measure of The Second City's hilarious new Monday night show: Reach for the Bronze. Just as the world turns its attention to us, this fast-paced, laugh-packed show will poke fun at Canadian society, culture and our peculiar obsession with sports played on ice. Reach for the Bronze promises a platinum medal performance, and a near-perfect score from the Russian judges!

Don't Miss Out! This hilarious show only runs until March 29th.

To purchase tickets visit www.secondcity.com/toronto or call 416.343.0011 now!

Second City Leads the Way as Toronto Comedians Raise Funds for Haiti

The Second City has joined the Toronto comedy community in a big fundraising effort: Toronto Comedy Week for Haiti. Dozens of comedy shows around the city are donating their box office proceeds and taking up a collection for the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund.

Since the launch of this campaign, and thanks to the generosity of our guests, The Second City has already collected over $2000 in donations, and that's the just the beginning!

We'll be collecting donations on site all week, and on Tuesday January 26th at 8pm we'll host our benefit performance - tickets for this performance of Shut Up and Show Us Your Tweets at The Second City Theatre are $24 and every penny of that will be donated to this urgent and important cause!

Plus, on Wednesday January 27th at 9 pm the John Candy Box Theatre, hosts a benefit performance: Heart For Haiti featuring senior faculty, alumni, and guests from the cast of Reach for the Bronze!

Funds raised will support the Canadian Red Cross efforts to provide medical aid and support for earthquake survivors in Port-au-Prince and Panama, Haiti. For more info visit www.redcross.ca or www.comedyforhaiti.com or to purchase a ticket for our benefit show, contact our box office at 416-343-0011.

Congratulations to alum Tina Fey for SAG Award Win!

Congratulations to Second City alum Tina Fey for her SAG Award win on Saturday for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series! Her acceptance speech was amazing and she mentioned her teachers from The Second City Training Center - Don DePollo and Martin deMaat. To view a transcript of the speech, visit www.sagawards.com. To check out a complete list of winners, visit www.sagawards.org.

The John Candy Box Theatre: Heart for Haiti

Join us next Wednesday January 27th 9pm. Senior Faculty from The Second City Training Centre host a night of improv and music.

Karen Parker, Jen Goodhue, Kevin Frank, Kerry Griffin and more.

Special Guests: The Second City Touring Company!

This show is PWYC, recommended donation amount $10

Show your support by wearing red
Give your support by donating

LA Improv Relief Week for Haiti

THE SECOND CITY HOLLYWOOD ANNOUNCES:
LA Improv Relief Week for Haiti

When you don't know what to do, you do what you can. The Second City Hollywood has organized the improv community of Los Angeles to come together in an effort to raise money for earthquake relief for Haiti.

The Second City Hollywood together with the three other major improvisation companies in Los Angeles: IO West, Upright Citizens Brigade and The Groundlings ask you to join them for LA Improv Relief Week for Haiti. Together, these four comedy institutions will collect donations from their patrons from January 24th-31st at each and every performance at their venues. The theatres will collect donations after each show, 100% of which will be donated to Haiti relief organizations. In addition, the owner of The Second City, Andrew Alexander, will personally match the dollar amount brought in by audiences at The Second City Theatre through these donations.

LA Improv Relief Week will culminate with several of the theatres hosting their own events where ticket revenue and donations will be added to the cause (check individual theaters and their websites for details and additional information). The Second City Hollywood on Saturday January 30 will host an evening of “pay what you can” alumni performances. In addition, IO West presents an evening of benefit shows on Thursday January 28. The Groundlings will host a series of special main company and alumni benefit performances on Thursday, January 28. And The Upright Citizens Brigade will offer Mercycat at their venue on Sunday, January 31. Check each venue for performance times, ticket information and donation opportunities.

Through laughter we can help them survive. By surviving, they will learn to laugh again.

Websites and Map Quest links:

The Second City - www.secondcity.com
Location

The Groundlings
Location

IO West - west.ioimprov.com
Location

Upright Citizens Brigade - losangeles.ucbtheatre.com
Location

Rush behind the scenes

RUSH: take a sneak peek behind the scenes during the first day of rehearsal for Rush Limbaugh! The Musical. Watch improvisation at work with Mark Sutton, Cayne Collier, Bumper Carroll & Director: Matt Hovde.

Watch the video here.

Second City Toronto announces the return of Big Bad Wolf VS Lord Underwearface von Schtinker!

Second City Toronto announces the return of Big Bad Wolf VS Lord Underwearface von Schtinker!

After entertaining audiences over the Holidays, Second City returns with this new look at a children's classic. Running Family Day Weekend and over the March Break, this hilarious musical romp is sure to dazzle children and the sly jokes will keep parents chuckling as well. Call our box office at 416-343-0011 to buy your tickets today!

The Second City Theatres in Chicago and Toronto are joining the Haiti Relief efforts.

The Second City Theatres in Chicago and Toronto are joining the Haiti Relief efforts.

In Chicago, donations will be collected from audience members throughout the week after regularly scheduled performances. At the end of the week, donations will be matched by The Second City and donated to the Red Cross to support relief efforts. To see a show this week and donate in Chicago, visit www.secondcity.com.

In Toronto, Toronto's comedy community is coming together to contribute to relief efforts in Haiti. For one week, various performers and venues across Toronto will generously donate all box-office proceeds to the International Committee of the Red Cross Haiti Fund. Funds raised will support the ICRC efforts to provide medical aid and support for earthquake survivors in Port-au-Prince and Panama, Haiti. For more info visit www.icrc.org.

WHEN: Sunday, January 24 - Sunday, January 31, 2010

WHERE: Participating comedy venues across Toronto

SCHEDULE:
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24
9PM - "Laugh Sabbath" at the Rivoli (332 Queen St. W)
www.laughsabbath.com

9PM - "Sunday Night Live" at Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. W)
www.comedybar.ca

MONDAY, JANUARY 25
9PM - "ALTdot Comedy Lounge" at the Rivoli (332 Queen St. W)
www.altdotcomedylounge.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26
8PM - "Shut Up and Show Us Your Tweets" at The Second City (51 Mercer St.)
www.secondcity.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27
9PM - "Spirits Open Mic Comedy" at Spirits Bar & Grill (642 Church St.)
www.spiritsbarandgrill.com

9PM - "Carnegie Hall" at Bread & Circus (299 Augusta Ave)
www.breadandcircus.ca

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28
8:30PM - "Absolute Comedy" (2335 Yonge St.)
www.absolutecomedy.ca

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29
8PM - "Globehead 2010" at Bad Dog Theatre (138 Danforth Ave)
www.baddogtheatre.com

8PM - "Catch 23" at Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. W)
www.comedybar.ca

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30
10PM - Hawkmail presents "First Draft" at Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. W)
www.comedybar.ca

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31
"Sunday Night Live" at Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. W)
www.comedybar.ca

Yep, we’re with Conan

In case you were wondering, we're with Conan. We wish Conan O'Brien and his staff, including Second City alums Brian Stack and Kevin Dorff, the best possible outcome in all of this.

(image courtesy facebook.com/imwithcoco)

The Second City Training Center to Host Free Music Improv Jams

The Free Music Improv Jams are back. Due to popular demand, the Second City Music Program is pleased to offer this long-time favorite once again. Perfect for musical improvisers of every level, these jams provide a great opportunity for all to gain valuable "singprov" experience. A Second City Music Director leads participants through fun and challenging short-form musical improv games. Everyone is encouraged to get up and play, meet fellow improvisers and learn new games. On-lookers welcome too. No registration required.

Saturdays, 1/23 through 2/27. 4-5:30pm in the de Maat Theater, Piper's Alley, 1608 N. Wells, 3rd floor. Free.

Donate to Haiti Relief Campaign

Join us in supporting the Red Cross Haiti Relief efforts! The Red Cross is contributing an initial $1 million from the International Response Fund to support the relief operation in Haiti after the devastating earthquake on Tuesday. To help, people can make an unrestricted donation to the International Response Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767).

You can also help by texting “Haiti” to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Red Cross, through an effort backed by the U.S. State Department. Funds will go to support American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.

For more information, visit redcross.org.

Alums Matt Hovde and Brad Morris included on New City’s Top 50

Matt Hovde and Brad Morris have been included by New City in The Players: The 50 People Who Really Perform for Chicago.

Matt Hovde is the current Artistic Director for The Second City Training Center and has directed numerous resident shows at The Second City including the current Jeff Award-winning show, "Studs Terkel's Not Working." He will also be directing Second City Theatrical's show, "Rush Limbaugh! The Musical" opening on February 3. Check out his listing at www.newcitystage.com.

Brad Morris is a member of The Second City Mainstage cast where he has written and performed four reviews including, "Between Barack and a Hard Place," "No Country for Old White Men," "America! All Better," and the current show, "Taming of the Flu." Check out his listing at www.newcitystage.com.

Chicago Mainstage Cast Member Emily Wilson: Living the Dream

In the February issue of Ladies' Home Journal, Chicago Mainstage cast member Emily Wilson is featured in their 'Living the Dream' column. Read about her journey to The Second City's Mainstage at www.lhj.com.

For more information on her new show, "Taming of the Flu," click here.

Fox News reports on "Rush Limbaugh! The Musical"

Check out this quick Fox News report on our upcoming show "Rush Limbaugh! The Musical." Learn more about our upcoming performance and get your tickets now by clicking here.

Yep, Winter Has Landed in Chicago. Check out this video to see how we feel about it.

The first big snow has fallen and our temperatures are getting ready to drop. Thanks, Winter in Chicago. Here’s how the Mainstage cast feels about it. We think they speak for all of us.

To empathize with us in person, book your tickets at www.secondcity.com

Congratulations to alum Steve Carell for People’s Choice Award!

Congratulations to Second City alum Steve Carell for winning Favorite TV Comedy Actor at the People’s Choice Awards. For a complete list of winners and highlights from last night’s broadcast, visit peopleschoice.com.

New Rush Limbaugh! The Musical Blog

Actor Mark Sutton will portray Rush Limbaugh in the upcoming show “Rush Limbaugh! The Musical.” You can get a behind the scenes look at the show by following his blog here.

While you're at it, become a Fan of "Rush Limbaugh! The Musical" on Facebook.

Rush Limbaugh: "Rush Limbaugh: the Musical" coming to Second City

Yes, it's that time we bring Mr. Limbaugh into fold of comedic satire. Check out the Tribune's article and see the what, how, why and when.

To buy tickets to Rush Limbaugh! The Musical, click HERE.

Check us out on Facebook, while you're at it!

Mainstage Cast Member Brad Morris Named Top 5 Performers of 2009

Brad Morris, current cast member of The Second City Mainstage, has been named one of Chicago's Top 5 Male Performers of 2009 by Nina Metz in the latest issue of New City. To check out the complete list, visit newcitystage.com.

Brad can currently be seen in The Second City Mainstage's new revue, "Taming of the Flu." To check out his bio, visit secondcity.com.

Click here to reserve your tickets for "Taming of the Flu."

Special Youth Workshop – Introduction to Improvisation – at The Second City Hollywood this Sunday

This Sunday, January 10, 2010, from 3-5 p.m. students 8-17 years old are welcome to join us for an introduction to Second City style improvisation. The workshop is just $25 when you mention that you saw this posting on our website. Class will be held at The Second City Training Center, 6560 Hollywood Boulevard, Second Floor. Space is limited. Call Jen Hoyt to confirm your spot in class: (323) 464-8542 now!

Hollywood Conservatory Graduates Take Their Ensemble Sketch Show ‘In Yo Face’ to the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival

After graduating as an ensemble from The Second City Conservatory in Hollywood and running their show 'In Yo Face' at The Second City Studio Theatre in Hollywood for seven weeks, this group is traveling east to the annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival is an annual event that celebrates the best in local, national and international sketch comedy. Over two weeks, 100 sketch comedy troupes will perform 125 shows. In addition to the performances, there are workshops, networking events, and children's programming. The Chicago SketchFest is the world's largest sketch comedy festival, with hundreds of funny people in one convenient location - laughter guaranteed. The festival takes place January 7th - 17th, 2010 @ Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 West Belmont, with 'In Yo Face' playing on Jan 15 & 16 at 8pm.