Groupon for UP Comedy Club tickets

In honor of Cyber Monday, we're offering a Groupon for tickets to our new UP Comedy Club for almost any show before March 11. So head on over to Groupon and catch this amazing deal!

Click here: $35 for up to $70 worth of tickets to UP Comedy Club

Headshot Day for Training Center Students!

The Training Center is hosting another discounted Headshot Day on Friday and Saturday, December 16th and 17th (9am-4pm) with guest artist Sally Blood (www.sallybloodheadshots.com). Sessions are 1 hour, which include a 15-minute corrective make-up session and 45-minute shoot. Each session is $200 (a $75 deposit is required at the time of reservation). Participants receive access to all unedited photos via a photo share gallery and can include one touched-up, full-color proof for an additional $30, to be arranged directly with the photographer. Reproductions are not included at this time, although there will be information on-hand for discounted reproductions. Email Andrew Thorp at athorp@secondcity.com with any questions or time requests.

Andrew Alexander Talks to The A.V. Club about UP

Second City CEO & Executive Producer Andrew Alexander sat down with Keith Ecker to talk about the opening of UP Comedy Club. Click here to check out their conversation at The A.V. Club.

Gift Cards Available – Get Ready for the Holidays

This Holiday Season, give the gift that will make everyone on your list happy – a Gift Card for The Second City. Second City Gift Cards are now available online for Chicago and Toronto.

In Chicago, your holiday spirit will be rewarded! Buy 4 Gift Cards exceeding a total value of $100 and receive a voucher for 2 FREE tickets to Chicago's Second City for shows on Tues-Thurs and Sun. This offer expires on December 18, 2011. Click here for more information.

In Toronto, give the gift that keeps on giving with a Season Pack – 3 Shows for only $54.00. Click here for more info.

Tonight on Chicago Live!

Tonight's your last chance this year to check out Chicago Live! Tonight's all star line-up includes:

• Actor John Mahoney (Rick Kogan interview)
• A roundtable of film critics featuring Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips, Time Out Chicago's Ben Kenigsberg and The A.V. Club's Tasha Robinson
• Chicago cultural historian Tim Samuelson and location scout Al Cohn on the Chicago's many cameos in the movies (Rick Kogan interview)
• Horror movie maven Svengoolie (Rick Kogan interview)
• Facets Multimedia director Milos Stehlik (Rick Kogan interview)
• Director of Andrew Bird: Fever Year Xan Aranda (Jenniffer Weigel interview)
• Special musical guest Kids These Days (performance and Greg Kot interview)
• Chicago Live! Almanac
• Comedy from The Second City

After the show, join us for a cocktail and an opportunity to meet with all of the panelists. The show starts at 6:30p at the Chicago Theatre's Downstairs Stage. Tickets for the show are $20.

- Purchase online through Ticketmaster.com.
- Purchase on the phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
- Purchase in person at the Chicago Theatre box office:

The Chicago Theatre (map)
175 N State Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601

Conservatory Student Michael Rose Publishes Novel!

Party Wolves Unleashed in Bizarro Debut Novel from Michael A Rose

Chicago, IL 11/14/11 - What happens when a man's eyeballs fall in love and leave their owner? When Norman Spooter's eyeballs steal his car and take off for parts unknown, he does what any of us would probably do in that situation... he goes back to bed, hoping it'll all resolve itself. Unfortunately, in the middle of the night, a pack of wolves moves in. The worst thing is, they're party wolves... so he decides he's going to get his eyeballs back. He joins forces with a mysterious woman named Zoe, She needs him too... She's on the run from her psycho ex-boyfriend, who happens to be a dangerous walrus. The road trip/chase novel is flipped on its head with a few stops in such places as the bizarre "Motel Sick" and a cult town in North Dakota. With violence and insanity nipping at his heels and a race against the clock to get his body parts back, this could turn out very badly for Norman Spooter.

Michael Allen Rose explores this bizarre premise in Party Wolves in my Skull (108 pp., tpb, $9.95), a bizarro road-trip novel brimming with imagination. Rose's plays have been seen in Chicago, as well as New York, Portland, Denver and other major cities. He's also been published as part of the anthology "Kizuna: Fiction for Japan," an international effort to bring relief to Japan in the wake of the 2011 tsunami. This project however, marks Rose's first turn as a published novelist.

Patrick Wensink, author of Black Hole Blues and Sex Dungeon for Sale! has this to say: "Supposedly, Hemmingway pulled the trigger after failing to finish the Great American Lupine Shindig Novel. Thankfully, Michael Rose picks up where Papa left off and saves a bullet in the process. Filled with runaway eyeballs, debauched wolves and a pill-popping man trying to keep it all straight, Party Wolves in my Skull is one furry keg stand of a book."

Garrett Cook, author of Jimmy Plush: Teddy Bear Detective and Archelon Ranch says the book is "Unusual. Special. A union of Rocko's Modern Life and The Coen Brothers oozing with creativity and heart."

Zack Parsons, Something Awful columnist and author of Your Next Door Neighbor is a Dragon says, "Party Wolves in My Skull reflects Michael Rose's unwavering commitment to the absurd."

Sex & The Second City Heads to Atlanta

Tickets are on sale now for Sex & The Second City 2.0: A Romantic Dot Comedy at Alliance Theater in Atlanta, GA starting November 11 through December 18! Featuring Angela Dawe, Ed Kross, Zach Muhn, and Amy Roeder, Sex & The Second City 2.0 received rave reviews for their recent run at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. Click here to book tickets and for more information about the Alliance Theater.

Second City Receives Spirit of Innovation Award

Last night, we were honored to receive the Spirit of Innovation Award at the 10th annual Chicago Innovation Awards presented at The Harris Theater in downtown Chicago. Owner/Executive Producer Andrew Alexander accepted the award. Additionally, the Chicago Innovation Awards recognized the 10 most innovative products and services introduced in the Chicago region in the past year.

"The Chicago Innovation Awards shine a bright light on the creative spirit of the Chicago region," said Thomas D. Kuczmarski, the awards' co-founder (with local journalist Dan Miller) and senior partner and president of the innovation firm Kuczmarski & Associates. "The recognition of and support for innovation in the Chicago region is growing fast and living up to its promise as the most powerful economic engine of the new economy."

The event drew more than 1400 attendees. Click for more information about the Chicago Innovation Awards.

Sky's the Limit (Weather Permitting) Wins Big at Jeff Awards

Congratulations to the cast and crew of The Second City e.t.c.'s Sky's the Limit (Weather Permitting)! Last night, they won multiple honors at the 43rd annual Jeff Awards including Best New Work, Best Production – Revue and Best Actor in a Revue for Tim Baltz.

The Jeff Awards fosters the artistic growth of area theatres and theatre artists and promotes educational opportunities, audience appreciation, and civic pride in the achievements of the theatre community. Congratulations to all of the winners from last night's show!

Click here to reserve tickets for Sky's the Limit (Weather Permitting).

Celebrities Performing at Second City Hollywood this November and December

The Second City Studio Stage in Hollywood welcomes many favorite celebrities in the coming weeks! Jim Belushi continues his run of performances wih Rob Belushi and John Barinholtz in "Sheldon" at 8pm Nov 14. Paul F. Tompkins will guest in "Late Night with Howie Kremer" Dec 9. Fred Willard's "MoHos" continue their monthly run at Second City Hollywood with an appearance in the "Twice as Nice" charity show Dec 10. Bob Odenkirk will also be appearing Dec 10 in the show "Second City This Week." And Molly Ringwald is the special guest host for "Second City This Week's" last show of the year on Dec 17!

Tickets for all shows are aavailable here.

Holland Taylor Speaks with Second City Students

Holland Taylor stopped by The Second City Training Center on Friday afternoon for a Q & A with our students, including students from The Second City Comedy Studies program. During their discussion, she talked at length about the creative process, Stella Adler and the business of acting - auditioning, memorizing lines and preparation.

In addition to being a featured cast member of "Two & a Half Men" on CBS, Ms. Taylor is currently in Chicago performing in "Ann," a play she also wrote. Click here to learn more about the play and reserve tickets. "Ann" runs through December 4 at the Bank of America Theater.

The Second City Connection – JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound

Not only are JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound one of the hottest bands in Chicago – they are also our friends! Check out all of the Second City connections in their latest video.

• Band member Billy Bungeroth is also a Second City Director. He most recently directed South Side of Heaven on Second City's Mainstage.
• Mainstage alum Tim Robinson is featured.
• Nate DuFort, an Associate Producer for Second City Theatricals, directed the video.

Click here for their tour schedule.

Q & A with Holland Taylor

This Friday at 3pm Donny's Skybox

Holland Virginia Taylor is an actress of film, stage and television. Her notable television roles include Ruth Dunbar in 'Bosom Buddies,' senator's wife Margaret Powers on Norman Lear's 'The Powers That Be,' Judge Roberta Kittles in 'The Practice' and Evelyn Harper in 'Two And A Half Men.'

Admission is free for current Training Center students who can also reserve a ticket for one guest. Anyone who is not a student can reserve tickets but will be required to pay the one-time $15 student membership. Space will be limited so reservations will be required.

Reservations will be available online only now through November 3rd, 2011, after which reservations can be obtained directly from the Training Center as well.

If event registration is full, some seats may be available on the day of the event on a first come first served basis only.

Visit the TC office or website or call 312.664.3959 for tickets!

Chicago Live! This Week

Have you made your cocktail hour plans for Thursday, November 2? Hopefully, they include Chicago Live! at 6:30p. This week you'll see:

• Chicago Tribune editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis
• Chicago Human Rhythm Project Co-Founder and Director Lane Alexander
• Attorney and author of "John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster" Sam Amirante
• Lyric Opera soprano Amber Wagner (performance and John Von Rhein interview)
• Beatbox performer Yuri Lane
• Chicago Live! Almanac
• Comedy from The Second City

Hang around after the show for a thirty minute cocktail reception with the guests. Chicago Live! is recorded in front of a live studio audience at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Chicago Theatre's Downstairs Stage. After each show, the audience is invited to a 30-minute reception with the cast, crew and guests.
Tickets for the show are $20.
- Purchase online through Ticketmaster.com.
- Purchase on the phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
- Purchase in person at the Chicago Theatre box office:
The Chicago Theatre (map)
175 N State Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601