Second City Celebrates Gilda Radner

In the wake of recent news regarding the decision of several Gilda's Club affiliate members' to change the name of their club due to a "lack of recognition" of Gilda Radner, The Second City is pleased to present "Celebrating Gilda," a panel on the enduring legacy and impact of Gilda Radner's life and career on Thursday, December 6, 2012 from 5:00-6:00pm in UP Comedy Club (230 W. North Ave, 3rd Floor of Piper's Alley).

Moderated by Anne Libera, Director of Comedy Studies at The Second City and Columbia College Chicago as well as a Governing Board Member for Gilda's Club Chicago, the confirmed panelists for "Celebrating Gilda" include current Mainstage ensemble cast members Katie Rich and Mary Sohn; Claudia Michelle Wallace, Second City alumni and current cast member of "What the Tour Guide Didn't Tell You: A Chicago Revue;" and noted improv instructor and current cast member of "The Second City's Improv All-Stars," Rachael Mason.

Gilda Radner started her career with The Second City in Toronto. "Gilda would be amazed at the effect she's had on people," Andrew Alexander, CEO & Executive Producer of The Second City stated in The Second City: Backstage at the World's Greatest Comedy Theater, "not simply because of her comedy, but because of the legacy of her fight with cancer and the philosophy that emanated from that battle."

In a statement from LauraJane Hyde, CEO of Gilda's Club Chicago, it was announced the club would remain named Gilda's Club Chicago "in honor of the courageous way Gilda Radner lived, and all our members live, with cancer. Gilda Radner was a pioneer in her life and her inspiration has helped countless cancer patients...and their families face this terrible disease. Gilda's legacy is the core of what we do each day by providing support to Chicagoland residents with cancer and their loved ones. We believe that Gilda Radner is iconic and will be remembered for generations…Each affiliate is run independently. For our part we believe the spirit of Gilda Radner is essential to our mission. Our only goal is to help as many families in the Chicagoland area live with cancer." The Second City applauds their decision and continues to maintain a supportive partnership with Gilda's Club Chicago.

Admission is free for "Celebrating Gilda." Doors will open at 5:00pm. Click here to RSVP for this event or call The Second City Box Office at 312-337-3992 and for more information visit www.SecondCity.com.

More Reasons to Celebrate! The Second City's Christmas Carol Adds Special Guests

Looking for more reasons to check out "The Second City's Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens" at the Kirk Douglas Theater in LA? Center Theatre Group and The Second City have assembled an eclectic collection of stars from the worlds of stage, screen, radio, politics, music, food, fitness, spirituality and interplanetary transport who will drop in, one by one, for a special surprise cameo performances during the run of "The Second City's Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens."

The partial list of guest stars includes musicians Lance Bass and Henry Rollins; actors Rose Abdoo, Jason Alexander, Ed Begley, Jr., Barry Bostwick, Neil Flynn, Keegan-Michael Key, Sharon Lawrence, John Lehr, Ben McKenzie, Lamorne Morris, Danny Pudi, Shoshannah Stern, George Takei and Fred Willard; radio personalities Lisa May and Sandra Tsing Loh; writer Bruce Vilanch; performer Miss Coco Peru; scientists Bobak Ferdowsi and Bill Nye; chefs Susan Feniger and Valerie Gordon; professional wrestler John Hennigan (formerly known as WWE superstar John Morrison); child actress turned politician Sheila Kuehl; and LA treasures Father Gregory Boyle and Richard Simmons.

Please note that to keep the surprises, no one will be announced in advance of each performance. Most will appear only once, some may appear more than once. Our Audience Services staff will not know who is appearing.

Click here for more information and to book your tickets.

Vote Today! Second City Nominated for Best Revue and Best Actor

The Second City has been nominated in the third annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, the only comprehensive online theater awards in the Chicago area that are voted by theater fans. Click here to place your vote for "We're All in This Room Together" in the Best Production - Revue category and Edgar Blackmon for Best Actor in a Musical or Revue (Resident Equity) from "Who Do We Think We Are?" Voting ends December 15, 2012 and winners will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at The Call (1547 West Bryn Mawr Ave).

VOTE NOW

The Second City's A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens Opens This Weekend

The world premiere of The Second City's A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!, written by Peter Gwinn (formerly of "The Colbert Report") and Bobby Mort (currently of "The Colbert Report"), begins previews on November 24 with performances through December 30 at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.

Directed by Second City alum, Marc Warzecha (Resident Director, The Second City) the cast features Frank Caeti ("MADtv"), Larry Joe Campbell ("According to Jim"), Dan Castellaneta ("The Simpsons"), Amanda Blake Davis ("Second City Does Dallas" at the Dallas Theatre Center), Brian Stepanek ("The Suite Life of Zack and Cody"), Jean Villepique ("Up All Night") and Ron West ("3rd Rock from The Sun") as Scrooge.

Click here to reserve tickets and for more information. Want to go backstage? Watch below for interviews with the cast:

Patrick Stewart to join Renee Fleming to co-host The Second City Guide to the Opera

Lyric Opera of Chicago announces that respected stage, film and television actor, Patrick Stewart, will co-host The Second City Guide to the Opera on Saturday, January 5, with internationally renowned soprano and Lyric Opera creative consultant, Renée Fleming.

Tickets are now on sale for The Second City Guide to the Opera ($25 to $95) and can be purchased by phone (312) 332-2244, at the Lyric Opera box office, or through the website (lyricopera.org). Benefit tickets are also available ($250) and include a post-performance reception with the artists. The performance will take place in the 3,500-seat theater of the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Dr., Chicago. More than 70% of the tickets have already been sold.

Click here to reserve tickets and for more information.

Letters to Santa Benefit Returns - December 18 - 19

Free live streaming and the ability to donate will be available at Gigity.tv and Letterstosantachicago.com. The Second City is pleased to once again celebrate the holidays with a 24-hour benefit marathon of improvisational and music fun on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 6:00pm in The Second City e.t.c. Theatre (1608 N. Wells, 2nd Floor of Piper's Alley) through Wednesday, December 19 at 6:00pm.
For over a decade, The Second City has enlisted Chicago's best improvisers and their musical counterparts in offering twenty-four consecutive hours of improv and music to support Chicago’s Onward Neighborhood House. For more information, visit www.OnwardHouse.org.
Confirmed improvisers include Ryan Archibald, Emily Candini, Dina Facklis, Scott Goldstein, Shelly Gossman (Writer - Sullivan & Sons), Brendan Jennings, Michael Patrick O'Brien (Writer - Saturday Night Live), Sam Richardson, Tim Robinson (Featured Cast - Saturday Night Live), Rebecca Sohn, Rich Sohn, Fred Armisen (Cast - Saturday Night Live, Portlandia), and Sudeikis & Wilde (featuring Jason Sudeikis & Olivia Wilde).
Confirmed musical performers Fred Schneider, Kim Deal, Jeff Tweedy, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, Bonnie Prince Billy, Jenny Gillespie, Robbie Fulks, Steve Albini, and The Blisters will entertain with live music throughout the marathon. Set times will be available soon. Included on this year's auction block is a private living room concert with Jeff Tweedy for you and 29 of your closest friends.

SCHEDULE
6:00PM guest improvisers OLIVIA WILDE & AIDY BRYANT
6:30PM Skyping from Dublin GLEN HANSARD
9:00PM JEFF TWEEDY
10:00PM JEFF TWEEDY LIVING ROOM CONCERT AUCTION
11:00PM guest improviser FRED SCHNEIDER
12:00AM KIM DEAL
12:00AM Cecily Strong joins the cast until 3:00AM
1:30AM guest comedian FRED ARMISEN
2:30AM JC BROOKS & THE UPTOWN SOUND with FRED ARMISEN
4:30AM MIKE KOSINSKI
5:00AM TBA
7:00AM BONNIE PRINCE BILLY
10:00AM STEVE ALBINI interviews NATE SILVER
12:00PM JENNY GILLESPIE
2:00PM ROBBIE FULKS
4:30PM THE BLISTERS

FEATURED IMPROVISERS
RYAN ARCHIBALD
EMILY CANDINI
DINA FACKLIS
SUE GILLAN
SCOTT GOLDSTEIN
BEAU GOLWITZER
SHELLY GOSSMAN (SULLIVAN & SON/ EX-SNL WRITER)
PAUL GRONDY
MIKE KOSINISKI
TJ JAGODOWSKI
BRENDAN JENNINGS
MICHAEL PATRICK O'BRIEN (7 MINUTES OF HEAVEN/ SNL WRITER)
SAM RICHARDSON
TIM ROBINSON (SNL)
REBECCA SOHN
RICH SOHN
FRED ARMISEN (SNL)
SUDEIKIS & WILDE featuring JASON SUDEIKIS & OLIVIA WILDE
The benefit will begin on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 6:00pm and will conclude on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 6:00pm. This event is open to all ages. Chicago Liquor laws and curfew laws apply.
Tickets are $20.00 each and will be available at the door beginning at 5:00pm on Tuesday, December 18 and throughout the event as long as seats are available.

For information contact The Second City Box Office at 312-337-3992 or visit The Second City That Never Sleeps Facebook Event Page.

Second City Toronto and Chicago Alum Lauren Ash Cast in ABC Pilot

Congrats to Second City Toronto and Chicago alum Lauren Ash on being cast in a new ABC pilot, "Super Fun Night."

Read the announcement at playbackonline.com

Final Shows for One Nation Under 1%

Our hit election season revue, "One Nation Under 1%" has 2 performances left. The show is constantly updated to stay fresh, so even with the election over, "One Nation" is just as funny as ever. Visit UP Comedy Club for details and watch this video of Ross Bryant from the "One Nation" cast interviewing people on the street about our great nation.

Chicago-Area Native, Kyle Kinane, Comes to UP Comedy Club Nov 15 - 18

Stand-up comedian Kyle Kinane and Aurora native will be back in his home state this weekend at UP Comedy Club. Check out UP’s website for info on his career and upcoming shows. Watch this video below to get a taste of his darkly funny comedy.

Student Headshot Day - December 14-15

The Second City Training Center will be offering a discounted Headshot Day for students on December 14th and 15th (10am-4pm) with guest artist Sally Blood(www.sallybloodheadshots.com). Sessions are 1 hour long and include a 15-minute corrective make-up session and 45-minute shoot. Each session is $200 ($75 deposit needed on day of reservation). Participants receive a high resolution disc of all their images. Retouching is available for $30 additional per photo. Reproductions not included. Email Andrew Thorp at athorp@secondcity.com with any questions or time requests.

Moxie's Lindy Voeltner and Pat Ivansek talk HouseCo with Nancy Fast

Nancy Fast interviews Moxie cast members Lindy Voeltner and Pat Ivansek about their experience in The Second City Training Center’s House Ensemble. Find out more about HouseCo shows and auditions, whose dad was a highschool football coach, and how Lindy’s mom turned her on to Second City via PBS!

See Pat and Lindy live every Saturday at 7:30 in The Second City Training Center’s de Maat Theater!

Robert Klein - Legendary Second City Alumni - Returns for One Weekend

November 9th-11th
For over 40 years, Robert Klein has entertained audiences on Broadway, television, and film. An alumnus of Second City, Klein was the first comedian to film an HBO special and has made nine specials for the network. He's appeared on "The Tonight Show" and "The Late Show with David Letterman" over 100 times and can be seen in films like "The Owl and the Pussycat," "Primary Colors," and "Radioland Murders."

Hosted by Greg Mills and accompanied by Bob Stein.

Times: Fri. 8:00p.m./Sat. 8:00 p.m. & 10:30 p.m./*Sun. 8:00 p.m.

Tickets: $25.00 - $30.00

* Stay for a Q&A session after the Sunday 8:00pm show.

Election Night @ The Second City

Good Citizens will be rewarded on Election Night at The Second City. Exercise your right to vote on Election Day and receive half-price tickets to The Second City 100th Revue: "Who Do We Think We Are?" Shake off the stressful election season with a great night and a strong cocktail.

Time: Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets: Receive half-priced tickets with your voter receipt (Regular price - $23.00). Use promotional code "VOTER" when purchasing. Limit of 4 tickets per order. Offer valid Tues, November 6, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

GET TICKETS & WATCH VIDEO

Chicago Comedy Film Fest Welcomes Second City Students With Discounted Tickets This Weekend!

www.ccfilmfest.eventbrite.com

Second City students get 2 for 1 tickets at Chicago Comedy Film Fest by using code 2NDCITY for any single screening. Tickets regularly $10!Chicago Comedy Film Festival will take place at DePaul University's School of Cinema and Interactive Media Theater at 247 S. State Street 11/2-11/4. On screen celebs such as Janeane Garafalo, Adrian Grenier, Jim Norton, Michael Titus, Cheri Oteri, Michael Boatman, Dave Foley, and more will highlight the fest! Feature films and short films scoping the US and beyond playing over 3 days. After parties at Rockit Bar & Grill and Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel will also take place. Don't miss it!