Friday, January 31, 2014

Last Call for Conservatory/Longform Submisisons

Dilly-dallying on your Con, Music Con, and/or Longform submission? Dilly-dally no longer!

Our submissions deadline has been EXTENDED to FEBRUARY 7TH! Send in your resume and headshot today!

Now, you love doing improv and you love The Second City. You've seen a few revues at the mainstage and thought, "Hey, I could do that!" Well, now you can!

THE CONSERVATORY
The Conservatory is a year-long program designed to give you the opportunity to write and perform your own mainstage-style revue, on the mainstage! Use improv as a way to generate ideas for sketches, songs and monologues, just like the pros.
More info on the Conservatory HERE

THE MUSIC CONSERVATORY
Maybe singing's more your style. Improvised singing, that is. Picture this: you and your talented ensemble, performing in an improvised musical at the mainstage after a year of hard work. You better believe it.
Read more about the Musical Conservatory HERE

THE LONGFORM PROGRAM
Sketches are cool, but you wanna be closer to the source of the good stuff, that sweet creamed-corn of improvised comedy. Look no further than our Longform program. Learn how to play The Game, create your own forms, and create complex memorable scenes that audiences love.
Check out the Longform program HERE

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Bob Curry Fellowship

The Second City is holding auditions to cast and award sixteen fellowships to qualified talent and actors of color to train in a newly developed eight week master program launched by The Second City Diversity and Training Center divisions. Auditions will take place on February 25th in Donny’s Skybox Theatre by appointment only at The Second City Training Center with callbacks scheduled on February 26th

Qualified talent must audition to be accepted into the program. See requirements below.
Actors of color represent African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, Native American and Pacific Islander racial background.

Talent should be a graduate of a Conservatory level program e.g., Second City, iO theatre, Annoyance theatre, UCB, etc.

Professional actors with a degree in theatre or extensive stage experience with some improv training are also qualified to submit. Head shots and resumes will be reviewed for audition consideration and scheduled appointments are on a first come basis.

Talent can submit head shot and resume by e-mailing email outreach@secondcity.com
January 30 – February 5, 2014

Limited slots available.
No phone calls please.

About the Audition:
The audition will consist of twenty minutes of improvisation within a group of eight and a personal choice of a 2-3 minute comedic monologue or stand-up piece. Callbacks will take place on Wednesday, February 26, 2014

The Bob Curry Fellowship program starts March 25th with master classes meeting on Tuesday and Thursdays 4-7pm at The Second City Training Center -1608 N. Wells 4th Floor, Pipers Alley.
Click here to learn more about fellowship.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

SC Receives Helen Hayes Award Nomination

Second City received a 2014 Helen Hayes Award Nomination in Washington, D.C for "Outstanding Visiting Production". "The Second City's America All Better!!" played at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Congratulations to all involved!

Monday, January 27, 2014

Basic Guitar for Improvisers with Jimmy T begins again Tuesday, February 4 at 5:30. Only a few spots are left!

Basic Guitar for Improvisers with Jimmy T begins again Tuesday, February 4 at 5:30. Only a few spots are left!

Click here for more info

ONE NIGHT ONLY: Dan Bakkedahl and Ed Furman

After an eight year hiatus, The Second City e.t.c. is excited to announce a special performance of “Trainwreck,” featuring Second City alumni Dan Bakkedahl and Ed Furman on Tuesday, February 25, at 8:00pm. “Trainwreck” is a completely improvised play created from a single audience suggestion.

Opening for “Trainwreck” is “The Dirty Shame” featuring brothers Lee and Matt Barats who have performed improv and sketch comedy all over Chicago, including iO, The Annoyance, and Upstairs Gallery. Lee and Matt are ensemble members of Kill All Comedy and have performed in the Just For Laughs Festival. They are from Idaho.

Buy tickets here.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Second City Toronto Collaborates with The Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Today, The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, led by Musical Director Peter Oundjian, announced their exciting 2014 - 2015 season, including a special new collaboration with The Second City.

In November 2014, The Second City Toronto comedy theatre will brings its unique blend of sketch comedy, satire, songs, and improvisation to an entirely new stage - Roy Thomson Hall, home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra!  This unique collaboration with the TSO brings together Toronto’s leading musical and comedy minds to explore their shared love of the symphony orchestra. This light-hearted comic performance will take on all things orchestral, from the colourful musicians to the mighty Maestro, from send-ups of classical music history and conventions to the manners and mannerisms of our beloved audiences. Get ready for the funniest musical night of the year!

Here's a quick behind-the-scenes glimpse at the collaborative process thus far:


Two performances only!
Saturday, November 29th at 7:30pm  & Sunday, November 30th at 3:00pm

Tickets to this special concert are currently only available by purchasing a Toronto Symphony Orchestra 2014 - 2015 subscription series and adding it to your package.

Individual tickets will go on sale in August 2014.

For more information about the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, visit www.tso.ca.

Stay tuned for more details and previews by following Second City Toronto online on Facebook and Twitter.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Second City Communications Teams up with ABC

ABC World News with Diane Sawyer recently featured a story about the "Fear of Public Speaking," widely regarding as the number one fear among Americans. Featured in the segment was a Second City Communications "Managing the Anxiety of Public Speaking" workshop facilitated by Robyn Scott and Colleen Murray Payton. The results of the four hour workshop were evident as Noah Gordon- the featured pupil, sang to a group of his work peers!

Watch the video here and read the full recap here.

Chicago Tribune Exclusive: Hipsters Dual Return Policy

Check out the second video in The Second City's American Apparel Hipsters series. The Chicago Tribune has the exclusive.

From Performance to Production

This term, we're offering a BRAND NEW INTENSIVE! Stage Managing 101 is a great opportunity for anyone who is interested in learning about what happens behind the scenes of a comedy show. Stage Managers are responsible for all of the elements that take a show from plain performance to dazzling production!

Stage Managing 101 

Learn how to become a vital "behind-the-scenes" member of sketch or improv troupe! This 4-week intensive covers the skills needed to stage manage simple sketch and/or improv shows. It covers the responsibilities of a Stage Manager and who they report to, lighting techniques, sound management, working with club/theatre owners and time management. Sample "tech sheets" will be discussed. Upon completion, participants will possess the skills to take a troupe to the next level of professionalism.

Stage Managing 101 is taught be Meaghan Maguire, resident Stage Manager for The Second City National Touring Company and the award winning Sketch troupe FalconPowder. Meg brings thousands of hours of stage managing experience to this course and will offer practical tips on: pre-show practices, managing performances and post-show responsibilities.

This class will run for 4-weeks on Saturdays from 11am-2pm from February 1st-22nd. 
There are NO prerequisites needed. 
$160 +HST

Remember: if you are already registered for a course this term, you will receive %15 off the tuition for this class!

Register here or call us at 416-340-7270.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

SC Alum Andrea Martin Joins Cast of Broadway's "Act One"

Today it was announced that SC alum, Andrea Martin, will be joining the cast of "Act One," a new play written and directed by Tony and Pulizter Prize winner, James Lapine. Read the full story here.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Rick and Laura Hall Make Their Way To The Great White North

Rick and Laura met in Chicago, driving around in a crowded van with the touring company of the Second City. Since then they have gotten married, had two kids, and moved to Los Angeles.  There they continue to perform, write and teach, both separately and together.

Laura Hall is best known as the improvisational pianist on television’s "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" She was also on the "Drew Carey Show" live episodes, and has toured the country doing live performances with "Drew Carey and The Improv AllStars." Laura has sat in and played with tons of improv groups in Chicago and L.A., including The Groundlings, iO, ComedySportz and Theatresports.

Rick Hall was a founding member of Chicago’s "Improv Institute." After touring with the Second City, Rick opened two main stage shows, "John Paul Sartre & Ringo" and "Catch 27." Rick has used his improv background on the improv based television shows "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and as a series regular in "The Factory." He’s been seen on many other television shows as well, including "Saving Grace," "24," "The Middle," "According To Jim," and "Seinfeld."

Rick & Laura teach improv workshops at camps, colleges and theaters around the North America. They especially like helping people who are scared out of their minds about doing song improv to find out it’s really fun and something they can do successfully.

Now they are heading to the Toronto Second City Training Centre to teach two musical workshops on February 21st and February 22nd

Register here OR 416-340-7270.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Amber Ruffin Joins "Late Night with Seth Meyers"

Congratulations to Second City alum Amber Ruffin on getting hired to the "Late Night with Seth Meyers" writing staff.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Chicago Theatre Week Tickets ON SALE NOW!

The 2nd Annual Chicago Theatre Week is upon us and tickets are on sale now! With over 75 productions offering discounted tickets to shows between February 11-16th, you're bound to find something that tickles your fancy!

Monday, January 6, 2014

Get Your Reading On!

We have complied a comprehensive list for your improv,writing and acting reading pleasure. Grab a new book and cozy up!

Improv A-E Program
Improvisation for the Theatre, Viola Spolin
Impro, Keith Johnstone
Something Wonderful Right Away, Jeffrey Sweet
SCTV -- Behind The Scenes, Dave Thomas
The Second City, Donna McCrohan
The Compass, Janet Coleman
Handbook of Games, Neva L. Boyd
Musical Improv Comedy, Michael Pollock
The Second City Backstage of The Worlds Greatest Comedy Theater, Sheldon Patinkin

Stagecraft Program
Introduction to Stanislavsky, Sonja Moore
Sanford Meisner On Acting, Sanford Meisner
Acting, The First Six Lessons, Boleslavsky
Advice to the Players, Robert Lewis
Audition, Michael Shurtleff
The Actor At Work, Robert Benedetti
Act of Being, Charles Marowitz
Speaking Clearly, Modisett and Luter
The History of the Theatre, Oscar G. Brockett

Conservatory Program
Almanac of Improvisation, Anne Libera
Improvise: Scene From The Inside Out, Mick Napier
Acting, The First Six Lessons, Boleslavsky
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Hirsch
Musical Improv Comedy, Michael Pollock

Writing Program
Comedy Is A Serious Business, Harry Ruskin
The Artful Edit, Susan Bell
The Playwright's Workbook, Jean-Claude van Itallie
The Comic Toolbox, John Vourhaus
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Hirsch
An Incomplete Education, Jones and Wilson
Days and Nights of Second City, Bernie Sahlins

Longform Program
Truth in Comedy, C. Halpern, Del Close & K. Johnson
Longform Improv, Ben Hauck
Long-Form Improvisation & The Art Of Zen, Jason Chin
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Hirsch
Long Form Improvisation and American Comedy: The Harold, Matt Fotis

General Reference
An Incomplete Education, Jones and Wilson
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Hirsch

Thursday, January 2, 2014

SC Alum Tim Kazurinsky Joins "Wicked"

SC alum and Saturday Night Live vet, Tim Kazurinsky, was just cast as the Wizard in the first national tour of Wicked. Read the full story here.