Congratulations to the cast and crew of The Second City Mainstage on the opening of "Depraved New World!" "Depraved New World has received a Jeff Recommendation. A production that has been Jeff Recommended indicates that at least one element was deemed excellent by opening night judges. The entire production is then eligible for nomination for awards at the end of the season. Additionally, Tom Williams with Chicago Critic has Highly Recommended describing it as "a fast-paced, laugh-a-minute comedy revue that easily grabs us from the start and keeps us belly laughing through." Click here to read the full review.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
SC Alum, Cindy Caponera, Releases New Book
Second City Chicago Mainstage alum, Cindy Caponera, just released a new book called, "I Triggered Her Bully." Take a look as Cindy explores the world of insecurity and injustice in hilarious and poignant essays that travel all the way from the South Side of Chicago, where bar fights are sport and families large, to New York and Hollywood where you might run into Joni Mitchell at your local deli. Cindy looks both outward and inward with fearless honesty and wicked wit. Whether describing her family’s dysfunction or the perils of dating, her stories will stick with you, like those pop songs from the ‘70s she loves so much.
SC Alum Adam McKay Takes On "The Big Short"
SC alum, Adam McKay, will be adapting and directing Michael Lewis' best-selling book "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine." Read the full article here.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Fred Kaz - LA Memorial Information
A memorial has been scheduled to celebrate the life of Fred Kaz at The El Portal Theater (5269 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601) on Monday, March 31st at 6:30p (doors will open at 6:00p). Parking is available across the street from the theater at the structure belonging to the Art Institute of California. A reception will follow the memorial with light appetizers and beverages.
To attend, please RSVP by March 28. You may either click here to RSVP.
Location:
The El Portal Theater
5269 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601
For directions or additional location information: www.elportaltheatre.com
A Chicago memorial is being planned. We'll post information once details have been confirmed.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
The Second City Presents "Depraved New World" A Mainstage Revue
Chicago, IL -- The Second City is proud to announce the opening of The Second City’s 102nd Revue, “Depraved New World.” Reviewing press are invited to attend on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. at The Second City Mainstage Theatre (1616 N. Wells St). A Grand Opening is scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 8:00 p.m.
Ever wonder what people are really thinking? Maybe its positive and sweet. Maybe its weird and dirty. From musical orgies, blind dates and the innocent beginning of an international email scam, “Depraved New World” takes you on a wild ride to see what’s happening behind the eyes of the beholder.
Returning to The Second City Mainstage, prolific Jeff Award-winning director Mick Napier leads returning cast members Steve Waltien and Tawny Newsome with new cast members Chelsea Devantez, John Hartman, Mike Kosinski and Emily Walker. Jesse Case takes his place behind the piano as the new Musical Director and Composer and Craig Taylor returns to the booth as Stage Manager. The producing team for “Depraved New World” includes Andrew Alexander (CEO & Executive Producer), Kelly Leonard (Executive Vice President), Alison Riley (Producer) and Jeremy Smith (Associate Producer).
Tickets for “Depraved New World” start at $23.00 and are available by phone at 312-337-3992 or online at www.SecondCity.com. The show schedule is as follows:
Tuesday - Thursday 8:00 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
Sunday 7:00 p.m.
Cast and Crew Information
CHELSEA DEVANTEZ (Ensemble) grew up all over the Southwest, went to college at NYU’s Tisch School of The Arts and fell head over heels for Chicago. She and Emily Walker created the series Modern Women, which you can see on secondcitynetwork.com. She previously toured all across the country with RedCo and the help of Xanax. Learn more about Chelsea at devantez.tumblr.com
JOHN HARTMAN (Ensemble) is so happy to be a member of The Second City Mainstage. He is an alumnus of The Second City Touring Company, is a member of Baby Wants Candy and half of the sketch duo Witaske & Hartman. His solo work has appeared at: Annoyance Theatre, iO Theater, TBS Just for Laughs Festival, Comedy Central Stage, and UCB Theatre. Learn more about John Hartman at johnhartman.weebly.com
MIKE KOSINSKI (Ensemble) is so excited to perform on The Second City Mainstage with this incredible cast and crew. Previously, he co-wrote and performed in A Clown Car Named Desire and the Jeff Award–winning We’re all in This Room Together on the e.t.c. stage. Mike traveled the land and sea with The Second City Touring Company and was an ensemble member at ImprovAcadia in Bar Harbor, ME. In Chicago, he has performed at The Annoyance Theater, i.O, ComedySportz, and The Playground.
TAWNY NEWSOME (Ensemble) is very happy to be joining this lovely group of people. Prior to this, Tawny was in the 101st Mainstage Revue "Let Them Eat Chaos" and The Second City e.t.c.’s 36th Revue "We’re All in This Room Together." A DePaul Theatre School graduate, Tawny has performed with several Chicago theatre companies, including Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Writer’s Theatre, and Porchlight Music Theatre. Tawny can also be seen with her band Jon Langford and Skull Orchard, and she just finished her first solo album and would love to talk to you for way too long about it. Learn more about Tawny at tawnynewsome.com
EMILY WALKER (Ensemble) hails from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. She has studied improv, sketch comedy and musical improv with The Second City. She has performed for The Second City at Sea on several NCL Cruise ships and traveled the country with The Second City Touring Company. She and her best friend created the pilot "SBS:Stupid Bitch Syndrome," which is a NYTVF finalist. She is also the co-creator of The Second City Network series "Modern Women."
STEVE WALTIEN (Ensemble) is thrilled to be part of his third revue on The Second City Mainstage with this wonderful cast and crew. Steve has performed regularly at the iO Theatre for years and toured the world with numerous improv shows including The Improvised Shakespeare Company and Whirled NewsTonight. Favorite scripted shows include "Jordan and Steve are Steve and Jordan, Respectively," "The Late Night Late Show," and his solo show, "Scenes With Ghosts."
MICK NAPIER (Director) is founder and artistic director of the acclaimed Annoyance Theatre and a director and artistic consultant for The Second City. His work has included the Jeff Award–winning "Paradigm Lost" and Obie Award–winning "One Woman Shoe." As an actor, Mick has appeared in "Ice Harvest," "Let’s Go to Prison," "Watch, Talent," and on the Canadian reality show "Next Comedy Legend." Mick’s book, "Improvise. Scene from the Inside Out" is widely regarded as a seminal work on the subject of improvisation.
JESSE CASE (Music Director) ecstatically joins the Mainstage ensemble after three revues as the resident musical director of the e.t.c. stage. More recently, he composed/co-wrote/ arranged "The Second City Guide to The Opera," which earned Lyric Opera of Chicago its first-ever Jeff Award. Other notable projects include "The Extended Play E.P., a 41-track hip h-opus" by Yogi Bear 3-D star T.J. Miller on Comedy Central Records. That and almost all of his other music is online at iamjessecase.com.
CRAIG TAYLOR (Stage Manager) has stage managed more than 35 revues for The Second City and has been asked to provide the impossible for numerous Second City directors.
Ever wonder what people are really thinking? Maybe its positive and sweet. Maybe its weird and dirty. From musical orgies, blind dates and the innocent beginning of an international email scam, “Depraved New World” takes you on a wild ride to see what’s happening behind the eyes of the beholder.
Returning to The Second City Mainstage, prolific Jeff Award-winning director Mick Napier leads returning cast members Steve Waltien and Tawny Newsome with new cast members Chelsea Devantez, John Hartman, Mike Kosinski and Emily Walker. Jesse Case takes his place behind the piano as the new Musical Director and Composer and Craig Taylor returns to the booth as Stage Manager. The producing team for “Depraved New World” includes Andrew Alexander (CEO & Executive Producer), Kelly Leonard (Executive Vice President), Alison Riley (Producer) and Jeremy Smith (Associate Producer).
Tickets for “Depraved New World” start at $23.00 and are available by phone at 312-337-3992 or online at www.SecondCity.com. The show schedule is as follows:
Tuesday - Thursday 8:00 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
Sunday 7:00 p.m.
Cast and Crew Information
CRAIG TAYLOR (Stage Manager) has stage managed more than 35 revues for The Second City and has been asked to provide the impossible for numerous Second City directors.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Student Spotlight - Student Darren Harrison Co-produces a Documentary
Congrats to student Darren Harrison for co-producing the documentary After Prison, Responding with Faith, set to air on WTTW April 3rd at 9pm. Currently a student in our Improv for Actors program, Darren was one of 3 producers to create a 12-minute documentary in the hour-long piece. The doc focuses on St Leonard's Ministries and what their organization does to help break the cycle of incarceration. "Without intervention, 50% go back to jail within 3 years. Those who seek St. Leonard's upon release rarely go back," say Darren, President of Darren Harrison Films. Tune in to find out more!
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Second City's SIXTEEN SCANDALS Opens in Toronto to Glowing Reviews
The Second City's theatre in Toronto opened its 73rd Mainstage Revue, titled Sixteen Scandals, on Tuesday night, and received a standing ovation from the packed audience, including members of the media and dozens of Second City alumni.
Early reviews have been overflowing with enthusiastic praise. In his four star review, Richard Ouzounian, theatre critic for The Toronto Star, wrote:
"When a Second City show is as fast, fierce and funny as Sixteen Scandals, which opened on Tuesday night, all you have to do is give thanks to the theatre gods, buy your tickets and start laughing."
Read full review here.
Directed by alumnus Chris Earle, Sixteen Scandals is written and performed by Ashley Botting, Craig Brown, Sarah Hillier, Allison Price, Connor Thompson and Kevin Vidal. Musical Director Matthew Reid once again provides the show's score and soundtrack, with Christina Cicko serving as Lighting Designer and Stage Manager.
The production runs each Tuesday through Sunday evening at The Second City theatre through June.
Show time and ticket information is available online.
Early reviews have been overflowing with enthusiastic praise. In his four star review, Richard Ouzounian, theatre critic for The Toronto Star, wrote:
"When a Second City show is as fast, fierce and funny as Sixteen Scandals, which opened on Tuesday night, all you have to do is give thanks to the theatre gods, buy your tickets and start laughing."
Read full review here.
Directed by alumnus Chris Earle, Sixteen Scandals is written and performed by Ashley Botting, Craig Brown, Sarah Hillier, Allison Price, Connor Thompson and Kevin Vidal. Musical Director Matthew Reid once again provides the show's score and soundtrack, with Christina Cicko serving as Lighting Designer and Stage Manager.
The production runs each Tuesday through Sunday evening at The Second City theatre through June.
Show time and ticket information is available online.
Second City Says Goodbye to Legendary Music Director - Fred Kaz
A memorial has been scheduled to celebrate the life of Fred Kaz at The El Portal Theater (5269 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601) on Monday, March 31st at 6:30p (doors will open at 6:00p). Parking is available across the street from the theater at the structure belonging to the Art Institute of California. A reception will follow the memorial with light appetizers and beverages.
To attend, please RSVP by March 28. You may either click here to RSVP.
Location:
The El Portal Theater
5269 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601
For directions or additional location information: www.elportaltheatre.com
A Chicago memorial is being planned. We'll post information once details have been confirmed.
The Second City Announces the Bob Curry Fellowship Recipients
The Second City is very excited to announce the recipients of the first annual Bob Curry Fellowship. The sixteen recipients are Ali Barthwell, Sam Bailey, Lisa Beasley, Shantira Jackson, Peter Kim, Lauren Malara, Torian Miller, Saliha Muttalib, Chucho Perez, Dewayne Perkins, Patrick Rowland, Rashawn Nadine Scott, Niccole Thurman, Travis Turner, Kimberly Michelle Vaughn, and Damian Jason White.
The Fellowship will begin on Tuesday, March 25th with master classes taking place at the Second City Training Center for eight weeks on Tuesday and Thursday 4pm - 7pm.
A culminating and celebratory showcase for family, friends and Second City staff is scheduled in the e.t.c. theatre Wednesday, May 28th. Time is yet to be determined.
As you may be aware, this is an exciting piece of history at Second City. With this new fellowship program instituted, we are delighted to mentor the inaugural group of Bob Curry Fellowship recipients. We received over 140 submissions and auditioned 85 applicants. Thank you to all of the amazing talent who came out to auditions. These decisions were not easy, but we look forward to creating access and opening more doors for talent interested in pursuing a career in comedy!
The Fellowship will begin on Tuesday, March 25th with master classes taking place at the Second City Training Center for eight weeks on Tuesday and Thursday 4pm - 7pm.
A culminating and celebratory showcase for family, friends and Second City staff is scheduled in the e.t.c. theatre Wednesday, May 28th. Time is yet to be determined.
As you may be aware, this is an exciting piece of history at Second City. With this new fellowship program instituted, we are delighted to mentor the inaugural group of Bob Curry Fellowship recipients. We received over 140 submissions and auditioned 85 applicants. Thank you to all of the amazing talent who came out to auditions. These decisions were not easy, but we look forward to creating access and opening more doors for talent interested in pursuing a career in comedy!
Thursday, March 6, 2014
The Second City Training Center Partner with School of Rock
The Second City Training Center and School of Rock Chicago team up to introduce Rock City Camp: An Opera of Rock, a stage-writing performance camp for teens aged 14-19, beginning July 7. Over two weeks, musical all-stars with multiple performance skills in music and theater, will create an original storyline, learn rock music and develop original music to produce a never-before-seen show. Rock City Camp will take place July 7 - 18 at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. Sessions are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For consideration, please fill out an application HERE before the March 31 deadline. $1200. Needs-based scholarships are available.
"The Second City enjoys finding partners to collaborate with in all areas of our business, from our theaters, to our corporate work, to our training initiatives," says Andrew Alexander, CEO and Executive Producer of The Second City, Inc. "This one-of-a-kind program with School of Rock is a fantastic blend of two organizations with similar ideals: expanding the education opportunities and styles for our youth students, while keeping the ideas of teamwork of creativity at the forefront of their experience."
"School of Rock Chicago joining forces with the legacy and stage prowess of our new pals at The Second City is like having Jackie Chan, David Lee Roth, Freddy Mercury and John Belushi as your spirit animals," says Adam Mackintosh, regional manager for School of Rock Chicago. "Clearly, I'm beyond sensible words here. This might be the coolest thing I've ever been a part of."
At the conclusion of the two-week Rock City Camp, students will perform rock classics and original songs in a two-night performance at Chicago's Athenaeum Theatre. Enrollment is open to drummers, guitarists, keyboardists, improvisers, actors, writers, vocalists and more who are ready to take their skills to the stage.
The Second City is the leading brand in improv-based sketch comedy. With theaters and training centers in Chicago, Toronto and Hollywood, 11 full-time touring ensembles, thriving corporate communications and theatricals divisions as well as television and film operations, The Second City has been called "A Comedy Empire" by The New York Times. The Second City Training Center has a current student body of 3,500 per week and is the largest school of improvisation and sketch comedy in the world.
For more than a decade, School of Rock has been inspiring kids to rock on stage and in life. Students develop confidence, talent and skills, through beginner, intermediate and advanced music programs. School of Rock offers music lessons on guitar, bass, piano, vocals and drums in an authentic, performance-based environment. School of Rock operates 129 schools in 26 states and 8 countries, with new locations opening worldwide every month. School of Rock Chicago has been on Ashland for 7 years and has a long, successful history of providing great camp experiences across broad themes for interested families.
Visit www.SchoolofRock.com for more information.
Read more here.
"The Second City enjoys finding partners to collaborate with in all areas of our business, from our theaters, to our corporate work, to our training initiatives," says Andrew Alexander, CEO and Executive Producer of The Second City, Inc. "This one-of-a-kind program with School of Rock is a fantastic blend of two organizations with similar ideals: expanding the education opportunities and styles for our youth students, while keeping the ideas of teamwork of creativity at the forefront of their experience."
"School of Rock Chicago joining forces with the legacy and stage prowess of our new pals at The Second City is like having Jackie Chan, David Lee Roth, Freddy Mercury and John Belushi as your spirit animals," says Adam Mackintosh, regional manager for School of Rock Chicago. "Clearly, I'm beyond sensible words here. This might be the coolest thing I've ever been a part of."
At the conclusion of the two-week Rock City Camp, students will perform rock classics and original songs in a two-night performance at Chicago's Athenaeum Theatre. Enrollment is open to drummers, guitarists, keyboardists, improvisers, actors, writers, vocalists and more who are ready to take their skills to the stage.
The Second City is the leading brand in improv-based sketch comedy. With theaters and training centers in Chicago, Toronto and Hollywood, 11 full-time touring ensembles, thriving corporate communications and theatricals divisions as well as television and film operations, The Second City has been called "A Comedy Empire" by The New York Times. The Second City Training Center has a current student body of 3,500 per week and is the largest school of improvisation and sketch comedy in the world.
For more than a decade, School of Rock has been inspiring kids to rock on stage and in life. Students develop confidence, talent and skills, through beginner, intermediate and advanced music programs. School of Rock offers music lessons on guitar, bass, piano, vocals and drums in an authentic, performance-based environment. School of Rock operates 129 schools in 26 states and 8 countries, with new locations opening worldwide every month. School of Rock Chicago has been on Ashland for 7 years and has a long, successful history of providing great camp experiences across broad themes for interested families.
Visit www.SchoolofRock.com for more information.
Read more here.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Student Headshot Day - April 3rd and 4th
Student headshot days with photographer Sally Blood return April 3rd and 4th. Each one-hour session includes a 45-minute photo shoot, touch-up makeup and a high resolution disc of all your edited shots. The cost is $200, a special deal for Training Center students. Reservations can be made by contacting the Training Center office at 312-664-3959.
SC Alum Stacey McGunnigle Lands Lead in New NBC Pilot
It was just announced that Second City Toronto alum, Stacey McGunnigle, has landed the lead in a new NBC pilot, titled "Ellen More Or Less." Read the full story here.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Student Focus Night With ACTRA
Join us on Wednesday, March 5th at 9pm in our very own John Candy Box Theatre for Student Focus Night with ACTRA!
Have aspirations of becoming a professional actor? Ever wondered what it takes to become a member of ACTRA? This FREE Q & A session will answer any and all questions you have about becoming part of the union, as well as provide you with helpful tips and information about your acting career!
This Q & A session with a representative from ACTRA is FREE for all current students.
To reserve yourself a spot in this FREE workshop, email: areoch@secondcity.com.
Spaces are limited, so it's first come, first served!
Have aspirations of becoming a professional actor? Ever wondered what it takes to become a member of ACTRA? This FREE Q & A session will answer any and all questions you have about becoming part of the union, as well as provide you with helpful tips and information about your acting career!
This Q & A session with a representative from ACTRA is FREE for all current students.
To reserve yourself a spot in this FREE workshop, email: areoch@secondcity.com.
Spaces are limited, so it's first come, first served!
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