The Second City is a long-running improvisational comedy troupe based in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. Improvisational theatre (also known as improv or impro) is a form of Theatre in which the Actors use Improvisational acting techniques Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Old Town is a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, bounded by Wisconsin Street on the north Division Street on the south Halsted Street
The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959[1] and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto, metro-Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York. Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Las Vegas ( Spanish: "The Meadows" is the most populous City in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West The City of New York The Second City has produced television programs in both the US and Canada including SCTV, Second City Presents, and Next Comedy Legend. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Second City Television (SCTV was a Canadian television Sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's The Second City troupe that ran between The Second City's Next Comedy Legend is a summer reality show currently airing on Canada 's CBC. The Second City Las Vegas is scheduled to close on Aug. 1, 2008. [2]Since its debut, Second City has consistently been a starting point for several comedians, award winning actors, directors, and others in show business. Showbiz redirects here For other uses see Showbiz (disambiguation.
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History
Second City evolved from the Compass Players,[3] a 1950s cabaret revue show started by undergraduates at the University of Chicago. The Compass Players (or Compass Theater) was a 1950s Cabaret Revue show started by alumni dropouts and hangers-on from the University of Chicago Cabaret is a form of entertainment featuring Comedy, Song, Dance, and Theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue &mdash a Restaurant A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical Entertainment that combines Music, dance and sketches. The University of Chicago is a Private university located principally in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. [4] The troupe chose the self-mocking name "The Second City" from the title of an article about Chicago by A. J. Liebling that appeared in The New Yorker in 1952. Abbott Joseph Liebling ( October 18, 1904 &ndash December 28, 1963) was an American Journalist who was closely associated The New Yorker is an American Magazine that publishes reportage commentary criticism essays fiction satire cartoons and poetry [1] In 1959, the first Second City revue show premiered at 1842 North Wells Street and moved to 1616 North Wells in 1967. [1] Co-founder Bernard Sahlins owned the theater company until 1985, before selling it to Canadian Andrew Alexander. Bernard "Bernie" Sahlins is an American Writer, director and comedian best known as a founder of The Second City Improvisational comedy Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one [1]
The style of comedy has changed with time, but the format has remained constant. Second City revues feature a mix of semi-improvised and scripted scenes with new material developed during unscripted improv sessions after the second act where scenes are created based on audience suggestions. Improvisational theatre (also known as improv or impro) is a form of Theatre in which the Actors use Improvisational acting techniques An act is a division or unit of a theatrical play or Opera. The number of acts in a production can range from one to five depending on how a writer structures the Brooklyn Book Festival crowd by David Shankbonejpg|thumb|An audience at the Brooklyn Book Festival in New York City. A Second City innovation is the inclusion of live, improvised music during the performance. Musical Improvisation is the creative activity of immediate Musical composition, which combines performance with communication of emotions and instrumental
A number of well-known performers began careers as part of the historic troupe and later moved to television and film. In the mid-1970s, Second City became a source of cast members for Saturday Night Live and SCTV, which borrowed many of the writing and performing techniques pioneered by Second City and other improv groups. Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City
Along with its theaters, training centers, and television shows, Second City also produces improv and sketch shows for Norwegian Cruise Lines. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL is a company operating Cruise ships headquartered in Miami, Florida. [1]
SCTV
Second City Television, or SCTV, was a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from the Toronto troupe of the Second City that ran from 1976 to 1984. Second City Television (SCTV was a Canadian television Sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's The Second City troupe that ran between Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Sketch comedy consists of a series of short Comedy scenes or vignettes called "sketches" commonly between one and ten minutes long Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar)
The basic premise of SCTV was modeled on a television station in the fictional city of Melonville. Rather than broadcast the usual TV rerun fare, the business, run by the greedy Guy Caballero (Joe Flaherty) sitting in a wheelchair only to gain sympathy and leverage in business and staff negotiations, operates a bizarre and humorously incompetent range of cheap local programming. A rerun or repeat is a re-airing of an episode of a Radio or Television broadcast. Joe Flaherty ( June 21, 1941) is an American-Canadian Comedian. The range included a soap opera called "The Days of the Week"; game shows such as "Shoot the Stars", in which celebrities literally are shot at in similar fashion to targets in a shooting gallery; and movie spoofs such as "Play it Again, Bob" in which Woody Allen (Rick Moranis) attempts to entice Bob Hope (Dave Thomas) to star in his next film. A soap opera is an ongoing episodic work of Fiction, usually broadcast on Television or Radio. A parody (ˈpɛɹədiː US, [ˈpaɹədiː] UK) in contemporary usage is a work created to mock comment on or poke fun at an original work its subject Woody Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; December 1 1935 is an American Film director, Writer, Actor, Comedian, and Frederick Alan "Rick" Moranis (born April 18, 1953) is a retired Canadian Actor, Comedian and Musician, Bob Hope, KBE KCSG ( May 29, 1903 &ndash July 27, 2003) was an American comedian and actor who appeared in See the David Thomas disambiguation page for other people with this name In-house media melodrama also was satirized by John Candy's vain, bloated variety star character Johnny La Rue, Thomas' acerbic critic Bill Needle and Andrea Martin's flamboyant, leopard-skin clad station manager Mrs. Melodrama refers to theatre in which music is used to increase the spectator's emotional response or to suggest character types John Franklin Candy (October 31 1950 &ndash March 4 1994 was a Canadian Comedian and Actor. Andrea Louise Martin (born January 15 1947) is an American - Canadian Actress and comedienne. Edith Prickley.
The Second City Training Center
The Second City has training centers located throughout North America, most notably in Chicago, Toronto, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The Second City Training Center was founded in the mid 1980s to facilitate the growing demand for workshops and instruction from the world famous Second City theatre The training centers have grown substantially since the Second City Conservatory was established in the mid-1980s under the tutelage of longtime Chicago improv instructors and mentors Martin de Maat and Sheldon Patinkin. Martin de Maat ( January 12, 1949 - February 15, 2001) was a teacher and artistic director at The Second City in Chicago Sheldon Patinkin is an author teacher and director He is one of the founding fathers of The Second City and currently The Chicago school has over 1,800 students in several disciplines, including improvisation and comedy writing. Comedy (from the Greek κωμωδίαkomodia has a popular meaning (any discourse generally intended to amuse especially in Television, Film, and Various Conservatory alumni including Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Halle Berry and Sean Hayes[5] have gone on to successful careers, with notable performers such as Tim O'Malley and Steve Carell having taught at these institutions. Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey (born May 18 1970 is a Golden Globe - five time Emmy - and SAG Award -winning American Writer Stephen Tyrone Colbert ( born May 13 1964 is an American Comedian, satirist, Actor and Writer, known for his ironic style Halle Maria Berry (ˈhæli ˈbɛri born August 14 1966 is an Academy Award - Emmy Award - and Golden Globe -winning American actress former Sean Patrick Hayes (born June 26 1970 is a six- time Golden Globe nominee and a Emmy award -winning American Actor and Comedian. Steven John "Steve" Carell (born August 16, 1962) is a Golden Globe - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning American
The Second City Parents School
In the early days of Second City, several parents and Lincoln Park community members -- including Paul and Carol Sills and Dennis and Mona Cunningham -- started a progressive school for their children, based on Viola Spolin's play therapy philosophy with her son Paul Sills' theater games refinements to it. Early Second City staff, and Old Town and Lincoln Park community members, were deeply involved in the school, including the Sillses and Cunninghams, Viola Spolin, John Schultz, Mel Spiegel, and Beverly Gold. The progressive curriculum included daily theater games, and many students went on to careers in entertainment. Briefly at the original Old Town theater site at the intersection of Clark, Wells, and Lincoln Avenue, the school had several locations in Lincoln Park until it closed in the mid-1970s. [6]
Andrew Alexander
Andrew Alexander took the reins of Second City Toronto, Canada, in 1974 and formed a partnership with Len Stuart in 1976, starting The Second City Entertainment Company. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Its first television production was SCTV. Alexander co-developed and executive produced over 185 half-hour shows for the award-winning comedy series, and produced over 150 hours of award-winning television comedy. Alexander has had co-production deals with MGM Television, Imagine Films, Disney Studios and United Artists, and has developed television programming for CBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, Comedy Central, HBO, Showtime, and A&E. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Comedy Central is an American Cable television and Satellite television channel that carries predominantly Comedy programming Showtime is a subscription television Brand used by a number of channels and platforms around the world but primarily refers to a group of channels in the United A&E is a cable and Satellite television network with headquarters in Manhattan and offices in Stamford, Atlanta, He has produced movies and television with such notable talents as John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Bonnie Hunt, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Rick Moranis, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Harold Ramis, Dave Thomas,Jim Belushi, George Wendt, Ed Asner, Andrea Martin and Shelley Long. Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM (born July 1, 1952) is an Academy Award -nominated and Emmy Award -winning Canadian-American Bonnie Lynn Hunt (born September 22 1964 is a two- time Golden Globe and a Emmy Award nominated American actress, Comedian, Michael John "Mike" Myers (born May 25, 1963) is a Canadian Actor, Comedian, Screenwriter and Film producer Christopher Crosby "Chris" Farley (February 15 1964 &ndash December 18 1997 was an American Comedian and Actor. Catherine Anne O'Hara (born March 4, 1954) is a Canadian - American Emmy and Gemini Award Martin Hayter Short, CM (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian Comedian, Actor, writer, Singer and Harold Allen Ramis (born November 21, 1944) is an American actor director and writer specializing in comedy David Thomas may refer to Arts Dave Thomas (actor (born 1949 Canadian actor and comedian David A James Adam "Jim" Belushi (born June 15, 1954) is an American Actor, Comedian and Musician, the younger brother George Robert Wendt (born October 17, 1948) is an American Actor, best known for the role of Norm Peterson on the classic Television Edward Asner (born November 15, 1929) is an American Actor primarily known for his Emmy -winning role as Lou Grant on Shelley Lee Long (born August 23, 1949) is a Golden Globe Award and Emmy Award -winning American film, stage
In 1985, Alexander and Stuart became owners of Chicago's Second City. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Alexander oversaw the theatrical division's expansion into Detroit, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The Las Vegas Strip (also known as The Strip) is an approximately 4 mile (6 Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West He has produced or executive produced over 200 Second City revues in Canada and the United States. Most recently, Alexander has expanded The Second City TV & Film Division with offices in Los Angeles and Toronto and was executive producer on the recently released feature film Intern’s Academy.
He serves on the Columbia College Board of Trustees, the Board of the League of Chicago Theaters, is Chair of the Gilda's Club Honorary Board (Toronto), and is also an Honorary Member of the Chicago Gilda's Club Board. Columbia College Chicago is the largest arts and communications college in the United States. Gilda's Club, named in tribute to the late comic actress Gilda Radner, who died of Ovarian cancer in 1989, is a community meeting place for people living
Awards
The Second City has twice been awarded an Equity Joseph Jefferson Award, once in 1997 as an ensemble in the "New Work" category for Paradigm Lost. Template talkInfobox Union for usage --> The Actors' Equity Association (AEA commonly referred to as Actors' Equity The Joseph Jefferson Awards (The Jeff Awards are given annually by a volunteer non-profit committee to acknowledge excellence in theatre in the Chicago An ensemble cast is a cast in which the principal performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance in a dramatic production The show featured Tina Fey, Scott Adsit, Kevin Dorff, Rachel Dratch, Jim Zulevic and was directed by Mick Napier. Scott Adsit (born November 26 1965) is an American writer actor and improviser Rachel Susan Dratch (born February 22, 1966) is an American Actress and Comedian, perhaps best known as a cast member of Jim Zulevic ( February 20 1965 – January 7 2006) was an American Actor, improvisational comedian, Television Mick Napier is an actor director teacher and author living in Chicago. Stephnie Weir received the "Actress in a Revue" Jeff Award for Second City 4. Stephnie Weir (born November 28, 1967; sometimes credited as Stephanie Weir) is an American Actress and Comedian. The Joseph Jefferson Awards (The Jeff Awards are given annually by a volunteer non-profit committee to acknowledge excellence in theatre in the Chicago 0 in 2000. [7]
Toronto's Second City mainstage troupe has won four Canadian Comedy Awards: "Best Improv Troupe" (2001), "Best Sketch Troupe" (2001) and "Best Comedic Play" winners Family Circus Maximus (2002) and Psychedelicatessen (2003). For the software see Mainstage (software Main stage Theatre is that which falls between Studio theatre and large-scale events The Canadian Comedy Awards is an annual awards ceremony celebrating notable English speaking Canadian comedians for achievements in Live Radio Film Television and Internet media over Family Circus Maximus is a play produced by The Second City in Toronto.
Theatres
- The Second City Chicago
- The Second City Toronto
- The Second City Detroit
- The Second City Las Vegas
- The Second City Training Center in Los Angeles
Notable alumni of the Second City
See also
External links
- The Second City
- Audio interview with Anne Libera, author of The Second City Almanac of Improvisation, on The Sound of Young America
References
- ^ a b c d Christiansen, Richard (2004). The Second City Detroit is a comedy theatre located in the Detroit suburb Novi Michigan. The The Compass Players (or Compass Theater) was a 1950s Cabaret Revue show started by alumni dropouts and hangers-on from the University of Chicago Improvisational theatre (also known as improv or impro) is a form of Theatre in which the Actors use Improvisational acting techniques Viola Spolin ( November 7, 1906 - November 22, 1994) was an American drama teacher and author Grossman, James R. , Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L. :Second City Theatre. The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago 744. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved on 2008-03-07. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus
- ^ Second City Closes on Aug. 1.
- ^ Adler, Tony (2004). Grossman, James R. , Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L. :Improvisational Theater. The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago 408-9. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved on 2008-03-07. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus
- ^ Adler, Tony (2004). Grossman, James R. , Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L. :Theater. The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago 815-7. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved on 2008-03-07. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus
- ^ Second City: Training & Education. The Second City (2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-22. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus.
- ^ www. imdb. com
- ^ Jeff Awards. The Joseph Jefferson Awards (2007). Retrieved on 2007-03-30. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet.
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