Original, Daring, Sidesplitting Comedy
Time Magazine described The Second City as “a temple of satire” and The New York Times proclaimed them to be simply “legendary.”
Celebrate 65 years of laughter with all-time favorite songs, sketches and characters written by some of the troupe’s most illustrious alumni, including Catherine O’Hara, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key, Amber Ruffin, Stephen Colbert, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, Tim Robinson, Joan Rivers, Eugene Levy, Adam McKay and many more. With material handpicked from their iconic comedy archive and brought to life by the next generation of comedy superstars, find out why The Second City continues to be the world’s most influential name in comedy for 65 years and counting.
Rooted in the groundbreaking improvisational games of Viola Spolin, The Second City opened its doors on a snowy Chicago night in December of 1959, and a comedy revolution began. The small cabaret theater has grown to become the most influential and prolific comedy empire in the world, developing a unique way of creating art and fostering generation after generation of superstars.
Co-founded by Spolin’s son Paul Sills, along with Howard Alk and Bernie Sahlins, The Second City was experimental and unconventional in its approach to theater and comedy. Almost immediately, alumni of The Second City, including Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Fred Willard, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, launched the theater into the international spotlight.
In 1976, Second City launched SCTV, which has been hailed as one of the greatest sketch comedy series of all time. The two-time Emmy-winning show featured an all-star cast made up of Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Catherine O’Hara, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty and Rick Moranis.
Today, The Second City is home to a world-class entertainment company and continues to produce premier talent in all three of its locations – Chicago, Toronto and Hollywood – entertaining more than one million audience members annually. From Steve Carell to Keegan-Michael Key, Stephen Colbert to Tina Fey, Chris Farley to Mike Myers, Second City’s imprint is all over film, television and beyond.
In addition to its stages, Second City Touring Companies perform electrifying revues and original productions across North America and abroad. Creative collaborations have produced thrilling and critically acclaimed work in partnership with organizations like the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Norwegian Cruise Line, the New York Comedy Festival and the Chicago Bulls.
Second City Training Centers in Chicago, Toronto, Hollywood and online teach thousands of students each year, and the opening of the Harold Ramis Film School in 2016 gave the world the first film school dedicated to comedy. Finally, Second City Works is an industry leader in bringing improv-based methodologies to businesses and organizations of all types.
ADULT | $30 |
FSU STAFF
MILITARY | $27 |
FSU STUDENT | FREE |
This show is intended for audiences ages 18 and older. Parental discretion is advised.