The Best of Second City

It all started with children’s games… Rooted in the groundbreaking improvisational games of Viola Spolin, The Second City opened its doors on a snowy Chicago night in December 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 an entirely unique way of creating art and fostering generation after generation of superstars. 

Today, The Second City is home to a world-class entertainment company, continuing to produce premier talent in all three of its locations—Chicago, Toronto, and New York—and entertaining more than one million audience members a year. With an extensive list of alumni including Bill Murray, Joan Rivers, Steve Carell, Keegan-Michael Key, Gilda Radner, Stephen Colbert, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tina Fey, Jason Sudeikis, Bob Odenkirk, Amy Poehler, Chris Farley, Dan Aykroyd, Sam Richardson, John Belushi, Mike Meyers, Amber Ruffin, and Aidy Bryant, and many more, The 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. Their 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, the New York Comedy Festival, and the Chicago Bulls.

To celebrate its 65th anniversary year, they are hitting the road with The Best of The Second City! This high-energy show blends their signature improv comedy with hilarious songs, classic characters, and timeless sketches that have been handpicked from their rich comedy archive, written by the world’s funniest minds, and reimagined by today’s boldest comedic voices.

Special thanks to our Center Stage Series sponsor AB Jets.