A salute to more than six decades of world-class comedy is making a pit stop at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC).
MCCC’s Montco Cultural Center will host The Second City 65th Anniversary Show, Thursday, Oct. 2, at 7:00 PM in the theater at Montco Cultural Center, Science Center, Blue Bell Campus, 1313 Morris Road, Blue Bell. Doors open at 6:00 PM, and parking is free.
The Second City will also host a workshop earlier that same day, Oct. 2, called IMPLOYED: Using Improv Skills in Job Interviews. Attendees will work with Second City performers to learn tools of improvisation that will put them ahead of the competition on their next interview. Gain confidence while learning tactics to manage nervousness, network like a pro, and keep a sense of humor in the face of the unexpected. This 90-minute, highly interactive workshop will give you tools to use right away to make the most of every employment opportunity. Spaces are limited. The show may contain adult or mature content.
For tickets and information, visit MCCC.
The Second City 65th Anniversary Show features some of its audience’s favorite songs, sketches, and characters written on its stages by some of its 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, and Adam McKay. With material handpicked from its iconic comedy archive and brought to life by its all-star ensemble, it’s easy to see why The Second City continues to be one of the world’s most influential names in comedy for 65 years and counting.
“I know from experience, our audience will have trouble catching their breath from laughing so hard once The Second City hits the stage,” said Tiffany Bregovi, Director of the Montco Cultural Center. “We can’t wait to celebrate the 65th anniversary of such a legendary comedy troupe in our theater.”
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, according to its website. The small cabaret theater has grown to become one of the most influential and prolific comedy empires in the world, developing an entirely 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 both 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, The Second City launched SCTV, which has been hailed as one of the greatest sketch comedy series of all time. The two-time Emmy winner 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, 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.
In addition to its stages, Second City Touring Companies perform electrifying revues and original productions across North America and abroad. Its 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, New York, and online teach thousands of students a 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.
For more information about The Second City 65th Anniversary Show, contact the Montco Cultural Center Box Office at [email protected].
Learn more at MCCC and how, since 1964, it has been transforming lives and communities to meet the evolving educational needs of Montgomery County. The College’s comprehensive curriculum includes more than 100 associate degree and certificate programs, as well as customized workforce training and certifications. Students enjoy the flexibility of learning at the College’s thriving campuses in Blue Bell, Pottstown, and online.
