The Second City

Chicago's temple of improvisational comedy. New York Times Since opening in 1959, The Second City has transformed the state of comedy as we know it, creating a wickedly funny culture of improvisation and training thousands of artistswho now dominate popular entertainmentin the art of improv-based theater. This newly revised and expanded edition of The Second City tells the story of the legendary comedy institution and the Emmy-winning sketch comedy classic SCTV, folding new material and commentary in with tales of The Second Citys storied past. The giants who got their start at The Second City in its earlier yearsincluding Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, John Candy, Chris Farley, Eugene Levy, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Catherine OHara, Gilda Radner, Joan Rivers, Martin Short, and Fred Willardare joined in these pages by more recent alumni like Aidy Bryant, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key, Jack McBrayer, Bob Odenkirk, and Jason Sudeikis. The real stories of The Second City and its performers will make you see the comedy juggernaut in a whole new light. Did you know John Belushi got his start lifting jokes from The Second City? Or that many cast membersincluding Stephen Colbert and Nia Vardalossold tickets or waited tables at the theater before they made it to the stage? The Second City takes you behind the scenes of the worlds leading improv theater. Now spanning six decades, the story of The Second City is both funnier and more poignant than anyone could have imagined.