By Kendall Fisher(opens in new tab), executive producer at Grow Wire
What do Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Oprah, Chris Farley, Michael Key, Jordan Peele and Stephen Colbert have in common?
Some of them are comedians. Some of them are actors. Some of them are television personalities, directors and producers. However, the one thing they’ve all experienced is (drumroll please) …
Studying at The Second City(opens in new tab)!
Founded in Chicago in 1959 by Paul Sills, Bernard Sahlins and Howard Alk, The Second City is one of the oldest, most established improvisation theaters, spreading joy through laughter and games.
And the best part? You don’t need to be fulfilling any lofty acting dreams to take classes there.
Everyone is welcome.
In fact, that’s how The Second City grew into the successful business it is today. The theater offers classes to people who are looking to grow both personally and professionally.
Second City Works is the B2B(opens in new tab) side of the world-famous comedy mecca, helping hundreds of companies and individuals inspire better performance through their improvisation and audience-driven techniques—all of which is powered by humor!
Of course, this idea didn’t come without its fair share of challenges: How does a theater balance along the fine line of art and business? And as they grow, how does The Second City remain one of the most iconic institutes in Chicago? In the world?
Watch the video above to find out!
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