About The Second City
- Hours
- Open 7 Days
Message from The Second City
The Second City is a legendary comedy theater in Chicago, Illinois that features nightly entertainment. We specialize in sketch comedy and improvisation. Cocktails and food are available throughout our shows. We?re frequently on tour, and we offer businesses services for training programs, marketing assignments, and live events.
Our additional services include:
• Eleven full time touring ensembles
• Television and film operations
• Corporate communications
• Training in comedy
Our training courses emphasize innovation and creativity. Whatever comedic style you want to hone, our supportive teachers guide you on the path to hilarity. We welcome all levels of comic, from newbies to the seasoned performer.
Call The Second City today for tickets or for more information.
Editorial from Yellowpages.com
OverviewThe intimate, modest theater seats 300 people around tables of two and four, half on the main floor and half on three gently rising tiers in the back. The low semicircular stage...
Key Points
- 50 years of funny!
Insider Pages Reviews for The Second City
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My husband and I went to the "Spoiler's Alert Everyone Dies" show. The crew did not know their lines, there were many silent moments when they were trying to improvise, and it was very difficult to understand what they were saying. We came away from the show disappointed and that is a first. We have been going to Second City for 15 years.
I hope they get their "act" together.
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The Second City...nothing much good times and a lot of LAUGHTER!!! I heard they will be at the All Need Love Festival at Field Museum. I checked into it and its it going to be a amazing night of love, arts, and diversity!
Its on Valentine's Day, but you don't have to be coupled up to go! Grab some girls or guys and head down!! It will be a night of great laughs, music and art! By far the biggest thing going on in Chicago on Valentine's Day!
Check out the website! AllNeedLove.com. The Second City will be a great time!!!
February 06, 2011Was this review helpful to you?
Insider Expert
| Rank: 12,686
Second City is one of the best comedy places in the country! They're witty, current, and extremely quick thinkers. It's amazing when they do the improves, these are truly talented individuals, you will not get disappointed!
April 21, 2009Was this review helpful to you?
There are plenty of places in chicago you can go to to see average stand-up. But Second City is one of the few that offers consistently funny shows by professionals. There's always a couple shows running, and they are very impressive. Well written, well acted, just funny. Some sketches are hit-or-miss, but that's comedy. They usually do some improv after the show, giving you a free second show.
Food and drinks are kind of expensive, but no more so than any other bar. The shows are about $17 each, which is quite reasonable considering the quality. Great place to take a friend visiting the city, or just to go with friends.
The seating is kind of cramped, because they squeeze a lot of people into a fairly small room, but that also means everyone is pretty close to the stage, which is a nice effect.
PROS: inspired comedy
CONS:
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Okay, you have to understand you WILL be offended and you will laugh so hard you'll about pee your pants. That disclamer noted, this was a fun night out. I went a few years ago and just laughed until I could stand it no more. Pretty easy location to get to in Chicago, expect a lot of smoke and to be tired when leaving (its a late night). But quite funny!
November 03, 2005Was this review helpful to you?
Insider
| Rank: 27,766
I went to second city a few weeks ago for a nice comedic night out... I was not particularly impressed! While the audience involvment in some skits was decent, overall the quality of the comedy paled in comparison to the stand-up comics I have seen. The good news was, the more the waitress came around, the more drinks I was served, and the funnier that the skits became!
November 02, 2005Was this review helpful to you?
Insider Guru
| Rank: 1,339
So it costs a bit more than a movie but it is worth every penny. I've been going for over 15 years and have watched lots of famous people start here! Lots of Saturday Night Live alum began here so you are bound to see an up and coming stars. The late performance (11 pm) usually has an improv section afterwards. Its a great experience although it can get vulgar. My sister in law found it distasteful while I found it hilarious. It can be raunchy but its hilarious!
PROS: unique and fun experience
CONS: don't take the prude to this!
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Second City is an improv troupe that a ton of famous actors have started in. A lot of the SNL alumns started at Second City. If you like improv comedy, this is the place for you! I've been here several times and the comediens are always really funny. The best show I've seen by Second City was a holiday show in Arlington Heights. My whole family went and we all had a great time. I highly recommend this!
September 20, 2005Was this review helpful to you?
This is an alright place to go, but it is quite overpriced and just way overhyped. While there are funny shows, some play off just like the unfunny Saturday Night Live of late. Now most really good comedians go through training from both IO and Second City, so it is becoming a secondary rather than a primary location for comedy in the city.
September 16, 2005Was this review helpful to you?
Everyone who goes to Chicago and likes to be entertained should try to catch a show at Second City. The comedy club boasts a number of graduates who have gone on to achieve great fame on tv or in the movies. You never know which alum will be stopping back for a special appearance, and you never know which current SC person will go on to the big time.
July 16, 2005Was this review helpful to you?
Second City is Chicago's premier comedy club, and it is renowned for good reason. The show we went to was laugh-out-loud funny for it's full 2 hours or so. The performers were wonderful, and the script was original and smart. A show at Second City mainstage or at its smaller stage Chicago etc. is well worth the price and time.
July 12, 2005Was this review helpful to you?
Unlike Saturday Night Live, every skit is funny and edgy. Bring your guests from out-of-town and they will definitely have stories to tell. I still recount a skit I saw with Rachel Dratch 10 years ago!
June 17, 2005Was this review helpful to you?
the theaters are well maintained and are clean. They play movies that I like to watch. If they can reduce their prices for regular customers I would really go their every weekend...
PROS: Clean theaters and excellent movie screens
CONS: Costs a bit more
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so fun, been to many shows and it's always a good time! Both regular stage and etc are equally fun, drinks are good too!
April 06, 2005Was this review helpful to you?
The Second City improve troup originated out of the University of Chicago, and has gone on to produce so many wonderful commedians, including John Candy, Tim Meadows, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Stephen Colbert, and so many more that I can't list them.
The shows run every night and include some scripted items and some improv. It is always so funny that you go home sore from laughing so much.
The theater serves drinks and light snacks, but no real food, so make sure you get something to eat before you go.
If you live in Chicago or are visiting for one day, you shouldn't miss second city.
March 10, 2005Was this review helpful to you?
Latest reviews from Citysearch.
I think that The Second City performances are good laughs and a good time!! I hear they will be at the All Need Love Festival at Field Museum on Valentine's Day!
Check out the website! AllNeedLovecom.
It will be a night of love, arts and music. The biggest event happening in Chicago on Valentine's Day. You don't need to be a couple! Grab some friends and go!! A great night that shouldn't be missed and the face that The Second City will be performing....TOPS IT OFF!!!
Classic Chicago spot - you simply gotta go there at least once!
The Second City is a Chicago classic. Always hilarious, consistently entertaining, and moderately priced, this cabaret style venue is an essential weekend destination. Check it out and get your laugh and drink on!
....when it's a good show, you leave feeling as if it was some sort of therapy for you.
Second City's also right by a large-sized Starbucks and although I never go there, it's nice to
flop down on a couch and eat cake before a show.
My suggestions are:
- The shows that are around 7 are more family appropriate and the humor
may be a bit dry, in contrast to later shows.
- Don't pick a show just because you like the poster/name for it. Most of them have absolutely NO connection to the show itself, so...it's a bit of a waste. Sometimes even the descriptions doesn't to it justice.
- Get there early. The sitting itself is already crammed so at least you can pick it. And heaven forbid if you're the absolut last, you'll get to sit on these bar stools on the side.
- Talk to people if they have recommendations, it's a slow torturing feeling it you wind up going to a
bad show. And if you saw one you adored, spread it .
Disposable Nation and Side Effects May Include ( still playing till April 11th ) are my best so far.
PROS -
It's a really nice laidback atmosphere, when you get there you're ready to be amused,
I even start giggling before the show starts. Good clean bathrooms/shows.
CONS-
All I say is sometimes when you go to a show you dont know really what you're getting.
That can be fun for some people...
Also the seating on the side barstools is awful in the upper theater and shouldn't be there.
We went to see "Between Barack and a Hard Place" on a wednesday night. the show was almost sold out but i totally know why. the show was so funny and i was laughing all night long. I would definitely recommend it to friends, and I have. Catch a bite to eat before the show and then head over to Second City. The show was clever, insightful and extremely funny. The cast is extremely talented especially being able to adapt to the audience's suggestions, which is part of the specialness of this type of comedy.
Pros: talented cast, guaranteed laughter
Cons: 2 drink min
I may have small bias since I work for Citysearch. Last night I saw "Between Barack and a Hard Place" at Second City. It was an incredible performance. It was very clever and hillarious.
Pros: Performers are remarkable
After viewing "War: Now in Its Fourth Smash Year," I understand all the hype surrounding Second City and its wonderful history. The show was amazingly entertaining and at times hilarious. The only drawback is the open seating plan, which requires that you arrive early to get a good seat; and the seats are sometimes very close together. Overall, it was a great experience to which we would like to return.
Pros: Comedy and level of professionalism
Cons: Seating arrangement
Second City is great for a date or to go with friends for some laughs. The comedy is first rate (just take a look at their alumni!) and their theater is full of history. Walking through the building, looking at the pictures of past comedy legends that have performed there gets you excited about the show and they always seem to put on a creative, entertaining performance. If you want to experience a Chicago landmark, Second City is for you.
