Directing

The first and only one of its kind, The Second City Directing Program is a year-long focused study of directing improvisation and revue comedy. A small group of select participants (an average of six) immerse themselves in a program that covers the unique and specific skills required to work as a professional director for The Second City.

This professionally-oriented intensive program includes:

• Discussions with current and former Second City actors, directors, producers, and teachers
• Hands on work with actors
• Assistant directing assignments in various Second City divisions
• Coursework in improvisation, sketch writing and music
• Several formal directing projects presented in Donny’s Skybox Theatre

The program is divided into four ten-week terms which cover a one-year period. New students are admitted into the program in July. Prospective students must have a flexible schedule as some of the classes and assignments take place during the day and others in the evening and on weekends. The time commitment is approximately 15-18 hours per week. Specific hours will vary depending on assignments.

Students may apply for teaching assistantships after completing the first term of study.

$750 per term, 10 weeks

Topics covered through the year (one per term):

• Foundation work: history and theory of comedy, the aesthetics of revue, history and terminology specific to The Second City.
• Directing sketch: working with Second City archive material, casting, directing and managing an ensemble of actors, creating running order. Concludes with a group showcase presentation of Second City archive material.
• The Process: creating material through improvisation. Directors cast, rehearse and present a 25-minute, fully improvised piece.
• Putting it all together: creating a full original revue, working collaboratively, how to get and retain a job. Concludes with each director presenting a five to six-week run of a one-act comedy revue.