Outreach and Diversity

Build the Community

Current show performing - The new show opens October 3 - December 4. Saturdays at 9PM

The Second City Outreach & Diversity division is committed to bringing new diverse voices to the stage and improv community. The program supports actors with ongoing training, scholarships and performance opportunities. The program has supported the development of ensembles like GayCo Productions, Salsation, Stir-Friday Night, Pimprov, and kevINda.

The Second City Outreach and Diversity Programming includes:

• High School Improvisation and Writing Program - Exposes the improvisation art form to diverse students in underserved communities

• Outreach and Diversity Ensemble Productions - Twice a year, the Outreach and Diversity Ensemble performs a hip comedy revue featuring the Best of Second City scenes, music, and improv with an urban multicultural twist.

• Multicultural Events - Throughout the year, we offer panels, workshops, meet & greets, and  intensives focused on diversity

To receive diversity updates and audition alerts, subscribe to our free e-newsletter by emailing outreach@secondcity.com.

PUMA and The Second City Outreach & Diversity LOL Scholarship Program

Thank you to all who applied for our PUMA scholarship.

Our 25 scholarship finalists have been announced. On Thursday, July 15, we officially award ten PUMA scholars one year of free training at The Second City Chicago or Hollywood. Interested in applying in 2011? Sign up for e-newsletter.

Click here and see highlights from the 50th and our new relationship with Puma!

Take a Chance in Improv

6 Weeks only – June 8 - July 22
Thursdays at 5:30PM
Tuition $125 (discount available to current Training Center students)
E-mail Dionna Griffin-Irons or call 312-664-4032 ext. 3577 to register

Join us in our popular summer series where you’ll learn great improv tools on how to create believable characters, define your point of view in a scene, and push your perspective in comedy. Work with Second City alumnus, Aaron Freeman and try your improv skills on our stage. Attend a Second City show with your class at a discounted rate and kick your best summer off!

Advance registration highly recommended.

Open to new and returning students.

The Diversity Series educates, cultivates, and informs new talent in a supportive community of mentorship and education for the next generation of improvisers studying at The Second City.

The series is offered in February, June/July and September/October throughout the year.

Instructors:

• Bill Bungeroth
• Dionna Griffin-Irons
• Claudia Wallace
• Ric Walker
• Aaron Freeman

Dionna Griffin-Irons is a Second City Detroit alumnus. In her 10+ years with the company, she has performed with Improv All Stars, Theatre on the Lake, Chicago resident stages and produced numerous shows for the company's corporate division.

In her role as director, she develops and executes new initiatives to create greater access and opportunities for emerging diverse talent and organizations. Her background includes stage performance, talent identification, teaching, and producing. She is a three year CAAP recipient and Neighborhood Arts grantee from The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs for her solo performance and outreach.

Griffin-Irons is an avid speaker, facilitator and writer using improvisation and performance as a powerful tool to transform diverse audiences and communities.