Outreach and Diversity

Build the Community

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. Each year we provide up to 20 scholarships and build new alliances with potential talent, community organizations and universities that increases our “reach” and opens Second City doors to students and communities who might not otherwise have access to these programs.

The Second City Outreach & Diversity Programming includes:

• High School Improvisation & Writing Program: Exposes the improvisation art form to diverse students in underserved communities
• Outreach & Diversity Ensemble Productions: Twice a year, the Outreach & 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 for students and professionals

Outreach & Diversity Ensemble New Show

"BenchCo"

Opening January 28 – March 31 Saturdays 9PM

Donny's Skybox Theatre

Buy Tickets Now

Call our Box office 312-337-3992 for more info.

PUMA and The Second City Outreach & Diversity LOL Scholarship Program

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

Summer College and Diversity Week

Join Outreach & Diversity for one exciting week of improv intensives, Chicago shows, career mentoring and the best funny around town as we create an unforgettable experience in our popular summer outreach for out-of towners, Chicago artists and improvisers. In one week, we pack your day with improv and writing intensives, an informative panel meet and greet, Second City resident shows, Chicago improv and a culminating performance showcase.

• Network with actors and improvisers
• Hone your skills
• Laugh till you sweat

Intensives available in June and August every year.
Advance registration highly recommended. Subscribe to e-newsletter for registration info.

Bringing Outreach to your group

Let us introduce our outreach workshops and speaker events to your group. Our workshops include life skills, improv fundamentals and teambuilding for students, novices and diverse groups. In our efforts to create greater access to the improv art form, scholarships to potential new talent, and discounted/ free shows to The Second City, the department offers affordable and sliding scale rates to underserved groups and communities.

Click here for a sample workshop pdf for teens.

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.